The German Shepherd is a unique breed, able to do a wide range of jobs, including being a wonderful pet for you.

If you are looking for German Shepherd rescues in Arizona, you are very likely to find one in this area.

There seems to be many German Shepherds that need rescuing in this state.

Here are some of the best places to rescue a German Shepherd in Arizona.

1.) Saving Paws Rescue Arizona

Saving Paws Rescue Arizona exists to rescue German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois dogs.

They are based in Phoenix Arizona.

In the past, they have accepted owner surrendered dogs as well as saving dogs from shelters and breeders, but because their space is currently limited, they are not accepting owner-surrendered dogs at this time.

Since they were founded in 2012, Saving Paws Rescue Arizona has saved over 1,700 lives.

Saving Paws Rescue Arizona was founded by a volunteer with the local animal shelter, Trisha Houlihan.

She noticed how many German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois were listed for euthanasia.

She knew that these dogs required specific resources, so she created a rescue specifically for them.

In 2018, someone who had adopted from Saving Paws Rescue Arizona in the past donated five acres of land to the rescue.

The rescue plans to build a facility on this space where they can safely house dogs.

Saving Paws Rescue Arizona is supported by Kenric Hwang, the founder of the Max and Neo company.

He started fostering for the rescue seven years ago.

In an attempt to raise additional funds, Max and Neo will donate gifts to the supporters of the rescue.

If you donate to Saving Paws Rescue Arizona, you could receive collars, treats, beds, or more.

If you would like to adopt a German Shepherd of any age, Saving Paws Rescue Arizona is a great place to look.

They have young puppies, adolescent dogs, and seniors available.

They also have purebreds and mixed breed dogs.

You can view their current list of dogs available for adoption here.

If you are interested in adopting from this rescue, just submit an application.

Be patient, as it may take as many as five days for the application to be reviewed.

If approved, a meet and greet with one of the dogs that you are interested in will be arranged.

If you are not sure whether you are ready to own a German Shepherd, it’s a great idea to consider fostering.

This is a wonderful way to get acquainted with this unique breed.

If you would love to give a permanent home to a German Shepherd but you don’t want to take on the responsibility of ownership, the Love for Life program may be perfect for you.

This program places dogs that are at high risk of euthanasia that would otherwise have a difficult time being adopted out because of their health, age, or behavior into permanent or semi-permanent foster homes

Saving Paws Rescue Arizona also has a sanctuary where they keep dogs that cannot find an adopter or foster home.

Some of these dogs display behavior that could be very problematic in the community, such as aggression.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: PO Box 87148, Phoenix AZ 85080
• Website: savingpawsrescueaz.org
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

2.) Southwest German Shepherd Rescue

Southwest German Shepherd Rescue partners with White German Shepherd Rescue.

Both rescues strive to rescue German Shepherds in need.

If you are interested in adopting a white German Shepherd, a color that can often be hard to find, this is definitely the rescue for you, as they often have a number of white German Shepherds available.

Typically, they take dogs from shelter situations, breeders or puppy mills, and from the public.

However, at this time they are not able to take dogs from the public because they are at capacity.

For that reason, they state that they are desperately in need of foster homes.

If you are interested in getting to know what it’s like to have a German Shepherd, fostering from Southwest German Shepherd Rescue is a great way to do it.

You are welcome to foster as long as you can bring dogs to adoption events or to partner vets several weekends a month.

If you are willing to make the drive, you may be considered for fostering.

It’s also important to have a secure fenced yard and plenty of time and patience to work with a dog who may need some extra help.

If you would like to adopt a German Shepherd from Southwest German Shepherd Rescue, they ask that you carefully read the information they provide about whether a German Shepherd is right for you as well as their policies.

They are very particular about where they place dogs.

It’s necessary to have a securely fenced yard and a clean sleeping area.

On some occasions, special needs or senior dogs may be placed into apartments.

For every adoption, there is a two-week trial to give you the opportunity to be confident that the dog is right for you.

Southwest German Shepherd Rescue rarely place more than one dog in the same household, as they believe that German Shepherds typically need more individual attention than can be given in a multi-dog household and because German Shepherds sometimes don’t get along with same-gender dogs.

They also discourage you from adopting a German Shepherd if you have livestock that cannot be safely contained away from the dog or if you have small pets.

German Shepherds are natural herding dogs who want to chase livestock and often have prey drive that may cause them to chase and potentially hurt small pets.

You can view their German Shepherds available here.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Phone: (602) 866-2880
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: swgermanshepherdrescue.com
• Social Media: Facebook

3.) Arizona Humane Society

Arizona Humane Society rescues all breeds, not just German Shepherds, but if you look at their available pets at any given time, you are almost guaranteed to see a German Shepherd or German Shepherd mix.

Arizona Humane Society rescues dogs from the kill shelters in the area, and German Shepherds are one of the most common dogs surrendered to these shelters.

Arizona Humane Society was founded in 2013.

The county in which they work, Maricopa County, was, at that time, one of the worst places for homeless vets.

Shelters were dramatically overfilled and many pets were euthanized for space.

