The kids found a puppy online and it turned out to be a listing from Coastal German Shepherd Rescue. The girls filled out the application and the eight-year-old started emailing "Harmony" the dog listed in the picture. Correspondence with this organization is top-notch. They responded right away and followed-up with a phone interview. They had rescued the pregnant mother who then had 13 puppies. When we visited the puppies, it turns out the one the girls chose was the same one in the original photo. It was pretty cool. They do things right here. The puppies were dewormed, chipped, and shots were initiated. They do require a donation which includes spay/neuter and training classes. Our new family member is now about 10 months old. Harmony is an amazing individual full of love and we all love her very much. I am appreciative for all this organization does and the positive impact it had on my kids. Two Thumbs Up! If I had more hands, those thumbs would be up, too! read more

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Fyi - The application manager is...... Pretty much nonexistent or just doesn't care - Found a dog I liked called, went in, filled out the application, and nothing... Called again - heard them say call her back and nothing... offered to volunteer and nothing, offered to raise money for them and nothing So this dog that's in a shelter somewhere scared out of its mind begging for a home (the dog i wanted) Who knows what's gonna happen to that beautiful dog because of this group... this group, actively helps dogs NOT find homes and this qualified home is desperately seeking a dog - can I adopt the dog that desperately needs to be here.? my personal experience is.... No I Can't get a dog because I went through this group. I also offered to volunteer and foster a Dog... And Nothing... I asked what was going on and they said there's some kind of hierarchy anyways some dog somewhere will probably be put to sleep because this group is not interested enough in finding homes for dogs and I'm definitely a qualified home and qualified dog owner - the volunteers are nice, but don't seem to have any ability to do anything more than hang out with the dogs once a month in a parking lot, pretending to try to get them home... Based on the hierarchy (im not the only complaint about this) the application manager who just drops the ball or doesn't care - very very sad that some dog is gonna have to pay the price for that. - I'm posting this negative review in the hope that something changes for the sake of the dogs that depend on this group read more

I met Aurora aka Poppytheed aka Poppy Puppy aka Princess Poppybutt when she was hospitalized at the veterinary hospital where I worked as an RVT. This rescue goes above and beyond when it comes to meeting the medical needs of their dogs. Once they become a Coastal dog BOOM!!! No expense spared for medical needs or to get them good and trained up! Anyways, back to how I met Poppy... one of my vets called Lorraine and asked if I could take Poppy for the holiday weekend (4th of July) which would save the rescue cost of medical boarding and give me a friend to love. Lorraine fully disclosed Poppy's distaste for men and met me at my home that evening to do a quick home check and to bring me a martingale collar with tags for Poppy. Long story short... I adopted Poppytheed officially a month later. Lorraine has been available every step of the way, even going out of her way to come to my home and work with me and my roommate on acclimating Poppy to a male in her home. She's ALWAYS there for me if I'm unsure or some behavior or just need to brush up my own leadership skills (which happens pretty often). And this is the kind of rescue that I know would take Poppy back and take the best possible care of her if I were to be hit by a bus in 15 years and she's an old ass GSD on her last leg with no hair, one eye and won't stop farting. Not like my last rescue experience where they stopped responding to my emails when the dog bit me. So for people bitching about not being approved for a dog... there's probably a damn good reason you've been denied and it has nothing to do with discrimination... it has to do with how suitable your home is for a large breed dog with overly protective instincts and big teeth. Do you know how shitty it makes them feel when they've misjudged a homes ability to care for a dog who is adopted out as a puppy and returned a few years later completely neglected? Or when the shelter notifies them that one of their dogs has been surrendered? I work in the field, Lorraine's aces in my book. I trust her judgement completely. read more

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5 stars for the awesome volunteer staff and trainers like Gary and Dan, and 0 for the application manager Lorraine. She was arrogant, rude, and offensive. read more

