Dogs
LOST DOG!
Priscilla Jo went missing on or about 8/5/10 from Ballico, a small rural community in Merced County. She's an older, good-sized black and tan female, very sweet and friendly. Microchipped, but not wearing a collar. She may be trying to make her way back to her home in Modesto. If found, please call our tollfree rescue line 877-268-0255 or her owner at 209-341-0513 or 209-402-7716.
Adopting One of our German Shepherds
Requirements for Adopting a puppy
How do we find the dogs we bring into our Rescue Program?
We find them in animal shelters and elsewhere, where they are in life-threatening or unacceptable situations. We look for purebred German Shepherd dogs who have a good temperament and are healthy.
Occasionally we take in a dog with special needs, but for the most part our dogs need only basic care, attention, and love to be adopted.
Adopting One of our German Shepherds
Inside Pet Only
We require that our dogs be part of the family, and spend most of their time inside the home when their family is home. Dogs left outside too much become lonely, bored and frustrated, which leads to destructive behavior. Most of our dogs have come out of that situation, we want to put them into a better situation.
Spayed / Neutered
All our dogs are spayed or neutered. California state law mandates that dogs must be spayed or neutered before being adopted out by a rescue or shelter. See California Food & Agriculture Code Section 30503.
Adoption Fees
Our adoption fees are $350 for puppies 6 months and younger, $300 for adult dogs, and $100 for Special Needs dogs.
Home Visit
We require a physical home visit before we place a dog into a new home, so we are limited to the areas our volunteers can cover. At this time, we are concentrating on the North Bay, Greater Sacramento, Central Valley areas of California, from Sacramento to Merced, and parts of the East Bay.
Out of State
Sorry, we don't adopt out of state. There are many worthy German Shepherds needing homes all over the country, please help save one in your area if you're not in ours.
Adoption Questionnaire
If you are interested in adopting one of our fine dogs, please fill out an Adoption Questionnaire (AQ).
Please fill out the AQ and fax or mail it in to the contact information listed on the right before contacting us about a specific dog. Completed and scanned AQs can be sent to our email contact (quickest method). One of our Adoption Counselors will contact you shortly after we receive your AQ.
If you're planning to attend an Adoption Day, please bring a copy of your completed AQ with you. Thank you!
Puppy Requirements
We rarely get puppies in our program, most of the dogs coming in are adolescents between 1-2 years old. When we do get puppies, we want to make sure they have the very best start in life. Please see our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy. We also have a Supplemental Puppy Questionnaire just for puppies. Yes, we are very picky about our puppy homes, since we see so many adolescent dogs in the shelters who have outgrown their cute little puppy stage and have been dumped at the shelter!
"German Shepherds have great instincts and fertile minds. Lots of activity and exercise will make them happy, but tracking, obedience and agility games—or any task-oriented activity—will make them even happier. A bored or neglected German Shepherd may resort to chewing furniture, digging up flowers and other mischief. "
Available Dogs
Because we do not always know the backgrounds of the dogs in our program, we are unable to make definite statements about their health or temperaments. We can provide only information about our observations of the dog while it is in our program.
Special Needs & Rainbow Fund Dogs
Most of our dogs are healthy and only require normal care. Sometimes we'll find that one of our dogs has special needs or ongoing medical issues, and occasionally we'll bring a dog into our program with ongoing, manageable medical issues. Because these dogs will have ongoing, generally reasonable expenses, the adoption fee for these special dogs is $100. These dogs are listed here:
Shadow has elbow dysplasia, and our vet has told us that surgery will not help him. He'll need a home with people who understand his physical limitations, and he'll probably need anti-inflammatories and pain meds at times.
Linus, around 7 years old, with a mild form of lupus, which will need ongoing treatment with prednisone to keep it in check.
King has perianal fistulas.
