Introducing...

"Vana
von
Glaeser Haus"

My Little Diamond In The Rough

...and a girl with

ATTITUDE!

"The Meaning of Rescue"

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed,
I'd like to open by baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry -
So much to regret.
Hmm...yes there it is, right on top
Let's unpack Loneliness, heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
as I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

~Author Unknown~

Little did I know that my efforts to find the breeder or a home for this gal would lead me to adopting her myself!  A member of one of my German Shepherd e-mail lists notified me about a year and a half old long haired German Shepherd, named Vana, at one of the city's shelters.  I went to visit the dog and get to know her in hopes to know more what to tell potential adopters.  That was when Vana slipped into my heart.

Coming from a home that adored her but that had a dramatic lifestyle change, Vana was confused and lonely.   She was used to going to work with her owner, living in the home, being fed a special diet, and playing with the family child.  After the previous owner's changes in work, she was now left alone for long hours of the day and she became destructive.   This, like for so many dogs, caused her to end up in the shelter.

Any dog can be upset after the dramatic change of home life or knowing and loving an owner, and then being left in a cold cement run at a loud shelter with so many smells and sounds.  However, it sometimes seems to take an even more dramatic effect on breeds such as the German Shepherd who bond strongly with their people and are not used to being independent from them.  Vana was a perfect example.

She sat solemnly at the gate of her run when I arrived at the shelter.  Her eyes were searching and sad as she watched all of the people come and go.  She must have been looking for her owner, or for a shelter worker that she may have been bonding with.  She was definitely "looking" for someone.  Someone that would love her again and exercise her and release her from her new confines.

Vana at six years old.

I crouched sideways next to the gate and quietly spoke to her.  Though aloof as many GSDs will be with strangers, she offered a quick lick on my cheek through the fence.  Then, she continued her watch of all of the people coming and going in the shelter.   That was when I noticed the tattoo (HBOBIV5) in her ear.  It was hard to read then, but it was a chance!  There was hope!  Maybe her breeder would come and release her!

Well, after desperate searches and inquiries for her breeder, nothing was happening.  I was told that she was from Germany by one shelter worker (which ended up being untrue).  Another shelter supervisor told us that it was not a tattoo, but a smudge in her ear.  I knew a tattoo when I saw one and persisted.

Vana had developed negative behaviors while in the shelter for that month.  She began biting/mouthing the shelter workers that entered her dog run.  She was crying out for attention and wanted to be OUT!  Also, she was adopted out once and returned for chasing the adopter's cat.  This ended in disappointment again for Vana, and a label on her kennel that said "no cats please".

Desparate to release her from the shelter, I attempted to adopt her.  This consisted of multiple visits including myself, my family, and both of my other dogs (thankfully, not my two cats, too).   Also, a behaviorist/trainer on the site had to meet with me and discuss Vana's issues.  With the help of wonderful shelter employee, Linda Davis, and after a three hour last visit, Vana was coming home with us!

Well, months later, Vana has proven herself to be an excellent housedog, an excellent family guardian and playmate, an excellent dog around the cats (see this photo), a perfect "hostess" to visiting friends and relatives and on top of that..............I found her breeder!  The tattoo matches and her breeder is even someone I have met.   Also, what a nice pedigree Vana has along with her wonderful personality and beauty!  Her breeder has told me that the mouthing is very characteristic of Vana's mother and litter brother, who she still owns.  Now, Vana only mouths with tongue and no teeth when she is content.  Usually, it is when she is getting her tummy rubbed!  
~ She is my little diamond in the rough. ~

Like many rescues, Vana did suffer from mild Separation Anxiety.     Here she is pictured at two years old.

Hey!   Vana Has An Admirer!

Vlad wrote:   "My boy Benz has a crush on one of your girls. I was showing a friend of mine what a beautiful shepherd you had and how much I liked long haired shepherds. And as I was loading up your page, Benz came by and started whining at the screen.. he got closer to it, got his ears up, sat down, and just kept on whining :) He reaaaalllyyy liked her." ------->>

You can visit Benz at his website.