Microchipped and Abandoned: Rex & Duffy Find Hope
Rex and Duffy, two GSPs with hearts full of hope, found themselves miles apart in a crowded shelter, on separate paths converging on the same uncertain future. Each, a stray picked up running loose, arrived with a microchip - a beacon of identification tragically ignored. Despite the pleas of the overflowing shelter, both owners chose to surrender their loyal canines, leaving them to an unknown fate shared by so many other dogs kenneled at the shelter.
One might think there is something wrong with dogs that the owners wouldn't claim their dogs, a reason to leave them in kennels in a shelter that is struggling to place the dogs filling the kennels in their care. Those dogs must be escape artists who have learned how to escape from a secured yard. Or worse, they must be vicious dogs the owners could no longer manage. There has to be a valid reason for the owners not claiming Rex and Duffy.
There is not.
Like so many other GSPs in the shelters, Rex and Duffy were likely too much for the owners to manage. Unfortunately, German Shorthaired Pointers are a high-energy breed that often end up in shelters because their owners underestimate their needs. It is no fault of either dog the previous owners didn't read the instruction manual before bringing home an active sporting breed bred not to lounge around all day but to hunt the open field.
Rex, with his adorable goatee, has a playful spirit but also enjoys quiet moments, making him a good fit for someone who enjoys an active lifestyle but also appreciates a cuddle on the couch. At around five years old, some consider him the perfect age. While still quite active and sometimes even puppylike (watch the video), he does have a calmer side and is a little easier to manage. Not Duffy. At just over twelve months old, Duffy is all puppy. While still loveable and cuddly, he will need more daily exercise than a dog like Rex. Duffy is still one of the cute little puppies in an adult-sized body. Sweet, but give him three to four years, and he will likely mellow.
California GSP Rescue thanks Dawn and April, two individuals at the separate shelters who helped provide information about each dog and assist volunteers in picking each dog up. A huge thanks also goes to Ray and Irene, who made a day of the transport, traveling several hundred miles to see these two make it to safety and are one step closer to their home. As an all-volunteer organization, California GSP Rescue relies on volunteers like Ray and Irene and shelter personnel like Dawn and April. Their efforts and dedication often go unnoticed but are vital to finding homes for dogs like Rex and Duffy.
Could Rex or Duffy be your perfect furry companion? Submit an adoption application to learn more. Unable to adopt? Please share this post and help us spread the word about Rex and Duffy. Your efforts will make a difference. Want to do more? Consider becoming a Rescue Hero and helping financially support California GSP Rescue's efforts.