Pennsylvania has more breed specific German Shepherd rescues than most other states, so if you are looking for a German Shepherd in Pennsylvania, you are likely to be in luck.
Pennsylvania also has a number of German Shepherd rescues that operate out of a facility where dogs are housed, which is different from the typical private rescues that operate only out of foster homes.
This means that you may have the opportunity to go to an individual location and meet several available dogs, which many people find appealing.
If you are interested in adopting a German Shepherd in Pennsylvania, the chances are very good that one of the following rescues will have the perfect dog for you.
1.) Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary (Greentown, PA)
Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary Inc is a 501c3 non-profit rescue located in Greentown, Pennsylvania.
It has been in existence since 2011.
The goal of this rescue is to take in older German Shepherds, typically 8 years and older.
Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary was founded by Dawn Mimnaugh, whose love of German Shepherds started when she was a small child.
She began volunteering with a German Shepherd rescue in 2005 and fostered a 10-year-old German Shepherd who had been surrendered to a shelter when his owner was deployed to the military.
Her experience with this dog, named Woody, was what caused her to start this rescue.
Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary takes in German Shepherds that otherwise would not be likely to find a home.
Some of the dogs in their care are adopted out, while others stay at the sanctuary for life.
Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary chooses whether to keep a dog at the sanctuary or adopt it out based on a number of factors.
They are likely to keep very old dogs that may have difficulty adapting to another home, dogs with medical conditions like degenerative myelopathy or fecal or urinary incontinence, or behavioral issues.
Once Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary commits to a resident dog, they keep that dog for the entirety of its lifetime and treat whatever medical conditions it may have.
If you don’t want to adopt a German Shepherd but would like to support the resident dogs at Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary you can sponsor them.
You can also volunteer with dogs at the shelter, which can be a wonderful way to get to know German Shepherds and decide whether this breed is right for you.
You can transport dogs, take them for walks at the sanctuary, or foster.
You can even forever foster, which means that you will keep a dog for the duration of its lifetime but the rescue will pay veterinary expenses and support other aspects of the dog’s care.
- You can view their available German Shepherds for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 183 Hemlock Grove Road Greentown PA 18426
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: wpsgss.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
2.) Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue
Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue operates out of a facility in the mountains of Schuylkill County, PA.
They take in dogs from shelters and also rescue owner surrenders.
The founder of Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue grew up in a family that bred German Shepherds.
She began to raise and train them at a very young age.
As an adult, she worked with animals throughout her life and eventually went into shelter management and animal control.
She recognized that many shepherds, a breed she had loved for all her life, were in need, and therefore started Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue.
Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue operates out of a beautiful adoption center with multiple runs.
These kennels have plenty of room indoors and out.
They allow sunlight into the kennels while protecting them from the elements.
Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue also has a lovely meet-and-greet area where you can get to know the dogs.
Outside yards provide plenty of places for the dogs to run.
If you would like to adopt a dog from Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue, just submit an adoption application.
Applications remain on file for 12 months, so you can submit one and then wait to find the perfect dog for you.
Prices are based on age, with puppies under six months old being $500 and adult dogs (8 yrs+) being $150.
Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue has a “Seniors for Seniors” program which places dogs that are over eight years old with people 65 years and older for a reduced rate.
There’s also a discount of $50 for military veterans.
Dogs can be adopted out to New England states, but you will need to travel to the shelter location to meet the dog.
You can also foster for Char-Wills German Shepherd Rescue, which is a great way to get acquainted with German Shepherd ownership without making a commitment.
- View their available German Shepherds for adoption here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: PO Box 132 New Ringgold PA 17960
- Website: charwillsrescue.com
- Social Media: Facebook | Instagram
3.) German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania
German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a long-standing rescue, having been in existence since 1999.
Most of the dogs that they take in come from shelters in the surrounding counties.
German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania strives to help you find the perfect dog for your family.
They will work hard to help match you to the perfect German Shepherd for you.
Adoption fees are based on the age of the dog.
Dogs over six years are $100, one to six years are $200, and under a year are $300.
German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania adopts out dogs in their care that are either kept at a boarding facility or in a foster home.
They also give you three other ways to find the right German Shepherd for you.
Owner referral dogs are listed by the rescue as a service to people who need to find a new home for their dog.
This is a great way to reduce the stress that German Shepherds have to go through during the rehoming process since they can stay in their current home until they find an adopter.
You can also find a list of dogs currently at shelters that have not yet been pulled by a rescue.
