GINA is a beautiful young bi-color German Shepherd with the softest coat and most loving way of cuddling with you!   She has just recently gotten out of boarding and into a temporary foster home.  She was so sad in boarding anbd seemed to plead with us every day, "PLEASE, doesn't anyone love me? Why am I here? I'm so lonely!"  It broke our hearts.

Gina's doing beautifully in her temporary foster home.   Aside from massive diarrhea that kept the foster mom up all night changing and washing linens, and is being treated, everything has gone very smoothly.  Gina fit right in with the pack and loves running around and playing with them.  She is still very much a puppy and clearly has never lived in a house in her short life.  She is not yet completely housebroken but is almost there.   She is fast learning the rules of the house and responds quickly to loving, firm correction.

Gina is very loving and clearly just wants to be safe and loved.  She loves to come up and lean on you, jump up on you when you're sitting on the couch or laying in bed.  She RACES around the backyard with another young shepherd mix like she just won the lottery - she LOVES to play and play!  She's having the puppyhood she never had in her previous life.  And like a true puppy, she loves to chew on things she finds lying around, so don't leave your shoes or important stuff out for a while! 

She loves to cuddle and will come up to you for hugs and reassurance.  If one of the other dogs plays too roughly, she skitters away and if you're nearby she'll come to you for love and protection.  Ms. Gina will capture your heart when you meet her with her pleading eyes and desire to be loved.  She doesn't ask much:  a loving family, safety and a lot of play.  In return she'll be your lifetime companion and love you unconditionally. 

Gina is still very much a puppy at just 1 year old.  She's full of energy and life!  She just wants io get out and run, play and generally enjoy life.  She's started to pick up stuffed toys and toss them around, play with a tennis ball, and is generally starting to act like any energetic youngster.  Just look at the picture of her in full gallup ... talk about joy in motion!  And that's in spite everything she's been through. 

Gina was scheduled to be killed at a shelter for "food aggression".   At first we were simply told she bit someone over food and would be killed.  But when we asked for the facts of what happened, we found out there was nothing inherently vicious or unpredictable in her behavior.  The bite could have been predicted by anyone familiar with canine behavior.  Gina was a starved, abandoned dog living in a car.  When the AC officer reached in to put a bowl of food in the car for her, she bit him.  The officer, in his enthusiasm, did something that should never have been done:  reach right into the tiny, enclosed territory of a starved, traumatized, terrified dog with food.  The food should have been placed outside the car (the dog's only safe zone or territory) and Gina should have leashed, brought outside the car, and then finally been allowed to eat outside.  This incident was not a result of any natural viciousness on Gina's part, but instead was a human mistake. 

We thought it was unfair for Gina to die because of a mistake on the part of a well-intentioned person who didn't understand canine behavior under stressful circumstances. So we immediately brought her into our rescue.  At the kennel, staff exercised extreme caution by taking her out of her kennel, putting her food in, then letting her back in to eat.  Gina is progressing quite well at her foster home, and is starting to trust that she'll always have food.  She is NOT completely past her food aggression yet and her new family must be willing and able to help her finish up her rehab on this score.  Gina takes treats with no problem at all, and her temp foster mom is now able to put the food bowl down for her with no problem.  We haven't yet progressed to the point of taking the food bowl away while there's still food in it, but that will be the final step in her rehab.  Gina's food aggression appears to be centered exclusively around the food bowl while there is food in it.  Her temp foster mom is able to hold the bowl, put a little bit of additional food in it, and hold it for Gina while she eats the extra.  This is huge progress, since at first she would growl if your hand or foot got anywhere close her food dish while she was eating.  She has only been in her temporary foster home a few days, but we're already learning that this is not necessary.  Her foster mom can give her treats with no problem.  The aggression appears to be centered around the food bowl when it's full and Gina is afraid someone is going to take it away from her.  She growls and freezes if your foot or hand gets too close.  We believe this will gradually improve and eventually disappear all together, but all prospective adopters MUST know that at this time they should never attempt to take away her food bowl and WILL have to work with her on this.  Therefore we recommend no children at this time. 

In our experience, most food aggression is circumstancial and can be retrained by exercising care, patience and good sense.  Based on what we're seeing so far in the foster home, we believe this to be the case with Gina also.  We will learn more as time goes on.

Gina was originally named "Gimmie" by the shelter, a sarcastic reference to the fact that she wanted food so badly.  (She was starved - who wouldn't?)  We instantly changed her name to reflect the dog we see in her:  Gina, meaning "noble".  This is a girl who has been starved, neglected, incredibly mistreated by humans, and almost died because of it.  We know she's really a noble German Shepherd who had the bad fortune to be caught in bad circumstances of human making.

Gina will need all the canine leadership, training and exercise that any strong German Shepherd needs.  Her new family will need to set boundaries and teach her how to be the terrific dog she can be.

Gina may have a touch of husky her in, but she is 99% German Shepherd in looks and behavior.

DOGS:   yes, she would love a doggie play buddy!
CATS:    unknown.  Would have to be tested
KIDS:    not at this time due to the remaining food aggression
IDEAL HOME:   an active family who will use great sense and patience in helping ms. Gena readjust to a normal life with plentiful food!  A family able and willing to deal with her remaining food bowl aggression and finish working it out (MoGS is happy to help you with this)

If you're looking for a beautiful, loving, sweet girl
who will be your best friend and buddy for life,
GINA's your girl!

GINA's ADOPTION FEE:   $250
This fee covers only part of what we spend on vetting and boarding the dogs we save, and has not changed in 7 years despite dramatic hikes in vet and boarding prices.  Our average cost per dog is now over $450.   At minimum your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming and microchip.  In many cases it also includes surgery, bloodwork, X-rays, and treatment and medications for conditions such as thyroid, ear infections, eye problems, skin conditions and many others.

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING GINA?
Complete an Adoption Application Now!

STOP!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER!

1. We're picky about our adopters. 
2. Are you sure you're up to having a GSD?  They're not for everyone.  They take a lot of time, effort, training.  They shed year round.  They're big.  They scare lots of people.  They "mouth" and herd.  They're usually strong-willed and stubborn.  You have to have references and a home visit.  If you're not willing or able to deal with any of this, please don't waste your time or ours applying.  
   
3. Will the dog be an inside family pet? We do not adopt to outdoor-only homes. All dogs must be indoor dogs.
4. Do you leave your dog outdoors when you're not home?   We do not adopt to homes that leave their animals outside when they're gone.  You must put your dogs indoors when you're gone.  A 3 yr old adopted MOGS dog died when the owners went to run errands, left her outdoors, the gate was somehow opened, and she was hit by a car.  Tragic and 100% preventable. Even privacy fences get broken into.  Gates are opened.  Thieves steal dogs. Never leave your dog outdoors when you're not home!!
   
5. What's your plan for unexpected events and major changes?  New baby? Divorce?  Moving?   How you will provide for your dog if your family breaks up? 
   
6. Will you make a lifetime commitment?  It's your responsibility to keep your dog safe, loved and cared for FOR LIFE.
7.  Do you understand we expect you to keep that lifetime commitment?  It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stick by your family member -- no matter what.
8. Are you unable or unwilling to make a lifetime commitment? Do not apply.

Have Questions? Email us at mogsrescue@gmail.com