You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website.German Shepherd dogs, as well as the other herding breeds that we have in rescue, are highly active, energetic, working breeds. They require considerable vetting, exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings in order to work on his/her leash skills, manners, and social skills. These breeds make great additions to active families who will pamper them, but who will also work with them, as they are smart dogs who need leadership, structure, plenty of activity and mental stimulation. If you are new to German Shepherds (and other herding breeds), please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd (or other herding breed) dog will require before applying for one. Please review the section on our website (www.heartlandgsrescue.org) Is a HUGS Dog Right for You? for additional information.

Little Alfie is an approximately 11 month-old GSD puppy who came into rescue after surviving a very rough start to his life. When he was rescued off of the streets by a Good Samaritan and friend of HUGS in South Texas, Alfie was emaciated, covered in sores, and could hardly walk. After a couple of months of TLC, Alfie was finally healthy enough to make the trip to Nebraska. At first, Alfie wasnt sure about anything! He was incredibly shy and afraid of just about everything. With the help of his doggy foster siblings and the patience of his foster family, Alfie has totally come out of his shell! He is an incredibly clever, playful, and loving puppy. He has no sense of personal space and will snuggle up as close to you as he possibly can. He also loves sprinting around the back yard, romping around with his doggy friends, giving as many kisses as he can, and chewing up all of the toys in his foster home! While he absolutely LOVES meeting new doggy friends, Alfie is a little timid when meeting new people. A couple of treats always reminds him that he doesnt have to fear people anymore! He has learned many tricks, knows hes supposed to go potty outside, and chooses to sleep in his kennel every night (even though his foster mom spoils him and he could sleep with her if he wanted to). Alfie is going to make his lucky adopters incredibly happy and will be a fantastic addition to any family! Since he sometimes forgets that people arent going to hurt him, Alfie would love to have a doggy sibling (or two). He doesnt discriminate against feline friends either!

Once Alfie made it to rescue in Nebraska, we realized he was the luckiest dog on the planet to have survived the ordeal he went through at the beginning of his life. It is thought that he was hit by a car, and while youd never know it, he carries some battle wounds from that accident. Alfie has a slightly oddly shaped vertebra in his back that broke and was allowed to heal on its own (we know this because of x-rays). While we dont think his old back injury bothers him, as it is now fully healed, his pelvis is flexed slightly forward. This puts a certain amount of strain on his hips, causing them to be both a little bit looser that they would normally be for a dog his age. Like many German Shepherds, Alfie could potentiallly need surgical intervention for his hips, and if he does, that time could come possibly come earlier for Alfie than for others (he may also never need it...we just want to make adopters aware of the possibility). Fortunately, he does not show any signs of chronic pain or the need for surgery right now! To make sure that he is super comfortable, he gets an Adequan injection every month, as well as a daily Dasaquin joint supplement to help support healthy joints and mobility as he continues to grow. We are just so glad that this tough little puppy was able to fight through these injuries that definitely could have killed him. He really is a miracle puppy! Aside from being a fighter, Alfie is a fantastic puppy that makes everyone he meets fall head over heels in love with him. We are sure that you will love him too!

Like any of our dogs, this sweet, handsome boy would make a great addition to an active home that will provide the love, structure, good leadership, activity and mental stimulation that this breed needs. Because of that, Alfies ideal owner will have prior GSD or other herding breed experience, and a friendly dog buddy for Alfie. Even if you exercise and play with your dog daily in your fenced yard, please remember that you MUST still take your dog out on daily walks and outings, in order to provide sufficient stimulation, ward off boredom, and work on leash skills, and manners.

Alfies adoption fee is $350, all of which goes back into offseting our high-cost vetting expenses and rescuing more dogs. We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue group and rely on adoption fees and donations to continue saving lives. Adoption fees include spay/neuter, current on age-appropriate vaccinations, fecal, deworming, flea/tick and heartworm preventative, heartworm tested if old enough (and treated if positive), and microchipped. Please visit http://heartlandgsrescue.rescuegroups.org/info/adoption for more information about our adoption process and requirements, and to apply.
Please review the information in the About Us, Important Considerations and Adopt sections on our website menu, as it contains useful information about the breed, adoption fees, the adoption process and our requirements, and how meeting the dogs works.