Hans' Fund
Running a dog rescue costs a lot. There are expenses for vet care prior to the dogs being adopted, such as vaccinations, worm and heartworm preventative, flea/tick supplies, spay and neuter costs. Occasionally, we need to purchase of dog crates and other supplies for the dogs while in their foster homes. Then add training expense to rehabilitate those with special needs or less than stellar manners. All to ensure that when the GSD is adopted, he or she will be a good and healthy companion to his or her new owner.
And we exist solely on donations from people like you.
But the largest expenses of all occur when the dog we rescue is seriously ill or needs expensive surgery. For example, hip dysplasia is an ailment common to German Shepherd dogs, and the cost for the surgery to correct this runs about $2,400. We also had a GSD that required a $1,000 emergency vet visit due to complications after heartworm treatment. All too often, we are faced with a situation where the rescue dog requires this kind of surgery or emergency medical treatment. In these cases, we send out urgent requests for donations which don't always come in time.
But these dogs need help when they need it. They need us.
To this end, GSDRGA has set up a separate fund specifically for this purpose. All donations to this fund will be earmarked to deal with these serious emergency medical and surgical situations that arise. The new fund will allow us to take dogs we couldn't take before and give them the care they need. What can be worse than turning your back on a dog that needs help?
Please help us save a dog. Help us make their quality of life better. No donation is too small, and every dime will go directly to an animal in need…which is important.
We need you―Because They Need Us.
We accept secure online donations via Paypal by clicking the donate button below or mail a donation to the address below
And we exist solely on donations from people like you.
But the largest expenses of all occur when the dog we rescue is seriously ill or needs expensive surgery. For example, hip dysplasia is an ailment common to German Shepherd dogs, and the cost for the surgery to correct this runs about $2,400. We also had a GSD that required a $1,000 emergency vet visit due to complications after heartworm treatment. All too often, we are faced with a situation where the rescue dog requires this kind of surgery or emergency medical treatment. In these cases, we send out urgent requests for donations which don't always come in time.
But these dogs need help when they need it. They need us.
To this end, GSDRGA has set up a separate fund specifically for this purpose. All donations to this fund will be earmarked to deal with these serious emergency medical and surgical situations that arise. The new fund will allow us to take dogs we couldn't take before and give them the care they need. What can be worse than turning your back on a dog that needs help?
Please help us save a dog. Help us make their quality of life better. No donation is too small, and every dime will go directly to an animal in need…which is important.
We need you―Because They Need Us.
We accept secure online donations via Paypal by clicking the donate button below or mail a donation to the address below
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Mail a donation to us at :
German Shepherd Rescue of GA P.O. Box 785 Roswell, GA 30077-0785 |
Helen Ward of Decatur Ga ... Thank you for donation. Best Wishes!
Hans' Story
Hans was brought to a shelter after being hit by a car right before Thanksgiving and a local shelter asked for our help. His front paw was "degloved" meaning the skin was torn off; it was severely infected and it was fractured. He was also HW positive. We got him to the vet right before they closed for the holiday, so he could receive treatment. Thanksgiving came early for Hans, that's for sure.
In a couple weeks Hans' infection was getting better. The vet removed his broken teeth and started him on oral treatment for his Heartworms. They determined Hans' paw could be saved but he may lose at least one of his toes. Hans would need skin grafts. Everyone who met him remarked what a friendly boy he was! By Christmas, his paw improved, and was just about at the stage where they can begin the grafts. By mid-January, Hans' paw improved so much it was hard to tell he was in such a bad accident. However, shortly after that, Hans suffered a cartiliginous embolism in his spine. It impaired his ability to walk and he steadily declined. On 2/5/13, Hans passed away due to complications from his embolism. He will be missed by the volunteers who got to know him and especially the staff at Dearborn Animal Hospital, who cared for him and gave him more love in 3 months than he had in his four years.
Hans embodies everything rescue is all about, so we have chosen to name this fund after him, so that we can help more dogs that need extensive medical care.
Thanks to Hans' Sponsors: Lori Green; Doug March;The Kelling Family;Stephanie Sparks; Susan Berkley; Garland R. Burton; Tom & Cathy Barrow; Vicki and Mickey Rosenbaum; Anonymous Donor
In a couple weeks Hans' infection was getting better. The vet removed his broken teeth and started him on oral treatment for his Heartworms. They determined Hans' paw could be saved but he may lose at least one of his toes. Hans would need skin grafts. Everyone who met him remarked what a friendly boy he was! By Christmas, his paw improved, and was just about at the stage where they can begin the grafts. By mid-January, Hans' paw improved so much it was hard to tell he was in such a bad accident. However, shortly after that, Hans suffered a cartiliginous embolism in his spine. It impaired his ability to walk and he steadily declined. On 2/5/13, Hans passed away due to complications from his embolism. He will be missed by the volunteers who got to know him and especially the staff at Dearborn Animal Hospital, who cared for him and gave him more love in 3 months than he had in his four years.
