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.

Leona has classic white GSD beauty, intelligence, spunk, loyalty, confidence and athleticism. Leona’s foster parents, and their friends and neighbors, have been big fans of this charming young lady since the day she came to her foster home. Given her traumatizing background, it is remarkable that Leona quickly bonds with her person and has a strong desire for human companionship. Leona has come a long way. Leona is social and friendly. On Halloween, Leona calmly greeted over 60 children and was sweet, even when the wolfman wanted to pet her. When visiting a Christmas village, she encountered many noisy children who wanted to approach her and she was just lovely. Leona receives an A+ for gentle behavior. Leona is good with dogs - she has been super friendly with all dogs she has encountered – big, happy, tail wags. If partnered with another dog, Leona wants to be #1 - she is very committed to being #1 and the center of attention - she wants all of the human’s attention and has no problem telling her person and anyone else around who will listen all about it. In social settings, Leona has been great. She calmly navigates the busy Rehoboth boardwalk like a champ. She has proven to be a confident shopper and has enjoyed many trips to hardware stores, pet stores, outdoor holiday stores, and has no issues in a pet-friendly outdoor restaurant. She even likes the vet. She receives praise and compliments often and her foster parents are thrilled that they can take her anywhere with them. Leona is not one who lacks confidence. Leona loves the car - just open any car door and she will be jump right in. Of course, the front passenger seat is where she really wants to be, but she will settle for the back as long as she is not left behind. Leona is pretty great on a leash. She can show off a nice “heel” even when on a long line. Especially when in a familiar area, she is attentive to her person and matches her pace to a casual walk, hike, jog, run, or sprint along a bicycle – thrilled to be outside. Leona is highly intelligent, an astute observer, and a fast learner - basic commands (sit, down, come, stay, etc.) are practiced daily and she is eager to earn praise (and chicken, of course). When introduced to basic agility challenges, she demonstrated natural talent and joy in the training process. Training with Leona is fun. Leona is not perfect, but who is? Would she be fine in a fenced-in yard? Well, if you mean that fences and gates are basic agility obstacles, then Leona will gladly demonstrate how joyful and easy for her to get right over them. Leona’s adopter will need to be fully committed to keeping her safe as she is still a high flight risk. Is Leona crate trained? That’s complicated. Leona can school crate engineers with her product testing skills. A standard crate is a definite NO. Confined spaces are just not her thing. She also knows how to unclip herself (at her collar/leash junction) and standard closing mechanisms (i.e. metal carabiners) pose no challenge either. Leona has not figured out how to open a padlock yet, but she has given it serious effort. Only a few things scare Leona, but she is stronger than she looks and fast, and her person needs to stay attentive. Leona respects boundaries and rules, but as any teenage girl, she is of the mindset that rules ought to be properly tested (how else would she know that her person really means them?). Leona can be headstrong, and spunk and wit are part of her charm. Consistency with her is key. Is she cool being alone at home? That has been work-in-progress. This social butterfly really wants to be with her person and did not start as a fan of the 8-hour workday. Her foster parents have gradually increased her independent time and she has done well. Leona will be best matched with a confident person with prior GSD experience, as well as experience with adult rescues and training, who would have her as a true companion and part of their active life, and a person invested in keeping her intellectually and physically challenged. In return, she will be a charming and loyal partner, ready to roll with any adventure. She has had a tough background as one of the GA 38 cohort, but she shows such incredible potential and her confidence is wonderful. She will give good days and bad days on the journey, but with patience and support, she will dedicate her life to her adoptive family. If Leona sounds like a good fit for your family, please ask to meet her.