This is "Bella" adopted from the Mid Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue by a shelter volunteer. Bella started out life named "Blue" and was born in Ireland, to working parents (a search and rescue parent and herding parent). She was gifted to a family in Virginia. They did not want her (we assume because of her coloring) and they kept her in an airline crate in their backyard for nearly 1 1/2 years. She was starved; had one of her ears broken and had a pretty bad case of demodectic mange. She was rescued after being hit by a car and taken to the vet to be put down....

Fortunately, the story has a happy ending! She is now 4 years old, super playful and the star of her obedience classes. She is the "demo" dog for puppy kindergarten and basic classes using clicker training. These pictures are from her first few weeks at her new home with her loving owner. She promises to send me more pictures of Bella real soon!