Myla - German Shepherd Dog Dog for Adoption in Wayland, Massachusetts

MYLA’S STORY — TWICE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS HOME. THIS TIME, FOREVER MUST MEAN FOREVER.

Some dogs seem to have more than their share of heartbreak in life, and sadly, our beautiful Myla is one of them.

Myla’s story began in a home where, for the first year of her life, it was just her and her mom. She was loved, and life was good. But things began to change after she suffered a painful tail injury when it was accidentally caught in a car door. Her family noticed that she seemed to become more anxious afterward.

Then her owner’s fiancé moved in, bringing along his seven-year-old female Pit Bull. While the two dogs could coexist peacefully at times, there were also disagreements that became increasingly difficult to manage.

Eventually, a decision was made that one of the dogs had to go. Sadly, it was Myla. She lost the only home she had ever known, the woman she loved, and even the family’s new baby, to whom she had become very attached.

One of the most heartbreaking moments in Myla’s story happened the day she left that first home. Our volunteer transporter told us it was one of the saddest transports she had ever made. As they drove away, Myla sat in the back seat, staring out the rear window for nearly 20 minutes, as though she was waiting for her family to come back. She had no way of understanding why she was leaving the only home she had ever known or why the person she loved wasn’t coming with her.
We see this far too often in rescue. A new dog enters the home, circumstances change, and somehow the original dog becomes the one who has to leave.

When Myla came into GSRNE’s care, we were fortunate to find her a wonderful foster home with a very experienced dog trainer and his wife. She shared their home with a gentle male German Shepherd and a young female Shepherd puppy. They gave her love, structure, attention, and plenty of adventures. They also worked patiently to help her overcome her nervousness around loud trucks and school buses.

Myla blossomed... When she was ready for adoption, a gentleman came along who seemed like a wonderful match. He worked remotely, had plenty of time to devote to her, and was willing to work with a trainer. He visited Myla several times before bringing her home.

We were thrilled. We truly believed Myla had finally found her forever home. For three years, we received updates and happy stories. We thought all was well.

But sometimes forever doesn’t turn out to be forever.

A few months ago, her adopter contacted us. His life had changed. He was now retired, wanted to spend more time going out, and Myla no longer seemed to fit into his lifestyle. He also had a new girlfriend with a small, older dog, and Myla wasn’t always comfortable having that dog in her home.

We encouraged him to work with a trainer, and he did attend several sessions. But sadly, the commitment needed just wasn’t there.

After three years, Myla was returned to GSRNE... And what broke our hearts even more was seeing the difference in her. The sweet girl who had once left us with relatively few behavioral concerns, aside from some nervousness around loud vehicles, had returned much more anxious and unsettled. Sometimes people genuinely love their dogs, but love alone isn’t enough. Dogs need patience, consistency, understanding, and someone willing to work through the challenges that life brings.

A dog should not become disposable simply because life changes.

At GSRNE, our commitment to our dogs doesn’t end when they’re adopted. We always take our dogs back, no matter how much time has passed. And we were determined to help Myla find her happiness again.

For the past six weeks, she has been receiving the love, attention, exercise, and reassurance she so desperately needed. And what a transformation we’ve seen!

Myla loves her walks, enjoys playing, and greets the people she knows with such happiness. She’s affectionate, beautiful, and has so much love left to give. Yes, she can still be a little clingy, but after everything she’s been through, who could blame her for wanting to feel secure?

This time, we are going to be especially careful about who we entrust with Myla’s heart.

She doesn’t need someone who will love her only when life is convenient. She needs someone who understands the German Shepherd breed, appreciates her loyalty, and is willing to make a lifelong commitment. Someone who will give her time, patience, affection, and the security of knowing she will never be abandoned again.

Myla has already lost two homes through no fault of her own. We are determined that there will not be a third heartbreak. She’s not asking for perfection. She’s asking for someone who will love her, understand her, and never give up on her.

At seven years old, Myla deserves the very best chapter of her life to begin now.

If you believe you could be that special person for Myla, please visit www.gsrne.org to learn more about our adoption process.

Let’s help this beautiful girl find the forever she’s been waiting for!

More about Myla: https://gsrne.org/dog-bios/myla/

The German Shepherd Dog, known for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility, is a popular and highly regarded breed worldwide. This breed excels in various roles such as police work, search and rescue, and assistance for individuals with disabilities. German Shepherd Dogs are strong, agile, and confident with a distinctive double coat that can be straight or wavy. Their character is marked by courage, loyalty, and a strong work ethic, making them ideal companions and protectors for families and professionals alike.