German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley

German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley GSRSV is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit rescue organization operated by one individual: Brian Foran.

German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley (GSRSV) is an organization dedicated to finding good homes for German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) and GSD mixes at risk of being placed in shelters, or who are already in shelters and possibly facing euthanasia. Though countless volunteers and benefactors have supported--and continue to support--GSRSV, he runs and primarily funds the program since February 2001

. GSRSV places dogs throughout northern California and western Nevada, but does not exclude people who live even further away from adopting. He encourages prospective adopters who are a significant distance from GSRSV to work with their local rescue groups first to find the dog that they are looking for. Check out our website: www.gsrsv.org where you can find more info, adoptable dogs, and GSRSV events.

07/23/2026

This is a video of "Zarah", 1 1/2-yo soon-to-be-spayed female GSD mix scheduled to be surrendered to the Stockton animal shelter on 7-29-26. See previous post or www.gsrsv.org/OtherFosterDogs.htm for further info about Zarah.

ut toURGENT ADOPTION APPEAL: SWEET 1 1/2-YO SOON-TO-BE-SPAYED FEMALE GSD MIX SCHEDULED TO BE SURRENDERED TO STOCKTON ANI...
07/23/2026

ut toURGENT ADOPTION APPEAL: SWEET 1 1/2-YO SOON-TO-BE-SPAYED FEMALE GSD MIX SCHEDULED TO BE SURRENDERED TO STOCKTON ANIMAL SHELTER ON WED, JULY 29! SEE END OF THIS POST FOR CONTACT INFO.

"Zarah" is an approx 45-lb, soon-to-be-spayed female GSD mix who is sweet, loving and smart. Zarah is healthy, microchipped, and up-to-date on core vaccinations. She will be spayed on July 29, after which she will be surrendered to the Stockton animal shelter.

Zarah loves people, and is great w/ the 12-yo child she’s presently living with. She might be a bit too energetic for toddlers.

Zarah lives with both a male GSD and a female Golden Doodle. She is fine with the
male dog, but does not get along w/ the female dog. It’s unknown how she is with small dogs.

Zarah chases cats, so a home without cats is a must.

Zarah is housetrained but her person (Melanie) kept her in a crate when she was gone because of the conflict between Zarah and her other female dog. She also kept Zarah in a crate at night.

Zarah is presently staying with a professional trainer where she’s receiving formal obedience training. She walks fairly well on leash and is not too reactive towards other dogs she sees when on walks.

Zarah loves to ride in a car and is a polite passenger. She loves squeaky toys and playing with "mind toys."

Zarah is a true adventure-loving dog, and is game for activities like paddleboarding. (See https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QaMLmk7U_S4 for a video of Zarah on a paddleboard.)

Melanie adopted Zarah from a person on NextDoor who could no longer keep her due to conflicts between Zarah and her other female dog. Now, Melanie is facing the same situation and can no longer keep her. Though Zarah is now at the home of a professional trainer, Melanie can not afford to keep her there beyond July 29, when she has an appointment to surrender her to the Stockton animal shelter (the same day she is getting spayed).

Zarah is located in Stockton. There is no adoption fee for her, but she won’t be ready to be adopted until after she is spayed on July 29.

Please contact Melanie Marshall at 209-607-3241 or [email protected].

Let's try to keep Zarah from becoming another shelter statistic. Share if you can. Prayers and "Isn't she pretty" won't keep her out of the shelter.

UPDATE 7-16-26: THE MILO FOUNDATION (https://www.milofoundation.org/) HAS TAGGED BUDDY FOR RESCUE. THANKS, MILO FOUNDATI...
07/11/2026

UPDATE 7-16-26: THE MILO FOUNDATION (https://www.milofoundation.org/) HAS TAGGED BUDDY FOR RESCUE. THANKS, MILO FOUNDATION!

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URGENT!! FRIENDLY, GENTLE 8-YO NEUTERED MALE GSD AT MARTINEZ ANIMAL SHELTER NEEDS ADOPTION OR RESCUE BY WED, 7-15 OR WILL BE EUTHANIZED.

