Carmen German Shepherd Dog San Diego, CA

Many months ago, Carmen's world turned upside down.  And then it shattered.  She's hoping that someone who is reading her story will want to pick up the pieces and put her world back together.   When her elderly owner, the woman who loved her and whom she loved in return, passed away, the remaining family members did not want her.  She was left at a kennel where she has now lived for more than eighteen months, waiting and waiting for the only human who ever loved her to return to take her home.  She never came.  As Coastal volunteers came each day to care for the dogs, it was hard to miss Carmen, watching as they went by.  They made a promise to themselves and to Carmen to do everything they could to help find her a home.   In her first and only home, Carmen did not have many opportunities to socialize with people other than her elderly owner.  As a result, Carmen is shy and afraid when she meets new people for the first time.  When Carmen's world was shattered and fell apart, it was as if she had given up on everyone.  Volunteers began spending time with her, trying to build her trust.  In the beginning, Carmen would slowly and hesitantly approach a volunteer but she would only come so close.  Then she'd turn and run back to the safety of her bed, and then approach again, and then turn away.  Finally, she would lay on her stomach and crawl towards the person.  As she came closer, the life began to come back into her eyes and the walls began tumbling down.  Finally she learned to trust her new friends, one at a time.  Now she will not only allow herself to be petted, she'll even give kisses!    When she is in the play yard, she runs faster and jumps higher than any of our dogs.  She can do beautiful somersaults while flying from one bale of hay to another.  She loves to dive her face into the water bucket and then roll in the dirt and then dive again to wash the dirt away!  



Carmen's world is now at risk of being shattered once again.  We recently learned that Coastal is her last hope and time is running out.  If we cannot find her a home soon, she will be relinquished to a sanctuary where she will enter the forgotten world of dogs who have been abandoned and left behind.  We are doing our best to keep our promise to this little girl and help her find a home, a family with a quiet home (no children), a family who has the time and patience to work with her and build trust, where she can be the loving girl she so wants to  be.   If the eyes are the window to the soul, anyone who takes the time to look into Carmen's eyes will see the sweet soul that resides inside.  Are you that family?  Carmen hopes the answer is yes!




Please visit http://www.coastalgsrsd.org/ to learn more about our dogs. Click on available dogs to see further descriptions. If you are interested in me, please contact Teresa at baltao@sbcglobal.net. or call (858) 779-9149. Don't forget to fill out our online application. The minimum adoption donation ranges from $300 to $400. This amount only partially covers the cost of veterinary care, boarding fees, and other miscellaneous expenses involved in the temporary care and adoption of our dogs and is 100%25 tax deductible. Prior to placement, all dogs will be spayed or neutered, receive current vaccinations, and are usually microchipped. If not, arrangements will be made on an individual basis. Special consideration may be given to those willing to adopt older dogs or dogs with physical problems. Our adoption process begins with completing an application on-line. A phone screening will soon follow, and lastly a home visit will be conducted by our volunteers.