KEVIN
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 Kevin was picked up as a stray by Animal Control in the west valley on June 8th. Although he waited for his folks to come for him, they didn't. As the days went by, Kevin became more and more stressed in the kennel environment. By the time the day came for his official shelter evaluation, Kevin was so overwhelmed that he failed miserably and was slated for euthanasia the following morning--he was not even going to be put up for adoption to the public.Not willing to let that happen without seeing for ourselves, one of our staff members went to the West Side Shelter early Friday morning to see for himself. None of the kennel staff were willing to go into his pen to catch Kevin for us, but we opened the gate and walked right in. Kevin did try to bluff us (as he had apparently succeeded in doing with the shelter staff), but once we were inside and had a leash on him, Kevin immediately relaxed and allowed himself to be touched and petted without protest. The shelter environment can be devastating to a dog, shepherds in particular. Their only defense is to keep you away, which they try to do by putting on a great offensive. Kevin will be liberated from the shelter today (June 12th) and allowed to spend the afternoon with one of our staff members playing in the park and getting acquainted (and, of course, taking some pictures). We'll have a better idea of his temperament and training level later on today, so please check back.
UPDATE 6/12: One of our staff members, accompanied by a volunteer, rescued Kevin from the shelter today. He initially tried to keep our staff member away, but once a slip lead went over his head, he immediately surrendered. He startled at all sudden noises and was content to walk by our side as we made our way out of the shelter. He loaded up in our vehicle without any problem at all and rode quietly to his safe haven at Pat the Dog Lady's, where we took the opportunity to take some photos and tucked Kevin in for the night with a huge bowl of food, which he was happily munching on when we left. We will be giving Kevin a few days to settle in before we evaluate him again. Please check back for updates.
He was still not willing to "ask" for our attention, but allowed us to pet and scratch his belly and he seemed to be enjoying our attention. We will be paying him another visit soon and will be moving him to a foster as soon as we are able. UPDATE 6/17: One of our staff members went to visit Kevin again today. While he was still a big stand-offish, when he was encouraged by a friendly voice and a treat, he came willingly and with a wagging tail. This is the first time we've seen his tail wag! He's definitely calming down and settling in. The sooner we can get him into a foster home, the better. UPDATE 7/4: Thanks to Betty & Kerry, Kevin has been liberated on Independence Day!!! He will be moving in with Betty and her friendly pack, but the first order of business is a BATH. We'll be learning more about Kevin now that he's in a household. Please check back for updates.
FOSTER REPORT 7/4: "No man issues with this boy. We spent at least an hour bathing this fella before we could bring him in. We think it was his first bath ever. A little nervous at first but he figured out we weren't going to hurt him and it felt pretty good to drop a whole lot of unwanted fur. We had to bathe him 2 times and in some areas 3. He could use another bath still. By the end of the first bath, he was totally enjoying it! He was totally covered with ticks of all sizes and colors. I'm still finding some here and there on him. He definitely could use a new photo for his bio. He is not eating well at all. Wants to bury his food. Don't know what type of container Pat used but he doesn't want to stick his nose in the bowl. He perked up a whole lot when he was intro'd to the girls. What fella wouldn't be in hog heaven with 3 females and no other male for competition! The downside to that is he marks everywhere and can't be out of the crate inside. Sidney is the only one that can go up to his crate without him being possessive about his food or bone. I'm think it is because of her non threatening size and her playful demeanor. He is definitely over exuberant with the girls and , well, you can only guess his hormones are running wild! While in his crate, he would snarl and bark at the others to protect his bone; however, with a simple voice correction , he stopped the barking and just took to the snarling face whenever the girls would go by the crate. It was quite comical. Loves to have his fur scratched all over and belly rubs. Like a totally different dog in the first hour, not only his looks but his personallity is slowly coming out. I don't think he has ever been inside before, checked out everything. As I expected, he crated right up and was quite compliant. Kerry and I had some things to do that afternoon, so we left him crated; I gave him a bone, we were away until 10:30 last night. He was happy to see us, didn't seem to mess his crate, but is definitely not housebroken. He doesn't attempt to breakout of his crate. Kevin is very alert to his surroundings, quick to learn some things and even wants to. He still is quite timid but will come to us for hugs, pets, scratches and all the belly rubs we can get him. He is like a blank slate and needs direction. Because of his unaltered state, I can't allow him to roam in the home freely so we take him outside for his attention or keep him on lead inside with the girls outside. We have already seen a big turn around during his first bath so I have no doubt that what we will see from this day forward will be improvements. Of course, given the fact that it takes a couple weeks at least for the fosters to show their true colors, we will update periodically, his upsides as well as his downsides. He is a pleasant little guy who just needs to know what life is all about and to catch up on what he missed out on.
