Poor Carson—his life has not been easy. Originally rescued by Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue in 2018, he has been all over the place since. He was pulled from the euthanasia list in South Texas due to a foot injury. Over the next couple of years, he was in and out of homes until he finally found his person.
Carson is a good boy, but he’s the type of GSD that does best with his person and not a busy household. He spent many years with his dad and rescue brother until, in 2025, his owner was found deceased and Carson was taken to the shelter.
He went back to one of his original fosters, but it was very stressful in her smaller home with another GSD he didn’t get along well with. While outside, a landscaper reached over the fence to pet the dogs, and Carson bit his hand. Carson was then scheduled to be euthanized, and that’s where we stepped in and brought him back to us.
Carson is currently in a home boarding environment with prior fosters who love him very much, but we hate for him to spend his senior years without a home. We have had no issues with Carson since his return, and he seems to have mellowed greatly from his earlier, much crankier and untrusting years. Carson attends events without issue, but given his past history, placement must be selected carefully.
Carson’s first bite incident involved one of his first adopters. He wasn’t fond of her brother and would bite him when he came around. I know his history sounds scary, but we know there is an appropriate home for Carson. It’s also not unusual for a GSD to bite a stranger reaching over a fence, which we did not feel warranted euthanasia.
In-person meet and greets are required prior to considering Carson, but we would be ecstatic if a foster home would consider him for his senior years.
Poor Carson—his life has not been easy. Originally rescued by Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue in 2018, he has been all over the place since. He was pulled from the euthanasia list in South Texas due to a foot injury. Over the next couple of years, he was in and out of homes until he finally found his person.
Carson is a good boy, but he’s the type of GSD that does best with his person and not a busy household. He spent many years with his dad and rescue brother until, in 2025, his owner was found deceased and Carson was taken to the shelter.
He went back to one of his original fosters, but it was very stressful in her smaller home with another GSD he didn’t get along well with. While outside, a landscaper reached over the fence to pet the dogs, and Carson bit his hand. Carson was then scheduled to be euthanized, and that’s where we stepped in and brought him back to us.
Carson is currently in a home boarding environment with prior fosters who love him very much, but we hate for him to spend his senior years without a home. We have had no issues with Carson since his return, and he seems to have mellowed greatly from his earlier, much crankier and untrusting years. Carson attends events without issue, but given his past history, placement must be selected carefully.
Carson’s first bite incident involved one of his first adopters. He wasn’t fond of her brother and would bite him when he came around. I know his history sounds scary, but we know there is an appropriate home for Carson. It’s also not unusual for a GSD to bite a stranger reaching over a fence, which we did not feel warranted euthanasia.
In-person meet and greets are required prior to considering Carson, but we would be ecstatic if a foster home would consider him for his senior years.
Interested in adopting a dog from Second Start Rescue? Find out more about our adoption process and link to our adoption application go to: https://www.secondstartrescue.org/adopt. Once your application has been approved, you can schedule a meet and greet with the foster.
Interested in adopting a dog from Second Start Rescue? Find out more about our adoption process and link to our adoption application go to: https://www.secondstartrescue.org/adopt. Once your application has been approved, you can schedule a meet and greet with the foster.
More about this rescue
Since 2017, our dedicated team of volunteers has rescued thousands of dogs, focusing on giving second chances to the injured, abandoned, and overlooked. Building on years of experience under a different organization, Second Start Rescue is a new start that strengthens our commitment to saving lives and expanding our impact.
Second Start Rescue was co-founded by Jennifer Aufdenberg and a team of animal advocates and supporters who share a passion for animal welfare. As a co-founder of Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue (SSR), Jennifer and a dedicated group of individuals helped rescue over 3,500 dogs, primarily shepherds, from high-kill shelters and difficult circumstances. This work in SSR laid the foundation for a community of supporters and volunteers dedicated to giving dogs a second chance at life.
Our mission centers on rescuing and rehabilitating dogs from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas, an area with one of the highest rates of animal abandonment in the country. While shepherds are our primary focus, we extend our care to any dog in critical need, prioritizing those who face the greatest challenges.
With Second Start Rescue, we’re doubling down on our efforts to address the root causes of animal homelessness. Our goals include implementing spay and neuter programs, offering community outreach and education, and providing compassionate care to every animal we rescue. Together, we aim to create lasting change for dogs, their communities, and the people who love them.
Since 2017, our dedicated team of volunteers has rescued thousands of dogs, focusing on giving second chances to the injured, abandoned, and overlooked. Building on years of experience under a different organization, Second Start Rescue is a new start that strengthens our commitment to saving lives and expanding our impact.
Second Start Rescue was co-founded by Jennifer Aufdenberg and a team of animal advocates and supporters who share a passion for animal welfare. As a co-founder of Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue (SSR), Jennifer and a dedicated group of individuals helped rescue over 3,500 dogs, primarily shepherds, from high-kill shelters and difficult circumstances. This work in SSR laid the foundation for a community of supporters and volunteers dedicated to giving dogs a second chance at life.
Our mission centers on rescuing and rehabilitating dogs from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas, an area with one of the highest rates of animal abandonment in the country. While shepherds are our primary focus, we extend our care to any dog in critical need, prioritizing those who face the greatest challenges.
With Second Start Rescue, we’re doubling down on our efforts to address the root causes of animal homelessness. Our goals include implementing spay and neuter programs, offering community outreach and education, and providing compassionate care to every animal we rescue. Together, we aim to create lasting change for dogs, their communities, and the people who love them.
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