Some dogs simply have a special something about them. Oliver is one of those dogs. Coming into MAGSR as a stray, Oliver clearly hadn't experienced the type of life he so clearly deserves. He lacked socialization and the proper care all dogs need. Since his arrival this impressive boy has made incredible strides in a short amount of time. In his foster home Oliver has had the opportunity to become both housebroken and crate trained. He has discovered the joy of toys and will even entertain himself. Having entered into a large pack, Oliver has adjusted fantastically to the male and female foster fur siblings with which he currently lives. His easy-going and somewhat submissive personality have helped him easily adjust to pack life in the home. 

Oliver's fosters are working with him daily to develop his leash manners as well as gain experience with the outside world. They are impressed with how quickly he is learning about and adjusting to the world around him. Although Oliver continues to need some time when warming up to new people, his sweet and playful personality slowly shines through. We are sure that Oliver will thrive in a patient household that will provide him with the guidance and training all dogs need in order to become good canine citizens. If Oliver sounds like a great addition to your family, please inquire about him today. 

Oliver was returned to MAGSR because he was protective of his human and home and his family would not put him away when guests were over. Oliver also was out unsupervised, jumped the fence and had gotten loose numerous times and had many unsupervised field trips around the city, sometimes not returning for hours. Oliver was not managed properly and he is lucky to still be alive. Oliver needs someone who will work with him to keep him contained and manage him by putting him away in a secure room and/or crate when people come to the home. If your willing to give Oliver a try, please ask to meet him.

Oliver has had his world turned upside down the last couple of weeks. Oliver is a big softie and loves belly and butt rubs. Since his return to MAGSR, Oliver has been friendly with everyone he's met. He can be stubborn too when given commands, but our volunteers are working with him on this. Oliver needs someone who will commit to him, keep him contained and work with him. Could that someone be you?

Oliver has settled in nicely with his foster family and established a quick bond, especially with his foster mom.  Oliver’s calm and charming personality make him a great company.  No potty training needed; he lets you know when, and handles his foster parent’s 8-9 hour workday without a hitch.  Oliver is fully house-trained and house-friendly – he remains calm in the house, does not bother any home items, and is trained to not get on any furniture. He is not a chewer and is not even interested in chew toys.  He is sharing the house with a 12 year old Irish Wolfhound mix who has admittedly been a grumpy, jealous, and competitive pest to Oliver, but Oliver has been calm and cool throughout. They get better every day, and the humans enjoy seeing them snoozing side-by-side by the fireplace. 

Oliver is a terrific walker. Well behaved, willing to stay at heel/left. He pays zero attention to the other neighborhood dogs with underground fences, even when they charge towards him. When walking through a familiar neighborhood, he has excellent leash manners. When hiking in a park or through the woods, the new sites and smells are far too exciting and some leash corrections are needed as he much prefers to roam and explore.  He is an enthusiastic runner but is perfectly happy with just a walk too. Oliver is also great in a vehicle and long trips are not an issue, but he needs some work to get in, which should improve with practice, time, patience and commitment.

This sweet pup is a keen observer and a quick learner.  He knows “sit”, “down”, “wait” (letting his human go through doors first), and his foster parents are working with him to be more consistent with “come.”  He responds very well to calm approaches and positive praise; less so to assertive commands, as he is stubborn. He is eager to make his foster mom happy and pays attention to what will earn him praise. It should be noted that Oliver is an impressively skilled escape artist, which can be managed with additional security measures (not relying on a simple door latch or crate closure; locks over any basic latches). While he does not get into anything in the house, he is motivated to get out of enclosures. The foster family persists with crate training as all of MAGSR’s fosters do, but Oliver much prefers the extra space in the mud room. He also seems perfectly fine with the run of the whole house. He prefers learning and working over playing. The foster family has found much humor in Oliver’s attempts to outsmart them. The chess match with Oliver is a great deal of fun. If Oliver sounds like a good fit for your future, please ask to meet him!

