- laura44253
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Freedom German Shepherd Rescue has been saving German Shepherds in the Carolinas since 2018. As a returning Spring Fling attendee, they love the interacting with the crowd and connecting with all the other rescue groups and vendors.
"We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) rescue comprised solely of unpaid volunteers that share the common goal of saving neglected, abused, and abandoned German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes from shelters, owners who can no longer keep them and partner rescues."
They strive to treat their dogs, their community, other rescues, and the shelters they help with respect and integrity while also being fully transparent about what they do. Everything they do is for the dogs and their process reflects that. New dogs to the rescue are placed with foster families and provided with medical care and basic training. Foster families constantly evaluate the behavior and personality of each dog so that they can be matched with the right family when they are ready to be adopted.
Freedom German Shepherd Rescue also works to educate the community on topics like pet overpopulation, disreputable breeding, the plight of unwanted pets, and ways to keep their current pets healthy and happy.
One of the dogs in their care is Leela, pictured here. You can read what her people have to say about her here:
Meet Leela – 1-Year-Old Female German Shepherd (Professional Fun Generator / Part-Time Chaos Coordinator)
Leela is a one-year-old German Shepherd from working lines, which is a polite way of saying: she’s smart, intense, athletic, and absolutely not here for a boring lifestyle. If your idea of exercise is walking to the fridge, Leela is not your girl. If your idea of fun includes activity, training, and a dog that keeps you on your toes—keep reading. Let’s start with the basics—she’s sweet, social, and loves being part of whatever is going on. She’s missing one eye, which hasn’t slowed her down in the slightest. If anything, it adds to her “I dare you to keep up” personality. She doesn’t miss a beat and is always in the middle of the action. Leela knows sit, down, crate, and paw, and is working on “stay”… although she firmly believes staying still is a terrible life choice. She is crate trained and does best with structure—because left to her own decisions, she will absolutely make her own entertainment (and you may not love her choices). Now let’s talk personality. Around other dogs, she generally does well and plays appropriately. She lives with her foster brothers and sister and gets along with them—but she is bossy. She likes to be in charge, and if she doesn’t get her way, she may voice her opinion… loudly… or get a little creative (read: destructive) if she’s bored or frustrated. One of her foster brothers seems to have been personally selected as her favorite target for shenanigans, so supervision and boundaries are a must. She enjoys playing with the group but is also perfectly happy entertaining herself—especially if it involves movement, speed, or mild chaos. Case in point: we call her the “land shark.” One of her favorite games is chasing a toy tied to a fishing line cast across the yard. Reeling it back in becomes less “casual fishing” and more “deep sea battle.” Sometimes she snaps the line. Sometimes you feel like you’ve hooked something that belongs on a Discovery Channel special. Either way, she’s all in. And then there are the zoomies. Not your average “run in a circle and call it a day” zoomies. We’re talking full Olympic qualifier. Leela channels Usain Bolt speed with a touch of Bruce Lee flair—complete with mid-air enthusiasm—as she launches herself across the yard. If one of the other dogs happens to be holding the extra-large herding ball, there’s a decent chance she’ll attempt an airborne interception. The hang time is impressive. The commitment is unmatched.
All that said—this is where we get serious. Leela is a true working-line German Shepherd. She needs an experienced owner who understands the breed and is ready to provide structure, training, and consistent mental and physical outlets. Without that, she will invent her own job—and you probably won’t like what she comes up with. She can be dominant with other dogs and will test boundaries if given the opportunity. Small dogs are not recommended. She has been around larger farm animals and does well with them, but she is NOT safe with cats, chickens, or small livestock. Her prey drive is strong, real, and non-negotiable. Leela is housebroken on a routine and thrives when she has clear expectations and enough activity to match her energy level. A quick walk won’t cut it—this girl needs engagement. She would do best in a home that wants an active, highly intelligent dog—whether that’s training, hiking, dog sports, or just keeping up with her daily “let’s go do something” agenda.
Bottom line:
Leela is hilarious, athletic, a little bossy, extremely smart, and an absolute blast—but she is not a beginner dog. In the right home, she’s going to be an incredible, loyal, and very entertaining companion. If you’re ready for a dog that brings energy, personality, and just a little bit of chaos (okay, maybe a lot), Leela might be exactly what you’re looking for. Interested in adding this beautiful firecracker to your family? Contact your adoption coordinator. If you do not yet have an adoption coordinator, please complete an adoption application at www.freedomgermanshepherdrescue.org. Leela is being fostered in Wake Forest, NC."
You can keep up with Leela and all the other dogs in the care of Freedom German Shepherd Rescue on their website and their social media: Facebook and Instagram.
You can also find Freedom German Shepherd Rescue at least once a month at Unleashed in Cary! Mark your calendar with these dates and follow the calendar on the Unleashed website for potentially more to be added!
Upcoming Freedom German Shepherd Events!
May 9, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
June 13, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
July 11, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
August 8, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
September 12, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
October 10, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
November 14, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
December 12, 11am-1pm Meet and Greet at Unleashed of Cary- 2066 Kildaire Farm Rd. Cary, NC 27518
Visit Freedom German Shepherd Rescue at
Unleashed's 13th Annual Spring Fling Dog & Cat Fundraiser
Sunday, April 26, 2026
12-6 pm
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2026:
2026 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1TntG29de2/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9springfling
