Sad News

I’m sorry to say that I’m writing you with sad news today. On June 4th, 2016 I rescued Courage from you, (though you had him down as Jedi originally).

Yesterday, we had to say goodbye and put him to rest as age finally caught up to him. He has been truly amazing and I thank you for allowing me to give him his fur-ever home.

Thank you,
Domingo Retana

On February 6, 2023, Bayli crossed the rainbow bridge.  She has been missed truly every minute of every day since then. She will always be missed because we lost a part of us when she left. Bayli was our best friend, baby, and dog soulmate, and losing her has been so painful because of all the joy that she brought into this world.  Bayli came home with us on September 12, 2015 from MAGSR.  When we first took her home, she was fearful and anxious, especially of men. In just a few short months she grew into a confident girl. In her early years she loved going for long walks and as she got older and her mobility decreased, she was completely content to lounge around and snuggle. Above all, Bayli loved being with her family, cookies, and laying in her bed (not necessarily in that order).  She knew what life was all about. While there is heartbreak, we are so hopeful when we see adoption stories on MAGSR because we know someone is just beginning their happy journey.  We are forever grateful to MAGSR for giving us the chance to know and love her and be loved by her. 

Losing Riley has been very difficult for us. We adopted her from you in May 2016. From the second she jumped in our truck it was like she had always been with us. She came into our home and went right to the bed we purchased for her. That evening she came up with us to go to bed and immediately walked over and curled up on hers. She slept through the night without issue. She was so amazing and we loved her with all of our heart. She loved to be out on the porch or on the deck and looked forward to evenings around the fire pit and she loved her walks. She was so much more to us than a pet; she was family.  We love to vacation in a cabin over in Virginia and we always took her with us. We have not been the past two years because Riley’s degenerative myelopathy made the three hour drive too difficult for her and we would not leave her behind.  On January 16th we had to say goodbye to our sweet girl. It was the hardest thing we have ever done. We know in our heart of hearts if she could say anything to us she would tell us to do for another dog what we did for her. Our hearts just are not ready right now. She truly was our world. We thank MAGSR for the opportunity to have her in our lives. We appreciate all you do for so many dogs in need of love, affection, and a good home.

We are forever grateful,

Lora and John Wakefield

Our dog Jedi, whom we adopted from MAGSR in 2016, ran free over the Rainbow Bridge on December 16, 2022 after not enough years as a beloved member of our family. Jedi is loved in continuum by Valerie, Graeme, Ryleigh, and Todd who were blessed to have found a furry companion so loyal, loving, and playful until the last calling. We surrounded him as he passed over and never imagined being so in love with a beast both ferocious and cuddly. Jedi loved his ball playing more than anything and had to be outside to supervise all grass mowing activities involving the riding mower.  His daily treat regime evolved from showing off his paw control to racing Ryleigh to the couch and barking/yipping while sliding through the twisting route from kitchen to living room. Jedi often overpowered Graeme in frequent games of rope pull but I think both let the other win an equal amount of time without admitting to any purposeful losses. Jedi loved the creek and hated baths, he was a weirdo from start to finish.  Use the garden hose fill up his water bowl, or just say water in general and he would disappear. Mention the creek or start hiking through the woods and he would be in the water, over his head, trying to drag logs off the bottom before you could call him back. I'm not sure Jedi understood the creek is made of water, the same water he was so careful to avoid in any other circumstance, he didn't always utilize his rational brain.  He did learn how to unlock, and open, the sliding basement door so we are not entirely sure if he was a savant or simply a screwball. We are leaning savant as he learned how to spell the words we couldn't say without an excited reaction. We still can't believe he's not lying in wait for us to get out of bed, come back from an errand, or monitoring the four of us from a central position. We miss the clack of his nails on the floor, the pilling of GSD fur in all corners, under every piece of furniture, and winding up in every drink or dish prepared. None of us were ready for him to go but with two torn/bad knees and a late-stage cancer diagnosis we did everything we could to keep him at home with us from hand feeding to carrying him up the stairs when he couldn't get enough momentum to hop all the way up.  Jedi was the heart of our house and the void without him is longingly painful. Jedi was our everything, we love him endlessly and are thankful for the circumstances that brought him to us and angry for the circumstances that took him away. We are forever richer for having loved Jedi, and we know he is still with us, watching over us, forever our companion. Todd & Valerie Harshman

We adopted dear Tillman from MAGSR on June 30, 2013. Sadly, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. We were blessed with his presence in our lives for nine plus years. Please accept this donation in Tillman's memory - we miss him dearly.   Sincerely, Sandy and Willie Thompson  

Our sweet boy Jasper who we adopted from MAGSR in 2017.

