"PUPPY PALOOZA 2026"
 Kodiak, Sailor, Sadie & Kane (left to right) |
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| *FEMALES* IN A NUTSHELL: Sailor: Larger and more reserved of the two. Sadie: The boss and ringleader. Both are very sweet and friendly.
*MALES* IN A NUTSHELL: Kane and Kodiak. Sweet and friendly. Just getting to know them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We received a call from an animal shelter in northern California that we had pulled dogs from (Solo and Sapphire) back in 2022. They had just received four "STRAY" puppies about 15 weeks old. Believing (as we did) that the pups had been dumped and wanting them to spend as little time in the shelter environment as possible, Beth reached out to us to see if we could help. (Note: Officer B at the shelter later confirmed, "All four of them were found tethered to each other left in front of a vet office. When vet staff got there in the morning they called animal control after discovering them." As we told the officer, I guess we can be grateful they weren't dumped in the desert.)
When we asked for a video, Beth send us:
If you are unable to view the above video, here is the Direct link to their You Tube Video With an almost full house and a medical situation looming in the family, we were going to have to say no, but we took a deep breath and decided to throw caution to the wind, trust in a higher power and say yes. The pups were on stray hold until the 22nd, so we waited out the days until we could call them ours by arranging for their transport from northern California to Phoenix. Our first call was to our friends Chuck and Jon at Husky Camp. They were, of course, ready and willing to help bring the pups to us. It was a long drive, so we decided to make it a 2-day journey with Leg One (Solano to Bakersfield) scheduled for Friday, July 24th, and Leg Two (Bakersfield to Phoenix) for Saturday, July 25th.
UPDATE 7/24: Our thanks to Beth from the Solano shelter! The pups were moved to Bakersfield this afternoon and will be on their way to Phoenix tomorrow.  CLICK HERE TO HELP THE PUPS ON THEIR JOURNEY
UPDATE 7/25: The pups have arrived in Phoenix! Thanks to our draftee volunteer Janice and Chuck and Jon from Husky Camp, the crew has arrived safe and sound in Phoenix ... just in time for a monsoon storm! Our first view of the puppies and all we could say was WOW!!! These are beautiful, well-bred German shepherds -- the pups that people pay thousands of dollars for -- and we could only wonder how these beautiful babies came to be tossed away.
FOSTER UPDATE 7/25: Coda (their white GSD adopted from us in 2021) is doing great with them. He has not a problem and they've been really good with him. Roo (their white GSD adopted from us in 2023) is a wreck. She's running all over the place trying to Mommy them which they don't need. Both dogs are sweet allowed me to brush them and had no problem with it. Both seem to be potty trained and both have fallen in the pool and swam to the steps to get out FOSTER UPDATE 7/26: "Sadie has gone after Roo again while Sailor licked her when she was alone.
Sadie is a cute curious, snuggly playful puppy, very bossy which with her size she will become dominant (she barks at the big dogs with no fear). She has a bit of a jumping problem, but is very fixable. If she picks something up that she is not supposed to, she is easily corrected. Both dogs will easily be trained. She has already learn to use our doggie door.
Sadie is definitely more feisty in her play while Sailor is more gentle. Again, both dogs are wonderful fun and it's hard to choose between them. If I didn't already have 2 dogs, I would take both of them. As I have said both dogs will be easy to train. They listen and obey. Also, both Sadie and Sailor can settle down for quiet time when needed.
We are already seeing improvement. Sailor is going up to my husband for a rub.
Mind you, it hasn't even been 24 hours but both pups' personalities are easy to figure out. I feel privileged that I get to foster them
FOSTER UPDATE 7/29: "Sailor has been very wary of us but this morning decided to sit on my lap and really snuggle. She still jumps at any loud and hides but does come to us. She reminds me a lot of Koda. He wouldn't come in for the first 4 days and would just lay on my lawn chair. He also waits for me to ask him to come on the couch. So does Sailor.
Sadie reminds me of Roo, always right by us begging for a snuggle and thinks she is queen of the couch. She doesn't even flinch from a loud noise. Made herself at home immediately. But boy do they fight!
Sailor is significantly larger than Sadie so you know who wins the argument but I think they are both darling. The are both so interested in our pool even though they both fell in
UPDATE 8/1: Kodiak (left) went to his forever home today and his new parents, Judy and Mark, graciously offered to foster Kane! We're looking forward to some interesting updates ~ BOTH puppies fell into the pool on the home visit!! Kane swam beautifully and was directed to the steps; however, Kodi didn't fare as well and our staff member had to jump in to help him -- fully clothed!
FOSTER UPDATE 8/3: "Dogs are doing fine - no more issues with the food (think they were tired and hungry that day - it was a big day). Started to train them today with commands - I think they will be fast learners. They are starting to play with each other & sharing the toys. Kodi is my little shadow, he follows me everywhere. I have to be careful because he will lay right behind me within seconds so as soon as I turn around he is there."
FOSTER UPDATE 8/16: "Went for our first walk tonight on leashes -- went exactly how I thought it would -- Sadie forging ahead and Sailor pulling backwards to try to get back home. These two are a riot. They could not be any more different -- night and day is what their names should be. Once I got them to the park and on the grass, I didn't dare let them off the leash. There was Sadie, as happy as pie, rolling in the grass! Now Sailor kept one eye towards home thinking, "lady, when are you taking me back," but Sadie was in heaven. As soon as we got to our door, Sailor ran outside the doggie door and would not come back in, fearing I would take her on another walk. Sadie was marching around the house like she's the queen of the parade. Oh, I love these two. Nothing could be sweeter than a German Shepherd puppy."
Adoption fees: $425/each.
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"Both dogs have had double baths. We have decided that they're 'Sailor' and 'Sadie.' We have already figured out which is which -- pink is pushy but loves to be around us, purple runs away from everybody and just wants to be in her kennel. 
All in all both of these dogs are spectacular dogs and you couldn't ask for more. Their personalities are easy to see in a very short while; I also think they will be water dogs. I can't tell you how many times I have caught them looking down at the water, almost ready to jump in. Sailor is sweet, shy, cuddly, a little skittish (who can blame her after such an ordeal). She is a major lover. She is more submissive towards the big dogs. I caught her licking Roo, my female dog. She loves to lay down near me and looks for approval. She corrects easily but you need to use a softer tone. She doesn't like being alone; looks for her sister. If she is not there, she keeps next to me. She is scared of the doggie door but we are working on it. Both dogs love to play. 
