Southern Counties German Shepherd Rescue
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Important Announcement: All good things must come to an end!
We started the rescue back in 2009, attaining charitable status in January 2011, operating on a shoestring and not really knowing where things would lead. At that time we used commercial kennels, and took in a variety of dogs of all ages and health conditions, carefully matching dogs’ characters and needs to new homes and families. We could not have imagined the joy of those first few years seeing these dogs happy and loved in their new homes, and excited new owners keen to love and support them. In those early years we found loving homes for nearly 200 dogs.
Inevitably after a number of years, many of the dogs we rehomed started coming to the end of their natural lives. Anyone who follows our Facebook page will be familiar with the stories and writeups from the wonderful characters that have brought so much joy and happiness to so many families. These tales are also bitter sweet for us, as we have known all of the dogs individually and the grief of loss to both us and the adopted families is difficult to bear.
When the owner of the Kennels we used died unexpectedly, we built facilities at home to manage as many dogs as we could, and whilst this meant the dogs were closer and we could work with them more consistently, it did mean a lot more work for us and for our volunteers.
Gradually over the years we gained a reputation for taking dogs that other rescues weren’t able to help. These dogs often had significant medical or behaviour issues which meant they were more difficult to rehome. We have been fortunate in having the facilities, expertise and resources to be able to help these dogs and have welcomed them into our lives. In recent years almost all the dogs we have taken would not be comfortable in normal family homes, and with changes in legislation, the risks of rehoming these dogs have become too great, so they will remain with us for the rest of their natural lives. As you will know from your sponsorship they are all special characters that require a lot of support and understanding to live their best lives with us.
Running a charity is not for the faint hearted! There are many obligations such as accounts, annual returns, insurance, ensuring we act within our charitable aims, managing a website and social media pages, creating calendars and newsletters, running events, and ensuring the safety of our dogs and volunteers. Running a charity relying on donations is a constant worry, and as our facilities age they require regular repair; we too are getting tired and old, as the rescue is a full time commitment, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
About a year ago, we made the difficult decision to not take in any more dogs, and as commercial pressures have increased, we have now taken the even more difficult decision that it’s time for us to close the charity.
We will continue to keep the charity running until the end of our next financial year (March 2026) and at that time we will personally adopt the dogs still with us, so they can continue to live out their days in their familiar and safe environment.
We are immensely proud of all that we have achieved over the past 16 years, and it’s been a privilege to share our lives with these wonderful dogs and meet so many supportive new friends. There have been so many laughs and tears along the way we could probably fill a book with the stories!
The financial commitment of paying for food, maintenance, and veterinary treatment and medication will remain, so the sponsor a dog scheme will continue over the next year until the charity is closed. Any financial support we receive over the coming year will continue to be hugely appreciated.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey with us, you will never know how much your support has meant to us over the years.
About the charity
Southern Counties German Shepherd Rescue is a charity that provides care and shelter for stray, neglected and unwanted German Shepherd Rescue dogs. We never destroy a healthy dog believing that, in the right environment, every dog can live a happy and fulfilled life whatever their temperament or disability.
We spend time many hours with each dog, getting to know their likes and dislikes and helping them to work through any fears or insecurities they may have when they arrive.
As a rescue, we take in some of the most challenging dogs for whom we are often their last chance, so some dogs do not reach the stage of rehoming. For whatever reason if the dog needs a permanent sanctuary away from the demands of the outside world they will stay with us.
These may be dogs that have faced abuse, neglect or mistreatment; or they may simply be dogs that have not faced enough novel situations (with a positive emotional response) in their early life to be comfortable dealing with new people and new situations. They may just need their world to be kept small and a safe haven in which to properly function.
Working with these dogs’ emotions to create a feeling of safety and wellbeing can be very demanding and each dog is different. Meeting strangers or going to unfamiliar places may be too difficult for these dogs. We respect that fear and do not force those dogs into situations that they will not cope with and which will only exacerbate their negative emotions.
We do not have a rescue centre but operate from our home, which we use as an administrative base for the rescue. Some of our dogs are able to live in foster homes, others remain with us. Our home (and our dogs) are not open to the public, so any visits or rescue business MUST be undertaken by appointment.
We, like so many rescues, have been struggling in recent years, with the changing social and economic landscape. The ever increasing pressure on finances, the ever increasing pressure on dogs resulting in ‘dogs with issues’, the lack of suitable homes and environments suitable for these dogs. The sheer number of dogs needing help is unsustainable - the facilities we do have are getting tired and old, requiring constant repair; we too are getting tired and old. Running the rescue is a full time commitment, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and we need to catch our breath to continue to do the best we can for the dogs in our care. For all these reasons, we have made the difficult decision to not take in any more dogs at this time. We are committed to those within our care and will continue to do our very best for them, but please don’t ask us to help with any new dogs - we just cannot do any more. Thank you for your understanding xx
Contact details
Southern Counties German Shepherd Rescue
Bogmyrtle Cottage
Tom's Lane
Linwood
Hants
BH24 3QX
Tel: 01425 473907
Email: alison@southerncountiesgsdrescue.co.uk
Company Number: 6866590 Registered Charity number: 1139914