Name: Rio (formerly Tamara)
From: Marathon Co. Humane
New Family: Search and Rescue Group
New Residence: Indiana
Most Memorable: No "off" switch, mouthiness,
discovery that she's a Malinois, NOT a GSD.

RIO
August 2, 2002
When we first received her from Marathon County Humane Society, AGSR thought Rio was a too-skinny, poorly bred German Shepherd missing her black saddle. Our vet agreed with our assessment, as did another Shepherd Rescue. In reality though, it turns out she is actually a Belgian Malinois, and not a German Shepherd, so we sent her to Belgian Shepherd Rescue. We're not the only ones who've made this mistake; there's a whole website devoted to discerning the minor differences between these two breeds. The most important "big difference" for us is that a Malinois has a very hard-headed personality and is constantly on the go, much like a border collie. They need a job or they're not happy. Belgian Rescue will be able to better match her up with a forever home because they understand this personality structure.