If you are looking into Anatolian Shepherd Rescues, that can only mean one thing.
You are ready to provide a caring home to an awesome dog, and I am here to help!
I have found and compiled the best rescues in the United States for this particular breed, whether you want to foster or adopt.
An Anatolian Shepherd is an imposing, rugged flock guardian of ancient lineage.
They are very protective and territorial dogs but also profoundly loyal, intelligent, and patient. They usually stand between 27 and 29 inches at the shoulder and can weigh a whopping 150 pounds.
You can notice that these dogs are profusely muscled at first glance. Anatolians are more than a match for their homeland’s harsh terrain and many predators.
These shepherd dogs descend from some of the oldest known domestic canine bloodlines.
This fact lends the breed a sense of timelessness and untouched quality that takes us back as much as 6,000 years to the Bronze Age. These fierce dogs are also competent, devoted, responsive, and adaptable.
If you have it, they will intensely protect flock livestock, children, smaller dogs, and even the family cat.
Anatolian owners must be strong leaders and have a lot of spare time to handle this dog’s temperament.
Anatolian Shepherd Puppies For Adoption In The U.S.
Too often, shelters euthanize animals due to lack of space or resources, but if more people adopted dogs instead of buying them, the number of them euthanized would lower dramatically.
When you choose to adopt, you save your loving new companion and make space for other animals who really need it, creating a domino effect of goodness.
Another excellent reason to consider adoption is that while some shelter dogs come in as strays or from animal control, many end up there because of human errors like a move or divorce, not because the dog wasn’t a good family pet.
Many of them are already house-trained and used to living in a home with families, so training comes more naturally.
So let’s talk more about rescues where you can find available dogs in need of foster homes or forever ones, depending on what you can provide.
National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network (NASRN)
This organization is dedicated to finding caring homes where these amazing dogs can be a good addition. They work not only with purebred puppies but also with Anatolian crosses.
They believe that crosses have many of the exact unique needs of purebred Anatolians and are often born due to the absence of responsibility on the part of the owners who have purebred Anatolians.
The organization consists of Anatolian Shepherd dog owners who come from working and pet homes alike.
NASRN works with dog owners who are no longer able to, or no longer wish to, keep their Anatolians, and they rely solely on donations to cover the expenses of rescuing these dogs from shelters and private owners nationwide.
More often than not, the dogs come to them in need of ample veterinary care before they can be put in new homes with families.
All dogs here are spayed or neutered but also vaccinated, dewormed, and given many other treatments they might need, often amounting to hundreds of dollars.
They have urgent dogs and courtesy listing dogs. This means that some dogs need help more than others. You can see the complete list of dogs who are trying to find homes on their website.
Adoption Policy
Adoptive homes need fencing – this is the number one requirement you have to fill in to find your perfect match at NASRN.
They recommend having a fence that has a minimum height of 4.5 feet.
Considerations for a home with a 4 ft fence will be made on an individual basis, dependent upon the dog in question.
Please be aware that some dogs will have more specific fencing needs.
They do home visits and meet and greets when they can; since the whole organization consists of people who have jobs, so you will have to plan around that.
Every application needs to have a vet reference that the organization will follow up on.
NASRN does follow-ups with the adopting and foster families to make sure that the honeymoon phase shifts into a stable, loving relationship that will remain for life.
Transportation options for the dogs might be available depending on where you live.
Still, the organization does not offer any guarantee that any person trying to adopt a dog or provide foster care will be approved.
Also, if you live outside of the United States, tough luck – NASRN does not adopt dogs outside of the contiguous U.S.
Fees vary according to the dog’s age, any possible special needs, and the mix of the dog. They are usually in the 100$ to 300$ price range, but senior dogs, some particular mixes, and dogs with special needs are discounted.
Due to the number of bad experiences, such as people not paying their adoption fees or writing bad checks, they now require all adoption fees to be paid before/when the dog is picked up.
All vaccines, spay or neuter, heartworm tests, regular vet exams, and medication for parasites are included in the price.
Contact Information
Website: National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network (NASRN)
Email: [email protected]
Bluebonnet Animal Rescue Network (BARN)
The Bluebonnet Animal Rescue Network (BARN) was founded in 2013 to help dogs and other animals in the North Texas area.
They are an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, meaning any of your possible donations are tax-deductible.
They do not run an expensive facility nor have paid staff, meaning all donations go directly to caring for the animals they rescue. They had various animals in their care, from vultures with broken wings to feral cats and dogs whom their owners dumped.
This organization focuses on farm-friendly dogs like livestock guardians like the Great Pyrenees, Akbash dogs, Anatolian shepherds, and similar breeds.
However, even if they concentrate on giant breeds, they do not limit their intake to breed or size so that you can find many adorable dogs on their website.
BARN is always looking for new volunteers, including foster homes for their many foster dogs. Being a nonprofit, they appreciate any type of donations – your time, money, or supplies.
They are based at Windsong Ranch in Whitewright, Texas. This special place is a private, working ranch, so visits are possible by appointment only, so make sure you contact them beforehand.
Adoption Policy
They have some important details in the adoption process, but as they say – it is not their intention to make the adoption process hard or complex; it is only to make sure the animals in their care get the best possible match to last a lifetime.
Their goal is to make a forever match for every rescued dog so that they never have to end up homeless again. For this reason, they reserve the full right to decline any application.
The fees can vary according to the type of dog and the age of the dog.
They include the adoption fee on the bio page for each and every dog. When paying a fee, a spay or neuter is included in the cost, as well as a microchip, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention medicine, and heartworm test.
Some of the requirements for adoption are being over 21 years of age, and if renting your home, you must have the prior written consent of the landlord.
The first step in their adoption process is for a potential adopter to fill out their online application.
The information that is provided in the application will help this organization to assist you in making the best choice for your family and individual situation.
After receiving the application, they will complete the following steps
- Call your veterinarian for a reference check. They will verify with your vet that you take good care of your current dogs.
- Call or email any references that you list on the application.
- Perform a home visit.
- Have a “meet and greet” with the dog and the possible adopter jointly. This is to determine if the adoption is a good match.
- If you already have one or more additional dogs, they will have to be included in the meet-and-greet event.
If your veterinarian reference checks and home visits are all approved, they will schedule a time to finish the adoption. In some cases, the best way for this to be done is at the same time as the home visit.
At other times, you may have to come to Windsong Ranch to pick up your dog and complete the paperwork.
Contact Information
Website: The Bluebonnet Animal Rescue Network
Email: [email protected]
Social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Are Anatolian Shepherds Good House Dogs
These dogs have heart, meaning they might have an escaping problem when living outdoors.
They are not suited for apartment life because of their large size and exercise needs. They also tend to shed heavily.
They should have ample time spent outside each day getting physical exercise with their favorite people, but as mentioned, they shouldn’t live outside.
They benefit greatly from a big yard where they can run around, but they must be supervised at all times and the yard must have excellent fencing.
This breed can sometimes mistake dogs and people walking through the neighborhood as trespassers and go on the offense to protect their territory.
After bringing the dog home, consulting with a dog trainer would be a good idea.
This large breed will undoubtedly offer many years of happiness in trade for you saving them from the shelter.
All the luck with your new best friend!
Nandina has been a lifelong dog owner and enthusiast. She shared her home with multiple breeds, including Giant Schnauzers, Cane Corsos, and Huskies. Currently, she is raising a three-year-old rescue and a working-line German Shepherd puppy.
Actively engaged in IGP dog sports for two years, Nandina is a certified instructor for basic obedience and socialization. She works as a trainer in her local dog sports club, and in her spare time, she handicrafts biothane gear for dogs.