The German Shepherd dog breed is famously known for its high intelligence quotient, undying loyalty, unrivaled obedience, and protective nature.
Time after time, German Shepherds have been ranked among the top five of the world’s most popular breeds because of their versatility – they make excellent working dogs, service dogs, and family companions.
However, in spite of their popularity, tons of German Shepherd dogs eventually end up being surrendered to breed rescue animal shelters all around the globe due to a number of different reasons.
Because this is such a common occurrence, in order to ensure the safety and proper care of dogs, breed-specific animal rescue centers have been established where people can adopt adult dogs that are in need of a loving home.
These dog rescue centers usually function on a regional or state level in order for them to adequately screen potential foster homes and gauge whether or not they are able to take care of the adopted dog.
So, if you’re sure that you want to give a new home to an adult German Shepherd dog and you want to know who the best German Shepherd rescues in Ohio are – you’ve come to the right place.
Adult German Shepherds For Adoption In Ohio
Before we get into the meat of the matter and see who the most reliable German Shepherd rescue organizations in Ohio are, it’s important to know what actually constitutes a good pet rescue shelter.
It’s crucial to note the difference between ethical rescue groups and unethical kill shelters that keep their salvaged dogs in unsanitary conditions and end up euthanizing them if they are not adopted at a certain point in time.
It’s also good to know the difference between animal rescues and animal shelters in general.
A German Shepherd rescue that focuses on adoption or rehoming is always a much safer bet for a German Shepherd than just any animal shelter you come across.
Responsible rescue organizations subject potential adopters to screening applications, home visits, and reference checks in order to ensure the safety of their German Shepherds.
This way, rescue organizations help dogs find a new home with a loving family, and largely prevent these dogs from ever ending up in a shelter again.
That said, all of the rescues that have been chosen for this list were chosen via a strict set of criteria. We’ll take a look at the years of service, the condition of the rescue facilities, the rescue standards, and their goals in order to give you a clear picture of how each of these rescues functions.
The following are all excellent non-profit organizations that strive to foster, rehabilitate, and then finally rehome their German Shepherds.
1. Weeping Willow German Shepherd Dog Sanctuary
Our first GSD rescue is the Weeping Willow German Shepherd Dog Sanctuary, which is a rescue organization that’s based in Lordstown, Ohio.
How do they function?
Weeping Willow Sanctuary is a strict, no-kill shelter and a non-profit organization with the goal of saving as many German Shepherd dogs as they can from inhumane and unethical treatment.
This rescue is committed to locating and rehoming abandoned German Shepherds in all parts of the state of Ohio. The shelter rescues GSDs from kill shelters, GSDs that are homeless, GSDs that have been in abusive homes, and owner-surrenders that have been given up for various reasons.
They also function as a permanent home for senior dogs and dogs with extreme medical conditions that otherwise cannot find new homes.
What do they offer?
Their facilities boast a two-acre, fenced plot of land where their German Shepherd dogs are able to roam freely and enjoy socialization with other dogs as much as they want.
Weeping Willow Sanctuary hosts several different events every year – from public education events to adoption events to public fundraisers specifically held for the older dogs in their care.
The rescue accepts financial donations, but they mostly urge those who want to help out and have the free time to do so to volunteer since they are always in need of an extra helping hand.
Of course, the team at Weeping Willow Sanctuary puts all monetary donations to good use – they utilize the funds to address the medical issues of each dog that is in their care.
If you decide to adopt one of their wonderful adult German Shepherd dogs, be sure to check out their website and get in touch with them in order to inquire further about adoptable dogs.
Weeping Willow German Shepherd Dog Sanctuary details
Location: 2469 Hewitt Gifford Rd, Lordstown, Ohio 44481
Website: Weeping Willow German Shepherd Dog Sanctuary
Contact: +1 330-898-0090
2. Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue
Our next spot on the list of the best German Shepherd Rescues in Ohio goes to Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue, based in Hamilton, near Columbus, Ohio.
How do they function?
This is a small, independently-run shelter that functions primarily via Facebook, email, and Petfinder in order to provide a convenient and efficient adoption experience to people in Ohio who are looking for German Shepherd dogs for adoption.
This rescue organization keeps the well-being and health of its dogs at the forefront of its operation. They seek to nurture, rehabilitate, and rehome each and every German Shepherd and German Shepherd mix dog that is in their care.
This German Shepherd rescue organization functions without a primary facility for housing their dogs – instead, the dogs in their care are kept in responsible foster homes.
What do they offer?
This rescue makes sure that each dog they take in is evaluated both medically and behaviorally, and they will accept most German Shepherd dogs into their care; however, they won’t accept dogs with aggression problems.
Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue is most active on Facebook, where they share pictures and information about their available adoptable dogs and other underprivileged dogs in their area.
Before actually adopting one of their German Shepherds, potential new families will need to be screened and interviewed, as well as provide personal references in addition to a veterinarian reference.
If you’re interested, make sure to get in touch with them in order to inquire further as to whether or not they currently have any German Shepherd dogs available for adoption.
Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue details
Location: Hamilton, Ohio
Petfinder: Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue
Facebook: Cincinnati Area German Shepherd Rescue
Email: [email protected]
3. Dogs Hope German Shepherd & All Breed Rescue
The next spot on our list of the best German Shepherd rescues in Ohio goes to Dogs Hope German Shepherd & All Breed Rescue, based in Lake County.
How do they function?
Dogs Hope was established in 2000 by two German Shepherd dog lovers, and what makes this rescue different is that they are not a rescue dog shelter at all.
They are a non-profit organization that independently connects adoptable German Shepherd dogs (and occasionally other breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers) to loving forever families, and they are in constant need of foster homes.
They function by offering people to advertise their dogs for adoption on their website, allowing them to find potential forever homes that are a good fit.
