Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
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Story
FANTASIA is a German Shepherd who was found wandering in 110-degree heat in a small California desert town. She had no microchip and no collar. Posts on lost pet groups showed that she had been spotted wandering a week before she was finally picked up and brought to a shelter. Initially, the shelter noted that she was pregnant but couldn't find a local rescue to save her. Wet Noses Foster Paws stepped in to help! However, after further examination, it was discovered that she was no longer pregnant; she must have recently had a litter and was then abandoned.
Fantasia's foster is the very person who originally found her in the desert heat while on travel. She drove back to retrieve her from the shelter, a 16-hour trip each way. Fantasia is well-mannered, polite in hotels, potty trained, and learning commands quickly, indicating she may have had training in the past. She is a cuddle bug, and her foster family is smitten! Please consider donating to help with Fantasia's vet needs!
Story time!!
While on a road trip with my mobility-challenged mother, I found a stray dog wandering a desert town in 110-degree heat. We were traveling from Houston, TX to my home near Seattle, WA. When we entered California, near Nevada, we spotted the German Shepherd, now named Fantasia, crossing an intersection.
We were dealing with the heat inside the car, so I stopped to try to call her over, but by the time I poured water and tried to go to her on foot, she was already several blocks away. We tried to follow her in the van but lost her and nearly gave up until we spotted her again some miles later. I pulled the van over, opened my door, and called to her. She looked momentarily wary but then ran over to me.
I had the cup of water extended for her, but instead of drinking right away, she pushed herself into the driver's seat! We think she wanted shade and shelter before she would drink the water.
We went to the local shelter but were turned away because they were full. The advice they 'didn't' give me was to put her back on the street.
Well, I definitely could not. It was crazy hot and dry. She was obviously unspayed, had signs of a previous litter, and possibly pregnant again.
The hotel my mother and I had pre-booked that night allowed pets, so we brought her with us, bathed her, and let her cuddle with us all night.
The next day, we found a no-kill shelter to try. They had over 80 dogs and said many had been there for over two years. They agreed to take her but mentioned she might have been happier on the streets than in the kennels. She refused to let them put a collar on her, so I had to put it on her and lead her into the kennels myself. She objected, and I cried, but it wasn't realistic for me to keep her with us on our road trip. Many hotels and activities we had planned were not pet-friendly, and I was helping my mom with her mobility.
I kept tabs on her, shared her on several lost pets pages, and discovered two other posts of people seeing her wander the streets a week prior.
The shelter later confirmed she had recently had a litter, and unfortunately, no one had shown interest in rescuing her.
That's when I decided to stop by a new 'Wet Noses' boarding kennel near my home on hope and luck to see if they had a rescue. They DID! Wet Noses Foster Paws agreed to sponsor her so I could get her out of the smelly jail and foster her.
I made the 16-hour drive down to Delano, CA, to pick her up, and she is so happy!!!
