Bruno was a stray found wandering in the area for several weeks. He was clearly someone's dog and I suspect he was abandoned. When he was at the shelter he was constantly looking for his person and showed no real interest in anyone else. After a few days in foster care he began transferring his attention and devotion to his new foster dad. I have the feeling that this was a one-man dog and he is pretty much indifferent to everyone else. He was from a rural area and probably didn't have a lot of worldly experience or exposure to a lot of people. He tested fine with both dogs and cats, indifferent to both, but that was in his shell-shocked shelter phase, so we are still waiting for the dog's full personality to come out. I can't say a lot about him at this point except that he's a handsome dude, quiet,and very attentive to his person. He needs a new coat of healthy hair, but this is a great looking dog. I don't think he had been crated previously, but he took to it quickly. I can't vouch for his house manners, so an adopter should be prepared to use a crate. A leash was new to him but he's gotten a lot better in just a few days. 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.

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