Adoption Information
Adopting from Great Plains Pointer Rescue is a thoughtful process. Our goal is not to place dogs as quickly as possible, but to place them well.
Our dogs live in foster homes throughout Nebraska and Iowa. This allows us to understand their behavior, needs, and personality in a real home environment before adoption.
If you are looking for an immediate, low effort adoption, we are likely not the right rescue for you. If you are looking for a long-term match and are willing to be patient, you may be a great fit.
About the Breed
German Shorthaired Pointers are intelligent, athletic, and driven. They thrive with structure, exercise, and engagement.
They are generally not a good fit for:
- Low activity households
- People away from home for long stretches without a plan
- First-time dog owners unwilling to invest in training
- Anyone expecting a calm, low-maintenance dog
All GPPR dogs are placed in homes where they will live indoors with their family. This is essential for their safety, well-being, and successful integration.
If you have other dogs in your home, they must be spayed or neutered. This helps ensure the safety, health, and harmony of all pets in the household and is a standard requirement for successful placements.
Many of our dogs do well with families, other dogs, and active homes, but every dog is different. Breed traits are not guarantees.
Application & Adoption Process
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Review Available Dogs
Once you are educated on the breed, check our available dogs on the website. If a dog seems like a fit, complete an online adoption application. Submitting an application does not commit you to adopt.
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Prepare Your References
Contact your personal references and veterinarian to let them know we will be reaching out. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis, and this step can take anywhere from an hour to several days or weeks, depending on response times.
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Home Visit
A GPPR volunteer will conduct a home visit to ensure the environment is safe and appropriate for the dog.
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Board Review
The Board of Directors reviews your application, vet check, references, and home visit notes to decide on approval.
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Foster Connection
Once approved, applicants are connected to the foster parent to exchange information about the dog and your home. Many applications may be submitted for one dog; we select the best match for both the dog and the prospective family. Approval is not tied to a specific dog; it can apply to any dog in our program. Approval does not guarantee the dog will be available.
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Meet and Greet
If both parties agree it sounds like a fit, a meet and greet is scheduled. All household members, human and pets, must be present. These are preferably completed at the foster home where the dog is familiar with the environment.
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Adoption
If the meet and greet goes well and all parties agree, an adoption can take place that day.
Adoption Fees
Adoption fees are set by age, not whether a dog is a purebred or a mix, or their medical history. This ensures every dog has an equal chance at finding a loving home, whether they are a GSP, a GSP mix, a senior, or a dog who needed extra medical care.
Fees help offset the costs of spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, medications, and other veterinary care.
Adoption fees allow us to continue rescuing dogs in need and giving each one the care they require.
Health and Behavior Disclosure
We are committed to transparency.
We share all known medical and behavioral information about each dog. However, rescue dogs can change as they decompress and adjust to new environments. No rescue can guarantee behavior, health, or training outcomes.
Adopters must be prepared for continued training, structure, and adjustment time.
Geographic Considerations
Great Plains Pointer Rescue primarily serves Nebraska and Iowa.
If you live outside these states, please check first to see if another GSP rescue covers your area. This helps ensure your application reaches the right organization and that dogs receive proper support.
Applicants outside Nebraska or Iowa should email us before completing an adoption application. This allows us to confirm that we can consider your location and saves time for both you and our team.
If Things Don’t Work Out
If an adoption is not successful, the dog must be returned to Great Plains Pointer Rescue. Dogs may not be rehomed, sold, or transferred without our approval.
Our responsibility to our dogs does not end at adoption.
Ready to Apply?
If you have read this page and feel aligned with our approach, the next step is to complete an adoption application.