Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue

Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue This page honors the legacy of the 3,200 dogs rescued through Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue from 2017 to 2024.

The SSR mission continues under Second Start Rescue. —Jennifer Aufdenberg, Co-Founder

Major - Deadline 12/30/25Message from Palm Valley Animal Society 👇 Major A230427 is a beautiful German Shepherd who orig...
12/24/2025

Major - Deadline 12/30/25

Message from Palm Valley Animal Society 👇

Major A230427 is a beautiful German Shepherd who originally came to our shelter in May as part of a bite quarantine case.

According to the incident report, Major bit an individual who was attempting to break up an altercation between her and another dog. Since being in our care, Major has not shown aggression concerns and has successfully shared a kennel with another dog without issue.

As a German Shepherd, Major requires more mental and physical stimulation than we can provide in a shelter environment. The lack of appropriate outlets for her energy is beginning to impact her well-being. She has started to display signs of kennel anxiety, including jumping in her kennel and occasionally redirecting her frustration toward her kennel mate. In playgroups, Major does very well. She greets other dogs politely, plays appropriately, gives fair corrections, respects boundaries, and walks well on leash.

A deadline has been set for Major, as she needs an environment that can provide consistent enrichment, structure, and individualized attention. Without these outlets, her anxiety will continue to worsen, and her overall quality of life will continue to decline in the shelter.

If your organization is able to offer the environment Major needs to thrive before Monday, December 30th, please reach out to our Rescue Team!

[email protected]
Edinburg, TX

I hope every SSR pup out there is being spoiled and reminded just how amazing they are 💞
12/24/2025

I hope every SSR pup out there is being spoiled and reminded just how amazing they are 💞

This is River Song (aka Penelope SSR 1948 (Shenandoah)). I adopted her in July of 2021, six months after my previous bes...
12/22/2025

This is River Song (aka Penelope SSR 1948 (Shenandoah)). I adopted her in July of 2021, six months after my previous best bud passed. I had looked at several different pups, but something about her face just pulled at me. She was scraggly from having had mange, and had heartworm, a massive ear infection in both ears, and allergies that made her scratch herself 24\7 the first day or two until we got her on some allergy meds. It took a while, but with the help of our awesome vet, we got everything cleared up.

Her listing said she probably didn't want to do a lot of hiking, but she turned out to be a great hiking buddy, although now that she's ~10.5, she's slowing down a little bit. 🙂 She loves riding in the car and goes everywhere with me, and she, her grandma, and I also go on lots of rides together during the week. I also wanted a cuddler and... got the exact opposite. 😃 She loves being petted, but if you want to lay down next to her, she will just give you her patented "really?" look and then get up and go lay down somewhere else.

She is kind of a reactive mess, barking at delivery vans, mini-vans, muscle cars, motorcycles, bicycles, etc., along with female dogs, and about 30% of the men we meet. She has gotten better with training, but may never completely be non-reactive. That's ok, I just adjusted our walks and hikes to avoid her triggers and we do fine.

She is goofy and a doof, but she is a great dog and I can't imagine my life without her.

I have been waiting here patiently 💔Will anybody ever give Carson a chance?
12/19/2025

I have been waiting here patiently 💔

Will anybody ever give Carson a chance?

Mama may have been left behind to spend the rest of her life having babies on the streets, but I am so incredibly thankf...
12/19/2025

Mama may have been left behind to spend the rest of her life having babies on the streets, but I am so incredibly thankful for the street feeding team we were able to find for her.

When we went back to look for her at the beginning of this year, she was a bag of bones—hairless and unable to walk.

Now she’s pregnant again and will have her puppies under the trailer she calls home. But her belly is full every night, and she’s finally starting to understand that she is loved.

I just want to take a moment to thank the local street feeders of Texas. You have one of the toughest jobs, you are constantly under attack, and these dogs are alive because of you. 🩷

Recently, I came across these photos of Captain, aka Tre, and felt a tinge of sadness.He was one of the last dogs I resc...
12/13/2025

Recently, I came across these photos of Captain, aka Tre, and felt a tinge of sadness.

He was one of the last dogs I rescued before the takeover, arriving at the ER just five days before everything was taken from us.

If anyone knows how he’s doing, I’d really love to know.

Everybody, this is Carson. He’s a senior dog who landed in boarding after his owner was found deceased. We originally re...
12/05/2025

Everybody, this is Carson. He’s a senior dog who landed in boarding after his owner was found deceased. We originally rescued him as an injured dog from TX back in 2020.

This handsome guy desperately needs an adopter or foster. Carson is an older gentleman, calm and low energy. He loves being outside watching the birds fly.

Carson is an easy boy to hang out with. He doesn’t ask for much. He loves car rides, running in the yard, or just being a couch potato. He really needs more exercise. He’s a little chubby but still wants to play.

Unfortunately, Carson has a bite history which has limited his prospects.

If you’re interested in fostering or adopting this big teddy bear, please reach out. Please, we’re kind of begging.

He is being boarded through Second Start Rescue in Wi******er, VA

We rescued him seven years ago today and named him Dexter. Wish I had an update on him now 💙From the archives:“His owner...
12/04/2025

We rescued him seven years ago today and named him Dexter. Wish I had an update on him now 💙

From the archives:

“His owners dumped him in the middle of nowhere and took off. Someone found him, took his pictures and drove off. For days, he sat there. No food or water. Another rescuer went back and found him still laying there. She took him home but he needs rescue ASAP!

Skinny, hadn’t eaten for days and so happy to be freed. Calm, gentle demeanor. He’s estimated to only be 7-8 months old..”

From today’s memories, 7 years ago 💔 This is a soul I’ll never forget—and one only a few knew.“Woke up to news that my b...
12/01/2025

From today’s memories, 7 years ago 💔 This is a soul I’ll never forget—and one only a few knew.

“Woke up to news that my beautiful Tanner suddenly died yesterday (still alive in this heartbreaking picture). He collapsed, struggled to breathe and died soon after. I never met him, but had so much love for him. His humans dumped him at PVAC when moving. I inquired about him only to learn he was on the euth list that day. We immediately pulled him and Joellen housed him for a week. He died knowing love, but he wasn’t granted the life he deserved.

I am so sad. I just told Joellen the other day he CANNOT be adopted in TX because I was obsessed and couldn’t wait to meet him. 😭😭😭

The guy in the picture is a wonderful man who often visits the shelter dogs. He promised to find him rescue - and he did.”

Address

Mission, TX

Website

https://medium.com/@jenniferaufdenberg/aufdenberg-v-202c41770eaa

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