Westside GSD Rescue is a remarkable and inspiring organization. We have adopted 2 Westside dogs, the first, a GSD that came to us by way of a sister organization close to us in Oregon, and the second, a GSD-Mal mix that we adopted recently from Westside following the loss of our precious GSD boy in June. Both dogs we adopted were/are absolute jewels; healthy, happy, and obviously well-cared for. With limited, private and volunteer resources, dogs are NOT accepted to the shelter willy-nilly, but based on their temperament and adopt-ability; and once in the shelter, if a dog is not adopted, it is assured a full life. This is not a "pound," but more a sanctuary for adoptable dogs with GSD genes. As such, it's not someplace you can just "dump" your pup. Potential adopters are vetted base on their home environment, experience with dogs, and commitment to to provide a safe, caring home. The adoption process, which includes evaluation of both dogs and potential adopters in order to assure a "good fit," is thorough and reasonable. They want adopters to be experienced and committed to integrating a dog into their family. I fully expect the negative reviews are all from either owners who want to "dump" their dog and resent being turned away or deservedly browbeaten, or from failed adopters who were denied a dog they wanted due to something questionable in their home environment. Westside's primary concern is the best interest of the dogs. read more

I have adopted from Westside German Shepherd Rescue before, so I came back to them knowing how it works. This time the experience put me off entirely. We are an experienced German Shepherds owners (we had 5). I went through their website, picked out several dogs I was interested in, and sent the list. What came back was a note explaining why each one was wrong for me. When I said that bothered me, I got a longer email telling me I "just have to trust our judgment," along with a paragraph about the difference between a shelter and a rescue, copied to three other people at the rescue. I understand that matching matters and that they know their dogs better than I do from photographs. But the whole exchange was about what would not work for me, from people who have never met me, and the tone of it was more lecture than conversation. Being copied into a group email about my own complaint was the end of it for me. By that point I had no interest in making the trip. read more

We reached out to this facility during one of the most difficult times our family has ever faced. Our dog has been a beloved member of our family for many years, and due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control, we can no longer provide the care she deserves. Rehoming her was an absolute last resort after exhausting every option we could think of. Our communication with Csilla was incredibly disappointing. Instead of receiving compassion or guidance, we felt judged and shamed for reaching out for help. We were told that surrendering our dog was cruel, and the response went as far as explaining the euthanasia process and suggesting that our dog would likely be euthanized. We were already heartbroken over having to make this decision. We weren't looking to be criticized--we were looking for help. If the facility was unable to accept our dog, that could have been communicated with kindness, professionalism, and empathy. No family reaches out to surrender a pet without experiencing pain and heartbreak. We hope that in the future, people in our situation are treated with more compassion and understanding than we experienced from Csilla. read more

Carol and her team went above and beyond to help my fiancé and I find our new dog. You can tell the rescue love and care for each shepherd they have. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Cleo - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

In the past 20 years, we have adopted three dogs from this shelter. We adopted our first shepherd in the early- mid 2000's. I recall meeting Robin Jampol, the angel and the founder of the organization. The location then was in downtown adjacent to the 110 or 101 freeway? We actually met and greet the dogs under the freeway ;) The website has beautiful pictures of dogs available for adoption as well as their personalities and what is needed from the prospective owners of this breed. The process of adoption was very thorough which speaks to the fact that they are a good organization. As a German shepherd lover, I am conscientious of their well-being i.e., many people returning dogs like purchasing handbags from Macy's. This causes more trauma for the dogs that are returned. German Shepherds are typically working dogs that need a lot of physical activity as well as attention. In return, this breed will give you unlimited unconditional love and some even their own their lives to protect you. So, I understand the extra diligence in their process of finding adopters for their dogs. You first fill out a lengthy application and then they will check out your home to ensure that it is a good healthy environment for the dog. They will make sure that you have enough yard space and a fence that is at least 6 feet high. Once your application is approved, you will be able to meet your chosen 2 or 3 dogs from the website. The WSGSR staff will give you feedback and recommend which dogs are better fits for your lifestyle. In the adoption process, the staff/ vet tech will give you lengthy instructions how to feed and take care of your new family member and a phone number that you may call in case there is any questions regarding her health that you can pass on to your vet. The place is well maintained, clean, and very organized. The staff that works there are kind, compassionate and can answer all your questions. There are some wonderful, dedicated volunteers, like Bob, that will take the dogs out daily for their walks and physical activity. I have been in contact with Csilla Merrill who is very efficient and responds to email immediately. When our child, Chloe passed away Csilla, wrote a very compassionate, loving letter to us. Again thank you for all that you do for these helpless dogs that just need loving homes and families. Anytime you have to go into a shelter adoption place, it is an emotional experience but, I hope that you will consider adopting a dog that is ready for a loving home. Thank you for all that you do for these wonderful breed of dogs... https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTY6xAQT3/ read more

