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Adoption
Could I adopt a German Shepherd?
A German Shepherd (GSD) makes a wonderful friend and family pet but If you haven't had one before it is important to understand that this is a working breed and they do have certain characteristics that can make them more difficult than your average Retriever, Labrador or Collie. A GSD needs a lot of exercise, some good basic training and companionship - they like to be with you. They can be very vocal and they are naturally protective towards their new family and property so you will need to think how you can manage this so as not to upset friends and neighbours. A bored GSD can be very destructive.
Re-homing Conditions (please read carefully)
In general we do not re-home in the following conditions:
- Where a dog is going to be left longer than 3-4 hours on a daily basis, as this is very unfair to the dogs.
- To applicants living in upstairs flats, as this can not only cause problems with neighbours, but it can also cause problems with the dog’s hips.
- Where a dog is going to be used for guarding purposes.
- To any applicants who intend to use any dog for breeding, as we have a no breeding policy. The rescue is not in a financial position to neuter/spay before adoption, but at the time of adoption you will be asked to sign an agreement that the dog will be taken to the vet for this procedure to be carried out within 6 months of adoption, or as soon as feasible. You will be asked to provide evidence that the procedure has been carried out. Some dogs will have already been neutered or spayed by their previous owner.
- We do not home to families with children under the age of 10 if you have never owned a German Shepherd before.
- We do not home to shared gardens.
- We do not re-home where there is no secure garden area for the dog to go into.
- Following adoption we ask that all new owners insure their new dog as soon as possible - vet fees can be very expensive!
German Shepherd Rescue Scotland does not pay vet's fees after adoption.
Adoption Process
This is the adoption process in brief but please read on for full details of how the adoption process works at German Shepherd Rescue Scotland.
- Complete an Adoption Form.
- Someone from German Shepherd Rescue Scotland will telephone you.
- A home-check will be arranged.
- Your vet will be contacted for a reference.
- Someone from German Shepherd Rescue Scotland will contact you to tell you if your application to adopt has been accepted.
What is the first step towards adopting a German Shepherd?
To begin the adoption process, please complete the Adoption Form at the bottom of this page. It is in your own best interests that you are honest with your answers and don't put what you think we want to hear. The completed form will be sent to one of our re-homing volunteers, who will then contact you by telephone to discuss adoption and to organise a home-check.
What happens next?
When our re-homing volunteer telephones he/she will discuss your specific situation, i.e. if you have owned a German Shepherd before, how the dog is to be accommodated, any other pets you have, how much time will you be at work/have available to spend with your dog, and your family commitments.
After talking things through with us, if you decide that you still want to go ahead we will arrange a convenient time to visit you at home to do a home-check. We will also contact your vet for a reference. Please do bear in mind that as we are all volunteers many of us have day jobs so we cannot always arrange an immediate visit. We will however do our best to meet with you as soon as possible.
After your home-check has been completed and we have received your vet reference we can advise you of a dog that may be suitable for you. If there is not a dog available at that time, we will contact you when there is.
Will I get a dog suitable for me?
When placing a dog in a new home, care is taken to ensure that there is a good match between the dog, its new owner and the new home environment in which it will be living. Not every dog will be right for a given environment and not all potential owners will be right for a given dog. Sometimes we get requests from individuals who attempt to give us a detailed description (often highly unrealistic) of a dog they would like us to provide them with and whilst we do try to find a dog that fits in with the wishes of the prospective new owner, dogs do not 'come to order', they are all individual and have their own personalities. Both the dog and its new owners will have much learn from each other and will require time to adjust, but if approached with a practical and realistic attitude, adopting a German Shepherd can be a deeply rewarding experience.
What can I do to prepare for the arrival of my new dog?
To help you prepare for the arrival of your rescue dog we have put together some helpful information.
Preparing for your Rescue Dog - please click the link to access this page.
Arrival of your new best friend!
If all goes well and we are able to place a suitable dog with you, we will contact you again to arrange a suitable day and time to bring your new companion. To keep our costs down, you may be asked to travel to meet with a volunteer to pick up your new dog. On accepting your new dog you will be asked to fill in and sign an adoption form which sets out the legal conditions of adoption from German Shepherd Rescue Scotland.
In order to help you through the initial stages we will keep in touch to see how your new dog is settling in and how you are managing. During this period we will do our best to ensure you get any support and guidance you need. Telephone support is available, so there is no need to worry about being left to cope with any problems alone. Most placements do succeed well and some of our adopters even come back for more!
Adoption Form
Please make sure you have read the re-homing conditions at the top of this page before completing the form.
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