Major
He was my greatest companion. He went everywhere with me. we have cats and he even guarded them. They would get kinda crabby with him but he just backed away. We gave him his own couch to sleep on because we had another couch. He had a bed right next to my bed. He was a huge protector - fierce if he didn't know you but very gentle if he did. Everybody loved Major. He did his job tho, we had a workman working on the house and Major was used to him, but one day he came carrying drugs and Major went into drug dog mode, the guy was so scared. He is missed terribly and he has been cremated and is sitting on his couch,

Major Young
When we adopted Major, 14 years ago, we knew we would love him but the bonds were stronger than we ever anticipated. He was our very first dog and was with us through Law School, 3 houses, dozens of cleared coffee tables, 2 babies and remained at the center of our family for every transition. He was fiercely loyal and my ever present companion. Through every room in the house..he was by my side! He was our treasured family member. Today, we say goodbye to our dear Major.. go chase those bunnies Buddy!!

Malakey

With broken but grateful hearts, we said goodbye on 8/27/2022 to our fierce, loving, and utterly unforgettable little warrior, Malakey the Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix we found through the GSRA in March of 2015. For the seven years she lived with us, she loved, herded, sprinted, delighted in, ordered around, played, cuddled, and blessed us with her energy and spirit.

My husband John was looking online for a shepherd to rescue and found Malakey's picture and this description: "Sometimes you meet a dog that is so shut down that you just want to give them a hug and tell them everything will be OK. Sweet little Malakey is one of those dogs. Malakey had a rough start to her life. She was one of the dogs seized in a puppy mill raid. Malakey had spent her entire short life locked in a 3x10 enclosure with no gate, with very little human interaction or stimulus of any kind. She was in a chain link cell basically. GSRA stepped in to help, as we felt Malakey needed a chance to see what life is all about and find a family to love her."

Well, we became that family and love her is what we spent her whole life doing. Times were tough at first. Although Mallie's incredible foster moms - first Veronica and then Connie - had done an AMAZING job getting her less feral and more able to trust, Mallie was also growly, withdrawn, unsure, and mistrustful for the first few months with us in Northern Virginia. The magic ingredient to her gradual change was primarily our loving and patient older hound Reggie, a Labradoodle we'd had from a pup who was secure and showed Mallie she had nothing to fear with us. Our three sons and John had a harder time winning Mallie's trust than I did as her mom, but eventually she was a 100% "Papa's Girl" and shepherd sister to our sons, sleeping with them, cuddling and playing for hours as they grew from teens to men.

After we lost our beloved Reggie in Feb 2020, Mallie was listless and lonely. We wondered whether she would welcome being a mom or big sister and decided to adopt a "pandemic pup" in November 2020, when Roxy the Lab-Rottie mix joined our family. At first, Mallie wanted nothing to do with her. She'd go upstairs and sulk by herself, and ignored the puppy nipping at her, eager to play. But that didn't last long. Within a few months, Rox and Mallie were inseparable - chasing in the yard, sleeping in side-by-side dog beds, sharing toys and treats. Roxy became Mallie's personal groomer, lovingly licking her face and cleaning out her tall, shepherd ears until Mallie would playfully bat her away. After raising a houseful of boys, we had "our girls," and they had each other.

We found out she had kidney disease a few years ago and bought time with a special kibble and very little protein so her kidneys wouldn't have to work so hard. But time caught up with her, she gradually slowed down, but then she went very fast as her kidneys finally gave out in less than a week. We had time to arrange for a home vet to transition her at home, on her favorite couch, with us and Roxy by her side. She was peaceful, beautiful, calm, and loving as she closed her eyes for the last time.

We will never ever forget this remarkable girl who allowed herself to trust, to love, and to be loved. She's an example of the power of love to save even the most damaged creatures, and to embrace a second chance where she could be safe. We will never, ever forget our fiesty, resilient, and utterly loving little shepherd. Thank you, GSRA, for saving Mallie's life and blessing ours.

Max
On Valentines day we lost our 12 1/2 year old German shepherd. He struggled with hip problems all his life, but was always a happy elder puppy. The last few months he suffered from a stroke, but was able to get around on his own again. He was able to go on walks again, shorter than usual, but still his favorite thing in the world. He has two younger brothers that are having a hard time adjusting with their older brother being gone. They have been stopping at all Max's usual spots on walks, and waiting for their brother to join them. He will be missed by his human & canine family. We know that he is no longer in pain, and has the hips of a puppy, where he can play and get to know his brother & sisters that pasted before his time. We love you Max!

Max
Max came into our lives during a time that we needed him as much as he needed us. He was malnourished, abandoned and understandably shy. I thought I was adopting him to protect us, having just gone through a divorce and being home alone with young kids. He did protect us, but more importantly he became loyal shadow. I never felt alone with him there. Even when he was hiding in the tub because of the thunder (what a surprise to see that big black nose poking out the shower curtain!). Always a joker, he loved to goose me and run. . . just far enough away to turn around and "grin" at me. He is infamous on our street for being the dog that will climb over a fence like a monkey unless the gate was open, then he would just sit in the open gate and look out, never leaving the back yard until invited. RIP my friend, you were loved and will be sorely missed.