Jessie is one of the nicest dogs I've met. Living in the backyard of an elderly woman's home for most of her life, she did not have much contact with people or other dogs. You would almost never know it though. She is very friendly toward strangers and is a terrible guard dog. She is the only GSD I have fostered who has not barked when the pizza delivery guy knocked on the door. She does not challenge visitors to the house, either, not even after a month. She's somewhat timid and will hunker down if she's nervous. She's sensitive to loud noises and raised voices and does not like to go outside alone. She likes to go on walks and is fine in the house by herself when I'm away and loves to see me when I get home. The crate is her safe place. Jessie has had a rough life. She was picked up by animal control after her owner was taken to a nursing home and the next of kin abandoned her in the back yard with no food and a water bowl frozen over due to the weather. The only veterinary care she had prior to the shelter was a rabies shot every three years. it is not surprising, then, that she has heartworms. her skin was also in bad shape, but she is recovering nicely after a course of antibiotics. Jessie would do best in a home with no stairs. She does not want to climb them for some reason. She'll jump up one or two, but even three is too many for her. She gets a little mouthy on the hands when she gets excited, and also mouths when she's excited. She corrects well, though, and she is very attentive. She knows sit pretty well, but is still working on down. She needs a moderate level of exercise to keep her muscles toned and her joints loose. 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.
Other Pictures of JESSIE (click to see larger version):
