Cassie

Cassie is a gorgeous 13 month old German Shepherd who has endured a very hard start to life. She grew up in complete isolation and arrived at the RSPCA extremely underweight and terrified. While she has gained weight and is physically healing, the shelter environment has taken a toll on her emotionally, and she needs a soft place to land.

Although Cassie is shy at first, she warms up quickly and begins to look to her people for reassurance. She loves gentle affection, leans in for cuddles, and wants to stay close, often climbing into your space for comfort and security.
Cassie has never been around children up close, at a distance she is very wary and becomes easily overwhelmed by sudden movement and loud sounds. She will do best in a calm home with residents aged 12 and up.

Because Cassie has lived such a sheltered life, the world is brand new and frightening. Everyday sights, sounds, environments, and other animals can overwhelm her. She needs someone experienced with nervous rescue dogs, someone patient, gentle, and committed to slowly introducing her to life as part of a family.

When Cassie is unsure or scared, her first response is to bark, she is very alert on walks and will need to progress at a slow, steady pace. Her ideal future is to feel relaxed in both the home and new environments. Cassie is a “project dog” suited to someone with lots of time, experience, and who is dedicated.

Cassie is motivated by treats and already knows how to sit, drop and shake paws, she’s shown she is eager to learn and can be guided into new commands. She needs to work on her obedience and manners, she is still a big puppy that sometimes lack impulse control; with consistent, positive reinforcement training, she will thrive.

Cassie is a sweet, affectionate girl who craves connection. She doesn’t just want a place to live, she wants a person to bond with deeply. A quieter household where she can take her time gaining confidence would be ideal. She would love to be welcomed inside and included as part of the family and will likely become a loyal little shadow.

Cassie is reactive toward other dogs and uses her bark to keep them at a distance. With a slow, controlled introduction to a calm, neutral dog, Cassie has shown she can settle enough to sniff, though she became overwhelmed quickly. Cassie must be the only dog in her new home, she will need ongoing work around both distant and close encounters with other dogs, and we highly recommend her new humans engage a professional dog trainer. Cassie is young, capable of learning, and has so much potential.
Cassie has not been tested with cats or other small pets.

Cassie has endured far too much in her first year of life, isolated on a property and then surrounded by the noise and stress of a busy shelter. She desperately needs someone willing to open their heart and home, to give her safety, patience, and unconditional love. Cassie needs a human who will help build her confidence and show her that the world isn’t so scary.

If you can give Cassie a peaceful environment where she can decompress and grow, we would love to hear from you; Cassie deserves love, stability, and a true second chance at her happy ever after!