Oliver cannot seem to catch a break.  He has been returned as his adopters have decided he will not make it as a service dog.  The adopters were told upfront that he most likely would not be suitable as a service dog, but they assured us they would keep him no matter what.  Well, they failed Oliver and he is now back with us looking for a forever family.   

Young Sheeba has greatly benefited from her 13 weeks of professional training at Stateline Canine. Originally, she found herself at a shelter and didn’t know much about interacting properly with the world when she came to MAGSR. But after professional training, she is much more able to enjoyably interact with people and normal daily activities. She is much more observant of her handler now, and has learned basic commands. Her leash skills have also improved a great deal. She has completed on & off leash training and comes with private lessons for her future owners. Sheeba has an awesome temperament and will be a wonderful companion for an active person or family. She needs a home that will give her an outlet for her energy and will follow through with the training. She has a lot of energy and had zero focus and no ability to settle prior to training. She is very social with people and works very well once bonded with someone. Sheeba is ready to move on to a forever home. If you would like to meet Sheeba, she is ready to meet you and your family! Please ask to meet Sheeba today!

Raina is settling in to her foster home. She is fine walking outside if she can be sandwiched between her humans but will continue to build confidence and work on her leash walking skills to perfect those to walk in a perfect calm heel. At this time, Raina is scared of many dogs she sees - her foster suspects that she was not treated kindly by some of the other dogs and maybe over time, she’ll settle. Raina loves food and eats beautifully being hand fed. Raina is calming down and coming towards her fosters - she responds well to praise. Raina has been great in the house, calm in her crate, and is even beginning to be playful with her parents - she is just lovely. And, most importantly, out of a wide range of options, she has selected her favorite toy - deer antler. Please ask to meet Raina if she sounds like she could be a good fit for your home.
 

Raina is a sweetheart and we are thrilled with the progress she has made in a very short amount of time.  She is very smart and observant, and while she learns quickly, she can test new boundaries with equal wit and speed.  In many ways, she is a playful and curious puppy that makes us laugh every day and is wonderful company.  It is impressive how quickly she adjusted to living in a house!  House breaking was easy - she handles a full work day without a hitch (zero accidents). Raina is calm inside her crate and quiet throughout the night.  Raina has not displayed any food aggression and has no issues with her food bowls.  She continues to be quite treat-motivated and is very gentle about getting her reward. Raina is willing to accept any handling, and while not thrilled with her shower, she is cooperative.   She has been passing her open-environment tests with more and more free space in the house and she can spend many hours looking out the patio window without an event.  Her favorite toys are always nearby and when she is done playing/chewing, we often find her napping with her favorite toy as a pillow.  Deer antler is still the absolute favorite!  While she is not quite ready for supervision-free time, it is expected that she can get there soon.  Yummy food on the counter tempts her to try counter surfing and she has confused a couple fabrics for chew toys but responded immediately to gentle correction.  She is also learning to appropriately share toys, treats, and human attention and affection with the resident dog.  Now that she is experiencing the comforts and positive attention she never had before, who can blame her that she gets a bit jealous and sharing is not on top of her priority list.  Earning positive praise is key to success with Raina and she is a very astute student.  While this girl is lovely inside the house, we have been focusing on confidence building outside and are happy to report that she is no longer reacting to cars, trucks, bicycles, and is even learning to be fine with loud trains.  While she prefers calm walks and hikes in the country, she is learning to navigate busy streets too.  Raina continues to be apprehensive about many dogs but responds well to being redirected by a human she trusts.  Trust with people is earned.  As a smaller dog coming from a terrible situation, she has some skittish tendencies, but they ease daily and she has been friendly with every person she has met.  Her leash walking skills are excellent in a calm neighborhood or when hiking in the country, and she is learning not to pull on busy and distracting streets.  We have started on basic obedience training and Raina is getting more consistent with "come" every day.  Raina has been a gem and as her confidence builds she is growing into the spunky pup that she was always destined to be.   Every day, her personality comes out more and we enjoy exploring new things with her.  Ask to meet Raina today!

