Rescues

Hey, my name is Shep! I was abandoned by my former family during the harsh winter of 2009. I spent the entire winter as a puppy in the bitter cold until the Madison County Animal Shelter found me. I was rescued through a Brother Wolf adoption day at Pet Smart in June 2010.

I saw Mom walk by my crate, and she couldn’t resist taking me home! I am such a good boy and her very first rescue. I’m the alarm clock for the house since I’m up by 5:00 every morning ready to go have fun! My favorite part of the day is when Mom takes us all on a walk every morning.

Shep is officially turning 13 on June 4th but realistically is around 14 years old as he was at least one year old when we rescued him. Though Shep is really starting to slow down physically, he still loves going for walks early in the morning and eats like a puppy. Shep has been a steady presence through all the changes with the pack over the last couple of years, and he always welcomes the new ones.

Hey, I’m Rocky, and I’m no longer the baby with the newest rescue having arrived in November 2022. It’s nice to gain a little bit more status!

Mom and Dad were devastated by the sudden loss of their Shepherd mix Murphy on January 27, 2021, to an aggressive cancer. Our story is unique in how it intertwined in such a special way with the big brother I never got to meet. At 10 months old I was dumped off at Rusty’s Legacy on Christmas Day 2020, the same day Murphy got so sick. Mom stayed up all night with Murphy that fateful Christmas, and I spent that Christmas night scared, confused, and abandoned by the family I thought loved me. The same foster mom and shelter that rescued Murphy also rescued me – small world! It gets better: as Murphy’s cancer quickly took over, Mom let Jeri at Rusty’s Legacy know how sick he was and that he would pass soon. The night before my big brother went to heaven, my foster mom sent my mom-to-be a picture of me to think on, not knowing Murphy would pass so soon. During January, Camp Bow Wow took me in to help me conquer my fear and anxiety, giving me a better chance of being adopted. I got to play with other dogs all day, and the people there were so nice to me! On February 6, 2021, Mom came to meet me for the first time. She brought Shep, Jordan, and Riley too. They took me with them that day, and I found my forever home.

I’m a great little boy – and especially very faithful to Mom – but still a work in progress. I have leftover fear and anxiety issues from my past, but Mom and Dad continue to help me work through them with the help of a professional trainer as well. I’m still learning that being touched and loved on is okay, and I’m still working on being able to go to the vet without being a brat. My two-year anniversary with Mom and Dad is February 6th, but my real birthday is March 8th when I’ll turn 3 – at least I’m past the terrible twos!

Rosie came through German Shepherd Rescue of NC early in the summer of 2022. She was found as a stray running the streets of Durham and was rescued by a passerby. Unfortunately, she had heartworms and needed special treatment throughout the summer and fall to get her back to health to be adaptable. Dr. Bowman-Hensley first met Rosie in October, instantly fell in love with her (and another girl who is coming soon as well), and arranged to adopt her on November 11, 2022. Rosie came to the shelter as Connie and was renamed Bailey by her foster mom, but we have landed on Rosie as she has joined our household.

She’s approximately two years old—about the same age as Rocky—and they are bonding wonderfully so far. She came to us very underweight and very shut down but has started putting on weight and is coming out of her shell quite nicely. We can’t wait to see her and the gang grow together and will be sure to share her journey with you all! We have had a very resistant hookworm case, and of course she spread it to the others, but hopefully the last treatment finally worked and she’ll start to feel better and gain weight like she should.

My name is Jordan, and I was rescued through Fifi’s Friends in Yancey County in 2011. I came through two shelters from Eastern NC and was sent to a high-kill shelter in Burnsville. On the day I was supposed to be put to sleep, the shelter put me up front, hoping my good looks would somehow get me adopted before that fateful decision was made.

My foster mom from Fifi’s Friends happened to come in at the end of the day and took me home with her so she could hopefully adopt me out. I stayed with her for four weeks before meeting my future mom and dad. They were looking to fill the huge hole in their hearts from the loss of Sugar, their sweet German Shepherd, six weeks earlier. I went to my future home on Mother’s Day 2011. I’m the only girl, and I rule the house!

Jordan’s 11th birthday is on Mother’s Day . . . where did the time go? Jordan is the only girl, but the boys follow in her footsteps. She’s a strong leader, outgoing, and very protective. Jordan was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 5 years old, and Dr. Bowman-Hensley has been managing that fairly well up until the past year. The progression of the arthritis and her age are catching up, and her mom and dad are trying additional medicines and support.

Jordan encountered a much more serious challenge in 2019. Her mom and dad found a small lump on her back left leg, and her veterinarian surgeon removed it on in January 2019. Unfortunately it was cancer—a hemangiosarcoma—but was caught very early in Stage I. Her mom and dad took her back and forth to the University of Tennessee Veterinarian Hospital where she received 16 doses of radiation to the surface site over 15 days. It was a rough time for the whole family, but she was a tough girl who came through with flying colors.

In recent months our baby girl was diagnosed with liver cancer which we have recently learned is terminal. She has endured this particular challenge with the grace and dignity she always has, but they are not able to do surgery. We expect her to pass within a few weeks, and this will leave the biggest hole in our hearts. Jordan will let us know when it’s time to say goodbye, but until then we will love her to her very last breath and then some.

Hi, my name is Riley! Mom rescued me when I got hit by a car in front of her office in June 2014. I had internal injuries and a broken hip, and fortunately she caught it so I wouldn’t have to go back to the shelter right away. The Asheville Humane Society asked her if she’d foster me, and the rest is history. I officially found my forever home and wish every animal could do the same.

With all the hip x-rays, they found out I had serious hip dysplasia in both hips. Mom takes me to therapy with my big sister Jordan for acupuncture, massage, laser, water therapy, and chiropractic treatment. There’s a great team of people that take such good care of me!

Riley turns 8 years old on June 5. With multiple modalities of ongoing therapy, Riley remains active and healthy. He’ll chase and retrieve a ball until he drops, but Mom and Dad limit how many times to prevent overexerting his bad hips.

Yes, he does have a brown eye and a blue eye—a unique characteristic of his Husky Beagle mix. He’s strong and protective yet sweet and loving, all rolled into one special pup!