Here’s what you should know if you’re searching for the best German Shepherd rescues in the United Kingdom. Whether you are buying or adopting, owning a German Shepherd dog is not for the faint-hearted.
These dogs make great family pets and companions, but they require a lot of training and time. It would be best if you were a confident and fair leader to earn the German Shepherd Dog’s loyalty, trust, and respect.
These dogs do not yield or thrive in unsupportive environments. Hence, when looking for the best place to adopt a German Shepherd dog, your focus should be on a breed-specific rescue that knows how to train, bond and control this strong-willed breed.
German Shepherds are highly versatile dogs, excellent in agility, obedience, herding, services, companionship, and retrieving. German Shepherds in rescue homes come from different backgrounds, so working with a rescue team that knows the background of their dogs is a huge advantage.
Before you scroll further down this list of German Shepherd rescues in the UK, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team at We Love Doodles: Best Irish Wolfhound Rescues in the United Kingdom and Best Miniature Schnauzer Rescues in the United Kingdom.
Find a German Shepherd Rescue Shelter Near Me in the United Kingdom
If you are ready to bring a German Shepherd dog into your home, here are some of the best German Shepherd rescues in the UK from which you can adopt this breed.
German Shepherd Product Recommendations: Best E-Collars For Large Dogs and Best Dog Harnesses For a Tie Out.
1. German Shepherd Dog Rescue
German Shepherd Dog Rescue is one of the longest-standing, and largest German Shepherd dog rescues in the United Kingdom. More than 500 volunteers are involved with this rescue program because of their love for German Shepherd dogs. No German Shepherd Dog Rescue volunteer receives a monthly salary or stipend; all funds are channeled toward helping the dogs.
German Shepherd Dog Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, short-term fostering, and long-term rehoming of German Shepherd dogs. The organization was founded in 2001 under the name “German Shepherd Rescue UK” but was changed to German Shepherd Dog Rescue when the founder relocated from Scotland to England.
The rescue achieved its charitable status in 2011, paving the way for it to generate more funds to help rescued dogs and reach out to more German Shepherd dogs in need. Lost, unwanted, and surrendered German Shepherds are found new homes via their placement scheme that carefully matches German Shepherd dogs with their potential new owners.
All their new and old adopters are provided with all the support and guidance they need while raising their dogs. German Shepherd dogs are highly demanding, and you would need all the support you can get when raising one.
German Shepherd Dog Rescue does not have a central facility yet, so all the dogs in the program are placed in foster care or commercial boarding kennels until their forever families come for them. Commercial kennel fees are the organization’s biggest expense, and these kennels are necessary to keep the dogs safe until they find their forever homes.
This rescue program covers England and Wales and kennels in other locations, including Essex, Yorkshire, Newport, Norfolk, and Cornwall. German Shepherd Dog Rescue saves and temporarily rehomes German Shepherd dogs of all ages, including the old and infirm ones.
Regardless of the reason that brings the dog to them, they try to establish a successful outcome for both the dog and its new owners. In addition, all their rescued dogs are assessed by experienced volunteers before placing them with new owners.
German Shepherd Dog Rescue Details
- Address: Little Vauld, Marden Hereford HR1 3HA.
- Website: German Shepherd Dog Rescue
- Phone Number: 07921-607-001
- Email Address: [email protected]
2. German Shepherd Rescue Elite
We highly recommend German Shepherd Rescue Elite if you want to adopt a German shepherd with excellent health and temperament. One unique thing about this rescue organization is that it pays close attention to its potential adopters because of the dog breed involved.
Formal interviews and a home check are conducted before considering applicants. Because of the backgrounds of some of these dogs, they are not very good with other dogs or lack proper socialization. The organization does its best to help re-socialize and train the dogs, making them suitable for various families.
However, despite all efforts, they are still careful about where and who the dogs end up with. German Shepherd Rescue Elite was created to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome German Shepherd dogs. The organization also educates people about this dog breed’s unique needs, health, and exercise requirements.
In addition, they promote spaying/neutering to help curb the issues of pet overpopulation. German Shepherd Rescue Elite consists of a team of unpaid volunteers dedicated to helping lost, abandoned, and abused German Shepherd dogs while promoting the responsible ownership of this breed.
The organization aims to be the prevention and not just the cure by teaching people how best to care for this demanding dog breed. They also help German Shepherd dog owners keep their dogs by offering behavior advice and training. German Shepherd Rescue Elite also works alongside other rescue teams to save German Shepherd dogs across the country.
The rescue team saves and houses these dogs in foster homes until they find their forever homes. While in foster care, the dogs receive proper vet care, enjoy high-quality dog food suitable for the breed, and undergo various socialization and training exercises to prepare them for their forever homes.