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm.
more picturesAngel Soft
Angel Soft is a 7 year old white female. She has a moderate energy level but loves to play chase with other dogs. She is a bit shy at first, but give her rump a scratch and she'll be your friend forever. She alarm barks and is housebroken. Unknown how she is with cats.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesArtie
At almost 100 lbs, Artie is a substantial, impressive-looking 4-year-old. It's a good thing that he is one of the sweetest dogs you could ask to meet! Artie has had good basic training, his house manners are perfect, and he's crate trained. He gets along well with other dogs, and he loves people. However, he does not like small children running around and will grab them by the shirt or skirt to stop the chaos. Fun Police is his chosen profession.
We don't know how he is with cats, so to be safe, we recommend a home without them. Artie will make a great family dog for a household with no small children.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesBart
Bart is a big, beautiful, 2-yr-old, long coat, bi-color, Shiloh-type Shepherd. A happy, energetic, bouncy guy, he is quite strong and needs someone with good handling and leadership skills to keep all that exuberance in check and convince him to obey. Give him and inch, and he will take all he can get. He enjoys sneaking up and stealing anything he thinks might engage you in a game of "catch me if you can." Bart needs plenty of exercise and training, and he would be happy doing some sort of dog sport, such as agility or tracking.
Bart lives nicely with his GSD foster sister but wants to be dominant, so he is probably not a good match with another male. No cats or other small furry critters.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
.Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
more picturesBeatrice
Beatrice is a darling, 4-5 month old, black and tan female puppy. She loves attention, she's very sweet and will give sweet puppy kisses. She has typical puppy energy, but she will find a spot to lie down when things quiet down.
This little girl has learned how to use the dog-door and is mostly housebroken. She's mostly well-mannered in the house, but still is still and puppy and will get into things if left unsupervised. She loves to play with other dogs and gets along with cats, but can be just a bit much for very small dogs. Beatrice is learning how to walk on a leash and needs more work on her basic obedience.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
Please read our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy *BEFORE* filling out an Adoption Questionnaire on this dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $350.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesChloe
Apparently from German show lines, pretty female Chloe has plenty of energy and bounces around enthusiastically. This sweet, sociable girl has lived with small dogs successfully, but then had problems with small dogs in a later home, so we recommend extra caution with small furry critters.
Chloe has gotten along fine with larger male dogs and is doing well with her current GSD foster brother. She will need exercise and training but is housebroken, crate-trained, and cooperative. At three years old, she is athletic and smart and appears to be a good andidate for obedience, rally, and agility.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Chester
Chester is a handsome, mature male who had the misfortune to collide with a vehicle, and end up as an unclaimed stray at the Modesto pound. Even with his badly broken front leg, he was easy to handle and and bore it with stoic reserve typical of well-behaved German Shepherds.
Our vet put in a plate to repair his leg on July 30th, and he's healing up very well. This medium-sized guy is very low energy, housebroken, very well-mannered and trustworthy in the house. He only chews on appropriate dog chew items. However, he's very food-motivated and figures all dog food should be his at feeding time, so he needs to be controlled if there are other dogs around or he'll bulldoze them right out of their bowl. Otherwise, he's tolerant of other dogs and can sometimes be cajoled into playing with cute, young female dogs.
Chester didn't know much of anything when he came into our program, and he's so easy going he hasn't been much of a problem. He doesn't like to be in trouble, so he'll default to a down when he doesn't know what else to do. He stays right on the heels of his person when out and about, and doesn't cause any problems with other dogs or livestock, other than warning off any cattle who get too close to the fence. He loves his people and likes to go for car rides. He can get vocal when left alone.
He doesn't seem to have much prey drive but he hasn't been around cats
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Dexter
Dexter is a cute, moderately active young GSD/Husky mix, around 12-18 months old, dressed in a jaunty sable coat. He was an unclaimed stray from Oakdale, so we we know nothing of his background.
This young man appears to have been an outside only dog, he doesn't have much in the way of house manners yet. He's a a moderate energy boy and is settling in fairly well, however he can be very determined at times. He learns quickly but still wants to push the boundaries. He has learned to Sit for his dinnner and falls into a routine well but still needs a lot of work. He still wants to jump up on people, and he doesn't think much of confinement and still sets up a fuss in a crate.
He tends to avoid confrontation with dominant dogs, and his best buddy is Spike, a very submissive young male. Mostly, Dex and Spike want to hang out with their person instead of with the rest of the pack. Unknown how he is with cats or other critters.
