There are plenty of homeless German Shepherds in Michigan, so if you are interested in finding this breed, you are likely to be in luck.
However, there are not very many breed-specific rescues for German Shepherds in Michigan.
By continuing to check the adoptable dogs listed with these rescues, you have a very good chance of finding the perfect German Shepherd for you.
Here are the best rescues from which to adopt a German Shepherd in Michigan that we have found.
1.) Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue operates east of the Mississippi.
They operate out of Indiana, but rescue, take owner surrenders, and adopt out to everywhere east of the Mississippi, including Michigan.
They primarily rescue white shepherds, although they will occasionally rescue other colors of German Shepherds and mixed breed dogs as well.
They will take just about any white shepherd in need, including dogs with serious medical conditions.
Their primary goal is to choose dogs that are behaviorally able to be placed into an adoptive home.
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue is willing to put in the work to make sure each dog has the medical care it needs, regardless of how extensive, as long as the dog can then be placed into an adoptive home.
Most of the dogs at this rescue come from animal control facilities.
They also take owner surrenders from those who can no longer take care of their dog.
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue can only take in dogs if they have a foster home in which to place it.
Since many dogs have extensive medical conditions that need to be taken care of before they can be adopted out.
They often spend a long time in foster homes, which makes having enough foster homes a challenge.
Volunteers transport dogs from state to state when necessary for it to find an appropriate foster home.
Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue’s primary goal is to place homeless dogs into loving families, but they also strive to:
- Educate the public about this unique breed
- Promote responsible care
- Provide ongoing support to adopters even after the adoption is final
When a dog comes into Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue, they are provided with whatever medical care they need and placed into a foster home.
This rescue does not have a physical shelter location and operates entirely with the help of foster homes.
Behavior and temperament are evaluated while the dogs are in foster homes so that an appropriate forever home can be found for each dog.
Fosters socialize the dogs as much as they can and also work on basic manners.
If you want to adopt a dog from Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue, you will need to be a minimum of 21 years old.
Fill out the application online and submit a $20 non-refundable application fee.
The rescue will call your references and your veterinarian, then conduct a home visit.
If everything is approved, they will begin working with you to match you to a dog.
- You can also view available dogs for adoption here.
Volunteers will transport the dog to you if necessary.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: echodogs.org
- Social Media: Facebook
2.) Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) – (Pontiac, MI)
Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) is one of the largest animal rescues in Michigan.
While they don’t exist specifically to rescue German Shepherds, there is a very good chance that they will have German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes available at any given time since they are such a large and significant rescue.
They have served the community since 1953 and have an advanced behavioral enrichment protocol that makes them unique among other animal shelters.
Unlike many rescues, they have a physical shelter; they don’t just operate out of foster homes.
However, they know that keeping dogs in shelters can have detrimental effects.
This is especially true for highly sensitive and often protective dogs like the German Shepherd.
They know that if simply warehoused in a cage, German Shepherds may become protective of the space and aggressive towards people, which can make them unadoptable.
Therefore, Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) makes sure that every dog in their care gets plenty of quality time with caregivers and lots of exercise and training.
Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) often takes in dogs that have been turned away from other rescues or shelters or are at risk of euthanasia in county shelters.
This often includes German Shepherds, since German Shepherds tend not to do very well in a shelter environment.
They will take the time to provide the physical and mental rehabilitation that German Shepherds need to make them ready to go into a home.
Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) will take owner surrenders under some circumstances.
Often, the dogs they take as owner surrenders are dogs that would have fared very poorly in the shelter system, which often includes German Shepherds.
Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) learns a lot about the dogs that come into their system, which can set your mind at ease when you are adopting a powerful breed like a German Shepherd.
You can also feel good about considering dogs at this rescue since they never euthanize for space, but only when it is absolutely necessary because dogs are not able to be rehabilitated from physical or behavioral problems.
- View their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 790 Featherstone Pontiac MI 48342
- Phone: (248) 335-9290
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: marleague.org
- Social Media: YouTube
3.) Michigan Humane – (Bingham Farms, MI)
Michigan Humane is the oldest and biggest nonprofit animal welfare organization in the entire state, having been founded in 1877.