Since Arizona Humane Society was founded in 2013, euthanasia has been reduced by 83%, which is over 130,000 lives that have been saved.

This is a no-kill shelter that takes in the animals that would have been most likely to be euthanized, including dogs who are sick, injured, or have medical needs.

It also includes dogs that have behavioral concerns, which is very common for German Shepherds since they are naturally protective and highly driven and don’t do well in a shelter environment.

Arizona Humane Society also takes in lots of pregnant dogs who have puppies on their campus, so you may even be able to find a German Shepherd or German Shepherd mix puppy at this rescue.

If you would like to adopt a dog from the Arizona Humane Society, you can schedule an appointment to visit a dog you are interested in at the South Mountain Campus or you can visit them at PetSmart in Old Town Scottsdale.

Adoption fees vary significantly from over $600 for a puppy to around half of that for a mature dog.

Some dogs even have adoption fees sponsored so you can bring them home for free.

Many of the dogs with Arizona Humane Society are in foster care, so you can know a lot about them before you bring them home.

If you would like to get to know what it’s like to own a German Shepherd before you bring one home, fostering with the Arizona Humane Society is a great idea.

You will get lots of support from this large organization and you can choose the foster dog you like so you can be confident of getting a German Shepherd to foster.

If you need to find a new home for your pet, Arizona Humane Society is a great option.

They don’t euthanize for space or because of how long a dog has been with the rescue, so you can have more confidence of a good outcome for your pet by surrendering them than you would by taking them to a shelter.

There is a $90 rehoming fee per dog or per litter of puppies.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Phone: (602) 997-7585
• Website: azhumane.org
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

4.) Almost There Rescue

If you have your heart set on a German Shepherd puppy, Almost There Rescue is a great option for you.

This rescue focuses on rescuing pregnant large breed dogs and giving them somewhere safe to have their puppies.

Their facility has all of the resources required to give puppies the best possible start in life.

On-site behaviors work with the mama dogs to prepare them to be great pets as well.

While Almost There Rescue saves all types of dogs, because so many of the dogs that end up in the shelter system are German Shepherds or shepherd mixes, you are very likely to find a puppy or an entire litter of German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes available.

Adopting a mother dog is also a great option.

Many people consider mama dogs to be some of the best pets thanks to their caring, nurturing attitude.

You can visit the adoption center from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday or on weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to find the perfect dog for you.

Almost There Rescue takes special time to introduce you to their available puppies and help you find the perfect match for you.

If you are not sure whether you are ready for a new puppy, fostering or volunteering with Almost There Rescue is a great idea.

If you foster, you will be provided with all the supplies you need and given lots of support to make sure that you succeed.

You may even have the opportunity to adopt a puppy from the litter, giving you a unique opportunity to get to know the puppies as they grow up and choose an individual who is perfect for you.

If you are not yet ready to bring a dog home, volunteering at the shelter can be the perfect opportunity, enabling you to get to know a variety of dogs and even stay with a litter of puppies from birth until adoption.

This is a unique opportunity to work with dogs in a brand-new way.

Almost There Rescue asks that you commit to two hours per week if at all possible so you have time to bond with puppies or dogs.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: 2611 E Indian School Rd Phoenix, AZ 85016
• Phone: (480) 336-9860
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: almostthererescue.org
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram

What Does Your German Shepherd Rescue Need From You?

Adopting a German Shepherd isn’t like adopting any other dog.

This breed has been described as the perfect working dog, and for good reason.

This breed has been incredibly successful working as seeing-eye dogs, service dogs for other needs, military dogs, police dogs, and more.

They are also great at what they were originally bred for – herding.

German Shepherds are high drive working dogs that can be very demanding, but they give back what you put into them.

That said, an extremely intelligent, high drive working dog that has ended up in the rescue system comes with some special challenges:

• Medical needs. German Shepherds are prone to a couple of problems, especially if they have been poorly bred, the most notable being hip and elbow issues. German Shepherd may have some problems with their joints or have arthritis as they get older.
• Protective. German Shepherds tend to be protective by nature, and since many German Shepherds in the rescue system have been poorly socialized, they may be especially protective and need careful handling.
• Anxious. When not socialized and exercised properly, German Shepherds can be prone to anxiety. You may find that your rescue suffers from separation anxiety, thunderstorm anxiety, or is generally anxious.

Your German Shepherd needs you to take the time to give them the love, training, and exercise that they require to be well-adjusted pets.

Keep in mind that it may take some time for your German Shepherd to adjust to your lifestyle, but if you give them the care that they need, you are likely to find your German Shepherd to be a very special pet.

Final Thoughts On Adopting From German Shepherd Rescues In Arizona

Unfortunately, Arizona may have more than its fair share of homeless German Shepherds.

County shelters in this area are often overflowing, and German Shepherds are among the dogs most likely to end up in the shelter system.

However, if you are looking for the perfect German Shepherd to be your next dog, Arizona is a great place to look.

There is a very good chance that you will find that perfect German Shepherd for you in one of the rescues listed here.