How
to Find a German Shepherd Dog
Adopting
a Friend...GSR-SP helps interested adopters to find the
right German Shepherd for their family and lifestyle
situation. We do this by gathering information from
potential adopters in the form of an Adoption
Questionnaire and by talking with interested adopters
about their expectations and limitations concerning the
care and training of a dog.
We
provide interested adopters with essentially four
different sources from which to look for a dog:
1.
The GSR-SP Dogs
"Our
Dogs," as we like to refer to them, are dogs in our
custody who are presently either being fostered by one
of our GSR-SP volunteers or who are being boarded at
kennels at the expense of and under the supervision of
GSR-SP.
Adoption
of any of these dogs requires completion of GSR-SP's
Adoption Questionnaire and the payment of a $20.00,
non-refundable application fee. If a potential adopter
finds the right dog and the adoption is approved, the
total adoption fee will be based on the rate below,
minus the $20.00 (i.e., a $225.00 adoption fee would
ultimately be $205.00). Dogs adopted directly from GSR-SP
have almost always had full preventative veterinary care
- all shots current; spayed or neutered; and heartworm
tested. You will receive a record of all the dog's
shots.
PLEASE
NOTE: Effective July 1, 2002 the following adoption fee
changes go into effect:
-
Dogs
under 1 year: $225.00
-
Dogs
1 - 6 years: $175.00
-
Dogs
over 6 years: $100.00
As
usual, the initial application fee of $20.00 will be
credited toward this amount.
All
adopters outside the 5-county Philadelphia area pay an
additional $25 to cover costs of long distance charges,
transportation, etc.
2.
The Owner Referral Dogs
A
second source of adoptions comes from "Owner
Referrals." These dogs have generally NOT been
evaluated by GSR-SP and any information about these dogs
comes directly from the owners.
Many
of these dogs are being given up because the owners do
not have time for the animal, the prior owner has died,
the owners are divorcing and moving to a place where
they cannot take a pet, etc. These dogs will
specifically be listed under the heading "OWNER
REFERRALS" and GSR-SP MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO
REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THESE DOGS. GSR-SP is simply
providing a means for these owners to expose their dogs
to a wider audience of potential adopters than would
otherwise be available. If you are interested in any of
these dogs, all arrangements must be made directly with
the dog owner. GSR-SP does not get involved in the
adoption and you are cautioned to use discretion and
care in evaluating and selecting the right dog for your
situation. If you are interested in this process, please
complete the form.
3.
The Shelter Dogs
The
third source of dogs available for adoption comes from
referrals to area shelters. Many humane societies and
SPCAs keep breed rescue groups apprised of the purebred
dogs at their facilities.
In
this manner, rescue organizations are able to inform
people of purebred dogs waiting for a new home at their
local shelter. You will find a list of dogs available at
shelters in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area under the
heading "Dogs in Southeastern Pennsylvania area
shelters", along with the shelter phone number.
Please call the shelter before visiting to ensure that
the German Shepherd listed is still available and to
check about hours, adoption procedures, etc. Again,
these adoptions do not involve GSR-SP and all terms of
adoption will be between you and the shelter. You will
also find listings for shelters in New Jersey, New York
and/or Maryland on this website.
4.
Other Rescue Organizations
The
fourth source of dogs is through other rescue
organizations in the tri-state area. Because there are
so many German Shepherds in need of a new home, several
different German Shepherd rescue organizations exist in
the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. If GSR-SP does not
have a dog that matches a potential adopter's needs, or
if that adopter is geographically more conveniently
located to another rescue, we will refer the adopter to
a volunteer with that group who can then assist him or
her in finding a dog.
Please
remember though, this would be a different organization
and if anyone who chooses to adopt through a rescue
other than GSR-SP, would be required to follow and
comply with that rescue's adoption procedures, including
completing all of the necessary paperwork and payment of
all applicable fees for that rescue.
