GSRNE will be at the Belchertown Fair! - Sept. 23-25

Come and Enjoy the Fun!

by: GSRNE Staff

GSRNE will be at the Belchertown Fair! Come and Enjoy the Fun! 

If you have never been we highly suggest you make plans to attend this well-loved popular Event. It’s a real old-fashioned fair that offers a wide variety of family friendly activities throughout the weekend, and most activities are free! The theme for this year's Fair is “FLOCK TO THE FAIR!”  Make sure to check the website that will be updated as information becomes available, and the areas of your interest frequently to see the most current information. 

https://belchertownfair.com

We are asking for volunteers to help behind the GSRNE booth. You will also have plenty of time to walk around and enjoy a real old-fashioned country fair, see all the vendors, and sample the delicious food. If you can help for a few hours on any of the days, please contact Diane D with your availability. Any and all help will be appreciated!

Just a reminder only service dogs will be allowed into the fairgrounds !

Save the date and mark your calendars for the Greater Boston Pet Expo! - Sept. 24-25

by: GSRNE Staff

Greater Boston Pet Expo -

Shriner's Auditorium - Wilmington, MA (alepposhriners.com)

When:

Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where:

Shriners Auditorium

99 Fordham Rd.

Wilmington, MA 

Greater Boston Pet Expo Website: 

https://www.familypetshows.com/greater-boston-pet-expo 

This family fun and dog-friendly event is at Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. There will be tons of exhibits and some fabulous prize giveaways. Lots of Rescue Groups, Agility Demonstrations, Live Entertainment, Obedience Demonstrations, and Author Readings/Book Signings. You’ll also see some of the latest and greatest pet products, learn about pet care, and so much more. 

We are looking for volunteers to help with this event, covering a few shifts behind the GSRNE booth. You will also have plenty of time to walk around, grab some free giveaways and see some of the demonstrations. If you can help for a few hours on any of the days, please Diane D with your availability. Any and all help will be appreciated!

Adoption News: Katja #610

by: GSRNE Board

Katja is a very bright, energetic 11-month-old. She’s a dog that loves to play, and any type of ball is her favorite toy. If you were looking for a “ball dog,” Katja is definitely your girl! We heard from her previous family in April, when she was just nine months old. They told our Intake Team that Katja needed to be re-homed because one of the adults in the home had hip and back issues and couldn't walk her. They also had an autistic son who was reacting to Katja's energy. Their yard was fenced in, but they told us they had neighbors whose small dogs would run up to their fence, upsetting Katja, who was becoming fence reactive.

One of our trainers started taking her a day or two a week and saw how super friendly and playful she was with all the dogs in his daycare. Because Katja was still so young, we knew she would thrive in a home where her people would continue to work on her training and socialization. When a young man asked to adopt her and told us he would like to do some nose work, tracking and even possibly search and rescue, we knew it would be the perfect home for Katja. She has settled in nicely, and he said it’s been like she’s been with him all along. 

Katja is super smart and a very affectionate girl. We are so grateful we were asked to help her find her forever home! Katja is GSRNE #610!

GSRNE Knit Beanies are Back!

by: GSRNE Staff

Back by popular demand, our GSRNE knit beanie hats will be available again for you to purchase. Now that fall is arriving in New England, the days are getting shorter and the air is getting a little cooler. Whether you’re out walking your dog in the early morning, or headed out for a fun weekend with family and friends, a GSRNE knit beanie hat is stylish and perfect to keep you warm. Soon to be available in our online store!

We're excited to share with all of you our new GSRNE blaze orange knit beanie!  Living in New England, whether you’re a hunter or a hiker, it's essential that you wear blaze orange when out in the woods during big game hunting season.  

Wearing blaze orange could save your life and allow others to see you clearly because it is fluorescent even in dim light, and with their gray reflective safety stripes knitted into the knit beanies, they will also be perfect to wear in a snowstorm when shoveling or plowing during the winter months. $14 each + shipping! Look for this item in our online store soon!

Happy Tails: Roxie #535

by: GSRNE Staff

We received a very warm update on Roxie #535, adopted by Gigi and Ray in 2020. Roxie was about 4 years old then and very much in need of a new home. She had lived in multiple homes and outside most of her life; when she came to Gigi and Ray’s, they began work healing a few health issues she had, including re-housebreaking her. Roxie learned quickly, and now she lives without those worries and pains. 

Roxie arrived at Gigi and Ray’s in October 2019 as a foster, but by February 2020 became an adopted dog! What a relief that she found a home right before the pandemic started; she supervised her people working at home every single day of the pandemic. (Here she is “working hard” – complete with plush toy and comfortable bed!) 

Gigi tells us that Roxie lives by three principles: “She loves her food, she loves her people, and she loves to play.” Roxie will do anything for food, even for a piece of kibble. Food is definitely at the top of her priority list. The only time Roxie barks is if Gigi is a little slow in getting her breakfast or dinner ready. Second to food is her people. She goes everywhere with her people, both places near and far. She went on a week-long vacation to Maine this summer and stayed at a dog-friendly resort. Roxie loved meeting the dogs and people and was very well behaved! She even let toddlers roll on the floor under her. In the dining room at the resort, she let the wait staff step over her to serve the people.

