Saber
In November 2009 our lives were blessed when we agreed to help out the GSRA by fostering a senior that was in a shelter in Wilmington. He was called OB because of his very distinct overbite. Let me back up a bit. September 2009 our family moved from our apartment into a wonderful home in the country and knew that it was the perfect place for a dog to live. I had always loved German Shepherds and missed having one in our home. The perfect solution was to look for a rescue and Google directed me to GSRA. I filled out an application and started the adoption process. We were working with Cathie and Andrea to find the perfect girl about 2 years old, when I got a email from them asking for help in fostering a male senior dog that was going to be put down very soon and all GSRA fosters were full. The shelter in Wilmington had said he was not worth saving because he was old and heart worm positive but as we all know GSRA believes all dogs are worth saving. My husband and I talked about it and decided that this was the right thing to do, never knowing that our lives were about to take an unexpected change for the better. So on that beautiful fall day in November 2009, Andrea and Cathie brought OB to us and we knew immediately that this boy was something special. We adopted OB in January 2010 and changed his name to Saber. He had his forever home. Saber had the best manners. Never once did he get in the trash, chew a shoe, still food off your plate, get on the counters, mess in the house or do any of the things you expect a dog might do. How could anyone have thrown this boy away or say he didn’t deserve to be saved? Oh so what if he didn’t like baths, having his nails cut, getting brushed and you could just forget getting that toothbrush near him. He was still the perfect companion. He loved his toys and took care of them like a mother looking after her young. All 95 pounds of him would roll around on his back with all 4 legs in air. He wanted to be with his people and would follow his dad around like there was an invisible string attached to his back. Car rides were the best, along with walks down by the lake. He loved to swim, run and play even though he knew how much pain it caused him. He took his medicines like a champ everyday, except that leaky bladder pill that he would push to the side as he ate the rest. Guess he always thought we wouldn’t notice but he always gave in and chewed it up too. He just wanted to please his people and he did that completely. Saber had a best friend named Bitty Kitty. She came to us when someone literally threw her away. She could sit in your hand or fit in Sabers mouth as we found out quite by accident. Our fears were quickly put to rest because she was completely fine except for the fact she was drenched in doggy slobber. They developed a very special bond and would even share a bowl of food. He couldn’t even go the bathroom without her rubbing against his legs. Their friendship was something funny to witness. On August 17, 2012 Saber found his way to doggie heaven and our hearts were broke. He had filled a place in our hearts that we didn’t know was empty. In the 3 years he lived with us, he brought us so much joy. He will be with us always as he is buried under his favorite tree next to the fence, where he will forever guard the perimeter of the homestead. RIP Saber! You are missed by your family!

Sable
Sable passed away at the age of 9 yrs old. she was our life our family and my children's sibling. She was great protector and my best friend . I cant wait to cross that bridge and see you again one day . You will always be in our hearts.

Sadie
My beloved dog’s name was Sadie “Hawkins” Phillips. She was nearly 12 years old but acted like a puppy till the day she died. Sadie was rescued from the animal shelter when she was only 3 months old, my wife and her sister saved her from being destroyed. In fact, she was our wedding gift from my wife’s sister. Sadie was a loving member of our family which is my wife and I and our two boys; Matthew 10 and Kyle 6. Sadie was one of the most loyal dogs I had ever owned; she was a great watch dog and always was there to protect our family. She was also very playful and even at her age still liked to play catch with the tennis ball. We had a nickname for Sadie and that was Houdini; because of her unique ability to break out or into anything. She was such a smart dog, she learned how to open the door with her mouth, so we would have to lock our garage door to the house so she wouldn’t “break in”. She also learned how to open the screen door with her paw, you would not believe how many screen doors I had to re-screen. For most of her life she was an in-house dog, she hated the water and when it would rain, she wouldn’t even go outside to go to the bathroom. You should have seen me try to give her a bath, but she always knew when she had to and would agree to climb into the bathtub with me. Sadie definitely made her presence known in our house and stirred many deep emotions within all of us, but I think I will miss her the most, because I always referred to her as my “baby girl”. God blessed our family with a dog that give us memories for a lifetime and for that I am eternally grateful to HIM and I hope Sadie is playing fetch up there with him right now. Sadie you will live on in our hearts forever and will always be a member of our family! With Love, The Phillips Family

Samantha ("Sammie")
I found Samantha one evening when I was on my way home and stopped to buy gas. She was sitting by the building, watching and waiting. I saw her there, alone and lonely, and called to her. She came to me, a little shyly, then wagging her tail from the first soft pat on her head. So I bought her some dog food, which she wolfed down, and I noticed she had no tags or collar. I asked the station clerk about her, and he told me that she'd been there for about 10 days and was about to call animal control! So naturally, I took her home! She quickly made herself home in my apartment, which was beside a lake. She would run and run and run in the grass. I had just been through a serious illness, and I am convinced that her love made me well. Soon, my neighbor adopted a beagle puppy named Max, and he and Sammie became fast friends. Since I travel a lot for a living, Sam also stayed with my mom and dad, who adored her. They had two dogs of their own. Sammie liked being Numero Uno, but she tolerated Maggie and Kippy well. Later, she and I moved to a house in the country, where we went on long walks and Sammie got to meet other dogs. Most of my extended family just adored her, as did I. For nearly 10 years, Sammie was my four-legged "child." Then about a year ago, she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Two weeks later, she departed for the Rainbow Bridge. I miss her so...and feel that her spirit is still close to me. I miss her lovely face, and her wagging tail. I miss her bark and her whine and her funny happy "moaning." I hope to have another dog one day, hopefully soon!

Sasha
We received Sasha from GSDR approximately 3 1/2 years ago to foster. She was such a sweetie that we decided quickly to make her a permanent member of our household. We had fostered two before her but she definitely found our hearts' soft spot and stayed there until her recent passing over to Rainbow Bridge. She enriched our lives beyond belief, even getting along with the two cats in residence....unusual for German Shepherd Dogs. She was my "shadow", even accompanying me to the bathroom, constantly by my side, seeing me through two surgeries and subsequent recovery periods of time when I couldn't walk her or care for her much during that time. It didn't matter to her, at least her Mommy was home from the hospital! I couldn't have asked for a better dog. She was laid back, had fun with "chasing" the cats, never hurting them, sometimes giving wet GSD kisses IF she could "catch" them! Always greeting folks with a fierce "visitors beware" bark but then quickly becoming accustomed to their presence. She rarely had to be crated, always held it until someone returned home to let her out to do her business. Just a very well rounded addition to our family. I miss her terribly and we are planning on fostering/adopting again soon....as soon as we properly grieve over her loss. We had her cremated and I just returned home with her ashes. She is resting on Rainbow Bridge now....that much I cling to and with the hope of being reunited when my time comes.....to walk again with my best friend by my side. Over the bridge and up the hill, into Heaven. Thank you, GSDRA, for helping to bring her into our lives. A better adoption I could not have hoped for.