My foster mom tells me that I have some fans and I wanted to give this week’s Raina update. I have been having only the best kind of adventures. My walks are the highlight of my day and I’ve become so good at it that I can now be a great jogging partner. I’m told that when I trot, it looks like I am jogging on air. I walked 14 miles on the beach on Saturday and could have gone many more. When we finally reached Rehoboth Beach from the Delaware Seashore Park, it was loud with screaming children, some nice, some not nice dogs, and many distractions. I kept my focus and walked the boardwalk and town making my foster mom proud. I even went to lunch at an outdoor patio with lots of activity and other dogs and sat quietly the whole time. I think I aced the Rehoboth Beach test. I got to hang out on a longer cable lead to watch spring flower planting. I tried my best to help, but I eventually decided it best to just plant myself in the flower bed and observe the process up close.  I am not quite sure what to do with these command things that my foster mom tries, but I have learned to love my name and I now know that “come” means warm pets and an occasional treat bonus.  I definitely like "come."  I keep hearing this word “sit” but I prefer to do that on my own accord for now. I surprised even myself that I liked playing a little dress up with festive neck bows. Those also get me positive attention. I have heard that some dogs take time to learn their house manners, but my record is 100% perfect week after week and I have picked my favorite outdoor spots (right by the fence). My profile says "working on it" for housebreaking, but I think I have this one mastered so we're going to change that to a "yes" and have moved on to working on other things. I used to be so curious about what might be on the kitchen counters that my nose just kept finding itself up there. I don’t think it is my fault AT ALL that the foster dad left roast beef sitting on the edge of counter for so long, but I only got up to look, and did not touch. I wish my foster parents would reconsider their kitchen rules but I learned to respect them. The furniture also needed exploring, but I’ve been so good that all rooms are fully open to me and I can explore with more confidence. My crate is by the window, which I like, and it is my place to relax. I am not a fan of dragging a leash inside the house but my foster mom tells me it is for my protection. Given how great living inside is compared to where I came from, I guess it is a small compromise I can make. I am getting skilled at my road trips and quite used to the car. I have toured state parks, went to a great MAGSR event to see my old GA friends, toured the University of Delaware (inside and out), and mastered the beach. A couple of hours in the car is nothing for a tough girl like me! I am curious and like to explore.

The GA 38 arrived in MAGSR’s care in early/mid January 2019 and over the past two months, their transformation has been nothing short of amazing. These 38 broken souls knew nothing but a life of filth, hunger, and abuse. Their eyes were filled with the look of fear, emptiness and uncertainty. They cowered in the corners of their runs and tried to be as far away from humans as possible and MAGSR volunteers knew they had quite a challenge ahead to right the wrongs of their past prior to arriving in MAGSR's care. MAGSR volunteers stepped up & took on the challenge head on. And now, two months later, through the endless work of dedicated volunteers that have selflessly given their time, patience and love, these beautiful creatures have begun to meet us with tail wags, lean-ins as we walk with them, and most importantly, where once there was emptiness and fear in their eyes, it’s clear those memories have been replaced with hope and even a bit of curiosity. Their wounds have healed, their bellies are full and they have learned that all humans aren’t so bad. They are greeting us at the front of their kennel runs now eager for treats and walks. All of them have learned to walk on a leash and we are beginning some basic obedience with them such as "sit", "heel" and “watch me.” They are now used to being handled regularly for normal things such as baths, getting their weights taken, and taking their monthly preventatives. Best of all, volunteers are seeing their unique personalities and social side come out with other dogs. Just a few months ago, they were all fighting for the same food and water and ability to stay alive but today, many have completely let down their guard and are comfortable enough to engage in play and/or positively interact with other dogs. All  of these dogs have shown us how intelligent and resilient they are and have made significant strides in their road of rehabilitation. They are ready for the next chapter of their journey and we hope you may be part of  their story.