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I submitted an application but never received a response. It's disheartening to hear nothing back, especially when there are people who are genuinely willing to adopt. read more

Judgemental and shamed me for considering about having to rehome my beloved dog who I've had since she was 9 weeks old. I initially got her to become my psychiatric service dog. While we've made a lot of progress over the years, her skills have slipped and I really need her dialed in on her responses. While it's nobody's business, just in the past few months; we were both struck by a distracted driver while walking in the crosswalk and had the signal to proceed. I looked in every direction, but several steps into the crosswalk, an SUV did not slow down, and hit us...A week and a half ago, I was held at the ER on suicide watch. Three days ago, I was within feet of getting shot by a gun right outside of my business! I strongly considered a German Shepherd since they're also intelligent, loyal and can provide protection/barriers for those suffering from PTSD like myself. I've been suffering a lot with my clinical depression and anxiety for years, all the while, I'm a small business owner. Csilla replied to me and automatically denied my application for considering rehoming, and for "testing" if they don't make the cut. Rehoming is NOT an easy decision, I've been crying over the thought, I love my dog! I love my dog so much that I was only reaching out to close friends who my dog also loves, so I can still see here. My immediate family does not want a second dog in our household, so this was the only loving and responsible decision that I can come up with. It's neither fair for a dog that exhibits fear, stress, and anxiety to be forced into a job that only exacerbates their behavior. My mental and physical health are just as important as my dogs. This is the purpose of rehoming, I never once said that I would surrender her to a shelter or just simply disown her. Below is her response; ..."Unfortunately we're not able to approve your application. There is no guarantee that any of our dogs will work out as a service animal, and the fact that you would rehome her if that was the case, makes this an automatic decline for our rescue. It's very sad to hear that you are thinking about rehoming a dog that has been with you for 5 years. There are countless dogs in animal shelters dying every day because people consider them disposable. Your dog will be heartbroken if she has to lose her family. Her stress and anxiety will get even worse, which means many people will pass on her at the shelter and she will most likely be euthanized because of the overcrowding problem in the shelter system. We hope you will not let that happen and leave her behind to be killed. There is no reason why she can't stay with you as just a regular pet and part of the family, while you get a 2nd dog that has been proven to be a qualified service dog. It's not fair to the dogs for you to keep "testing" and rehoming them if they don't make the cut. Please work with one of the many organizations that specialize in placing service dogs. Any dog returned to a shelter (not rescue) has a much higher chance at being euthanized sooner than the ones who haven't been adopted and returned yet. Thank you, Csilla Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles" Absolutely disgusting response; full of guilt, shame, and judgement! I will NEVER contact them again! I will leave their response on here for potential clients to read for themselves. FWIW, I decided to continue working with my dog, despite the $6k training costs! My mom also couldn't let that happen and told me that if it came down to it, she would keep her. read more

Adopted a beautiful Shepherd just a week ago from Westside. They truly have a good understanding of dogs personalities to ensure you get an accurate profile of the dog and know who is a good fit for your family. The staffs care for the animals is amazing, and their communication is great. I hope more people will hear of their amazing rescue! Thank you Westside German Shepherd Rescue! read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Like others on here, I received a response from Csilla which I thought was rude and condescending when I tried to adopt. I can see why they have so many dogs. read more

