6 German Shepherd Rescues in Alabama (2023 Update)

Are you looking for a German Shepherd rescue in Alabama?

In this article, you’ll find the best rescues to adopt your new best friend.

Plus, you’ll also find:

• Other resources to find rescue German Shepherds.
• Tips for making German Shepherd ownership as simple as possible.
• And more…

Let’s get started!

German Shepherd Rescues In Alabama

Below are the best German Shepherd rescues in Alabama, their location, and website addresses. These rescues will be helpful in your mission to adopt a German Shepherd:

1. Helping Shepherds of Every Color Rescue

Helping Shepherds of Every Color Rescue is a small German Shepherd rescue located in Montgomery that mainly focuses on dogs in the tri-county area (Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore).

They were established in 2007 and are an all-volunteer group that takes in all German Shepherd colors and doesn’t discriminate against white GSDs or any other color.

All individuals involved in this rescue love the breed and provide training, rehabilitation, and medical care to needy GSDs until they are ready for their ‘forever home.’

They desperately need new foster homes, so get in touch if you’re interested in providing a vital doggy foster home.

All rescued German Shepherds are either from shelters or surrendered by their owners, who can no longer care for their dogs for many different reasons. Saved dogs are initially placed in foster homes where they are socialized, trained, and rehabilitated.

2. Sweet Home Doberman & German Shepherd Rescue

Sweet Home Doberman and German Shepherd Rescue (formerly Sweet Home Doberman Rescue) is a small not-for-profit rescue founded in 2015 by Nikki Lilly, who adopted her first dog in 2009. This rescue initially helped to re-home Dobermans before adding German Shepherds to their organization in 2018.

This rescue has a pretty simple mission – to assist both breeds in any way they can. They are 100% committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of neglected, abandoned or abused dogs.

I like Sweet Home Doberman & German Shepherd rescue because of their philosophy of educating the public about both breeds due to often inaccurate assumptions or misunderstandings.

Anyone that’s owned German Shepherds will tell you they are loyal, protective, affectionate, and will cling to you like velcro, even following you to the bathroom! Instead, they are often portrayed as aggressive when any aggressive behavior is due to fear caused by insufficient socialization and training by the owner.

Rescued dogs are fully vaccinated, microchipped, health checked, and spayed or neutered before adoption. Although based in Alabama, the rescue will consider all applications.

Alabama German Shepherd Rescues and Shelters

If you live in Alabama, You should also search local animal shelters in your neighborhood. Because many people do not understand the breed-specific needs of German Shepherds, they are a common breed to be found in general animal shelters and rescues.

Also, people giving up their German Shepherds who can no longer care for them often surrender their dogs to any general shelter instead of a specific German Shepherd rescue.

Below are some rescues and shelters in Alabama that can help you find the German Shepherd you’re looking for.

1. Hard Knocks Rescue and Training

This rescue program is focused on positive reinforcement and mutual respect to help dogs adapt from a neglectful or abusive past. Before finding its permanent home, the traumatized dog can take as much time as it needs to adjust and grow comfortable in a home setting. They also offer a training service to ensure all dogs have the best chance with their new family.

2. Animal Rescue Foundation

Serving the Greater Mobile area since 1995, the Animal Rescue Foundation believes every life matters. They aim to rescue dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters and provide care before finding them a home. Check out their website for any German Shepherds that need a home.

3. Alabama Animal Adoption Society

The Alabama Adoption Society has been helping stray dogs and unwanted family pets find loving and responsible homes since 1977. It also has a mission to educate people on the importance of spaying or neutering pets to reduce the pet population.

4. A New Leash On Life

You can’t fault the dedication of this organization, as its goal is to “save all Alabama’s homeless animals.” They aim to do this by reducing the number of animals euthanized in shelters and by reducing homeless pets on the streets of Alabama’s communities.

Why Rescue a German Shepherd in Alabama?

You now have a list of rescues, shelters, and organizations you can adopt a German Shepherd in Alabama.

Adopting a dog is a life-changing decision and a huge commitment. You’ll need to get all the family on board to share doggy chores, including ongoing socialization, training, and essential daily care. Here’s why you should consider adopting a German Shepherd in Alabama.

1. Alabama animal shelters are overcrowded

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Alabama residents surrendered their dogs due to hardship. People lost their jobs and couldn’t afford to keep their pets. Animal shelters in the Gulf South are overflowing with animals.

By adopting such a dog, you’ll be giving them a second chance at a good quality of life which they deserve. Furthermore, many animals in shelters have a history of neglect, cruelty, and abandonment – and rescuing saves lives.

2. Less expensive than buying

Adopting a German Shepherd is always much cheaper than buying one from a breeder.

Animals in shelters are frequently spayed, neutered, and vaccinated, saving you a lot of money and ensuring that the dog you’re taking home is healthy.

In addition, most shelters only charge a nominal adoption fee (which is a small part of the costs the shelter incurs for the dog’s care).

Caring for a dog is not cheap. Check out this article for greater insight; Costs of Owning a German Shepherd: With 21 Examples!

3. Reduce the pet population

Puppies are always in high demand, and unfortunately, pet shops and puppy farms engage in mass breeding to profit from this.

Adopting an older German Shepherd can help reduce the unethical and illegal breeding of puppies for profit and prevent the vicious circle of pet overpopulation, which results in thousands of dogs being euthanized each month.

Alabama German Shepherd Clubs

Keeping pace with local German Shepherd clubs could also be an excellent idea for you on your journey to adopt and raise a rescue German Shepherd.

It’s an opportunity to meet other like-minded German Shepherd owners, get referrals for service providers like trainers, groomers, vets, and pet-sitters, and attend or participate in local events.

Here are 2 German Shepherd clubs in Alabama and their websites:

• Central Alabama Schutzhund Club: alabamaschutzhund.com
• GSDC of South Alabama: gsdca.org/join-the-gsdca/regional-clubs/southeast/1149-gsdc-of-south-alabama

Helpful German Shepherd Articles

If you’re still undecided about rescuing a German Shepherd, or if you need more information, these articles can help:

• Are German Shepherds Good Family Dogs? Let’s Bust The Myths!
• Exactly How Much Space Do German Shepherds Need?
• Male vs. Female German Shepherd: Which Should You Get?
• New German Shepherd: Bringing a Puppy Home & What to Expect
• Are German Shepherds Bad? 8 Reasons NOT to Get a GSD

Here’s my pick of the best orthopedic beds for German Shepherds, where you can also find out which bed my German Shepherd Willow sleeps on. Also, click here for a list of the best chew toys for GSDs.

Thinking of moving to nearby Florida, or do you want to search for a rescue GSD further afield? Look no further than 5 German Shepherd Rescues in Florida.

Final Thoughts

I love that you’re considering adopting a rescue German Shepherd.

German Shepherds are one of the best breeds globally and have lots of love to share. They are very protective, intelligent, affectionate, and loyal. Watch out, though, as they are pretty clingy and don’t like to be left alone for too long. They shed a lot and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, so ensure this breed is right for you.

And if you’re looking for more information about training German Shepherds, you’ll love my complete guide, How to Train a German Shepherd: 7 Quick and Easy Ways.

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