And then finally, when she's not eating or sleeping, she's playing. She plays outside, prancing around with her toys or chasing squirrels and chipmunks. She also has a canine neighbor – funnily enough called Roxy – whom she will play with outside as well. Most especially, Roxie loves, loves, loves soft, plush, squeaky toys and has several playtime sessions throughout the day, usually after her post-breakfast daily nap. Roxie will also hide her toys from Gigi and Ray, and they don’t mind looking for them because Roxie seems so happy with her humans and her toys during this game. In the spring and fall, she often goes on car rides. Gigi tells us Roxie has perfected that “sad, puppy look” and uses it to great effect whenever Gigi picks up her keys. In all, Roxie is just one of those “velcro dogs” and is always right next to Gigi. She really has found a wonderful home!

Take Me Home: Zoro

by: GSRNE Staff

Zoro is a 7-year-old, friendly fellow who enjoys the company of his people. He greets you with a wagging tail and happy smile. He enjoys being the center of attention and was very much loved by his former family. His owner tragically passed away, and her husband traveled for work. He brought Zoro with him whenever possible, but this still left Zoro in boarding for long periods of time.  He knew this wasn’t fair to Zoro, and he wanted him to find a home to give him the rich life he deserved.

Understandably, Zoro was very confused when he was initially brought into the care of his foster home. He missed his family, seemed very sad, and didn’t want to engage in training or play with the other dogs in the home. He was moved to a training facility with an attached daycare and play area to give Zoro a chance to decompress. He’s now doing wonderfully and ready to find his forever home.

Zoro acts younger than his age; he will splash around in the play area kiddie pool for hours during the hot weather. He enjoys the company of the other dogs and is quickly becoming a favorite of the staff.  While he hasn’t shown aggression, he would do better with a larger dog in the home or as an only dog. Zoro has a lot of drive and will need a patient, gentle leader who will continue his training and keep him active. Could that person or family be you?

Volunteer Spotlight: Karen

by: GSRNE Staff

Name & Hometown:  Karen, Westford, Mass.

How long have you been a GSRNE volunteer? 

I joined in 1997, so this is my 25th year with GSRNE.

What do you do for GSRNE and what does the job entail?  

I recently stepped down as president and am still a board member, so I take part in discussions about all aspects of the rescue work. We have a "working board," so my main job is that of Home Visit Coordinator. I review the new adoption applications, scan and send a copy to the Adoption Coordinator, so we can decide whether to proceed with having a home visit done and references checked. I contact someone from our list of Home Visit Volunteers and someone else from the list of Reference Check Volunteers and send them the information from the adoption application so they can follow up.

Do you have a GSRNE dog?  

Yes, my current one is Terri, # 569; he came into GSRNE in April 2021 at age 8 1/2.  

How did you get interested in GSRNE?  

In 1997, I was looking for a German Shepherd Rescue organization to volunteer with, since I've loved the breed ever since I can remember; my parents finally let me get a GSD puppy when I was 14 years old. When I saw a small ad in a local newspaper about a yard sale to raise money for GSRNE, I attended and offered to help. The Foster Home Coordinator had a 4-month-old male puppy, named Seamus, who needed a foster home. I had two adult male GSDs at the time, and Lisa, the coordinator, brought Seamus to my house to introduce him. My dogs were curious about him and gradually accepted him, and he was with us for about two months before being adopted. As soon as he moved on, there was another dog for me to foster, so Ted and I continued to foster one after the other. Seeing each dog start out confused, unsure, and then gain confidence and become trusting is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had.

What is it about the organization that interests you?  

The opportunities to help these amazing dogs overcome loss of an owner and other upsetting life changes, seeing them heal and move on to find loving homes, is most important. Learning the backgrounds of these dogs and then reading about their new lives in the Happy Tails columns of the newsletter issues is fascinating. Working with other volunteers who also care deeply about investing the time and efforts necessary for this to happen is a bonus. We become friends and care about each other as well as the dogs.

What would you say to prospective volunteers? 

Anything you can do to help will make a difference and be appreciated. Some people can give an hour or two after work to check messages on our Hotline and respond to callers, others can call references given by an adoption applicant, so we can approve an application. We need people who can transport a dog from an owner or a shelter to a foster home and people who can attend an event to answer questions about GSRNE and sell some merchandise to help raise funds for vet bills, food, training, etc. If you're thinking of volunteering, check out our Volunteer Application on the Website for a list of areas where help is needed.

Volunteer - and Make a Difference!

by: GSRNE Staff

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

-JOIN THE GSRNE FAMILY!-

We've always believed when you choose to dedicate your own time to help others, you feel capable and are rewarded with a sense of purpose. Becoming a GSRNE volunteer is a great way to meet other people who love helping dogs. Sure, we know that volunteering makes us feel good. Did you know that, when you volunteer, you are improving your life and maybe even your health? The truth is that volunteering will bring a world of rewards you might never have expected... Socially, the benefits of volunteering show up quickly and have long-term effects... So many of our volunteers have created wonderful friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

All dog rescue groups need volunteers to operate successfully, and German Shepherd Rescue of New England, Inc. (GSRNE) is no exception! Volunteering a little bit of your time goes a long way in helping a needy German Shepherd. If you would like to learn more about our volunteer programs, go to: https://gsrne.org/gsrne-live/volunteer/

Events are fun for our volunteers and get us out into the public to share our stories and information about the Shepherd breed. If you are interested in helping out or want more information, check out the link below.

For more information, Please contact

Jeannie M. at: volunteer@gsrne.org