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This organization should be investigated and the mental health of its volunteers reviewed. Here is an exact quoted response from one of the so called rescue volunteers in our attempt to adopt a puppy:

"Funny, you say you want to go to a breeder and you tell us it's our fault the shelters are full. You're insane and not open to any advice. Then again, what can you say when you really have no recourse to what I wrote to you. You know we're right but it doesn't matter - you want what you want and that's all that matters. Sad. Here is a breeder puppy that ended up in a shelter - ended in more than one way. Who knows, maybe this puppy went after the annoying little dog - and annoying they all are. You make me sick." Csilla,Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles

As background to this comment, we were trying to adopt from this shelter. My husband and I are both professionals and have successfully had pets. We had to respond to endless questions with several emails and photos. Because we both work and have a small dog, this shelter found us to be "unsuitable and unfit." I have another email saved which is EQUALLY as offensive. Unbelievable actually.

In my opinion, these people need serious professional help - especially Csilla. This particular volunteer is VERY BAD for Westside German Shepard Rescue. If I had someone in my office write to potential customers like that, they would be fired on the spot.

Location: Seattle, Washington

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Guest

Yes!! She was very rude.

I almost laughed when I read her e-mail. The woman is the reason why well-intentioned people who want to adopt/rescue go to breeders. She basically suggested the dog I was interested could flip out and down he road hunt dogs and cats and turn on kids they have been raised with.She was totally rude about it and even though I was interested in other dogs and their page is full of dogs that would be compatible, she said nothing about them and just said sorry good luck at the end of the email and shut me down. She is a bad ambassador for rescues-- with her bad attitude I have no doubt if she was a dog she would flip out and attack other animals and children as she suggested the dog will LOL.

Instead of adopting a rescue and having someone eternally grateful to a rescue ad donating to it, she is sending people to instead spend thousands of dollars on breeders. Good luck on hoarding dogs who need homes instead of letting good people adopt them.

Guest

I worked at the westside german shepherd rescue and let me tell the place is a nightmare. The dogs are all in small kennels in a dimly lit warehouse that smells horrific, Every morning they dump the dogs water jugs on the cement floor while there still in the kennels getting urine, and *** all over them, then they come around with disinfecting solution while the dogs are still in the kennel, and then spray it down the whole time the dogs are in the kennel with nowhere to go so they get soaked, they go for one 15 minute walk a day if there lucky and are neglected most had sores and where extremely neurotic, the staff don't seem to care for the dogs much but see it as more of a dirty jobs as all, i lasted a day before i quit i have a lot of experience working with dogs at shelters and no kill shelters this was by far the worst conditions I've seen dogs under, it seems like a money scam to me or maybe they just have no clue what there doing but it was sad for those dogs.

Guest

We just adopted sable Yumi von Yoda AKA Amber now from Westside GS Rescue after our dear Cheyenne passed at fourteen plus years. This is not my first rescue.

We had a great experience. Yes, they are neck deep in dogs and clearly working hard to keep up. But GSDs are NOT for everyone! I have had GSDs my entire life from the age of five and still learn from each one I keep as they all have somewhat different personalities, traits, strengths and weaknesses.

But they do have some huge common traits that make them inappropriate for newbs, aka yuppies.

If you are disqualified by these good folks, there IS a reason. Besides there are always a lot easier big dogs like the Golden Retriever or Labrador breeds which may be easier for a less experienced owner. I would never let a GSD pup of mine go to a first time owner. N E V E R.

They are too much dog! PERIOD. The volunteers there showed immense concern there for the prospect dogs from the first second I spoke with them. Bob, Don Eran and Sandra are GREAT!

Absolutely GREAT! They are GSD dedicated folks.

Our new Amber has a very high prey drive and protective streak like many GSDs.

Our previous dogs have NEVER been alone for more than 5-6 hours and are typically only GSD dogs, either single or a pair, IE NO small potential "prey" dogs in the house.

Because you have had a few dogs in out in your backyard or running around your house does NOT make you a proper keeper for this outstanding breed. P E R I O D.

Guest

A couple of months ago we adopted our second German Shepherd. Our first adoption was from German Shepherd Rescue, Burbank which is much smaller but wonderful people.

