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Special Recognitions

I heard of Rettungs-Haus Shepherds through Illinois Search and Rescue Council because of our mutual involvement in search and rescue. I am a Ground Pounder and a SAR K9 Handler. Antoinette introduced me to her SAR K9 Jakob. I was impressed with his story and spent time researching and looking into Rettungs-Haus Shepherds, Inc. to learn more about the rescue. I was very impressed. Having been involved in animal rescue for many years, I fostered 43 dogs. I have dealt with many different shelters and rescue groups of various caliber. Rettungs-Haus Shepherds is a genuine organization and has the skills, desire, and ability to properly care for and place dogs for adoption into good homes. Rettungs-Haus Shepherds is diligent and methodical in their training of the dogs, and in their evaluation of potential adopters.  They makes sure the dogs and adopters are a good fit so the dog is less likely to return to the shelter or be turned over to another facility.

 

Many shelters house dogs until they are adopted. Rettungs-Haus Shepherds has made it her mission to make Rettungs-Haus better. They evaluate each individual dog and trains that dog to give back to society. The dog may become a SAR K9, an IED K9, a Therapy Dog, a Service Dog, or a family pet that has manners. Every dog that enters this rescue is given the best of everything. Some dogs have never even had this kind of attention before. I have fostered for four rescues, each one had their pluses and minuses. I have yet to see a minus with Rettungs-Haus. The lives that have been changed because of Rettungs-Haus Shepherds and their hard work are too many to count, both human and canine.

 

It would be a tremendous loss to SAR Organizations, Police, Fire Departments, as well as families with special needs children to not have an organization such as Rettungs-Haus willing to rehabilitate and train canines for service and pets. In the time that I have known the Rettungs-Haus Shepherds Family, they have never failed to impress me with their abilities and have never failed a dog in their rescue. All of the dogs are well taken care of and have all of their needs met and beyond“.

 

- Vicki M.

Boone County EMA SAR Team Member

“My name is Cathy Yankunas, I am a volunteer at Safe Harbor Humane Society in Kenosha, I’m on their Pit Crew which is training and educating people.  I’m a foster for Safe Harbor and JR’s Pups and Stuff out of Brookfield, WI, as well as a lifelong animal owner.

 

Rettungs-Haus Shepherds have been a great asset to the shelter in Kenosha, pulling dogs and placing them in foster homes through her rescue. Rettungs-Haus Shepherds has also come to evaluate dogs and offer training advice.  They were able to pull one of our dogs, Pearl, and have her enrolled in a program where she was trained in Narcotic Detection.

On several occasions, I have had the privilege of observing the training at Rettungs-Haus Shepherds while training the fosters in rescue.  The Rettungs-Haus Shepherds organization is one of the most amazing rehab facilities I’ve watched.  The calm demeanor, has every dog paying attention to all the necessary cues.  I’ve also been in many public places with their dogs.  Dogs are always on their best behavior and watching and alert at all times for their next cue.  Both my son and myself have volunteered to help Rettungs-Haus Shepherds with her Operation K9 Youth for Truth program which is an exceptional program of working with her rescue dogs and troubled youth.  With the presence of her obedient dogs, it becomes easy for kids to be more comfortable around Police Officers. 

 

Rettungs-Haus Shepherds is not only an asset to the community but also an asset to homeless dogs.  Rettungs-Haus Shepherds has experienced Trainers and has a gift for working with animals“.

 

- Cathy Y.

Safe Harbor Humane Society Volunteer

"Rettungs-Haus Shepherds Inc. is rescue done RIGHT".  Now you may think that this may be a simplistic statement, but for anyone who’s been in the rescue world longer than a minute…you learn that it is a hard goal to achieve and to maintain.  Rettungs-Haus (and Antoinette) has been doing rescue right for years.  They not only take on the cases no one else wants (medical challenges, mega e dogs, seniors), they make sure they are there for the life of the dog.  They find good homes for them, continue to support  foster and adoptive families with training, advice and just being there whenever they need to talk.  Rettungs-Haus is a gem in a world full of fakes….a true asset to our Rescue Community. I’m proud to be affiliated with such a quality and classy organization.  I look forward to many more years of collaboration and success in rescuing German Shepherd dogs. 

 

- Lori F.

President, ARF’s German Shepherd Rescue, Inc.

I am a volunteer and board member for the Mississippi Valley German Shepherd Dog Rescue.   We came to know Rettungs-Haus Shepherds through a common friend and her rescue affiliations.  Rettungs-Haus Shepherds has on several occasions been very helpful to us, traveling at her own expense to Chicago ACC, to do dog assessments for our group.  These assessments are very important to us, since new dogs go directly into foster homes with people, kids, dogs, cats, etc. Our foster home's safety is of utmost concern.  Rettungs-Haus Shepherds assessment has always been spot on and we have confidence that dogs approved by Rettungs-Haus Shepherds approves, will be safe for our foster families.  On another occasion, Rettungs-Haus Shepherds helped us as an emergency foster home for a Chicago ACC GSD that was at risk.  Rettungs-Haus Shepherds eventually fell in love with this dog and personally adopted her. We were happy, because we knew that this dog could not have found a better home.  We know Rettungs-Haus Shepherds is well respected throughout the Rescue Community for their honesty, compassion and dedication to the cause. 

 

- Brian P.

My wife and I started working with Rettungs-Haus Shepherds shortly after we bought our first house in October of 2014. We sent an email with a few questions and heard back from Rettungs-Haus Shepherds almost immediately. After speaking with them for a bit, my wife and I knew that Rettungs-Haus was going to be the rescue for us.

November came and after gauging our lifestyle and what we were looking for in a dog, Rettungs-Haus Shepherds called to say they thought they had found the perfect addition to our family. Boy, was she right! Rettungs-Haus Shepherds drove all the way to our house in Madison to introduce us to our future family member. It was love at first sight and my wife and I knew Aiden was meant to be with us. We were even given a week’s worth of food and a tote of Aiden’s toys to help him feel more at home. Fast forward a few months and Aiden couldn’t feel more at home. It doesn’t matter if we are lounging watching movies or going on long hikes in the woods, Aiden is just happy to be loved and is always by our sides.

 

Rettungs-Haus Shepherds were amazing to work with through the whole rescue process, very easy to speak with and responsive whenever we contacted them.  Many times since the rescue, has given me great advice when I sought it from them.  It’s easy to see the compassion they have for these dogs and the fulfillment felt when a rescue finds the perfect home.

 

Many of my friends have asked where I got such an amazing dog . I always tell them how great Rettungs-Haus Shepherds is and recommend Rettungs-Haus to anyone looking rescue a life and add a family member all at once.

 

-Taylor P.

Police Officer

Madison, WI

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