I need to inform senior citizens NOT to try and adopt a puppy from this rescue business. They discriminate against seniors. My brother who is 74 tried multiple times jumped through all their hoops multiple times just to be told he is too old to adopt a puppy yet 8 yrs ago we adopted a puppy from them. Because they had issues with other seniors they have labeled ALL seniors as not eligible for puppy adoption. We even have informed them that when my brother dies there are 3 more of us that live together and would continue keeping the dog(s). We even have two veterinary doctors that are willing to vouch for my brother yet they refused to speak to them. My oldest son who is one of the persons that lives with us he is a vet tech for over 20 yrs. Oh and they first tried to say that our condo yard wasn't large enough yet as I said before they let us adopt a puppy Rottweiler at the same location. And we told them if that was the issue we have over 2 acre ranch in Arizona that's when they switched and finally said the truth age discrimination against my brother. I plan on contacting our attorney to see if we can file a discrimination lawsuit against them. So please do not work with this rescue business there are plenty more out there. If I could make a minus * I would so I have to settle with one * read more

I have adopted s as bunch of dogs from WSGSR and have encouraged friends to do the same. I appreciate everyone who instead goes to high kill shelters to pull a shepherd, but WSGSR also pulls from those shelters, every time a dog goes out to a family. I appreciate their expertise, I respect the fact that dogs pulled from shelters receive cared, affection, attention, and some basic assessment training as soon as they are pulled, and many begin rehabilitation as soon as they are off death row. More importantly, Robin has a gift for helping individuals and families find the dog that best suits their breeds. She understands the dogs in her shelter better than you might expect, despite the volume of dogs they have at any given moment in time. Don't hesitate - go down there and be a hero to a pup! read more

Great place to rescue a German Shepherd. We've adopted 2 dogs over the years from them. Loving environment for the dogs. I believe in them so much I make a small donation monthly to help support. read more

Submitted an application and got denied due to the question: "Where will the dog sleep at night?" I responded to the question on the application with: "Wherever he wants to, he has access to all of the inside and outside, bed inside and I also have a dog house outside. So wherever our puppy would love to sleep. Ideally with us inside the house close to us." I've had three German shepherds in my life and the fact that I got denied due to allowing my dog to sleep where he wants, it makes no sense. Instead of providing dogs with a loving home, they are rejecting families that can provide loving homes for GSD. I emailed back after my application got denied but have not received an email back. I wrote: "Our current German shepherd chooses where he gets to sleep since at night, he sometimes enjoys the fresh air and chooses to sleep outside vs inside. Most times he sleeps inside wherever he wants, he has a few favorite spots inside the house, my room, the living room, the center hallway between all rooms and the kitchen. He does love to be inside, but we also don't force him to stay inside if he chooses to be outside. So I was planning to do the same with the new dog, he could choose to sleep inside or outside, whichever he prefers which is why I have various dog beds and a dog house for whichever he prefers." read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great people saving dogs and providing care, transportation, shots, spaying/neutering, chips, ground/air transportation, and new homes to dogs. Application is simple and clear. Fees are reasonable. Great before and after application communication. They really care about saving and finding dogs loving and safe new homes. Thank you. ​ read more

Well intentioned, but disappointing organization. The only reason it's 2 stars and not 1 is because it's a noble cause they seem to be trying - but falling short. Adoption process haphazard. Poor communication. Can't speak for everyone who works with the organization but I would avoid Csilla. read more

went there yesterday, went thru good dog carrie.sent them pics of home, their sleeping areas. my back yard.cariie she's in arizona,said.i was approved /we also gave her a list of the dogs we wanted to seethe said fine.adopt time is 1pm we were there at 12;20pm.went inside talked to the man behind counter .had me sign in i did so.told him we were approved by this carrie, said good.then another lady came in to get their dog behind counter and left wishing us good luck.12;30pm now.then JULIE oe Judy came in didn't really want to talk to us.i started to get a bad feeling with her.she went to the computer.12;45pm.and old guy came out.overser or head person.he doesn't want to show me the dogs interested in.he talk he got two that get along with each other maybe 4years old.hes talking his choices, and the julie l was going along with him.i have had five good german shepherds,one the last died 2 weeks before i don't need this hassle.then changed his tune your not qualified for anything under like senior dogs only.then he tells me i.m to old your not qualified my wife is standing next to me.thenstill giving his thoughts they till after my appointment time and i never saw one dog.i feel sorry for any dog that has to stay in that facility.i just walked out, you can't talk to idiots.their DISCRIMINATE,AND RACIST.....RON C read more

