Free German Shepherd

I didn't take it as that. You weren't jumping the O.P. in my opinion.
Example that i have to go with is we got a german shepard from germany a few years back because the owner had a stroke and couldn't take proper care of the dog. The dog was an ex police dog there and a search and rescue dog. She was 4 years old at the time.
My wife needed a service dog for her medical condition so we were selected to take the dog.
We had to pay for transport and all of the vet checks, and the dog arrived intact though a little bit scared and shaken up from the long flight.
She settled right in within a few months and became a welcome part of our family.
The only problem we have had with her is all she knew was commands in german, and we took her to a certified trainer to switch her over to english.
She is a very good and well behaved dog, and we haven't had a problem with her at all.
She looks different than north american german shepards, as she is mostly black with a little brown. The native indians here are scared of her when she is with Christine walking around the city. One said it's because she looks so much like a wolf. Her name is Gitta, which is translated to Bridgette in english.
Anyway, dogs do get used to their new owners and live on to be happy.
My experience,
Tom.

That is a beautiful dog and you are a beautiful person for taking him. His owner did not just give him up. And you didn't get him for free. So anyone can see he went to a good home that needed and wanted him, and the dogs previous owner is looking down on you and you will be blessed for your decission to take him no matter the cost.

My Duke was at a kill shelter. I saved him from death. he was 8 months old and wouldn't bring a duck back. So he was usless to his trainer. They then are put down.

I also brought 9 black labs home from Arkansas. The owner had them in a metal milk crate and was going to drown them in a drum of water, he just drowned 10 retrievers in. They were 2 weeks old , and I drove them home to Pa. Numbered them and bottle fed them every 4 hrs.. Found them all homes. We kept "Bullit" our other Black lab. named after a race track in Brashier, Texas we came from. He is my son's , and Dukes freind.