Dexter needs a home with an experienced and decisive owner who knows how to train and continue to socialize a determined young male. He would also like another nice young dog to play with.
.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Eve
Eve is a very sweet, moderately active girl around 5-6 years old who came to us with 8 puppies. She was found running loose, very pregnant, by some good samaritans who had her long enough to whelp the puppies but couldn't keep her. Eve was an excellent mother for the pups, she took very good care of them and was very relaxed about letting anyone pick up and cuddle them, she appeared to have had done this many times before.
This lovely lady is housebroken and very well-mannered in the house. She is very affectionate but not clingy or a licker, and like most German Shepherds, she will follow her chosen person around from room to room. She is very easy-going but is protective enough to warn suspicious strangers to stay away. She appears to have been a family dog, she's good with people of all ages. Eve knows Sit, Wait, Bed, takes treats very gently, loves to go for walks, but isn't crazy about riding in the car at this point.
Eve has been okay with all the other dogs she's met, except at mealtimes. She doesn't want any other dogs around her while she's eating, and will try to run them off. While she's easily corrected, this tendency will need vigilance so it doesn't become an issue. She likes to chase cats that run, but doesn't appear to have serious intent on harming them. She will dig in the backyard if she's left outside, and she has tried to run through the open gate, so she'll need a secure fence until she has decided she's home.
Eve is looking for a moderately active home where she can go on daily walks and has someone around for company most of the time.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesCome and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Eve's puppies
Born on 7/8/10, these cuties will be 8 weeks & 2 days old on Saturday, September 4th, where they will debut at Modesto Adoption Day. Their pregnant mother and probable father were taken in by some good samaritans when found wandering loose. The original owners couldn't be found, so the male German Shepherd was rehomed, and the mother with her puppies came to us when the puppies were 10 days old. They appear to be purebred German Shepherds. These are our preliminary ratings, but they may change as the puppies mature.
Bandit, male, on the smaller side, submissive, very vocal. Level 2.
Diesel, male, independent, confident with the other dogs but can get timid in new situations, okay alone. Level 2.
Harley, male, super mellow, low energy, wants to be with someone all the time, pouts when left alone. Level 2.
Hunter, male, tolerant, focused, energetic and on the go all the time, absolutely needs another dog to play with. Level 2.
Kali, female, confident, very dominant, very affectionate and demanding, moderate energy but an explorer into everything. Level 3.
Kona, female, active & outgoing, first one up and last one asleep, keeps the boys on their toes. Level 2.
Nitro, male, smallest pup, sweet, easy, loves people. Level 2.
Riggs, male, feisty and determined, pack clown, affectionate cuddler, dominant over everyone except sister Kali. Level 3.
Please read our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy *BEFORE* filling out an Adoption Questionnaire on this dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this puppy is $350.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesCome and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Falko
Falko is a cute and affectionate young male around 2 years old, on the smaller size for a male, wrapped in a classic black and tan coat. Falko was an unclaimed stray from Modesto so we know nothing about his background.
This is a very sweet boy who loves his people and is great with people of all sizes. He has a moderate energy level and loves to spend most of his time lying at your feet or following you around the house. He will play with other medium-to-large dogs, but usually won't initate the play. Falko has an extremely high prey drive, absolutely no cats or small dogs!
Falko is housebroken and will sleep in a crate, he knows Sit, Down, Out (Go Outside), and he knows that a leash means "walkies" and loves to go on outings. He's learning leash manners, he pulls a bit at first but then settles down. He occasionally table surfs if food is left unattended and takes his coffee with 3 creams and 3 sugars. He will work for food and will do anything for a treat. He is also quite the talker once he gets excited!
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NO CATS or SMALL DOGS!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesFaust
Faust is a big, beautiful 2 year old male. He was adopted three times from the shelter and returned each time for being "too much dog." It's not that he's bad or a tough dog - in fact, he is very sweet. But he needs strong, no-nonsense leadership.
This boy is physically strong and untrained but he takes correction without resentment. Unfortunately, he does not have the necessary drive and focus to be a serious working dog.
