Age/Birthdate: 02/05/2022 • Current Weight: 76 lbs • Breed Guess: German Shepherd • Fully Vetted: Yes • Adoption fee: $0 fee has been sponsored by a generous donor! Any Medical or Special Needs: None Temperament with: •Dogs: Yes, he LOVES other dogs •Cats: Yes, he LOVES cats •Children: No •Strangers: Good but will need slow introductions Training Needs: Crate Trained: Yes Potty Trained: Yes Reese is a HANDSOME Shepherd mix weighing in at a solid 76 pounds at just under 4 years old! Sadly, the first two years of Reese’s life were filled with abuse and disappointment. As a result, he was profoundly affected — constantly being in harm’s way was all he knew during his puppy years. Despite his rough start, Reese has shown incredible resilience and heart. He’s ready to leave his past behind and continue learning that not all people mean harm. Reese will need a patient and understanding family that will allow him the time he needs to decompress and warm up. His ideal home would be with a single woman or with a small family — Shepherd experience would help tremendously, as an adopter will have to be willing to play the long game to earn his trust! Because of his past, Reese can be fearful and defensive toward unfamiliar people, especially during first introductions. This is not him being “mean” — it’s simply the only way he learned to protect himself. With proper management, slow introductions, and structure, he does well, and he has been thriving in his foster home. His foster mom has built a wonderful bond with him, showing that once Reese feels safe, he is loyal, loving, and deeply connected! Reese has come leaps and bounds from where he started, but he’ll need continued support during his transition to ensure he builds equally strong relationships with his new family. While he’s made amazing progress, Reese still needs a family who understands his past trauma and is dedicated to helping him continue to heal. In typical Shepherd fashion, earning his trust can take time — but once you have it, he’ll trust you with his life 1000%. Once you get past Reese’s tough-guy armor, you’ll discover what a true softie he is! Reese is the perfect mix of energy and couch potato. He LOVES playing with his fur friends in the backyard but also enjoys long snooze sessions on the couch. When relaxing, he’s happy to chew on a bone and watch TV — especially Hallmark movies! (He’ll even tolerate a football game or two for the guys, if he must!) While Reese’s trust issues stem from humans, no animals have ever done this boy wrong — he absolutely LOVES other animals! Whether it’s puppies, adult dogs, cats, or kittens, Reese has never met an animal he doesn’t adore! He’s been a foster brother to animals of all shapes, sizes, ages, temperaments, and energy levels, and has always been the gentle, dependable “big brother” they can look up to! True to his Shepherd nature, Reese is a caregiver — he can often be seen lovingly grooming his elderly foster sibling or keeping a watchful eye on his rambunctious foster kittens! If you already have other furbabies, Reese would be a wonderful addition! He has no food, toy, or water aggression and would integrates easily into a multi-pet home! Reese is also potty and crate trained! He knows the words “crate” and “place” as cues to go to his crate! Since he’s naturally curious, his foster mom crates him when she’s away — which he doesn’t mind at all, as he’ll happily nap until you return! If you’d rather take him along, that’s no problem either — Reese loves car rides and will gladly hop in the vehicle himself! He’s also great about keeping all four paws on the ground (which is great given his size)! Speaking of paws, he’s not the biggest fan of having his toes touched (but who is?), and he’s currently working on perfecting “heel” while walking! Reese is looking for a patient, German Shepherd–savvy adopter who will see past his initial walls and give him the time, structure, and love he needs to fully open up! With understanding and commitment, his future family will be rewarded with one of the most loyal, loving, and devoted companions imaginable! If you're interested in meeting handsome Reese, please fill out the application below! https://www.rubywhiskers.org/adopt She/He is currently located in Chicago's southwest suburbs and can be seen by appointment once an adoption application is completed and approved by the rescue. We cannot hold our dogs for any reason. Unless the dog or puppy is fully vetted we will only consider applications that are within 1 hour or 40 miles of Lemont, IL. This is due to the required vetting at our partner veterinarians. If the dog or puppy is fully vetted we will allow adoptions out of state or outside of our 1 hour or 40 mile restriction. Please do not apply unless you are ready to meet and welcome a new companion into the home within five days of approval. ADOPTION FEE: $0 (includes spay/neuter, microchip, rabies vaccine, DHPP vaccine, Heartworm, fecal, and general wellness which includes dewormer, heartworm prevention and flea/tick prevention) Interested? Submit an adoption application at www.rubywhiskers.org/adopt Follow our Facebook page for updates on upcoming adoption events and any special reduced adoption fee promotions! https://www.facebook.com/share/14poaFkKCC/