Germany: Pet Peeve

Like the other 6,500 East German Mauerhunde, or Wall dogs, along the old fortified borders, Asta, 4, faced an uncertain fate after the barriers came down. Then an animal-protection society arranged adoption by the Ahrndt family of Hannover. Alas, the German shepherd has turned out to be a pussycat. Instead of guarding against intruders, she welcomes anyone into the cottage of her owners. A mother as of March, Asta also seems homesick. She has yet to set paw into her master’s Ford, but leaped happily into a visitor’s East German- made Trabant and expected to be driven away.