Mill Dog Rescue Network

My name is Shasta. According to the books, I should be highly intelligent, courageous, noble, fearless, confident, agile, alert and eager to please my master. I should be both fit and willing to serve in the capacity of companion, watchdog, guide dog for people who are blind, herding dog, or guardian, whatever my circumstances demand of me.

I had great aspirations of becoming that confident companion when I was young but instead, I was sold to a puppy mill. There, what I did was make lots of money for people who never knew or cared about who I was supposed to become as I grew. There, I was just another dog, a breeding machine, nothing special. As time went on, I lost my personality, my courage and my ability to trust. The sparkle that my eyes once had, faded. I have never known the voices, the sounds, or the kind hands of this world and only now at 4 years old am I finding out about life outside the confinement and loneliness of the mill. Many of these new experiences have terrified me but I am trying really hard to reach into that part of me that is a German Shepherd and find my courage. Please pray for me.

Shasta is a beautiful, petite female German Shepherd Dog born on November 30, 2003. Shasta has stolen my heart. Her intense fears of my hand only fuel my passion to uncover the truth about the commercial dog breeding industry. She has been with me for almost one month and I have made it my personal mission to help her recover, to socialize her and teach her about the life she's always deserved. In this short time, she has made great progress. Our first walks on leash were terrifying for her. She never came two inches off the ground for an entire mile long walk. Now she walks quite tall especially if one of our other dogs walks with us. She gets a great deal of comfort from other dogs. She has been around cats and seems to be just fine. However, she is still very much afraid and completely flattens her body to the ground when approached. She calms once she is being petted and knows that you aren't going to hurt her. Despite her intense fears, Shasta has never once shown any sign of aggression. She has never snapped or even growled. She is most comfortable with my 15 year old daughter Tahsa, who is herself somewhat of a dog whisperer. Tasha is the only person to date that Shasta will approach when off lead.

Shasta has found her forever home and is doing very well with her new family. We get regular updates from Shasta and she is learning many new things and becoming a loving family member.