The first step is always filling out an ADOPTION APPLICATION. Please be sure to answer ALL questions, including Landlord info with name and contact number (please don’t answer: ‘available upon request’ – the question on the application IS the request). Without this info, we can not proceed.
Once your application is received, one of our adoption counselors will get in touch with you within 24-48 hours. Please be patient — we are all volunteers and will get back to you as soon as we can. If you haven’t heard back within 5 days, please send us an email to make sure we actually received your application. There are times when they end up in cyber heaven without ever reaching us.
We do aerial and/or home checks before your application is approved.
Once you are approved, be sure to BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY AND ALL OF YOUR CURRENT DOGS. It is VERY important that your current dogs and any new potential dog meet to see how they get along. In most cases we can not proceed with an adoption until your dogs come down with you.
In most cases the dog is able to go home with you on the day of adoption unless they still need to be spayed/neutered. This will be scheduled and you will be able to pick up your dog once he/she has been fixed.
All our dogs are up to date with shots, are microchipped and are/will be spayed/neutered before adoption.
The adoption fee includes all this plus the one time registration fee with the microchip company (this is their fee, not ours). We will do the chip registration for you 10-14 days after adoption, and after you inform us if/what you changed the dog’s name to.
In the case of puppies and fostered dogs, once approved, you will be put in touch with the foster family and a meeting is arranged.
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SOON GO HOME WITH AN AMAZING NEW BEST FRIEND!
Our general adoption fee is $375-475 for adults and $475 for puppies. The average cost of each dog we adopt out is around $1,500. The costs for everything has skyrocketed. The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip, microchip registration and up to date vaccinations and socializing. The rescue works hard to rehabilitate each dog that comes thorough our doors. We have a staff of 25 people to help take care for over 100 dogs at any one time. We are able to do what we do because of the donations we get from our Westside families!
Yes, we do, except for puppies under 5 months UNLESS the adopters drive the puppy home. Adopters can drive out and drive back, or fly out and drive back in a rental. If the puppy is small enough, some can fly back in the cabin with the adopter, but that’s a case by case decision. We do this because puppies are not fully vaccinated until they are over 4 months old and can be exposed to diseases during regular transport.
We require a very detailed application and digital pictures of your home, fencing and yard.
Westside German Shepherd Rescue does many of out-of-state adoptions. We work extra hard with the selections for each potential adopter and their specific situations. We make videos of potential dogs in playgroup so adopters can see the play style and to see how they would exist with their existing dogs, cats or little dogs. We send walking videos, cat videos, and little dog videos. We do all we can to help you make the right choice.
For more info on out-of-state and Canada adoptions, click HERE.
We have an adoption event every Wednesday (11am-3pm), Saturday (11am-4pm) and Sunday (1pm-4pm) at our boarding place at 3016 S Hill St, Los Angeles 90007. No appointment is necessary on these days. We can also show dogs on other days BY APPOINTMENT only. Several of our dogs are in foster homes in various locations around LA. Arrangements need to be made with the foster families to meet the dogs in their care. We do require that you submit an ADOPTION APPLICATION before we show you our dogs.
The first step is always filling out a FOSTER APPLICATION. Whether you’re fostering or adopting, we always need to make sure we match you up with the right Shepherd. They all have different personalities, likes and dislikes and it’s very important that foster families and their foster dogs live in ‘harmony’. We are looking for puppy fosters and also for dogs who aren’t doing well at the rescue.
Yes we do. Most German Shepherds are wonderful with kids in general, although we always have dogs that would do better without small kids. Some might knock them over in their enthusiasm, some very young pups might consider kids as “chew toys” (you know those teething months), and some just might not be good with children. We always do our best to match the right temperament with the right family/kids, although there are no guarantees.
Tragically, in the 20+ years we have been around, we have never seen so many people trying to surrender their dogs. We are often at capacity and adoptions have been slow. Before you make arrangements to move, see our list of RENTALS that allow German Shepherds, or the info on how to keep them as ESA pets. Please try to make it work. Moving to a “smaller place” is no reason to give up your dog. They just want to be where you are, they don’t care if the place is smaller. Do some research. Check out your local animal shelters, some still make a good effort to find the homes for the dogs, but others are too overloaded, and leaving your dog with them is pretty much a death sentence.
We can not take dogs from out of state or out of the area.
We are so sorry we can’t help more–it is so heartbreaking to us.
With VERY few exceptions, there are ways for you to keep your dog. All it takes is some work on your part. Your faithful companion gives you their loyalty and heart. Why not repay them with the same?
Hoping for better times soon, Robin.
Click HERE for additional surrender info.
Before you give up and take your dog to the animal shelter or worse, put them to sleep, please check out the organizations below who might be able to help you!
1) We can post your Shepherd’s pictures and bio on our COURTESY LISTINGS. Your contact information will be listed (phone # and/or email address). All interested parties will be contacting you directly. We’re not involved in the adoption at all–we’re just basically providing you with ‘advertisement space’ on our website. The dog stays with you until he/she is adopted.
VERY IMPORTANT: Always ask for a donation for your dog. Sadly there are many people out there looking for free dogs to use as ‘bait dogs’ to train fighting dogs, for money from research labs, for cruel pranks, snake food, etc.
2) All applications for the dog will be handled by us. Your dog can stay with you until adopted. You will relinquish the dog to the rescue when the dog is chosen for adoption. If the dog is ever returned, we will always take it back and find it a new home. None of our dogs are ever euthanized.
NOTE: In order to qualify for this option, your dog must be evaluated and approved by the rescue beforehand.
FINAL NOTE: Please make sure you have explored every option to keep your Shepherd. It is devastating for these wonderful pets to lose the family they love. Some people give up too soon, and in most cases, problems can be resolved with the right training, housing etc. Please show the loyalty to your dog that he shows to you, especially those senior dogs!
Click HERE to view information on estate planning.
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