We could not be more grateful or impressed with Coastal GSR as a rescue and matchmaker for furry family members. Our accolades specifically go out to Lorraine - volunteer extraordinaire. It was through her attentive guidance, timely and consistent communication, generous listening ear, and knowledge of the available dogs that we now have Duke in our family. He's the most joyful, snuggly, brilliant dog on the planet. Lorraine knew exactly who we needed and nudged us in the right direction. It was love at first sight. It is immensely important to listen to the advice of the volunteers who have the most valuable and truest insight into each of the dogs. When we began the process of adoption we had an entirely different GSD in mind. We've owned GSDs and a Malinois...each of them perfect. We thought we knew exactly what we wanted and needed. However, after chatting extensively with Lorraine we realized, together, that the dog we were initially interested in would not be a good fit for us. Had we dug in our heels and ignored Lorraine's insight, we would have missed out on the most amazing GSD. What a loss that would have been. Lorraine took the time to listen to our wishes and goals as much listen to the challenges that we didn't want to deal with. When she pointed us to Duke he wasn't even on our radar. Once she gave us his name, told us about his personality, and answered questions that we had (for example...he's a boy! we've only owned girls! eeww!) she made us want to meet him as quickly as possible. And after that first meeting his future, and ours, was set in our hearts. He was everything she mentioned and more. For Lorraine and the Coastal staff, the dogs are the only things that matter. I commend them for putting these amazing creatures first before the needs of the potential adopters. No one, most definitely not a complete stranger searching the internet, knows these dogs like they do. Period. These animals don't have voice and so many of them have had a rough start. They need the volunteers to speak for them and make sure that they receive the happily ever after they so deserve. These dogs cannot afford to be returned or treated with less than a perfect life. Life has already treated them unfairly or they wouldn't be in a rescue in the first place. We applaud Lorraine and all of the others who speak on their behalf and do such diligent work to find them their furever family. In a nutshell, Lorraine is brilliant. Thanks to her we have the most amazing hiking partner, super snuggler, smartest learner, and silliest boy on the planet. Duke is the whole, beautiful GSD package. We look forward to all of the years ahead of us. read more

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We will always adopt a rescue but we weren't really looking for a "Shepherd" exactly- just a dog that would be the best for us. Actually, my wife cruised Coastal's web site often and eventually became attracted to a dog that wasn't a Shepherd at all. Once we completed the home visit process (Cal was great) we went out to have a look. Lorraine introduced us to the dog that my wife was initially interested in and we found he wasn't the right fit. After Lorraine asked us some questions, she then offered some suggestions and showed us a couple more dogs. There was one in particular that she said we would love right off. She was right. After filling out some paperwork, we took our new baby home. Coastal is one of the few rescues that will take in senior dogs and those with medical histories. Had that not been the case, our new family member might not be alive today. Thank you to Lorraine and Cal (and everyone at Coastal German Shepherd Rescue) for your input, your knowledge and your love for canines. read more

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My husband and recently adopted a pup from Coastal GSR and have nothing but great things to say! From application to adoption was 5 days and Lorraine was honestly about what dog would be right for us. She spent plenty of time in our home talking with us and when we settled on a dog to adopt, we did a nearly 2 hours meet and greet with our older dog to make sure they were a good fit for each other. Lorraine was also really upfront about the fact that the dog we wanted to adopt is an escape artist and a rough player. She was spot on about this and we appreciated the honesty. The great thing about CGSR is that we feel like we have a great support system in place. Lorraine is always available to chat and help us out if needed. They work with a lot of trainers and even have free training sessions included in your adoption. Great experience! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We were looking for a dog and came across the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue OC. We submitted an application and Lorraine contacted us to talk about what we were looking for in a dog. Together we went through several profiles online and based on our discussion, she was able to match us with the perfect dog, a 2 year old named Justice. The next step was to go through the verification process which was detailed but not overwhelming, you can tell they care about the home and where they place the dog. She worked with us to arrange the meeting with the foster mom, Shannon, who went out of her way to accommodate our schedule. We live in San Diego and she came quite a distance to meet us in a park that put Justice at ease. Shannon did an amazing job in the short time she had Justice. He's socialized, friendly, and well behaved. Within the span of a week he's feeling comfortable in his new home and is just the perfect dog for us. We can't thank Lorraine, Shannon and the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue OC family enough and we can't recommend them more strongly - 5 stars isn't enough. read more

