German Shepherd Rescue |

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German Shepherd Dog Rescue Resources

You can add links to local, state, or national organizations devoted to rescuing this breed below.

Nationwide
American German Shepherd Rescue Association, Inc.

North East

 Mid-Atlantic

South East

 Central North

 Central Mid and South

 West

    Share your rescue stories!

    Click EasyEdit to tell about how you brought your dog home. Be sure to add a photo!

    Lauren -

    I rescued Lauren just under 2 years ago (Feb 05). German Shepherd Rescue - wikiFido:Dog Breeds, RescuesHer story was a very sad one, but it was her face that convinced me that she is the dog for me.

    She was purchased by a former Veterinarian from a breeder in Germany to use as a foundation bitch for the breeding program she wanted to start. Years later, the authorities came because she had over 30 poorly cared for but beautiful German Shepherd Dogs on a very small property. Upon being ordered to find new homes for the majority of the dogs or face having them seized within 30 days. A little while later, someone reported that she only had 14 dogs left and that they didn't see her giving any of them homes.

    When the authorities showed up, they found that she had euthanized all but her original foundation bitch and her recent littler of 13 (!) puppies. The puppies had no problem find homes, but poor Lauren was terrified of people. She had her second chance at a the home of one of the wonderful women who saved the last of the dogs, but unfortunately had an incident with the womans prize pure-breed cats.

    Lauren was about to be put down, when she met her first veterinarian who actually cared. He called one of his clients and told her she had to come meet this dog. She did, and couldn't let Lauren be put to sleep for doing what dogs do. Chase cats! She was a rescuer herself, and so posted Lauren up all over the internet to find her a new home.

    German Shepherd Rescue - wikiFido:Dog Breeds, RescuesI went to visit Lauren after seeing her picture (right). Those eyes said that she was longing for someone who would love her who she could trust. After her loving foster mom and I cornered her in her kennel - she was actually shaking in terror and peeing with fear - we got a leash on her and took her out. She walked surprisingly well on the leash, but her posture was full of worry. Every time I moved in a way that she didn't expect, she cowered. Every time I spoke, she would crouch lower and flatten her ears back. If she was "surrounded" by more than one person, her eyes would go wild. So we walked for an hour, with me talking softly to her. We went over to my car, to grab the bag of treats I had brought for her, and before I could barely move out of the way she snuck in between the drivers seat and door frame of my coupe into the back seat and laid down.

    I had no intention of taking her home that day. I knew I was going to take her home in my heart, but I wanted to meet her and think about it. She wasn't having any delay.

    From that day forward, she has improved by a million times. She has learnd how to play with tennis balls (her new favorite thing in the world, almost better than cheese) and loves to chase the balls and sticks.

    Fur + Snow = HAPPYShe frolicks in water and does the doggie lean into strangers legs in hopes of getting a good scratchin. She is quiet, a little lazy, and has these eyes that tell me how great she thinks I am, every day. No one will ever look at you like that, except YOUR dog, the one special dog, and I almost never hear people say that their pet store pooch was their greatest dog, or the designer dog they waited for 6 months for from the best breeder in the world. It's always a puppy found on the side of the road, in the pound or one that had just run out of chances until you came along. Rescued dogs know you saved them, and they make up for it every single day, because to them, you are the most amazing person in the world. Ask anyone who as rescued a dog, they'll tell you the same thing.Common, Throw the Ball!!! Rescues know their special and they won't let you forget it!


    So, if you ever have the chance, the money and the time to get a dog, adopt. Wait until you see that one special face and hear that one special story that makes you want to hug that dog for the rest of your life so nothing bad happens to them ever again. Then, and only then, will you find the best friend you'll ever have.

    Sorry for all the pictures. Friends and Family have tendency to want you to care about pictures of their kids, but look at you like you're crazy if you send 5 pictures of your dog. Wikifido people should understand that. :)



    *happy sigh*If I sleep on the bones, no one can take them without waking me up!