Southern California German Shepherd Rescue

I have never received a more disgraceful e-​mail in my life. I can’t even begin to describe how incredibly rude, uncaring, and downright NASTY the volunteers of this organization can be.
To preface: My service dog was killed in action on Sunday. He died while protecting my family and I. His name was Rhodey and we adopted him from California Labradors, Retrievers, and More.
CLRM, offered us another dog at no charge and time to properly temperament test ANY dog we might be interested in.
My husband asked that I broaden my horizons, search other paths and look at other options.
That’s fine the more research the better.
We scanned the site and found a puppy who might fit the bill. I filled out the application and was completely honest.
Based on their requirements (which are their own and thats fine), there are PLENTY of ways they could have told us we didn’t meet the requirements.
1. Our fence wasn’t high enough
2. The don’t adopt dogs out as service dog candidates
How hard it is to simply say that?
But no one volunteer by the name of Marcy added this tidbit at the end of her e-​mail.
” Kate, I understand you’re a volunteer with Labs & More. I’m sure that you have a good relationship with them and they can help you find a dog. Dickens has his own issues, he has nerve conduction issues to one rear leg and is missing a canine tooth. He’s not «service» dog material, and would be eaten by a coyote in short order, even faster than your last dog.“
The health issues for this puppy, I either didn’t see in the description of him, OR they weren’t listed… but the comment on how my service dog died… is the ABSOLUTE MOST DISRESPECTFUL THING… I have ever EVER seen.
How can people who claim to care about dogs have absolutely no compassion for someone who has JUST been through a tragic and traumatic event? A person who now has very limited independence because of that event.
There aren’t enough words to describe how unacceptable and truly disgusting these words are. Shame on this rescue.

I adopted 2 German Shepherds so far from SCGSR one in 2008 male 2 years old name Yuli, and in 2013 female 8 month old name Clara now Shadow. Both wouldn’t be with us nor alive wouldn’t it be for Marcy and SCGSR, for this I will be always grateful because I couldn’t have gotten better German Shepherds as I have now. I also donate to this organization. I can only highly speak of Marcy, her volunteers and the organization and will always come back to this caring, loving place.

After reading many reviews on Unilocal of the Southern California German Shepherd Rescue, i felt the need to post and try to help clarify negative things being said about their work.
I adopted my Shepherd about two years ago. He was in very rough shape before I got a chance to meet him and without this rescue I doubt he would be alive today, and for that I am forever grateful. Some people have a tough time understanding why they have been rejected by the rescue. I cannot speak on their behalf. However I do know how much time and effort gets put into getting these dogs well and finding them a suitable forever home. It just makes sense to me they are not just going to hand out a dog to someone who is not educated or able to give the dog everything it needs in life. People just don’t think about how rescue dogs were lacking that support system and how they thrive when placed with the proper family!
Many people want to rescue a dog to do a «job» for them. Protect the house or family. These dogs are not employees, they are family members. If they happen to do things like that, great. However if they want to sit on the couch all day and enjoy the luxuries of a responsible dog owner then so be it!
Basically…I applaud the Southern California German Shepherd Rescue for everything they do for these beautiful animals. They are wonderful people with the kindest souls. Not to mention really sweet and lots of fun.
If you are thinking about rescuing a dog, please consider the SCGSR. Ignore these ignorant posts and do yourself a favor and satisfy your life with a great rescue. They deserve it!!!

Our experience with SoCal German Shepherd Rescue has been nothing but astounding. They were extremely responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful through the entire adoption process. I adore that they have adoption events every other week where people are able to interact with their dogs while on a leash, truly getting to know the furry creatures (not locked in a crate). I admire their careful selection process to make sure each dog doesn’t just get an amazing family, but is also matched to their personality and needs. Even after adoption, I don’t feel left alone; they’re still making sure we’re comfortable with our adorable new family member by checking in, making sure we have everything we need, and even offering free in-​house trainings by a certified trainer. Everyone is personable and truly has human and canine best interests in mind.
I’m shocked they have gotten such poor reviews here because I have had NOTHING but an *amazing* experience adopting my new furry-​friend-​for-​life.

