Working Dogs

In 1996 German Shepherd Rescue of New England, Inc. (GSRNE), a not for profit wholly volunteer organization dedicated to re-homing German Shepherd Dogs in need was founded and shortly there after... the GSRNE Working Dog Program.

The Working Dog Program is designed to identify and place, with law enforcement organizations and other public service organizations, those GSDs with working ability who may be appropriate for “K9” work, dogs who may have excessive drive, energy and confidence making them less suitable for a pet home.

The GSRNE Working Dog Program helps certain GSDs find the kind of life that will utilize their natural abilities. Law enforcement/public service K9 units and selected rescue/shelter GSDs can be a perfect match. For some homeless GSDs placement with a K9 unit is more than the only option, it is the ideal one. Working dogs have an active challenging life. They are with their handlers most if not all of the time and receive the kind of mental and physical stimulation a high drive, high energy GSD was made for.

Many K9 units accept, and in some cases actively seek out, promising donated dogs for their training programs. To date, the GSRNE Working Dog Program has placed suitable German Shepherd Dogs with organizations such as Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, New Hampshire State Police, New York State Police, Maine Warden Service, The FBI Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Supporting the GSRNE Working Dog Program can be a win-win situation. Law enforcement officers are better able to protect and serve our communities with a “K9” on their team, and young healthy high drive GSDs in need of a new life can find a home where they will be well cared for, needed and valued tremendously.