Hi! My names Gunner. The nice man who picked me up told his Marines about me and they kinda insisted on naming me. But its ok- I like my name and I love where I am now- its such a change from where I was. Ive been living outside alone for seven of my eight months of life. No one visited me, or fed me- I heard the lady at the vet call me a bag of bones. I was full of worms and flies bit my ears so much I had no hair on them. But no more! The man brought me to his house and I can eat whenever I want. Ive gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks and Ive grown the hair back on my ears. I love everybody in the house, including two more dogs that look like me, only bigger. But there is a problem. I need surgery fast. Without it Im going to die, and soon. I have a heart murmur that is causing one side of my heart to get too big, and it doesnt pump properly. The doctor says if we get it fixed I should live a long life, but its expensive. The man says Im priceless. He says other good things about me too: Im sweet and smart and social. Im housebroken and I go in my crate even though I dont really want to. I want him to be proud of me, so I go in. I love it when he says good boy! cause I really want to be one. I am a puppy so sometimes I do stuff Im not supposed to- I like to chew on things, but when he tells me no I dont touch it again. Im learning all kinds of things here: sit, come, stay.Im not too great at stay. I like to be with them. Ive had enough of being alone. Do you have a place in your home for me? I promise I will love you with all my heart. 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.