The moments we share with our pets are always
something special.
They amaze us, make us laugh,
touch our hearts and develop their own ways of
demonstrating their personality, their beauty and their
uniqueness.
Eighteen years ago, I found a
litter of abandoned German Shepherd puppies on a
doorstep. I kept one puppy and found homes for the
others.
That day, I took home more than a new pet; it was
the beginning of a mission.
Realizing that there
are not very many rescues available for German Shepherds
and wanting to help them, I founded Stepping Stone
German Shepherd Rescue, Inc. in 1988. We are an all
volunteer, no-kill, not-for-profit rescue based in
Paris, Kentucky. We are
registered 501(c)3, so donations are tax deductible to
the full extent of the
law.
How are We
Different?
The desire to "work" or do
something is genetic, and is stronger in GSDs than other
dogs. Many
shepherds end up in shelters precisely for this reason.
Without proper guidance and training, GSDs can be
rambunctious, destructive of property, obnoxious and
exhausting to live with. I estimate that
over 90% of the dogs turned into rescue are given up
because the dog has not been properly socialized or
trained and has consequently become a menace.
We have structured our rescue
differently than most others due to the extreme exercise
and training needs of a German Shepherd. Each dog is
taught a minimum of their basic obedience, crate
training, house breaking and socialization (with other
dogs and a variety of people).
We implement behavior modification
and dog psychology into our training program and have
had a 100% success rate in retraining the dogs. A stable German
Shepherd is a true best friend-extremely loyal,
intelligent, affectionate, protective and responsive;
this is what we strive to produce in our rescue
dogs.
Why is There a Need for
Rescue?
According to the AKC,
the German Shepherd Dog continues to rank in the
top three breeds in popularity; in 2004 there were
46,046 GSDs registered in the AKC. It is sad to
say, but if a GSD goes to a shelter or humane society
instead of a rescue, the chances of it surviving the
experience to find a new home are slim.
Due to extreme
and constant overcrowding and the ever increasing
numbers of German Shepherds needing to be placed, we
need to expand our facilities in order to continue to
help as many shepherds as possible.
How Did the Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue
Division Arise?
The Kentuckiana
Bernese Mountain Dog Club (of which we are members)
needed a rescue plan in order to become recognized by
the national club. Due to insurance constraints
amongst other things, the club was unable to conduct
rescue within it's entity and requested that we expand
our focus to include the Berners. So, in 2004 we
added the Apollo Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Division, a
Division of Stepping Stone German Shepherd
Rescue.
Our Mission for
2006:
We were able to meet
our goal of 2005 and expanded our facilities.
For 2006 we still are working on expanding
our in-house training center and grooming and
boarding facilities. This will allow
us not only to be more efficient with our dogs, but also
to increase revenue by helping others. We have many
success stories
and the numbers continue to grow, but limited funds
means turning away dogs that otherwise could have been
rescued.
Can You
Help Us?
To accomplish our goal we
are relying on the generosity of local businesses and
animal lovers like
yourself.
Your support of this mission
will help us care for these homeless, unwanted, lost and
abandoned animals.
We are
seeking cash donations andor items for auction or garage
sale, or items to assist in day to day operations (extra
large crates, Pro Plan dog food, Frontline, Heartguard,
toys, blankets, towels, shampoo, paper towels, bleach,
white vinegar, carpet cleaning solution, stainless steel
bowls, leashes and collars, etc). Every donation,
no matter how large or small, helps in our cause. 100% of every
dollar goes directly to
the dogs.
