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The senior German Shepherds of Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary have been extremely fortunate to receive high-quality laser and hydrotherapy with Petra Ford and her wonderful staff at Aqua Paws Rehabilitation in Flanders, New Jersey. We've taken our dogs for short-term treatment and long-term care, such as Brandi and Libby, who look forward to their bi-monthly "spa day." Why is physical therapy important to our senior German Shepherds? Just like people, our senior dogs start to slow down as they age and lose mobility due to natural wear and tear of joints, or from sustaining an injury, and even from gaining weight. At this stage of their lives, it is essential to keep them as active as possible, even if it means taking short, frequent walks throughout the day, but sometimes that's easier said than done due to limitations such as pain or injury, and this is where physical therapy helps our dogs stay as comfortable and mobile as possible. receives Typically, when we have a resident senior German Shepherd who has mobility issues, we have them diagnosed with our veterinarian. In Libby's case, she has spinal stenosis, and Brandi has elbow dysplasia in her front left leg. Once they are diagnosed, we then come up with a treatment plan which includes physical therapy. That's where Aqua Paws Rehabilitation comes in. During our first visit to Aqua Paws Rehabilitation, we had a consultation to discuss the diagnosis with owner Petra Ford, P.T., CCRT (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist), and she put together a treatment plan for us, which includes massage, laser therapy, and hydrotherapy among other treatments, and then we get to work implementing the treatment plan. The benefits of our senior German Shepherds receiving massage, laser, and hydrotherapy include but are not limited to: Speedier recovery from injury Reduced level of pain Increased strength Better muscle condition Better range of motion Improved balance Weight loss Better quality of life The process, which is about an hour for each dog, starts with a massage, then laser therapy, followed by more massage, then hydrotherapy (with or without jets), and finally, a rub down to dry off. And, of course, we stop to get a yummy snack before making the hour-long trek back home. Our overall goal is to keep our resident senior German Shepherds as happy and comfortable as possible for as long as possible, and Petra and her staff help us do just that. Our dogs always have a little more "pep in their step" after their visit. Aqua Paws Rehabilitation. Aqua Paws Rehabilitation 5 River Rd Flanders, NJ 07836 973) 732-7085 Business aquapawsrehab.com HOURS MONDAY: 5:00PM TO 9:00PM TUESDAY: 11:00AM TO 9:00PM WEDNESDAY: 10:30AM TO 9:00PM THURSDAY: 2:00 PM TO 9:00 PM FRIDAY: 11:00AM TO 9:00PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY: CLOSED

We headed out of the sanctuary to one of our board member's houses to give Champ, Atticus, and Brandi a bath today. Of course, we can bathe them here, but what fun it was to go somewhere different. We headed down the road with the windows down, and three doggie faces sticking out, breathing in the warm autumn air. I mean, seriously, Atticus looked like he couldn't get enough. Little did they know that on the other end of their glorious ride through the heart of the Poconos on this fine day was a bottle of doggie shampoo, a hose equipped with hot water, and a pile of fluffy towels to dry off with. First up was Mr. Atticus, who was a star at staying still while he got lathered up and rinsed off. Once we were finished with Atticus, we had Mr. Champ waiting patiently for his turn to get scrubbed clean, which he loved...., especially on his belly. And last but certainly not least was our little Miss Brandi. Carol and I were soaked and wet from bathing the boys, but we didn't skimp on time with giving Miss Brandi the "Spa Treatment." Not that the doggies needed to be dried with fluffy towels because it was so nice out, and they were busy exploring the smells and toys of Carol's yard, but we fluffed them anyway. All finished! Brandi and Atticus....aka the "Love birds," are ready to head back to the sanctuary As if our very handsome and very clean Mr. Champ. Up next for a bath are Dark, Jensen, and Jared. Wish our backs luck! ;)

