German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (GSROC) is a non-profit 501c(3) charity organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing purebred German Shepherd Dogs. We are funded entirely by private donations.
Meet Ammo! He's 18 months old and looking for a new place to call home. His photos don't do him justice! He's a gorgeous guy that would love to be your running buddy. For more information on Ammo, and the many wonderful dogs in need of fur-ever homes, please visit the GSROC website.
We all know that February is traditionally the month for letting those you love know how you feel about them. That makes this the perfect month for us to show the beautiful dogs in our care how much they mean to us, and to remind them that true love will find them one day. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of several incredible animal lovers, February is Matchmaking Month for German Shepherd Rescue of OC. This means that every donation that we receive from February 1 through February 29 will be MATCHED dollar for dollar by wonderful individuals, up to a total of $8000 in matching funds! WOW! With your help, our dogs can earn $16K just in February alone! No matter how large or small your donation, your gift will go twice as far when you donate in February, which in turn means that we can extend helping hands to even more dogs in need.
URGENT CARE IS NOT OUR ONLY EXPENSE
We have so many beautiful dogs depending on us, not only for their urgent medical needs, but for their day-to-day care as well. Despite our best efforts, some of our residents have been with us longer because they just have not found their forever families (yet). Take Sullivan and Cocoa, two senior sweethearts who are deeply bonded. Sullivan, age 9, had been placed in a family six years ago, but his owner died and family members decided to return Sullivan to our rescue. When we learned that a second dog in the family had also been orphaned, we couldn't bear the thought of taking Sullivan and leaving his best friend behind just because she was not a German Shepherd. We welcomed precious Cocoa, age 11, into our rescue raft and never looked back. Sullivan is very devoted to Cocoa and gets nervous when she is out of sight. Cocoa is silly and flirtatious, and provides comfort for Sullivan. These two love birds have been patiently waiting for a family that appreciates the special gifts that senior dogs bring. While they are awaiting adoption, their monthly board and care costs exceed $500 each. Your gift would go a long way to help us with this expense.
Another darling duo is Shadow and Brandy, two senior girls who lost their home due to foreclosure. Shadow, age 9, and Brandy, age 11, were much-loved dogs whose owners never thought they would find themselves homeless. Shadow and Brandy are healthy senior dogs that still have plenty of love to give. They are quiet and well-mannered and enjoy the company of other friendly dogs. Shadow and Brandy are looking for a fresh start in a new family that will cherish them, but in the meantime, German Shepherd Rescue of OC is responsible for their day-to-day board and care costs. Both girls require joint supplements to help them with arthritis aches and pains, but they still enjoy leisurely walks to sniff out the news of the neighborhood. Would you please consider helping to offset their care costs?
PLEASE HELP US HIT OUR GOAL THIS MONTH!
By pledging your donation of any amount during February, you are actually helping twice as many dogs because your donation will be matched! We want to hit a target of $8000 to be matched, and we can do it with your help! Please send your tax-deductible gift to help our orphans TODAY! Our dogs are counting on us and we are counting on you!
Donations may be sent via Paypal or by Check to:
GSROC, 177F Riverside Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Your donation is tax deductible by law. (EIN 20-3455479)
PETSMART Adoption Event 2237 Park Ave (The District)
Tustin, CA 92782
2/25/2012 8AM to 12:00PM
UFC GYM Event 8920 Glendon Way Rosemead, CA 91770
3/3/2012 11:30AM to 3:30PM
CENTINELA Adoption Event BIG BAKE SALE
2320 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA 92886
3/10/2012 11:30AM to 3:30PM
PETSMART Adoption Event
2237 Park Ave (The District)
Tustin, CA 92782
3/17/2012 11:30AM to 3:30PM
PETSMART Adoption
Event BIG BAKE SALE
23602 El Toro Road
Lake Forest, CA 92630
3/18/2012 4:30PM to 7:00PM
Wines, Woofs & Wishes Annual Fundraiser
L'Opera Ristorante
101 Pine Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
3/24/2012 11:30AM to 3:30PM
PETSMART Adoption
Event
25521 Mirage Street
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
3/25/2012 10:00AM to 3:00PM
Anesthesia-Free Pet Dental Cleaning Clinic Tustana Animal Hospital
1142 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
JOINRALPHS REWARDS CLUBAND CHOOSE GERMAN SHEPHERD RESCUE OF OC TOEARN DIVIDENDS FOR OUR ORPHANS. Click here for details:RALPHS CLUB
Tax deductible donations
Please help us to save more dogs by making a tax deductible donation today. We have several ways for you to help, and ALL donations are very much appreciated. No donation is too small. Any size donation is appreciated and will allow us to help the dogs. Your support really makes a difference.
(EIN # 20-3455479) - If the Donate link does not work for you,
Do you remember the great pet food recall of 2007? It happened after hundreds of pets died because the food they were eating was not safe. Now, in 2012, it's not the food, this time its the treats. Back in November of last year, the FDA issued a warning about chicken jerky treats imported from China.
So far, the investigations that the FDA have done, have not yielded any results as to what the cause of the illness is within the treats. This means that the FDA cannot issue a recall. Meanwhile, pets are continuing to get sick.
