Are you searching for German Shepherd rescues in Australia? If you are looking for the best places to adopt a German Shepherd dog in Australia, you’ve come to the right place. There aren’t many things more adorable than a puppy’s good morning wiggles and breath kisses.
However, if an Australian family is considering adding a German Shepherd dog to your mix, adopting one from a rescue organization is much better and more humane than buying from a breeder. Thousands of German Shepherd dogs end up in shelters yearly at no fault, waiting for someone like you to provide them with a loving, forever home.
Some of these dogs end up in rescue organizations because they’ve been abandoned, abused, lost, or their owners can no longer care for them. These dogs are placed in foster care or rescues until they find their forever family like yours.
Before you scroll down this list of German Shepherd rescues in Australia, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Small Dog Rescues in Australia and Best Golden Retriever Rescues in Australia.
Find a German Shepherd Rescue Shelter Near Me in Australia
Adopting a German Shepherd dog is a life-changing decision and experience for you and the dog, and you must do it at the right organization. Check out our list of the best German Shepherd rescues in Australia to begin your journey of bringing home a deserving and adorable dog.
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1. German Shepherd Dog Rescue South Australia
German Shepherd Dog Rescue South Australia is on a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, medically treat, and rehome GSDs in South Australia. They also want to educate and support prospective and current German Shepherd dog owners about their unique needs. German Shepherd Dog Rescue South Australia Inc. is an organization dedicated to saving, rehabilitating, and rehoming abused, unwanted, and abandoned German Shepherds.
Educating owners and those unfamiliar with the breed increases public awareness of this breed’s situation. To ensure that their dogs are in a secure and safe environment to recover before finding their permanent homes, this rescue organization collaborates with breeders, veterinarians, behaviorists, trainers, and a network of foster carers.
While, sometimes, they have rescued German Shepherd dogs loved by their previous owners and need a new home due to relocation or loss of an owner, most have not been so lucky. Some dogs have had a sad past – neglected, abused, found roaming the streets, dumped in shelters, and more. However, regardless of the condition in which the dogs are found, GSDRSA does not relent in saving them.
They save these dogs and provide them with all the love, care, and support they need to live healthy and happy lives. Some of these dogs need proper medical care and are attended to immediately. Some dogs require proper training, while others lack or have inadequate socialization, making them aggressive around other dogs.
They work hard to find their rescue pets the best and most compatible forever homes so they can attain their full potential. They are accessible to their adopters before the adoption and throughout the trial period to respond to inquiries to help achieve a successful placement.
Their rescue dogs are not for you if you are hesitant to keep your dog through good times and bad during home moves, vacations, or family changes. Also, adopting a dog from this rescue might be difficult if you have small children and other pets. However, they have dogs trained to live with cats.
German Shepherd Dog Rescue South Australia Details
- Address: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Website: German Shepherd Dog Rescue South Australia
- Email Address: [email protected]
2. Sweet Shepherd Rescue Australia Inc.
Sweet Shepherd Rescue Australia is another renowned rescue organization that is all out for German Shepherd dogs and puppies. Since its emergence in 2013, this rescue organization has saved and rehomed more than 660 dogs. SSRAI is a registered, not-for-profit rescue organization concerned about dogs’ health and welfare on the streets and in shelters.
They save dogs from various conditions and situations, including those with severe health or behavioral issues. The rescue program was created to rescue and find loving homes for GSDs of all ages forever. They focus on high-kill shelters and pounds, saving dogs at risk of being euthanized.
In addition to rescuing and saving as many GSDs as possible, this rescue organization also offers sanctuary and palliative care to sick and senior GSDs. SSRAI is a strong pet advocate, and they educate people about responsible pet ownership. They also teach old and potential adopters what they need to know about this breed, ensuring you know what you are about to sign up for.
To curb the pet overpopulation issue, this rescue organization promotes the spaying/neutering of pets. All their GSDs are desexed before being placed for adoption. They also run a Desexing Program because they understand the costs associated with spaying/neutering pets, one of the reasons many pet owners put this procedure off.