The blog post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Several months back, we purchased LickiMat Soothers for all the resident dogs here at Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary and have incorporated the mats into our daily routine, and boy, do the dogs love them! Our routine is to provide each dog with outside activity several times a day. After our afternoon outing, the dogs are treated to time with their LickiMats, which they really look forward to. So here's what we do: We spread either canned dog food, peanut butter, yogurt, or baby food on the LickiMat and then put the mats on the floor for the dogs to enjoy! Once the dogs are finished licking their LickiMats clean, we wash the mats in warm, soapy water. Once they are thoroughly cleaned and dried, we hang them up for next time! Here's what we love about LickiMat Soothers: 1) They are super easy to use. 2) The dogs are occupied 3) We can put on whatever treat we'd like 4) They are made out of silicone and are easy to clean 8) Reasonably priced What the manufacturer says: * Our LickiMat Line is a challenge/reward-based treat delivery system that engages pets over a long period of time while only delivering small portions of their favorite treat. * They are designed to deliver a medical-free way to promote calm behavior in your pet while home alone or during stressful times, like storms. * All the products are designed to be filled with your dog's favorite treat. It can also be frozen to extend the period of engagement. * Our LickiMats promote fresh breath, healthy teeth & gums. They also stimulate saliva to aid in digestive health. If you have pups, do yourself (and them) a favor and get LickMats! You won't be disappointed.

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. "Does your senior German Shepherd really need to be bathed regularly? I mean, really, old dogs just lay around all day, so how dirty can they possibly get, right?" Wrong. Regardless of a German Shepherd's age, like humans, to maintain optimum health and happiness, they need to be bathed regularly. In fact, I would argue that bathing is even more important for a senior German Shepherd because it's the perfect time to inspect him for any new lumps, bumps, sores, or other health issues that you may not otherwise notice. And while it may be true that most senior German Shepherds aren't typically as active as their younger counterparts, they still get dirty. Take our sanctuary resident, Champ. Sometimes he has actual dirt on him from being outside, but he also has yeasty skin (including his ears) and requires a bath every two weeks to keep his coat from becoming greasy, flakey, and smelly. Below are some of the products we use just for him to keep him feeling fresh and his skin healthy. Granted, neither the Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo or an oatmeal-based shampoo smell like roses, but it helps keep Champ's skin in check better than anything we have found thus far. Now, before you go coaxing your senior German Shepherd into a bathtub full of soapy, warm water, there are a few adjustments you should make to ensure the safety and comfort of your frosty-faced fur friend while getting bathed. * Try to have a tub/wash area that your senior German Shepherd does not have to climb up into * Don't make the water too hot or too cold * Have a no-slip mat under your dog * Use shampoo and grooming products designed specifically for your dog's needs * Keep the room at a warmer temperature during and after bathing if bathing during colder temperatures * Pay attention to your dog's body language. If they are experiencing pain or discomfort, you may need to cut the bath short * While shampooing, give a little massage and really check him out for any new lumps or bumps * Have all of your bathing tools and supplies within reach. After we are done bathing, we groom the sanctuary dogs too. After all, there's definitely more to do. Like making sure their nails are clipped to an appropriate length. Nails that are too long can actually cause pain in your senior German Shepherd because it causes him to stand on his feet incorrectly, which, in turn, prohibits his joints from aligning correctly, and we don't want another reason for hip issues, do we? If you are clipping your dog's nails yourself, make sure you have a good pair of clippers. We use a guillotine-style professional-grade such as Toysdone Large dog nail clippers When you clip, hold the clippers at a 45-degree angle, and make sure you don't cut too close to the quick (the vein in your dog's nail), which will hurt and cause your dog to bleed. I realize just the thought of that has some nervous...I know....I used to be nervous about it too. So if clipping your dog's nails is something you just aren't comfortable with yourself, then don't force it, but don't ignore it either. Take him to a professional like your veterinarian or groomer to have them do it. And if you do clip yourself, have some styptic powder on hand, just in case. Bath. Check. Nails clipped. Check. Let's not forget about their ears. While grooming your senior German Shepherd, clean his ears to remove ear wax build-up and dirt, which is not only a necessity for hygiene, but it also helps them hear better. We use several different products to clean the sanctuary dog's