The German Shepherd Rescue Trust

The German Shepherd Dog Rescue Trust (GSRT) is a New Zealand-based non-profit, and entirely voluntary organisation dedicated to rescuing neglected, abandoned and unwanted German Shepherd dogs (GSD) across New Zealand. The trust was founded by Denise Sharp in the memory of Yani, Denise's first German Shepherd dog, who died at the age of 2 years after battling various illnesses. The [http://gsdrescue.org.nz/ trust's official website] is sponsored and hosted by Danny de Hek and his wife Rachael de Hek, the founder and operator of [http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/ New Zealand's Information Network] .

The Trust enlists a few volunteers residing in Palmerston North, Hastings, Wellington and Auckland, who offer services such as checking potential homes for a dog, transporting the dogs to their approved homes, and helping the Trust's founder, Denise, in organising the annual GSDRT Christmas Party and GSDRT calendar production and posting. Many of the volunteers are also members of the Trust's message board which can be found in the [http://gsdrescue.org.nz/ trust's official website] .

The Trust has been applauded for its service by the North & South magazine February 2007 edition, and its founder Denise was a runner-up for the Aucklander of the Year Award 2005. Telecom NZ also awarded Denise with their 'Unsung Hero Award', as did 'Pets on the Net' with their "Good Pet Person Award".

Yani

Yani was a German Shepherd dog born on 28 May, 1999. She was adopted by Denise Sharp at the age of 6 weeks, selected from a litter of 7, and was the puppy that made an instant connection with Denise. She waged a life-long war against many diseases and illnesses including severe gastritis, pancreatic insufficiency and ultimately Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Yani, however, enjoyed sporadic lapses of health during her short life and during those healthy times she was seen as happy and active.

After nearly 3 years of sickness, Yani was put to sleep on 20 March, 2002 due to a total immune collapse and pancreatic insufficiency, which led to her mouth developing sores and made her forever hungry yet unable to eat. Yani's body was cremated and her ashes placed in a wooden casket, adorned with a plaque and her collars and tags. To this day, Yani's ashes remain with Denise in their home.

Yani's passing inspired Denise to found the GSDRT, to keep the memory of Yani alive and to help Yani's kind to find better and fulfilling lives. Denise has, and still is, tirelessly searching for suitable homes for unwanted German Shepherd dogs across New Zealand.

Dogs rescued and re-homed

As of November 2007, the Trust have successfully re-homed over 600 German Shepherd dogs to approved homes and families across New Zealand. The Trust takes in German Shepherds who have been mistreated, abused and abandoned and places them into foster homes, where their foster families will continue to care for them until a permanent home is found. The Trust also helps people with genuine reasons to re-home their dogs. In addition, the board provides the opportunity for anyone to inquire about missing pets and/or ask for information and advice which will be answered by the members of the trust's message board.

Usually, dogs who are taken in have experienced lives on a darker side. Lucky, now known as Dudley, spent the first 5 years of his life caged in a wire crate and had never been let out. Dudley was adopted into a loving family in Auckland and is now living a good, free life. A dog listed on a NZ auction site once caught the Trust's attention. The ex-owner of the dog had too many dogs on his property and pictures of 'Piper' showed a miserable and neglected dog. The ex-owner wanted an exorbitant amount of money for Piper. The Trust eventually gathered enough money through donations and 'bought' her. Piper was then placed in a foster home whose family eventually decided to officially adopt her.

However, not all rescued dogs have had abusive ex-owners. Many of the dogs rescued came from owners who loved their dogs, but were unable to keep them due to personal and/or financial reasons. Some of the dogs were found wandering the streets, taken to the pound and left unclaimed by their owners.

Some dogs who came to the trust have unfortunately been so neglected that they suffered illnesses and injuries requiring extensive medical care and even surgery. The trust receives no government funding and relies entirely on the founder Denise's expense and donations. Despite all efforts, sometimes the conditions of the dogs are so severe they do not get the opportunity to lead a long life.

Links

* [http://www.gsdrescue.org.nz/ GSD Rescue Trust official website]