Working with a Breed Rescue
One of the best organizations through which to find a good, adoptable German shepherd is a German shepherd breed rescue. Breed rescues are national, regional, or local organizations that specialize in only one breed. They are comprised of experienced breeders, trainers, and owners of that breed. These people know everything about the breed and are great at evaluating dogs and matching dogs and owners based on compatibility.
If you are adopting an adult German shepherd through a breed rescue, you will have to endure a certain amount of screening. It may seem to be almost an invasion of privacy; however, rescues have to be extremely careful in selecting potential adopters. They want a rescued dog's adoptive home to be a permanent one, and they want new owners to be happy with the dogs they adopt.
The first thing you have to do is fill out a detailed application to adopt a rescued dog. The rescue will want to know such things as your experience with dogs, your past dogs' causes of death (did they live to a ripe old age or did they run away, never to be seen again?), the number and ages of any children in the home, what other pets are in the home, the size of your house and yard, and what your expectations are for your new shepherd.
Some breed rescues are independent; others are members of a large network of rescue groups. Many breed rescues network with each other to help place dogs, provide long-distance transportation, and share training and behavioral advice.
After you have turned in your application, you will receive a call from one of the rescue volunteers. This person will answer any questions you might have and ask you for additional information.
People have attempted to adopt rescue dogs for laboratory use, as bait for pit-fighting dogs, and for other unseemly operations. To this end, these phonies have also gone to such extremes as posing as a married couple or parents looking for a good family dog. It's no wonder rescues have to be careful.
If you pass the test up to this point, you'll be invited to meet some adult German shepherds. Either you'll be invited to one of the volunteer's homes to visit with dogs, or a volunteer may bring the dogs to your home. In addition to being able to talk to you in person, the volunteer wants to see how you react to the dogs. If you are preoccupied with picking hairs off your slacks or if your child runs screaming away from the dog, the volunteer will likely judge that you are not a good candidate for a shepherd rescue at this time.
Once you've been accepted to receive a rescue dog, you'll be placed on a waiting list. When the rescue receives a dog they think might be a match for you, they'll give you a call. Rescues try to make the best possible placements. If it looks like a particular dog may not adapt well to your lifestyle, or if he has issues that may be difficult for you to deal with, the rescue will wait until a more appropriate dog becomes available.
When you are finally introduced to the dog the rescue chooses for you, he will have been examined, received his vaccinations, and undergone tests for heartworm. The dog will have been in a foster home for at least ten days to a month, and his temperament will have been fully evaluated. It is likely, too, that the dog will be housetrained. Additionally, the dog will have received some obedience training and leash-walking skills.
Even if you've met all the criteria for adoption and you like the dog selected for you, the rescue still might not let you adopt this particular German shepherd. The reason for this is simple: Most rescues believe that it is not a true match until the dog chooses you. The rescue volunteer will be able to sense whether the dog feels comfortable with you.
The breed rescue from which you obtain your dog will be a lifelong source of information and assistance. You will find that these people are always willing to answer your questions and to assist you and your dog in any way possible.
After your new dog has chosen you, you will be asked to complete some paperwork. This will include a contract that allows the rescue to check up on the condition of the rescued dog at any time. The contract will also reserve the rescue group's right to take the dog back if he is found at any time to be neglected or abused. Additionally, the rescue will require you to return the dog if you can no longer take care of him for any reason.