ears, such as Virbac Epi-Otic Advanced Ear Cleaner Keep in mind that some dogs like to have their ears cleaned, like our Jared, and others don't like it at all. So like clipping nails, if this is something you aren't comfortable doing, have your vet or groomer do it instead. Finally, It's essential to brush your senior German Shepherd regularly. Not only do most dogs enjoy being brushed, but by doing so, you distribute the natural oils of his coat, which will keep him looking smooth and shiny, remove any loose hair, and give him an overall clean appearance. If you have a long-haired senior German Shepherd, like our sanctuary resident, Jensen, get yourself a de-matting tool to help keep the coat mat-free. We use the Safari De-matting Dog Comb, and it works great! A tool like the Furminator to pull out loose undercoat also works well. Just a little side note, not every brush or grooming tool works for every dog. It depends on the dog's coat and what he can tolerate. For instance, we would never use a tool like the Safari De-matting Dog Comb or Furminator on Atticus, who has a coat that is more like thin hair and bald patches. Using these tools on him would actually hurt him. Instead, we use the black side of the Hartz best combo brush to brush him because it's softer and does an excellent job on his coat. To sum it up, aside from looking good, grooming your senior German Shepherd regularly helps them feel better physically and mentally, which is usually evident because as soon as they get out of the tub and shake off, they get the zoomies and buzz all over the house like they are three years old again! They love feeling clean.....who doesn't? On a final note, if you are not comfortable bathing and grooming your senior German Shepherd, take him to a professional, like a groomer who specializes in working with senior dogs. We do all the grooming ourselves here at the sanctuary, but then again, we have lots of practice. :) We even have a schedule, which you can see below. If you have multiple dogs, feel free to screenshot the blank schedule and print it out for your own pack. Tell your pup I said hi! Dawn

Often I am asked, "How do you get all the dogs to get along?" And recently, another person looking to surrender their senior German Shepherd said, "It's harder to get my dog into Woody's Place than it is to get into Harvard." And there's probably some truth to that because not only are space and finances limited, the bottom line is that we can't take every senior German Shepherd because not every senior German Shepherd will be a good fit for our program. Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary is a true sanctuary meaning that it's not just a word in our name. We actually provide sanctuary for abandoned senior German Shepherds for the rest of their lives. In fact, our catchphrase is, "We are that place in the country where old dogs come to retire." Therefore, because the senior German Shepherds remain with us for the rest of their lives, we have to pick who is a good match for us and who would not be. So how do we go about determining who is a good fit for the sanctuary? #1 Must be human and dog friendly Beyond a shadow of a doubt, they must be human and dog-friendly with no bite history. The reason for this is that we are a cage-free, communal type living environment, which means once we agree to take an abandoned senior German Shepherd, and after the first few days of integration with the rest of the residents, there are no boundaries between the dogs, with the exception of gates to separate some residents for feeding purposes. So.....to go along, they have to get along here at the sanctuary. And, of course, human-friendly goes without saying. Therefore, we can only accept senior German Shepherds who are completely human and dog friendly. Getting along is paramount, but another part of accepting a newbie is, of course, their age. We are a "senior" German Shepherd sanctuary. To us, a German Shepherd is a senior at 8 years of age, with geriatric being 10 and older. Now, we understand that other people may feel senior is 6 or 7 for a German Shepherd, and that's fine, but we are not going to split hairs over it. For us, the magic number is 8. #2 Must be 8 years and older (Whippersnappers need not apply) Of course, there are plenty of senior German Shepherds out there that are 8 years and older in need of a home, but some don't know they are seniors and act more like a 3 or 4-year-old German Shepherd because they have lots and lots of stamina and energy. And while we have taken high-energy seniors from time to time, we actually try to adopt a senior like that out before leaving us no option but to bring them into the sanctuary for the simple fact that his energy level may not be a good match with residents who may find his energy upsetting. Plain and simple. It