“Buddy” is an approx 78-lb, 8-yo neutered male GSD at the Contra Costa County animal shelter in Martinez, CA. He has been at the shelter since June 22, and due to space limitations, he must exit the shelter by Wed, July 15, or he will be euthanized. Buddy is available for both adoption to the public and to rescue groups.

A volunteer who spent time with Buddy stated that he “has a sunny disposition and was comfortable meeting new people. (He) comes across as an obedient boy who is not strong willed or overly dominant .”

Buddy interacted very well with two female dogs at the shelter and was submissive to one of the dogs when she got snippy with him. See https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5w53v6EPKaA for a video of Buddy with one of the two dogs.

If you’re interested in adopting Buddy and want more information about him, call 925-608-8400 or email [email protected] and refer to him by his ID #: A0914357.
For adoption procedures, see https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/807/Adoption-Policies.

PLEASE SHARE TO HELP SAVE BUDDY.!

CAT-FRIENDLY, 5-YO SPAYED FEMALE GSD/HUSKY/BORDER COLLIE NEEDS NEW HOME!"Ellie Mae" is a super-sweet 5-yo spayed female ...
07/10/2026

CAT-FRIENDLY, 5-YO SPAYED FEMALE GSD/HUSKY/BORDER COLLIE NEEDS NEW HOME!

"Ellie Mae" is a super-sweet 5-yo spayed female GSD/Husky/Border Collie in urgent need of a new home.

I had previously listed Ellie as adopted (having updated her May 28 posting below), but the woman who intended to adopt her can no longer keep her because she lives on an unfenced property and Ellie seems to have a taste for the neighbor's chickens. (Heard that one before.....)

As of now, Ellie's "adopter" is holding on to her, but the situation is tenuous, to say the least. We need to find another home for Ellie--either a foster or permanent one--ASAP.

Ellie is great with cats, having been raised with one. She is housetrained, walks great on a leash, loves to go for car rides, and is up-to-date on core vaccinations. Truly a dog ready for outdoor adventures!

Ellie is located in Wilton, CA. If interested in meeting Ellie, please contact Carrie at
916-342-5668.

URGENT! SWEET, PLAYFUL 5-YO SPAYED FEMALE GSD/HUSKY IN MERCED NEEDS NEW HOME BY JUNE 1 OR ??????I heard from a guy (Melv...
05/29/2026

URGENT! SWEET, PLAYFUL 5-YO SPAYED FEMALE GSD/HUSKY IN MERCED NEEDS NEW HOME BY JUNE 1 OR ??????

I heard from a guy (Melvin) in Merced today who needs to rehome his 5-yo spayed female GSD/Husky "Ellie" by June 1. Melvin's landlord issued 60-day notices back in April to him and nine other occupants of houses in his tract so that he (the landlord) could demolish the houses and make way for a new housing development (ugh).

Melvin is unable to take Ellie with him where he's moving to. He's been trying to find a new home for Ellie for two months; now, he's just about out of time. He has to be out of his house (which he's rented for 20 yrs) by June 1.

Ellie is cat-friendly! She's good w/ the resident cat and is friendly with the neighbor's cat as well. Melvin describes Ellie as "caring & playful."

Ellie has received formal obedience training and is good in a crate. Melvin is disabled and is unable to take Ellie for walks, so she has not received much leash-training.

Melvin adopted Ellie from the Merced County animal shelter four years ago.

Might you be interested in finding more about Ellie? If so, please contact Melvin Sellers at [personal info deleted at request of Melvin].

HOME AT LAST!It's been a long journey for "Thor", both literally and figuratively.Thor is pictured here on the beach in ...
05/19/2026

HOME AT LAST!

It's been a long journey for "Thor", both literally and figuratively.

Thor is pictured here on the beach in Massachusetts. Thor was delivered to his new person, Lynne Montague of Beverly, MA, on Saturday, May 16. Thor traveled by ground transport originating at GSRSV's Rescue Ranch in Pleasant Grove, CA, on May 11. (See previous post from the same date.)

GSRSV rescued Thor from the Stanislaus County Animal Shelter on April 3 at Lynne's request. She had seen Thor listed on the shelter's euthanasia list via social media and was somehow drawn to him among all the other "red-listed" dogs.

