German Shepherd Rescue of
Sacramento Valley

GSRSV Home

About GSRSV

What's New on Our Website?

Dogs Available for Adoption through GSRSV

Dogs Available for Adoption from Other Area Rescue Groups and Individuals

Dogs Available for Adoption at Northern California Animal Shelters

Dogs Available for Adoption through Owner Placement

Lost and Found

How to Adopt a Dog from GSRSV

How to Place a Dog through GSRSV

Become a Foster Caretaker!

GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook

In Memoriam 

Is a German Shepherd the Right Breed for You?


Non-Fostering Volunteers & Donations Needed!

Other German Shepherd Rescue Web Sites & Resources

GSRSV'S 2009 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2008 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2007 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2006 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2005 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2004 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2003 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2002 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2001 Rescue Record

GSRSV's 2000 Rescue Record

Happy Connections

 

 

German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) is a one-person operation dedicated to finding good homes for German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes whose caregivers can no longer keep them or which are confined in animal shelters. I am presently focused on placing dogs whose caregivers can no longer keep them. A "full house" of dogs at my rescue facility, and lack of foster caretakers limits my ability to rescue from shelters. If you're interested in becoming a foster caretaker, please contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com.

If you are looking for a wider selection of purebred German Shepherds, please visit the Websites of both German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California and Greater California German Shepherd Rescue.

How to find a dog to adopt from this Web site:

  1. Click on the four selections in large font in the menu to the left, starting with “Dogs Available for Adoption through GSRSV.”
  2. If you’re interested in adopting a dog available through GSRSV, read the page “How to Adopt a Dog from GSRSV.” That page describes my adoption process, and includes my adoption questionnaire and adoption contract. Please hold off from filling out the adoption questionnaire until after the next step! 
  3. If you’re interested in adopting a GSRSV dog, contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com to learn more about the dog. (You will likely receive a much faster reply by calling than by sending an e-mail message.) If the dog seems like a good match for you, Brian will ask you to fill out and submit the GSRSV adoption questionnaire.
  4. If you’re interested in adopting a dog from another rescue group, an owner, or a shelter, contact the person or shelter listed for that dog.

Sandra's short, sweet life came to an end on June 18. Though she won her battle with calcium deficiency, she succumbed to kidney failure at only 7½ months of age. She was a happy dog who won everyone's hearts.

Thank you to all those who helped with Sandra's veterinary expenses. 

Another angel called home.......

 

If you have or plan to adopt a GSD, you NEED to know about "bloat!" Please read the info below.

Gastric dilation/volvulus, more commonly known as "bloat", is an all-too- frequent, fatal event for German Shepherds. Basically, gastric dilation refers to a condition in which the dog's stomach fills up with air due to various circumstances. The dog's abdomen becomes visibly "bloated", and causes great discomfort. If the bloat persists, often what happens next is volvulus--the stomach literally rotates on its intestinal axis, shutting off the blood supply both to and from the stomach. At this stage, the dog usually has only hours to live, and the condition must be treated surgically. The sooner the dog is treated, the better its chance for survival and full recovery. 

Learn how to avoid bloat in your dog, and how to recognize the symptoms. Please click on this link to open a very informative Webpage about bloat. I recommend printing the article and placing it where you can immediately access it if you suspect that your dog is experiencing bloat. Click on this link for a printable MS Word version of the article.

 

Urgent Foster Appeal:
"Cutie & Daisy", Butte Humane Society
Scheduled to be Euthanized 7-7-09
Posted 7-1-09

"Cutie & Daisy" are two GSD mix sisters who were surrendered by their abusive male owner to the Butte Humane Society late June. The sisters are both very timid of people and undersocialized with other dogs, but have shown no aggression towards either. 

The adoption specialist has been working w/ Cutie & Daisy to draw them out of their shells, but it has been slow going in the shelter environment. Due to space limitations, the specialist has only until July 7 to find a foster home for the dogs or miraculously make them "adoptable." 

Cutie and Daisy will certainly make faster emotional progress in a foster home, but it will still be a long process, and will require a lot of patience and TLC. 

Please contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com.

 

Adoption/Foster Appeal:
"Rocky II", Yuba County Shelter
Posted 6-23-09

"Rocky II" is a big, handsome 3-yr old male GSD who was surrendered by his owner along with a Siberian Husky  on 6-22 due to them killing his mom's chickens (no big sin for such dogs). 

