German Shepherd 101: How To Find A German Shepherd Rescue
October 28, 2008
German Shepherds are not only beautiful, but they are also intelligent, loyal and easy to find in many countries of the world. Unfortunately, they are not the right breed of dog for everyone. Each year, thousands of German Shepherds (also known as Alsatians) and German Shepherd mixes are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters. Most of these dogs wind up there through no fault of their own. Many people are not aware of the significant time and money investment needed to care for German Shepherds.
To help find homes for these magnificent animals, many selfless volunteers have turned their homes and hearts over to German Shepherd rescues. These breed specific rescues can be found in several countries and almost every state in America. None of these German Shepherd rescues are under any parent organization, not even the Humane Society of the United States, so finding a suitable one in your area may take a bit of research.
Unlike some other breed-specific rescues like Beagles that has a national volunteer-run charity running a website to tie all Beagle rescue groups together, German Shepherd rescues have no such organization. There isn’t even a website that lists all German Shepherd rescues in the world, or just in North America. But it is still possible to find a good German Shepherd rescue without breaking into a heavy sweat.
There is no parent German Shepherd breed organization or even a national directory. The American Kennel Club and the Humane Society of the United States are really too busy to help you out. In order to find a good German Shepherd rescue in your local area, you will have to sniff them out yourself. You can also expect to fill out a lot of forms, meet with many different dogs and maybe even get a character reference from a veterinarian before your application for adoption is accepted.
Always contact the German Shepherd rescue before you visit. Don’t drop in unexpected and expect to drive off with a dog. The best German Shepherd rescues will have you fill out a questionnaire and quiz you about your knowledge of German Shepherd information.
They will usually give your home and your personal references a check, too. They want to be absolutely sure the dog will find what every dog deserves ? a forever home.
They usually have websites, though. Petfinder.com is quickly becoming the most comprehensive resource on the web for matching homeless animals with those people looking to adopt. First, you will talk on the phone or via e-mail, and then you will fill out a lot of paperwork.
Is it overcrowded? How are the dogs behaved? How does the place smell? If the place passes the nose and eye test, then chances are good your adoptee will be a calm, friendly dog.
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