GSD Rescue Indy

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GSD Rescue Indy

Located in Indianapolis IN, GSD Rescue Indy is a no-kill shelter dedicated to saving the GSD breed. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Specializing in fearful, feral, medical, senior, and behavioral, the rescue/sanctuary has saved over 1100 dogs since 2011. German Shepherd Rescue Indy's mission is to save hard-to adopt purebred GSDs in kill shelters in the tri-state area.

17/01/2025

Look at Bear’s cute back foot! His rear foot which was also affected from the coyote trap is healing nicely. 🤘🏻

I don’t have an image of what his front paw looks like. I imagine it’s still very crude as the majority of the damage was done to it.

17/01/2025

Today has been hectic! Bear had his second bandage change and Dr. Tobias is very pleased with his healing. Special thanks to my dear friends, Julie and Lecia, for providing transport to and from VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center saving me hours! I’ve attached the invoice for bandage changes and additional medication.

He needs bandage changes two times per week for another two or three weeks.

Also, today is $5 Dog Food and Vet Care Friday but I’ve been so busy with the rescue and completing orders that I haven’t had a chance to post until now.

I purchased $1200 of dog food yesterday at Wanamaker Feed and Seed and they deliver to the rescue for free!

Lastly, Garrity Stone delivered 15 ton of dusty 12 gravel yesterday to cover all the lovely muddy fence lines! Yuck. They did t charge for delivery either. 😀

Lots going on so sorry for the late post.

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3917818986759920135&created=1711109650.918253&printed=1

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=35TEHBD9VQPDC

Zelle: [email protected]

16/01/2025

Hanging out with Ferrin & Silvie in the overflow kennel. Bonded pair.

14/01/2025

Bear has been picked up and on his way back to the farm. ❤️

14/01/2025

Bear Update:

Dr. Tobias said his wounds look great! She went ahead and removed some of the bone that was extended beyond the others. She’s very happy with his healing.

She expects him to need two bandage changes per week for the next three weeks.

I’d love for him to be in a home where he can get far away from his water bowl since he has to keeep his bandage dry. I’ve placed wage me potty pads all over his kennel but I can’t expect him to not potty while I’m in the main kennel most of the day. Because he’s on various medications, he may need to potty more often.

Again, anyone out there able to help Bear and offer a home permanently first as a foster-to-adopt, please reach out via email.

Thanks!

[email protected]

14/01/2025

Bear Update:
He’s having his first bandage change today after arriving back at the farm. Hoping for a positive update.

He has a bone that needs removed from his front paw so that he can easily place even weight on his foot. Based on the results today. I should know when that procedure is to be expected.

Since I usually go to bed between 1am-2am and he had to be dropped off at 7:30am, thanks to my friend, Julie and Lecia for dropping him off and picking him up today.

An adopter from 2015 expressed interest in Bear however they now live about an hour and half away. This would be difficult for Bear’s continued vet care required at VCA. There’s only one emergency vet care hospital where they live. I want his care to continue with Dr. Tobias for the time being since she’s out her heart and soul into his wound care.

So technically, I’m still seeking an adopter (local, near Fishers, Indiana) ideally. He’s been a sweet boy aside from his little flea bites when I attempt to leave his kennel. It’s minimal but he doesn’t want to be left alone. How that equate in a home, I’m not sure. I can’t see him being contained in a foldable kennel. When I let him outside, he goes directly to the gates or the back door of house on the property to be let in. Makes me sad.

Bear has been subscribed an eye cream due to possible scratch, not a tumor thankfully. He broke one of his canines while at VCA. This does t seem to other him at all. Other than this and two paw injuries due to a horrible human leaving a coyote trap out, he’s a perfect dog.

I’d LOVE to find him a permanent home who is able to easily drop and pick him up for his bandage changes. He would be foster-to-adopt as he still needs neutered and possibly fitted for a potential prosthetic foot for his front paw. This isn’t necessarily for him to use his paw but an added benefit for ease of walking.

Email please: [email protected]
Subject: Bear

12/01/2025

The rescue shares in the grief of Diesel’s passing. The Argawal family would update me over the years after they adopted him in 2017 and their words greatly conveyed the depth of love they had for him.

I briefly spoke with them this morning. I could hear their heartbreak. You don’t get this kind of heartbreak from kinda loving an animal. You get that gut-wrenching pain for giving all the love you have and more.

As much as I struggle to find the most comforting words to seek a semblance of healing, the most I can share is that, we use the term “pass” when one dies.

I believe it is a passage. From one spiritual space to a much brighter one where we all experience a love so incredible, there are no words to describe it in the human language.

My faith tells me there IS a better place. The pain is in the letting go and the belief, that in time, we are all made whole again and we combine in a much happier place. No pain. No aloneness. No fear. Just God.

Thank you Argawal family for adopting Diesel and loving him the way you did. May God bless you and keep you while you figure out your new days and nights with him in spirit. Now, he is with you forever and everywhere.

