Fostering means welcoming a homeless German Shepherd into your home, caring for them, and giving them love and socialization until they find their forever family.
GSRA doesn’t have a central facility—we depend entirely on foster homes to determine how many German Shepherds we can rescue from county shelters. Many of these dogs have been in shelters for a long time or are at risk of euthanasia due to overcrowding. Shelters also count on rescues to give long-term residents a change of environment, especially GSDs, who often struggle more than other breeds to adapt to shelter life.
Some German Shepherds don’t "show" well in a kennel environment because of kennel stress, making it harder for them to get adopted. As a foster, you provide exercise and mental stimulation, which helps create a calmer dog and gives potential adopters a better idea of how the GSD will behave in a home setting. You can also help with leash training, house training, and basic commands—skills that make the dog more appealing to adopters. GSRA supports all our fosters in this process every step of the way.
Rescues often rely on fosters to help German Shepherds who have experienced hardship, such as abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization. GSRA is no exception—our fosters are our most valuable resource. As a foster, you have the unique opportunity to earn a GSD’s trust, introduce them to kindness and human touch, provide a safe environment, and witness their incredible transformation.
If you have other pets, fostering a German Shepherd can be a great way to give them a new companion, more socialization, and an extra playmate! Children can also benefit from fostering by learning responsibility, compassion, and more about animal care. However, GSRA takes great care when placing a GSD in a foster home with young children. In many cases, we prefer to place a dog we know well in a home with kids. If your children are under 8, we may ask you to wait until they are a bit older before fostering.
Experienced fosters from our rescue will support you throughout the process, offering guidance, answering questions, and sharing helpful tips. They may even become lifelong friends! There’s something special about connecting with others who share your passion and being part of a community dedicated to helping German Shepherds.
When the day comes that your foster dog finds their perfect home, the feeling is truly special. While it may be bittersweet, you'll feel an incredible sense of pride, knowing you played a vital role in their journey. Seeing them find their forever family and the happy ending they deserve is an overwhelming joy. Some goodbyes can be tough, but knowing that a GSRA dog has found love—and that another deserving dog is waiting for your care—makes it all worthwhile.
DEAR FOSTER MOM:
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love,
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold,
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend,
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go,
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss,
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay,
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear,
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on,
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day,
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by,
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time,
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.