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So you're interested in owning a German Shepherd, and have decided to rescue one instead of going to a breeder. Congratulations, I think you're making a considerate, compassionate, and commendable decision. There are so many deserving animals out there in need of a loving home. And you're doing well enough for yourself because it's not easy to live in Orange County, right? You're ready to bring one of these animals home and shower it with love. It's easy to think that adopting a rescued German Shepherd should be a rubber stamped process. I know. I've felt that way myself. Here's the thing about Coastal: they want what's best for the dog and what's best for you. Honestly, they probably care more about the dog. They're not looking to move dogs as quickly as possible, if that means a dog and a family are ill-suited for one another. I'm impressed by their restraint because as we've discussed there are a lot of animals out there hoping to find better lives. It's not easy being told that you, your family, or your living situation isn't a good fit. But pause to think about this: if you ever had to place your own pet with another family, wouldn't you want the best you could do? And if someone recommended that you bring a pet into your own family, wouldn't you want to be reassured that it was the best possible match? That's what Coastal is trying to do. Last year we had to put our last dog down due to cancer. He was a rescued German Shepherd. After the new year we were ready for a new dog. We found one at Coastal that we really liked: there were pictures and even a video. We passed the home inspection with flying colors and then received a call from Lorraine to talk about the dog. In her estimation, he wasn't going to be a good fit for what we wanted. What? We've owned GSD's for over twenty years. We know what we're doing. We have a yard. We are committed to our pets. We've already started thinking of this dog as being ours. Your approval should be as quick as stamping our application. Lorraine and I continued to talk. She asked me what we really wanted in a dog, what we couldn't live without. I told her that it was very important that the dog get along well with other dogs; our last dog was very tense around other dogs, which often brought out the worst in all of them. She asked if we had seen Zed on their site. We had, and he was a handsome dog. Were we willing to meet him? Sure, I guess so. We set a date and time to meet this dog that wasn't the one we originally wanted. It turns out that Zed is exactly what we wanted. He's calm, gets along well with other dogs, is patient and exuberant. He quickly warmed up to me because I attached his leash to my belt with a carabiner for the first three days: he was 1.5 years old but had never been housebroken. Make no mistake, you're going to put in some work for any animal you adopt whether it's a puppy or an adult. The difference is in the type of work you have to put in. I strongly recommend Coastal German Shepherd Rescue. They will take the time to find a great match between dog and adopting family. And if for whatever reason they don't find a suitable match for you, then try not to be too upset: there are still many other German Shepherds out there hoping that you will find them. read more

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Rescuing our Jax was an amazing and smooth process. Coastal also does a great job interviewing candidates to make sure your home is the proper fit for your new furry friend. We absolutely love our GSD and we love that through his foster home experience, he was crate trained and potty trained which made for an easier puppy experience. He came micro chipped and had all his puppy shots covered. We are in love and will forever be going through this rescue. Something that goes unnoticed is how TIRELESSLY these volunteers work. The phone interview and application process took a couple days so please, please be patient. They are out rescuing, raising, retraining and loving these pups making sure they're right for you and your home. The very last photo is with him, his foster brother and his sister we had a play date read more

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Where do I even start? We adopted a young female German Shepherd from our local shelter. She had come from a dark horrible place and while she liked us, she hated everyone else and expressed that hatred and fear through aggression and acting out. I found Lorraine and made the (well worth it) drive from San Diego to go see her. I was treating my very anxious and angry German shepherd like one of my children. Calm voices and comforting. But I had no idea what additional damage I was causing. Lorraine not only taught and trained my dog but she taught and trained my husband and I. That it was okay to love and cuddle our pup, but that she had to earn it, that we all had to change the way we were behaving. My dog went from high anxiety and anger, always in a muzzle and the constant fear of her attacking someone and us being sued. To now? She is a thriving, amazing, confident 2 year old. She can openly play at the park leash free. She listens to and understands commands with full respect. I could write essays about Lorraine. But it would never be enough. It was a tough pill to swallow when I first met her, because I had this scared dog who I just wanted to hug and tell they were okay, but what I realized what she needed guidance, structure, and training. With that her true self thrived! Her confidence beamed and she is the top shelf dog ruling the house now. Thank you Lorraine for your time, dedication, care, respect, vigor, tenacity, and change! Thank you for giving our dog a 2nd chance! THANK YOU! read more

I am genuinely proud to be a member of the Coastal family. My wife and I will sometimes stop and stare at the dog and think out loud together, "how did we score such a rad dog?" We left Orange County a few months ago for the Midwest but our dog Shelby will always be a Coastal California girl at heart. When the time comes to rescue another there is only one place we're gonna be flying! Thank you Costal! read more