We adopted a 5 year old German Shepherd from Westside German Shepherd Rescue in November. He was delivered to us November 25, 2025. From my first inquiry in the last few days in October until the day we received our canine friend, the people there were friendly, helpful, caring, and professional. Our last shepherd was 6 when we got him from Washington German Shepherd Rescue. We had him 5 years until he passed away in mid October. We could tell he had been physically abused. It was several months before he would look us in the eyes. He was a kind loving individual and blossomed when realized he was in a safe and loving home. He was almost 12. He had regular Vet checkups, and a beauty shop appointment every 4 to 5 weeks. So, we were grieving but knew we wanted another one. I am 80, retired, and enjoy having a canine companion. Yes, WGSR required us to show pictures of his bed inside the house, a fence and gates that were 5 feet high, a doggie door, and a clean yard. And we had to answer questions; we had to fill out an adoption agreement. That's because they care! Please note that these are volunteer persons that "love and care" about German Shepherds and they get most of them from high kill humane societies. By adopting one 2 lives were saved. By adopting ours it saved his life and provided room for them to save one more. I told the transport person she was an "Angel". And that all of them there are "Angels". Please tell people about this group. Please make financial donations to this group. Become an "Angel"! read more

Surrendered a puppy here that my mothers friend gave her, unknowingly knowing the type of dog she was bringing home (Belgium malinois). Long story short, we knew we couldn't provide this dog the home/life it deserves and decided to surrender. Till then we took him to the vet, got his first round of shots and addressed our concerns about a toe that seemed broken. (Not broken, swelling and began treating with antibiotics) When explaining the situation at the facility, the staff were absolutely rude. Beside the Latina girl assisting us, a white woman grabbed the puppy and lead with a holier-than-thou demeanor and communicated with a micro-aggression undertone. Although I am grateful that this organization exists. It's unfortunate that these are the type of people in our community. Lead with kindness and not judgement read more

We rescued a German shepherd from a terrible situation. Called this WGSR AND WOW!!! The elderly woman bragged about taking in over 100 dogs a week but only adopting out 8. After her lengthy brag fest she ended it with a rude extremely aggressive WE CANT HELP YOU!! Wow!! So no advice not information what to do? NOPE She is yelling I match energy and yell back. I hang up on her she calls me back twice!! To tell at me!! read more

We adopted our beautiful dog, Stella, from Westside GSR. Our contact person, Carol, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and asked many questions. We felt that we were in capable hands, choosing the right dog for us. Carol told us that Stella knew many commands; including sit, stay, wait, leave it, and was leash and crate trained. Stella responds positively to these commands. We are so happy with Stella, and think that Westside GSR did a wonderful job choosing Stella for our new family member. Thanks to everyone for the great work you do. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Stella with her mom. Love, love this girl! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We adopted Texas (now known as Kato) 3 weeks ago. Wow - what great joy he has brought into our lives. We drove up from San Diego and had a list of 7 dogs to look at. The staff at WGSR spent a lot of time helping us find the right dog, they asked us all the right questions to make sure we had the right fit and they succeeded! Everything they said about Kato's personality and behavior was SPOT ON! To be sure he was as healthy as he seemed to be, we took him to our vet and he's in PERFECT HEALTH! I can't thank the staff (and Robin) enough for matching us up with our new family member. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Just had the pleasure of adopting a wonderful 4-year old German Shepherd. From start to finish, this was an amazing experience. It began with an email to inquire about a dog I saw on the website and was answered shortly after with very thorough and insightful information. Unfortunately, I live 1,100 miles away and had to coordinate meeting and retrieving the dog. The staff was so helpful in answering any question I had, took videos, etc. to help co firm she was the right addition to my family. I ended up driving to LA to pick her up and I am so glad I did, as it allowed me insight I wouldn't have attained otherwise. When I pulled up to the Rescue and drove around the block a couple of times looking for parking, I was able to observe several staff walking dogs. Everyone was so engaged...giving the dogs the attention they each deserved...not merely walking. I asked a few questions to people standing outside and everyone was engaged and helpful. When I entered the facility, it was as if I was recognized and was immediately helped. My dog was ushered to me...clean...happy...tail wagging and ready to go. I can go on and on, but I'm sure you get the point. Literally every moment of this experience was awesome. The staff genuinely cared about every dog they rescue and work diligently to try to match the dog with the right person/family to increase the likelihood of a great placement. The dogs here are so lucky to be associated with an organization like this and I can't recommend them enough. If you're looking for a German Shepherd, look here first! It's worth it. read more

