Are you looking for a rescue in Florida?
In this article, you’ll find the best German Shepherd rescues to adopt your new best friend.
Plus, you’ll also find:
- Other resources to find rescue German Shepherds.
- Tips for how to make German Shepherd parenthood as easy as possible.
- And more…
Let’s dive in!

German Shepherd Rescues In Florida
Below is a list of German Shepherd rescues in Florida, their location, and their websites. These rescues will be helpful in your quest to adopt a German Shepherd:
1. Southwest Florida German Shepherd Rescue
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Website: swflgsdrescue.com
Phone number: 941 740 0074
Southwest Florida German Shepherd Rescue was founded by the Hoffer Family Foundation in 2007, and to date, they have found ‘forever homes’ for over 1500 dogs. Their dogs come from local shelters or direct from owners.
This German Shepherd rescue has a vital mission. They aim to give all dogs a “positive environment, healthy food, medical attention, socialization, and lots of love” to find their new families in local communities and throughout Florida.
They prefer potential adopters to have previously owned a GSD and understand the breed. Applicants must believe in good dog training and care and be able to invest the time and resources necessary to train and socialize the dog properly.
2. K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue
Location: Green Cove Springs, Florida
Website: k-9services.net
K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue is another well-established Floridian rescue, founded in 2005. Their mission is plain and simple – to re-home, foster, and rehabilitate as many dogs from shelters or surrendered from owners as possible.
The founder Nila Walden-Hughes was inspired to set up the rescue following the sudden passing of her beloved four-year-old German Shepherd. She has given her life to dogs and has always loved GSDs since she was a young child as she was raised by her visually impaired Grandparents and grew up with guide dogs, mainly German Shepherds.
She is a certified dog behavior consultant and canine trainer. After working in shelters for many years, she has an infectious passion for finding forever homes for all rescued German Shepherds in Florida.
All rescue dogs are thoroughly vetted and trained in obedience before new owners are matched and the dogs placed with their new families. The rescues are adopted as companions, working Service K9s, Police, Search and Rescue, or Emotional Support dogs.
Additionally, K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue has a quest to teach people about the breed’s exceptional nobility, intellect, and loyalty and educate people about the breed in general to prevent re-homing.
3. Daytona Beach German Shepherd Rescue
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Website: dbgsdrescue.org
Daytona Beach German Shepherd Rescue was established in 2013. They work out of the Daytona Beach and Jacksonville areas. They have a common goal to rescue as many homeless German Shepherds as they can by rehabilitating them and finding them approved families or individuals.
They adopt German Shepherds where they can support their volunteers and rescue representatives. Primarily, they focus on Cocoa Beach, Palm Coast, Titusville, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Orlando, and Jacksonville areas.
Daytona Beach German Shepherd Rescue is a foster home-based organization. They can only rescue a dog from a shelter or an individual once they have found a foster home where the dog can safely live while waiting for a permanent adoptive.
The foster home is frequently a lifesaver for the rescue. You can apply to foster a German Shepherd in need via their website.

4. Dreamcatcher German Shepherd Rescue
Location: Orlando, Florida
Website: dreamcatchergermanshepherdrescue.com
Phone number: 407-568-5468
Dreamcatcher German Shepherd Rescue has been operating since 2011. They are committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and careful re-homing of lost, abandoned, homeless German Shepherds to loving homes in Florida.
All rescues are adopted as indoor family pets, and Dreamcatcher German Shepherd Rescue will not allow dogs to be used as guard dogs or farm dogs.
5. Shepherd Help And Rescue Effort
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
Website: shepherdhelp.org
Phone number: 844-847-1250
Shepherd Help And Rescue Effort (S.H.A.R.E.) was formed in 2012. Their purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place German Shepherds in loving homes throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. They work tirelessly to save these majestic dogs from high-kill shelters around South Florida.
Many of the dogs they save are on their way to being euthanized or have medical conditions that require attention (such as heartworm disease or orthopedic issues from traumatic injuries).
This German Shepherd rescue relies entirely on volunteers who offer their time, money, and expertise to rescue German Shepherds. Their adoption process seeks to match the temperaments and needs of rescued dogs to those of potential adopters.
They are always looking for foster homes to give rescued German Shepherds the love, understanding, care, socialization, and exercise they need to leave their past behind and look forward to a new life in a new loving home.
6. Rescue Rebels
Location: Delray Beach, Florida
Website: rescuerebels.org
Phone Number: 954-416-0690
Rescue Rebels are a foster-based rescue helping German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes in Palm Beach County, Brevard County, Orange County, and Lake County areas of Florida. They started as a fundraising company for other rescues in 2015 and a year later became a rescue of their own.
Rescue Rebels’ primary mission is to provide a greater and improved life, fundamentally a “second chance” for pets left at shelters, surrendered by their owners, or who have been abused or neglected.
Through Rescue Rebels, companion animals are rescued, provided the physical care needed, spayed or neutered, and provided with behavioral guidance, socialization, and training where necessary.
Fosters are an integral part of their organization, and they’re always on the lookout for new volunteers.
They have a recent amazing story of a rescued GSD named Hannah from Orange County Animal Services. She had a host of issues, one being blind due to cataracts from untreated advanced diabetes, yet Rescue Rebels were able to gift her the gift of sight. You can read about her remarkable transformation here.

Florida 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 3 German Shepherd clubs in Florida and their websites:
Club | Website |
---|---|
German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida | gsdcnfl.wixsite.com/gsdc-of-north-fla |
Treasure Coast German Shepherd Dog Club | tcgsdc.org |
Gulf Coast Schutzhund Club | gcscfortmyers.com |
Helpful German Shepherd Articles
If you’re on the fence 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!
- 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
- Costs of Owning a German Shepherd: With 21 Examples!
Here’s my pick of the best orthopedic beds for German Shepherds, and you can find out which bed my German Shepherd Willow sleeps on. Also, click here for a list of the best dog crates.
Thinking of moving to nearby Alabama, or do you want to search for a rescue GSD further afield? Look no further than German Shepherd Rescues in Alabama.
Final Thoughts
I love that you’re considering adopting a rescue German Shepherd.
Although I’m biased, German Shepherds are the best dogs in the world and have lots of love to share. They are very protective, smart, affectionate, and loyal. Watch out, though, as they will even follow you to the bathroom! They do shed a lot and need lots of exercise and 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.