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If I could give no stars, I would. I feel so sad for the dogs in this rescue, because I am sure there are plenty of loving homes they could have gone to that the volunteers of this rescue have refused. This rescue BLATANTLY discriminates against disabled people, insinuating they are incapable of owning and loving a dog. Unfortunately, if you are disabled, you might as well not even apply. In addition, they do not seem to understand what an emotional support animal is, and instead of clarifying further when I tried to explain, they sent the same exact email they had sent before over and over again. The only difference is that they suggested I look at other rescues, but that all the rescues they know would tell me the same. This isn't true, as NO other rescue has refused me for being disabled. I have NEVER experienced such rudeness from a dog rescue. read more

We adopted Ana 3 weeks ago and believe me, we are all rescued! Our rep., Loraine, was extremely dedicated to helping us find the best dog for our family! This is our second rescue from Coastal GS and the organization works diligently to place rescue dogs with the best families. From the home visit to the interview, where we think we are interviewing the dogs, the Volunteers are accessing a "good fit" for lifestyle circumstances! Thank you all VOLUNTEERS that walk, board and care for these abandoned animals We highly recommend adopting from this amazing organization! Gretchen & Wyatt Malcolm! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

My wife and I looked to Coastal German Shepard Rescue after other rescues didn't work out for various reasons. We are so happy that we ended up at Coastal because they made all our dreams come true when it came to getting our first dog. The entire process of adoption was easy and straight forward. They started with a phone call to discuss what we were looking for in a dog and then we schedule a home visit with a rep from the rescue. After that, we went to an adoption event to look at dogs even though we had one in mind already. That one dog was Heidi who we ended up adopting later that week. We are so happy that we did because she is the perfect dog; obedient, respectful, and a great walker. Our friends all love her and she is making friends with her canine neighbors. We also wanted to say THANK YOU to Lorraine from Coastal who helped us through the entire process and still continues to do so via text should we have any questions about Heidi. To anybody looking to adopt a German Shepard from Coastal, Lorraine will definitely set you in the right direction. read more

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I rarely write reviews but Coastal German Shepherd Rescue has been the best thing that has happened to us during this difficult time in our lives. They have the biggest hearts and truly care about the dogs well being. My husky recently had eye surgery in the hands of an incompetent veterinarian who neglected and did not perform the proper surgery on Max. Max was left in so much pain and without any medication. I was desperately looking for help as I did not have any money. I was contacted by Lorraine who offered to provide veterinary care for Max. Max had a second surgery to have his eye removed and just two days after, Max was his happy self again. I will be forever thankful for everything Coastal German Shepherd rescue has done for my furbaby. From the bottom of my heart thank you so much for being awesome!!! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Before his second surgery. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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We had a wonderful experience finding and adopting our GSD. The rescue worked with us to understand our experience, living situation and all the family members that would be regularly spending time with us. Lorraine asked us to be patient while she worked to find the best fit for our family. A month later we met Whiskey a 2yr old GSD that had been in a couple of homes. He clicked with our family and is now living his best life with visits to the beach, city and forest. This sweet boy has his forever home! Can't thank the rescue enough for ensuring each dog is placed in the right home. Thank you Coastal! read more

I came in with a shepherd rescue who was too big for her britches! Almost 7 months old, she had her vaccines late due to an illness when very young. She didn't know any dogs and few people. She bolted during a training class, tearing the leash from my hand! She's large and very strong. I knew for her own safety and mine (she was biting) I would need specific training. I found it at Coastal! It was better than a TV show! In an hour, the trainer had her walking with a loose leash and following a few basic rules. I was so freaking happy! My puppy was following instruction and she wasn't going to eat me! She's a lot more fun now! I have the dog I knew she could be. read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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After a frustrating series of phone calls/emails with other adoption rescue orgs, it was a breath of fresh air working with Lorraine. She quickly zero'd in on the kind of dog which would fit into our lifestyle, and Lexi really made herself at home. We are so pleased with how this unfolded that it's our pleasure to recommend Coastal GSR to anyone looking for a quality experience adopting a German Shepherd, purebred or mixed. read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - LEXI 2 1/2 yrs old. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

My family is looking for a German Shepherd and I contacted Coastal this past week. I spoke to Lorraine and arranged for a home inspection and to meet a dog, who I shall not name. The home inspection was done today by a volunteer named Cal and it was great. This afternoon my family and I drove an hour to meet Lorraine and meet the dog. The dog was not what Lorraine described. When my ten year old, who grew up with large dogs, had the dog on a leash, the dog was frantic and broke away from my son. Lorraine screamed, "Goddammit!" and said Coastal would never give a dog to a family who would have a child walk a dog. My son has been an experienced handler since he was young and was devastated by Lorraine's remarks. I had to explain to him the dog was not as described and if we had known he could have positioned himself differently with the dog. Our family has always had rescue dogs and we appreciate the volunteers who save dogs and make adoptions possible. Lorraine is doing a disservice to an otherwise credible organization. We will not be adopting from Coastal due to Lorraine's lack of professionalism and her need to put her ego ahead of the best interest of dogs who need a forever home. read more