Faust gets along well with the female GSD in his foster home but is definitely NOT good with cats or other small furry critters. Faust needs an experienced owner who has the dedication needed to train this diamond in the rough.
ABSOLUTELY NO CATS OR SMALL FURRY CRITTERS.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Gracious
Gracious is a very sweet girl, around 3 years old, classic black and tan, and on the large size for a female at 85-90 pounds. She was an unclaimed stray from Modesto, and came into our program with horrible skin and itchiness. Her hair has all grown back and her scratching has almost gone.
Grace was apparently a backyard-only dog in her previous life, she didn't appear to have ever been inside a house. She's now housebroken, crate-trained and well-mannered in the house. She knows Sit and Come, Outside, and Get Out of the Kitchen, still working on Down and Stay. She sits politely for meals, and can sleep loose in the house. Grace didn't have much experience riding in vehicles and finds oncoming cars a bit scary, occasionally she still wants to bark and lunge at them while riding in a vehicle unless crated. She would originally spin and try to get away while walking on leash, but has now improved considerably.
She gets along with most people and dogs she's met so far, and likes to play with the resident male dog, and hang out with the girls during down time. Grace has learned to swim and is now learning to Fetch. She has become quite the outdoor enthusiast and loves her outdoor runs, hikes and treks on the trails, as well as trips to the rivers and lakes to play and now swim.
Grace is a serious, quiet dog but will alarm bark appropriately, and will bark at sirens instead of howling. Overall, Grace is low-key but tends to pace and will eventually settle down. Typical of most Shepherds, she follows her person around and keeps an eye on them, but doesn't show any separation anxiety. She will chase little critters, particularly squirrels and chipmunks, and probably would chase cats but she hasn't met any while in our program yet. She was curious about meeting a Chihuahua, but unknown how she would be with small dogs in the same household.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Jayko
Jayko is a very large, classic black & red male, around 8-9 years old. He just had an annual exam, and he’s in great shape and has very good muscle mass for his age. He was recently returned to our program when his owners were transferred out of the area. He has no sign of age other than his grey beard, and he’s always excited to go for his walks every day. He’s very mellow and excellent in the house and backyard, no barking or chewing. He does not like small dogs, but may be okay with the right large dog. No cats. He's fine by himself during the day, and he’s very content to lie on his dogbed and sit by your feet at night. He doesn’t get on the furniture, he’s crate trained, and he enjoys a good squeaker toy. He’s a very well-mannered gentleman who will make a great companion for the right family.
NO CATS or SMALL DOGS!
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
***Jayko needs a Foster home! Can you help?***
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
SPECIAL NEEDS
King is a genial black and tan, mature male. He was an unclaimed stray who was obviously on the streets for a while as he was quite thin when he came into rescue. King has been gaining weight and responding wonderfully to the leadership and consistent handling of his foster family. He's good with other dogs, very athletic, crate trained, house broken, good on a leash, and generally easy to live with.
King's athletic ability showed up almost immediately after coming into rescue. Even without his Super Dog cape, he can clear a 5-foot chain link fence in a single bound! He'll need a secure enclosure when he's outside.
With the help of a fence charger for cattle King has learned to say in the yard at his foster home. One little "bite" on the nose was all it took. We aren't sure this is a permanent fix, he may still test to see if his new fences bite. At least we know he can easily be contained.
Unfortunately King has been diagnosed with Perianal Fistulas, he is responding to treatment and we hope will soon be in remission. This is a life long issue, he will need to be on a diet free of red meat protein and possibly on medication off and on for the rest of his life.
King's adoption fee is $100 due to his ongoing medical issue.
NO CATS. Seriously, NO CATS!
Watch video of King on YouTube.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $100.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
more picturesLinus
SPECIAL NEEDS
Linus is an extra-large, extra-friendly guy who wound up at the Merced pound as an unclaimed stray. He's around 7 years old, and has a mild form of lupus, which will need ongoing treatment with prednisone to keep it in check. Linus was around 115 pounds when he came into the pound, and has trimmed down to a svelte 100 pounds, which still makes him a very big boy!
