Sparky - West Yorks

This little GSD is called Sparky has a sad story to tell, I hope I do him justice.

He started his very young life in a home but quickly was rescued from the previous owner as was being mistreated.. she then took him on and he settled into her home. Then one day whilst sleeping on the floor next to the sofa, her young child must have frightened him and he woke up suddenly he nipped the child on her face.. game over !! or well no he had to suffer a bit first. He was muzzled probably 24 hrs a day, discarded from the family and had no contact with anyone apart from the man in household who fed him and took him on a short walk once he came home from work.

GSDR stepped in, the volunteer went to do the assessment and was very upset on how this young dog was being treated and decided to take him home into foster. She would keep him till a home was found, unfortunately, he only lasted a few hours as her husband was playing with him and all seemed ok, Sparky then bit his backside...... so now where does he go.

Next home, a dog handler who has many years experience working with service dogs, he threw him a lifeline and said he could go there and he would be assessed.

This is where my heart breaks at the thought, so he was placed in a 10 x 10 shed, not an actual kennel where he could have his own space, no it was open and he at no point felt safe. He spent several weeks in this makeshift kennel, never went out and when the handler went to go in to feed him, he would enter with a duvet and a sweeping brush to protect himself!! (Oh Sparky did and does kennels guard, but that's all it is). So this puts more fear into Sparky and doesn't forget he's only 10 months old; Sparky now felt very threatened, he did I understand take to one of the kennel staff who was a female. So she would go in with his feed, although not sure how much contact was made. One day she slipped on the floor and Sparky did bite her leg, although the handler was present with his duvet and brush so managed to get the girl out. Once again, I do believe that Sparky was terrified for his life, the majority of his life he had only known pain and suffering.

I was asked if I could take Sparky, as it soon came apparent that this poor boy was not getting the help he needed. It took me a couple of days to think about him and consider the rest of the volunteers who would be handling him. Well, I decided I must give him a chance, as no one else had. He arrived at the beginning of the year and we were all ready for him, set up a huge kennel and run to make him feel welcome. We carried him in from the van in his crate and managed to get him in the kennel without handling him. He jumped into his kennel and from that day on I think he knew he was with people who understood him, tears poured down my face as this little lad came flying to the front of his kennel, sat and took treats nicely. I promised him we would help him and eventually find him a home that deserves him and treats him with kindness and love, that's all he wants and so deserves.

Sparky is a normal fun loving little dog, he is fantastic with all the volunteers who handle him, he has never once shown us any aggression. He has been out walking with his other kennel buddies, he has been off lead playing with a lovely female GSD, which you could fair see a big smile on his face, he was so happy.

We are still careful with strangers, and won't let him go straight up to them to greet them, but once he gets to know you he will accept you no problem. We would not rehome him with children, but a lovely calm female dog would be a great asset for him and I think it's on his wish list.