There's a lot to learn when you have a new pet. Our sister brand, The Wildest, is here to support you—with new pet checklists, virtual training, and expert guides. Sign up for free.
Areas Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS) serves
Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS) is a Nebraska-licensed, all-volunteer, 501c3 non-profit dog rescue organization founded in May 2015. We operate out of the Omaha-Lincoln, Nebraska area.
Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS)'s adoption process
Additional adoption info
German Shepherd dogs are a highly active, energetic, working breed. They require considerable exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. If you are new to German Shepherds, please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd will require before applying for one.
Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS) dogs will receive necessary veterinary care and will be up-to-date on vaccinations, tested for Heartworm disease (started on Heartworm preventative, or treated if Heartworm positive), spayed or neutered, and microchipped.
As part of the application process, we ask that you provide references (to include a veterinarian, if applicable) and that you allow us to conduct a home visit.
We will adopt dogs to approved Midwest applicants within an approximate 300 mile radius of the Omaha-Lincoln, NE area, provided that we can complete a home visit. Applicants must be willing to travel to the Omaha-Lincoln area for an adoption meet and greet with their prospective new HUGS dog. All household members, including current dogs, must attend the meet and greet.
All HUGS dogs MUST be INSIDE dogs in their adoptive home.
German Shepherd dogs are a highly active, energetic, working breed. They require considerable exercise, socialization, training, leadership and mental stimuli in order to be well-adjusted, well-balanced, and well-mannered dogs. If you are new to German Shepherds, please research the breed to make sure this is the dog for you. We ask that you consider the time and financial commitment that your German Shepherd will require before applying for one.
Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS) dogs will receive necessary veterinary care and will be up-to-date on vaccinations, tested for Heartworm disease (started on Heartworm preventative, or treated if Heartworm positive), spayed or neutered, and microchipped.
As part of the application process, we ask that you provide references (to include a veterinarian, if applicable) and that you allow us to conduct a home visit.
We will adopt dogs to approved Midwest applicants within an approximate 300 mile radius of the Omaha-Lincoln, NE area, provided that we can complete a home visit. Applicants must be willing to travel to the Omaha-Lincoln area for an adoption meet and greet with their prospective new HUGS dog. All household members, including current dogs, must attend the meet and greet.
All HUGS dogs MUST be INSIDE dogs in their adoptive home.
We rescue, rehabilitate, and place German Shepherd dogs in permanent, loving homes.
Our main focus is to save German Shepherd dogs at risk of being euthanized in shelters. We also try to help other German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherds in need, as we are able to.
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, training and socialization to ready our dogs for their forever home. We support a balanced training approach.
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 other ways that you can help. We always need volunteers to help at events.
Cannot foster or volunteer? Donations are much appreciated!
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.
We rescue, rehabilitate, and place German Shepherd dogs in permanent, loving homes.
Our main focus is to save German Shepherd dogs at risk of being euthanized in shelters. We also try to help other German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherds in need, as we are able to.
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, training and socialization to ready our dogs for their forever home. We support a balanced training approach.
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 other ways that you can help. We always need volunteers to help at events.
Cannot foster or volunteer? Donations are much appreciated!
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.
Heartland German Shepherd Rescue (HUGS)'s adopted pets
Search and see photos of adoptable pets in Gretna, NE area.
Find a pet to adopt
Adopt a Pet is the easiest way for you to search for a new pet in Gretna, NE.
Support adoption and rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?
Why should you adopt?
Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life.
What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?
When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.
So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.