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.

Cayden had a good first week in his foster home. He spent the first day in his crate observing the activities in the house; both the humans and the resident GSD. The next day he came out of his crate and started to explore his foster home. When someone is home to supervise, his crate door is open so that he can find a comfortable spot on one of the dog beds. He did well in his crate for about 3 hrs a couple of times while his foster parents were away during the day. Cayden sleeps in his crate and except for stirring a bit in the early morning hours, he has been quiet and calm all night. He hasn't had any accidents at night or in the house during the day. He goes on 3 or 4 walks each day and he seems to understand that 'outside' is where he needs to do his business. He doesn't seem to mind the noises in the house; even when the big Dyson comes out to vacuum, he went upstairs at first and came right back down and moved around the house as the vacuum came his way. Noises and people outside are of great concern right now to Cayden, which is not surprising for the GA38 dogs - he is fearful and scared of new things he's never experienced before. Cayden usually keeps calm when we encounter a person or a car going by but gets scared with noises coming from a playground nearby or several people walking close by. The resident GSD leads the way on our walks with Cayden, and he gladly follows her lead and is already getting more confident. Cayden would learn from and do best in a home with a confident dog to help show him the way forward. He walks nicely on a leash and is learning how to heel thanks to all the volunteers that walked him at the kennel. As with the prior GA38 foster his humans fostered, it will take a little time for Cayden to adjust to his new life and getting comfortable with his new surroundings. Cayden is a handsome, smart and sweet boy and deserves a much better life than he had before he came to MAGSR. Stand by for an update on this sweet boy and contact MAGSR if you're interested in meeting him. 

Cayden has been with his foster family for about two months now and he is progressing very nicely. He is much more comfortable with his routine, both inside and the outside world. He looks forward to his potty walks and a daily visit to one of the parks nearby. Cars, people, playgrounds with kids making noise and running around are not so scary anymore for him, but any sudden and unexpected sounds or movements still make him back up and he needs reassurance that it's all ok. Cayden’s almost a pro navigating city streets, waiting at intersections and proceeding with the 'heel' command. Once we're at the park, he's free to explore and sniff as the length of the long leash allows. He has been introduced to both medium and large dogs recently and he was friendly and playful. He also greeted a few smaller dogs/puppies in the neighborhood, sniffed and showed no aggression, but rather his friendly and playful side. Speaking about being playful, when Cayden sees dogs off leash running around in a park area, he will look at them and he starts jumping with joy, indicating that he would love to join them. He is also eager to meet other dogs of all sizes on a leash in the neighborhood. The GA dogs only had each other and he likely remembers running and playing with the other ogs. Cayden’s foster home doesn’t have any runners, but the short distances we were able to run with him he was happy to engage. Cayden briefly met his foster family’s 3 year old granddaughter on a walk and was curious enough to sniff her after a few minutes. When everyone is home, Cayden prefers to be in his crate with the door open; however, he is not as happy being left in the crate when we're away, so carabiner clips are used to secure the crate door, but he settles down. Cayden sleeps quietly in his crate at night with no attempt to get out. Cayden relies on the resident GSD for comfort and guidance that things are ok. Cayden needs a fur-ever home with another medium/large playful and compatible dog to show him the ropes and continue to give him confidence. Cayden and the resident GSD now interact in a playful way and he’s sweet on her, as when she’s not close to him, he lets everyone know he wants to be near her. Cayden is ready for his fur-ever home and is looking for a family that will provide him with structure, guidance, love and companionship.

Cayden is comfortable in his foster home and is used to his routine and everything that happens on a daily basis, including noises and movements. Only the unexpected still makes him startle, but he recovers quickly with reassurance. He will come and explore unknown objects and sniffs just about anything including coats, shoes and the foster parent. He will seek his crate for comfort/rest, as his safe place, but most of the time he hangs around the resident GSD sibling or he finds his comfy spot in the house. He now understands what it's like to live in a home and what dog happiness is all about. Cayden relied on the resident GSD for cues in the beginning, and he still does when unsure, but he is now more independent and has come out of his shell. He runs around the house with enthusiasm when it's time to leave the house, and he happily jumps into the car to go places. It took a little time to gain his trust, but he now seems always ready for a new adventure. He is treat motivated and his shepherd personality to please is coming out, but he still has GA moments that he will have to work on over time. He is still shy with strangers when he is approached but he will investigate a person and allow touching after a while. He has discovered squirrels and he is curious what they are doing going up the tree. Cayden's fosters are currently working with him on discovering the pleasure of playing with toys and balls. He is a young, energetic and muscular boy that needs a firm hand at the helm. He is also a lovable, sweet and playful guy and he deserves a fur-ever home with a family that can give him a chance for a better life.

Cayden's foster parents recently took him to the beach in Delaware. When the bags get packed and the car loaded, he and his foster sister get really excited because that means we get to go somewhere on a new adventure. Cayden did really well on the two-hour drive and never complained. Cayden had a wonderful time exploring the beach for the first time. His ears flopped in every direction excited to investigate horseshoe crabs and frolicking in the bay water. Digging for critters and treasures in the sand is another favorite of his! There were so many new sights and smells to explore. One of his favorites was seeing the bunnies run away and him wanting to chase them on our walks at dusk. This boy is the adventurous type and likes to participate in new activities. Cayden likes his daily walks and training exercises. He is getting better at mastering skills and a little treat always helps. Now that it is almost summer, he was recently introduced to frozen peanut butter cubes and he loves them! Not daily, but occasionally, as a special treat. Cayden plays with rope toys, but the ball is not something he is fond of yet. He is still shy with strangers, but will approach on his own after a couple of minutes. This smart, sweet boy is ready for his forever home. Check out his profile and ask to meet Cayden!