We adopted Dude (née Xander) in August of 2011 and couldn’t be happier. The application process went smoothly, we arranged to meet the litter along with our existing dog. The volunteer we worked with was knowledgeable and kind, and very helpful. We took our baby home that night. Our older dog passed on a few months ago, and we are planning to contact SCGSR after the holidays for a little brother for Dude.

I am absolutely astounded by this organization. I hardly have words.
We have raised 3 German Shepherds as a family in our home of 25 years over the past 30 years. We are more than loving pet owners, extremely experienced in raising puppies especially this specific breed, have a large fenced in yard, we are active, have always spent incredible amounts of time caring and loving for our German Shepherds in the past. We honestly could not be more fit pet owners.
When I asked about the health of their dogs up for adoption (as a large breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia) and OF COURSE as a good, seasoned pet owner I would ask about the health of the dog before I adopted so I would know what kind of health care I would need to provide for our new family member. I was given a response that they are a rescue and do not make their decision to «save lives» based on an animal’s hips and health. I was told to not contact them again.
To Marcy and SCGSR — please reserve your unwelcome judgements of all of these loving families that are so qualified. These poor dogs have been at this rescue for so long, I hope someone is more fit than us to adopt them so they can finally go to loving homes.

I just recently adopted a handsome GSD from this rescue two months ago. He is my first GSD, and a dream come true. I was very descriptive in my application and truthful. My adoption process took about a month, due to my house getting worked on. The rescue was so patient with me. What I loved most about their rescue is that they were up front and honest, letting me know that the original dog I was interested in wouldn’t be a good match for me since I didn’t have experience with GSD’s. Something you all should know is that you don’t get the dog you want… you get the dog you need. The rescue gave me a list of dogs that would best fit with me, and I knew right then and there the dog that I wanted. And now he is a member of my family!
This organization doesn’t play games. They work incredibly hard to take care of these beautiful dogs and find the right forever homes for them. I wrote «forever» for a reason. I trust this organization 200% and respect everything that they do, and how they go about doing it. Dogs aren’t like purses, where if you buy one and find you don’t like it, you go and exchange it for a different one. The dogs have gone through enough, have feelings and deserve a permanent place to live.
Keep up the great work, SCGSR! The time you devote to these dogs are deeply appreciated. Without you, I wouldn’t have my dog that I do today. This organization saved his life AND fixed both his hips. He can now run around and jump freely. :)

The SCGSR is a special organization that I am so lucky to have stumbled upon. The volunteers and ladies running this rescue work tirelessly to change the lives of terribly abused GSDs. They do not close their doors at GSDs, they even have some feline friends and take in dogs that nobody else will help. I got my new partner in crime, «Charlie» from them and they are so thoughtful to make sure that when placing these dogs, the dogs are really going to their forever homes, and will not find their way to being dumped on another street corner.
My father also got his new buddy from SCGSR and he is so happy! There are many people who would give up on these guys and I continue to volunteer at SCGSR because I am inspired at the tireless efforts of the rescue to rebuild these dogs health, confidence and training. I had a wonderful experience adopting my pup and I continue to contribute where I can to help because I believe in SCGSRs work so whole-​heartedly.

I adopted two dogs from this organization a few months ago. I found them to be VERY responsive to my application. I was originally interested in one particular dog but went to an adoption event and fell in love with another. It truly was love at first sight. The foster and another volunteer went to great efforts to inspect our yard as well as introduce the potential adoptee to my husband.
I know that rescue organizations go to great lengths to adopt their dogs to the right homes due to the time and money they invest in each animal. I appreciate their efforts and realize that not everyone will get this same opportunity.
What SCGSR can get done for the animals they take into their care is absolutely amazing. They spend a great deal of money on medical costs to get them into a much better place and home. I will continue to help support them in their efforts.