Much love.

11/01/2025

Merchandise Update:

About 40 packages went out today. The post office was closed yesterday for President Carter’s funeral.

The rest will be packaged and sent out this weekend. You will receive an email from me if there’s an item that is out-of-stock. New merchandise is being completed now and should arrive end of next week.

Thanks to Rachel Houck and Julie Boksa for helping fill the orders. I had a very large order for sweet Hermann merchandise so we were filling the packages as quickly as possible.

I’ll be posting pictures of the actual merchandise and placing them in the online store.

Thanks for your patience. I’ve learned to not order during the holidays and just wait until I have the actual merch before taking orders. The holidays really affected the timeline.

Thanks!

11/01/2025

Here are just a few pictures of Bear and the final receipt.

He has a lot of medication to take and will require bandage changes at VCA about twice a week until his wound fully heals.

He’s hanging in the quiet senior room for now. I’ve been communicating with a former adopter and we’re discussing the possibility of them driving each week for the bandage changes. I should know something in a few days. If they’re unable to adopt him, he will need a family who is able to take him for bandage changes, administer his medication, and keep his wounds dry.

Several staff members at VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center told me how much they loved Bear and that they were going to miss him.

He was able to hang out in their offices which Bear loved. He can apparently jump a baby gate so that is valuable information. He has some separation anxiety but that can be worked on.

A BIG thank you to Dr. Tobias for her hard work saving his leg, repairing his foot and modifying his foot so that he can heal as quickly as possible. Really enjoyed communicating with her throughout this long journey. It’s clear she cares deeply for her patients.

VCA said they would send me a list of donations. I paid the balance today which was covered by the numerous donations made online versus directly to VCA.

Also, Dr. Tobias mentioned there may be a future for Bear with a prosthetic! We’ll discuss when we come to that bridge.

Thanks to all the staff at VCA, Dr. Tobias, all the people that reached out and helped by donating or providing prayers. We still have a little bit to go in our recovery.

Can’t wait to find Bear’s forever home. He’s going to be a someone’s very best friend. ❤️🐾

10/01/2025

Stay tuned!

10/01/2025

Ferrin wanted to remind everyone that it’s $5 Dog Food and Vet Care Friday donation day!

Your donations help continue the ongoing efforts of the rescue to house, feed, and provide vet care for over 55 GSDs, most sanctuary dog who call the rescue its permanent home.

Here’s the links to donate and help:

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3917818986759920135&created=1711109650.918253&printed=1

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=35TEHBD9VQPDC

Zelle: [email protected]

Thank you. ❤️🐾

09/01/2025

The rescue wants to reach out to all its followers in California who are experiencing a horrific fire.

May God keep and protect you and your pets during this scary time.

The rescue is thinking of you!

09/01/2025

Updates:
New electrical circuit completed by Pritt Electric.

Filling merchandise orders.

Bear is coming back to the farm Friday!!!!!

07/01/2025

Two emails within one minute of each other of people wanting to get rid of their shepherd. If I can take care of 50+ PLUS my own by myself, surely people can manage just one.

Next time, consider a (insert partial breed name + doodle) instead of a highly intelligent and loyal breed.

There are trainers. There are dog daycares. There is the internet. There is fencing, crates, dog sitters. Figure it out!

Website and contact form explains that I don’t help owner surrenders and why. I guess they think their problem is somehow more important than a dog sitting in a shelter with limited time to live.

07/01/2025

Where your donations go, Bear Update, and miscellaneous complaints:

The rescue is having a second electrical circuit put in the “second kennel” today. This will allow for a garage heater that will keep the entire kennel nice and toasty.

I have ceramic heater that keeps the kennel warm but when I open the additional area of the kennel for Bear, I’ll need a more powerful heater.

I’ve been preparing Bear’s room since I’ve had no interest in him. This makes me sad. I hate that he has to recover at the rescue and not in a home.

He’s having his bandages changed by Dr. Tobias daily but shes trying to delay the bandage changes to determine how long he can go without them. She’s also cleaning up some of the edges of the surgery site to expedite healing.

Dr. Tobias shared that Bear thrives in human company and that he has shown some stress when the staff leave his room. He barks and jumps up on the walls. He also tugs on their garments as a plea to please not leave.
He can’t really exercise so I’m sure it’s mentally hard on him.

Wish I could find more homes that don’t have existing dogs or want a young dog. Most people tend to want the same thing: pup or under 3 years of age, good with everyone and everything. Catering to specific needs being a rescue/sanctuary is exhausting.

Had a person email me that they wanted an AKC registered pup. Male, all black. They’re going to wait a long time if wanting this very specific requirement from me.

AKC registered doesn’t mean much. Backyard breeds have AKC registered pups. Seen it. Just because you have a registered pup, doesn’t exempt one from having a pup without health issues at some point.

