German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley

German Shepherd Rescue of
Sacramento Valley

German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) is a tax-exempt (501-c-3) charitable organization dedicated to finding good homes for German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes whose caregivers can no longer keep them or which are confined in animal shelters and potentially facing euthanasia. Established in 2001, GSRSV is operated primarily by one person, Brian Foran.

GSRSV houses some of its adoptable dogs at its 45-acre "rescue ranch" in Pleasant Grove, CA, which is also a sanctuary for "unadoptable" dogs as well as Brian's home. GSRSV has a small but steady network of foster caretakers who care for rescued dogs in their homes until they are adopted.

I now post most of my rescue activities, as well as a few adoption/foster appeals, on the GSRSV Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GSRSV.

I continue to list all of the dogs available for adoption--those through GSRSV as well as those through owners and others--on this Website. See the four "Dogs Available for Adoption" selections in the menu at left.

If you are the "owner" of a dog and wish to have GSRSV list your dog for adoption, please see How to Place A Dog Through GSRSV--and Other Rehoming Resources.

FREE PET REHOMING SERVICES:

Adoptapet.com offers a free resource to help you rehome your dog. See https://rehome.adoptapet.com/

Get Your Pet--The online pet adoption community where people who want to adopt a pet connect with people who need to rehome a dog or cat. See https://getyourpet.com/

Rescue Me--a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes. See https://www.rescueme.org/.

Other Northern California German Shepherd Rescue Groups

If you are looking for a wider selection of purebred German Shepherds in Northern California, please visit the Websites of Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue (based in Novato), CalPaws K9 Rescue (based in Pleasant Hill), El Dorado County German Shepherd Rescue (based in Shingle Springs), German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California (based in Cupertino), Golden State German Shepherd Rescue (based in Alameda), Greater California German Shepherd Rescue (based in Modesto), and Shep Heroes (based in West Sacramento).

If you are considering adopting a GSD directly from a shelter (and I encourage you to do so), the best Website to search for shelter dogs (of any breed) is www.petharbor.com. Be sure to include shelters from a wide radius (at least 50 miles) from your city or zipcode in your search.

SpayCalifornia is a state-wide referral database designed to connect people throughout the state of California with veterinary resources offering low-cost spay/neuter services.

Click on the logo above to be taken to SpayCalifornia's Website.

For the Love of Your Dogs--
Do NOT Give Them ANY Oral Flea & Tick-Killing Medications!

(I feel so strongly about this that I prohibit my adopters from giving them to the dogs they adopt from me.)

On September 20, 2018, the FDA issued a communication for pet owners and veterinarians warning about the potential for neurologic adverse events following the administration of oral flea & tick control products to dogs and cats that contain isoxazoline-based ingredients. These products, available by Rx only, include Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica & Credelio.

Between January 2013 and January 2017, the FDA found 1,728 reported seizures and 801 reported deaths caused by isoxazoline products*--and these are just the "reported" adverse events. There's no question that the actual number of adverse events was much higher during that time period--and of course IS much higher five years hence.
*Source: "NexGard for Dogs: a Dangerous Gamble."

Click here for more information.

How to find a dog to adopt from this Website:

Click on the four selections in large font in the menu to the left, starting with "Dogs Available for Adoption through GSRSV."
If you're interested in adopting a dog available through GSRSV, read the page "How to Adopt a Dog from GSRSV." That page describes my adoption process, and includes my adoption questionnaire and adoption contract. Please hold off on filling out the adoption questionnaire until after the next step!
Contact Brian Foran at 916-655-3125 or bab43@msn.com to learn more about the particular dog(s) you're interested in. If the dog seems like a good match for you, I (Brian) will ask you to fill out and submit the GSRSV adoption questionnaire.
If you're interested in adopting a dog from another rescue group, an owner, or a shelter, contact the person or shelter listed for that dog.