It moves more than 8,000 animals through its system each year, so you can expect to find German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes with this rescue at any given time.
The rescue has three separate adoption centers as well as four veterinary centers.
It also partners with pet stores like PetSmart and Petco to host adoption events.
Therefore, it’s very easy to check out the adoptable dogs at Michigan Humane.
- You can see their available dogs here.
By keeping up with their social media and checking for adoptable animals regularly, you have a very good chance of finding a German Shepherd available through this group.
If you would like to adopt a dog from Michigan Humane, you must be at least 18 years old.
Be sure to bring your driver’s license with you when you go to meet one of their dogs.
Michigan Humane asks that all members of the household come to meet the pet, but they understand that this isn’t always possible.
However, in some cases and with some dogs, they may require that all members of the household come.
For instance, if a dog is known to be hesitant around a certain gender or around children, you may be asked to bring anyone of that gender or any children in your home to meet the dog.
If you have dogs already, Michigan Humane asks that you bring them to meet the new dog before you bring it home.
A trained adoption counselor will meet with you and go over everything you need to know about the dog before you go home.
If you are not sure whether you are ready to own a German Shepherd yet, fostering through Michigan Humane can be the perfect solution.
This is commitment free way to get acquainted with German Shepherd ownership and can even let you know whether a particular German Shepherd is right for you before you commit to them for good.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 30300 Telegraph Road Suite 220 Bingham Farms MI 48025-4507
- Phone: (866) 648-6263
- Website: michiganhumane.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
4.) Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR) – (Belleville, MI)
Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR) is a unique rescue that has been in existence since 2003.
They offer a great combination of a foster home based organization and a shelter rescue.
They are housed on a 6 ½ acre farm with several barns to accommodate kennels for the dogs as well as rooms for cats.
They have a designated dog play area, a place for pets and families to get acquainted, and plenty of room to take dogs for walks and play with them in the open.
If you would like to meet multiple dogs at a time but you would rather avoid the stress of a shelter environment when meeting your potential new pet, Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR) is a great option.
This is also a great place to get a German Shepherd or German Shepherd mix, since the dog may be spared from the stress of being housed in a traditional kennel environment.
This tends to be so hard on a sensitive breed like the German Shepherd.
If you would like to adopt a dog from Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR), just fill out the application online.
The rescue will then contact you to set up an appointment to meet the dog.
It may not be a bad idea to fill out an application and let Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR) know that you are looking for a German Shepherd even if you don’t see a dog you would like to adopt available at the time.
This rescue is constantly pulling dogs from shelters and if they know that you are looking for a German Shepherd they may keep their eyes out for one for you.
- You can view their available dogs for adoption here.
If you are not quite ready to bring a dog home yet, it’s a great idea to volunteer with Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR).
You can spend time working with dogs in a wonderful farm environment and get a better sense of exactly what you want in a dog and whether a German Shepherd is right for you.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 51299 Arkona Rd Belleville MI 48111
- Phone: (734) 461-9458
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: friendsofmichigan.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
5.) Claws and Paws Rescue – (West Branch, MI)
Claws and Paws Rescue was founded by Mary Koliba as a legacy for her daughter.
Her daughter and son were always bringing home homeless animals that they found, and this became an important part of their family story.
However, when Mary’s daughter died in a tragic car accident, mother and son began to pursue animal rescue as a way to do some good in her name.
The rescue has found homes for over 1,200 animals.
They are committed to the no-kill movement and do not euthanize except in the most dire of circumstances.
Because this rescue takes some of the animals most likely to otherwise be rescued, there’s a very good chance that they will have German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes available.
Furthermore, because this is a relatively small rescue that is constantly seeking to rescue animals whenever possible, they may be able to find a shepherd for you as they seek out animals to rescue at local shelters.
If you would prefer to get to know the dog you want to adopt before making a commitment, Claws and Paws Rescue is a great option for you.
This rescue allows their fosters to adopt the dogs they foster most of the time, so you can foster a German Shepherd through them.
If you decide that it’s a good match, you can keep your dog.
