About Sentry Shepherds Rescue

On December 31, 2016, a 4-month-old male German Shepherd was abandoned at the residence of John and Vera Thompson. He was tied to a bannister on their front porch, accompanied by an igloo dog house and a note from his original owner explaining the reason for leaving him. At the time, the Thompsons already had three dogs of their own and initially attempted to find a new home for the German Shepherd.

After a couple of weeks, the Thompsons decided to keep him and named him Kodii, who still remains a beloved member of their family. During their efforts to rehome Kodii, they discovered a significant number of German Shepherds in need of homes—whether in shelters, surrendered by owners, or found as strays, abused, or abandoned.

John, who had been familiar with the breed since he was 10 and had reconnected with them during his time in Vietnam, and Vera decided to make a difference. Soon after, they rescued another German Shepherd from the same location, kept a heartworm-positive dog named Kimber, and found a home for a black German Shepherd named Jet. This marked the beginning of their journey.

Since the inception of Sentry Shepherds Rescue, they have rescued 361 German Shepherds. The busiest year was 2023, during which they rescued 111 dogs. On average, they facilitate the adoption of 4 dogs per month. Their monthly veterinary bills average $320, including significant expenses such as $1,490 for a puppy hit by a car and another $1,240 for an impending surgery. The rescue consumes over 500 pounds of dog food and $350 worth of heartworm, flea, and tick prevention monthly, along with $140 for kennel maintenance and $75 for treats. Transport costs have been covered by donations, bringing the total monthly operating cost to between $1,385 and $1,500.

Sentry Shepherds works with many shelters and rescue organizations across multiple states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. They conduct temperament tests and evaluate skill sets for training, ensuring each intake is comfortable with the basics. For advanced training, they partner with the Alpha School of K-9 Obedience, directed by Sgt. Robert Sanchez, Retired, Springdale Police Department.

The Thompsons initiated the "Pets for Vets" program, allowing any veteran with proper documentation to adopt a rescue dog without any fees, thanks to sponsorship from three anonymous entities. Also, they recently started another program, "Rescues for Responders," which enables qualified first responders to adopt without paying fees.

Moreover, donations of goods and your valuable time are equally pivotal in supporting our cause. By becoming an active Sentry Shepherds volunteer, you can directly engage with our remarkable dogs. On behalf of the dogs and puppies whose lives you positively impact, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continuous support and dedication.