What is a dog worth?

I was just talking to a friend of mine who pulled a dog from the shelter on the dogs last day.   Her intention was to get her a bath, get her shots, love her up and find her a home.   We have all done this with a dog in a shelter.  We do it with the high hopes that the dog is healthy and friendly and will find a home quick.   However, this is not always the case.  

Today, the dog that my friend pulled from the shelter all of a sudden had a seizure.   She is at the vet now with an estimated bill of 1900.00.   Of course, she said yes... save this girl.   Of course.   She will hopefully bring home a healthier dog in a few days, take care of her during her rehab, fall in love with her and then find her a home.   I imagine this will all happen a lot quicker than the credit card bill will be paid off.    I also know she will probably rescue another dog in need before that credit card bill is paid off.   I wonder what she will pass on in her own life to pay that hospital bill for a dog she barely knows.   A vacation?   A hairdo?   A new car?  

At GSROC we have always taken in dogs that we know are sick or injured.  We know they will cost us more money than we could ever recoup on adoption fees.   We also take in dogs that we think are healthy, and like my friend today, they end up costing us thousands of dollars.   We just had a litter of 8 pups found out in the desert come into the rescue.   Puppies are expensive anyway because there are two sets of shots and of course, getting them altered... but these puppies were sick.   5 of them ended up in the ER with a staggering bill of almost 6000.00.  

Sometimes when I tell someone what our adoption fee is, I see them grimace for a second.   I know that they don't know how much our vet bills are.   I know they don't know how much money we actually spend on these dogs.   They don't know that we have garage sales and bake sales constantly to try to pay our bills.   They don't know that to get a dog at the Orange County Animal Shelter is over 200.00 now.   

I do know that within 24 hours of having their new dog in their home, they know it is the best money they ever spent.  And believe me... you are getting a bargain.  

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German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County Urgent Help detail

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County Urgent Help detail

Save a senior and change your heart forever.

Poppy, our sweet senior looking for a home

 

So I have this old guy here at my house as a forever foster, and he has a lot of issues.   He is completely deaf.  I mean...I can actually come up within an inch of him with the vacuum and he doesn't even turn around.  Completely deaf.   His vision is pretty bad.   He walks into corners and you have to wave his food dish around in big circles so he sees it and knows dinner is ready.   His nose works well, so he knows when you are making breakfast or dinner...he just needs help knowing that it is ready;  then he wags his bald little tail and gets on over to his meal. 

He also is very stiff, and my daughter calls him "Robot" because of the way he moves.   When I offered to foster him, we took him in to get his teeth cleaned. They were pretty bad.   He had 15 teeth removed.  Wow.  That is a lot.   You would think he would have trouble eating... but he doesn't.   He is such a little trooper.  I love this guy.  I really do.  

There is something so special about rescuing an old dog.   He is so sweet.  It feels like he knows I will be here with him when he needs me the most.   We have a special bond.  With everything we have going on around here, this little man seems to be so grateful, and is so attentive to me.  He can't hear me, but he watches my every move.     He and I don't have a history.   I don't have memories of him as a healthy dog that I can giggle over with him.   I don't know what his favorite treat is, or where he loved to be rubbed before the aches settled in.   But I spoil him.  I cook for him.   I give him his meds.  

But I wonder who he misses...

I think for me right now, this is such a parallel that it is having an impact on my heart.   I have a kitty that I rescued when she was about 7 months old.   That was 19 years ago, so she is old and at the end.   My husband has been around for 15 years, so my kitty is the veteran here.   As kitties age, they get thin. She is so thin now.   She is on medications.   She is on fluids.  She is always hungry.   She misses the catbox.  She screams for who knows what.   And still... she is my baby.   I know her.  I know where she loves to be rubbed.  I know what her favorite treats are.  I remember how silly she was when she was healthy and I still see it in her... deep in there.   I know her as a healthy cat. Now, her body is failing and she is an old lady... but I remember her silly little face standing over me at 3am... wanting to play.  I hold her now and I giggle and whisper our shared memories to her.   I know this girl, and she will be comforted by me, by us-her and I... until the end. 

My sweet little old man foster... I don't know that he gets the same comfort from me as my kitty does.   I know he is comforted by me and I know he loves me.  His sweet little tail wags when  I come in the room. I know his little body aches and I am learning where he likes to be touched.  I have learned what foods he especially likes.  I am here until the end with him...but I wonder who he dreams of when he goes to sleep.   Who is it that knows him and who shares his memories?   He is in my heart and I will be here until the end with him... but who is in his heart?  

