General Color: Black with Brown, Red, Golden, Orange or Chestnut
Color: black and red
Ear Type: Erect
Tail Type: Long
Current Size: 60 Pounds
Potential Size: 70 Pounds
Current Age: 17 Years 1 Month (best estimate)
Fence Required: No
Housetrained: Yes
Exercise Needs: Low
Grooming Needs: Moderate
Shedding Amount: Moderate
Owner Experience Needed: Breed
Reaction to New People: Friendly
MAYBELLINE ~ 8 years old. Good with kids, dogs and cats with supervision.
GSRA Adoptions to residents of VA, NC, and SC only
Maybelline is our miracle girl! Initially found wandering around in rural South Carolina, Maybelline spent several weeks at a county shelter before being rescued by GSRA. When she got to her foster home it was evident that she needed medical attention - immediately! She was severely emaciated, listless, dehydrated and depressed. Her breathing was ragged and the only time she moved was when her body was wracked by coughing spasms. We rushed her to the emergency vet where it was discovered that she was in the early stages of Caval Syndrome - a serious complication of chronic heartworm disease that is characterized by acute anorexia, respiratory distress, weakness, anemia, liver and kidney dysfunction and eventual heart failure. Maybelline suffered all these symptoms, as well as severe dehydration, making the chance of her survival slim to none. In all my years in rescue I have never seen a dog be in such poor condition and make it alive. However , like I said, Maybelline is our miracle girl!
Although the emergency vet warned us that she most likely would not survive the night, we agreed to give her a chance and began pumping her full of fluids and antibiotics. Amazingly, around midnight that night, Maybelline ate some food! Then she ate a little more...and a little more. Day by day she amazed us and proved to us how much she wanted to live. To say that Maybelline is a fighter would be the biggest understatement of the year!!! Still, she had a long road to recovery that was fraught with dangers and possibilities of set backs. In one week she gained 8lbs - going from a mere 34lbs when first admitted to the ER vet to 44lbs, illustrating just how emaciated and dehydrated she was when she first came in. So the first order of business was to fatten her up. Then we had to tackle the heartworms. True to Maybelline's form, she has jumped every hurdle in her path and is now 2 weeks away from being heartworm free. This is one strong and determined young lady!!!!! Not to mention sweet!!!!!! Through all of her suffering Maybelline was nothing but gracious, kind, gentle and loving. You could tell that being touched gently was something new for her. I am sure she had never been kissed or hugged before she came into the rescue. She had numerous visitors go sit with her each day she was at the ER vet and each one told her the same thing: from now on, she would never be alone again. Now that she has finished her heartworm treatment, the next medical hurdle will be being spayed. The vet advised we wait 2-3 months after the completion of HW treatment before doing the spaying.
We don’t know anything about Maybelline’s early life, however it's clear from anyone who saw her in the beginning that her life was not easy. In addition to the heartworms, emaciation, and dehydration, she looked like she had several litters of puppies. Her fur was thin and brittle, and her skin was dry and flaky - all the hallmarks of an outside dog who had poor to little nutrition. When I would walk her at the vet hospital the only time she would pull on the leash was when we got close to the dumpster. If I let her approach it she would hunt around the bottom of it as if looking for food. I have no doubt that this is how she fended for herself when she was alone. A life alone is heartbreaking for any dog. However it seems even more cruel for a dog like Maybelline who absolutely ADORES people. Maybelline just wants to be wherever you are. Maybelline will never make the grade as a guard dog - not even remotely! She loves everyone she meets!! She is loyal and loving and very polite and submissive to humans. She has not been around children but we are quite sure she will love all people - no matter their age, size or gender. Maybelline is a true people's dog. She also seems to like the company of other dogs, and would probably do well with a companion animal in her home (currently she is an only dog and so clings to her humans quite tightly). Maybelline is living with a very assertive cat and is learning how to be polite. However, she is quite exuberant with her love for kitties and so will need a very dog savvy cat in order to put her in her place. Definitely needs supervision and continued training but she does respond to 'leave it'
Maybelline would do best in a home that is used to GSDs and can clearly own the role of pack leader. As sweet as Maybelline is, she is also head strong, and will test her boundaries (like all good sheppies will do!!). It's hard not to go easy on her, given her awful beginning in the rescue, however, firm but gentle boundaries and continued obedience work will make her a happier and more settled GSD in the long run. She is just about to start doggie school with her foster Mom now that she is over her heartworm treatment and obedience work is something we recommend anyone considering adopting Maybelline to continue. Despite the fact that Maybelline is a middle-aged gal (as best that we can tell), it is likely she never got to experience a true puppyhood. Hence, now that she is feeling so much better and is safe and secure, she is demonstrating many puppy antics that you would think are well behind a dog of her age. She loves to chew on things (table legs, carpets, miscellaneous items laying around) and she can't quite contain her enthusiasm for meeting people and so will jump up to love on them. She has mastered the art of "sit" but "stay" is just a little too mush for her when she has so much to see and do and so many people to meet. She'll get there though, it just takes time and patience.
Maybelline seems to be medium energy for her age, and lies quietly in her foster Mom's study while she works, but sometimes she will let her foster know that it is time for a walk.... right now!. Like most dogs, Maybelline LOVES to walk. She also loves to riding the car and will wait quietly while her foster Mom does an errand. Maybelline is the perfect dog for a family or couple who are looking for a companion who loves to walk, hike but also chill out on the couch. Maybelline is a very special girl who deserves a very special home. She has so much time to make up for. Are you the kind of person who can make all her dreams come true and show her how good life truly can be???
More about Maybelline
Good with Dogs, Good with Cats, Good with Kids, Good with Adults, Good for Seniors/Elderly, Quiet, Does not require a yard, Affectionate, Even-tempered, Gentle
For more information on our adoptable pet list please visit: Adoptable Pet List