Linus loves people of all ages, and will walk up and say hello to just about any friendly human. He's fairly well-mannered, walks fairly well on a leash, and in general is willing to go along with the program. He loves to play ball, so he needs a home with some room to chase a ball about. He's currently in a boarding kennel, so we're not sure of his house manners yet.
He seems to get along with other dogs so far, but as a mature male may have his preferences for who he choses to live with. He shows a little too much interest in cats, so probably no cats for this big guy.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
***Linus needs a Foster home! Can you help?***
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $100.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Penny
Sisters Dora, Lola and Penny, were darling little 4-5 month old German Shepherd-wannabes. While we don't know exactly what they're mixed with, they were too cute and too sweet to leave at the pound where they had been exposed to Parvo, and would have been euthanized the next day if we hadn't taken them. They all appear to have some good-sized feet on them, so they'll probably be large dogs when they grow up!
Penny is a lovable and adorable pup now around 5 months old, dressed in copper and black. This little firecracker is smart and eagar to please, as well as being full of puppy energy. She is still learning house manners, but knows SIT, DOWN, COME, and OUT. She walks well on leash and is attentive to people of all sizes. Penny gives sloppy, puppy kisses to everyone and loves her stuffed animals to death.
This girl loves to play, she needs a home where there will be another dog for her to play with. Penny also has the puppy tendency to chew on anything not nailed down (and a few things that are!) She also still has the occasional puppy accident in the house when she gets excited or is kept indoors too long. She lives well with cats and sleeps in the same room with them.
Please read our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy *BEFORE* filling out an Adoption Questionnaire on this dog!
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this puppy is $350.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesShadow
SPECIAL NEEDS
Shadow is a 12-18 month old male. He is a German Shepherd, but you might have to look twice to see it with not one but two floppy ears. With a sleek, shiny, black coat, Shadow is a handsome boy.
Shadow is an easy dog to get along with. He rides nicely in the car, and is crate-trained. He know some basic commands, but could use a little brush up on them and his leash manners. He can be a little timid at times and needs someone who who understands how to instill confidence in a young dog.
Shadow gets along with the other dogs in his foster home, but sometimes plays a little rough as he does not realize how big he is. He likes children, but due to his size, should probably not go into a home with very small ones. Shadow is very reactive towards cats so should not go to a home with cats.
Shadow has elbow dysplasia, and our vet has told us that surgery will not help him. He'll need a home with people who understand his physical limitations, and he'll probably need anti-inflammatories and pain meds at times.
NO CATS.
Watch video of Shadow on YouTube.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $100.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Skylar
Skylar is a cute young thing around 9-10 months old with some of the biggest ears we've ever seen, all the better to hear you with! This sweet girl was an unclaimed stray who came into the Modesto pound with her head all scraped up and an injured front leg, most likely the result of an unfortunate meeting with a vehicle. She still has a slight limp from some minor nerve damage that may heal with time.
Skylar has a happy, outgoing personality, is housebroken and is learning house manners. She gets along with other dogs she's met so far and is okay with cats. She loves playing with her foster dog brother, and would like a home with another dog to play with!
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This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Stella Dee
Stella Dee is a cute young female just around a year old. She's a very striking tricolor, black with white and tan markings. She is very energetic, playful, and loves to be in on all the action. She is patient around little people of all ages, curious about cats, will chase but is easily correctable.
Stella Dee likes to go for walks and will go by herself if not properly supervised. She's good with other dogs although she can be a little pushy, and she's still learning basic house manners. She knows Sit, Down, Off, Leave It, and Out of the Kitchen, but doesn't follow through consistently yet. Stella is very treat and play motivated, and loves tennis balls to death.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Summer
This Summer is a hot one! A pretty long-coat female, two years old, she has lots of energy, is always alert, and needs plenty of exercise but usually will settle down and lie at your side when you’re busy. Summer is crate trained and housebroken and has excellent house manners. She knows basic commands, has good focus and eye contact, and wants to please. She has good ball drive and a good bit of prey drive. She would make a good agility and competitive obedience dog. She appears to have good herding instincts but unfortunately wants to herd motor vehicles!