it is with a saddened heart that we pass along that JUDD, a purebred GSD passed last night.  We got him from you in 2016 and he has been an amazing family member since then.  Judd suffered from a very large tumor in his abdomen which was causing paralysis in his hind and back.  Pair this with difficulty breathing and not being able to eat or drink much of the time - Judd was not himself and in pain. This medical diagnosis was only recently found and the onset of symptoms progressed quickly.  Because we did not want to see him suffer, we as a family decided to send him to a place where no pain exists. Judd spent much of his time "talking to us."   He would sit and "yip" at you with this high-pitched voice when you did not pay attention to him or play games with him.  He was a talker, providing insight with his voice when he was not happy.   Pair this with a deep barrel-chested bark - he was a character.  When Judd finally settled into the house years ago - we learned that he LOVED ice cubes from the ice machine.  He would eat ice cube after ice cube.  It was his favorite treat and knowing where he came from we understood why.  It surely was a means of survival in the wild for him.  He was an amazing learner - having my youngest son teach him how to play "soccer" was the best of all.  Instead of eating a soccer ball, he learned to "kick it."  Judd was a handful at first, gaining weight quickly and with such a gain we learned his stomach was "temperamental" to a steady diet.  But he was amazing.  He took a bit to get comfortable with us at home, but after a few months, he knew where his throne was in the castle.  We would like to thank you for bringing him into our lives and we are ever so thankful we could rescue him from sure death in Tennessee.  Judd is buried in a place he called home and we know he is looking down on us and saying "THANK YOU" for giving me a home and a family who loved me.


Chris and Joy Davala

 I wanted to share our story of adopting our dog Lucy from MAGSR over 15 years ago.  She was one of 13 puppies and mom that were found in the side of the road. Lucy was being fostered at a home in Dundalk, she was 3 months old when we met and adopted her. MAGSR named her Flyer. We knew immediately that we wanted her to be a part of our family. Lucy was born the same year, 2006, as our 16 year old grandson.  Our younger grandchildren have not known life without Lucy being a part of it. Lucy just passed away on November 12 just short of her 16th birthday.  She was the sweetest girl who was a cherished member of our family and her passing had left a hole in our hearts.

We are heartbroken, but happy that Lucy lived such a long, good life full of love. 

Thank you,
Robin Evers

I am writing to let you know that Leila crossed the rainbow bridge on Friday, November 11. She turned 12 in October and had such a loved-filled life. We brought her home with us on March 17, 2012 and enjoyed every last second with her. In February 2021, we adopted a puppy, and she really took the role of mothering Bo as her top priority. They were two peas in a pod, and Bo misses her terribly. With her medical history, we are so fortunate to have had Leila in our lives for such a long time. She was my shadow, and we are trying to create our new routines without her. We have a hole in our hearts right now, but our wonderful memories will carry us through this tough time. Much love,
Jennifer, Brian, Sammy, Michael and Lauren Hemann (and Bo)

Max Isaac crossed over on October 18,2022. The vet said he had a spinal cord issue. He became paralyzed and there was nothing more I could do for him. I am sorry to have waited to inform you but my mom passed 3 weeks before Max on September 28th and my grief has been tremendous. My comfort has been knowing they are in heaven together. Max will be interred at the Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park in Reisterstown MD. with the rest of his family there to welcome him. He has left me with so much love to share with another dog who needs me too. I am waiting for Max to place one in my path. That is his legacy which I will do my best to honor. I love and miss you so much Max. Godspeed.

I wanted to notify the community that my cousin's dog, Koda, crossed over the Rainbow bridge yesterday. Koda was adopted at around 6-8 months old by my cousin and lived most of his life ong Long Island sprinting around his large backyard, being loved by his family, watching over their son and trying to fend off all the fireworks on July 4th. Unfortunately he had a condition that caused an extremely enlarged heart and the hard decision was made yesterday to let him go and be pain free.  My cousin wanted me to extend a huge thank you for the volunteers and community for saving Koda and bringing him into their life! He was truly loved!

Our sweet Sandy passed away on 10/1/22.   She was diagnosed with cancer just the week prior. 

We adopted her in April 2014 when she was just 4 months old.   She was an amazing dog - truly part of our family.   We are heartbroken, but we know that she was loved so much.   We will miss her always. 

Thank you guys for letting us adopt her and bring her into our family.     Thank you!
The Schwaner’s
(Jack, Sheri, Katie and Johnny)

Cassie loved to go to work with me,  She was a great Book Store dog and had her own fan club Always ready to get a cookie from the Mailman, FedX, UPS and sales reps.  Playing with a tennis ball was her favorite thing to do.  Whenever we went outside for anything always had to have a tennis ball.  

To the MAGSR team -   It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Georgia Jenkins.  GA was a 7/ 2011 adoption from MAGSR  GA was an important part of our family and enjoyed a good furever home with us.  She especially liked lounging by the pool, playing with her balls and toys.  She also enjoyed traveling and exploring new places in her RV.  GA had some significant weight loss and began having some mobility issues, but we had been able to work around those ( she loved her steak and tuna!).  However, over the labor day weekend she stopped eating and you could just tell she wasn't feeling well.  The doctor  believed that she had cancer based on passing black stool and the drastic weight loss.  I want to thank you for blessing our home with Georgia - she was a very good girl!   Donna Jenkins 

We adopted Diamond April 2010 and, sadly, she had to be euthanized on 9/2/22, at the approximate age of 14 years old, after a slow decline led to severe mobility problems and almost complete loss of strength in her hind legs.  She was the sweetest girl and yet a prima donna, with the greatest flair for the dramatic. She always had to tell us all the news of the day, barked in great detail. She followed her mommy everywhere and loved chasing balls. She was great friends with our cat Harley and tolerated her German shepherd sister, Emma. 12 years went by too fast and our hearts are broken at losing her