His tail hasn't stopped wagging. He's good in his crate and goes in willingly, with no messes when Betty has to leave for work. He's also learning to share toys and bones with the girls; just one word from Betty and he readily agrees to share. There is no aggression in this boy whatsoever. Betty tried to do a cat introduction with her older male cat, Oscar, who loves dogs. Oscar tried to go up to Kevin to rub against him, and Kevin took off! It's obvious that Kevin has never seen a cat before and has no idea what they are. UPDATE 7/19: Kevin came out to the park today for his first outing and also his first introduction to some prospective foster parents.
After a home check, Kevin will be taking up residence with Scott and Kynah. Once he has settled in, we will schedule his neuter surgery. After a suitable recovery time (about 2 weeks), if Scott and Kynah can bear to part with him, Kevin will be available for introductions. Please check back. UPDATE 7/17: Kevin moved to Scottsdale today. He has a pretty rough start when our staff member and foster mom Betty left him, but within a few short hours, new foster dad Scott reports: Kevin's second introduction to Kynah was not as smooth as his first. He was very uneasy, even let out a low growl. When we tried to crate him, he fought until he realized that he wouldn't win. It was clear that he was realizing you and Betty were not coming back. The negatives end there, however. Kevin has been with us for only one meal, and he ate it all - immediately. When we returned home a bit later, Kevin was happy to see us. This little boy has improved ten fold in just a few hours. He is running across the house playing with both Kynah and me, even sitting on Kynah's lap. He loves that rope, and plays fetch like a veteran. He follows us everywhere and eats up all the attention we give him. He pottys (only pee so far) completely outsite. He has such a sweet and happy demeanor. We are so excited to see how he does in the weeks to come. Way to go, Kevin!!
FOSTER UPDATE 7/22: Just a quick update. The three of us just got back from the park. We had the place to ourselves. Kevin absolutely loved it. He had an entire baseball outfield of damp, cool grass to chase Kynah, myself, and his rope. He is very graceful in stride and, though skinny, his power is impressive. The field did not keep his attention for long; soon enough, he was off investigating the world. He takes on new things much more boldly than before, and is quick to learn what is safe (he looks to us for assurance).
His house manners are good. And now that he is more settled and feeling at home, I am hoping to teach him how to be a bit more polite. He has yet to go to the bathroom inside, or even lift his leg. He sits in front of me or nudges the door when he has to go out. He has been off the leash for a some time [indoors] and doing great. He even slept with his kennel door open last night, and besides waking me up at four for a quick pet, he did well. Kevin has again decided he does not want to eat unless his food is on the floor, but he IS eating! ...Even though it is hot, Kevin is still hesitant to swim, but he is curious of the water, so I bet it is just a matter of time - we are excited for that, I know he will love it. Stangers are still strangers, and he is trying hard to learn that people are not so bad. He is becoming more comfortable with the world, and even people, but with that comfort he seems to have found more obvious ways to let people know he is frightened. All in all, however, Kevin is still improving so much. He is such a joy and has a huge loving and PLAYFUL heart. Kynah and I can't even look at each other without Kevin wanting a piece of the attention pie and makes sure we know it by hopping right into our laps and giving us plenty of kisses. We are just loving it!! UPDATE 8/6: Kevin has had his neuter surgery and came through with flying colors. He was a bit freaked out by the vet's office, but we definitely are not holding that against him. Foster Mom Kynah made a comment about Kevin that we wanted to share. She said, "When we first got Kevin I thought we would be teaching him how to love, but in actuality, he has so much love he just needed someone to give it to." Foster Dad Scott thinks that pretty much sums him [Kevin] up. He has more love than just about any dog I've known. FOSTER UPDATE 8/14: Kevin has made considerable progress since he has been with us. In his time here, he has improved physically, emotionally and mentally. Here is a brief summary of areas where Kevin needs significant attention. First and foremost, he does not like strangers. Kynah and I have worked with him quite a bit in this area, and he has come a long way. We have introduced him to many people, and he has not totally warmed up to any of them yet - probably because we haven't spent a great deal of time with them. The point, for us, was to show him that people are not all bad, and to have him meet as many good ones as we could. He has responded well, and as long as there are no startling introductions, he (usually) allows a person to be around without fuss, short of an occasional rumbling growl. With the people he has spent the most time with beside us, he is more social and has warmed up to more. He does best when introduced outside of his "safe zone" (home). It is important to note that other than one occasion, Kevin has never shown signs of aggression. The single exception occurred when Kevin and I were laying down with my arm around him, and without thinking, a newly introduced family member reached her hand out in our direction. Kevin raised his lip, snarled, and snapped. After a very stern reprimand and a while of being totally ignored, he has never shown any sign of something similar. Since Kevin has gained confidence, he is more boisterous when letting others know how he feels. However, for the most part, he is all