In complete shock! The problem with GSD rescues here in FL.

[TrickyShepherd]

I am in complete shock with some of these rescues here in FL. My SO and I have been looking for a rescue GSD to add to our home (with Zira) for a while now. We have applied to all the GSD rescues that I know of here in FL (and many other all dog rescues). Only TWO rescues replied to me. One we got approved but they have no GSDs, but are keeping an eye out. The other we got approved, but none of their GSDs match what we are looking for. They are either a senior or dog aggressive... and since we have Zira (1yr old GSD) we really can't have either of those. She currently has 3 coming into her rescue soon, so we are waiting to hear about them and see if they match.

The others just haven't replied at all (it's been weeks). Which shocks me beyond belief. We are offering an AMAZING home to any GSD puppy-3 years old, male or female (as long as they have no SSA). We have a high fenced in backyard.. no kids, no cats, a very dog friendly GSD, GSD knowledge and experience (especially with a rescues), we are willing to drive hours to a meet and greet, we are willing to pay whatever the adoption fee is. We are also planning on Agility/Obedience training for both Z and whoever we adopt once classes open back up... so they will have a 'job' and tons of attention and love on top of that at home. I am home most of the week and when I am at work, most shifts are opposite of my SO's.. so he's home! Zira is barely ever home alone. I do not understand why a rescue would ignore our application. We've been approved by another GSD rescue here (as I mentioned above) and they LOVE us! We've been fully approved by them after talking to them a few times and sending in all our info and pictures/videos of the house and yard... as well as references/vet info/trainer info. They are on the look out for a match for us currently, but I did want to get in with a few places to heighten our chance of finding the right one. Which is what I was advised to do.

When I emailed the one rescue here about another dog we'd be interested in. We got an email back saying that she'd find out where our application was in the approval process and let them know we were interested in that dog... and then let me know what's going on there. I never heard back after that... it's been over a week. My SO asked for me to call today on the number they had... he figured that'd be better then an email. So I did.

I called.... they answered and I told them my name and that I had been interested in some dogs I saw on Petfinder.com and.... Before I could finish my sentence she cuts in "I'm on the other line... I'll call you back. You're number is a *** area code right?"... I replied "yes" and she just said "Ok, ttyl, bye" and hung up. I have to say, I literally sat here for a few seconds in shock. This is a RESCUE! People are ADOPTING your dogs... they are HELPING you and your dogs (and the breed you are supporting)..... I just can not understand why they would be so rude!!!

This is not the first time this has happened to us. Before we got Z, we applied to all these places as well. We received no replies then too. We got frustrated and turned off by these rescues and instead we were actually contacting breeders. Which, fate had it's own plan and we found poor Z in a TERRIBLE situation at a Pet store... which we never go into those places as it is, and I knew very well not to buy a dog from a pet sore.... so, it was just meant to be. I found out recently, that two people I know now were applying to those rescues too around the same time as I did last time... and just like me.. NO reply!

I will continue to work with this rescue that is looking for us. Hopefully they find the right one for us...... if not, I will be going to a breeder. Which is definitely very sad for that dog out there that COULD of had a great home. This is absolutely ridiculous.... We have so much to give to another dog. Either way, whatever dog/puppy that we get (rescue or breeder)... they will be loved and we will be very blessed to have them... Zira will be very happy to have a buddy as well!

I am not saying all rescues are like this.... just my experience from the ones here. I am sure there are plenty of other rescues out there like the one that is helping us currently. I have to say, they have been wonderful and it's been a pleasure talking to them. They are how a rescue should be.... Wonderful people! Even before our application was in, they were very polite to us and gave us all the information we wanted and kept us up to date with where our application was in the process. In return we gave them whatever information, pictures, references they needed as soon as they asked.

This has been an extremely frustrating journey. Ups and Downs.... heart set on meeting a few dogs... and every time, they were found by an owner, kept in the rescue for someones personal dog, or already adopted before we even had a chance. On top of that... there are dogs we are interested in... but we can't even get passed the application stage to even inquire about them and their temperaments. I don't think it really is this difficult... I just think it's the area I am in and the rescues we have here. Some love us... some wont even reply. Wish we had some better rescue groups around here. I figured rescue groups would welcome homes/people like us and that our hardest part would be finding the right one... not the application process!

Has anyone else experienced this?!


Sorry for my rant.... just really getting turned off by this whole rescue group thing. Not what I expected at all.... I see people push for rescuing all the time here in FL..... but how can people rescue if this is what happens? I am starting to understand why people just go to breeders and buy a puppy rather then adopt (at least here in my area with the rescues we have).

[I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO]

The service dog group I foster for recently had two females drop out of the program. One is dog aggressive, so obviously not an option. But the other is not.

