If you have made the choice to adopt a German Shepherd – good on you!
There are dogs having to be euthanised in shelters and rescues every day mainly because of either irresponsible breeding, or owners abandoning their puppies after they start growing.
The good thing about rescues and shelters is that there are plenty of dogs in these places who are sociable and looking to give someone love.
Many are far from mentally broken – if only a little low on confidence.
Shelter and rescue staff should know if a dog is aggressive, dangerous or not suitable to go to another owner.
Another benefit to adopting a dog from these places is that they can suit some people a lot better than a puppy from a breeder might.
Older dogs are usually potty trained, have done basic obedience, have been socialised, are past their chewing stage, and for the senior dogs – won’t need as much exercise.
So, there’s plenty to like about rescue and shelter puppies and dogs.
For more information about adoption, you might like to read 23 Things To Consider When Rescuing or Adopting A German Shepherd Puppy or Dog.
Otherwise, let’s look at how to find a German Shepherd in a shelter or rescue near you …
(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)
German Shepherd Rescue and Adoption: How To Find A Shelter Or Rescue Near You
How To Find A Shelter Or Rescue Near You
If you are looking specifically for a German Shepherd, you could try:
Contacting your country’s main German Shepherd Organisation and asking for a reference to, or contact details to a GSD rescue or shelter in your area
United States residents might try the German Shepherd Dog Club of America
UK residents might try the British Association for German Shepherd Dogs
Australia residents might try the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia
Canada residents might try the German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada
You may also try these things:
Contact your regional German Shepherd club and ask for a referral or contact details to shelters or rescue groups – the German Shepherd Dog Club of America has a regional clubs section here.
Contact your local humane society
Have a read of this Rescue and Shelter guide by Dogplay.com – they list other resources like petfinder.com for finding dogs in rescues and shelters
Other Options For Rescue Networks in The United States
The following listings are part of the AKC’s Rescue Network (available at akc.org), which is the largest in the United States.
We don’t make any bias or claim towards this network – we are simply making it available on this page for you as another option to explore or choose.
If you have had any positive or negative experiences with any of these rescues, drop us a comment in the comment section – so others can see your feedback too.
NOTE: this list was current as of June 2016 – if links or contact details no longer appear to be active, please let us know and we will update the list.
State By State AKC Network Rescues
America Wide
American German Shepherd Rescue Association (available at agsra.com) (full state by state list – refer here if you can’t somewhere near you listed below)
Region Based
German Shepherd Rescue of New England
Mid Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue
California
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue (San Diego, and Orange County contacts)
German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California
Greater California German Shepherd Rescue (Modesto, Merced, Greater Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe)
German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County
Golden State German Shepherd Rescue (Northen and Central Valley Regions)
Bay Area German Shepherd Rescue
Colorado
German Shepherd Rescue of Central Colorado
Florida
K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue (Green Cove Springs based)
Georgia
Canine Pet Rescue (Atlanta)
Illinois
Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue
Louisiana
North Louisiana German Shepherd Rescue (available at members.petfinder.com)
Maine
Give a Dog A Home German Shepherd Dog Rescue
Maryland
Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC)
Massachusetts
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center (available at germanshepherdcenter.org)
Missouri
German Shepherd Dog Rescue of St. Louis (available at awos.petfinder.com) (accepting ONLY calls from previous adopters)
Serendipity German Shepherd Dog Rescue (St Louis)
Nevada
Refer to a state near you
New Jersey
Garden State German Shepherd Rescue
New York
Bright Star German Shepherd Rescue (Churchville/Rochester based)
Shepherds Hope German Shepherd Rescue (Greater Metropolitan New York, Long Island Area)
North Carolina
Hominy Valley German Shepherd Rescue (available at hominyvalleyrescue.angelfire.com)
Oregon
Tennessee
Save Our Shepherds (Memphis and West Tennessee)
Texas
Austin German Shepherd Rescue (Austin)
Blue Angel German Shepherd Dog Rescue (San Antonio)
Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue (Houston)