bark - and growl. He usually runs to someone safe when frightened, but lately, he has boldly stood a few new people off. With correction, he will quietly be by my side. Shortly, if a person is properly introduced and Kevin sees that we accept the person, he will generally just deal with it - not happily, but he will accept the situation. Kevin is still a puppy at heart. Everything is a game (and he absolutely loves to play) and he has not learned to always use his manners yet. He can be a bit pushy, and will often run in front of us when we are leading him. Also, he loves to jump up to us, which can be quite intimidating for the unexpecting, as he reaches head level with me at 6'4"!! He has a considerable amount of energy, so I drain it by playing pretty rough with him, and even then he knows what the tolerable limit as far as clamping down on my arm. If he does grab a tad too hard, he releases immediately when I command. He also still nips when playing. His front teeth are very sharp and do sting when we nibbles. Almost every time this happens, it is inadvertent - he is trying to nibble on something else, and catches us instead. However, we correct him each time and he is learning quickly what is acceptable. Overall, he has improved quite a bit in this area as well. Kevin does not dislike men but does seem to take to women more quickly. He is not food aggressive but is a bit protective of his new bone. I suspect he hasn't had much training in the way of table manners. He immediately recognized me as his leader when I approached him and his bone, and let me take it and waited patiently until I returned it. However, he was not so generous with Kynah. He growled, but like a wuss - as if he were thinking, "I think I'm supposed to growl, but I'm not sure." We worked on this for about fifteen minutes until Kynah could approach and remove the bone without a fuss from Kevin. Aside from the above issues, Kevin is all positives. He has come so far from the always frightened, timid pup we met at the park. It is tough to find a starting point, so I will just dive right into it by addressing the improvements he has made in the areas discussed above. When Kevin first came to our home, the world was completely new to him. He was startled by just about everything. His strong fear of the world has turned into an even stronger curiosity. He faces new things boldly and with confidence. He is rarely fearful of new things (people aside). Kevin is extremely responsive to my emotions. If I walk with confidence, Kevin usually follows suit; sometimes after a bit of convincing. As soon as I gained Kevin's trust, he handed it to me on a silver platter and has never taken it back. New people are the only exception, and even then, he responds to how I act around them. He has, however, come a long way regarding people. When Kevin first arrived, he would run - tail tucked and ears back - at even the sight of a new person. Now, while still very aloof, he at least accepts them. Kevin is all forward progress in this area and will benefit from as much socialization with people as possible. An exciting note: Kevin opens up when surrounded by other dogs. While at the dog park, he even ran up to a few strangers and sniffed/licked. The moments were short-lived, however. As soon as a person acknowledged him, he came running back to me. Once he became comfortable, he was running and jumping all over the place playing with some new dog friends. Though Kevin still has puppy manners, but he has learned a lot about how to be cordial. We quickly taught him that shoving his way in front of us to get out the front door is not polite. For the most part, he sits and waits for me to open the door. He is very well house trained and has had very few "accidents." He understands "sit," and is learning that play time is over when I say "SHHHH." Kevin thinks he is a cuddle dog and will not hesitate to wedge his way in between Kynah and I, on the couch or in bed. He knows when bed time is approaching, and will try to delay it by becoming suddenly playful. However, he knows when the light goes out, he needs to get off the bed. Unfortunately, we are still trying to teach him that just because the sun rises at 0530 and the room is light again, it doesn't mean that he is allowed back on the bed!! Kevin is a mentally well-rounded dog. Aside from the occasional fright, he has an even temperament and stable demeanor. He rarely "freaks out," even in thunderous monsoons; he only barks at the thunder once or twice, as if he thinks someone is trying to get in the house, then will just climb into bed with us to feel safe. He barks when there is commotion at the front door, and hushes when I tell him too, remaining on guard, staring at the front door or whatever he perceived as the potential threat has passed. I have no doubt that he would absolutely defend his pack if we were truly threatened. His loyalty and obedience is incredible. Kevin is always by my side, and literally looks to me for what to do in new situations, especially if new people are around. At the dog park, any time I called him, he stopped what he was doing and ran over. At home, he has to be where the action is. Kynah and I can't even look at each other without Kevin getting in the middle of it and trying to play. If there is any attention being given, it better be to Kevin or he will demand it. If he gets into something he should not be into, he stops after one correction, and will rarely get into that same thing after two corrections. I am quite comfortable taking Kevin outside with me when I'm working, or I'm in the yard etc. He never strays too far and always comes back if I whistle. He has never bolted, or tried to run away from me. However, he is absolutely intrigued by the javelina in our yard, so I keep him inside or on a leash when they come around because I think that would be a battle he'd lose. On