They just posted them on here today:

Female German Shepherds Available for Adoption

Also, just keep in mind that many of the rescues are run by volunteers and may miss your email, phone call, whatever. Keep trying- don't give up!

I thought of you today when I saw their post on Facebook, but thought you were looking for a male, so I'm glad you posted this (though I'm sorry you're not having an easy time).

I have their contact info if you're interested.

[amaris]

Spent 6 mths conversing and emailing back and forth, calling back and forth between a couple of rescues.

The first in LA, initially said we sounded like a great potential adoptive family, they started off really nice, so we sent them photos of the yard, fence, gate, the house. Spoke to them on the phone multiple times...after SIX MONTHS, they came back to us saying we were a "hard" placement because we wanted a dog that was good with kids and other dogs, workable with cats and they weren't comfortable sending a dog to us since we were so detailed. I always thought being detailed was a good thing, easier for them to narrow down dogs, really weird they could not find a dog in their rescue who was good with kids, dogs adn ok with cats since online ALL their dogs had glowing reviews.

2) Spend 3 mths, after telling us we were a good match, they turned around said, NO...we do not adopt to people with no GSD experience, if only they had told us that sooner...disappointing

3) Another rescue told us they wanted the dog we were interested in to go to a home with a dog in place already

4) 2 more rescues just never replied.

So after about 6-9mths of this, we're going with a puppy from a breeder in the US.

[selzer]

I have not experienced what you are experiencing, no. But I do want to throw this out there. You are looking for a young dog (most people are) puppy to 3 years, and you already have a 1 year old. You say, either sex so long as there is no SSA. Obviously you do not want a dog aggressive/reactive dog.
If I read that correctly.

Since you have a female puppy, you would probably be better off going with a senior bitch if you are going to bring in a bitch at all. Just because the young bitch has not shown SSA, does not mean it will get along with your bitch pup, or that your bitch pup will get along with it. They do not start out being SSA usually. Usually it begins somewhere between 1 and 2 years old, and may not crop up at all if you live with bitches that are spread wide in age, or if you have a clearly dominant and a clearly submissive bitch.

But no matter, if you are looking P-3, there is no way to ensure there will not be SSA if you bring in another bitch.

So you might want to alter your profile a bit, dog P-3, or bitch over say 5-6 with no history of SSA. A rescue might be very wary of placing a bitch with you, especially in the age that you are looking for.

[BowWowMeow]

Are you considering dogs older than 3 at all? The reason I am asking is because I have had dogs very close in age and when they got older it was overwhelming to take care of both of them (along with my senior cat) and I no longer had an exercise buddy. Of course you also lose them close together too when they're close in age.

After that experience I try to space my dogs out so that there is a good 5 years between them.

I had no problems with two females together but I have never had two young females together and I run a very tight ship in my house.

Also, most rescues are run by volunteers and they are often way understaffed (usually by people who also work full time). Some are better organized than others. I have had applications take a number of weeks to process. Rescues also get many, many inquiries that go nowhere so it's the opposite problem: they take the time to respond but most responses don't amount to anything.

Patience is definitely a virtue when looking for a new dog, whether it's from a rescue or a breeder. It can take quite a long time to find a good rescue and a good match.

[CeCe]

That sucks. I was rooting for you to get that sable boy but on another post I think you said that he was lost and his owner claimed him. I see that you had a golden-have you considered trying Golden rescues? My local pounds almost always have a PB shepherd available. Have you checked the pounds in your area? Good luck.

[Jelpy]

Frankly, I've gotten mine from the Local Pound with no problems that couldn't be fixed. Lycan is energetic but a little training made him manageable, if not perfect (and that's my fault.) Allie motto is "get along to go along." Grendel loved Lycan from the moment they met and they have been perfect sibs ever since. Sweep, poor baby, was so cowed she doesn't clash with anyone. I suspect that if an aggressive bunny hopped across the yard, sweep would keep her distance. Check the pound.

Jelpy

[Tarheel]

Petfinder Adoptable Dog | German Shepherd Dog | Havana, FL | Prince Charming Young black male GSD,good with cats and other animals, neutered

[Stosh]

We too grew frustrated with rescues in our area. There were some that I doubt were rescues at all but individuals selling dogs. One told me over the phone that I would have to take the dog she was bringing me sight unseen- and would have to give her $60 for gas money. Others made the requirements so rigid I couldn't imagine how anyone would qualify. We also gave up and bought a puppy from a breeder. I know there are many wonderful rescue organizations and would love to use one when we're ready to add another dog but it will have to be from a larger city or different part of the state.

[msvette2u]

Too bad you are not closer, Caliber would be just up your alley.
He's a boy so no SSA there