Summer needs an experienced person who knows how to be firm and yet gentle and patient. If you come down too hard on her, she may panic, yet she needs no-nonsense pack leadership. She is a sweet, affectionate girl but can be pushy, and she will play too rough if wound up, so she is not suitable for a home with young children. Summer habitually plays rough with other dogs and could potentially get in a fight if the other dogs don’t appreciate her style. However, she gets along with the (much larger) resident male dog in her foster home.
ABSOLUTELY NO CATS OR SMALL FURRY CRITTERS.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Come and see me at the Modesto Adoption Day, Sept 4, 11 am to 2 pm
Wotan
Wotan (pronounced Vo' ten) is a 7 year old male. He's a big boy with a big heart. He's so friendly to everyone that he rarely alarm barks. He has a low energy level, but does like to play with other dogs occasionally. He is crate trained (he loves sleeping there or his dog house) and is housebroken. He wants to jump a 6' fence when he's stuck outside, so he'll need to be kept mostly indoors or in a home with a dog door. Unknown how he is with cats.
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Adoption Pending Dogs
more picturesAsher Foster to Adopt!
Asher is an adorably cute and sweet male youngster around 6-7 mos old and comes with a magical tale! He was found by a good samaritan in Patterson who told us he was a 3-4 month old sable German Shepherd puppy. By the time she had traveled the 40 minutes to bring him to us in Modesto, Asher had magically transformed into a gallumping monster of a 6 month old German Shepherd/Anatolian Shepherd (best guess) mix. His outgoing and happy-go-lucky personality was irresistible, so we just couldn't say no!
At the moment, Asher is very easy-going and seems to get along with everyone, but he may mature into a very serious boy according to his genetics. He'll need an experienced home with very strong leadership skills.
Asher is currently a Level 2 but could very likely mature into a Level 3.
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesBowie Foster to Adopt!
They just don't come any cuter than this!
Bowie is a darling, 5-6 month old German Shepherd/Husky mix, with one brown eye and one blue eye like his namesake. He's compact and solid, and has typical puppy energy without being over the top. He was an unclaimed stray from Modesto.
This charming boy has a happy, outgoing personality, and is friendly to everyone he's met so far. His best buddy is Asher, and they play non-stop all day long. Evidently he had a good start in life, as he's well-socialized and happy to be doing whatever the rest of the pack is doing. He's learning house manners, and is a smart boy so he's learning quickly. He already knows Sit, Down, and almost knows Stay, and he's learning how to walk very well on a leash!
Please read our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy *BEFORE* filling out an Adoption Questionnaire on this dog!
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this puppy is $350.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesBrittany Foster to Adopt!
Brittany is a very cute, lively girl around 10 months, old wrapped in classic black and tan. She was an unclaimed stray from Modesto, so we know nothing of her background.
This strong-minded girl was apparently allowed to do whatever she pleased, as she is fairly determined to do things her way. She is currently learning all house manners and only follows 2 commands reliably, SIT and COME. Brittany is an intelligent girl in need of a strong and experienced owner who will continue her training and keep her from getting bored. She wants to go places and do things, and really enjoys her long walks. She loves her people and likes to be near them when in the house.
Brittany can get a little bossy with other dogs, and has strong herding instincts and prey drive. She needs to be closely supervised around playing children, as she'll try to herd them, and would be too much for small children and probably too much for small dogs. She is going to mature into a very dominant female.
Absolutely NO CATS OR CRITTERS!
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesChance Foster to Adopt!
Chance is a big, handsome, easy-going guy, around 2-3 years old with one flop ear. He was adopted out and recently returned when his family had to do too much traveling and had to leave him home by himself too much. Consequently, Chance started going over the back fence and spending the day in the unfenced front yard and porch.
Chance is very well-socialized to people and most other dogs, he loves people of all ages and was gentle around the respectful children in his previous home. He's housebroken, crate-trained, and well-mannered. Like all German Shepherds, he needs leadership, structure, discipline and affection. He's looking for a moderately-active family to love with another dog buddy for company.
