Amanda

Special Considerations for Adoption: *Amanda's sense of fun and energetic play might be too much for younger children.

Amanda is adorable!  She is a beautiful girl, both inside and out.  I should know, as I have been the lucky foster mom who has hosted Amanda during her time at GHGSDR.  I call her "Amanda-Panda," because she is so cute and sweet and cuddly, like a German Shepherd teddy bear.  Amanda is funny and very playful.  She has a great sense of humor.  She reminds me of Lucille Ball on the old "I Love Lucy" television show. Amanda has the most expressive face.  You can tell what she's thinking by just watching her expressions change.  "Oh wow, this is fun!" or "Please play with me!" or "Uh-oh! I got caught." Lucy was always getting into mischief, but she was so funny and so charming, that you could never stay upset with her.  That is Amanda.  She is curious about everything, and loves to be right in the middle of everything. Her worse fear is that she might miss out on something.  She is energetic and full of fun, but she can curl up and cuddle when I want to read or watch TV.

Amanda gets along great with other large dogs.  She loves to play with her GSD foster brother.  She loves to play keep away, and she can scoop up a toy and run like the wind, hoping her GSD brother will chase after her.  She loves to grab one of his favorite toys and set it in front of him and nudge it, pull it, or toss it, just anything to get his attention.  Then when he jumps up to play, they are off - racing around and playing Canine Keep Away.  Amanda also loves people, and wants to be where she can see me all the time.  She plays with her brother, but only if I stay outside with them.  When I turn to go in, she runs to be at my side.  She wants to be near her people always.

Amanda was a very severe abuse case when we rescued her from a local shelter.  She had scars from physical abuse, was severely starved, and had signs of emotional abuse, as if someone had terrorized this sweet girl.  It amazes me that anyone could mistreat her, because she is so loving and so affectionate.  At first, she was very fearful, as if she was expecting someone to beat her or kick her, and was expecting at anytime to be banished to the backyard for something she did wrong.  But Amanda is so good, that all I can think is that someone was particularly cruel, and used her to take out their anger.  She doesn't have accidents in the house, she doesn't tear things up, and she isn't a problem barker, so I have no idea what could have set someone off.  This precious girl seems to have been a canine punching bag for somebody's bad temper.  Thankfully, all of that is behind her now.  She is a little shy at first when meeting new people, but she quickly warms up to them. People are always attracted to her because she is so beautiful, and always want to pet her.  Then they fall in love with her sweet and loving personality.  She is gaining weight, is healthy and energetic, and is no longer bony and starving.  Her hair has grown in and covered the sad scars.  Unless you knew her background, you would never know that this little angel was ever in such desperate straits.

Amanda is a dog that entered my life as a foster at almost exactly the same time as a serious illness was diagnosed in my family.  You would think that fostering during that time would be just too much to handle.  With Amanda, it was just the opposite.  This little girl had such a charming personality and was so loving that she became like a ray of sunshine during a very difficult time.  I could always count on sweet Amanda to be cheerful, to make me laugh with her antics, and to be sensitive and loving when times were tough.  I always love my fosters and want the very best homes I can find for them.  In Amanda's case, the best home would be with someone who is usually home with her, or who can take her to work with them. She would be very sad to be left home alone every day.  She would be delighted if there was a big backyard to run in, and another large dog that would run and play with her.  Icing on the cake would be lots of squeaky toys to carry around and enjoy. She needs to go to a home where she can get daily exercise and where her new family will continue her training.  Amanda is a wonderful dog, and will be a delightful, affectionate, and loving companion.  If Amanda sounds like the one for you, please fill out an application and request to meet her.  You might be the lucky adopter who gets to bring Amanda home as a new member of your family.