The list of brands that have been reported so far are:
Waggin Train
Canyon Creek Ranch
Dogswell
Booda Bones - Aspen Pet
Milo's Kitchen
American Kennel Club
Hartz
Dingos
Beefeaters
Cadet
Sergeant's
Ever Pet
Home Pet 360
Walgreen's "Simple" (New Brand)
The Kingdom Pets
What to Do as a Pet Owner:
First, if your pet becomes ill and you have been feeding any of the treats listed above (or another brand imported from China), call your veterinarian and/or emergency after hours clinic. Second, file a report with the FDA.
Symptoms of Illness May Include, But Not Be Limited to:
Decreased appetite
Decreased activity
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased water consumption
Increased urination
What to Do as a Pet Food Supplier:
Remove the products from your shelves.
What to Do as a Concerned Pet Lover:
Print copies of the FDA warning and show them to pet store managers if you find the products on their shelves and urge them to remove them.
Hopefully, the FDA will make some headway with their investigation. In the meantime, two Senators have called for the FDA to not allow the treats to remain on shelves.
This week's blog dog is none other than Elvis. This senior king will capture your heart. He gets along well with children and other dogs, but prefers not to have any felines sharing his new home. He also appreciates a fun ride in the car as well as a game of fetch or chase the squirrel. Senior dogs make wonderful companions and can bring a lot of love into your home. Please consider Elvis, our senior sweetheart and blog dog of the week!
Chances are, you have an area of your home where you keep first aid supplies like bandages and antiseptic spray. But what about your supplies for pets? Do you have the tools to help if Fido gets hurt? Not only should all homes have fire extinguishers, flashlights and candles for emergencies, they should also have a kit to take care of pets in the event of an emergency.
Pet first aid kits are fairly easy to assemble because items can be found in the first aid section of most stores and a few items from the pet aisles as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Gauze - For wrapping wounds or making a makeshift muzzle for wounded pets do not muzzle a pet that is vomiting). Even the most well-trained pet can bite when wounded or in shock.
Non-stick bandages and tape - never use Band-Aids or self-stick bandages on pets.
Vetrap or self adhesive wrap - place gauze or non-stick bandage on the wound and use Vetrap to hold it in place.
Milk of magnesia and activated charcoal for poison control - ALWAYS consult your veterinarian or Animal Poison Control if you believe your pet has ingested a poisonous or toxic substance.
Leash and Collar - for transportation, it's good to have a backup.
Scissors
Sterile Eye Wash
Tweezers
Tick Removal Tool - A popular brand is called Tick Twister (click here to watch the tool in action). Also, save the tick to take to the vet, there are many types and seeing the tick can help your vet treat your pet's condition with more accuracy.
Cornstarch - helps stop bleeds on toe nails.
Antiseptic Wash or Wipes - try to use a non-sting version and avoid alcohol based items. Another item to research is Vetericyn, a one-step wound and infection treatment.
Disposable gloves
Thermometer and Lubricating Jelly - Know the normal temperature ranges for both dogs and cats because they are different from humans.
Hot and Cold Packs - Heat for hypothermia or cold for a burn. Always wrap the pack in cloth before applying to the pet.
Extra Towels, Blankets and Wash Cloths
Benadryl (generic name diphenhydramine) for allergic reactions and insect stings - ALWAYS consult a vet for proper dosage.
Lastly, make sure you include a list of important phone numbers like your veterinarian, emergency pet hospital and animal poison control inside your kit so you don't have to hunt them down in a crisis.
Want to go high tech? There are now apps available for your smartphone that will keep you in the know wherever you go. One is Jive Media's Pet First Aid App and another is Pet Saver by Pet Tech. While they both are available for a small fee (under $5), it can be worth it to have help when your fur-kid is down for the count.
Lastly, if you want to make more of an investment in being prepared for pet emergencies, your local Red Cross chapter offers pet first aid courses that go over many different possible situations.
With the internet, we can access articles, websites and apps, but they are no substitute for proper veterinary medical care for your pet. If you're not sure, it's always best to consult your vet.
This sweet & petite little girl is only 5 months old with a really pretty silver toned coat. She jumped into the GSROC lifeboat and is looking for an energetic and active person to give her a fur-ever home! Are you that person? Check out her web page for more information.
German Shepherds have been described many different ways; loyal, obedient, beautiful and intelligent are a few that immediately come to mind. But, when it comes to making a selection about a pet for yourself or your family, it's time to do your homework.
The main issues to consider and research are size, energy level, grooming requirements, health issues, environment, training and the fact that you are committing to care for the dog for the duration of its life.
Thanks to the folks at Animal Planet, you can get some of your questions answered by watching these video clips about the German Shepherd breed.
The first video is from the show Breed All About it:
The breed of dog you choose should not only be based on its personality and characteristics, but your personality and lifestyle as well. While dogs and puppies may be cute and cuddly, it is still a living creature that needs food, water, shelter, love and sometimes medical care.
If you think the German Shepherd Dog is right for you, please visit our website and check out the available dogs. Our adoption counselors will help you find one whose style matches yours.