the leash note, he hasn't gone on a ton of walks, but has pretty much learned leash etiquette and walks just fine. He rides in the car much better than when he first started, but doesn't love it yet. He has not had too much time to learn that the pool isn't so scary, but has been in once or twice. He won't go in on his own yet, but it's obvious he enjoys being nice and cool once he gets out. He has learned the "fetch" concept, and will sometimes play for a while, but seems to prefer chasing whatever is thrown and leaving it where it landed. Kevin does not have many toys, so he knows that not everything is a toy. He occasionally finds a stray pair of underwear but knows they are not his and drops them as soon as he sees us. Up until I sat down to write this, Kevin has never chewed up anything that did not belong to him (i.e., the couch). However, when I got up to check on him a few minutes ago, I found an entire pillow spread out on the floor. I doubt he will get into a pillow again anytime soon; with a stern "NO" and a few minutes of being ignored, he "gets it." He is very intelligent, very obedient, and very submissive when he knows he's in trouble. Kevin does just fine when left alone for a while. He enjoys being in his crate, and never fusses when he is in. We are slowly letting him be out of his crate when we leave the house, and he does fine. Aside from the claw marks on and around the door, he is not destructive at all. Kevin is also enjoying being outside more. When he first arrived, he would rarely leave our sight when in the yard, and certainly would not be able to stand it if we left him alone. While we always are outside with him, I will leave the door open when it is time to come back in and he will choose to stay in the yard for a few extra minutes, and prance in whenever he has chased enough lizard or is done doing normal dog stuff. A final note, Kevin has put on some weight since he first arrived, almost entirely lean mass. His muscles are larger and more defined, and, though still skinny, he is starting to fill out. Kevin's heart is FULL of love. He deserves a wonderful home and family. As difficult as it is for him to meet new people, it is so obvious he wants badly to break free of his fear and let those people "in." He communicates that when his social side shows, as in the case of the dog park. When he first came to us, it took only a few hours of showing Kevin love and he was sitting in our laps, trying to cuddle until he fell asleep. This dog is truly one of a kind, and will be an absolutely wonderful, loyal exceptional boy for a loving and patient person or family. UPDATE 8/16: Kevin had his first introduction at the park today. He was initially reluctant to meet other people, but once Izzy showed up, he was much more relaxed and wanted to play.
We are very encouraged with the progress that Kevin has made over the past several weeks. His foster parents are doing a wonderful job with him. Ongoing socialization is the key to Kevin's success.
UPDATE 9/15: Foster dad Scott reports: Layla and Kevin are doing very well. Layla has calmed down considerably. Kevin can be around her while she is eating with no fuss from her. I think she tastes the food now that she has begun to chew it; however, she still scarfs is down and eats anything else she can, which has led to Kevin becoming protective of his food. We have let this play out on its own (short of any physical confrontations) and Layla is certainly learning what is hers and what is not acceptable. ...
Last Sunday, Kevin and Layla attended a picnic church function with about 150 people (mostly students). We considered that their first test. I was STUNNED at how well Kevin did. He was letting many people pet and hug him. The most incredible thing: he let the high school pastor's daughter of about 7 walk him around on lead and OBEYED her requests. He has come a long, long way and we are so joyful that he is still improving.
The two seem to be getting along better, and Layla has definitely learned her place. She is rarely pushy with Kevin, and just loves to play. She sits in the office while I work, and Kevin sits at Kynah's feet in the bathroom while she gets ready. All in all, everyone is doing well.
Adoption fee $295.00.
If you are interested in Kevin, please fill out our PROSPECTIVE ADOPTER'S QUESTIONNAIRE and Email Nancy at WhiteGSDRescue@AOL.com. This questionnaire link is only for Kevin or other white German Shepherds on our site. YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY RETURN EMAIL.
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UPDATE 6/15: We paid Kevin a visit today to see how he was doing after being given the weekend to relax and regroup. He was much less reactive today, and allowed us to handle him without protest. 
UPDATE 7/7: Foster mom Betty reports that Kevin is a joy to have around; a real sweetheart. This is obviously his first experience being indoors and part of a family, and he is loving every minute of it. He is playing well with Betty's "girls" (a GSD mix, a black lab and a 20 pound terrier) and is more than willing to follow their lead when it comes to playtime; he is very respectful of each of the girls. When they say "NO" Kevin backs right off.
FOSTER UPDATE 7/19: Kevin met my family and a few others yesterday. He warmed up SO quickly, especially with Jackson (the family dog). He is settling in great here, and his skiddish moments are becoming fewer and fewer. He is quite curious, and loves underwear. He had his first stormy experience last night, and was spooked. It was off in the distance, but he was very wary of the lightning flashes and rain patters. One of the biggest difference in Kevin so far? His eyes. They have gone from fearing and hesitant to absolutely loving and confident. He is a magnificent boy. We are new to this, but at this rate, he just MIGHT even exceed your expectations. : D