would be like having a rambunctious toddler live in a nursing home, and we all know that won't fly. #3 Must be on the "slower" side of life. (Seriously. We don't wanna tick off the queen) So that's a lot to cover, right? It is, but there's more to our formula for successful doggie cohabitation than that. Since all the residents can come and go as they please here at the sanctuary, and we have lots and lots of toys, treats, beds, and other things a dog would consider a possession, we can't accept senior German Shepherds who are possessive. Of course, that's not to say there won't be times when two residents are both clamoring for the same bed or ball even though we have 5 more beds and 10 more of the exact same ball.....ahem....Prince and Atticus. That happens from time to time, and we deal with it. But I'm not talking about a little tiff. I'm referring to a dog who is REALLY possessive and will fight for what he deems as his, which is typically everything. #4 No Uber Possessive Dogs Ok. So we have all that covered. If we have enough $$$ and space, and they have to get along with people and all other dogs, are 8 years and older, and on the slower side of life, and not be uber possessive.... that leaves the last part of our secret sauce when determining who will be a good fit for Woody's Place. #5 Take local first We have pulled dogs from all over the country....seriously, as far away as California, but we always try to take in locally first. That means if there is a senior German Shepherd in need right here in the Pocono Mountains (where the sanctuary is located), and that dog is a good fit for our program, we take him. Outside of the area, our next priority is from surrounding counties in Eastern PA, with many coming from the Philadelphia area. Seriously. I don't know what the deal is in Philly, but about 80% of our residents have come from there over the years. We also try to be available for northern New Jersey, and New York, since we are located in a tri-state area. Our reason for helping local first is so we can actually meet with the senior German Shepherd in person to determine for ourselves if he will be a good fit and because we believe you should help locally first. Unfortunately, there are some in need locally that are not a good fit for our program, but that doesn't mean that we don't help find placement for them because we do. If there are no senior German Shepherds who are a good fit locally or even semi-locally and we have $$$ and space available, then we take senior German Shepherds farther away and rely on shelter staff or another rescue to help us determine if the dog is a good fit for us. That was Brandi's case. We were so top-heavy in the male department (and still are), with not a female insight until Brandi. She was in Florida, and the shelter staff knew what was required of a dog to fit into our program, and I must say that they did a great job assessing her. Brandi couldn't be a better fit for our program. :) Ultimately though, we prefer to keep it local. So there you have it! As I said, people are often curious how we manage to get all the dogs to get along while they reside here at the sanctuary. There's a lot that goes into it, and it takes time. But we start with these preliminary steps listed in this blog post that put us on the path to success.

As a senior German Shepherd owner, you know that our frosty-faced fur friends can be an excellent source of stress relief for us with their unconditional love and calming presence. But what happens when your senior German Shepherd starts to decline and becomes another thing to stress about? Believe it or not, as our senior German Shepherds age and begin to fall ill, that can cause caregiver stress. This type of stress can come from various sources, including having to rush home from work to take care of them, cleaning up after them, dealing with trying to keep them as comfortable as possible (even at our own expense) and trying to determine when its time to say goodbye and dealing with the anticipatory grief that we know comes along with that gut-wrenching decision. Recognizing the symptoms of caregiver stress is the first step in defusing it. Knowing how to properly care for yourself while caring for your senior German Shepherd can keep you one step ahead of falling into the downward spiral of caregiver stress. In the Youtube video, I discuss what caregiver stress is and offer some tips for how I deal with it. Recognizing Caregiver Stress: Here are my tips on how to defuse caregiver stress: Being a caregiver to your beloved senior German Shepherd can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. However, it is also important to remember that being a caregiver can be stressful, even for the most resilient people. Remember to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need it.

