Three big, friendly — but slobbery dogs, are all that's left from a family of seven German shepherds who lost their owner earlier this year.

Brutus,3, Ace,5, Loki,7, are part of a family that was left to fend for themselves following the sudden death of their owner, a farmer in Stanley.

"He took real good care of them," said Lynn Walker, a supervisor at the Fredericton SPCA. "But you could tell that they missed him."

Following the death of their owner, the SPCA was called to collect the animals off the farm.

Lynn Walker is helping take care of Ace, Brutus and Loki, three German shepherds from the same family looking for a new home after the death of their former owner. (CBC)

"Some weren't too comfortable with strangers," said Walker. "Ace when we found him, he wouldn't come out from underneath the barn floor. We had to lure him out with moose meat."

New beginnings

Back home on the farm, Walker says the dogs were rarely inside.

But these days, the three German shepherds are comfortable indoors, loyally following staff around the shelter. The dogs are getting used to strangers as well.

They'd be couch potatoes if you let them. -Lynn Walker

In the past, the dogs also didn't have a lot of access to animal toys. But earlier this week, Loki was showcasing his ability to fetch for the first time, despite having a birth defect in his back legs that causes him to run with a pigeon-toe, where his feet are pointed inwards.

"They love cats," said Walker. "They're used to barn cats, so they love them."

Walker says she realizes the family has been split up in order to be adopted, but the pets are adjusting to their new lives.

"The Oromocto SPCA got three, and they've been adopted, and we got three," said Walker. "And there was one that was old and sick and needed to be euthanized."

Brutus and Loki share kisses as the two enjoy some late March sunshine at the Fredericton SPCA. (CBC)

Walker is proud of their progress and believes they will make great pets for future families.

"They might need a little warming up," said Walker. "They'd be couch potatoes if you let them."