We just adopted a beautiful German Shepherd from Coastal a couple of months ago (a male who was a little over 2 years old.) We worked with Lorraine, who phoned me after our application was received and arranged for a home inspection by another of the volunteers, I believe his name was Ed. After everything checked out, and our application was approved, we were good to go! One of the things that Lorraine asked us about was the type/temperament of dog we were looking for, to make sure the dogs we were interested in meeting would be a good fit for our family. Because Lorraine and the other volunteers work with and walk the dogs daily, they have the opportunity to see how the dogs interact with each other as well as all of the different people they meet while they are living at the rescue. She recommended a couple of dogs, based on the temperament we needed; most importantly that he got along with our current dog, who is sweet, but would need a sibling who was more submissive. The dog we were most interested in turned out to be the perfect fit for us. So sweet and gorgeous, we absolutely adore him. We found that he bonded with us immediately, but he still needs to build his confidence, which we are working on with a trainer. I am so glad to have worked with Lorraine who gave us all of the background info they had on our sweet new dog, because their goal is to make sure that each dog is matched with a suitable FOREVER home. We have told several people we know about Coastal, and we would definitely adopt another dog from them in the future if and when we are looking to expand our pack! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Freddie! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Two years ago we adopted not one, but two German Shepard's from Coastal. I write this because we fell in love with these boys from their picture but needed to make sure they were right for our family. Lorraine was so helpful. She was very upfront and asked lots of questions. It was easy to tell she cared about the dogs and wanted to make sure we were going to be their forever home. Lorraine knows her stuff because the boys are still with us and doing great! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - The boys! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The crew at Coastal is totally awesome. The team cares for every single animal they have and perform a strong screening program to ensure these dogs go to a proper home/owner. The added benefit is that the rescue also includes a coupon for 3 dog training with "your dog trainer" which has been great for obedience. Very happy with experience and the rescue shepherd we have in our lives today! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Happy goofball loving his new rescue home - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I just adopted my second dog from Coastal. It's a great organization and I had a great experience (again). Everyone affiliated with this group works really hard and they take such good care of the dogs. They vet applicants carefully because they really want the right dogs to be adopted by the right people. Plus, they offer so much support, insight, and resources, including three free training sessions with each adoption. I highly recommend and support this group! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Iggy! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Adopting our pit from coastal was quite easy and pleasant. Yes, a pit from a German Shepard rescue. Anyways, I emailed about a pup and was contacted 2 days later. I had a home inspection and passed their background check and then had our pit in our house a few days later. They provided lots of information and made sure everything went well while taking the pup from the foster. They even provide a foster to adopt plan where we could bring the pup into our home for a few weeks to be sure about the fit. This was helpful since the pit did snap at our chihuahua on their first meeting (she had some issues). But after working with her for a week or two to resolve some of her negative behaviors, she was a perfect fit. That foster to adopt option really helped in our case to put my fiance 's mind at ease about bringing a pit into our house. Couldn't have had a better experience! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Our two pups are now inseparable! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I wanted to get a husky puppy from this shelter and I filled out the adoption application, they sent me a message on gmail for filling out the application but they kept sending me that same message. It said after that I filled out the application that it will take 24-48 hours for they can accept the application. I waited 5 days and still no response. I rate this 1/10 I really wanted to get that puppy. read more

OMG, what can I say. We absolutely love coastal German shepherd rescue. Their facilities are amazing, very clean, big, and comfortable and great for the dogs. They even have a swimming pool for the dogs. The staff is so welcoming and Friendly. They take very good care of their dogs. We just adopted Rex from there, he's such a happy boy, and a real sweetheart. I highly recommend Coastal German shepherd rescue. You won't be disappointed.. Very impressive facility read more