After spending many hours on the Westside site and exchanging several emails, we made an appointment and drove down to see the dogs. The people there were wonderful and helped us visit with several dogs. We looked at the dogs we had chosen from the internet but in the end picked our wonderful รขโ‚ฌล“Kodakรขโ‚ฌย. He is an 18 month old big guy that they had taken from another shelter that had labeled him unadoptable.

Westside sent him home with their trainer for a week to work on leash training. We saw him soon after he returned to the shelter and decided to take him home.

He has turned out to be a wonderful addition to our family and plays endlessly with Sarah, our other Shepherd.

The people at Westside could not have been nicer and completely professional. I canรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt speak to the experience other people have had but we were very pleased and would recommend them to anyone thinking about adopting.

Matthew Yuz

I disliked this complaint because Seattletennis did not include the email that he/she sent to Csilla. I highly doubt that Csilla would get this upset over nothing. It was caused by what Seattletennis sent to her, but refuse to include the email in this complaint. Something is fishy. Why didn't the poster also submit their original email?

FYI I do not know Csilla so this is an unbiased question.

John Rnc

I think people need to re-evaluate their approach in dealing with people at the shelters. The stress and worry the volunteers and employees go through, day in and day out, in trying to place these german shepherds and mixs into good, happy, healthy homes can be very challenging. They DO come across situations where they decline an applicant for what ever reason, maybe not a good match, maybe not a good situation, whatever the reason, they are doing it for what they believe is best for the dog. WE all know how it can be very emotional for all parties involved and should not take it personally.

Are we, the adopters, the ones with the egos? That the moment we are declined in adopting a dog, we get angry because we think WE are the perfect person for that dog and who is anyone to say otherwise or we get mad because in a society that money can BUY you anything we expect to buy one of these dogs no questions asked. Things are NEVER perfect with any business. So lets try and be a part of the solution not the problem. A lot of times when there is conflict of interest it's because there was a communication breakdown either verbally or nonverbally.

Please stop and think, logically and rationally, where would these dogs at WGSR go?? Who else would take the time to give these dogs a place to rest their heads free from being killed until a REAL home presents itself....there are no overcrowding issues here, you don't see bug infestations or weeks old dirty bowls or sick dogs to weak to move...do you?? Instead, they take the time and money to give treatments to dogs that no one cares about.

....Are you willing to put forth thousands of dollars to rehab dogs, willing to pay for training, willing to take in dogs of the street and give them a happy health home or go out of your way to a high kill shelter and rescue dogs there then place them in good homes??? I sure know I don't have the time to do that but I am sure thankful WGSR takes the time, money and love to do that! Besides, in the end shouldn't our beloved companion be apart of the process? We should allow the dog to choose us. Shouldn't we?

Guest

I just want to say that I have had dealing with WGSR and they have been nothing but caring, professional, compassionate, realistic and sane. I too rescue and Westside opened up its heart to take in a Shelter Refugee who was only part Shep because they knew she needed help.

People who truly care about all animals, regardless of bloodline, do this! I find the internet amazing. On the one hand it gives us the opportunity to network and help animals who would not have been seen 10 years ago. It also give a forum to faceless cowards unwilling to own up to their own bad behavior to make up stories to suit their delusional perspective.

This person is one of these faceless cowards who thinks personal responsibility is no longer exists in our "modern" society.

They don't deserve another dog. :p

Guest

Get rid of that *** Shelia and Westside would be just fine. Why do they keep her?

She's so nasty.

She should be a loser politician. GO AWAY YOU PIG!

Guest

Csillia is the rudest, non-diplomatic *** I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. I had it all set to adopt my dream dog and she took him from me and instead had a celebrity adopt him.

All I got from this *** was a nasty *** YOU from Csilla.

The sicko needs the pshy ward! Because of her unstableness the dogs suffer!

Guest

I have called WSGS Rescue and spoken with several staff members. I have notified them of GDS's in hi kill shelters close to them.

I have donated to various rescues they have, including Sophie. I have been treated with respect, return phone calls of thank yous, and emails of follow up on care. I think people need to realize that the volunteers are under incredible stress trying to save as many lives as they can.

Quit wasting complaint space and do something good. At least they are doing something,that is more than the complainers are accomplishing.

Guest

In the last week Westside has imploded over internal politics. Their Sugar Daddy has flown the coop a mere 5 months after opening his state-of-the-art rescue, pulled all his funding, fired all the employees, and evicted Westside from the state-of-the-art building they keep bragging about.