NO CATS.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesFrances Foster to Adopt!
Frances is a pretty 2 year old black & tan female, medium-sized at 60 lbs. She was adopted out as a puppy, but had become too dominant over the small dogs in her household. Frances is very affectionate with her people, and has excellent house manners. She's housebroken, crate-trained, and has had basic obedience training. She is calm and has a moderate energy level.
Frances has lived in a multi-dog household, and loves to play, but plays far too rough for small dogs. She has strong prey drive, and needs a home with no small dogs or cats. She is a typical, bossy female with other dogs, and is quick to discipline them. She can be reactive to strange dogs, so she'll need someone who understands how to nip that in the bud.
She loves to be with her people, whether inside or outside, is an enthusiastic hiker and she adores car rides! She has a fun side and can keep her owner laughing at her antics.
NO CATS or SMALL DOGS.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! | Foster me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Gambit Foster to Adopt!
Gambit is an adorable, feisty boy dressed in black and tan with a white blaze on his chest. He's about 3-4 months old, full of puppy energy and curiosity.
This little guy is smart and attentive, he has already learned Sit and is learning Outside and Down. He is somewhat house-trained, but still has occasional puppy accidents by the door. He is also learning to walk on lead, however he's very determined to do things his own way, and will just as often put his smarts to work trying to figure out ways to get out of doing what he's asked. He loves people of all sizes, he greets his humans enthusiastically at the door, and he loves treats and rope.
Gambit is a typical puppy and loves to play with other dogs, however he tries to control the action and dominate the other dogs. He also will try to control children, and demand attention by grabbing at hands. He's going to mature into a dominant dog, and will need a home with a lot of experience raising stong-willed puppies, and with very strong leadership skills. Although he's currently living with cats, he needs constant management as he has a high prey drive.
Please read our Requirements for Adopting a Puppy *BEFORE* filling out an Adoption Questionnaire on this dog!
This dog is a Level 3 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this puppy is $350.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesHarvey Foster to Adopt!
Harvey is a 1-2 year old male, all dressed in typical GSD colors of black and tan, with just a hint of something else in him. He's a compact boy, moderate energy level, and was an unclaimed stray from Oakdale so we know nothing of his background.
He was apparently an outside only dog, so he's learning house manners and some basic obedience. He's outgoing and very friendly with people, and friendly with other dogs he's met so far. Harvey is quite the drama queen, he tends to vocalize over every little thing, so he's definitely not the strong, silent type! Harvey would like a home with a family to keep him busy and another friendly dog to play with.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesTucker Foster to Adopt!
Tucker is a handsome young male, around a year old, in a shiny, jet black coat. He has immense paws and huge bone, and will be a huge boy when he's all grown up. He was an unclaimed stray from Modesto.
His easy-going nature and sweet temperament are hard to beat. He's affectionate without being sloppy or clingy. He's a laid back kinda guy and gets along with everyone and everything he's met so far, including cats.
He's learning manners and obedience, and is very easy to train and correct. As long as he's given some leadership and guidance, he'll be an outstanding ambassador for his breed.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
Winston Foster to Adopt!
Winston is a 2 year old male.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
more picturesZephyr Foster to Adopt!
Zephyr is an adorable, sweet and very high energy male Belgian Malinois around 10 months old. He loves to play ball but has no working drive, and loves to play with other dogs.
Zephyr is being fostered in Oakdale.
This dog is a Level 2 Dog!
NOTE: This dog is in a Foster-To-Adopt home. This gives prospective adopters 30 days to foster the dog in their home before adopting. We actively encourage Foster-To-Adopt!
| Sponsor me! |
Adoption Fee on this dog is $300.
We require a home visit by one of our volunteers.
We adopt to the North Bay, Greater Sacramento area, Central Valley down to Merced, and parts of the East Bay, resources permitting. Regrettably, we are unable to return phone calls from outside those areas.
**Please note that we are unable to answer phone inquiries on individual dogs without an Adoption Questionnaire on file. If you have trouble downloading the form, please EMAIL us so one can be sent to you.
Thank you for visiting!
