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Liz VanderWyden Raffa

@lizv_r

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MIA ☀️ ➝ ATL 🍑
Doing life a little differently ✨
Dogs, rescue & animal adventures 🐾
💪 Fitness • ✈️ Travel • 🌱 Fun
Probably stopping to pet your dog 🤎

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💙Meet Otto💙
A gentle, laid-back GSD looking for a loving home to spend his golden years.

I’ve had the pleasure of fostering Otto for almost a month, and he really is a special guy. At approximately 7 years old and 80+ pounds, he’s a big, handsome sweetheart who just wants to be near his people.

Otto is incredibly calm, quiet and affectionate. In the month I’ve had him, I haven’t heard him bark or whine once! He’s perfectly happy hanging out with his humans, relaxing in the backyard and occasionally chasing a squirrel or two.

Here’s what you should know about Otto:

Otto has some mobility challenges with his back legs. He struggles on hard, slippery floors and sometimes drags his feet when walking. But don’t let that fool you. He still wants to get out and explore! We take short walks and try to keep him on the grass, where he does much much better.

He also does great on carpet, so his ideal home would have carpeting or someone willing to put down runners to help him navigate safely. A home without a lot of stairs would be best.

Otto seems interested in other dogs and has shown no concerning behavior toward them from a distance. We haven’t introduced him to other dogs up close, but his shelter notes indicate he did well in playgroups.

He has met our neighbor’s young boys and although he was on a leash, he seemed calm around them.

If you’ve always wanted a GSD but don’t want the high exercise demands that typically come with the breed, Otto might be your perfect match.

He doesn’t need long hikes, runs or hours of physical activity. But he’s still a GSD, and that intelligent mind needs mental stimulation.

What Otto wants most is simple: a comfortable place to rest, a backyard to enjoy, and people to love.

He’s not looking for an adventurous life. He’s looking for a peaceful one, with a family who will love him exactly as he is.

Please help me find this wonderful boy the home he deserves. If you think Otto might be a fit, send me a message. And even if you can’t adopt, sharing his story could help him find his person.

#atlantasavesthemall #germanshepherdrescue #germanshepherd #adoptdontshop taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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8 days ago

Some birthdays deserve more than just one day!! My sister and I spent the weekend in Asheville celebrating our dad’s upcoming 80th birthday, and it was one of those weekends I know we’ll always treasure.

Beautiful sunsets, the Grove Park, the Biltmore, gorgeous mountain scenery, wonderful meals, lots of laughs, and most importantly, time together.

Feeling incredibly grateful that we were able to celebrate 80 amazing years of our dad and make a few more memories along the way.

Happy almost 80th, Dad. We love you so much!!! taken in Asheville, North Carolina by @lizv_r

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13 days ago

Bright and early this morning, Silva and I took our last little ride together. I dropped him off with his transport team, who is now driving him to his FOREVER HOME. ❤️

Saying goodbye was harder than I expected. I think we were both a little sad to leave each other, but knowing where he’s headed makes it all worth it.

Just days ago, Silva was on the urgent list. Today, he’s on his way to a family who chose him, loves him already, and gets to call him theirs forever.

Safe travels, sweet boy. I’m going to miss that face, but this is exactly the goodbye we were hoping for. Go live your best life, Silva. You deserve every bit of it.

#dekalbanimalservices #adoptdontshop #rescuedog #shelterdog #atlantasavethemall taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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a month ago

Kass is SAFE.

Just days ago, Kass was on the urgent list @dekalbanimals waiting and hoping someone would see her.

And someone did!! They saw Kass and knew she needed to be part of their family.

Today I had them great job of picking this sweet girl up from the shelter. We spent the afternoon together, and then I drove her to her temporary foster, where she’ll stay until she heads out of state later this week to begin her new life.

This is why we share. This is why every post, story, tag and repost matters. You truly never know who is going to see a dog and fall in love.

From the urgent list to a freedom ride to a family waiting for her. Kass, you made it. Happy life sweet girl.

#adoptdontshop #shelterdog #dekalbcountyanimalservices #lifelineanimalproject #rescue taken in Dekalb County Animal Services by @lizv_r

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a month ago

A week in 30A with some of my favorite people and pups. Mark and I brought the dogs, who were living their absolute best lives swimming every chance they got. We spent our days at the beach, letting the waves crash into us, and were even able to get out on the boat for a day on the water.