In addition to that, they regularly communicate with local shelters in order to inform potential adopters of dogs that are in need of a home, particularly dogs that are at risk of being euthanized.
What do they offer?
Although they accept monetary donations, they are not an official 501c3 charitable organization. The donations that they receive are utilized for spay/neuter procedures, health checkups, deworming medications, antibiotic treatments for sick dogs, vaccinations, and other necessary medical care for their German Shepherds.
Because this rescue is run by avid German Shepherd lovers, they are extremely passionate about advocating for animal rights and finding good loving homes for the dogs in their care.
Be sure to check out their website and read all about them if you’re interested in adopting one of their German Shepherds that are in need of a new home.
Dogs Hope German Shepherd & All Breed Rescue details
Location: Lake County
Website: Dogs Hope German Shepherd & All Breed Rescue
Email: [email protected]
4. Dogs Unlimited Rescue
The next rescue on our list is Dogs Unlimited Rescue, located in Solon, Ohio.
How do they function?
Dogs Unlimited Rescue is an official 501c3, non-profit organization that consists almost entirely of volunteers who are devoted to caring about abused and neglected rescued dogs.
The dogs in their care are rescued from unethical kennels, kill shelters, puppy mills, dog pounds, abusive owners, and owners who have unfortunately passed away and no one else is able to take care of them.
The volunteers work hard alongside the adoption team in order to find the right dog that is the perfect match for each adopting family – their home, personalities, and lifestyle are all considered in the final process of matching a dog to a family.
What do they offer?
People who are interested in adopting one of their German Shepherds will be screened, interviewed, reference checked, and home-inspected in order to determine whether or not they are able to provide all the necessary care that is required prior to adopting a dog.
Any dog that has potential behavioral issues is put through training prior to being listed for adoption, so you don’t need to worry whether or not your new best friend will be aggressive.
In the past seven years, Dogs Unlimited Rescue has saved over eight hundred individual dogs, many of whom were dogs with special needs and extreme cases that no one else would have bothered with.
If you want to give a new home to one of their wonderful German Shepherd dogs, make sure to visit their website and contact them for further instructions on starting the adoption process.
Dogs Unlimited Rescue details
Location: 33095 Bainbridge Rd, Solon, Ohio 44139
Website: Dogs Unlimited Rescue
Facebook: Dogs Unlimited Rescue
Instagram: Dogs Unlimited Rescue
Email: [email protected]
5. PAWS Adoption Center
Our fifth and final spot on the list of the best German Shepherd rescues in Ohio goes to the Progressive Animal Welfare Society Adoption Center, located in Monroe, Ohio.
How do they function?
PAWS Adoption Center was established in 1980, and since then, they have found permanent homes for more than thirteen thousand individual animals.
This is another no-kill, non-profit organization that is committed to rescuing abandoned cats and dogs that are in dire need of care, and they currently house over eighty different dogs that are available for adoption.
What do they offer?
PAWS Adoption Center focuses on providing the proper care necessary for the animals in their care – this includes health tests, medications, vaccinations, dewormings, spay/neuter procedures, etc.
Many of these dogs have never had any veterinary attention, and are, most of the time, in really bad shape when they are rescued from puppy mills, dog pounds, backyard breeders, etc.
After they get the proper medical attention that they need, and they are deemed healthy, the dogs are able to be adopted into loving forever homes.
If you decide that you want to opt for this rescue center, make sure to visit their website and get in touch with them via phone, email, or social media in order to inquire further about whether or not they have any German Shepherd dogs for adoption.
PAWS Adoption Center details
Location: 6302 Crossings Blvd, Monroe, Ohio 45050
Website: PAWS Adoption Center
Facebook: PAWS Adoption Center
Instagram: PAWS Adoption Center
Contact: +1 513-539-7297
Email: [email protected]
How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A GSD?
Now that you know which German Shepherd rescues in Ohio you can turn to in order to find a GSD for adoption, you’re probably wondering just how much it actually costs to adopt a German Shepherd dog in Ohio.
Adoption fees for adult German Shepherd dogs range between $500 and $1000 on average, whereas purchasing a puppy from a reputable German Shepherd breeder in Ohio costs between $1000 and $4000 on average.
Of course, adopting a dog is always easier on the wallet, but there are certain risks involved with adopting a rescue dog that are not present when purchasing a young puppy from a breeder.
Some adult dogs might have been subjected to inhumane abuse, and these dogs usually take a long time to heal mentally from the said abuse.
Make sure to ask the right questions before you adopt an adult dog, especially if you have children in the household.
Apart from the initial adoption fee, you will need to be financially prepared to take care of your new German Shepherd.
The average cost of owning a German Shepherd dog is around $100 on a monthly basis.
If you happen to find a GSD puppy for adoption, and you decide to give it a new home, it’s important to be prepared for your pup’s inevitable growth spurt – that’s where a useful tool like the German Shepherd growth chart comes in handy.
If you decide to buy a German Shepherd puppy from a breeder instead of adopting one, check out our article about the 6 Best German Shepherd Breeders In Ohio.
In Conclusion
It’s always better to adopt a GSD than it is to buy a puppy from a breeder.
Not only will this cost you less money, but it will also save an abandoned German Shepherd dog from being homeless, or even from the worst possible outcome – from being euthanized.
All of these rescue organizations don’t always have adult dogs for adoption – you can easily find young puppies that have been abandoned for any number of reasons available for adoption as well.
That said, the majority of puppies that are available for adoption are usually German Shepherd mixes or just dogs that look like German Shepherds, with a few exceptions of a purebred German Shepherd here and there.
We hope that with this list of the five best German Shepherd rescues in Ohio, you’ll be able to find and adopt your new best friend and bring it home in no time.
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