As the trees begin to bloom and the grass begins to grow, we know that flea and tick season is upon us once again here in the Pocono Mountains, and for our fur friends here at that sanctuary, that could mean trouble. Now, I don't know about you, but I am a minimalist when it comes to applying or giving our senior German Shepherds anything to ingest that may have an adverse effect, and that includes flea and tick preventatives. The fact is, any chew, topical solution, collar, or powder used to treat fleas and ticks is a pesticide, and that's bad news for your dog—especially those who are older or with a compromised immune system. Think about it. The dog chews the chew or gets the topical solution put on his back, and chemicals, such as Isoxazoline, enter the dog's blood system and become concentrated in his tissues. Then the flea or tick bites the dog, ingests the chemical, and dies. Call me crazy, but I sure as heck don't want any Woody's Place dog to have a chemical like that in his body that can cause a host of problems, like neurological issues, chemical burns on the skin, or worse. On the contrary, I don't want them to be carriers of fleas and tick and all the problems that come with that either. So here is my solution. This Is my all-natural, homemade flea and tick repellent that we use on the Woody's Place Senior German Sanctuary resident dogs. Over the course of the last decade-plus, I can count on my one hand how many times we've had to use a pesticide to treat for fleas and ticks, which I dread doing, but we had no other choice. I did say minimalist, but I am also a realist and recognize that sometimes fleas and ticks can be such a problem that you have to pull out "the big guns" to get the situation under control. Here is the recipe for my all-natural flea and tick repellent. Be sure to watch the video to see how to apply it to your dog. * 8 oz of Apple cider vinegar *4 oz warm water * 1/2 tsp salt *1/2 tsp baking soda * approximately 10 drops Peppermint essential oil (can also use citronella, cedarwood rosemary, and neem) Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle. Before venturing out for a hike or to play in a field, be sure to spray your dog lightly, focusing on the feet, legs, and back, and gently rub into for. Be sure to avoid spraying the face forgetting in the eyes. A little of this homemade flea and tick repellent goes a long way, so use sparingly. *Disclaimer This is meant to be used as a repellent. To the best of my knowledge, it will not kill fleas or ticks. Please use with your best judgment.

Of course! Every dog has the potential to be a Pupcasso. All he needs to create a masterpiece is the supplies and a little help from his human friend. And we're going to help his human friend along with some instructions. We like to call this fun activity "Pupcasso Art Project." It only takes a few supplies, most of which you may already have on hand and the rest would only cost a couple of dollars. Isn't it worth a couple of dollars to have a memorable keepsake from your favorite Pupcasso? We think so. So let's get started! Pupcasso Art Project supplies 1) Select something for your Pupcasso to paint on. We use 8 x 10 inch framed canvas. We use 10 Pack 8" x 10" Super Value Canvas from Michael's. They cost right around $12. 2) Next, select your paint. We use water-based acrylic paint also from Michael's. You'll want to use at least two different colors, but we use around four or five. Once you have your paint selected, apply it to the canvas any way you want. It can be in applied in lines, dots, a checker pattern, or zigzags. Just be sure to use the paint evenly across the canvas. 3) After that, immediately slather a thin layer of peanut butter on one side of a one-gallon Zip Lock plastic bag. (If your dog can not have peanut butter, you can substitute with canned dog or pumpkin.) 4) Carefully slide the paint-covered canvas inside the plastic bag without smearing the paint, and then seal the plastic bag closed. 5) Now, here comes the fun part! Give the peanut butter covered Zip Lock bag to your Pupcasso and let him go to town licking the peanut butter till his heart is content! 6) Once your Pupcasso is done licking off all the peanut butter, open the Zip Lock bag and cut the top of the bag in half from top to bottom. Then, cut it from side to side and carefully side your Pupcasso's masterpiece out of the bag. 7) At this point, you can either leave the masterpiece as it is or add your own little personal touch to it. We took a pencil eraser to make hearts in the wet paint, but there are so many other ways to embellish the artwork. For instance, you can put your Pupcasso's paw print in the wet paint, so long as it is water-based and you wash his paw immediately afterward. Another idea for those with a Cricut machine would be to add a vinyl element such as your dog's name. The possibilities are endless! Whether you keep it simple or go fancy, the bottom line is that you are having fun with your fur friend, regardless of their age or mobility issues. Iz a Pupcasso!