I wish he had someone holding him who could whisper special memories to him.  

I don't understand how someone dumps an old dog.   It is like dumping a sick child, or an old parent. I wish everyone would return the favor with these amazing animals and hold them near and dear through the last amazing years of their lives.  

I wish they could all have loving memories whispered in their ears until the very end.  

This they deserve. 

Rescuing an old dog will truly change your heart.  It is one of the purest forms of love you will ever experience.   I highly recommend it.   The heartbreak...totally worth it. 

The pictures you see on this blog are of Poppy. She is our old gal.  She is safe in our care, but she needs a forever foster or home.  She is living in a kennel right now.  She deserves to be cherished and have a warm bed.   Maybe you can be the one Poppy dreams of.  

Gifts that keep on giving for the dogs

 

 

At the holidays, we all wish that every dog could have a belly full of food, enough water and a great big bed in a warm home.    Wouldn't that be great?

 

Well, we won't be able to get all of them this year, but every little bit helps to get one more.  

 

 

So, when you are shopping and full of holiday spirit, give the gifts that keep on giving. 

 

Here are some ways you can help;

 

 

Check our events pages and come on out to support us-  

 

-buy from our bake sales

-buy GSROC logoed merchandise for GSD lovers

 

-cook plain chicken and plain brown or sweet potatoes and drop off for the dogs. 

 

Plan a holiday visit to one of our special events-   

-visit our Costa Mesa boutique on 12/1

 

 

 

Go to our website to learn how to sponsor a dog in someone's name and get a certificate sent to that person-

-sponsor a dog in someone's name (we provide a certificate to present)

-forego gifts in favor of having people make a donation in your name....etc.

 

Shop through Igive.com for all of your online shopping and choose Association of German Shepherd Rescuers as your charity. 

 

The dogs will thank you!  



A caution about holiday overeating...for your dog.

Los Angeles Animal Services Important Pet Alert Over-eating during Thanksgiving can be serious for pets too! Thanksgiving is the time of year when family and friends get together to enjoy each other’s company and a myriad of delicious foods. We have a tendency to include our four-legged family members in this feast, which often results in overindulgence. Even when we don’t purposely include them, the agile and creative dog or cat can capture a special treat from the kitchen counter, trash or even the dining room table! Thanksgiving weekend is also a busy time for emergency veterinary clinics. Dogs and cats suffer very serious and sometimes fatal consequences from turkey bones, too much rich and fatty foods and just plain overeating. If your pet is not acting like himself or herself, consult your veterinarian. Your best friend could be seriously ill. It is difficult to comprehend, but when giving pets treats you must consider the relative size of their body compared to yours. If you weigh 150 pounds and your dog weighs 25 pounds, he or she is only 1/6th of your total weight. If you visualize yourself as a whole pie, comparatively your dog is only one slice of pie. Consequently, sharing an unfinished plate that still holds a generous serving of mashed potatoes with gravy, a side of very rich dressing, a few bites of turkey and a small slice of pumpkin pie with your best friend can make him or her feel miserable. You do want your pets to enjoy the holiday. Stop by a pet food store and purchase some new dog biscuits or cat treats; then reduce the amount of their regular meal to accommodate the treats they will be getting throughout the day. Remember, biscuits and treats are usually much higher in calories than regular pet food so having them skip dinner may be a prudent choice if they have been snacking all day. Happy Thanksgiving!

Extraordinary Efforts to save dogs

Today is Maria Dales birthday, and there are thousands of dogs who lived to see another day because of this lady. 

There isn't much I can say about her that hasn't been said already.  She is dedicated and tireless in her quest to save dogs.   You would think someone who has seen the dregs of humanity would not have much compassion for people, but she does.   Along the way of saving the lives of countless animals, she gives and gives to people. 

Maria spends all of her free time furthering the rescue.  She is not some voice behind a desk; she comes out every weekend to hold a dog.   She goes to the hoarders and walks among the abused to save the ones we can... and some we can't but she can't bear to leave behind.   She goes to the ER vet in the middle of the night to hold the head of desperate animal who just needs a little kindness in her last moments.   Maria does the heart wrenching shelter walks.  She walks the walk.   Every now and then, I hear someone say "If I ran this rescue I would do this differently, or that"... and I say, "Yes, but you don't do it, do you.  She does." 

Happy Birthday MD.   This world is a better place because of you.