German Shepherd rescue · German Shepherds of Australia, Volume One
Jesse, the rescue shepherd who was Best Dog at the wedding
Some pages in German Shepherds of Australia are written by the family. Jesse's is written by Jesse, and it is a German Shepherd rescue story told from the dog's side of the fence.
Hi, I'm Jess, an eight-year-old German Shepherd with a story to share. My first year wasn't the best, but German Shepherd Rescue Victoria came to my aid and helped me find my forever family.
That is the whole of the hard part, in two sentences. The page does not dwell on it. It moves straight on to what came next.
A German Shepherd rescue, and then a family
From the moment I met my new humans, I knew I had found something special. We embark on countless adventures and holidays together, creating unforgettable memories. One of my favourite things is cuddling up with my family on the bed, surrounded by their love and warmth.
Anyone who has shared a bed with a German Shepherd will know that "cuddling up" can mean a very large dog arranging itself across the middle of the mattress. Jesse's page leaves that part out.
Best Dog
Then comes the line that makes people smile when they turn the page:
My family's love for me is boundless, and they even honoured me by making me the Best Dog at their wedding making me an essential part of their special day.
Not a guest. Not the dog who stayed home with a sitter. The Best Dog.
Shy and uncertain, then confident
Jesse closes with something every family who has adopted a rescue dog will recognise:
I am filled with gratitude for the second chance at life that German Shepherd Rescue Victoria and my family have given me. Through their love and dedication, I have transformed from a shy and uncertain pup into a confident and beloved companion. I am living proof that with a little bit of love and patience, any dog can thrive and find their happily ever after.
In the book, Jesse looks out of a black page, ears up, under the title Forever Jesse. On the facing page is Lyla, the princess in gumboots: read Lyla's story.
Jesse is one of more than 200 German Shepherds in German Shepherds of Australia, Volume One. The cover says "Proudly Supporting German Shepherd Rescue Victoria", the same volunteers who came to Jesse's aid, and the book has raised over $22,000 for them.