German Shepherd Rescue Elite Details
- Address: Gravelle Hatch House, Malacca Farm, West Clandon, Guildford, GU4 7UQ
- Website: German Shepherd Rescue Elite
- Phone Number: 0845-600-6628
- Email Address: [email protected]
3. German Shepherd Rescue South
German Shepherd Rescue South is a registered, non-profit rescue organization that rescues and rehomes abused, unwanted, lost, and surrendered German Shepherd dogs throughout the United Kingdom.
German Shepherd Rescue South focuses on three major things, which are:
- To help German Shepherd owners keep their dogs in their home
- Find suitable new homes for lost, abused, surrendered, neglected, and unwanted dogs
- To place dogs in foster homes until they find their forever homes or to live the rest of their lives
German Shepherd Rescue South is a charity organization and does not receive government funding. They rely solely on the support and generosity of the public. Being a non-profit group, German Shepherd Rescue South is run entirely by unpaid volunteers.
The rescue group is blessed with an amazing team of volunteers who work tirelessly to rescue German Shepherd dogs and improve their lives for the better. They also help to organize fundraising events such as store collections, sponsored walks, art and craft sales, and coffee mornings.
All generated funds go to the health, welfare, and feeding of the rescued dogs. Some dogs need intense medical care and are treated immediately after being rescued, thanks to donations from the public. Reach out to them for the availability of an adoptable dog before filling out the adoption application.
German Shepherd Rescue South Details
- Address: 48 Edward Grove, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 8JA
- Website: German Shepherd Rescue South
- Phone Number: 023-9222-1485
- Email Address: [email protected]
4. UK German Shepherd Rescue
UK German Shepherd Rescue is focused on three things – rescue, rehoming, and adoption. They are one of the most loved rescue centers in the UK, thanks to their unique approach to rescuing dogs and friendly support team. UK German Shepherd dog is dedicated to saving German Shepherd dogs and puppies across all regions of England and Wales.
Regarding adoption, this rescue program only matches its dogs to their best suitable homes. All applicants are thoroughly assessed to ensure their energy level, needs, and lifestyle match the dog they want to adopt. The organization is also renowned for its rehoming system, helping German Shepherd dog owners who want to rehome their dogs to find loving, responsible homes.
UK German Shepherd dog is a charitable organization with no central facility for its rescued dogs. All the rescued dogs are placed in foster care while waiting to be adopted. Those with special medical needs are attended to, and all the dogs are given age-appropriate vaccines before leaving for their forever homes. The dogs are also microchipped, vaccinated, and dewormed.
UK German Shepherd Rescue Details
- Address: Bonds Lane, Preston, PR4 3ZE
- Website: UK German Shepherd Rescue
- Phone Number: 07767-768-694
5. German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund
German Shepherd dog Welfare Fund also made it to our list of the best German Shepherd rescues in the UK because of its excellent reputation and experience in this field. This charity organization was established in 1975 and is dedicated to rescuing, caring for rehabilitation, and rehoming vulnerable and unwanted German Shepherd dogs.
German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund was the first German Shepherd breed-specific rescue to be formed in the United Kingdom. Most dogs that come to them have health or behavioral issues, and they do their best to rehabilitate and treat them so they can find loving homes forever.
This rescue organization does not discriminate against these dogs. They open their arms to welcome the dogs regardless of how they come to them. They also pledge to pay for the medication of their dogs for the rest of their life.
Since its emergence, this rescue organization has provided care and suitable homes for more than 10,000 German Shepherd dogs. German Shepherd dog Welfare Fund comprises a small dedicated team of volunteers who would do everything possible to ensure these dogs are safe and comfortable and end up in responsible homes.
German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund Details
- Address: UK
- Website: German Shepherd Dog Welfare Fund
- Phone Number: 01945-430-525
- Email Address: [email protected]
Conclusion For The “Best German Shepherd Rescues in the UK”
Most rescued German Shepherds are cute and lovely dogs that need a better family environment with lots of love to give. They are looking for loving, responsible, and forever indoor homes where they can enjoy the benefits of being a companion and pets.
You can rely on the rescues listed for healthy and happy German Shepherd dogs. Some occasionally have German Shepherd puppies, so you can ask before initiating the adoption process.
For more guides similar to this list of German Shepherd rescues in the UK, you can check out these other dog-related recommendations from our team:
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in Scotland
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in Canada
- Best German Shepherd Rescues in Texas
Before you adopt a German Shepherd companion from a rescue shelter in the United Kingdom, you can learn more about this dog breed by watching “7 Things Only German Shepherd Owners Understand” down below:
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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