Claws and Paws Rescue also does hospice fosters when a dog is in too poor of health to be adopted out.
You will keep the dog for the remainder of its life and the rescue will pay for all expenses.
If you would like to adopt from Claws and Paws Rescue, just fill out an application on their website.
All of the current pets in your home must be spayed or neutered and up-to-date on all of their vaccinations.
You must also be at least 21 years of age to adopt a dog from this rescue.
Adoptions are only conducted within the state of Michigan.
- You can view their dogs available for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 313 W Houghton Ave Ste B West Branch MI 48661
- Phone: (989) 345-2479
- Website: clawsandpawsrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook
6.) Few Steps From Home – (Gladwin, MI)
Few Steps From Home is committed to saving the dogs that are least likely to be adopted.
This means that there is a very good chance that they will have German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes available.
They also partner with a Malamute rescue, and since Malamute and German Shepherd mixes are quite common at this rescue.
There is a very good chance that they will have a Malamute German Shepherd mix available at any given time.
This rescue is a little bit unusual in that they keep animals in foster homes like most private rescues do, but they also have a sanctuary.
The rescue is run by a small group of individuals that work closely together and feel like family.
When dogs are rescued from Few Steps From Home, their medical needs are treated and they are spayed, neutered, and vaccinated as needed.
When Few Steps From Home takes in a dog that has such significant medical or behavioral problems that they are not able to be adopted, those animals are kept at the sanctuary.
You can feel good about adopting a dog from Few Steps From Home because you will know that if you decide not to adopt a particular dog, they will still have a chance at a good life at the sanctuary.
If you would like to adopt from Few Steps From Home, expect to pay between $75 and $350.
Adoption fees vary dramatically depending on the age and medical condition of the dog as well as other variables.
If you would like to adopt, you must be at least 21 years old, and fill out the adoption application.
Few Steps From Home encourages you to understand the breed that you are adopting, which may be particularly important for the German Shepherd breed, since this breed has such specific needs.
If you are not sure whether you are ready to adopt, fostering through Few Steps From Home is a great option.
Fosters are provided with all of the help they need to provide excellent care for the animal.
This is a great way to get acquainted with pet ownership in a commitment free way.
You can view their available dogs for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 1020 N. M30 Gladwin MI 48624
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: fewstepsfromhome.com
- Social Media: Facebook
About Adopting A German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a unique breed with particular needs.
This breed is considered to be one of the best working dogs there is.
As such, they require an owner who understands the needs of a working dog.
German Shepherds have a lot of drive, which means they often need to have a job to do or feel like they have a job or they will come up with one on their own.
Luckily, German Shepherds excel at just about everything.
You can train your German Shepherd in agility, nose work, advanced obedience, and much more.
These dogs are also wonderful for what they were originally bred to do – herding.
German Shepherds tend to have a prey drive, which means that they may chase small animals like cats or smaller dogs.
They also tend to herd, whether you have livestock or not, which can be a frustrating behavior with children and sometimes with other pets.
German Shepherds are natural protectors, which is one of the things that people tend to love about this breed.
If they are not handled properly, those protective instincts can become aggression, particularly towards people coming onto your property.
German Shepherds tend to be very loyal and bond closely with their humans, which means that they often do not respond well to being rehomed.
They also are one of the breeds most likely to suffer and develop behavioral issues when kept in a shelter environment.
It’s important that you understand the unique needs of a German Shepherd before you bring one home.
Be sure you understand how being abandoned and kept in a shelter can affect a German Shepherd before you adopt this breed.
Final Thoughts On German Shepherd Rescues In Michigan
Michigan doesn’t have many breed specific German Shepherd rescues, but there are no shortages of German Shepherds who need your help in this state.
By keeping an eye on the rescues listed here, you have an excellent chance of finding the perfect German Shepherd for you.
Keep in mind that you can often contact rescues even if they do not currently have German Shepherds available.
Many rescues pull from local shelters, and if they know that they have a potential adopter interested in adopting a German Shepherd, they can look specifically for this breed.
Be patient and committed, and you are sure to find a wonderful German Shepherd for you in Michigan.