Coastal was recommended through a trusted trainer we have worked with for many years. We have always been a Labrador Retriever family so I was initially a little apprehensive moving to a different breed, let alone a rescue. After many weeks of discussion, my wife and I (plus 2 children) decided to submit an application for mixed breed we thought we liked based on the photos. A couple days later we received a call from Lorraine. I was very excited to receive the call and was completely amazed that the phone call lasted an hour. She was amazing and full of genuine passion. My advice, be very honest on your application and during the phone interview because this is the information she will use to help determine a proper fit for your family. Also, be open to the dog you are going to have as part of your family; male/female, age, size etc... The first half of the call was a conversation mostly designed for her to get to know us as a family. The second half was all about which dogs she believed would be a good fit. Best to be in front of a computer for that part. Once we narrowed it down, Lorraine offered a choice of visiting an open house adoption event or scheduling a private meeting at the kennel, pending the location and specific dog. Ultimately we were able to meet the newest addition to our family a few days later. We spent just over an hour during the meet and greet. Lorraine was very up front by stating if she did not believe the selection to be a good fit during the meeting, she would let us know and move to another dog. Overall, we could not be happier with the experience. Thank you to Lorraine for taking the time to work with us and place the perfect pairing with our family. read more

I really can't speak highly enough of Coastal GSR. After our beloved mutt died at 15, my husband and I decided to give fostering a try. To date, we have fostered two dogs from Coastal, and it has been an immensely rewarding and positive experience. When Coastal commits to a dog, they fully commit. So if you're a foster, they'll check in regularly to see how things are going. If your foster dog needs to see a vet, they will coordinate a visit with one of their affiliated clinics and cover the costs. If you need advice on, say, the best way to introduce your foster dog to another dog, you can shoot Liz or Lorraine an email or text and hear back from them within minutes. As a bonus, they're both really sharp and funny, and along with many heartwarming stories of successful adoptions and heartbreaking stories of dogs in need, their bi-monthly updates and social media posts somehow manage to deliver a lot of laughs. read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Our first foster, Glory, now known as Lark, just celebrated her first anniversary with her forever family. It was love at first sight. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I lost my GS about 4 years ago. I wasn't really ready to get another dog. Until this summer. It just felt right. Coincidently, my girlfriend had been looking for a puppy on coastal gsr website. I instantly fell in love with Kingston a 15 month German Shepherd beauty. I immediately submitted an application. This was my first time adopting an animal and I'm sure glad I did. Because, Kingston has changed our lives. My name is Freddy and my girlfriends name is Lauren. We rescued Kingston in August and it has truly been an amazing experience. From the application, to the meet and greet, to the pickup. Lorraine really took the extra time she had to interview us and eventually choose us as the best fit for Kingston. Kingston, is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met in my life. He's a star at wags and wiggles in rsm and he loves his new home. I have strongly encourage many people to choose adoption over puppy mills, because of my experience. Our heart is full and our home is happy. Thank you to Lorraine and the entire coastal gsr for you have forever changed our lives. read more

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FANTASIC! Highly recommend! I adopted my dog from them in January and it's so clear he's been well cared-for and loved very much. They also took time to train him which is great. I keep in contact with Lorraine directly and they always appreciate hearing updates because they really care about every dog. Any problems I have or questions, they're happy to answer. Not that my dog has ever been a problem, he's just quirky (and smart, and silly, and handsome) Before adopting him, we had numerous conversations to make sure I was the right owner and that I was placed with the right dog for my lifestyle. I'd recommend CGSR to everyone looking for a dog! I couldn't have asked for a better pup or a better organization to go through. read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - He loves riding in the front seat :) - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We adopted our German Shepherd/Pit Bull mix (Khaki) back in April of 2014 from the Coastal German Shepherd Recue OC. We had a great experience during the whole process. This organization truly cares for their dogs and takes the extra time to make sure they are placed in the best home possible. Khaki has been a great addition to our family and that is owed to the great volunteers who took the time to make sure we had the right dog for our family. We went in with the mindset of letting the rescue tell us what dog fit us, instead of a list of dogs "we wanted". Khaki is a perfect fit for my kids and other dogs. What a great experience! After reading the complaints of some of the other posters, you can read between the lines. Most were human error and not the dogs fault, while others sound like they have issues with being told they weren't good enough. This organization places top priority on the dog. The dog will be a part of the family and will be an indoor dog. If you don't think that is right, then look elsewhere. If you were an organization that spent a ton of money making sure these dogs were trained, medically treated. licensed, micro chipped, fostered and fed....wouldn't you want the very best for them? They do. So what's wrong with that? So don't get your feelings hurt if you are told no and leave a bad rating. They expect the best homes and after what most of these dogs have gone through I don't blame them. If you are looking to adopt, I would highly encourage you let them pick the dog. They know the dogs and they can match you up with the right one. Believe me, it takes the stress off you. read more