As much as I love German Shepherds, I gave this place a try. I went through the application and phone interview portion of the process. During the phone interview, the representative asked if the dog would sleep outside and I said yes sometimes (when older) but will be indoors most nights. Just based off of that, I was DENIED. Like really... so you want the dog to be sleeping indoors ALL the time. Wow this place is a joke. The fact that they're a "non profit", they can make up their own "rules" and discriminate against anyone they choose. Oh and be ready to pay the almost $500 fee to get a dog from here. Then have to take numerous photographs of your house (inside and out) and still have the HIGH risk of being denied. Really sucks because I've had German shepherds as dogs all my life and never had this issue with ADOPTING a dog from anywhere. It is what it is, I will have to keep looking and hopefully find a German Shepherd puppy somewhere else. This place claims to want to adopt dogs to a good home but clearly overlook good homes. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Email received the following day after the phone interview. - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

After the loss of my GSD, I found Westside in late March researching GSD rescues online. I was looking for an active GSD around 1-2 yrs old and my main concern was compatibility with my cat and was drawn to Westside aaa they do cat testing and had a couple dogs that seemed to match what I was looking for. I had a good experience with the rescue and the process. Understanding their expectations and requirements and going into it without any expectations as I was still mourning the loss of my dog and unsure how long it would take me to find the right match. I completed the online application, exchanged emails and within a couple days had a phone interview. Upon approval, I went to Westside to meet some dogs and instantly connected with the 2nd one I met, still unsure how it would pan out with my cat and knowing he had some mild behavioral issues to work on. He is an amazing dog, well mannered and some of the behavioral issues he displayed at the rescue have either not resurfaced or are at a bare minimum. He and my cat met right away keeping them at a distance and letting them get to know one another, within a couple days they warmed up and have become best friends. I do work from home (pre COVID), am very active and give a lot of love and attention to my pets and have experience with GSDs and other larger dogs snd rescues so it has been an easy transition. This was the best decision I made and has helped tremendously with the loss of my last dog. The staff was great, easy to work with and do a great job taking care of their dogs and working to find the best match. Bringing in a rescue is such a rewarding experience . I highly recommend Westside! read more

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My family recently adopted a gsd puppy from Westside German Shepherd Rescue named Archie Von Alzey. I completed the application and received a phone interview with Vicky the very next day. She interviewed both my husband and I. Vicky was really nice and asked us a lot of questions to make sure we were compatible. We recently lost our beloved Marley 13 yr old GSD. As we were browsing through the website, we fell in love with Charlie(Archie) after reading his bio/story and watching his YouTube video. There was something special about him that was tugging on our heartstrings. We also talked to two other volunteers Carol and Todd, who helped us with transportation and adoption. They both too were very nice and helpful. Todd especially gave us some really good advice on bring home a rescue. Charlie was transported from LA to Portland. The whole process was smooth and the communication was great. We really need more organizations like WGSR that work so hard to help save this amazing breed. We would not have this wonderful sweet boy in our lives if it wasn't for WGSR rescuing him from a kill shelter literally at the 11th hour and giving him a second chance for happiness. The organization and its volunteers do a lot of good and are german shepherds angels. Thank you so much WGSR, Vicky, Carol and Todd for all that you do! We love our new bundle of joy so much... Charlie truly completes us. read more