German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas
Virginia
Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC)
Wisconsin
German Shepherd Rescue Alliance of Wisconsin
State By State American German Shepherd Rescue Association Network
The following list is not part of the AKC’s direct rescue network, but are referred by the American German Shepherd Rescue Association which is part of the AKC’s network:
Alabama
Helping Shepherds Of Every Color
German Shepherd Rescue of Central Alabama (available at awos.petfinder.com)
I.R.A German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Alaska
German Shepherd Rescue of Alaska – [email protected]
Arizona
Arizona Connection German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Southwest German Shepherd Rescue
For The Love of German Shepherds Rescue – [email protected]
Arkansas
Muttley Crew German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Connecticut
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center
German Shepherd Rescue of New England
North Star German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Shepherds’ Hope German Shepherd Rescue
Zoe’s German Shepherd Rescue (available at members.petfinder.com)
Delaware
Refer to a state near you
Hawaii
Refer to a state near you
Idaho
Northern Utah German Shepherd Rescue
Indiana
Northwest Indiana GSD (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Iowa
Mississippi Valley German Shepherd Dog Rescue – [email protected]
Kansas
Refer to a state near you
Kentucky
Dumas German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
West Kentucky German Shepherd Rescue (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Maine
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center
North Star German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Michigan
Charmed Lives Pet Rescue – [email protected]
German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Michigan – EAST: [email protected] , WEST: [email protected]
Minnesota
Midwest Animal Rescue and Services
Mississippi
Montana
Montana German Shepherd Rescue
Northern Utah German Shepherd Rescue
Nebraska
SW NE Small Animal Rescue (available at awos.petfinder.com)
New Hampshire
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center – [email protected]
German Shepherd Rescue of New England
Legacy German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
North Star German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
New Mexico
German Shepherd Rescue of Southern New Mexico
Central New Mexico German Shepherd Dog Club Rescue – [email protected]
North Dakota
North Dakota German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
Ohio
Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Deacon’s Hope GSD Rescue (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Dogs Hope German Shepherd and All Breed Rescue – [email protected]
Lake Erie German Shepherd Rescue – [email protected]
MPM German Shepherd Rescue (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Shepherd Haven (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Weeping Willow Second Chance GSD Sanctuary – [email protected]
Oklahoma
German Shepherd Rescue Of Tulsa OK
Safe Haven German Shepherd Rescue Inc (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Pennsylvania
German Shepherd Rescue Of Southern Pennsylvania
Mid Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (available at magsr.org)
Save A Shepherd Rescue Alliance (available at awos.petfinder.com)
Woody’s Place: Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary – ([email protected])
Rhode Island
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center – ([email protected])
German Shepherd Rescue of New England
North Star German Shepherd Rescue – ([email protected])
South Carolina
Furlife German Shepherd Rescue – ([email protected])
German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions – ([email protected])
Noble Shepherd Rescue – ([email protected])
South Dakota
Refer to a state near you
Utah
Northern Utah German Shepherd Rescue (available at animalshelter.org)
Vermont
German Shepherd Resource and Rescue Center
German Shepherd Rescue of New England
North Star German Shepherd Rescue – (available at [email protected])
Washington
Washington German Shepherd Rescue (available at washingtongsd.org)
West Virginia
Refer to a state near you
Wyoming
Northern Utah German Shepherd Rescue
American German Shepherd Rescue Association Network Specialty Groups
The following are not directly in the AKC network, but are referred by the American German Shepherd Rescue Association who are. They are specialty rescues or volunteer groups:
Specialty White German Shepherd Rescues
White Paws German Shepherd Rescue
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue
Southwest White German Shepherd Rescue (Phoenix, Arizona)
Coastal White German Shepherd Rescue (possibly no longer online)
Pending Military Deployment Rehome Volunteers and Similar Organisations
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