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Often times we receive emails and messages asking if we use supplements for Woody's Place resident dogs, and if so, what kind. The answer is, yes, we do use supplements! We use five different supplements that we swear by, but not every dog receives every supplement. Furthermore, if one dog is receiving a supplement, it may only be on an "as needed" basis. But I'll go a bit more in-depth about that as we go along. Here are the supplements we use ll ll ll v v v Alrighty...we'll go left to right, and I'll explain what each supplement is used for. 1) Maxxi SAMe Yes, this supplement is a bit expensive, and I will add that it doesn't agree with every dog at first, so you may need to only give half the recommended dose to start. But it's a wonderful supplement if you are looking for liver support as well as cognitive function support. For instance, if you have a dog who takes an NSAD, then you may want to consider this supplement because long term NSAD use can have negative effects on the liver. Likewise, if you have a dog with early signs of doggie dementia, this supplement can improve your dog's brain function. Additionally, Maxxi SAMe comes in an easily absorbed powder form, which can be measured accurately and sprinkled right over your dog's food. The current Woody's Place dogs take this daily. 2) K9 Tumeric Curcumin Bone Broth If one supplement had it all, this would be it! It's got collagen, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which are great for your dog's overall health, joints, skin, and coat. And it also has turmeric curcumin, which helps soothe achy joints, aids an unsettled digestive system, as well as boosts your dog's immune system. Furthermore, you can either sprinkle this directly on your dog's food or make a broth out of it and pour it over your dog's food. We make a broth for our home-cooked food, and the Woody's Place dogs go nuts for it! 3) Welactin 3 Omega 3 supplement We don't use this for every dog, just the dogs who are prone to dry, flaky skin and a lackluster coat, like Atticus, Champ, and Jensen, and at that, even they don't get it every day. Only as needed, This is an as-needed supplement because we have found it can cause diarrhea if used on a daily basis. BUT...it does add shine to their coats and cuts down on dander. This supplement can also be poured directly into their food. 4) Probiotics for Dogs It's good for people and good for dogs! Seriously, you can't go wrong with adding probiotics to your dog's diet. Still, it is important to select a high-quality probiotic that's not loaded with fillers and junk such as sugar, and also having more than one species is super beneficial as well. Over the years, we've tried several probiotics, but we stick with Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs here at Woody's Place for several reasons. For one, it contains 22 species plus an enzyme for gassiness. Two, the company manufactures the product in small batches made here in the USA, Three, it comes in a tasteless powder that you sprinkle over your dog's food, so there's no giant fight to get your dog to take it. Four, it's not loaded with junky....defeat the purpose fillers. And most of all, the Woody's Place dogs truly do benefit from it. I mean, I never thought I'd grow up to be a dog "poop connoisseur," but their poop looks great, and they rarely have any GI upset. I personally attribute this and other factors to our dogs taking Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Dogs daily. 5) Missing Link Collagen Care Last but not least on our list of supplements is collagen supplements. I'm gonna tell you a short story. For many years my back hurt. It turns out I have arthritis and Spinal Stenosis. Great right.....I work with big, old dogs and have a crappy back. The doctors wanted to go their traditional route to help me reduce the level of pain in my back, but there was no way I was taking pain pills, so I opted to swim instead and started taking collagen. Now, I didn't feel better overnight, but in time I didn't hurt as much....especially during the hard Northeastern PA winter months, which eventually I'd like to be looking at in the rearview mirror, but that's another story. ;) Nonetheless, swimming and collagen worked for me, so I thought, why wouldn't it work for dogs like our Champ, who is loaded with arthritis and spinal stenosis himself. We tried to get Champ to hydrotherapy, but absolutely nothing is close here in rural NEPA, so