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We had an amazing experience with WGSR. Within 24 hours after completing the adoption application I got an email and phone call for an interview. Marina was friendly and stayed in touch during the adoption process. We had a few dogs we were interested in meeting and drove from San Diego to LA to meet them. We specifically had one female dog in mind due to her "biography " on the website. We were greeted by Bob who was kind and professional. We met the dog within a few minutes, asked questions, received our information, they even gave her a bath. The adoption process was easy and friendly. We went home and our hearts were full. We recently lost our beloved dog and adopting a sweet GS is helping us heal. Steven gave us his phone number for questions. The staff is doing an amazing job and we are so grateful! read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Westside German Shepherd Rescue did such and amazing job matching our family with a great dog. We worked with them remotely and they did a full medical workup on the dog prior to arranging transportation to us in Oregon. Everyone we worked with, especially Carol, were extremely helpful. They truly care about these great dogs and do an excellent job of rescuing them from being killed and delivering them to loving families. It's worth noting that while they care for these dogs, they feed them the highest quality food and have a bunch of great volunteers who give them love, attention, and walks. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Yes, that's entirely true- that's not the whole story. If you're going to post a timeline, at least have it be accurate. 1. My friend and I got the puppies because we saw a sign and a situation that was disgusting, as we were also told of the weren't "gotten rid of" June they'd end up in the apple valley shelter, which we know to be a high kill shelter- so we offered this person money to take them. The intention was always to keep one, adopt one out. I've explained this but I'm sure it's easier and more virtue signaling to believe your version. 2. I surrendered Ever because he was overly dominant and Odin couldn't thrive with him there. Then I regretted it because Ever had done so well with my dogs, so I wanted to surrender Odin- but when I went to get Ever, finally had him in the car with me and was able to actually see him, I saw that his eyes were watering so badly that he was losing hair on one eye and he had dried poop crusted in his tail. I was also told he had had diarrhea since the foster had had him (despite giving food and detailed list of his diet). I surrendered a healthy puppy, what I saw concerned me and I wasn't about to leave another one, especially one that was still coming out of his shell. I explained this. I also paid for Odin's microchip and vaccinations to be transferred to me, they never were. 3. As I said, one of my dog was not warming up to Odin, which was my concern and why I put the surrender into motion. On the afternoon of the 13th, I took that dog went to the vet and I found out he had had an inner ear infection for awhile. On the day of the surrender, I spoke to Jee-Young and told her this, that I was on the fence because now my other dog was getting better and acting more like himself, so he was starting to warm up. Odin was thriving and happy, and doing really well with my other dog Max. She made it sound like I had to take him to the foster now, regardless. During this conversation, I told her that if I didn't have Odin there, my friend would drop off his sister (as she couldn't keep her anymore due to family reasons) so I was going to cancel my plans. I told her that I didn't plan to keep her and why, I wanted to see if there was a possibility of getting her a foster. Again, Jee-Young heard and confirmed all of this and encouraged it. The whole point of the phone call (on the DAY OF) was to express that I was on the fence, didn't want his sister and wanted help finding her a home. I also told the fosters all of this as well - and also that just before I came (after delaying three hours), all of my dogs had been playing together and how I really didn't think this was the right decision. This all happened the day of. I have the same text receipts - and an iPhone, so mine are actually accurate. 4. I texted that I wanted him back five days later, less than a week (Wed-Tues) because I wanted to give it a weekend for the other puppy - which I intentionally discussed and texted about with Jee-Young- time to get some socialization and get a read on her. Happy to post all the texts showing the conversation where I'm talking to Jee-Young and telling her what the sister is like, to give HER information for the purpose of finding a foster. Then I heard nothing. Then I followed up and was told he was adopted out, to get over it and be happy for his new family. So yes, again, that's entirely true - that's not the whole story. For whatever reason, someone is not telling the truth or all of it and instead of admitting there's more to the story, that mistakes might have been made on your side, look at the situation for what it is and take responsibility for your people - you're doubling down and posting exaggerated, inaccurate timelines, rather than just give me back a puppy. It's disgusting and deceptive. This could be easily resolved, all I want is my dog - I don't know why it's so hard to understand, and it blows my mind that a rescue, of all places, would expect someone to just walk away and say, "thank you," in this situation. The self righteousness and lack of accountability is overwhelming. read more

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I found Nova on Petfinder in Portland, OR area. There was a link to WGSR and I went to their webpage. There, I found a variety of German Shepherds that needed a home. I narrowed my choices to 3 dogs and contacted them. From that moment forward, it was nothing short of GREAT ! They sent me numerous videos and I read the bios of the dogs so that I could make an informed decision. After review, I chose Nova ! When I contacted the folks at Westside German Shepherd Rescue about my choice, I had to go through a rigorous screening. I appreciated that as I felt it really made a difference to them where their dogs were to be rehomed. I sent pictures of my home and yard and the application included questions about my background. I was accepted and arranged to have Nova transported from LA, to Portland, OR. It went smoothly without a glitch. I met the transport company at the arranged time and place and Nova became part of my pack ! All in all, this was a VERY POSITIVE experience ! Nova has a forever home and I have a GREAT dog ! THANK YOU Westside German Shepherd Rescue ! read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Me with Nova ! THANK YOU Westside German Shepherd Rescue ! - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