Tilly has been in her foster home for a little over a week, so we wanted to give an update on her progress. Tilly is absolutely gorgeous – that is obvious. However, for those who may be interested in her, here’s some not-so-obvious information to first and foremost consider her personality and her needs, and not her physical appearance. Tilly lacks socialization with humans. While she is shy and unsure of things that are new to her, she is doing fairly well in her foster home with an experienced adult household. She is also residing with socialized adult german shepherds, both male and female. Because dogs learn from other dogs, this can accelerate the learning or trusting process. However, Tilly does not seek companionship from her foster siblings or engage in play with them. This may change down the road but for now, she appears to be uninterested in them. However, Tilly is learning from them as she sees how the foster siblings interact with the humans in the home and vice-versa. Tilly is doing great residing and eating in her wire crate. She is also doing equally well with her housebreaking. Because Tilly is tethered to the humans in the home, and will be for some time yet to come, signals from her that she has to go potty are not seen. Her daily routine is kept very consistent which helps her understand how things work in a home. Tilly is starting to show occasional interest in toys but not a lot yet. Tilly’s recall is currently not there but she is doing very well on leash. In the yard, Tilly is also tethered to the humans of the home, which will also remain that way for some time yet to come as she is a high flight risk dog and will be a flight risk for the foreseeable future, which cannot be stressed enough. Tilly startles easy and as with many of the hoarding dogs, when they become scared or unsure, their instinct is to flee. Because Tilly is not yet bonded with her foster humans, precautions are required to keep her safe. Her adoptive family will need to be on their game and her safety and security MUST be the top priority. We have not yet seen Tilly interact with children, however because of her unsure nature, we would advise that this be taken slowly and with caution as children behave differently than adults. Tilly is not affectionate and at this time, does not wish to be a lap dog. Tilly’s learning a lot about home life; residing in a crate, how to use steps, being around people, getting baths, getting her teeth brushed, praise, correction, and common household items such as ringing telephones, bright TVs, moving ceiling fans, etc. Tilly is truly a diamond in the rough and needs time and consistency so that she can shine. 

Unfortunately, Keena tested heartworm positive when seen by MAGSR's vet. This could have been avoided had she been kept on monthly heartworm preventatives. Keena is in the beginning stages of her heartworm treatment, which of course MAGSR will pay for her entire treatment. Treatment is expensive, but Keena is certainly worth the cost. Donations towards her treatment would be greatly appreciated, this would also help us save other dogs with medical needs. She will have to take it slow for the next few months while she undergoes treatment, so lots of rest will be in order.

The GA 38 arrived in MAGSR’s care in early/mid January 2019 and over the past two months, their transformation has been nothing short of amazing. These 38 broken souls knew nothing but a life of filth, hunger, and abuse. Their eyes were filled with the look of fear, emptiness and uncertainty. They cowered in the corners of their runs and tried to be as far away from humans as possible and MAGSR volunteers knew they had quite a challenge ahead to right the wrongs of their past prior to arriving in MAGSR's care. MAGSR volunteers stepped up & took on the challenge head on. And now, two months later, through the endless work of dedicated volunteers that have selflessly given their time, patience and love, these beautiful creatures have begun to meet us with tail wags, lean-ins as we walk with them, and most importantly, where once there was emptiness and fear in their eyes, it’s clear those memories have been replaced with hope and even a bit of curiosity. Their wounds have healed, their bellies are full and they have learned that all humans aren’t so bad. They are greeting us at the front of their kennel runs now eager for treats and walks. All of them have learned to walk on a leash and we are beginning some basic obedience with them such as "sit", "heel" and “watch me.” They are now used to being handled regularly for normal things such as baths, getting their weights taken, and taking their monthly preventatives. Best of all, volunteers are seeing their unique personalities and social side come out with other dogs. Just a few months ago, they were all fighting for the same food and water and ability to stay alive but today, many have completely let down their guard and are comfortable enough to engage in play and/or positively interact with other dogs. All  of these dogs have shown us how intelligent and resilient they are and have made significant strides in their road of rehabilitation. They are ready for the next chapter of their journey and we hope you may be part of  their story.