Trackin' GSRSV's Adoptions


*RECENT ADOPTIONS* Our most recent adoptions were King to Stephen Trackman of Genoa, NV (left frame); Reya to Louden Stroffe of Sparks, NV (center frame); and Kent to Wayne, Sherry & Alicia Toutges of Folsom (right frame).
2024 ADOPTIONS So far in 2024, GSRSV has rescued twelve dogs and placed nine dogs. (Yes, adoptions are horribly slow these days!) *See our 2024 Rescue/Adoption Record.*
2023 ADOPTIONS In 2023, GSRSV rescued fifteen dogs and placed thirteen dogs. See our 2023 Rescue Record

Seeking rental housing that will allow you to keep your German Shepherd?
Click on the either of the two logos below--you might find pet-friendly, affordable rentals in your area. (With PadMapper, be sure to click on the "More Filters" button,
then select "+ Dogs" next to "Pets.")

Kids & Dogs--A Natural Pairing

Click for larger image.

Can pictures get any cuter than these?

That's Tristan with "Sally" (adopted 2-18-18) at left and Joceylyn & Rylee with "Dually" (adopted 5-13-17) at right.

Puppy Love!

Click for larger image.

Please Make a Donation!

GSRSV is a tax-exempt public charity, as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations to GSRSV are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Since February 2001, Brian Foran has funded GSRSV primarily on his own. Brian runs a large rescue facility/sanctuary by himself, and typically has more than 25 dogs to feed and care for! Many of these dogs are either too old for adoption or have been returned to GSRSV more than once--and thus are allowed to live their lives out at the rescue facility. Brian has never returned a dog he has rescued to a shelter--NEVER!

Donations have played--and continue to play--a huge part in keeping GSRSV afloat, as adoption fees are a drop-in-the-bucket compared with the costs of running a large rescue program.

GSRSV has earned the designation of a "Top-Rated" nonprofit organization for 2018 from Great Nonprofits.org, a clearinghouse for NPOs.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to GSRSV today. There are a few ways to do this:

1. Click on the PayPal button below*

* Please note that PayPal deducts a transaction fee of 2.7% + $0.45 for each donation. (They increased this fee in August 2021 without even notifying member organizations!) If you have a PayPal account, you can send payments to GSRSV directly from your account using the "Friends & Family" payment option, which will exempt the . Simply send payments to GSRSV's account at bab43@msn.com.

2. Go to GSRSV's Facebook page and click the "Donate" button under the picture at the top of the page. (Facebook does not deduct a transaction fee for donations.)

3. Use Zelle to transfer money directly from your bank account (if it is a Zelle partner) or by using the Zelle app. Simply use the e-mail address bab43@msn.com to send money to GSRSV's bank account. No transaction fee will be deducted.

4. Mail a check, made out to GSRSV, to:
GSRSV, PO Box 652, Pleasant Grove, CA 95668

Any size donation is appreciated. Please help in any way you can!

Don't just take your dog for a walk.....take your walk for a dog! Go to WoofTrax.com, download the app to your smartphone, and support GSRSV every time you walk your dog! The more miles you walk, the more WoofTrax donates to GSRSV!

Art with a Purpose!

Kritika Bala of Lone Tiger Art is a talented artist with a passion for animals and nature--and she truly shows it by donating 90% of the proceeds of her commissioned paintings to animal welfare and environmental organizations! (Yes, 90%--unheard of!)
GSRSV was the recipient of a donation in June 2019 by Kritika from the proceeds of her commissioned painting of a GSD "Simon" (see right).

If you would like to immortalize your dog or cat in a beautiful (yet affordable) painting and help support GSRSV or another animal welfare organization, please visit the "Pet Project" of Kritika's Lone Tiger Art Website.

ABOUT FOSTERING DOGS

Is fostering a dog a sacrifice? NO! It is a pleasure!

The rewards of knowing that you've saved the life of a sweet, beautiful German Shepherd dog (or any other breed), and made that dog feel loved, are MUCH greater than whatever inconvenience the dog may cause or the pain of letting him or her go to a new home.

If you, the German Shepherd-loving community, will not extend a helping hand to the numerous German Shepherds housed in area shelters and facing euthanasia, WHO WILL?

PLEASE consider fostering a German Shepherd for GSRSV! See the page Save a German Shepherd's Life: Become a Foster Caretaker.

Before You Consider Adopting a Dog from a Rescue Group (including GSRSV), Please Consider Adopting One
from a Shelter!

Though there are certain advantages to adopting a dog from a rescue group, those dogs are safe. Most in shelters are at high risk of euthanasia! If you don't already know, you'd be horrified to learn about the number of beautiful German Shepherds that are euthanized every week in Northern California shelters.
Think you can't find a purebred German Shepherd at a shelter?
THINK AGAIN!!

