Details
 

Adoption Process

Our adoption process is designed to help you and the right dog find each other. Our goal is to place each dog into a permanent, safe, and loving home.

To adopt a German Shepherd Dog from us, you must:

  1. Complete an Adoption Questionnaire, either online, or hard-copy (pdf format). If you do not own your home, you must have your landlord complete the Landlord Letter.
  2. Be interviewed by an adoption counselor.
  3. Choose, and be chosen by, the right dog.
  4. Live in one of the 14 Northern California counties we serve.
  5. Allow a home visit by an adoption counselor.
  6. With our approval, sign our Adoption Agree ment, and pay the associated fee.

If you come to an Adoption Day, the process of adopting can be completed in any order; otherwise you must complete an Adoption Questionnaire before we can assist you further. Normally, all our requirements must be met. Home visits may be waived in rare circumstances. We do not adopt to homes outside of Northern California.

After we receive your online Adoption Questionnaire, we will call you to begin the adoption process. Due to our home visit requirement, we only adopt to homes in Northern California. We encourage potential adopters to come to one or more Adoption Days because that is the best way to meet several German Shepherds and to find your new companion.

If you attend an Adoption Day and choose a dog, you may be able to adopt the same day, if all adoption requirements are met. The entire adoption process can be completed on the same day, or it may take longer.

If you can not come to any Adoption Day, we will try to assist you using email, the mail, and the telephone. This will probably take longer because the people who will help you are volunteers who usually have jobs, and scheduling meetings with dogs can be complex because our dogs live in many homes and kennels.

 

                

Annie (formerly Dawn) - Adopted April 2007
Post Date: 7/1/2007

At about 16 months in my new home, I’m doing really well. I turned out to be a “level 3 wanna be alpha” whatever that is. I get 3 walks a day that total about 4 miles. My hobbies include walks, bug chasing in the back yard while Mom and Dad are at work, terrorizing the squirrels that live next door in the palm tree, and trips to the ocean with Mom and Dad. Belly rubs and squeaky toys are VERY BIG with me. I’m still a bit questionable with other dogs, although I have learned to be civil to other dogs on the street. The only dog I don’t seem to bark at on walks is a Lab in the neighborhood who’s a genuine search dog. Mom and Dad spoil me, and I’ve even made three major “watch dog successes” in my new home. First, I forced Mom and Dad into a U turn on a late night walk at the ocean so they wouldn’t get sprayed by a skunk that I smelled but they didn’t see until it would have been too late. And twice I woke Mom and Dad up in the middle of the night, once because the house across the street was on fire, and once because the neighbors on both sides of us were getting their cars broken into. I made enough noise though that we didn’t get broken into. All three times Dad took me to the doggie store and got me a HUGE greenie, my favorite! Life is really good here! Please convey my gratitude to all the rescue folks that worked so hard and gave money to help me find my people. Dad says he may join the volunteer work next year. He’s driving transport through next February for something called Great Pyrenees Rescue. I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with big white dogs. Love and sloppy dog kisses to all. - Ron and Mary H.

Photos


Important Note About Dog Descriptions

Please remember that the descriptions of dogs (of Dogs Available) have been written by GSRNC volunteers and are usually based only upon our observation of the dog since the time it was rescued. While we try to provide dog descriptions that are fair and accurate, the nature of our work involves contact with dogs whose background and history are unknown to us. GSRNC cannot warrant or guarantee any dog's future behavior. For example, if we say that a rescue dog gets along with children, cats, or other dogs, this statement is usually based upon the fact that one of our volunteers has observed the dog interacting with his or her own children or pets. While this information may be helpful, we cannot be certain of how a dog will do with the children or pets in your home. If you are considering adopting, we encourage you to come to one of our Adoption Days and meet our rescue dogs. Ultimately, only you can decide whether one of our dogs is right for you.