German Shepherd dogs, as well as the other herding breeds that we have in rescue, are highly active, energetic, working breeds. They require considerable vetting, exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings in order to work on his/her leash skills, manners, and social skills. These breeds make great additions to active families who will pamper them, but who will also work with them, as they are smart dogs who need leadership, structure, plenty of activity and mental stimulation. 

If you are new to German Shepherds (and other herding breeds), please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd (or other herding breed) dog will require before applying for one. Please review the section on our website (www.heartlandgsrescue.org) "Is a HUGS Dog Right for You?" for additional information.

Inara is a 9-month old girl who recently found herself in a sticky situation. When she went to jump out o f a Jeep, her right back leg got stuck and she hung for a few seconds before her leg was freed. And that's all that it took for her femur to be fractured! Urgent Care called us to see if we could take her into rescue, as the owner was considering euthanasia when faced with Inara's expensive surgical repair. We said YES! and the rest is history :).

Our young sweetie drove to K-State immediately after coming into rescue for an orthopedic consult followed by femur repair surgery the next day. We are very grateful to all of our supporters that contributed towards Inara's costly surgery. Inara recently finished 14 weeks of crate rest.  At her most recent follow up consult at K-State in late-January, she was prescribed 2 weeks of limited activity (leashed walks only), with no further limitations or follow up after the 2 weeks. She still has a little pocket in the bone that needs to heal, but the vets believe that exercise will help stimulate that last bit of healing!