By Washington German Shepherd Rescue

Last Friday, a desperate plea caught our attention: a dog in a shelter near our friend in San Jacinto, CA, was on the euthanasia list and scheduled to be put down by 4 PM that day. Determined to save her, I reached out to our Director, who promptly contacted German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (GSROC), the organization with pull rights for that shelter. Maria from GSROC agreed to help us pull the dog from euthanasia and transport her to safety with our friend.

But Maria had a crucial request: could we rescue at least one more dog to make the trip worthwhile? We agreed without hesitation. As we reviewed the available dogs, we discovered a group of young puppies also slated for euthanasia. Our hearts couldn't ignore their plight, and we decided to save them too. This heroic effort even made national news! Read the story here ( https://nationalanimalnews.com/last-call-beautiful-pups.../ ).

Planning the Rescue

With a three-day weekend approaching, Alecia and I knew it was the perfect time to head down to San Jacinto ourselves. By doing so, we could save on transport and veterinary fees. Early Saturday morning, we began preparing the dogs for their journey. However, Alecia had concerns about leaving our foster dogs in the care of the kids and decided to stay home. Determined, I loaded up my Kia Soul and set off for Southern California at 7 AM.

On the Road

My first stop was Eugene, OR, where I indulged in a delicious meal at Chicken Crossing, a beloved food truck run by a friend known for serving some of the best chicken around. From there, I embarked on the long drive to my hotel in Corcoran, a place I hadn’t heard of before but knew was necessary for the mission ahead.

An Unexpected Rescue

During the journey, I was reminded of a Dutch Shepherd at a shelter in Rancho Cucamonga who needed urgent rescue. This little dog had a broken hip, likely from being hit by a car, and required immediate medical attention. Rancho Cucamonga is conveniently located on the way to San Jacinto, so we arranged for me to pick him up Sunday morning.

Good News and Tough Decisions

While driving, we received a message that the adult dog we originally came to rescue had already been saved by another rescue. Relieved, we sent her the next dog on our list, who was also pulled by the same rescue. This positive outcome led us to discover two adult females still on the euthanasia list. After a difficult discussion with our director, we decided to rescue both, knowing that one of them might not survive if left behind.

GSROC confirmed they had successfully pulled two adults and four puppies (one of the five we planned to rescue was adopted before our arrival). These dogs were sent to our foster friends’ house for the night while I continued the mission.

The Long Haul Home

Sunday morning, I set out to pick up the injured Dutch Shepherd. While at the shelter, I met Edward, a sweet dog who immediately stole my heart. Although tempted to take him right then, I had to focus on loading the seven dogs already pulled from the shelter in the car. Edward is next on our list to save from the shelter as soon as we can open a place for him with our foster volunteers. My Kia Soul, equipped with Three kennels, was packed tightly: one adult and one puppy shared a kennel, three other puppies each shared one, the injured puppy was in a separate crate, and the last adult dog rode shotgun as my co-pilot.

A Grueling 1,250-Mile Drive

The drive home was a test of endurance. I decided not to book a hotel and aimed to sleep at a rest stop in southern Oregon. However, with seven dogs in a compact SUV, finding a comfortable position to sleep was impossible. After a mere 90 minutes of restless sleep and another 30-45 minutes to relax, I resumed the journey at 2 AM. The quiet roads of southern Oregon allowed me to make good time, and I finally arrived home just after 8 AM on Labor Day Monday—a true labor of love to save these beautiful souls.

Settling In and Moving Forward

Now, all seven dogs are safely home, getting ready for their forever families. Three have already been placed in foster homes, while the remaining four are staying with us and our eight current fosters, who are still looking for their permanent homes.

How You Can Help

Our mission is far from over, and we need your support to continue rescuing and caring for these amazing dogs. Here’s how you can help:

• Foster: We urgently need foster homes to help care for these dogs and prepare them for adoption.

• Adopt: Consider giving one of these lovely dogs a forever home.

• Donate: Contributions of food, money, gift cards for food or gas, and funds for medical and veterinary expenses are greatly appreciated.

• Engage: If you can’t foster or adopt, please like, comment on, and share our posts on social media. Your engagement helps spread the word to those who might be looking to volunteer or adopt.

Meet Our Rescued Dogs

Coming soon to our website and Petfinder:

• Gisela

• Calyx

• Minka

• Sabrina

• Anders

• Steele

• Our injured Dutch Shepherd, who will join us once his medical needs are met.

Final Thoughts

Every rescue mission is a testament to the power of community and compassion. Thanks to the swift actions of our Director, GSROC, and our dedicated team, we were able to save seven dogs from euthanasia. These dogs now have a second chance at life, filled with love and the hope of finding their forever homes. We are deeply grateful for the support of our community and encourage everyone to get involved in any way they can.

Thank you for your continued support!

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