Ada is a sweet and very friendly dog and we are thrilled with her progress so far.  Now that she has been settling into a foster home, we are learning a lot more about her.  Walking Ada is enjoyable - she does not pull on the leash and self-corrects easily.  She is a superb jogger - matches the runner's pace and really enjoys being outside.  Ada has met several neighbors and is considered a charming star in the neighborhood.  Bikes, cars, trucks, and loud noises scare her a bit.  She has been enjoying living in the country and gets more confident every day.  Hikes in the woods are her favorite.  We have started training basic commands and she is getting fairly consistent with "come" especially when the person has a treat.  Ada is highly food motivated and appreciates positive praise.  She has no problems with getting any part of her body touched and is affectionate.  There is no observed food aggression - she eats readily out of a person's hand and has no issues with having her bowl touched; she takes treats gently.  Toys are an entirely new concept to her but toys that can be stuffed with food become quick favorites.  Crating Ada is easy; it seems to be her calm and safe space and she is visibly relaxed and quiet in her crate and gated area.  From there, she observes the activity in the house and learns.  Clear signs are given when she wants to go outside and we are well along the way for her to be housebroken.  Living inside is entirely new to Ada, and transition to a home environment requires small, incremental steps and patience.  The house is a bit overwhelming to her, and while she gets more comfortable every day, we are taking it slowly.  She handles being tethered in a room extremely well, but is anxious if given too much space. The road to freedom inside a house will understandably take time.  The resident dog has played a significant role in Ada's positive transition to the home environment and contributes continuously to her calmness on outdoor walks and when encountering new environmental stressors.  Ada will benefit greatly if her adopter has a calm and well behaved dog that she can watch and follow.  If interested in Ada, please ask to meet her.

The GA 38 arrived in MAGSR’s care in early/mid January 2019 and over the past two months, their transformation has been nothing short of amazing. These 38 broken souls knew nothing but a life of filth, hunger, and abuse. Their eyes were filled with the look of fear, emptiness and uncertainty. They cowered in the corners of their runs and tried to be as far away from humans as possible and MAGSR volunteers knew they had quite a challenge ahead to right the wrongs of their past prior to arriving in MAGSR's care. MAGSR volunteers stepped up & took on the challenge head on. And now, two months later, through the endless work of dedicated volunteers that have selflessly given their time, patience and love, these beautiful creatures have begun to meet us with tail wags, lean-ins as we walk with them, and most importantly, where once there was emptiness and fear in their eyes, it’s clear those memories have been replaced with hope and even a bit of curiosity. Their wounds have healed, their bellies are full and they have learned that all humans aren’t so bad. They are greeting us at the front of their kennel runs now eager for treats and walks. All of them have learned to walk on a leash and we are beginning some basic obedience with them such as "sit", "heel" and “watch me.” They are now used to being handled regularly for normal things such as baths, getting their weights taken, and taking their monthly preventatives. Best of all, volunteers are seeing their unique personalities and social side come out with other dogs. Just a few months ago, they were all fighting for the same food and water and ability to stay alive but today, many have completely let down their guard and are comfortable enough to engage in play and/or positively interact with other dogs. All  of these dogs have shown us how intelligent and resilient they are and have made significant strides in their road of rehabilitation. They are ready for the next chapter of their journey and we hope you may be part of  their story.

Amika has had a lot of "firsts" since her foster family brought her home less than 48 hours ago: first hardwood floors, first stairs, first refrigerator noise, first crate, first HVAC noises, and first time meeting cats (presumably!). For being so new to this whole house thing, she is surprisingly unfearful and has taken her new life changes in stride! She gets along perfectly with her foster cat siblings, largely ignoring them or giving a little sniff. She is doing great on her daily walks and is already walking in a nice heel position with very minor corrections, and has passed people and bikes with no reactivity issues aside from minor nervousness. She is most comfortable outside and does not yet know what to do with herself in the house, but she is happy to lie down and snooze in her crate to get used to the activity.  She has been sleeping through the night silently in her crate, and is now learning how to be left alone in the crate for longer and longer periods of time.  She is food motivated so that makes training easier, and she is already getting pretty good at "sit" after one day! Her foster family are looking forward to seeing her develop as she gets more comfortable!