When I attempted to surrender a dog a family member no longer wanted (and i could not care for) they were unfortunately able to help. And that's ok. However, fast forward a few months i saved a neighborhood dog without realizing she was pregnant (yeah that was a big surprise) and she has a litter of 10. While trying to find homes for these puppies someone re-referred me to west side to possible take them in. Given i dont have a backyard & the fact that the puppies were growing quickly & i wouldn't be able to keep them much longer if they didn't find homes. (I had posted the puppies on numerous social media sites but because they were German shepards everyone assumed they'd be big and didn't want them). Anyways, i submitted an application for the puppies to be surrendered. I explained my dog had a litter and i was unable to keep them much longer. THIS is where the issue comes in, Nicole whom i assume answers all emails responded saying they wouldn't be able to help, to use the previous resources she provided for me when i initially contacted her for the first dog i tried to surrender, and to stop breeding them and to take care of my dogs. WHY THE BLAME?! I found a home for the first dog AND paid to have her spayed for the new family. My dog is neutered and the rescue i took in is now spayed as well after she had her puppies. WHY WAS SHE SO DAMN RUDE? Making assumptions. A simply, sorry we can't help would have done well enough. Even though west side was unable to help me with the first dog, i always referred this organization in all the dog groups I'm on Facebook, Nextdoor, etc. I donate to them when i can, i follow them on social media yet when i reach out for actual help im yelled at through email and blamed for things out of my control?! Completely unprofessional and quite insulting. read more

We adopted such a great dog from Westside German Shepard Rescue!! I love that they cat test their dogs because we also have a cat as part of our family. We applied for so many different dogs at so many rescues and didn't even hear back. In contrast, Westside German Shepard Rescue was so organized during the entire process. We heard back very soon after we put in an application, and I love that you don't apply to adopt a specific dog, but rather you can make a list of dogs that you want to meet, and you can meet them to see who is the best fit for your family. Our first choice was Duke, and we are lucky his previous adopters brought him back (I cannot see why!) because he is an amazing dog! He chose us right away and was so affectionate with our 3 year old, we knew he was a part of our family. They are also SO supportive during the transition period of a new dog coming home. You can text their kennal manager anytime. Duke was very nervous the first day and when I called the Rescue for advice, they were so helpful! They are just such a great resource for the after adoption process of getting everyone settled. Duke loves his doggie sister and they play ALL DAY. He has definitely come out of his shell, and is a goofy, sweet boy who chases his tail when he gets excited. He is absolutely a member of our family. Thank you for giving him a second chance Westside German Shepard Rescue!! read more

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Such a a great organization here in LA if you are looking to adopt. They truly care about their dogs and we were lucky enough to instantly connect with Hunter ( half GSD/Malinois ). The interview process is established for a reason to make sure the success rates of each dog at the rescue will be going to their forever home. I encourage you to visit their facility and meet any possible dogs you might be interested in. We have now had Hunter for 2 months and she has turned into a confident, playful, loving, and protective part of the family. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

"We recently took in a dog that had been abandoned due to owner becoming terminally ill. Staff took one look at him and must have been intimidated. Said "We would be able to handle him but not our adopters ? There has to be an experienced GS adopter out there? They then brought out a small dog without letting letting us know, and yes, dog reacted. He has not been around other dogs much. He just needs some training and time Staff handed back the leash and did not even give him a second look. I'm really sad that this happened. Yes dog is a big boy 105 lbs and only 2 yrs old He is happy and loving with everyone he meets even babies, considering he was left abandoned. He really deserves a chance at a happy home. it appears WGSR only takes in puppies and Broken easy to manage dogs, it's sad. This dog is full of love,happy and healthy by no means broken.I'm shocked at the abrupt response given We have fostered him roughly 2 weeks and have had no issues with him at all. He was starting to be socialized with dogs, but it needs to be worked on. It's not something that happens overnight, I think we all know that. I guess the facility doesn't have the resources to help ALL DOGS grow, just the easy ones. I am beyond sad, staff made no effort to maybe even guide us to another rescue or a trainer. Just handed her the leash, and read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I ended up getting an amazing German Shepherd / Husky rescue puppy from searching posts on Instagram. He's the best! So the bad experience with this group worked out for me! Don't be discouraged if they say no! They are not the only game in town. :) read more

I have adopted two dogs through Westside, Ivory in 2016, and Daphne in 2024. They carefully evaluate adopters via an application. Expect to answer questions about your schedule, housing, and activity, how you plan on training your dog, and so on. I'm all for this; evaluation prevent dogs from ending up in homes which can't handle them. German Shepherds are big and smart and need committed owners! There are generally PLENTY of dogs of various ages and activity levels on Westside's "Available Dogs" page. The write-ups (and underlying evaluation of the dogs) are more in depth than would you'd get from a local humane society or shelter. For example, they'll describe how the dogs plays with others in the play area, and how they do on walks with volunteers. They also test cat compatibility. The staff were good about answering questions about my "candidate" dogs. This was especially important since my adoptions were long distance. In both cases, Westside worked with a transport agency to get my new dog up to Oregon. They both came with medical history docs (e.g., spay and vaccination records); Ivory came with a round of preventative kennel cough meds. There's also some general advice for settling the new dog in. read more

Great place to rescue a great dog! We love our Westside GSD mix. They have a lot of great dogs for rescue

Recently applied to rescue a german shepherd adult male. Submitted application and pictures of the backyard but no response for a week. Contacted them again and went through interview process. No response for two weeks. Emailed them again, no response. Called and was told some one would get back to me but again, no response. I question if they want to help dogs get rescued or asking for donations. The management of this rescue should be investigated. read more

We love our Shepard. Westside connected us and she was housebroken, happy and loving and cat savvy safe. When walking Shira we encounter so many other happy Shepard owners that also adopted from Westside. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - Shira - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

EXPENSIVE FEES, UNREASONABLE REJECTION OF APPLICATION, BEWARE My husband and I are looking to adopt 2 german shepherds and found this website. Excited to see so many selections we went through each profile and filled out their (LONG) application form. Shortly we got a reply DENYING us because we wrote that the "dog would sleep in a laundry room in the backyard" instead of "sleeping indoors with their human pack" as it is REQUIRED for their dogs. SERIOUSLY? First of all...not even giving us a phone call to give us details about this rule or hear us out or allow us to change our minds about where they sleep... and replying to our application with a flat out rejection is not only UNFAIR but STUPID. Seeing the other unhappy rejected applicants on their Yelp page proves that they are losing out on giving these dogs actual forever homes! Second comment... who the heck decided on the rule that their dogs have to sleep indoors??? German Shepherds are BIG and ACTIVE DOGS! As long as we are giving them a nice place to live with food and love isn't that what all dogs need???? We had our previous dog for 16 happy years and she slept indoors, under the damn covers in bed with me because she was a toy poodle! An INDOOR dog! For them to deny people because we choose to keep our pet outside is ridiculous. We have a huge backyard and the laundry room for our dog was just built last year lol. It's really ridiculous they would deny two of their dogs to have permanent loving home all because of where they sleep. SMH. Attached is the screenshot of their reply. I'll be looking at a shelter now as they suggested. But I wanted to share my experience so that others can be warned on what to write on their application to get accepted and so that the owners of this business (it's definitely a business here) can think twice about their rules and application reviewing process. I understand they really love their dogs you can tell by their profiles and efforts they put into their website... but it's just ridiculous to deny forever homes to great people like us all because of our ideas on how to care for our pets. read more

Westside German Shepherd Rescue - They rejected our app for 2 dogs because we wrote they would sleep in our laundry room and not inside our house. RIDICULOUS. - Pet Adoption Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I WOULD SELECT ZERO IF IT WAS AVAILABLE! I have 3 special needs kids and we adopted a German Shepherd from what I thought was a reputable breeder. I have had many Shepherds and Dobermans in my life and they were all wonderful family members. Our shepherd was mouthing and jumping on the kids leaving marks and wounds. We spent thousands on personal trainers. No one could help. I contacted the rescue when I realized I could not longer trust the dog near the kids. I offered to donate $1,000 to the rescue to help accommodate the dog. Csillia, insisted on selling me $350/hour training instead of helping and rescuing the dog. They basically shamed me for having to relinquish the dog. My heart was already broken. Days later, they sent me an email saying their rescue was full and provided contacts to other rescues after I complained, but it was too late. SHAME ON THIS ORGANIZATION. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. read more