Scroll down to read the latest update on Tatiana's condition!  She just got some bad news, but we are still hopeful!

Tatiana desperately needs help...

German Shepherd Rescue received a call from a shelter in San Diego County about a badly injured little 2 1/2 month German Shepherd puppy who was about to be put down...  It seems she was badly injured while in the custody of the breeder who brought her into this world.  Since the leg would require medical treatment that would in turn cost the breeder some of her precious profit, little Tatiana was dumped at the shelter to face the unknown...

One of our volunteers hit the ground running and made the 2 hour drive to get this little baby to safety.  When she arrived at the shelter, she was sickened by what she found.  This poor little baby girl could not walk or stand because of a horribly broken leg.  She had been sitting in the shelter like this for 3 weeks.  They had not even bothered to x-ray the leg to see if it could be saved.  Our volunteer scooped this little one up and rushed her to our vet's office.  Once at the vets office, Tatiana was rushed into be x-rayed, which revealed a badly broken leg.  What is heartbreaking is that this came from a blunt force trauma.  A volunteer at the shelter who requested to remain anonymous told our volunteer the breeder's son had kicked the puppy when she was only 4 weeks old.  When the leg did not heal on it's own, she was discarded at the local shelter.  Our vet's findings support this, as the injury is not a recent one.  What kind of human being can brutally kick a 4 week old puppy?

Once again, we must reach out to the wonderful people who enable us to save the broken angels that would have no chance if not for German Shepherd Rescue...  Tatiana is at our vet's office, the same vet who saved Callie's leg.  We are hoping and praying she can save Tatiana's leg as well...  The only way to save Tatiana's little leg is to perform a very costly surgery, which will require re-breaking the leg in two places (knee and ankle).  Without the surgery, her leg is frozen in place and sticks straight out.  Following surgery, Tatiana will need intensive physical therapy.  This is the little angel's only hope of keeping her leg.  We are desperately trying to raise the funds to make this surgery happen.  Even with a substantial discount from our wonderful vet, the surgery is going to be about $2,400.00.

"I can't use my back legs, but I can still hold on and cuddle with my front ones..."

We are reaching out to our wonderful supporters and extended rescue family to help us save this sweet baby's leg.  There is no donation too small.  Please, please, help us to show this little one that people care about her and she will never know abuse or cruelty again...  Tatiana and her little leg thank you, and so do all the volunteers who work so hard to save these special dogs...  Click here to learn how to make a donation toward Tatiana's surgery, and please be sure to specify that your donation is for Tatiana so that we can direct it to her surgerical fund!

Sitting with Shawn, and waiting to see the Vet.  Tatiana was so frightened but tried very hard to be a brave little girl...

February 7, 2005:
With physical therapy, Tatiana has learned to use her good rear leg just fine.  However, Tatiana's injured leg was not responding.  We took her to one of the top canine orthopedics in the state of California.

German Shepherd Rescue volunteer Shawn, and Tatiana getting ready to go see the orthopedic specialist, Dr. George Katcherian about Tatiana's little leg. Tatiana loves to go "bye-bye"!!!

Brace yourself... This is what Dr. Katcherian found:

Tatiana's leg had been torn from the hip socket when she was kicked...  The hip on the right is normal.  As you can see, Tatiana's left leg is not even in the socket and all the ligaments have been torn...  Sadly, this brutal injury was inflicted on her when she was only 4 weeks old.  We are going to do everything in our power to try to save her leg.  We thought that we had the funds raised to get her the surgery our vet thought would help her... 

As you can see this injury is much more horrific than we ever thought it could be.  Please, please, help us to help little Tatiana...  There is no donation too small.  Click here to learn how to make a donation, and please be sure to specify that you wish the donation directed to Tatiana's surgery!  Thank you so very much for caring!

Being a very good little girl while waiting for Dr. Katcherian... The news was not good.

February 12, 2005:

It is with a bit of sadness but plenty of hope that we make this update...

After several hours of surgery, it was determined that there was no possible way to save Tatiana's leg.  The damage had just been too brutal for a little puppy.  While we know that we did everything possible and spared no expense, we are still saddened that this little angel lost her leg because of abuse from her breeder's family member who viciously kicked her. We will never understand how anyone could harm any animal, let alone a 4 week old puppy...

While Tatiana may now only have 3 legs, she is safe from harm and knows what it is to be loved and cherished. She can also run like the wind on those 3 legs.  Thank you to everyone who rallied to help this little angel... especially Terri, Lauren and Kathy.

Without the wonderful support of those that help us save the innocent dogs of German Shepherd Rescue, who cannot help themselves, we could not do what we do.  We thank all of you who help and support our organization.

So, little Tatiana may only have 3 legs, but she has a huge and supportive "extended" family that loves her and that is all of you.  She is in recovery at the vets office, but she will be ready for visitors soon.  She is also taking applications for her forever family...

"Even with this silly hat that they made me wear, I'm still adorable!"

Tatiana = 3 legs, and still hell on wheels...  Please only apply to adopt her if you can deal with a bratty 3 month old puppy who will test you at every opportunity.... Eat your flowers (and maybe your couch), jump on you, and poop on your floor until she is housebroken.  She will also bring you joy and laughter for the next 12 to 15 years... If you can't commit to this, then please do not waste your time, our time, and most importantly Tatiana's time by applying to adopt her.

If you can deal with this little darling... Bring it on!  Click on the button below to fill out our online adoption application, or email ShawnGSDRescue@aol.com or call (714) 206-9002 for more information on Tatiana.

"I'm doing just great on my 3 legs!!!"

"Here I come!!!  The 3-legged wonder puppy!"