Through rescue, training, and rehabilitation, Sweet Shepherd Rescue Inc. is dedicated to helping the German Shepherd dog breed. While their foster program provides care for senior and palliative care dogs, their specialist medical care program ensures that severe medical cases are given the best chances of survival.
To break the cycle of animal abuse and backyard breeding, they provide an assisted rehoming service, which places dogs in suitable homes using their strict adoption requirements. All applicants are extensively examined to ensure they are the right candidates for the dogs. The team also ensures applicants are paired with GSDs that match their lifestyle, family, and unique needs.
Sweet Shepherd Rescue Australia Inc. Details
- Address: Wonthaggi, VIC, Australia 3995
- Website: Sweet Shepherd Rescue Australia Inc.
- Email Address: [email protected]
3. German Shepherd Rescue Victoria
German Shepherd Rescue Victoria is a Victoria-based rescue organization that saves and rehomes GSDs across the country. It is a registered, non-profit organization dedicated to giving German Shepherds across the country a second chance at life. GSRV comprises a committee of knowledgeable individuals passionate about saving and rehoming these precious GSDs to devoted forever homes.
The non-profit organization comprises volunteers who give their time and energy to furthering our cause. Their goal is to save and rehome as many GSDs as possible in Victoria using all of the resources at their disposal. They are dedicated to ensuring dogs are rehomed to safe and loving homes and work to prevent them from being put to death, abandoned, or neglected.
Along with pursuing their primary goals, they are dedicated to providing the public with guidance, recommendations, and information. GSRV can give these pets better lives through a network of volunteers made up of foster carers, transporters, administrators, dog trainers/behaviorists, donators, and fundraisers who all work together to make this happen.
Their dogs come from various sources, including referrals from other rescues, GSDs that have found themselves in shelters or pounds, and owners who want to surrender their dogs for many different reasons. After taking a dog off the street or shelter, a trained volunteer will organize a health and behavior assessment.
After the assessment, they will match the dog with a family on the waiting list or advertise it to find a forever home. If a dog coming to them requires behavioral support or vet care, they are generally transported to experienced foster care until they are ready to join their forever families.
German Shepherd Rescue Victoria Details
- Address: Victoria, Australia
- Website: German Shepherd Rescue Victoria
- Email Address: [email protected]
4. Australian Working Dog Rescue
Australian Working Dog Rescue is not a breed-specific rescue organization. The organization mostly rescues and rehomes large breed dogs, like German Shepherds. Australian Working Dog Rescue is a nonprofit organization whose main goal is to prevent the euthanasia of working dog breeds in shelters and municipal pounds by finding them new homes.
They cover the entire continent of Australia, including Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Their website contains information and pictures of dogs available to adopt, including GSDs and other working breeds suitable for retired people, active families, and more.
Each mature dog costs $450, which assures that you get a dog that has been desexed, microchipped, vaccinated against C5 (at a minimum), and started on a monthly regimen of heartworm and intestinal worming prophylactic. Puppies typically cost $495 since they need more veterinarian care.
Senior dogs between the ages of 8 and 10 cost $200, while dogs older than 10 are typically adopted out with a request for a payment that the adopting person(s) can afford or are willing to make if they so choose. You can adopt a dog from this rescue regardless of where you are in Australia, as they facilitate interstate, long-distance, and international adoptions.
Australian Working Dog Rescue Details
- Address: Ballan, VIC 3342
- Website: Australian Working Dog Rescue
- Email Address: Online Form
Conclusion For The “Best German Shepherd Rescues in Australia”
If you are an individual or family looking to adopt a German Shepherd dog or puppy, you can reach out to the rescue organizations listed here. These organizations are focused on rehabilitating and rehoming GSDs of all ages. Adoption fees will vary from rescue to rescue, but adopting a dog from a rescue home is a cost-effective way of adding a pet or companion to your home.
For more guides similar to this list of German Shepherd rescues in Australia, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team:
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in Scotland
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in the United Kingdom
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in Canada
Before you adopt a German Shepherd from a rescue shelter in Australia, you can learn more about this dog breed by watching “The Pros and Cons of Owning a German Shepherd” down below:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ec2pV2vap4
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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