we had to drive over an hour with a puking Champie, so we don't do that anymore because it's no fun riding with a dog who throws up six times one way just for hydrotherapy.... and that is WITH something to calm his stomach. Anyhooo, back to the collagen. We tried a few different collagens for dogs and settled on Missing Link Collagen Care. It comes in a chew form, which the dogs LoVe and doesn't cost a ton of money. Plus, it only contains natural ingredients, which are made in the USA. After taking it for several months now, we do see Champ wanting to go out and walk more, and even get a little frisky at times when we play. To me, that makes it worth it. The Woody's Place dogs take this supplement as if it was a treat daily. Just a little side note..... I keep a journal of exactly what the dogs take every day, twice a day. This helps to see when they start taking the supplement, how often, and for how long. This way, if there is a negative change in one of the dogs, I can go back and see if they started a new supplement and if that may be the cause, or if there is a positive change that can be pinpointed to the start of a new supplement. So there you have it! Some people have said we must have angels watching over us because the senior German Shepherds in our care usually arrive in bad shape, but then they go on to become beautiful and healthy and live much longer than expected. Well, it would be nice if angels were watching over us, but I also think our success with a large majority of dogs in our care comes down to proper medical care, a great diet, lots of interaction human and dog interaction for the dogs, appropriate exercise, making them feel safe and at home, and the right supplements to enhance their diet. Tell your pup I said Hi! Dawn

Did you know that you can visit the sanctuary? You can! And the dogs love when people come by to visit. They also love when a walk is included. :) This past weekend we had a wonderful visit from two of our Facebook followers and supporters of Woody's Place. Sam and Jamie drove 3 hours one way from Asbury New Jersey to spend the afternoon with us, and boy did the doggies (and I) love it! We had such a wonderful time getting to know each other, and they loved on each and every dog as if they were their own.They also made a huge contribution in terms of doggie beds, food, supplements, treats, leashes and collars, cleaning supplies and blankets, and lots of toys! The dogs were in heaven, and we were so appreciative! Fortunately for us, the weather wasn't half bad, so we went to the lake to take a group walk. That's when we load up all the doggies and walk together. Trust me, some heads were turned, but in a good way, because not too many people expect to see a large number of German Shepherds walking together and being so well behaved, to boot! The Woody's Place resident dogs really are good ambassadors to the breed. We spend quite a bit of time at the lake before heading back to the sanctuary. I think Sam and Jamie enjoyed themselves at the lake for our group walk as much as the doggies did. ;) Once we returned to the sanctuary we chatted a bit more, but it was getting late, so Sam and Jamie had to be on their way, but not before we could get some pictures with them and the doggies. We truly hope these fine young ladies come back to visit us again! And if you would like to visit, you can by going clicking on this link www.wpsgss.org/book-online to schedule an appointment. (please remember this is a private residence, so appointments are needed) Here is Sam's review: "Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Dawn and the sheppies at Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary. All of the dogs are so LOVED and impeccably well cared for. Being that these pups are 8 and older, each dog has specific needs to live a happy and healthy life. Dawn and her staff are extremely dedicated...from home cooked meals, daily exercise, driving an hour to and from hydrotherapy, routine veterinary care, medicated baths, constant love and attention. They don't miss a beat! The sanctuary is truly a safe haven for these seniors. It was an experience that I will never forget and I can't wait until my next visit. ❤🐾❤🐾 Thank you for welcoming us into your home and for everything you do for this breed!!!" Check out some of our wonderful reviews from past guests: https://www.facebook.com/pg/woodysplacesgss/reviews/ or see more reviews by going to Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary on google.