GCGSR Dog Rating Levels
All German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs):
- Are intelligent, energetic, powerful, alert, bossy, noisy and mouthy (like to use their teeth)
- Are protective, possessive and territorial, and usually won’t let strangers walk in the door
- Are control freaks with strong herding drive (instincts), and usually have strong prey drive
- Shed all year long, and will shed twice as heavily in the spring and fall
- Need socialization, structure, leadership, exercise, training and affection
- Need to be made a part of the family, and are not good as outside-only dogs
- Need a purpose in life, or will find their own amusements by barking, chewing, digging and escaping
The Dog Rating Levels are based on the GSD’s inherent drives, confidence, attitude and personality. The higher the Rating Level, the more confident and demanding the dog is, and the more of everything the dog will require. Young dogs under 2 years old will probably mature up a Level. Don’t mistake a smaller size for an easier dog!
Note: Any dog can exhibit atypical behavior under stressful conditions.
- Very submissive, born followers not interested in taking a leadership role. Willing to go along and get along, and try to avoid trouble. Sweet, soft, mellow or timid, can easily be overwhelmed.
- Usually Low to Moderate Energy. May need socializing, housebreaking, house manners. Suitable for senior or sedentary households, will enjoy occasional walks, trips in the car, or light play sessions.
- If needs are not met, can become clingy, needy, fearful or overly-submissive. Can submissively urinate, can develop Separation Anxiety.
- This level is rare for this breed.
Level 2 – Moderate & Adaptable
- Balanced mix of confidence and submissiveness. Middle of the road dogs, fairly eager to please. Will occasionally test leadership abilities, but really don’t want to be the leader.
- Usually Moderate Energy, can range from Low to High, which can be satisfied with daily walks and play or training time. Need some basic obedience lessons, then may need occasional refresher courses.
- If needs are not met, can be insecure leaders and can become overly protective, possessive, and territorial. Can develop Separation Anxiety.
- This level fits the widest variety of households.
Level 3 – Confident & Challenging
- Confident with very little submissiveness, standard breed temperament. Assertive and pushy, will challenge leadership status. Independent problem-solvers that will try to out-think their owners.
- Usually Moderate to High Energy. Need a job, with physical and mental exercise regularly for life.
- If needs are not met, can take over household in a hot second. Can become destructive or escapists.
- This is the most common level in rescue.
Level 4 – Competitive & Intense
- Very confident, very pushy, extremely competitive, adrenaline junkies. Usually ball, toy or prey obsessed. Very high drive and high focus, will often scream, whine and nip in frustration to DO SOMETHING, NOW!
- Very High Energy, always in high gear. Need several hours of physical and mental challenge every day, live to outwit, outplay and outlast everyone else. Never slow down, never wear out, never shut up.
- If needs are not met, can become obsessive and very destructive.
- Ideal for working K9 dogs or for competitive dog sports such as agility, flyball, herding and Schutzhund.
- Supremely confident, have high energy, high focus, and high fight drive. Love to fight, and willing to back everything up with their teeth. Serious dogs who measure everyone for weakness. True tough guys, will never give up and will go down fighting.
- Very High Energy. Needs highly structured life with a full-time job. Not suitable for the family home.
- If needs are not met, can bite and become dominantly aggressive.
- We will never knowingly bring this dog into rescue.
Adoption Days: Come Visit Us!
From 11 am to 2 pm every month, rain or shine, at these locations!
First Saturday of every month in Modesto:
Petsmart
2100 McHenry Ave
Modesto CA 95350
(209) 574-0441
Second Saturday of every month in Vacaville:
Petsmart
1621 East Monte Vista Ave
Vacaville CA 95688
(707) 469-9066
Third Saturday of every month in Sacramento:
Petsmart
10830 Olson Drive
Rancho Cordova CA 95670
(916) 851-1813
Fourth Saturday of every month in Benicia:
Pet Food Express
838 Southampton Road
Benicia, CA 94510
(707) 748-4477
Every Sunday in Santa Rosa from 12 noon to 3 pm:
Petco
2765 Santa Rosa Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
(707) 566-7900