Paws and Applause: Astro & Stella's Heartfelt December Shelter Rescue Tale
The call from the animal control officer came early in the morning on a Thursday at the beginning of December. One of the dogs they had just taken in wasn't doing well - in an environment she wasn't familiar with, she was anxious and nervous. The question was asked, "Could we take her?"
December is challenging for rescues and shelters as adoptions tend to decrease while the number of dogs needing rescue increases. While most find it hard to believe no one would go looking for their lost dog, the number of "stray" dogs showing up at shelters seems to have increased for the past couple of years. This particular shelter found itself with not one, but two GSP’s.
The other German Shorthaired Pointer at the shelter appeared to have adjusted to multi-dog kennels and barking. However, he was vertically unchallenged with the shelter warning he needed to be in a covered kennel. The shelter had two GSP’s, one adventurous and the other anxious, so we knew the answer to their question. Yes, we could take her and the adventurous male.
The animal shelter was closed, but the animal control officer had all the paperwork ready. When Volunteer Greg arrived, he had to wait until the front office located the animal control officer, and brought the dogs to the front. This pair was worth the short wait, as the animal control officer brought up Astro first. While Greg took Astro to the car and secured him, the animal control officer collected and brought up Stella. It didn't take long for Stella to feel at home in the back of the car with Astro and the smells of previously rescued dogs. Like most young GSP’s, this pair could easily find trouble if left alone to amuse themselves.
On the road, it didn't take long for Stella to gain Greg's attention as she whined for attention over his shoulder. The touch of his hand brought her comfort. Like most GSP’s, she just longed for pets. Stella and Astro were safe.
While December was one of the busiest months in 2023, California GSP Rescue met the challenges and rescued over twelve dogs—two needing surgery. Many individuals made this happen - adopters who adopted nine dogs, the volunteers who assisted with the dogs and facilitated the adoptions, and the Rescue Heroes.
With heartfelt gratitude, we thank each and every one of you who made December a success. To learn more about becoming a Rescue Hero, click here.
