German Shepherds are not only beautiful, but they are also intelligent, loyal and easy to find in many countries of the world. Unfortunately, they are not the right breed of dog for everyone. Each year, thousands of German Shepherds (also known as Alsatians) and German Shepherd mixes are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters. Most of these dogs wind up there through no fault of their own. Many people are not aware of the significant time and money investment needed to care for German Shepherds.

Because of the popularity of German Shepherds (and the lack of popularity of learning German Shepherd information before impulsive puppy purchases), there may very well be a German Shepherd waiting in your local general animal shelter right this minute. However, you will have to realize that this dog might not be trained and, because all animal shelters are incredibly understaffed, the dog's personality may be a bit of a mystery.

Good German Shelter rescues will work very closely with each dog in their care and take time to get to know the dog's preferences and quirks. Good German Shepherd rescues will never let you adopt a dog right away. You will have to fill out a lot of paperwork, often give them a letter on your character written by your vet, and answer a lot of questions about your (possibly lack of) German Shepherd information. Be very suspicious of any organization that calls themselves a German Shepherd rescue and that ships dogs to you without asking you any questions. The dogs for sale might be stolen or very sick dogs.

There is no parent German Shepherd breed organization or even a national directory. The American Kennel Club and the Humane Society of the United States are really too busy to help you out. In order to find a good German Shepherd rescue in your local area, you will have to sniff them out yourself. You can also expect to fill out a lot of forms, meet with many different dogs and maybe even get a character reference from a veterinarian before your application for adoption is accepted.

You can find a good German Shepherd rescue by going online and doing a search, but asking your vet, by asking your local all pet animal shelter or by looking through the classifieds of a dog magazine.

You could also contact the American Kennel Club (AKC), which would get you into contact with the breed club. But many German Shepherd rescues are small operations run out of people's homes, so they might not advertise.

They usually have websites, though. Petfinder.com is quickly becoming the most comprehensive resource on the web for matching homeless animals with those people looking to adopt. First, you will talk on the phone or via e-mail, and then you will fill out a lot of paperwork.

If all goes well, then you meet the dog the German Shepherd rescue think best will match up with you. Be patient with them in finding you a furry friend. There's no point in adopting a German Shepherd only to have to put him or her back into a shelter.