Update: received email after writing this review, tried once again to get a phone call instead of email back and forth to talk reasonably… even said I would take down this review if they would just take the time to actually call me… instead received email stating she was forwarding the link of this review to every German Shepherd rescue organization in Southern California to I guess get me blackballed. Really??? Now that is vindictive… I hope this is only one person and not the entire organizations attitude. If a German Shepherd rescue reads this, I hope you care more about the dogs and will take the time for a proper interview.
Original: I am quite baffled at my experience. The other reviews here seem to be accurate… I originally thought that they were simply people expressing their frustration and that maybe there was just cause from the organization to deny their applications. My opinion now is that this organization does not give the dogs the best opportunity to find a good home. Personally I had to follow up on my application a few times before receiving a response telling me my application was denied. I didn’t even receive a phone call interview. They seem to pick apart your application for any small little thing that won’t fit into their criteria instead of looking for the positive… be very careful what you say if you want to help one of the dogs.
I was interested in volunteering, possibly fostering, and even adopting a dog but couldn’t even get them to call me back. Only very judgmental emails were sent to me. FYI, I’m a home owner, have a fenced yard, work from home quite a bit, have trained a German Shepherd before, and wanted to give back at this point in my life due to having to give up my German over 10 years ago. I was young, just moved to SD and was renting… I wanted my dog to have a better life, bigger yard, etc so I found him a better home. He was a working dog and needed more attention than I could provide at that time in my life… I could see it in his eyes, I didn’t dump him… I was trying to make him happier). I mentioned this on the application and they immediately judged that I would adopt and give up another dog.
I just can’t understand why they would refuse to call or meet people in positions to truly help. Please don’t let this review keep you from trying to help a dog in need… just be prepared if they deny your application for a reason you can’t understand.

I was rejected from this organization b/​c I’m a physician and they basically emailed me saying I would not be a forever home for a puppy. They never asked me my hours or anything. I own a home with a large fenced in yard and already have another dog very friendly with other dogs. I have had many dogs throughout my life and we have never given up a dog. I also have the help of my parents. My dad is a veterinarian and stays with me for months at a time and would actually be a big part of helping with the puppy get acclimated. I do much of my work from home and I am not away from home for more than 4 hours at a time. This would not be the first puppy I’ve had so I have experience with training. I find it hard to believe they will find anyone else more dedicated to a dog’s health and happiness than me and who can offer one what I can as far as attention, mental stimulation, play time, a loving a home, a big backyard and an active life as well as cover any medical expenses. But I guess someone who is jobless and home all the time is a better forever home.

Honest applications will probably be rejected. At the risk of sounding like a sour-​grapes review, I have to share another disappointing experience with this organization.
I have 30+ years of experience with large breed dogs, we own our own home — one acre, fully 6′ chain link fenced in, off the street, I work from home, the dog would never be alone, have no other dogs at this time, etc.
I made the mistake of mentioning on the application that one of the reasons I was interested in adopting a GS is for family protection from wildlife.
Here is the response I received (I am grateful to have received one at least):
«We have both received and reviewed your application, but it doesn’t fit our guidelines for adoption at this time. We do not adopt our dogs out for protection purposes — coyotes can and will lure dogs, even large ones, into their pack where they’re made into dinner. «
Silly me, what was I thinking? Expecting my adopted German Shepherd to want to help protect our family is so obviously not in the best interest of the dog. (Yes, that was sarcasm.)
OK, I can understand not wanting any dog to become a coyote victim, but isn’t it also a requirement that you are able to keep the dog safely fenced or in some other enclosure? Please explain how the dog can be lured away over the 6′ fence, especially when it will never be alone? Let’s be realistic. We are in Southern California. There are coyotes EVERYWHERE. I have owned dogs in the past, and the mere presence of a large dog is a coyote deterrent in a fenced in yard.
I think dogs have an instinct to protect the pack (insert adoptive family), and this service also helps the dog to feel more bonded with said pack.
According to SCGSR, I am irresponsible for thinking this.
I feel sorry for the dogs in their care who are sleeping in crates, without space to run around, or a family to belong to when there seem to be so many well qualified potential homes available.

Happened to check the reviews for this place recently, and I think some people are missing the big picture.
I don’t think I’m being a sour grape when the rescue decided to stop communicating with us for no apparent reason. One of the dogs from the litter we were interested in is STILL up for adoption 2 years later. That’s a serious issue there.
We have a fenced-​in home with a large backyard.
We are young, married, and without children.
We have experience with dogs.
My husband was working from home at the time, and now I am working from home.
We are more than financially capable to spend money on our pets/​family members.
The big picture? Qualified families are being ignored when they express interest in adopting. We sent 2 – 3 emails asking for an update on our application with no response. Not even a courteous reason for declining our application. They didn’t respond. Everything had been fine and dandy up until then.
We now have two extremely happy dogs that we adopted from other organizations.

