Maxine

On fourth of July weekend, a beautiful GSD was dumped at one of Elgin’s popular BBQ restaurants.  She was left in the parking lot while the three men she arrived with entered the store to make their purchases.  Upon returning to the parking lot, these men removed her collar and drove off.  We were called in hopes of being able to help this dog.  Arriving 3 hours after the incident, we found the abandoned dog laying between the two sets of doors into the restaurant.  She laid there quietly while people came and went from the restaurant. She looked rejected and unsure of her situation.  We approached her to find a very friendly girl.  She appeared to be unharmed and in good physical condition.  Although in dire need of a bath and reassurance that not all humans are bad, we took the dog into our custody and immediately fell in love.  Not knowing the full story of this abandonment, and suspecting the dog might be stolen, we checked for a microchip, local animal control, veterinarian clinics, newspapers, bulletin boards, and did a thorough check of lost animals on the internet.  All of our search efforts for this dog’s original owner failed.  Since she is a large dog, we began calling her “Maxie”, short for Maxine.  

Within the next few days, she received a full complement of vaccinations, a microchip, a professional bathing, confirmation of being spayed and a physical exam.  The most exciting news was her blood test results which indicated:  Heartworm Negative.  Our veterinarian believed Maxie’s age is about 2.5.  Her weight is 95 pounds and her eyes, skin, teeth, and ears were checked and found to be in excellent condition. 

Although her large size is intimidating to some, she is very loving and gentle.  She loves to play with toys and chase rubber balls.  Her behavior has clearly indicated previous training.  She heels and walks very well on lead, is house trained and responds to “Sit”, “Down”, “Go for a Ride”.  She wants to be your friend and will shadow you everywhere.  Most of all, this girl is easy to fall for.  

Maxie has been exposed to close quarters with other dogs without incident.  Like any dog, she shows interest but no aggressive behavior was noticed.  She has not been tested for compatibility with cats or small children.  Maxie learns quickly and has adapted to a “doggie door” without any problem.  

Overall, this is a great example of a large German Shepherd dog who is kind, gentle and worthy of your companionship and time.   She has had a rough start in life and met some unsavory people, but is willing to do whatever it takes to find her forever home.  If you are looking for a real dog, take a look at Maxine, you won’t be disappointed.