Betsy is an approximately 6-month-old, spayed, female Shepherd mix. She has bright sparkling brown eyes. Her coat is mostly black with tan legs with a bit of sable and tan and red markings on her head; a really good-looking dog. As typical for the breed, she is reserved with strangers but warms up quickly and then loves to cuddle and lean. She is playful without being frantic. She was apparently well cared for by a family who gave her up after their landlord called animal control to have her removed. She goes to the crate but still needs work with house and crate training; getting her on a schedule will help a lot. To that end, she goes to the office with me, settles into her crate, is quite and even attentive at meetings and is learning to empty only outdoors. She plays well with a 2-year-old (Angel #8) female and our two boys, Elwood and Jake. She takes good cues from the boys' behavior on commands like sit, down and stay. She knows her name and is working hard on her lessons. She is a smart girl and is learning quickly. She is gentle with a cat who is good with other dogs and should be able to tolerate cats with training, if they tolerate her. She is good with kids who know how to be around dogs but is a bit timid of the rapid movements toward her that some children often make with dogs. She is not a chewer but enjoys a rawhide instead. She will pay attention to a ball but does not quite know what to make of it yet once it stops moving. She responds to a firm "No!" Betsy is a great young dog with lots of potential and an eagerness to please. Please check out our web site at www.shepherdrescue.org for more information about our dogs, our adoption process and to download an application. You must have a fully approved application on file prior to privately meeting our dogs. We do not have a facility, all our dogs are housed in private foster homes throughout MD/DC/VA areas. More information available on our web site, so please read through our web site before emailing questions, as it might save us both some time!

VGSR can only adopt dogs out in the Virginia/Maryland/DC area, no exceptions.

Although donations of all types are needed, our primary need is foster homes for our lovely dogs while they wait for their new family to find them. Fostering is an extremely rewarding experience. Vet care is paid for by our rescue, and we can even provide you with food. All YOU need to add is love and security.

The adoption process starts with the applicant filling out the adoption application. This can happen at any time during the process, before or after having met a GSD that might be the ideal companion. (It's an advantage to have a pre-approved application on file with VGSR. It should be stressed here that being pre-approved does not mean that any potential adopter can select any available dog at will and take that dog home immediately. VGSR will exercise its best judgement as to which GSD will be the best match for that specific adopter based on a number of qualifying criteria. Many GSDs that come to us are matched up with their new people very quickly because their people have been pre-approved.) The applicant then submits the application form with a non-refundable $10.00 processing fee. VGSR reviews the application, then schedules an interview and home visit during which a number of questions are asked and the home is reviewed to be sure there is a contained/safe yard, and to meet the family involved. Once the application is approved, the applicant is asked to submit a $250.00 donation to VGSR, and the adoption is completed.

© 2025 VGSR