Saving Paws Rescue, Az

This rescue is run by an incredible group of angels who sacrifice everything for these dogs. They not only save lives, but rehabilitate and restore dignity. I really love Saving Paws and all they do. They’ve adopted out over 200 dogs and still remember each one by name! When a dog comes into Saving Paws, it leaves with a new life and is no longer just a dog… It is forever a loved Saving Paws adopted baby. Thank you for all you do!
My parents and I both have rescues from Saving Paws and we will forever be grateful for everything they do. I think it’s important for potential adopters to understand that rescues are very strict about who their dogs go to because they want to make sure each dog goes to its final forever home. They wait for that perfect fit. These pups come from terrible situations, and Saving Paws does everything they can to ensure a dog goes to the best possible home — they deserve nothing less!
All it takes is a trip to the «dog house» to see that the utmost care and affection is dedicated to all of their furry guests. Or you can ask one of us — the lucky ones who already have a Saving Paws baby at home!

If you are specifically looking for a German Shepherd Dog or Belgian Malinois, this is the rescue for you. Our last 5 dogs have come from various rescues, but this rescue is head and tails above the others we have used. Owning one of these breeds takes a special kind of person, not just someone who «wants a dog.» These breeds need some very specific training and understanding to be successful. Most of the SPR dogs have come from some very sad and abusive environments which can make training and rehabilitating these dogs challenging. From the moment these dogs are taken in by SPR, they are treated like family. This is an all-​volunteer, charitable organization made up of people who practically lay down their own lives in order to save each and every dog blessed into their care. Through the adoption paperwork and process, the rescue does their very best to make sure the dogs will be nearly perfectly matched to the individuals/​families that are interested in adopting. The adoption process may take a little longer, but in the end you will have found that special GSD or Mali you have dreamed of having as part of your family. You will NOT be disappointed adopting from Saving Paws Rescue, AZ.

Well run rescue by people who genuinely care about saving German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. I was able to adopt our wonderful shepherd Gunner from SPR back in Mar 2014 and Trish and her wonderful volunteer crew went above and beyond to not only help Gunner, but me and my wife as well.
In our search for a GSD, we went through several rescues/​organizations, none of which were as helpful or informative as Saving Paws.
Please take the time to check out this wonderful rescue if you’re even the slightest bit interested in adopting a GSD or belgian… you will not be disappointed.

Savings Paws is truly a miracle rescue. We were able to adopt one amazingly, beautiful incredible German Shepherd Miracle Dog from them. We found Saving Paws to be super friendly, totally loving and supportive of all the animals. From the moment we filled out the application until well after our adoption, we have seen nothing but love, care and total support. It’s the only place I would get a German Shepherd from. We put on the application what we wanted in a dog, and they more than delivered. I highly recommend Saving Paws to anyone considering a German Shepherd. But, they also want to make sure their dogs go to a loving and supportive home, which I am totally 100% in support of. Love their place!

Saving Paws is the only GSP rescue you should ever consider. The love and care these rescue dogs receive while they wait for their fur-​ever homes is beyond compare. We found our furry baby girl through Saving Paws and she was more than we could’ve ever hoped for. See Pic. To adopt there is a process which includes filling out an application and making an appointment to meet the dogs. This is for the safety of the dogs so they find the right home and have no more heart break. The people at Saving Paws are also amazing donating all of their free time to running this large rescue. I commend them for their hard work and efforts strictly motivated by their huge hearts. Saving Paws is 10 stars with me.

I have been looking for a German Shepherd dog for a while now. I was told by a friend that Saving Paws had puppies so I filled out an application letting them know I was interested in a female. I was contacted the next day by Laura and told there were only 3 males left. So I made an appointment to meet the puppies for that day. While there I met Trisha and Sandy; and I found a boy that I liked; Another family came in to view a female, One of the ladies that works at the rescue shared with me she felt a Shepherd dog was not a good fit for this family. So I let her know that if a female becomes available to let me know. This was on a Friday.
Sunday I received a email from Sandy to give her a call. She informed me that the female puppy is available for adoption, I was next in line for a female and to come by at 3pm. My boyfriend and I made the long drive from Chandler to Glendale to meet the female puppy. I fell in love with her instantly, I spent an hour with her and told Laura that I wanted her. Laura wrote my name down on a piece of paper next to the female puppy’s name and told me she was mine. My boyfriend also fell in love with the 2 remained male puppies. We told her we would like to take the female and one of the males. She said there was another woman coming to view the remaining 2 male puppies the next day. That whichever male was left we were welcome to take. We were so excited to get to have a brother and sister. There was another lady there named Michelle who does their website, she took a picture of me and the female puppy for their website and let me know to come back the following Sunday to get a picture of my new puppy with Santa. I was so excited to get to take her home. That evening I sent an email to Laura and Sandy thanking them for everything, they replied that they were excited for me to take the pups home.
Then Monday night at 7:30 I got a call from Laura. She said the the woman that came to view the pups wants the female I was already told was mine. I was very confused on why this woman was even allowed to view the pup that was already promised to me. Laura explained that their policy is based on the date a person fills out an application. This was news to me because the 2 times I was at the rescue this was NEVER mentioned to me. I even met Laura, Sandy and Trisha but still this was never mentioned to me. All Laura could say to me was «I’m sorry I wish this could be undone». Still I was confused on what was done, why were they taking the puppy I was told was mine a day before away from me. This policy was not posted on the application or their website and this was the first I was hearing back it. Basically if I filled out an application first then came after all the puppies were promised to others I would be able to pick ANY of the pups? That makes NO sense. I told Laura I wanted Trisha to call me because she is the main person at the rescue.
The following day I heard nothing. I called the numbers I had for Trisha and left a message. I emailed Sandy and Trisha. I received a email at 4:50am the next day. Trisha stated that the puppies were not on a first come first get, it was based on the application date and this was explained to people when they were applying. Which is a lie, at least in my case. I have emails between the three ladies and I that never says anything like that. I spoke to all of them in person and again this was never explained to me. So because they messed up and made a mistake I am left to suffer. I told Trisha that they should have made the appointments based on the applications then so that someone like me doesn’t come in, fall in love, and then become heartbroken.
I have always been pro-​rescue when it comes to getting a fury family member. But I would never recommend this rescue to someone. I am very disappointment about how they are handling this. They made the mistake and I feel they have done zero to fix it besides saying sorry. I understand that there are lots of loving pups that need homes so I will find the right one for me. I just wanted to warn people that might be dealing with this rescue. I do not want this to happen to someone else.