The spirit of rescue is saving those, regardless of age or health concerns. It’s not cherry-picking dogs to satisfy your “customers”: Gosh, this drives me nuts. About 97% of the GSDs the rescue cares for come from my local city shelter. If I had to choose my dogs, about half of those would not come from there. I’d be searching for pups and young dogs without health issues and stellar temperaments.

When the rescue moved to the farm, I decided that half the space should be dedicated to easily adoptable dogs and the other half my beloved sanctuary dogs. This has helped open up space more frequently.

But, a Bear presents themselves. A Harvey. An Alvin. A Chloe. A Beck. A Bella. A Ferrin. Then, I throw out all my self-imposed rules.

Guess I’m feeling frustrated with the world and how many need placement. Saw that my city shelter is again at crisis level. There’s a terrified girl there. I posted her temperament to see if it resonated with anyone but it didn’t. She’s been so heavy in my mind.

In a normal world, you work really hard and long hours and the difference shows. Not with rescue.

I’ve never worked so many hours in my life. At my previous location I worked an average 12 hours per day. I was always home by 10pm. At the farm, I work almost every waking moment. I’ve laid on my couch twice in almost two years; once when I had the flu. The other time, when I just wanted to remind myself what it felt like.

I feel hopeless. How can any rescue keep up with this?

Maybe it’s the winter, short days and long nights. I do hate winter. Maybe it’s Creed. I have so much anxiety worrying about him while I’m up in the main kennel.

I just want to see some hope. I want to see something really good happen so that I finally say, “Thank God”, now I can relax a little. Like, I wake up and the second kennel renovation is complete, it’s easy to clean, all the dogs have in/outs. It’s a perfect 72 degrees, mostly sunny, and a gentle wind from the southwest.

07/01/2025

The rescue is digging itself out of a lot of snow. Sorry for the delay in postings.

Updates later tonight.

At least Alta likes the snow.

05/01/2025

Saint finds happiness in anything that bounces and rolls. He’s such a sweetheart.

He will likely have hip problems due to his odd gait which has been consistent with the entire pack that was rescued last summer after confiscation.

Saint has been adopted by the rescue. 😊

05/01/2025

Rescue Mom said she hates this “crap” but I must admit, I find this stuff awesome!

Signed
-Nasty with small animals, aka Dax

Address

Opening Hours

Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00
Saturday	09:00 - 18:00

Website

http://www.GSDrescueIndy.org/

Alerts

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Videos

Bear

Stay tuned!

Alta

The rescue is digging itself out of a lot of snow. Sorry for the delay in postings. Updates later tonight. At least Alta likes the snow.

Hermann & First Ice Cream

Remembering my boy. 💔🖤

Aside from losing a few toes on his rear foot, the vet believes they can save his back foot aside from any aggressive infection taking hold. Bloodwork looked good. One of his proteins was low button his initial blood loss and current infection, this isn’t surprising. I realize the rescue has asked a lot of followers in terms of excessive urgent vet care. It’s hard to not try when they are so innocent and in desperate need. If you’d like to donate toward Bear’s recovery from a coyote trap, please call VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center directly and mention your donation is for Bear with GSD Rescue Indy. There was a $50 surplus from Emmie’s bill so they applied it to Bear. VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center: 317-578-4100 Location: 7712 Crosspoint CommonsFishers, IN 46038

Likely the last dog of the year to be rescued is urgent GSD, Bear! This poor boy was found caught in a coyote trap. He has a vet appointment on Tuesday at Brookville Road Animal Hospital for possible amputation. We are in route to the farm!

GSD Rescue Indy

Merry Christmas!

Ferrin. For all the critics of my method…you’ve been schooled. #gsd #gsdrescue #gsdsanctuary

Working with Ferrin

He’s the last shepherd at the end of each day. Progress looks different with him. We have no schedule, just day by day slow trust.

Silvie’s pups want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Hapoy Holidays. #gsdpuppy #gsd

Missing Hermann

One of the nice gifts at the farm is being able to see the stars clearly at night. I’ve picked out a star that I call Hermann. It’s very bright and isolated from the other stars. Sometimes when I leave the kennel for the night, I’ll search for his star and say, “Good night Hermann, I miss you.” Then, the very last thing I look at, is his wind chime down at the open field. It brings me comfort believing he’s never truly left but looking over his favorite spots. I’ve began the process of establishing “Hermann’s Memorial Foundation”. I’ll use the money from the foundation and the sale of Hermann merchandise to begin work on a separate area of the farm for dogs like him. I have an existing area that needs remodeled so it makes sense to remodel and expand this area. I recently had a quote for a new pole barn and it was much more expensive than I anticipated. I think it will be a good way for me to heal from this monumental loss. I’ll keep followers up to date. It will be unique as was Hermann. I miss my boy. 🖤

Shelter work

What has to be done every day since all these shepherds’ owners couldn’t make a commitment. Only one dog’s owner passed causing her to lose her home. Such a disgrace.