Here's Lynne's first update on Thor (May 16):
"Thor got to the beach this morning and met some friends......He's been great with other dogs.

He gets along fine w/ my 16-yo beagle but he is a bit too playful for my 15-yo (dog) and has knocked her (over) a few times. I will be with them for the next few days while they work it out. He is getting extra walks to work off his energy."

Happy trails, Thor!

MASSACHUSETTS OR BUST!“Thor” a 10-yo neutered male GSD, left GSRSV’s rescue ranch today aboard a professional pet rescue...
05/12/2026

MASSACHUSETTS OR BUST!

“Thor” a 10-yo neutered male GSD, left GSRSV’s rescue ranch today aboard a professional pet rescue van (B’s Pet Delivery out of Billings, MT). Thor is destined for Beverly, MA, where Lynne Montague will be receiving him for adoption.

GSRSV rescued Thor from the Stanislaus County Shelter on April 3 at the request of Lynne, who saw him on a Facebook post. (See post from April 3 below.)

Thor’s transport will take 5-7 days, as B has a few other dogs to pick up and deliver on the way..

Thor’s delivery and adoption pics to come!.

SHOUT OUT TO TANDIS ALIZADEH OF MILL VALLEY--ONE VERY COMMITTED FOSTER CARETAKER!After fostering her for nearly one year...
05/10/2026

SHOUT OUT TO TANDIS ALIZADEH OF MILL VALLEY--ONE VERY COMMITTED FOSTER CARETAKER!

After fostering her for nearly one year, Tandis Alizadeh & her husband Reza decided to adopt "Luna" (originally Alina), a 3-yo spayed female GSD who GSRSV rescued from the San Jose animal shelter on July 20, 2025.

Luna displayed severe anxiety ("kennel stress") in the shelter, and continued to exhibit severe anxiety and fear issues even once she was out of the shelter. She was terrified of being inside buildings, freaked out at strange noises, and was very fearful of men. Most foster caretakers would have returned Luna to me in short order, but Tandis not only stayed with her, she spent a considerable amount of her own money seeking training and veterinary advice to help Luna cope.

Every time Tandis updated me about Luna, I expected her to ask me to take Luna in. Never happened, and never even came close. Instead, Luna made slow but steady progress with Tandis, to the point that she was nearing the point of finally being ready for me to list her for adoption.

Though Tandis had never planned to adopt Luna, she couldn't bear the thought of Luna having to adjust to a new home and routine after coming so far with her. So, on May 1, Tandis and Reza formally adopted Luna.

There are lots of grandstand animal rescue warriors out there, but very few willing to battle in the trenches. Tandis (pictured here w/ Luna) earns my Purple Heart for her bravery and commitment.

UPDATE 7-9-26: TYSON WAS ADOPTED AWHILE AGO!***************************************SUPER-FRIENDLY 2-YO NEUTERED MALE GSD...
05/07/2026

UPDATE 7-9-26: TYSON WAS ADOPTED AWHILE AGO!
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SUPER-FRIENDLY 2-YO NEUTERED MALE GSD AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION AT CITY OF TAFT, CA, ANIMAL SHELTER. RESIDENT OF SHELTER FOR OVER 1 YR!

“Tyson” is an approx 2-yo neutered male GSD available for adoption at the rural shelter in Taft, CA. Tyson is friendly, playful and well-behaved. He gets along great with other dogs. See https://youtube.com/shorts/KbsQvS5-uM0?feature=share for a video of Tyson (the darker of the two dogs) playing w/ another GSD. Tyson seems truly grateful to be off the streets from whence he came.

Tyson has been at the Taft shelter since January 2025—far too long for such a good-tempered dog (or any dog, for that matter). It’s Tyson’s good temperament that has enabled him to stay alive for so long—even when space has run out. Tyson is a true shelter staff favorite, and is so deserving of a home to call his own.

If you’re interested in adopting Tyson, please contact Carol Lacey, a volunteer at the shelter who has spent much time with him. Carol’s contact info is
415- 847-9078, [email protected].

Address

Sacramento, CA

Telephone

+19166553125

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