A note from Kim:
On the chance that you’re unable to get a puppy in the foreseeable future [see also: Weimaraner puppies are really hard to come by in Southern CA right now], please consider adopting an older dog through rescue. SoCal Weim Rescue (formerly CalWEAR) typically has 6-9 dogs in their care (of all different ages) at any given time. If you’re on a wait list and just waiting a for a puppy to come home, consider fostering a dog (usually a 1-2 week period) to help the Weimaraner community. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience.
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As for me, I don’t consider myself a Weimaraner breeder. Or a trainer. Or a handler. Or a rescuer.
I’m just a girl who loves gray dogs no matter where they came from. And if they need help, I want to be there for them. Especially if they didn’t come from reputable breeders and have nowhere to turn to after their families decide they “can’t keep them anymore.”
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Below is a micro-journal of some of the Weimaraners I’ve personally fostered in my own home (alongside the Barrett dogs) for Southern CA Rescue over the years. In actuality, over 50 have passed through my front door. These are just some of my more memorable kiddos:
March 2021 – Soul was given up by his family when he became a liability for them. His story is posted here. We’re teaching him how to be a good boy while waiting for a professional trainer to get him in.
October 2020 – Meet Bones and Bailey!!! These two stowaways came home with me from a shelter in Utah. Their previous owner had to move and couldn’t take them with them. 🙁 They’ll be crashing with us for a few days before moving onto a long-term foster home.
March 2020 – POTTER was busted out the San Bernardino County Animal facility in Devore. He was tagged as “rescue only” because he was reactive in their kennels and growled at their employees. (We later learned it because they were trying to communicate with him using a catch pole.) Once on the outside, Potter opened up and began to show us what a love bug he really is. Friendly with everyone he meets, whether it be people, big dogs, or small dogs, Potter is a walking example of how a dog can be given a second chance at a happy ending. He now lives with Julie, and follows in the footsteps of her three previous CalWEAR dogs.
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March 2020 – SHELBY was with me for a couple of weeks. Another beautiful girl who is now running the beaches of Santa Barbara with her new owner, Erin.
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January 2020 – CHARLIE was a stray who wandered into someone’s house party on a Sunday night. The good Samaritans took her in and called us for help. I was the closest of all our volunteers, so I picked her up and brought her home. Charlie has since made a full recovery and now lives in Texas with Theresa (who flew to Southern CA to her!!!). How’s THAT for a dedicated home?!
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January 2020 – SAMMIE was bred by Goodeknight Weimaraners in San Bernardino. We actually knew them back in the day; they went to the same dog shows we did. Unfortunately, they’re no longer in business and Sammie’s owner was no longer able to keep her. So she crashed with me for awhile before finding a new home with Nikki in Riverside.
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January 2020 – WINTER was used by some backyard breeder in Whittier, over and over again, and when he was done using her, he simply dumped her. It’s tough finding a home for a dog who was so neglected. It’s been four months and as of this writing, Winter is still in foster care with CalWEAR.
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November 2019 – JUDGE was my first Longhaired Weimaraner foster. He was beautiful!!!!
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June 2019 – JANET was another dog that wandered into someone’s yard and wouldn’t leave. Despite posters being posted everywhere for her, as well as phone calls to the local shelter to confirm no one was missing her, the family that found her turned her over to rescue. I happened to be in the area that day, so I offered to pick her up and take her to meet a prospective family… who ultimately adopted her. 🙂
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May 2019 – FLORENCE was a girl I picked up out of the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter to foster. The vet who did her spay completely botched it, so CalWEAR ended up having to fix it. She’s now living in Oceanside with Julie!
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May 2019 – LUKE had a sad story. His dad died, and no one in the estate wanted to keep him. I had him for a short time before my friend Paula (who now owns the Orange County house I used to live in!) took over fostering duties. Luke now lives with a great family in Escondido, CA.
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April 2019 – WINSTON was a tough one. In short, he was an unsocialized beast and tried to start fights with every dog he came across. But… even he ultimately found the right home for himself.
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April 2019 – TY was a special one. His owner thought that since he was deaf and blind, he had no chance. It turns out the blindness was temporary, and today he lives with a family who is on their second CalWEAR dog.
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April 2019 – LADY was lucky to get out of her previous situation. It was obvious when she came to me that someone had used her over and over again as a breeder dog. She was super sweet; it didn’t take long for her to get adopted.
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March 2019 – PUCK didn’t get the happy ending that many of our other CalWEAR dogs did. He was an owner turn in; too much for his people to handle. And it was clear after he came to my house that he wasn’t “safe” around others. He was aggressive. He was reactive. He bit people unprovoked and without warning. Ultimately, it was decided that he get a cheeseburger and be humanely euthanized. I was with him, but for the first time, I did not cry. I hate that I’ve had to do this so many times for rescue that I actually felt like I was doing him a favor; he was finally out of his misery. RIP, Puck. I wish it had been different for you.
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December 2018 – FRED and ETHEL came in as a bonded pair. Their owner had them for almost ten years and then all of sudden, “they needed a new home.” Seriously, how can people do that?! My oldest is almost 12. I’d be living out of my car with her before I just gave her up. Luckily for these two, they were both ultimately adopted! And yes, the rest of the dogs in that photo are Barrett dogs. 🙂
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March 2018 – WALLY was memorable because I could see how difficult it was for his mom to give him up. Twice, she had come home from work, and twice, one of her smaller dogs was found dead with Wally hovering over their bodies. The family lived in a local mountain community. It didn’t occur to me until much later that the more likely scenario was that Wally’s buddies were killed by coyotes and Wally was simply grieving them when his owner came home. Sad all around. And another reason to keep our dogs inside while we’re away. Wally now lives with Dayna in Dana Point and enjoys going with his mom to work at the hair salon everyday.
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March 2018 – FRITZ was another memorable one for me because his owner went to the hospital and never came home. He’s also proof that there are wonderful people out there who will adopt Senior Weimaraners. BLESS YOU!!!
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February 2018 – CALVIN was the victim of an ugly split between his parents. Thankfully, a friend of a friend adopted him not too long after he entered rescue, and he now spends his days hunting with his dad!
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October 2017 – LENA was an adorable little thing! She had loads of personality. Lena’s first mom brought her to CalWEAR one day while Lena’s first dad was away at work. He had been beating her and his wife felt bad for her. 🙁 She’s now in a great family home and learning how to be loved.
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