Please see the page Dogs Available for Adoption from NorCal Animal Shelters for shelter contact information and the dog's ID number. 

If you're willing to foster this dog for GSRSV, please contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com.

 

Adoption/Foster Appeal: 
"Sugar", Sac County Shelter
Posted 6-15-09

"Sugar" is a super-friendly, playful adult female GSD mix at the Sac County shelter on Bradshaw Rd. She's been there since 6-05.

Please see the page Dogs Available for Adoption from NorCal Animal Shelters for shelter contact information and the dog's ID number. 

If you're willing to foster this dog for GSRSV, please contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com.

Ouch! Another Rescued Dog Takes a Big Bite of GSRSV Finances!

"Raja", a friendly, 8½-yr old male GSD that GSRSV rescued on April 18 after his owner passed away, had to undergo emergency surgery April 26 to treat a life-threatening condition called gastric dilation/volvulus--commonly referred to as "bloat."  The surgery and follow-up care cost $2600. I didn't hesitate to approve the surgery for Raja, because if I didn't, he would have died that night. The surgery was very successful, and Raja was tugging on the leash as he left the hospital just two days later. The doctors don't anticipate any post-operative complications.

Raja is the second dog I've rescued so far in 2009 whose veterinary expenses have exceeded $2600. Won't you please help me bear this financial burden by making a donation to GSRSV? 

Please either make a check out to GSRSV, or click on the Pay Pal "Donate" button below. If writing a check, mail to:

GSRSV
PO Box 652
Pleasant Grove, CA 95668

Thank you very much for your support!

My most recent adoptions were Shep to the Rotella family of Rancho Cordova; Betsy to Jessica & Trey Parsons of Carmichael; and Piper to Lauren & Kathryn Thompson of Roseville.
So far in 2009, GSRSV has rescued 18 dogs and placed 17 dogs (12 of which I rescued in 2009). See my 2009 Rescue Record.
In 2008, GSRSV rescued 19 dogs and placed 21 dogs (17 of which I rescued in 2008). See my 2008 Rescue Record.

 

Before You Consider Adopting a Dog from a Rescue Group (including GSRSV), Please Consider Adopting One from a Shelter! 

Though there are certain advantages to adopting a dog from a rescue group, those dogs are safe. Those in shelters are at high risk of euthanasia! If you don't already know, you'd be horrified to learn about the  number of beautiful German Shepherds that are euthanized every week at Sacramento area shelters. 

Petharbor.com, a Website that lists dogs (and other animals) in shelters nationwide, has an amazing feature that makes searching for particular types of dogs in shelters of your choosing MUCH EASIER! The feature provides free, daily e-mail notices (with pictures) of any dog(s) that meet your specifications at the shelters that you've specified. The feature is free, lasts for 30 days, and is instantly renewable! Please click here for directions on how to subscribe to Petharbor.com's shelter animal search feature.

Also, see the page "Dogs Available for Adoption at Sacramento Valley Animal Shelters." Though it never lists more than a fraction of the GSDs in area shelters, it does provide the contact information for many of the shelters.

Please Remember that Most Dogs with Rescue Groups Come from Shelters Themselves!

Take a look at the
"slide show" link here, and you'll see what happens to many perfectly adoptable dogs--including German Shepherds--at shelters. Caution! This slide show illustrates a tragic real-life event at a shelter in Atlanta, GA--the same event that takes place everyday in Sacramento-area shelters. The slide show will likely make you very sad--which it should. Please forward the link to anyone you know who might not understand the everyday tragedy at animal shelters nationwide.

Thank you to the nice folks at Camp Bow Wow in Elk Grove for boarding two GSRSV "program dogs" free-of charge! Camp Bow Wow is a doggy daycare/boarding facility that  emphasizes communal play amongst the dogs. They really care for the dogs there and the facility is immaculately clean. Please consider boarding your dog there, and if you do, tell them GSRSV recommended them!

Feature: 
GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook!
Send me your favorite photo and/or story of the dog(s) you adopted from GSRSV, and I will post them on the new GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook page. Mail pictures/stories to Brian Foran at bab43@msn.com

Los Angeles Strives to Implement a "No-Kill" Policy for Its Animal Shelters

Read this uplifting editorial by Ed Boks, Director of L.A.'s Dept of Animal Services. Wouldn't it be uplifting if Sacramento's shelter administrators (including the SPCA's) and politicians had the will to pursue such a policy--and allocate the $$ to make it a reality?


Springtime, Inc., is a manufacturer and retailer of amazingly effective, all-natural, reasonably priced nutritional supplements for dogs, horses and humans. I have regularly given a few of Springtime's supplements to the GSRSV dogs for years, and enthusiastically endorse these products--particularly "Joint Health" and "Fresh Factors." Please visit Springtime's Website, and if you place an order with them as a result of this referral, please mention that you learned of their company through GSRSV. I do not receive any commisions--I just want the people at Springtime to know that I'm sharing the word on their products.

Older Rescued Dogs Make Wonderful Companions!

Think that an older dog will not make a good family companion because it's set in its ways?" Think again! Older dogs, more so than younger dogs, live to please their caretakers. Furthermore, symptomatic hip dysplasia in older German Shepherds is far less common than believed, and mild dysplasia is readily treatable with supplements. For an excellent information resource on older dogs, see the Senior Dogs Project Website, and their"Top Ten Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog." 

In Memory of Sage
? - August 10, 2004


"Sage" was my #1 dog, the successor to my long-time German Shepherd friend Buddy. I rescued Sage from the Sac City Shelter on September 13, 2002. He was a mature dog (8- 10 yrs old), but healthy and full of life. Originally, Sage was one of many GSRSV dogs up for adoption. However, he quickly won my heart with his devotion and adoring eyes. Soon, Sage was off the Website and in the house, sleeping right next to me.

Sage was a model to break all the myths about adopting an older dog: he bonded immediately with me, was very obedient, and adjusted well to several different boarding situations. There were times when I had to remind myself that Sage did not spend his entire life with me.

It is heartbreaking to lose Sage, but the happiness that dog brought me outweighs the heartbreak by any measure. In Sage's memory, I ask this of all prospective adopters: PLEASE consider adopting an older dog. Old dogs don't stand a chance in the shelters, and rescue groups are hesitant to pull older dogs from the shelters, knowing that they will likely not be able to find them homes. Old dogs are so grateful for the gift of love and a home, you'll never regret adopting one.

So long, Sage. I loved you so much.

ABOUT FOSTERING DOGS

Is fostering a dog a sacrifice? NO! It is a pleasure! 

The rewards of knowing that you've saved the life of a sweet, beautiful German Shepherd dog (or any other breed), and made that dog feel loved, are MUCH greater than whatever inconvenience the dog may cause or the pain of letting him or her go to a new home. 

If you, the German Shepherd-loving populace, will not extend a helping hand to the numerous German Shepherds housed in area shelters and facing euthanasia, WHO WILL?

PLEASE consider fostering a German Shepherd for GSRSV! See the page Save a German Shepherd's Life: Become a Foster Caretaker

 

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Please Make a Donation!

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Since February 2001, Brian Foran has funded GSRSV primarily on his own. Donations have played--and continue to play--a huge part in keeping GSRSV afloat, as adoption fees are a drop-in-the-bucket compared with the costs of running a large rescue program.

Please consider making a cash donation* to GSRSV today, either by clicking on the PayPal button below, 

or by mailing a check, made out to GSRSV, to: 

GSRSV, PO Box 652, Pleasant Grove, CA 95668.

* GSRSV is presently not registered as a 501-c-3 charitable organization with the IRS; consequently, your donations are not tax deductible by law.

Any size donation is appreciated. Please help in any way you can!

 

Read a heartwarming short story about
Best Friends.

Questions regarding German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley or this Website should be directed to Brian Foran, 916-655-3125, or you can write us at:

GSRSV
PO Box 652
Pleasant Grove, CA  95668

Thanks also to    and   
for hosting respective GSRSV homepages with a list of our dogs on their Websites. 


 

This site is hosted by , an information technology business event notification and resolution firm in Pleasanton, CA (www.alarmpoint.com). Many thanks to Troy McAlpin, Alarm Point's President & CEO  and a former GSRSV adopter, for graciously carrying GSRSV's Website on Alarm Point's servers since 2001.  

   

Last modified: Wednesday July 01, 2009