Meet RIAN

“My favorite thing about Rian is he’s never met a stranger!” 8 year old shepherd Rian is an absolute gem. Great with meeting new people, knows basic commands, and loves to chase a ball. He certainly acts younger than his age, and is becoming stressed being stuck in a shelter kennel. We'd love to find him a loving home, perhaps with someone who has a heart for senior shepherds, ASAP! Update 6/22: This sweet dog arrived at our shelter with edematous left forelimb, and all four paws were swollen. He was started on antibiotics, then stronger broad-spectrum antibiotics, but did not improve. A full medical work-up was done to rule out possible underlying causes. The results support a serious deep-tissue infection. Biopsy showed deep pyoderma, which is a severe bacterial skin infection. A culture identified 2 multi-drug-resistant bacteria (e. coli and enterobacter).The biggest concern that the dog has not responded to treatment so far and that the infection cannot be effectively treated with available antibiotics. There is also concern for the health of the shelter population, because these bacteria are multi-drug resistant and there is a risk they could spread to other shelter animals and cause infections in other animals that may not be treatable with standard oral antibiotics. Unfortunately, this dog is suffering from swelling in multiple limbs and open sores/ulcerations on the paws causing him pain and discomfort. The prognosis for recovery is guarded, even if other treatments are attempted. While this condition could possibly be treated with advanced medical intervention, the outcome is uncertain, and the level of care needed is not feasible in the shelter environment. (Rescues, please contact vcar.rescue@venturacounty.gov if you are interested in learning more.)Due to the dog’s ongoing quality-of-life concerns, guarded prognosis, limited treatment options, and the potential risk to other animals, humane euthanasia is recommended and is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2026. Update 6/24: A rescue partner is considering transferring him into their care. We will be postponing euthanasia pending pickup. @vcanimalservices Senior shepherd Rian at Ventura County Animal Services. 8 years old. ID: A685576 ? original sound - Ventura County Animal Services