Old English Sheepdog Rescue

The mission of our all volunteer Old English Sheepdog Rescue of Southern California, Inc. is to place healthy but unwanted Old English Sheepdogs in loving homes.

Our Rescue program started in 1989 as an all volunteer non-profit association. Within a year, we handled over 60 Old English Sheepdogs (OES). In 1996, we incorporated in the state of California and were granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status by the IRS. We have had stability and continuity in our rescue program in that one of our founding members is still on our Board of Directors. Since 1989, over 2300 OES had gone through our rescue program. Our area of rescue increased as did our numbers during that time to include covering Arizona and Southern Nevada in addition to Southern California.  As years passed by, we have slowly seen the number of OES in rescue lower. We feel fortunate that we have a network of wonderful volunteers who help us in all aspects of the organization: foster care; grooming; senior dog care; home inspection; socialization and transport of our rescue dogs. Our veterinarians and groomers have volunteered much of their time, expertise and supplies. When an Old English Sheepdog enters our program, they spend at least the first 48 -72 hours with our veterinarians. When the veterinarian feels that the dog is ready for adoption, the dog has been is spay/neutered, micro-chipped, given all shots, medically checked over and groomed. We also have clerical support to help with fundraising, mailing, and data collection. While many contacts at animal shelters have changed over the years, we enjoy a great working relationship with the shelters and the local rescue groups. With a group of people who monitor the internet, we have ensured that all OES that need rescue are located, offered support, veterinary care and/or adoption placement. Luckily, we have never had to turn away a dog in need of rescue as we have always found space for them in our program. In recent  years, we have between 48 and 55 Old English Sheepdogs come in the program along with anywhere from 8 to 10 families that are helped by the rescue to keeping their dog in their home.

IN 2024, OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG RESCUE PLACED 58 OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS IN NEW HOMES AND ASSISTED 12 FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS IN THEIR HOMES. OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE STARTED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN LIVE EVENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN NEVADA AND ARIZONA TO CONTINUE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH. WE ALSO HAVE VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH THEIR THERAPY DOGS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. WE HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED TO INCREASING ANIMAL AWARENESS BY WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND HAVE FOUND OUR COLORING BOOK PROGRAM ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE ALONG WITH TEENAGE VOLUNTEERS HELPING WITH EVENTS. THE COLORING BOOK PROGRAM GIVE THE KIDS A DIVERSION FROM STUDIES. WITH THE HELP OF OUR VETERINARIANS AND VOLUNTEERS, WE HONORED OUR MISSION STATEMENT WHILE HANDLING OVER 50 PHONE CALLS AND ABOUT 100 EMAILS PER WEEK ABOUT OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS AND ANIMALS IN GENERAL. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023, WE CONTINUED WORKING ON OUR GOALS INCLUDE WORKING ON LONG TERM MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVING THE WAY WE OPERATE THE RESCUE BY CONTINUING TO PLACE UNWANTED OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS IN LOVING NEW HOMES AND ASSISTING OWNERS WITH THEIR DOGS. AS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, WE WANT TO WORK HARD TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EVENTS (WHEN POSSIBLE) . WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO KEEP UP OUR RESCUE FINANCIALLY HEALTHY. WE HOPE WE CAN DO MORE WITH CHILDREN BY EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND HAVING OUR DOGS IN SCHOOLS AGAIN SOON. WE HOPE TO ADD MORE OF OUR RESCUE DOGS IN THERAPY DOG WORK AND VOLUNTEERING AT HOSPITALS, AIRPORTS AND NURSING HOMES. WE HAVE ONE RESCUED OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG WHO HAS QUALIFIED AS A “HOPE’ DOG THAT DEPLOYS TO NATURAL DISASTERS FOR VICTIMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT DOG HAS CONTINUED TO WORK. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE CONTINUALLY VERSED WITH NEW METHODS TO HELP WITH DISASTERS IN OUR AREA . OUR AREA NOW INCLUDES ALL OF CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN NEVADA AND ARIZONA.

Medical care (injuries, surgeries, teeth and blood work especially senior dogs) $25,000.00, Grooming and board $5,900.00, Behavioral modification training expenses $5,800.00, Spay/Neutering Funding $14,000.00, Shots and medications for rescue dogs $13,200.00 

We serve the areas of California, Southern Nevada and Arizona. Most of our work is done in the Southern California area.  Our Orange County volunteers decided in 2017 to start an Old English Sheepdogs of Orange County Facebook page.  The Facebook page has been very effective in helping OES owners with information and "meet ups" so everyone can get together and help them know more about their dogs.  The "meet-ups" have also brought us more volunteers within the area.  We are very excited that so far the Facebook page has helped us meet and added one dog who has started therapy work in the area and one additional dog in therapy dog training.