My dad came down and spent a few days with us too, which made the week even more special.

Sun, saltwater, dogs, boat days and time with family. Exactly the kind of week I needed. taken in 30A Florida by @lizv_r

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a month ago

Did you know?

LifeLine Animal Project’s Dog for the Day program gives shelter dogs something they desperately need: a break from the kennel and a chance to show the world who they really are.

Take a dog for a hike, a walk around the neighborhood, a pup cup, a car ride, or even just an afternoon relaxing somewhere quiet. You give them a chance to decompress, have fun and experience life outside the shelter.

But here’s the really important part: you help people SEE them.

The photos, videos and little things you learn about them — loves car rides, walks beautifully on leash, gives the best kisses, great adventure buddy — can help that dog stand out to a potential foster or adopter. Sometimes that one post gets shared to exactly the right person.

You can simply give a shelter dog one really great day — and that day might just help them find their forever home.

If you’re in Atlanta and looking for an easy way to make a very real difference for a shelter dog, Dog for the Day is such a great place to start.

Take them out.
Show off their personality.
Share their story.
Help them get seen.

Because sometimes getting out of the shelter is the first step toward getting out for good. ❤️

#LifeLineAnimalProject #DogForTheDay #AtlantaDogs #AdoptAtlanta #fosteratlanta taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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2 months ago

🚨 MEET ENTRÉE — YOUR NEW FAVORITE GIRL 🐾💕

Entrée is serving up the FULL package: sweet, playful, cuddly, and always ready to soak up ALL the attention. 🥹❤️

She’s the kind of girl who will happily play with you and then curl right up for cuddles when the fun is over. Basically… best friend material.

Entrée is waiting at DeKalb County Animal Services for someone to look at that adorable face and say, “Yep. You’re coming home with me.” I wanted to!

Please SHARE, TAG A FRIEND, FOSTER, OR ADOPT — every share gets her closer to the person she’s waiting for.

🍽️ Entrée
📍 DeKalb County Animal Services
🏡 Looking for her forever home

Come meet her before she is scooped up!

https://lifelineanimal.org/pet-details/?aid=60960477&cid=97&tid=Dog

#AdoptEntree #AdoptDontShop #AtlantaDogs #RescueDog #AtlantaSaveThemAll taken in Dekalb County Animal Services by @lizv_r

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2 months ago

🟡 PACMAN GOT HIS EXTRA LIFE. ❤️🐾

Last week, Pacman was on the euthanasia list @dekalbanimals . His time was running out, and all he needed was someone to give him the power-up that would change everything.

And someone did. 🥹

Yesterday, I got to be a tiny part of his freedom story — picking him up from @dekalbanimals and helping transport him toward the next chapter of his life. From a kennel and an uncertain future… to a freedom ride and a chance at FOREVER LOVE

This is why we share them.
This is why we advocate for them.
This is why fostering, adopting, and volunteering matter.

Because sometimes one share and one person saying “I’ll help” is literally the difference between a life ending and a whole new one beginning.

Pacman beat the clock.
Your best level starts now. ❤️

And to everyone who helped make his extra life possible — thank you.

#AtlantaSaveThemAll #RescueDogs #FosterSavesLives #FreedomRide #adoptdontshop taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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2 months ago

Last night’s ride was the BEST kind.

Sweet Ocarina was on the euthanasia list… and last night I got to help transport her to her FOREVER HOME.

From the e-list to HOME. That’s what rescue is all about. Happy life, Ocarina — you made it, sweet girl.

#AdoptDontShop #RescueDogs #EuthanasiaListSurvivor #AtlantaDogRescue #Saved taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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2 months ago

Life’s little highlights. #gertie #nodoubt #california #sisters #home by @lizv_r

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3 months ago

Life lately 🩷 taken in Atlanta, Georgia by @lizv_r

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5 months ago

Still on a high from last night. Saw Mel Robbins live at the Fox Theatre last night and WOW!

It’s one thing to listen to her podcasts, but hearing it live just hits different. Amazing! And a super fun night with these ladies #letthem @melrobbins taken in The Fox Theatre by @lizv_r

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6 months ago