If you are looking for German Shepherd rescues in Georgia, you will almost certainly be able to find the perfect match for you at one of the rescues listed here.
While there are only a couple of breed specific rescues on this list, many of the rescues for all breeds typically have a German Shepherd available at any given time.
1.) Canine Pet Rescue (Lawrenceville, GA)
Canine Pet Rescue saves German Shepherds from high-kill shelters all over the south, including in Georgia.
They are unusual for a breed-specific rescue in that they have a kennel as well as foster homes, enabling them to be more flexible than many other rescues.
Canine Pet Rescue strives to place dogs in foster homes so that they will have a comfortable home environment where the rescue can learn about them. However, when they find a dog that needs rescue but they don’t have a foster home for the dog, they have space to hold the dog until a foster home opens up.
The kennel is a comfortable seven-run building on a horse farm owned by the founder of the rescue, Carla Brown.
Carla has been rescuing dogs for over a decade, but it was after owning German Shepherds and getting involved with the local Schutzhund Club that she started a rescue focused on saving German Shepherds.
All dogs that come into Canine Pet Rescue are:
- Spayed or neutered
- Brought up to date on vaccines
- Put on flea and heartworm preventative
- Microchipped
Dogs are carefully evaluated for temperament.
By the time Canine Pet Rescue puts a dog up for adoption, you can trust that they likely know a lot about the dog, which can be a huge advantage when you are adopting a powerful and intelligent breed like the German Shepherd.
Dogs also receive some basic training. They receive crate training, housebreaking and possibly more advanced training depending on the situation.
Usually, Canine Pet Rescue has between 10 and 20 dogs at any time. Adoption fees range between $250 and $400.
If you are not ready to adopt, but you would like to be involved, you can foster or volunteer with Canine Pet Rescue. Fostering is a great way to get acquainted with everything that goes into caring for a German Shepherd.
It also lets you try out a number of dogs until you find your perfect companion.
Canine Pet Rescue will always take dogs back if they don’t work out in your home. Since they have kennel space, it may be easier for them to accommodate you if you suddenly realize the dog can’t stay in your home for some reason than rescues that are entirely foster-based.
There are many ways you can volunteer with Canine Pet Rescue. You can help care for the dogs at the kennel, visit shelters to identify German Shepherds that need to be rescued, conducts home visits, and much more.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 248 Lawrenceville, GA 30046
- Phone: (855) 435-7473
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: caninepetrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
2.) German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia
The German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia was started in 2004 when the founder saw a need for a German Shepherd-specific rescue.
They have since helped hundreds of German Shepherds find appropriate homes. They mostly rescue dogs in metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
The German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia is 100% foster-based. All dogs are housed in foster homes until they are adopted.
If you would like to adopt a dog from the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia, you can see potential dogs available for adoption on their website.
They provide plenty of information about the dogs that are available, including whether they would prefer to be the only dog or if they do better with a playmate, any behavior issues they may be working on like a tendency to chew or jump fences, and what the ideal home for each dog would look like.
It’s important to note that not all the dogs with the rescue are listed on the website at any time. Dogs that are still working through health or behavioral issues will not be listed.
It’s a good idea to get in touch with the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia even if you don’t see a dog currently listed on the website that would be a good match for you.
By letting them know what you are looking for, you have a better chance of being matched with the perfect dog. If you are not ready to adopt yet but would like to work with German Shepherd dogs, volunteering with the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Georgia is a great solution.
You can foster dogs, learn everything you need to know about German Shepherd ownership, and take time to find the perfect dog for you.
You can also volunteer in smaller ways, like transporting dogs, reviewing applications, and being involved in marketing their available German Shepherds.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: gashepherd.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter
3.) Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue and Adoption (Kennesaw, GA)
Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue and Adoption isn’t a breed specific rescue for German Shepherds. They rescue dogs that would otherwise be euthanized at local shelters in Atlanta.
Many German Shepherds end up in county shelters and often don’t do well there, so this rescue is very likely to have a German Shepherd at any given time.
They often save dogs that are good candidates for adoption moments before they are euthanized. Many of these dogs require rehabilitation because they are injured or sick.
Mostly Mutts houses dogs, provides medical care and training, and provides everything dogs need until they can be placed in new homes.
If you would like to work with German Shepherds and other dogs, but you are not quite ready to adopt yet, volunteering with Mostly Mutts is a great idea. Volunteers entirely staff the shelter, working seven days a week to provide the care that the animals need. Volunteers also staff the front desk during business hours.
There are also plenty of more specific volunteering opportunities, like visits by shelter dogs to a nearby retirement home, a “Read to Dogs” program for children, seasonal hikes, and much more.
You can also foster with Mostly Mutts and provide a temporary home for a dog in need. Mostly Mutts will help match you with the exact dog you would like to foster, and help you find a German Shepherd that needs a temporary home.
The rescue covers all costs, so fostering will be free to you. There are even puppies frequently available so you can get to know an entire litter.
You can view their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 3238 Cherokee Street Kennesaw, GA 30144
- Phone: (770) 272-MUTT(6888)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: mostlymutts.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
4.) Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (Alpharetta, GA)
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue rescues the dogs most at risk at shelters and high-risk situations throughout Georgia. Although they aren’t a breed specific rescue, they end up with lots of German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes among the dogs in their program.
