Iris Is Safe!

Iris

California GSP Rescue is diligent about tracking and monitoring German Shorthaired Pointers at shelters. However, the animal shelters do not always reach out; only a few adoption coordinators will contact rescues. Sometimes the GSP’s are mislabeled and go undetected by those who monitor shelters and notify Rescues. Iris sat in the animal shelter for nearly ten days before California GSP Rescue was notified. But when we learned, we immediately contacted the animal shelter to learn more.

The image on the animal shelters website was not the best. Photographing black dogs can be challenging, and looking at the photo of Iris, one couldn't say if she was a GSP. With her tail not visible and the camera angle, Iris could have easily been a Labrador Retriever or Lab Mix. However, someone put "Pointer" in her description, which was enough to cause someone to email California GSP Rescue.

The adoption coordinator requested more photos on California GSP Rescue's behalf. The images offered a different view but were not enough to tell if Iris was a GSP or Pointer, as the animal shelter had listed her. A visit to the animal shelter would need to be planned to decide. However, another Rescue had expressed an interest in Iris, and it would be necessary to wait for them to decide.

The next day, California GSP Rescue waited until after the other Rescue's appointment before messaging the animal shelter. Given that Iris was young and attractive in the animal shelter's images, California GSP Rescue was sure the other Rescue would take her. Just before noon, after the other Rescue had visited Iris, California GSP Rescue reached out to learn the outcome. The other Rescue had passed on Iris, and California GSP Rescue made plans to visit the animal shelter immediately.

When Iris was first picked up as a stray, she was reserved and shy. She was possibly overwhelmed in her new environment with the strange people and dogs barking. During the time she was in her kennel with other dogs, she had settled in and come out of her shell. When California GSP Rescue's Volunteer arrived, she was at the front of the kennel with the other two dogs she was kenneled with, curious about her new visitor.

Out of the kennel in the training field, she was closely examined by the Volunteer. A single black coat with a thin white blaze on her chest. A tail and floppy ears. The size and shape of her paws. Pleasant demeanor. The Volunteer considered everything, but the one non-physical factor was that the shelter's kennels were full. Iris was in a kennel with two other dogs and had been at the animal shelter for ten days. She was running out of time.

Was Iris a purebred GSP? Someone with more time could make that determination at a later date. Today, Iris was enough GSP for the Volunteer to take her. Iris was safe.

California GSP Rescue regularly monitors the local animal shelters and relies on others to help email when GSPs show up at the animal shelters. We greatly appreciate the help of these individuals who have helped identify GSPs needing rescue. You can help by sharing Iris's post. We greatly appreciate those readers who like, comment, and share the posts; it helps! We are also grateful for the Rescue Heroes whose donations have helped care for all rescued dogs. Thank you.