Max

Male, 2Years Old, German Shepherd

Size: Large

Arrival Date: June 2026

Max is an intelligent, energetic boy who came into our care after being surrendered due to his medical needs. He had severe issues with his eyes and required urgent care to save his vision. After seeing a veterinary ophthalmologist, Max was diagnosed with immune keratitis, a disease in which the immune system attacks the cornea. As with many immune mediated conditions, the exact cause is unclear, though it is known to be partly genetic and is seen most often in certain breeds, including German Shepherds. Increased exposure to sunlight tends to make the disease worse.

The good news is that immune keratitis is usually controllable with topical medication, and Max is responding amazingly well to his treatment. He is now on eye drops that keep him comfortable, and he is even getting used to wearing sunglasses to protect his eyes when the sun is strong. Long term therapy will be needed since the disease tends to recur, but Max looks like a completely different dog these days, with soulful brown eyes that are hard to look away from.

Beyond his medical journey, Max is an incredibly loving boy who adores people and genuinely loves to please them, often leaning into you for affection. He did not have much exposure to other dogs before coming into care, so he can be reactive at times and has no real manners around them yet. He will need an adopter willing to continue working with him on this through ongoing support and management, and thankfully he is extremely food motivated, which makes training him a rewarding process. Max cannot live with small dogs, and while he may do well alongside a large dog, that dog would need to be able to handle his forward and intense playstyle. Max could do well in a home with dog savvy children, as he can be quite rambunctious.