This can be a great way to find a dog at a reduced rate since most shelters don’t charge nearly as much as rescues for a dog.
However, it’s important to note that these dogs may have medical or behavioral issues that have not been addressed.
You can also find dogs listed at other rescue organizations.
Fostering is a wonderful way to help out at German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
All of their dogs are either housed in foster homes or at boarding facilities.
If kept at boarding facilities, the rescue must pay boarding expenses.
By fostering, you can save a dog’s life or save the rescue money to spend on saving more dogs.
View their available German Shepherds here.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 9012 Cargill Lane Philadelphia PA 19115
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: gsr-sp.com
- Social Media: Facebook
4.) Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue
Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue operates throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including in Pennsylvania.
For over 20 years, they have rescued German Shepherds in need, including dogs with serious medical conditions.
They have rescued over 4,200 dogs.
They also post community outreach events to encourage responsible pet ownership and population control.
They work hard with adopters to make sure that each dog that they adopt out is a great fit and to ensure that it will be able to stay with its new family for life.
They publish their intakes and outcomes, which can set your mind at ease when working with this rescue.
Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue relies heavily on their foster homes, and they make it very easy for you to choose a dog to foster.
When you are looking at available dogs on their website, they will also list whether that dog is in need of a foster.
Fostering can be a great way to get to know a particular dog before you decide to commit to adoption and is also a good way to try owning a couple of German Shepherds before you decide on the right one for you.
Lots of information is provided for every dog at the rescue, so whether you want to foster or adopt, you can feel confident that you can select a dog that you will have a lot of information about, which can be very helpful.
If a dog is deemed potentially unadoptable, it will stay with Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue for life.
Dogs are only euthanized if they have extremely dangerous behavior or medical conditions that mean they can’t have a high quality of life.
If you are looking for a fair amount of selection in the German Shepherd that you adopt or foster, Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue is a great option.
They generally have a wide variety of German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes available at any time.
- View their available German Shepherds for adoption here, you can also choose between male and female.
Rescue and Adoption Details
5.) Pennsylvania SPCA
Pennsylvania SPCA is an extremely large rescue.
While they aren’t a breed specific rescue, because they take in so many dogs, especially dogs that may otherwise be euthanized at county shelters, there is a very good chance that they will have German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes available at any time.
There are four separate locations from which to adopt a dog, and between all of them, there are many dogs to choose from.
View their large list of available dogs for adoption here.
Pennsylvania SPCA takes owner surrenders when they meet particular criteria and when the rescue has space.
This is a no-kill shelter that saves 97% of its animals.
They never euthanize for space or because a dog has been at the shelter for too long, so if you need to find a new home for your German Shepherd, this may be a good option.
You can also foster through Pennsylvania SPCA, which can be a great opportunity to get acquainted with owning a German Shepherd and decide whether you want one of your own.
Fostering also gives you the opportunity to be on the front lines for dogs coming in, so you will have a better chance of finding a German Shepherd to adopt.
Rescue and Adoption Details
- Address: 350 E Erie Ave Philadelphia PA 19134
- Phone: (215) 426-6300
- Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
- Website: pspca.org
- Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
What You Need To Know Before Adopting A German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world, and one of the most unique.
Owning a German Shepherd is unlike owning any other kind of dog.
These dogs are known as some of the best workers of any breed.
To be happy they need to have a job to do.
You don’t actually have to put your German Shepherd to work, but it’s best that you engage them in an activity that they can become immersed in, such as nose work, agility, or advanced obedience.
Pretty much anything that you want to do with your German Shepherd, they will be up to.
German Shepherds tend to have a high prey drive, which means that they may chase smaller animals, so they may not always be a good match for homes with cats or other small pets.
German Shepherds were originally bred for herding.
This instinct may be undesirable when your German Shepherd tries to herd other pets or children.
German Shepherds are naturally protective, and if their behavior is not carefully guided and if they are not trained properly, this protectiveness can result in aggression.
When German Shepherds lose their families, they often react poorly.
These dogs are highly loyal and bond closely with their families, so being surrendered to a shelter or abandoned can be very difficult for them.
You will need to take time to let your German Shepherd decompress before you can expect them to be the wonderful pet they can be.
Final Thoughts On German Shepherd Rescues In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a great place to adopt a German Shepherd, with lots of breed specific rescues to choose from.
By getting in touch with some of the rescues listed here, you have an excellent chance of finding the perfect German Shepherd for you.
Whether you want a purebred or a mix, and whether you are looking for a puppy, an adult, or an older German Shepherd, you will find one at a shelter or rescue near you.