December Newsletter of the German Shepherd Rescue Trust.



Only ONE week until Christmas - where the heck has the year gone - I dread Christmas in one respect, the dogs that are left on properties due to no boarding kennel space - remember to plan ahead and that won't happen. Every year there are always dogs left on properties, friends failing to check on them, no food, tipped over water bowls, barking through loneliness - the lucky ones get complained about by neighbours to animal control who take them into care - not good if the owner is away for 2 weeks as they are only bound to hold them for 7 days. We are getting more and more calls from animal control and SPCA's out of Auckland for assistance in rehoming. To all the animal control officers and shelters throughout NZ that notify us directly when German Shepherds are in need.. the dogs really appreciate that. For those of you who have helped us out with home checks in places that have been awkward to for us to get to, a million thanks. Your job is not easy and I know you are always very busy so going this extra mile for us to ensure the property is safe is much appreciated.


The long list of dogs on the homes needed page rapidly decreased over the weekend with homes found for them and the remaining dogs have adoption applications pending. It is great to receive the adoption applications but sometimes things get quite hectic and your application may not be replied to immediately as I cannot always be sitting on my computer, or it could, courtesy of xtra spam filter, not even arrive. Please do not be shy in following up via the 'contact us'button if your have not had a response after a couple of days. It would also be appreciated if a landline number could be left in preference to a cell phone number as it is more cost effective to call a landline number. Cell phone number call backs will be done by me either after 7pm or on the weekend when those calls are free for me to make, otherwise my toll bill is very large. 11 lucky dogs have found new homes in the past month, with 3 more coming up for needing homes today. Please check our message board re a female GSD that has been just picked up from a central North Island pound. She has obviously been someone's loved pet, she is microchipped (no record of the number anywhere though) speyed and a lovely nature. It would be wonderful to reunite her with her family for Christmas.

I was delighted that our 10 year old recent home's needed dog found a home so quickly - Senior dogs have such a lot ot offer. They are particularly suited to retired folks who don't want a hyperactive puppy looking for new things to chew, they just want someone to love them and enjoy their remaining years together.

I have a million thanks to all those people who have supported us this year and many who are continuing to support us from previous years.

Our calendar sponsor's Bosch & Petworkz... thank you for making it possible for less outlay and more funds going towards the rescue dogs from the sale of the calendars. Bosch Petfoods, thank you for sending off around the country the food for our out of Auckland fosterdogs. Thanks to each and every one of you who have purchased our fundraising calendar - the proceeds of these go directly to the dogs and helps us get through each year.

Our Friend's in the Hawkes Bay... thank you for the collars and leads you have supplied, along with your ongoing support. All our fosterdogs go off to their new homes with "new clothes" Jake would be proud of you.

Janne... thankyou for the toys/chews and Fatzsack bed plus your wonderful offer of ongoing support.

Our angel in Christchurch who helped immensely with the huge bill for a very sick puppy she had never met. I am pleased to say this puppy is now up to 35kg at 9 months and doing exceptionally well. His life at 4 months literally hung in the balance for several weeks but that is now a thing of the past thanks to you.

Our foster families and home check people - what would I do without you - you are all fantastic.

A huge bouquet to our webmaster Danny and his wife Rachel, who make it possible for you all to find out which dogs require new homes, the message board has brough many people together and friendships have been forged. Nothing is ever too much trouble for Danny and now that I am getting the hang of some things I am not such a pest to him on the technical front.. However Danny I am putting you on alert for my attempts at updating the pages. I have the 'book' and I am getting good at following instructions - all I need now is time to be able to put it all together.

The team at the Forrest Hill Veterinary Clinic, the main caregivers for 90% of the dogs before they go off to their new homes in tip top condition - thank you for your willingness to fit us in at short notice and provide such an excellent level of care to these wonderful dogs. No matter what their initial condition is they are all treated with love and compassion.

Massey Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Palmerstone North - we have had several dogs now that have needed to avail themselves of your wonderful care with repeated visits as they began their road to a healthy state. At least we proved with one dog that all dogs that come into German Shepherd Rescue are not a bag of bones, I do think you were beginning to wonder if we only got walking skeletons. Thank you for the special attention you give us.


Our Christmas Party, what a blast. Beautiful weather, beautiful dogs and some wonderful photos, thanks to Supashotz. We had some great things donated for our raffles and were able to put together several gift baskets, have food raffles and even raffled off Santa on his bicycle.

The dogs all enjoyed getting their Christmas present from Santa and a big thanks to the Mad Butcher for donating 100 cannon bones for each of the dogs to take home.


One interesting thing for me is that I am learning about places I have never heard of before. For some one who has literally no sense of direction I am starting to finally find my way around these places.

On behalf of the Trustee's I would like to wish all of our loyal supporters a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe year ahead in 2008. My New Year's wish is less dogs requiring our help and the ones that do will quickly find a loving forever home.