I have found the best Website to search for a GSD in a shelter near you is Petharbor.com. This Website allows you to specify breed as well as to select the shelters from which you'd like to search for a GSD to adopt. You can also request to receive automatic e-mail notifications when the shelters that you specified have GSDs available for adoption.

The NorCal shelter with the most GSDs is probably the Stanislaus County Shelter in Modesto. They often have in excess of ten GSDs! Cara Kinzel has created a Facebook page profiling many of these GSDs, most which she has met and evaluated in person.

Please Remember that Most Dogs with Rescue Groups Come from Shelters Themselves!

GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook!
Send me your favorite photo and/or story of the dog(s) you adopted from GSRSV, and I will post them on the GSRSV Picture/Story Scrapbook page. Mail pictures/stories to Brian Foran at bab43@msn.com.

"Gus"

Older Rescued Dogs Make Wonderful Companions!

"Queenie"

Think that an older dog will not make a good family companion because it's too set in its ways?" Think again! Older dogs, more so than younger dogs, live to please their caretakers. Furthermore, hip dysplasia in older German Shepherds is much less of a problem than commonly believed, and general arthritis is readily treatable with coated aspirin (yes, ASPIRIN) and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. For an excellent information resource on older dogs, see the Senior Dogs Project Website, and their "Top Ten Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog."

Testimonials of those who have adopted older dogs from GSRSV

Bob Warner adopted Krista from the Sac County shelter, with GSRSV's assistance, on 7-1-10. Here's what Bob had to say about Krista in December 2011:

"Krista has become a wonderful friend--so gentle and friendly that everyone enjoys her. She is an excellent example of why adopters should consider older dogs."



If you have or plan to adopt a GSD, you NEED to know about "bloat!" Please read the info below.

Gastric dilatation/volvulus, more commonly known as "bloat", is an all-too-frequent, often fatal event for German Shepherds. Basically, gastric dilatation refers to a condition in which the dog's stomach fills up with air due to various circumstances. The dog's abdomen becomes visibly "bloated", and causes great discomfort. If the bloat persists, often what happens next is volvulus--the stomach literally rotates on its intestinal axis, shutting off the blood supply both to and from the stomach. At this stage, the dog usually has only hours to live, and the condition must be treated surgically. The sooner the dog is treated, the better its chance for survival and full recovery.
Learn how to avoid bloat in your dog, and how to recognize the symptoms. Please click on this link to open a very informative Webpage about bloat. I recommend printing the article and placing it where you can immediately access it if you suspect that your dog is experiencing bloat. Click on this link for a printable MS Word version of the article.

Want to Read a Cool, Free Online Dog-Lovers' Newsletter While Helping GSRSV? Sample
Click here for more info and to sign up for their newsletter.

(You only need to receive one online newsletter to help GSRSV--you can opt out at any time!)

Springtime, Inc., is a manufacturer and retailer of amazingly effective, all-natural, reasonably priced nutritional supplements for dogs, horses and humans. I have regularly given a few of Springtime's supplements to the GSRSV dogs for years, and enthusiastically endorse these products--particularly "Joint Health"--a glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM supplement, and "Bug-Off Garlic"--a natural flea preventative that REALLY WORKS! Please visit Springtime's Website, and if you place an order with them as a result of this referral, please mention that you learned of their company through GSRSV. I do not receive any commisions--I just want the people at Springtime to know that I'm sharing the word on their products, as they do give me a discount on the products that I order.

Questions regarding German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley or this Website should be directed to Brian Foran, 916-655-3125, bab43@msn.com, or you can write to:

GSRSV
PO Box 652
Pleasant Grove, CA 95668

Thanks to and
for listing GSRSV's adoptable (and adopted) dogs on their respective Websites.

Thanks also to (www.comslider.com), a superb slideshow development and hosting Website, for hosting GSRSV's adoption picture slideshow free of charge.

This site is hosted by (www.xmatters.com). xMatters specializes in "intelligent communications" for businesses, particularly for the IT component of those businesses. Many, many thanks to Troy McAlpin, xMatters' President & CEO and a former GSRSV adopter, for graciously hosting GSRSV's Website on xMatters' servers since 2001.

Last modified: Saturday December 21, 2024