Help the Shepherds

Hey, Everyone! We just checked the website of the rescue where we got our wonderful boy Cal (Westside German Shepherd Rescue) and were reading about their dire situation. It sounds like they have been hit really, really hard this month and are desperate for help. They have the most amazing people working so tirelessly, and we've been so impressed with how much they do to help all the dogs they can. If you can spare even just $10, I know they would greatly appreciate it. (Even when I have sent them just $10 here and there I've gotten personal Thank You's from the head of the rescue, Robin. They really do need anything you can spare.) This is one of those charities where you can be certain that every penny is going directly and immediately to help the cause. The link to the Westside German Shepherd Rescue is above and to the right.

And if you know anyone interested in a great German Shepherd, it seems from their "Tails of Joy" page that they adopt dogs to all over the country! When you adopt a dog from a rescue you allow them to get another dog out of a high kill shelter or give funds to a dog with serious medical issues, often due to neglect and/or abuse. So, you really get to save two dogs at once. (After bringing Cal home I heard from his foster Mom that she immediately took in two more dogs!) Plus, you get a prescreened purebred dog or an adorable mixed breed for a bargain donation price!

For proof of how fabulous this organization is, check out their "Tails of Joy" link at the top of their home page. Cal (called "Simon" by the rescue) and Gracie are on page 39 (you can click on whatever page you want), and I also love Kilo's story on page 41.

A Couple Visual Aids:
Gracie and Cal sharing the backseat (in my little Jetta!) on our ride home from L.A. after adopting Cal. (Yes, I took this over my shoulder while sitting in traffic!)


Cal, the day after his adoption showing us his perfect "sit".


P.S. Why German Shepherds you might ask? There seems to be a massive over-population here in Southern California, probably due to over-breeding. There also seem to be quite a few irresponsible breeders in L.A. who dump non-breed standard dogs in kill shelters rather than finding them homes. (These are pure-bred dogs that aren't show quality or don't have the typical shepherd looks.) That is probably what happened with Cal due to his floppy ear and long hair, and possibly what happened to Gracie, too. Add this to individuals who, for whatever reason (and you'd be surprised how fickle these reasons sometimes are), give up their dogs to the rescues, and you have a HUGE problem of sweet, adoptable pets with no homes.

At any one time, both the Westside L.A. Rescue (where we got Cal) and Orange County Rescue, which are only an hour away from each other, EACH have 40 - 90 dogs available for adoption. And I know the Orange County Rescue alone has placed almost two hundred dogs in homes just in 2007! Yet they still constantly get calls from kill shelters about beautiful, adoptable shepherds that are being put down only due to a lack of space at the shelters. However, the rescues can only take in so many due to their own financial restraints and space. So, this breed in this specific part of the country needs a lot of help.