FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Before contacting us, please take a moment to review the Frequently Asked Questions below. They are very informative, and will more than likely answer your question and/or direct you to the appropriate contact.

I want to adopt one of your dogs. What do I need to do? Can I come meet them?

All of our available dogs AND their bios are updated daily on our website. These bios contain all of the information we have about each dog. 

For adoption information, please read our adoption policy and fee information. If you are interested in adopting, the first thing you need to do is fill out the online application. After your application is submitted, please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. Once your references have been verified, someone will contact you to schedule a home visit. When your application is approved, our placement coordinator will work with you to schedule meetings with the dog(s) you’re interested in.

During this time, the dog you are interested in may get adopted. We do not hold dogs and we do not set up meetings with dogs unless you are an approved adopter. 

Someone has found a stray GSD, can you help?

GHGSDR is not able to take in stray dogs, or take in a dog that someone has found, for legal/liability reasons. We ONLY take in dogs who are legally surrendered to us by their owners, or who we have pulled from a shelter after they have completed a stray-hold period and are made available to rescue groups.

Do you accept GSD mixes?

As a breed-specific rescue, we focus on purebred GSDs or GSDs that are as close to purebred as possible, as this aligns with what our adopters are seeking. We are unable to accept GSD mixes or other breeds in order to dedicate our limited resources to dogs that best match our mission.

I need to surrender my dog. What should I do?

We are a foster based rescue, meaning we can only take in a new dog if we have an open foster home available. We are unable to accept mixed breeds as the majority of our adopters are seeking full German Shepherd Dogs. In order for us to consider accepting your dog into our rescue, you MUST fill out the Request to Surrender form. 

For legal / liability reasons, we cannot take in stray dogs OR dogs who have any history of aggression, therefore you must be able to show proof that this is your dog (medical records, etc.). All dogs will be thoroughly temperament tested when being considered.

Can I return an adopted dog?

Effective November 2025: Once adopted, each dog becomes part of their new family’s home and daily environment. Because we are no longer involved in the dog’s day-to-day care, training, or management, we cannot assess or control how the dog is raised after adoption. Behavioral development is influenced by factors within the home, including training, consistency, socialization, and routine, and is therefore the responsibility of the adoptive owner.

While we may consider return requests on a case-by-case basis, returns are not guaranteed—particularly for behavioral concerns. By adopting, families accept responsibility for their dog’s ongoing care, training, and behavior, and agree to seek support proactively when needed.

We remain committed to our adopters and are happy to provide guidance, resources, and referrals for training or behavioral support throughout the life of the dog. Reach out to our team at any time for assistance.

Return Considerations
Requests to return a dog are evaluated at our discretion, with the safety and well-being of people and animals as our top priority. Dogs adopted within the past six months may be more readily considered for return due to our recent knowledge of their needs. For dogs adopted more than six months ago, each case will be carefully reviewed, as behavior and circumstances may have changed.

Dogs with Bite History or Injury
Due to safety and insurance limitations, we cannot accept the return of any dog that has caused serious injury to a person or another animal. If a dog has bitten a person/animal, is determined to pose a risk for rehoming, and the adopter is unable to continue care, we strongly encourage consultation with a veterinarian to discuss humane options, including euthanasia, to ensure the dog’s welfare and prevent further harm.

Should I notify you about dogs in shelters or Facebook posts?

We thoroughly appreciate your desire to help, however we want to assure you that our Intake Team monitors all of the Houston area shelters very closely every day. Most of the shelters notify us automatically when a GSD comes in, and we have volunteers who monitor Facebook, Pet Finder, Adopt A Pet, and many other websites where dogs are listed online on a daily basis. That being said, forwarding us listings from shelters and social media is unnecessary.

GSDs in rescues/shelters outside of the Houston area: Our organization is committed to serving German Shepherds within the Houston area. Due to limited capacity and resources, we do not intake dogs from out of state/outside our local service region.

I submitted an application but haven't heard anything back yet. What's going on?

After your application is submitted, please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. Once your references have been verified, someone will contact you to schedule a home visit. If we have already done your home visit, and you are an approved adopter, our volunteers are working diligently to find a dog that is a suitable match for you. Please remember that the amount of dogs we have in our program directly depends on how many fosters we have available, and sometimes our fosters are caring for dogs who are not ready to be adopted due to medical reasons. Occasionally there is a waitlist for adopting. If you would like to inquire about your status, please send an email to: applications@ghgsdr.org

I don't live in the Houston area, but I would like to adopt one of your dogs - is that possible?

Since our adoption process requires a home visit for approval, we are only able to adopt our dogs to people in the Greater Houston area. We are all volunteers, with full time jobs and families, and therefore we are unable to travel outside of the Houston area to provide home visits.

Can someone please call me?

We do not have a business phone number, and therefore are unable to answer questions via phone. If you still need assistance after reading our FAQ, you are welcome to contact us via email using the information below:

We do our best to respond within a timely manner, however our GHGSDR volunteers receive a very large volume of emails on a daily basis. We appreciate your patience and understanding!

What is your address / Where are you located?

Since all of our dogs are living in homes with our amazing fosters, and we are solely a volunteer run organization, we do not have a business office or kennel. If you need to send us mail, please use the P.O. Box listed at the bottom of the page.