Have you ever typed the query, “How to find a German Shepherd Rescue near me?” Well, the answer to that question comes straight home to you in this article. I researched all the German Shepherd Rescues in the US and discovered that:
The best German Shepherd rescues in the US are registered charitable organizations primarily focusing on saving, rehabilitating, and rehoming German Shepherds into loving, forever homes. Before rehoming, these rescues thoroughly assess the adopters to ensure the dogs are well-placed.
This article gives you the 45 best German Shepherd rescues in the United States. As the owner of a German Shepherd, I figured you might also want to know why the breed ends up in rescues and how you can help a German Shepherd dog in a rescue.
Let’s start by answering the ‘why’ question.
Why German Shepherd Dogs End up in Rescues
Rescues are usually the second home for abused, lost, and surrendered dogs. Shelters are the first. Most rescues save dogs from shelters, while some also accept owner-surrendered dogs.
In a certain sense, German Shepherds and other dogs end up in rescues because shelters are overpopulated. Besides, the core mission of dog rescues is to save and rehome dogs.
But that would not be the case if there were no dogs in shelters in the first place.
So, what is the real root cause for GSDs and other dogs ending up in shelters and rescues? Yeah, you guessed right!
The main reason dogs end up in rescues is uncontrolled dog breeding and negligent ownership.
Dog overpopulation from uncontrolled reproduction and owner abandonment are the primary reasons German Shepherds and other dogs end up in shelters and rescues.
These two reasons create the conditions for other spillover whys of dogs ending up in shelters and rescues. Unfortunately, both shelters and rescues can also be overwhelmed by encountering additional challenges.
According to the World Animal Foundation, approximately 23.3% of the 27 million puppies and kittens born each year in the US end up in shelters. Sadly, only about half of these are adopted, while most of the remaining are euthanized.
So, what are the secondary whys of dogs ending up in shelters and rescues?
Researchers have found that most of the causes of dogs ending up in shelters and rescues are owner-related reasons.
Below is a list of additional reasons GSDs and other dogs end up in rescues and shelters. The reasons are in order of importance (main reason first):
- Too many dogs in a home.
- Problems with housing.
- Personal issues (lack of time, change of lifestyle, relocating, etc.).
- Inability to afford a dog’s continued upkeep.
- Problematic dog behavior.
- Dog owner with poor health.
- The owner is no longer interested in keeping the dog.
- Poor dog health.
- Undesirable dog characteristics (aggression, escaping from home, uncontrolled barking, etc.).
- Being a community dog (one that is cared for by the community).
While researching the rescues, I also noticed that many German Shepherd rescue personnel pointed to poor knowledge of the GSD breed as a reason for abandonment.
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that this topic is close to my heart and was one of the main reasons for starting this website.
Yes, there are challenges in raising any dog breed, but if you fail to research and apply correct German Shepherd training, you will undoubtedly run into problems.
Encouragingly, I also observed that the best rescues had a community and adopter education program alongside the rescue and adoption process.
This discovery concludes our section on why German Shepherds end up in rescues on an encouraging note. We can now proceed to discover the best German Shepherd Rescues in the US.
Best German Shepherd Rescues in the United States
German Shepherd rescues in the United States are breed-specific dog rescues focusing exclusively on GSDs. I picked the rescues on the list based on these 5 characteristics:
- Reputable (Registered as a charitable organization).
- Traceable (Have a website/up-to-date Facebook page).
- Credible (Having a structured rescue and rehoming program with records of success).
- Accessible (Provide various contact options).
- Functional (not closed).
To help you find the right German Shepherd rescue near you, I categorized the 45 rescues featured in this article under the 9 US Census Divisions. You can go straight to the Division of your interest.
German Shepherd Rescues in the East North Central Region
You live in the East North Central region if you are in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Click on the state to read a complete list and description of German Shepherd rescues.
Here are the top German Shepherd Rescues in East North Central US:
- Mit Liebe German Shepherd Dog Rescue (WI)
- German Shepherd Rescue Indy (IN)
- German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Iowa (IA)
- Central Illinois German Shepherd Dog Rescue (IL)
- Redemption German Shepherd Rescue (IN)
German Shepherd Rescues in the Midwest East South Central
The Midwest East South Central region is made up of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Clicking on the state will lead you to a complete account of every German Shepherd rescue in each state.
These are the best German Shepherd rescues in the Midwest East South Central region:
- Helping Shepherds of Every Color Rescue (AL)
- Middle Tennessee German Shepherd Rescue (TN)
- Imminent Danger German Shepherd Rescue (TN)
- Tier Haven Rescue (KY)
- Randy’s GSD Rescue (AL)
German Shepherd Rescues in the Middle Atlantic
The US States in the Middle Atlantic are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. Find a complete list and description of GSD rescues in each state by following the link on the state name.
Here are the top German Shepherd rescues in the Middle Atlantic:
- Garden State German Shepherd Rescue (NJ)
- German Shepherd Rescue of New Jersey (NJ)
- German Shepherd Rescue of NY (NY)
- BrightStar German Shepherd Rescue (NY)
- Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue (PA)
- Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (MD)
- All Shepherd Rescue (MD)
German Shepherd Rescues in the Mountain Region
The Mountain region is one of the US regions with the highest number of German Shepherd rescues. The region incorporates Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. You can follow the links on the States to read about all the German Shepherd rescues in each state.