Hans embodies everything rescue is all about, so we have chosen to name this fund after him, so that we can help more dogs that need extensive medical care.
Thanks to Hans' Sponsors: Lori Green; Doug March;The Kelling Family;Stephanie Sparks; Susan Berkley; Garland R. Burton; Tom & Cathy Barrow; Vicki and Mickey Rosenbaum; Anonymous Donor
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Simon
Simon used to be a happy dog. Like most GSDs, he liked to run, chase squirrels, and play ball. Then he got hurt and was picked up by the shelter. He had trouble walking and his back legs crossed.
When GSDRGA met him, it was hard to believe he was a happy dog. But we saw the sparkle in his eyes and agreed to help him. A shelter benefactor made it possible for Simon to have a MRI; it revealed a herniated lumbosacral disc. The disc is bulging outside of the vertebrae, pressing on the spinal nerves. Simon is having trouble walking and is in pain due to the pressure. He needs a discectomy, to remove the herniated disc that’s causing his pain. The cause may be trauma or wear and tear. We don’t know his history, either is possible. Simon’s surgery cost approximately $2600. Recovery period was a few weeks. He's a happy guy waiting on his forever home. Thanks to Simon's Sponsors: Scout, Allie, Sherman & Pop Tart, in loving memory of Kuma and Silly Gurl, Magnolia Smith & Family, John & Talia Hughes with Thor & Nyla, Aura, Idda, Vicki and Mickey Rosenbaum, in memory of Tony, BlackJack, Miles & Riley, Brooke White, Buddy, Jeanne and Harvey, Robbie, Taylor, Spratty, Lisa and Darren Duke, Bella, Porter & Otto, and Dakota. Hope
Hope is a pretty sable female GSD about a year old. When GSDRGA rescued Hope from the shelter, she was terrified of everyone and everything. We believe that's because she was kept outside and used for breeding and, therefore, had little contact with humans. Despite that, Hope is beginning to feel comfortable with her foster family, even though she's still frightened of anyone else. Hope has shown no signs of aggression. She gets along well with other dogs and cats, and she will do well in an active home with children, preferably with another dog. Because she is so shy, a home with previous GSD experience would be best for her.
Hope was heartworm positive when we rescued her but she's been treated. She's been in her foster home for treatment and was showered with love. We're working on obedience training to develop her confidence, but she will also need special training by GA K9 National Training Center, which will include a flood of socialization every day in multiple situations. The program lasts four weeks and costs approximately $2,200. Add that to her heartworm treatments, and you can see that Hope has very expensive special needs. Because Hope is young, we expect her to respond well to treatment and training, but she needs your help. |
Maxwell
GSDRGA learned about Maxwell through a shelter we work with. He is a 2 year old male German shepherd, picked up over Fourth of July weekend, gravely ill. He was very thin, covered in sores, and missing most of his fur. All four of his legs and paws were swollen and purple. This was due to a severe skin infection. He also had Heartworms. GSDRGA gladly stepped up to rescue him and give him the care he so desperately needed. His prognosis was initially grim; we were not sure how long he was on his own and how serious his infection was. But we hoped for the best as Maxwell was pumped full of antibiotics.
The first 24 hours there was not much improvement, but then the swelling in his legs went down and he ate the food our volunteer brought for him. He recovered over the next couple months. His diagnosis was severe allergies. He requires a special diet and supplements for the rest of his life but is happy and active thanks to our volunteers and supporters. About four months after coming into rescue he was adopted to his forever home. We raised over $2200 to cover Maxwell's expenses. |
Gunter
Gunter is 3-4 years old and was rescued from a shelter. He was very sick when GSDRGA rescued him. Gunter was coughing and had a couple sores. The vet felt the sores were from maggots that got into the wounds. His coughing was due to severe Heartworms. After his first treatment, in December, he had a serious complication. But he improved drastically. Gunter recovered from his illness but we soon realized he was not properly socialized. He was afraid of other dogs and wasn't always friendly.
We enrolled him in a training program at GA National K9 Training Center. He worked on obedience and socialization with other dogs, since he did not receive the basics in his previous life. About 5 months after coming into rescue, Gunter found his forever home. We raised over $3000 to cover Gunter's expenses. |
Luke
Luke was hairless when we rescued him, due to severe alleriges and an immunological disorder. Thanks to donations from our generous supporters, in total about $3000, our volunteers were able to get Luke healthy and adoptable in a few months' time, and he went to his forever home. Luke needed us, and thanks to you, we came through.
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