Joey

A special shout-out to our adoptable ShepHeroes pumpkins - Joey, Otti, and Rocket, and our ambassadog Whiskey! Our pups were such good boys and girls, behaving beautifully at our booth and soaking up all the attention during Leash and Collar Pet Boutique's annual Tricks for Treats event, which drew over 200 pet parents decked out in costumes with their sweet pets. Every opportunity to get our dogs out into the community helps them build confidence, meet new friends, and hopefully find their forever families!Joey practiced catching treats during the lulls between treat handouts and got a bit of leash work in with Wholistic Canine, who also had a booth at Tricks for Treats. Joey's World Has Gotten Bigger, and His Happy Personality Is Shining Brighter Than Ever! What a difference a few months can make! Joey is now fully recovered from both his femur repair and neuter surgeries, and this resilient boy is officially back to enjoying life as a puppy should. He's traded crate rest for regular walks, playtime, adventures, and plenty of opportunities to show everyone what a wonderful dog he's becoming.Joey has settled beautifully into his foster home and is fully integrated with the resident dogs. When they're ready to run, Joey is right there with them, running like the wind! He's discovered the fun of fetch, loves his toys, has an impressive game of tug, and is always happy to engage in a little playtime. He's also an affectionate boy who loves attention and snuggles from his people.He's been heading out for regular walks, and we're discovering what a nice walking companion he is. He's easy on leash and generally non-reactive to other dogs, unless they decide to give him a little attitude from their moving cars first! He's also got a terrific recall, which is always a welcome bonus in a young, active Shepherd.Now, let's talk about those puppy antics! Joey is a high-energy boy with springs for legs. Sometimes those springs launch him a little farther than intended, and he occasionally overshoots his destination right onto the kitchen counters! He's still learning his manners and boundaries, but he's a smart boy who is making great progress. Life with Joey will definitely keep you entertained!A little rewind on Joey's journey...Joey's story began with a serious fracture of his right femur, broken into multiple fragments, along with an infected open wound. Thanks to the quick response of Hitchcock Road Animal Services, the generosity of our friends at @UCDavisFractureProgram, and a team of dedicated volunteers who coordinated transport from Salinas to Davis in just hours, Joey received the urgent medical care he desperately needed.Two plates were used to repair his femur, and on August 29, he headed to his foster home to begin the long road to recovery.That road called for strict crate rest, but Joey never let it dampen his spirit. He mastered crate and potty training, discovered the joys of chew toys (especially while shedding those pesky baby teeth!), and showed us that even a puppy who has to take it easy can have a BIG personality!As he healed, Joey began venturing out into the world. He attended his first group lesson, explored the feed store, participated in a Brewery Manners class with Wholistic Canine at Geisthaus Brewing Company, and was a super good boy at the Citrus Heights Food Plaza's Halloween event. He even joined his foster family for a Tahoe getaway, where he rode beautifully in the car and enjoyed the mountain air from the deck.Today, Joey is a happy, affectionate, energetic young Shepherd who has so much to offer. He's overcome a lot in his short life, and it's been incredibly rewarding to watch him go from a very injured puppy to the confident, playful boy he is today.Now he's ready for his next big adventure: finding a forever family!Joey would love an active home that will enjoy his playful spirit, continue his training, provide opportunities for exercise and enrichment, and appreciate all the love and entertainment that come with a young German Shepherd.Have you seen our YouTube channel? We would really appreciate your support by subscribing, liking, and commenting on our videos of adoptable shepherds in action. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our new Threads account, where we share lots of news and updates about our shepherds.Since ShepHeroes is a foster-based rescue, we always need more foster homes. Many shepherds in our local shelters need a fresh start. Would you open your home and share your life to help shepherds find new families? You provide the love, and we will take care of everything else. Saying "yes" today truly saves a life. Fill out the form at https://www.shepheroes.org/foster-form, and we will contact you soon. Thank you for considering it.