Sarge and Lex Are Adopted!
Exploring the intricate path of rescue and adoption, John and Teri showcase the embodiment of selflessness. Long-standing supporters of California GSP Rescue, their commitment extends far beyond adopting. Teri, dedicating numerous weekly hours to social media, website posts, and processing adoption applications, embodies the true spirit of giving. In the past year, their home became the Five Dog Ranch with the addition of Lex and Sarge. While these two initially harmonious canines faced post-adoption challenges that threatened a heartbreaking separation, Teri's unwavering determination prevailed. Neither Lex nor Sarge faced the distressing fate of being returned. This is a brief yet powerful update on Lex and Sarge's journey—a testament to commitment, resilience, and the enduring bonds forged in the name of love.
“Teri and I had lost both Jenny and Sam in a very short amount of time. Jenny had been fighting for a long time, but her passing wasn’t any less devastating. She was our crazy, lovable, bossy little shark-dog. (She had an adorable overbite). Losing Sam was a total shock. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma and passed a few months later. He was the sweetest boy.
I don’t remember how we started talking about adopting another rescue dog, but Teri and I had never been without a GSP in our home and we missed that crazy, loving energy around us. Teri is a board member and adoption counselor with California GSP Rescue and knew the dogs that needed homes very well. After much discussion, Teri and I decided to let Greg know that we were interested in Lex. His story touched us and we had a soft spot for liver and roan markings like Teri’s girl, Kanga and our boy, Forrest.
That’s when Greg threw us a curveball. He said there was a dog we needed in our lives and his name was Sarge.
Sarge is a crazy puppy and as Velcro a dog as I have ever known. He loves serenading us with squeaky-ball concertos every night. He loves to be next to us on the couch and he especially loves to fall asleep in Teri’s lap. He’s very smart and a quick and willing learner. He’s an absolute goofball and a very entertaining boy. We are so fortunate to have him in our pack.
Lex was very skittish when he got here. He was a stray and must have had a lot of frightening experiences on the streets. Fortunately, he has learned to trust us and overcomes his fears when we show how him that the new “scary thing”, isn’t really that scary. He is a very loving boy who likes to give kisses and get hugs. His favorite thing to do is sit by the front door with Faith and protect the neighborhood from intruders.
After losing our beloved Jenny just shy of her 14th birthday in September of 2022, and Sam’s sudden diagnosis of lymphoma at age 9 that same week, our world was turned upside down. Sam lost his battle in January of 2023, and our hearts were shattered, and it was the first time we were without a GSP in our home. I love my labs, but there is something about the energy of a GSP that is like no other breed. They are puppies that never ever grow up. The toy box remained full of toys untouched. The yard which once was full of torn up toys and scattered balls was empty. It was a reminder that something was missing, and our home just wasn’t the same. I started paying more attention to some of the dogs that we had at the rescue which were coming in at a record rate in early 2023. I had never seen anything like it. John and I were heartbroken over the loss of Jenny and Sam, and weren’t really looking to adopt anytime soon, but the rescue was full. We had the room, and we wanted to help.
A boy named Lex had come into the rescue that was found as a stray and taken to a shelter. At the shelter, he was adopted and returned as they said he had challenged their 5 foot fence, and they weren’t able to manage it. When he again became available, the California GSP Rescue picked him up and brought him into their care. A short time later, he was adopted, but returned a couple of weeks later due to no fault of his own. There was something about Lex that touched me, and I wanted to explore more about him. He was 5 1/2 years old which is the perfect age for a GSP. I didn’t want a puppy or a young GSP, so I reached out to Greg to see if he thought that Lex could be a good fit for us. He replied yes, but then said “wait, I have the dog for you, and he is the ONLY dog for you”. Sarge. I then said… Greg, I don’t want a 3 year old GSP! They are crazy”! He said, “No, he is easy! You are going to love him!” I told him I was really interested in Lex, but John and I talked and thought we could also consider Sarge if he was truly as easy as Greg said he was. We made arrangements to meet Sarge first, and he wrapped himself around our hearts. We knew he was going home with us. Lex was still available, but we wanted to give Sarge a few weeks to acclimate into the pack before brought Lex home. We met Lex, and all it took was one kiss from him, and we were hooked. It was as if he was waiting for us, and him being returned to the shelter and then adopted and returned to the rescue, we knew he was meant to be ours.
Our pack of brown dogs welcomed Sarge and Lex, as if they had been here forever. What we didn’t know was that Sarge and Lex weren’t as bonded at the rescue as we had originally thought, and we had some issues that did arise once they were both in our home. Sarge’s abundance of energy was a bit much for Lex’s laid back demeanor, and we had a few scuffles between them that concerned us. So much that we considered returning one of them if we couldn’t get it managed. I was determined that I was going to do everything possible to correct this problem between the two boys, and with the help of following my own advice and the training notes we provide to adopters, along with Greg’s guidance, we have been able to successfully manage it, however never becoming complacent and watching for any body language, posturing, etc., that could indicate a trigger that could escalate.
I want to touch on something that I have joked with Greg about ever since adopting Sarge. You know, the dog he said was “easy”. Well, there have been a few challenges. Sarge LOVES to swim! So much that he does not want anything in his way. First off, he didn’t want the pool vacuum in the pool with him, so he bit a hole in it trying to move it out of his way. Then worked his way to the pop ups running for the pool filter, biting one of the heads off. Totally managable though. After replacing the pool vacuum hose, and one pop up, we made sure to take the vacuum out of the pool in the morning and put it back in at night, and we changed the pool filter to run at night instead of during the day to prevent access for Sarge to bite the pop ups. That’s not all… Sarge can jump a 6 foot fence. First he jumped the 5 foot pool fence to go swimming, and worked his way up to the 6 foot block wall to see what the neighbors dogs were up to on the other side. Thankfully, his recall is great, so I was able to call him off the wall to come to me and we immediately ordered a fence extension to make the fence on that side 8 feet, and it has worked like a charm! He hasn’t challenged the pool fence again since the one time.
One of the other things that Sarge had an issue with was peeing when he would get nervous. Every time I would put his harness on him to go for a walk, he would pee. I started taking him outside to put the harness on, and practiced putting it on him several times making sure that the harness meant doing something fun that he enjoyed, and the peeing subsided. Sarge was surrendered to a shelter by his owner.
Lex came to us very shy and reserved, and likes his solace. He is an old soul and needed a gentle hand. He is making progress, and we are beginning to see a dog building confidence and feeling comfortable within the pack.
We will never know what the circumstances were for Sarge and Lex in their previous home, but every single challenge we have faced, has never been too much to help them overcome. In the end, we have two amazing dogs, an empty toy box, an abundance of toys all over the yard, the sound of squeekee balls and the love and energy of GSP’s filling our home and our hearts once again”.
This heartfelt update on Lex and Sarge fills our hearts with joy, envisioning the idyllic life they now lead. The seamless integration of Lex, Sarge, into a home with their fellow furry companions is a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness displayed by Teri and John. Their unwavering commitment to overcoming challenges and ensuring the unity of their canine family is truly commendable. In celebrating this heartwarming success, we extend our deepest gratitude to Teri and John. Your determination has transformed the lives of Lex and Sarge as well as the entire rescued pack.
As we revel in this inspiring tale, we invite you to consider supporting the ongoing efforts of California GSP Rescue. Your contribution can help create more success stories like Lex and Sarge's, forging brighter futures for countless deserving dogs awaiting their forever homes. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these loyal companions.