Thank you GSROC. I have wonderful GS adopted from you. In few days after filling application i've been called and with information what day rescue screener will come to my house. After being approved it took one day to claim my GS. I'm so happy having him as my 4 legged friend and companion. Those people are really committed to there job finding families for those beautiful animals. read more

Costal GSROC is very unique Rescue.I had always good contact with the Volunteers.When my two GS dogs were lost last month they called me concerned.Volunteers are always helpful with big hearts!!!!!If everyone would love animals like them,the world would be a better place.They have saved thousands of dogs and nobody pays them for the time spent for dogs and with dogs. Thank you,Costal GSR.You are wonderful People!!!!!!! read more

These folks have hearts of gold. They make sure that the dogs and potential owners are a fit. I adopted my first dog when they first opened years ago with the help of Tiffany and Beth. Both with full time jobs and hearts of gold, they steered me to the best fit dogs. I recently fostered a lovely gsd and Lorraine helped, I'm sorry, orchestrated the ideal home for this girl. Lorraine, like Tiffany and Beth, has a full time job. The work these people do makes me teary, they have the dogs welfare first and foremost, but really what their goal is? A happy ending! read more

A year and a half ago Lorraine from Coastal German Shepherd Rescue completed our home inspection and introduced us to Daisy. We ended up being chosen to adopt Daisy. Because I grew up with a GSD's and subsequently had five that I raised from very young puppies, I thought not only do I love the breed, but I understand the breed and their needs. I learned very quickly that my previous experience as a GSD parent did not necessarily make me a GSD expert. Daisy was 7-9 months old when we got her and presented a whole set of challenges I previously had not experienced with my other GSD's. Thankfully Lorraine was a phone call a way and helped us through the rough spots we experienced with a very fear reactive, unsocialized young Shepherd. Cut to today and all I can say is that the work was totally worth the effort! Daisy is an amazing girl, so smart and calm and completely over her reactive behavior and fear. I now am fostering a very "full of herself" young girl that had a horrific foot injury and Daisy has been amazing with her. That I can call or text Lorraine for advice and support at any given moment has been the reason I have hung in there through the tough stuff. Her knowledge and advice has been immeasurably valuable to me! Coastal GSD Rescue is a legit, conscientious rescue that will take the time to screen adopters and always be honest with potential adopters about the personalities and behaviors of the dogs. Rescuing can be tricky but so rewarding. Listen to the people that know the dogs and be receptive to their observations and advice. Not every beautiful GSD out there is the right fit for every adopter. But I do believe there is a dog that needs you and is the perfect match! read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Coastal alumni Daisy with foster puppy Lacey - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We came to Coastal after a negative experience with a previous rescue, and I'm so glad we did. We contacted Lorraine and she was patient, knowledgeable, caring and thoughtful. We asked about a particular dog, and when we arrived she gave us advice and recommended another dog, Lady. Lady is truly the best fit for our family and we have Lorraine to thank for that. We couldn't imagine life without her now! I grew up with German Shepherds, and they are a particular breed - a breed that Lorraine knows well. We couldn't thank Lorraine enough for her patience with us and her care in introducing us to the right rescue dog. read more

Coastal German Shepherd Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Won't return call or messages. It's been about 2 weeks with no return message or call. How can you adopt an animal when they won't bother to communicate. Poor dogs are missing out on a wonderful future at the hands of this rescue. Sad. read more

Coastal German shepherd rescue is amazing. They know exactly which dog will be best for you. They take the time to make sure it will be a life long relationship. They spend so much quality time with the dogs so they know the perfect family when they see it. I have 2 wonderful dogs from Coastal. I told them when I applied, that I didn't care what the dog looked like or how old he/she was. I just wanted to give a dog the best home possible. Lorraine chose the most perfect dog for our family. She just knew Devon belonged with us. Thank you Coastal for our very much loved and spoiled family members. read more

Just adopted our sweet puppy from Coastal. Liz was great from the start and made sure we met the criteria to provide for a great home for the puppy. She was very nice and informative over the phone. We then got approved and met the foster mother, Julie. She was fantastic! From phone calls, texting and email she gave best recommendations to crate and potty train and answered all questions. This is our first time ever having a puppy and we can't be more thrilled by the service and professionalism of this organization! Highly recommend!! You guys rock! read more