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Adopt Gertie

German Shepherd · Female · Adult · 7 years

Our Gertie has now settled into the shelter situation well and found her place. Additionally, she has lost a few pounds – the once sturdy, somewhat lethargic female dog has become a beautiful little girl dog. Gertie is very people-oriented and friendly; she loves proximity and enjoys every form of attention. It is clear that her greatest wish is to have a stable primary caregiver again, with whom she can go through life. For six years, Gertie lived with a family in Hungary, but unfortunately, it was not the forever home she deserved. Instead of appropriate husbandry, there was too much food and apparently not enough movement. So, the once active little girl dog turned into an overweight couch potato, until she was eventually given to the animal shelter because she was no longer wanted. Now, Gertie is in the animal shelter and doesn’t understand the world anymore. From the apartment to the yard, without familiar voices, without established routines. She currently shows herself to be shy, cautious, and withdrawn, yet she is through and through friendly, gentle, and absolutely lovable. She gets along well with other dogs, she is social, calm, and avoids stress. What she now needs are people with hearts – who give her time, accept her as she is, and lovingly help her to adjust. We wish for Gertie a home where she can finally belong. No quick expectations, no false love for animals, but trust, healthy movement, and a place where she can simply be a dog with everything that goes with it. Who shows Gertie that there are still people who don’t just go – but stay? RegularLabs.EmailProtector.unCloak("ep_8965b506"); RegularLabs.EmailProtector.unCloak("ep_eec785b4");

Read original (de)

Unsere Gertie hat sich inzwischen gut mit der Tierheimsituation arrangiert und ihren Platz gefunden. Zudem sind bei ihr inzwischen einige Pfunde gepurzelt – aus der einst kräftigen, eher trägen Hündin ist ein wunderschönes Hundemädchen hervorgekommen. Gertie zeigt sich sehr menschenbezogen und zutraulich; sie liebt Nähe und genießt jede Form von Aufmerksamkeit. Man spürt deutlich, dass es ihr größter Wunsch ist, wieder eine feste Bezugsperson an ihrer Seite zu haben, mit der sie gemeinsam durchs Leben gehen kann. Sechs Jahre lang lebte Gertie bei einer Familie in Ungarn, doch leider war es nicht das Für-immer-Zuhause, das sie verdient hätte. Statt artgerechter Haltung gab es zu viel Futter und anscheinend zu wenig Bewegung. So wurde aus dem einst aktiven Hundemädchen ein übergewichtiger Sofa-Hund, bis man sie schließlich einfach ins Tierheim abgab, weil sie wohl nicht mehr erwünscht war. Jetzt sitzt Gertie im Tierheim und versteht die Welt nicht mehr. Von der Wohnung in den Zwinger, ohne vertraute Stimmen, ohne gewohnte Rituale. Sie zeigt sich aktuell schüchtern, vorsichtig und zurückgezogen und trotzdem ist sie durch und durch freundlich, sanft und absolut liebenswert. Mit anderen Hunden kommt sie gut zurecht, sie ist sozial, ruhig und meidet Stress. Was sie jetzt braucht, sind Menschen mit Herz – die ihr Zeit geben, sie annehmen wie sie ist, und ihr liebevoll helfen, wieder anzukommen. Wir wünschen uns für Gertie ein Zuhause, in dem sie endlich ankommen darf. Keine schnellen Erwartungen, keine falsche Tierliebe, sondern Vertrauen, gesunde Bewegung und ein Platz, an dem sie einfach Hund sein darf mit allem was dazugehört. Wer zeigt Gertie, dass es doch noch Menschen gibt, die nicht einfach gehen – sondern bleiben? RegularLabs.EmailProtector.unCloak("ep_ce1cbf5d"); RegularLabs.EmailProtector.unCloak("ep_3e3064d2");

Size
Large
Age
Adult · 7 years
Location
🇩🇪Marsberg
Shelter
Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V.
Living with Gertie
  • Spayed
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Cared for by Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V. · MarsbergLearn about German Shepherd

Listed 1 month ago

Bringing Gertie home

What you'll need for Gertie in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

    View on Amazon
    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

    View on Amazon
    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

    View on Amazon
    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

    View on Amazon
    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About Gertie

What life with Gertie looks like

Gertie is a large adult german shepherd dog waiting at Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V. in Marsberg.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Marsberg, Germany browse more dogs in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Gertie, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Gertie?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V. handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Gertie on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Gertie if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V. will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Gertie already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Gertie isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Pfotenhilfe Sauerland e.V. early rather than rehoming privately; they know Gertie and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (DE). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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