The backstabbing emails are flying back and forth, the few remaining volunteers are fleeing.

Westside is now a rescue with few volunteers and without a home because they couldn't check their egos and remember it is about the dogs. The sooner this collection of misfits disbands the better it will be for the dogs.

Guest

About a year ago I got a 2 yr old GSD from Westside. I wonder now why I didn't do it years ago.

He's a great dog. Living in Colorado everything was done via phone instead of in person. I was advised against the dog I really wanted based on Westside's judgement of the animals' character. I ended up taking their suggested dog and I couldn't be happier with him.

I didn't take their suggestion as a personal attack, although at the time I wasn't overly happy about it. They found a dog that fits me very well.

Maybe I got lucky - who knows. I do know that's it's time to get enjoy some beautiful Colorado weather and take the dog hiking!

Guest

It's such a shame that Westside is still falling back on, we can treat everyone like *** and if you call us on it dogs will die and it will be all your fault. This rescue has more people with really poor customer service skills than any rescue I've ever been a volunteer at.

They need to take a serious look inward if they want to lay blame anywhere. Many Westside volunteers have quit recently because we are tired of how they treat their potential customers, and worse how they treat the dogs (like merchandise). I've been chastized that everything will change when their new facility opens up.

All that will change is their physical address, the same arrogant, ego-driven folks will still be there. Until they experience a thorough house-cleaning avoid this rescue.

Guest

That comment was for Csilla

Guest

You Go Girl!!!!!! Good for You

Guest

It's too bad that applicants we have to turn down for various reasons go and spread false rumors and bad reviews because of personal spite. It's interesting how one's email sounds when it's taken out of context.

I see this person isn't posting her application so people aren't aware why I wrote what I wrote. She failed to mention that she put her large dog to sleep because it attacked her little dog. That's the reason for my email and decline to her application but I see she failed to mention that in her complaint. We don't believe in killing a dog because it has a prey drive and goes after something it regards as prey or annoying.

I think we all know small dogs often pester other dogs and we see this more often than not that a larger dog will have enough and respond to the pestering. The solution should have been either training or finding a new home for the large dog where there were no small dogs. Instead this poster just killed her own dog. She has taken upon herself to post bad reviews about us EVERYWHERE, which only really hurt our dogs, not me.

I wish she would spend her time helping animals instead of bad mouthing a rescue and it's volunteers who work tirelessly to save the lives of our shepherds. This is the only time I responded to her countless posts, I just don't have the time for such nonsense. We place 800 dogs a year in homes who otherwise would be dead. If she wants to call me insane, so be it.

If her ranting and raving costs us to lose a good home, let her think about the dog that will die in the shelter because we get one less adopted and we can take one less in. It's too bad. I invite any of you to our website (www.sheprescue.org) and please check our Tails Of Joy page.

Let those pages show you what we do, not one angry customer who didn't get her way and is now making it her mission to bad mouth us. Thank you all.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-293545

It is disgusting that anyone would kill a dog because it had a behavior problem. i understand that you thought it was best to not give a dog to this person.

If i was in your position, I would have refused to as well.

However, it is YOUR job as a person representing the rescue to act professionally. Name calling and insulting people is no way to help or save any dogs. Your actions are disgusting as well.

You should have been polite and professional in your response. Responding in that sort of way only makes the rescue look bad, and now everyone can see that the workers of this rescue have no respect for the potential adopters.

His ranting or raving is not killing dogs, but your disgusting way of dealing with potential adopters is. You would rather scream and call names than actually adopt out dogs.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-293545

This is blatantly false information posted by Csilla at Westside. We were looking to adopt a new dog after our 15 year old Golden Retriever passed away from natural causes.

We had bought a small dog when our golden was about 7 years old and the two were the best of friends. At no point did we ever consider putting our dog down because of issues between our 2 dogs. We were heartbroken over the loss of our golden and I always loved German Shepherds because my grandmother had several. I still stand by my original post and everything in it is absolutely true.

I wish I had saved my original emails, but now with so many years passed, I cannot find it. But suffice to say, our emails were polite and professional and we were mistreated by Csilla in an aggressive, and unprofessional manner.

We ended up adopting a husky malamute mix and my small dog and my husky are a great mix. But, it was solely because of Csilla and her abusive attitude that we turned our focus to other breeds.

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