Many of the dogs that they rescue are breeding dogs that have been neglected or abused, as well as other dogs that haven’t been treated well and are ill or injured.
Many of the dogs that Angels Among Us Pet Rescue saves would otherwise have been euthanized.
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue was founded in 2009 by a group of people that saw a need for more dog rescues in Georgia.
In only 10 years, the rescue has saved over 19,000 dogs and cats.
They also strive to educate the public about the responsibilities of pet ownership to prevent dogs or cats from being neglected or abused in the future.
If you would like to adopt from Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, they can help you find the perfect match for you. They keep most of their dogs in foster homes, which means they know a lot about each dog.
You can keep an eye on their website to see the dogs that are available at any time. They often have German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes available, so just check-in regularly to see if there’s a dog available that meets your needs.
You will need to fill out an online application. Once it’s approved, typically within three business days, your references and veterinarian will be contacted and a meet-and-greet will be scheduled.
It’s not a bad idea to fill out an application with Angels Among Us Pet Rescue even if you don’t currently see a shepherd with the rescue that you would like to adopt. They will keep working with you to help you find the perfect dog for you and can alert you when a shepherd becomes available.
Fostering or volunteering with Angels Among Us Pet Rescue is a wonderful thing to do if you aren’t ready to adopt. You can keep dogs in your home, transport them, or help with marketing.
If you would like to foster a German Shepherd, you can let them know to contact you when one becomes available at the rescue.
When this was written, this rescue had 4 German Shepherds available for adoption:
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 821 Alpharetta, GA 30009
- Phone: (877) 404-5874
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: angelsrescue.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
5.) Furkids (Alpharetta, GA)
Furkids is a large rescue in Atlanta Georgia. They save a wide variety of dogs and cats from shelters and rescue them directly from bad situations.
While they are not breed-specific to German Shepherds, they typically have a German Shepherd in their rescue at any given time.
They rescue over 5,000 animals every year, so you can feel confident that a lot of dogs will move through this rescue, giving you time to find the perfect German Shepherd for you.
Furkids advertises dogs at PetSmart and Petco, which can make it easy for you to meet your potential new best friend.
You can browse through their website to see their available dogs for adoption. Most of the dogs have a very high-quality picture so you could get a good sense of what they look like. There are all different ages available, including puppies.
Since so many of Furkids’ dogs are housed in foster homes, you can learn a lot about each dog just by scanning their website. You can then submit an application and arrange to meet the dog. Keep in mind that adopters must be at least 21 years old.
Fostering or volunteering with Furkids is a great way to try out dog ownership without a commitment. Perhaps you think you want a German Shepherd, but would like to try out other breeds before you decide for sure.
By fostering, you can provide a temporary home for dogs in need. You can even foster a pregnant mom and get to know the puppies, giving you a unique opportunity to pick out the perfect dog for you. You can also volunteer by helping out at the shelter, transporting dogs, raising money, and more.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 1520 Union Hill Road Alpharetta, GA 30005
- Phone: (678) 624-1003
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: furkids.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
6.) PAWS Atlanta (Decatur, GA)
PAWS Atlanta rescues a wide variety of dogs in the Atlanta area. Most of their dogs are housed within a foster program that lets them rescue more animals, provide great socialization for the animals they rescue, and learn everything about a dog before they put them up for adoption.
While PAWS Atlanta isn’t a breed specific rescue, they rescue some of the dogs most in need, which often means they have German Shepherds available.
PAWS Atlanta is much older than most animal rescues, having been in operation since 1964. At that time, Animal Control departments in Georgia had very high euthanasia rates.
The founders of PAWS Atlanta earned money with car washes, bake sales, and other fundraising until they could start this rescue.
They are Georgia’s oldest no-kill animal shelter and have found homes for nearly 50,000 animals in the time that they have been operating.
If you would like to adopt from PAWS Atlanta, you need to be at least 21 years old and willing to allow a home inspection at the request of the rescue.
There are always lots of dogs available at PAWS Atlanta, but it’s easy to sort them out with tabs for behavior, age, and size. You can also contact the rescue to be matched with a German Shepherd when one becomes available.
If you are not quite ready for adoption, you will be glad to find that there are lots of ways to volunteer. PAWS Atlanta provides plenty of great training to their volunteers so you will feel fully equipped to get involved.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 5287 Covington Highway Decatur, GA 30035
- Phone: (770) 593-1155
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: pawsatlanta.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Final Thoughts On Adopting From German Shepherd Rescues In Georgia
If you are looking for German Shepherd rescues in Georgia, there is a good chance you will find one. Georgia has a very high percentage of homeless dogs, including German Shepherds.
Most rescues take in the dogs that are most in need either behaviorally or medically, and since German Shepherds tend not to do very well in a shelter environment, there is a good chance that even rescues that aren’t breed-specific will have a German Shepherd available at any given time.
When you adopt a German Shepherd from a Georgia rescue, keep in mind that there’s a good chance the dog has suffered abuse or neglect and will take time to adjust.
German Shepherds are loyal, intelligent, and can be prone to protectiveness, so being rehomed can be particularly challenging for them.
If you keep your eye out for available German Shepherds at the rescues listed here, you will likely find your ideal companion before you know it.
Keep in mind that fostering can be a great option to let you try out a number of different German Shepherds before you decide on the perfect dog for you.