13/03/2023
THE POUNDS ARE FULL, AND WE CAN'T SAVE THEM!
We are being inundated with requests for help to rescue German Shepherds across the state, so much so that we are finding ourselves having to say no to all non-urgent requests. We just don’t have the resources to take on all of these dogs, people expect us to pick up the pieces for them and to ‘give their dog a better life’.
We don’t have a shelter, we don’t have kennels, we have no facility to hold all of these dogs we are expected to help, we can’t possibly take them all. We are not the only rescue in this position, most are in the same boat, the only way we can take dogs in under urgent circumstances is by putting them into foster care with our volunteers, into people’s homes…. But we are running out of foster carers... in fact, as of 2 days ago, we have run out! Every time we get a call to take another dog urgently, we find ourselves wondering where could we possibly put them.
Most rescues like us, have no choice but to say no, so people are dumping their dogs, or surrendering them to pounds, they end up in places where the dogs have a time limit, or they don’t pass the required behaviour tests and are not ‘rehomeable’ – the only option for these dogs… is for rescue groups to take them...urgently…. Can you see how this is a vicious cycle?
The pounds are full, and we are receiving daily requests to help, if we say no, these dogs face euthanasia… all because their humans have failed them and left it to be someone else’s problem. So, what is the solution? How can we miraculously take in every dog? How can we save them all? The sad reality is that without foster carers we can’t.
We are in desperate need of foster carers, particularly those with German Shepherd experience and a home without young children and other animals. We always welcome in foster applications from all family situations, but unfortunately most of the dogs we are rescuing have not been socialised with other dogs or need time to decompress away from others, they want to chase cats or they have no manners and will mouth and jump up. We wish we could control the types of dogs that need our help and that we had a perfect foster dog for everyone who so kindly offers, we often get backlash why people with babies, cats and other dogs haven’t been asked to take on a dog… it is rare that people dump or surrender well behaved, 'perfect' dogs.
These 6 dogs pictured, are currently in pounds waiting for a place in rescue… waiting for a foster home to be available. Here we have 2 pairs… which is even harder to find someone willing to take. Their time is limited, they don’t have any other options than for us to take them, and right now, we are having to say ‘we will try our best’ knowing that under current circumstances, it is impossible that we will be able to take them all. How do we decide who to take and who to leave behind? It is a heartbreaking but very real decision we are being faced with.
If you have ever considered fostering, now is the time… we need you! These dogs NEED YOU!
Do you:
🐾 Have large breed experience
🐾 No small children
🐾 No cats or farm animals or an ability to separate permanently
🐾 No other dogs or an ability to separate
🐾 Secure fences
GSRV supplies the food, bedding, equipment and pays for all medical bills; we just need wonderful people to supply the unconditional love that these dogs deserve.
If you can provide all of this and open your home and heart to a German Shepherd in need, then we are begging you, please submit a foster application form via our website and we will be in contact. If you are not in a position to foster, please help spread the word, we are desperate!
www.gsrv.com.au/pages/adopt