Here are the top German Shepherd rescues in the Mountain Region:
- Southwest German Shepherd Rescue (AZ)
- Front Range German Shepherd Rescue (CO)
- Idaho German Shepherd Rescue (ID)
- White German Shepherd Rescue (AZ)
- German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Central New Mexico (NM)
- Nevada ASPCA (NV)
German Shepherd Rescues in New England
New England has several states, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island. You can click on the link on each State name for a complete list and description of where to rescue GSDs.
There are only two breed-specific German Shepherd Rescues in New England:
German Shepherd Rescues in the Pacific Region
German Shepherd rescues in the Pacific region are those you find in California, Washington, and Oregon. Follow the links on each state name to read about where to find adoptable German Shepherds in the 3 states.
Below are the top 5 German Shepherd Rescues in the Pacific region:
- German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (CA)
- German Shepherd Rescue – Burbank (CA)
- True North GSD Rescue (WA)
- Shepherds Without Borders (OR)
- Washington German Shepherd Rescue (WA)
German Shepherd Rescues in the South Atlantic Region
Overall, the South Atlantic region has the highest number of German Shepherd rescues. The States in this region are Florida, Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, and South Carolina. Find out about the GSD rescues in each state by clicking on the link.
The Best German Shepherd Rescues in the South Atlantic Region include:
- Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (VA)
- German Shepherd Rescue & Adoptions (NC)
- Carolina German Shepherd Rescue (SC)
- German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia (GA)
- Virginia German Shepherd Rescue (VA)
German Shepherd Rescues in the West North Central Region
The West North Central region has seven states, including Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, and North Dakota. By clicking on each state, you can access a complete list and descriptions of the GSD rescues.
The best German Shepherd rescues in the West North Central region include:
- Saving Shepherds of Minnesota (MN)
- Serendipity German Shepherd Dog Rescue (MO)
- German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Iowa (IA)
- Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (NE)
- Journey Home German Shepherd Dog Rescue (MO)
German Shepherd Rescues in the West South Central Region
German Shepherd rescues in the West South Central region are in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana states. You can explore each state’s GSD rescues by following the links.
The 5 best German Shepherd dog rescues in the West South Central are:
- Sauver Des Chiens German Shepherd Rescue (TX)
- German Shepherd Rescue of Texas (TX)
- Red Stick German Shepherd Rescue (LA)
- German Shepherd Rescue of Central Texas (TX)
- Oklahoma German Shepherd Rescue (OK)
Now that you know which are the best German Shepherd rescues in your region, you might also be interested in learning how you can collaborate with the rescues to help needy dogs.
How to Help a German Shepherd Dog Rescue in the US
If your goal in searching for the best German Shepherd Rescue in the US is to work with the rescue for the good of needy GSDs, you will find the information below interesting.
One common characteristic of dog rescues is that they are non-profit organizations that rely on well-wishers to foot the bills incurred in caring for the dogs. These rescues do not receive government funding but trust in the good hearts of GSD lovers.
Here are 5 ways you can help a German Shepherd Dog Rescue in the US:
Become a Volunteer
All GSD rescues in the US rely on volunteer services to rescue, assess, rehabilitate, and rehome the dogs.
In most rescues, a volunteer is the person you will talk to when you express your desire to adopt a GSD. You also work with volunteers to complete the adoption process or attend a meet-and-greet encounter with your prospective GSD adoptee.
On our full accounts of the German Shepherd rescues in each state, you will notice that all have a “Become a Volunteer” option on their websites. This option allows you to apply and offer your voluntary services.
Become a Foster
The majority of German Shepherd rescues in the US entrust rescued dogs to a foster parent or family. Fosters provide a temporary home to dogs until they can find a forever home. As such, it is not unusual to read somewhere on a rescue’s website, “Always in need of fosters.”
You can apply to be a foster and give a homeless GSD that transitional attention that restores their hope in a prospective loving family.
Donate
Since dog rescues in the US are charitable organizations not funded by the government, they rely on monetary and equipment donations to provide the best care for the dogs.
By visiting a German Shepherd rescue website, you can find out the best way to make a monetary donation. You can also check which dog equipment the rescue needs.
Often, the equipment is donated through a wish list or a virtual shopping list by online shopping sites like Amazon with the items that the rescue prefers.
Shop
Some GSD rescues in the US have shops for dog care equipment or rescue-branded clothing and other items. By shopping from them, you will help raise the funds needed to run the rescuing and rehoming processes.
Adopt a GSD
Adopting a German Shepherd is a long-term solution for homeless dogs in rescues. The best GSD rescues on our list have a detailed account of the adoption process. The explanations give you details on:
- Filling and submitting the adoption application form.
- The steps to completing the adoption process.
- The conditions to be considered a prospective adopter.
- The cost of adopting a German Shepherd.
Summing It All Up!
Homeless German Shepherds in the US are lucky dogs. That’s because their probability of finding a rescue that saves and rehomes them is very high.
With these top German Shepherd rescues in the US, anyone contemplating dog adoption can find and give a second chance to a GSD in need of a loving home.
And if you cannot adopt, consider one of the options to help a GSD rescue save and care for a needy dog!