I am on my fourth German Shepherd Dog (GSD) now. My current dog is from this organization. My three deceased GSDs were from reputable breeders and one of them was a German import with Sch III title. So I consider myself an experienced GSD owner.
I have had three other dogs that were not GSDs. They were all lovable in their own way. They all enriched our lives. So for the people who are frustrated by the group not adopting to them, I say this — GSDs are not everyone’s cup of tea. They bark, they chew, they don’t handle loneliness well, because of their size they are expensive to maintain, etc. etc. They also need firm, consistent, and loving discipline.
Unless someone is home with them pretty much all the time, GSDs will get into mischief. I see this as the biggest downside to owning a GSD. I work from home, so it works out for Rex and me.
So please be understanding that the organization is trying to protect you and the dog from a mismatch. My wife adopted a Great Dane as her first dog. Unfortunately it was a bad match. They both went through a difficult six months until the dog was returned to the rescue. In this case I blame the organization for not spending more time with my wife to understand her capabilities and match her with a suitable dog.
Please ask yourself why you want a GSD. Do you understand that this breed has unique needs? Can you honestly say you will be a good match for this breed?
Having owned and loved three other breeds, I can say that there is a breed/​dog out there that will match you perfectly and make you happy, it just may not be a GSD.
In the meantime, enjoy your four-​legged friend be it a mutt or a pure-​bred dog. The Lord God made them all.

I was really surprised to see only 3.5 stars for SCGSR. I adopted a puppy from them a little over two years ago who we absolutely ADORE and it was a very smooth process. Of course the organization wants a lot of information and wants to make sure they have the best match possible so that once a dog goes to its forever home it really is forever. I can’t imagine being in their shoes and seeing what they see. Knowing how much personal sacrifice they make and how heartbreaking the things they see are, I can totally understand how they are very very selective on where they place all their dogs. I have had experience with two other rescues and while they still asked a lot of questions and definitely cared about the dogs they were adopting out, they were not nearly as thorough and I found that odd and it made me worry just a bit about how carefully they were screening potential homes.
I think SCGSR is by far the most responsible in making sure their dogs are going to the very best homes possible and when it’s time for another dog to be added to my family they will be the first place I go to. Thank you SCGSR for all the wonderful work you do.

I don’t know what to say, other than – I understand it’s important to find a good home for the dogs. But I begged and insisted the just because I live in a rental and haven’t owned a German Shepherd before, does not mean I wouldn’t do anything in my power to love and provide for the dog I adopted. We are a young active couple, we have time for the dog, we are dedicated, we live in a place that is very dog friendly, and we have thoroughly researched the breed, –but no, we were told once via email that our application was rejected, and once in person (at their adoption event), the owner fake smiled at me and said no again.
Rescuing dogs is good – so I can give them that much, but what’s the point when it takes so long to adopt the dogs out? Living in a Kennel isn’t exactly heavenly, warm, or full of love.
I’m happy to say though, that my husband and I adopted a beautiful German Shepherd Dog from another rescue – she’s perfect and very well mannered and the process there was far more professional and understanding.

I think that there are some sour grapes in these reviewers. I have adopted twice from this rescue and they are very thorough AND they really do try to find the best home for the dogs.
The adoption process is pretty long and I wound up getting a dog that I originally wasn’t interested in. However, the experience of the adoption crew placed the best dog for me in my home.
I do know this group is super selective on who they adopt to, because unlike other rescue groups, they want to make sure the dog goes home for good… instead of having a high return rate on the dogs they adopt out.
Be patient and know that they only have the best interest in mind for the dogs. If you don’t get approved, there is probably a good reason why.

I have had a bad experience as well with this organization. I filled out an online application and they turned me down without ever meeting me or my family. We had attemped adopting a GSD from another organization but they tired of looking for a dog for us because we have 3 children and we have a cat. It is hard to find a GSD that will fit within this situation. I think i was contacting them too much and they said they would not adopt to us because me and my wife both work. So i came to this organization and they said they would not adopt to us because the other organization said they would not. They never even met us or asked our situation. I have to give them a little credit because the «email» not phone call telling us we could not adopt was worded in a nice way and not mean. I just hope they care more for the dogs they do than the «clients they are not respecting at all.