Greater California
German Shepherd Rescue
~ It's all about the dogs ~


Rainbow of Dogs

The Rainbow Fund

The Rainbow Fund is for dogs who have unusual, one-time major veterinary expenses that we would not ordinarily be able to fix without generous donations from our friends and supporters. We also use the funds to diagnose and treat our Special Needs dogs who have ongoing, treatable medical conditions above and beyond the normal spay/neuter, vaccinations, and basic care.

Why The Rainbow Fund? Because German Shepherds come in many colors other than just black and tan, including solid black, solid white, many shades of sable, as well as red, tan, cream and silver; with or without a black saddle, in long-coat, plush coat, and standard coat; and we love them all. And because we can use this fund to save dogs with serious but fixable health issues who would otherwise be sent over the Rainbow Bridge before their time.

  • Unusual expenses might include serious wounds, broken bones, heartworm positive treatment, bloat, diagnostic expenses such as x-rays and extensive lab work, femoral head ostectomy (FHO) surgery to fix hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia surgery.
  • Ongoing, treatable issues would include Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), Pannus (an eye affliction), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Epilepsy and Diabetes, among others.

We work very closely with our partner vets, and they often discount their services down to the bare bones to help us save dogs. We couldn't do it without them! Our endless gratitude goes to:

Dr. Dave Petrunich, Bradshaw Vet Clinic, Elk Grove CA (before it became VCA)

Empire Vet Clinic, Empire CA

Maze Animal Hospital, Modesto CA

California Pet Hospital, Napa CA

Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, Rocklin CA

Abel Pet Clinic, Elk Grove CA

Valley Animal Hospital, Merced CA

Any amount will help save these deserving dogs. We thank you, and the dogs thank you!


Most credit cards accepted even if you do not have a Paypal Account




Jessie, Our Latest Rainbow Fund Dog!

Donate to Save Jessie's Leg

November 9, 2017 - Update on Jessie's surgery:

Thank you to those of you who have donated towards the "Save Jessie's Leg"" Campaign. So far we have raised $735 of the $5,000 needed to cover the surgery.

Per Dr. Marcellin-Little at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, the surgery was a success. The road to recovery is a very long four to six months, but the initial results look great. Jessie is on strict crate rest until her check-up on November 20th.

If the results are as expected at her check-up, she will begin walking for 5 minutes, 4 times per day, working up to 20 minutes 4 times per day. We will provide another update after her check-up on November 20th.



Jessie is a beautiful 9 month old black and tan female German Shepherd who came into rescue at the age of 3 months, after she was attacked by the resident male English Bulldog in her home. Her owner called us after she took her to a local vet, and found out that the cost of the surgery to repair her leg was $1,800.00.

Jessie's Rainbow Fund 01

This is Jessie on April 28th, the day we picked her up from the vet. She is rocking the pink and purple wrap for her temporary cast.

Jessie was taken to Beckwith Veterinary Hospital the following Monday. She had surgery to remove the temporary cast and have both the radius and ulna reset on her left front leg. Her cast was removed and replaced twice over the next 4 weeks.

Jessie's Rainbow Fund 02

This is Jessie on May 6th, a few days after the surgery at Beckwith.

Unfortunately, after the six weeks of recovery, it was apparent that there was a lot more damage to the leg than expected. The ulna and radius were not growing at the same rate, and there was also damage to her elbow joint. As you can see in the picture below, the left leg is shorter than the right leg, and also a little twisted.

Jessie's Rainbow Fund 03

This is Jessie on May 25th, the day her cast was removed.

Another surgery was performed by Beckwith Veterinary Hospital to cut the ulna horizontally to give the radius a chance to catch up in length, and the elbow was also repaired.

Jessie's Rainbow Fund 04

This is Jessie on July 3rd, during her recovery from the second surgery.

Jessie's Rainbow Fund 05Jessie's Rainbow Fund 06

Fortunately for Jessie there is Dr. Marcelin-Little at U.C. Davis Veterinary Hospital. He is a world-renowned Orthopedic Specialist in this field for canines. He has performed this specific surgery 153 times, and has a 97% success rate in returning a dog's leg to normal. He has evaluated Jessie, and feels based on his experience, that he can return Jessie to 97% of normal.

Those of you who have had surgery performed on your own dogs, you know that surgery is expensive, and so is this one. The original quote was $7,000, but U.C. Davis Veterinary Hospital has discounted the surgery to $5,000 since we are a non-profit rescue. The alternative is to amputate Jessie's leg. She is the sweetest pup, and we would like her to have a chance at a normal life.

For those of you who follow our organization, you know we don't ask for financial help very often. This is one of those times. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help pay for Jessie's surgery.

Donate to Save Jessie's Leg

Added November 2017



Our Rainbow Fund Dogs

Jessie, November 2017 - $5000 Save Jessie's Leg

Sawyer, February 2016 - $5000 Esophageal Stricture

Axton, June 2015 - $5000 Cataract Surgery

Porsche, February 2014 - $1578 Heartworm positive treatment

Herman, Aug 2013 - $3526 Arthroscopic repair of both elbows.

Shadow, Nov 2011 - $1570 TPLO (tibial plateau leveling ostectomy) torn cruciate ligament

Minuette, Oct 2011 - $650 Parvo treatment

Chip, Sept 2011 - $1000 chemical burns

Maryjane 6/2/11 - $700 Heartworm positive treatment

Nikki 3/6/11 - $1400 bilateral FHO (femoral head ostectomy) both hips dysplastic

Kolly 2/2/11 - $1200 bilateral FHO (femoral head ostectomy) both hips dysplastic

Catalina 7/15/10 - $2200 Shattered front leg, probably hit by car

Chester 7/15/10 - $2300 Shattered front leg, probably hit by car

Smoky 3/2/09 - $2500 Foot/leg surgery to correct growth plate injury

Tucker 8/25/09 - $1000 FHO (femoral head ostectomy) for hip dysplasia

Knox 7/16/09 - $2200 bilateral elbow dysplasia

Kojak 11/2/09 - $1600 Bloat

Tobias 7/24/09 - $2200 bilateral elbow dysplasia

Lobo 12/6/08 - $1000 broken front leg, stepped in hole

Newman 11/17/08 - $1200 chronic, life-threatening digestive issues

Geneva 10/27/08 - $1000 hit by car, broken pelvis

Camellia 10/12/08 - $1000 Erlichiosis (tick disease)

Riker 9/5/08 - $1200 SIBO (small intestine bowel overgrowth)

Dallas 5/14/08 - $800 serious ear infections causing blocked ear canals and partial deafness




Our Special Needs Dogs

Lily White, Dec 2011 - Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Maxwell, Aug 2011 - Hip Dysplasia, may need surgery later

Fia, May 2011 - Pannus

Linus, Aug 2010 - Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

White Comet, May 2010 - Perianal Fistulas

Tanner, Feb 2010 - Epilepsy

King, Dec 2009 - Perianal Fistulas

Shadow, Aug 2009 - Elbow Dysplasia

Dalton, Jun 2009 - Epilepsy

Rigby, Mar 2008 - Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency