While our focus is on purebred German Shepherds, we also help other injured dogs, puppies and/or moms with their litters, who are out of time at overcrowded shelters or small rural shelters with a high euthanasia rate. Many are sick or injured. Many of them are Shepherd mixes or other herding breeds including Australian Shepherds (Aussies) and Australian Cattle Dogs (Heelers). And these adorable, forgotten pups couldn't be more needy or deserving of our compassion and help. You can help too by opening your heart and fostering, adopting or donating.  

Our Mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and place the dogs we rescue in permanent, loving homes.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent, yet sensitive and intuitive dogs. We firmly believe that they respond best to positive reinforcement and a firm but always kind hand. German Shepherds thrive on structure, consistency, and mutual respect. They respond very well to reward-based training (treats, praise). Being heavy-handed, rough, or using force or inappropriate training tools is not only unkind, but it can often lead to distrust and can result in behavioral issues.

We do not have a shelter facility.  The dogs we rescue stay with our volunteer foster families until the time of their adoption.  We provide necessary veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, love, training and socialization to ready our dogs for their forever home. Our greatest need is for foster families. Our ability to save a dog's life is most often determined by whether we have an open foster home for that dog to go in.

There are many ways that you can help. We always need volunteers to help transport, process applications, and do home visits. 

Cannot foster or volunteer? Donations are much appreciated!
Adoption fees do not begin to cover the foster dogs' expenses, which include dog food, preventative, vetting, boarding, and in many cases high-cost medical bills. Many of the dogs we help, arrive with no prior vetting whatsoever, and are sick or injured, which can be very costly to a small, all-volunteer rescue like ours. We are very thankful for our supporters' generosity, as we rely on fundraisers and donations to continue helping dogs in need!

Your donation is tax deductible. If you would like a receipt for your donation, please let us know.  All donations go directly to help pay for vet bills, food & heartworm preventative for the HUGS dogs. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and allow us to save more dogs. THANK YOU On behalf of the HUGS dogs.