Dusty has been adopted! 10-06-2007

Dusty is truly a gentle giant, standing 29 inches at the shoulder, weighing in at 100 lbs. He posesses a happy (although dignified) and friendly disposition. His coloring is a lighter black and tan; he has soft ears and an endearing expression. He was so ecstatic to be out of the shelter that the first day home, he never left his foster mom's side, despite the presence of many other dogs all demanding her attention. Unphased by jealous growls from a few of the others, he basically ignored them and slept at the side of her bed all night without a peep (he's too big to fit in any of her crates).

This huge guy is probably between two and three years old, so he may get a bit bigger and certainly will continue to fill out. He is neutered, microchipped, wormed and vaccinated, and appears to be in splendid physical condition. We think he must be potty-trained because, so far, Dusty has not had any accidents in the house. While he does need a family willing to take on the expense of providing good nutrition for a dog the size of a Great Dane, he will make some lucky family a loyal friend and guardian. His size and presence will make him a great deterrent to intruders, but his mild demeanor and clam, affectionate nature almost belie his German Shepherd genes. In fact, he is so laid back, he will probably get along with cats or even rabbits (but that HAS NOT been tested). He gets along so well with dogs of both genders, all sizes and ages, that he will definitely be a fun pal to take to a dog park.

Dusty doesn't seem to know any commands, but his eagerness to please and be cooperative should make him shine in obedience class. Please be aware that a dog of this size is an exceedingly powerful animal and absolutely MUST be under control at all times, both on and off the leash, at home and elsewhere. His strength is equal to or greater than that of two very strong grown men, so his family must be willing to provide appropriate training to ensure that he becomes a well-mannered dog. Dusty wouldn't deliberately hurt a flea, but his power is so great that without training, he could inadvertently do serious damage to both people and property. This may be the very reason he found himself abandoned in a cold shelter through no fault of his own - because some irresponsible or simply ignorant owner expected him to know what to do without being shown. We cannot stress enough that every owner is responsible for teaching his or her dog to be a good citizen.

The minimum adoption donation for adults is $375 and the adoption donation for puppies is $500. This amount only partially covers the cost of veterinary care, boarding fees, and other miscellaneous expenses involved in the temporary care and adoption of our dogs and is tax deductible when permitted by law. The adoption donation provides that all dogs will be spayed or neutered, receive current vaccinations, and are microchipped. If not, arrangements will be made on an individual basis ( i.e., puppies who will need to be altered by 6 mos old). Special consideration may be given to those willing to adopt older dogs or dogs with physical problems.