Hi my name is Liesel and I wanted to share a little bit about myself. The 1st year of my life, which is supposed to be filled with love, attention, and quality care was instead spent in a filthy pen with little to no food or clean water fending for myself to stay alive.  I bear psychological and physical scars of this 1st impressionable year of my life.  I am easily startled by sudden movements, loud sounds, and people. Currently, I feel safest in my crate or in small enclosed areas like the bathroom, hallway or backseat of the car.  Regardless of where I am, you will never hear a peep out of me.  I am curious about these humans who refer to themselves as my foster parents.  I am most accepting of their presence when they feed me and stroke me gently to let me know it is going to be ok. I have quite the appetite because I was not fed regularly so I’m more than willing to accept food.   My newly found favorite treats are pepperoni, turkey jerky from Aldi, and freeze dried beef liver.

I've never been an indoor dog and am used to relieving myself in my pen, but my foster parents told me I am doing so well with potty-training and are proud I've only had one accident inside.  When outside I walk well on the leash with my foster parents until something unexpectedly spooks me and in my mind, it is fight or flight, at which time I will go to the end of the leash pulling to get away from whatever scared me. Sometimes I hear things going on outside or from the other apartments around me and will get up to investigate causing me to start pacing.  However, once the threat is gone I retreat to my safe place.  My foster parents told me they think I would do best in an environment that is not city-like, where there is less activity and no people coming and going from the complex. Without these distractions I tend to keep to myself and relax where I feel most comfortable.

I am learning the ropes from these two other dogs in the home.  I watch them receive love and attention as they seem so happy to be around the humans, as of now I'm still a little unsure.  For now, I quietly retreat to my safe place where I get fed and have a warm, dry place to sleep.  I sleep through the night in my crate without incident and enjoy the company of the other two dogs as dogs are all I have ever been around.   I like the red thing filled with peanut butter that they call a “Kong.”  I will not chew your valuables or anything I am not supposed to.

I am trying so hard to learn how to just be a dog and not worry that someone or something is going to hurt me.  I am going to take time and patience to learn to trust my surroundings.  The only thing I want is to love and be loved and find a family to call my own.

Now that Katrin is living in our home, we have learned quite a lot about her in a short period of time. She never had much in the way of handling or any training but we're very happy to report that she appears to be very inquisitive and social with people! With that said, she is still very much a puppy! She loves to play with other dogs and will antagonize, jump on and engage in rough house with other dogs if permitted. We are experienced and have well socialized shepherds and they know we have the situation under control. However, she could get herself in trouble if her handler/family is not monitoring the situation closely with other dogs. Just like a puppy, she loves to chew on things, some that are inappropriate such as dog beds, carpet, shoes, etc. This is all part of being a puppy but it will be up to her family to monitor and show her what is appropriate and safe to chew on and what is not. Puppies don't know that they may be chewing on a poisonous plant or an electrical cord. They need us to guide them and keep them safe from themselves.
She's learned about things in daily life such as how to climb a flight of stairs and quickly overcame her concern for them. She is interested in the full length mirror and is fascinated about the adorable white puppy staring back at her. She's got a great appetite! Through positive reinforcement, she is learning normal commands such as sit and come. Not perfect but definitely showing signs of progress. She's not loving her crate and will carry on until she gives up fussing. Then she will lay down for a while. This will take time and repetition but it's all about giving her structure and expectations. She has been so good in our home and we are thankful to have her with us so that we can learn all about her. She will need to be in a home with another dog looking for an innocent playmate as she seeks the company of another dog and their humans. However, her humans will need to be aware of the patience and responsibility that not only comes with a puppy but also one who will need to be kept on leash for quite a while until a strong bond and recall is established.