Frequently Asked Questions
About Adopting

 

What should I know before adopting a dog?

Contact your vet, educate yourself through books and online research, talk with other dog owners and rescue groups to be sure that you are selecting the right breed for your lifestyle.  Before adopting any dog, please do your research!  German Shepherds are not the easiest breed to own.  They were bred to herd and protect livestock.  Many have behavioral and medical challenges that are common to the breed.  You can expect your dog to live to be 10-15 years old, and you must be prepared to love and care for the dog for its entire lifetime, regardless of what happens to you, your family, or the dog along the way. It is estimated that owning a dog costs at least $600-$1,000 per year, and that is assuming that the dog only requires routine veterinary care.  If your dog becomes sick or injured, or requires special training, the costs can be extensive.  If you have concerns about the cost of owning a dog, or your ability to care for this family member over its lifetime, please reconsider your decision to adopt a dog.  It is very hard on any dog to get adopted, then to lose his or her family later.  It is even harder on German Shepherds because of their sensitive natures.  As much as you might want the dog now, please consider carefully the responsibility of being the dog's life-long guardian. Stop -- look into the future three, five, ten years and think about whether a dog fits into your long-term plans.

What is the first step of the adoption process?

The first step in the process is to fill out our adoption application, which does NOT obligate you to adopt.  It is to provide us with information about your situation and what you are looking for in a dog so that we can help you further.  You can find our online application by clicking here.  Once you submit your application, one of our adoption coordinators will be in touch shortly.  Please be patient -- we are all volunteers doing this in our spare time.  No one in our organization is paid. One of our volunteers will get in contact with you to review your application.  After the review, a home visit will be scheduled.  One of our volunteers will come to your home to help you to ensure that the environment is safe for a large-breed dog.  Important things to check for include the height of the fence, closing any gaps or places where the dog might escape, checking for sharp or breakable objects that could injure a dog, putting trash out of reach, and removing any poisonous products (anti-freeze, snail or rat poison, bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, chocolate, Advil, grapes/raisins, etc.) that the dog could get into.  Basically, remember to 'child-proof' your home before bringing any new dog into the environment.

What happens when my application is approved?

When your application is approved, you will be invited to visit the rescue facility or one of our off-site adoption events to meet the dogs that you are interested in adopting.  We will tell you everything that we know about the dogs, and answer any questions that you have.  If you have another dog (or dogs) in the family, please bring him or her along so that we can see if the new dog will be compatible with your existing family members. Once you have found the dog that matches your situation and you are ready to adopt, you will be asked to sign our adoption contract.  This is a legally binding contract.  If you do not agree to the terms of the contract, you will not be allowed to adopt from our organization.  A minimum donation of $250 will be required at that time.  We ask for a higher donation for puppies and special dogs to help offset the high cost of veterinary care for the dogs that come into the rescue injured and sick.  This is a donation to our rescue, and is non-refundable.  Any donation that you wish to make above this amount will assist other orphaned shepherds and would be greatly appreciated.

Why is there an adoption fee?

Our rescue operates entirely on donations, and all money contributed to the organization goes towards paying costly vet bills, running and maintaining our kennel, feeding the dogs, getting them spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations, marketing and re-homing efforts, paying to rescue dogs out of local shelters, and boarding of dogs when the rescue is full.  On average, each dog costs us far more to care for than the minimum adoption fee that we ask for when an adoption is approved.  Without these much-needed donations, our organization could not continue to save these noble dogs.

What should I have ready before adopting a dog?

1.  Make sure that your fencing is adequate, and that the gates are secure.  Fix any gaps or places where the dog could go over or under the fence.  Remove any objects that the dog could jump onto to get over the fence.  If your fence or gate is less than 5 feet, consider adding an extension.  A young German Shepherd can easily jump over a 4-5 foot fence or gate, and some can even jump a 7 foot fence! 2.  Remove any poisons or toxins that the dog could get into.  Things like anti-freeze, snail or rat bait, bleach, chocolate, and Advil (and other human medications), grapes/raisins, and even toilet bowl cleaner can be deadly to dogs.  Contact your veterinarian for a complete list.  Lock these items away or discard them so that the dog cannot get to them. 3.  Determine where the dog will sleep at night, and purchase a nice, warm bed or comforter for him or her.  German Shepherds do best when they are allowed to sleep indoors with their people at night so that they can feel that they are protecting their flock.  Consider purchasing a kennel crate for the dog, and place the crate in a nice, warm area in your home where the dog will sleep comfortably.  Most dogs enjoy the security of a kennel crate. 4.  Purchase dog bowls, toys, treats, chewies, vitamins, housebreaking products, and other supplies that you might need. 5.  Buy an ID tag for the dog with your name, address, phone number(s), and veterinarian's phone number!  This is one item that could prove to be a life-saver for your dog!  Click here for a company who makes ID tags. 6.  Call your veterinarian and find out about making an appointment to bring the newly adopted dog in for an initial check-up.  This will allow your vet to meet your new family member, and to establish the pet's new medical records.  This will also allow you to ask any questions that you might have.

What should I do during the first few weeks after adopting a dog?

During the first few weeks after adopting a dog, it is important that you will work with the dog to teach him or her how to become a member of your family.  It can take a few days or a few weeks for the dog to settle in and learn his or her place.  Some dogs settle in right away, while others will need some adjustment time.  Please understand that the dog does not know that this is his or her new home, and will need you to help him/her to understand the rules.  Patience, and trying to understand things from the dog's point-of-view is the key here.  We have several dog trainers and behaviorists who can help you to work through any problems. You might want to invest in some dog training books to help you to better relate to your dog. Give your dog the time he or she needs to settle in.  Don't expect to take the dog to the dog park, to "show-and-tell" at your child's school, or to a big family reunion during the first few weeks of adopting (yes, we've had adopters do all of these things).  Crowded and noisy events can be stressful and frightening for a dog who is just starting to know and trust his new family.  Many adopted dogs spend the first few days in their new home sleeping.  They get worn out at the rescue with all of the other dogs barking, and they just need to unwind for a few days.  It is also not uncommon for them to develop diarrhea while they are adjusting to their new environment, new people, and new food.  This should go away after a few days when the dog has settled down. A few weeks after adopting, find a good basic dog obedience class.  Many pet supply stores hold classes in their store, or contact your veterinarian for a recommendation.  Choose a class that uses positive reinforcement in their training methods.

What if I can not keep the dog that I adopt for some reason?

If, after giving the dog some time to settle in, and working with a trainer to resolve any problems, things are still not working out for some reason, please contact us right away.  Our contract states that the dog must be returned safely to our rescue.  Please give us the courtesy of notifying us about the problem so that we can schedule the dog to be returned.  Our rescue is ALWAYS full because we are trying to save as many lives as possible.  Just days after you adopted your dog, we brought another one in from of our extensive waiting list to take his or her place.  When a dog has to be returned, we need a little time in order to work him or her back into the rescue.  We will ALWAYS take the dog back, but would appreciate it if you could work with us on the timing. Please understand that it is VERY difficult on a dog to be returned to the rescue, so do not make this decision lightly!

Can I adopt a dog if I don't live in Southern California?

Unfortunately, we can only adopt to homes in our local area.  We often do a home visit prior to approving an adoption, and we simply don't have the resources to do this long-distance.  You must also be willing to transport the dog back to our rescue in the event that the adoption does not work out for any reason.  If you are unwilling to drive the dog back to our rescue if things don't work out, please find a dog rescue group closer to your home.  We do not have the manpower or resources to pick up and deliver dogs. If you live outside of Southern California, please check out our list of German Shepherd Rescues across the country by clicking here.

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