American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association Rescue

The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association (AWPGA) Rescue is the only national AKC breed rescue dedicated to the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. We help rehome Griffons across the United States and Canada.

Our mission is to rescue and rehome purebred Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, finding them permanent homes where they can thrive. These dogs come from a variety of situations—owners who can no longer meet the breed’s needs, life changes, or shelters. Please note: AWPGA Rescue cannot accept dogs with a history of biting.

AWPGA Rescue Dog Maggie

Maggie...is in Rhode Island and getting on a great schedule with hunting in her future.

Some of our Success Stories

AWPGA Rescue Dog Oakley

Oakley...now gets to run on the beach in Jacksonville FL.

AWPGA Rescue Dog Goose

Goose...went all the way from California to Oregon to live with 3 female Griffs who keep him in line. 

Thinking of Surrendering Your Griffon?

We know surrendering a dog is difficult, and we’re here to help. Our process ensures your dog will be placed in a loving, well-matched home.

Surrender Process:

  • Complete the Surrender Form

  • Coordinate with the Rescue Chair to arrange the dog’s surrender.

  • When you surrender your Wirehaired Pointing Griffon to AWPGA Rescue, you are giving up legal ownership and placing your trust in us to find a safe, loving home for your dog. There is no cost to surrender your dog. 

    In most cases, your dog can stay in your home and under your care during the rehoming process. If that’s not possible, we can place your dog in one of our pre-approved foster homes until adoption. 

    AWPGA Rescue works hard to match each dog with the most suitable home from our pool of carefully screened adoption applicants. We will keep you updated throughout the process. While we may ask for your initial input on potential adopters, the final decision on placement is made by AWPGA Rescue. 

    Our goal is to remove the uncertainty from the surrender process and give you peace of mind, knowing your dog will be placed in a safe, caring home. We also conduct periodic follow-ups on all rehomed dogs to ensure their well-being. 

    Important: AWPGA Rescue cannot accept any Wirehaired Pointing Griffon with a history of biting—defined as an incident where the dog has bitten a person or another animal and broken the skin. 

  • The Surrender Intake Form is a legally binding contract between the surrendering party and AWPGA Rescue. With limited exceptions, only the true, legal owner(s) of the dog to be surrendered may fill out and submit the form.

    Animal Rescue Organizations and/or Shelters may submit the Surrender Intake Form if:

    1. The Griffon was picked up as a stray
    2. The legal owners surrendered the dog to the organization
    3. The legal owners are deceased

    Friends, family members or representatives of the legal owners may complete and submit a Surrender Intake Form only if such friends, family members or representatives submit written documentation acceptable to AWPGA Rescue that they have the legal authority to act on behalf of the legal owners in connection with the surrender and relinquishment of rights in and to the dog.

    By signing and submitting the Surrender Intake Form, you will be relinquishing to Rescue all rights and interest in and to the dog. Rescue will have exclusive rights to rehome the dog and you must cease all active efforts, advertisements and social media posts soliciting adoption upon submission of the form. Failure to deliver custody of the dog at the time of adoption, misrepresenting ownership of the dog, or any efforts by the surrendering party or friends, family, acquaintances, or representatives of the surrendering party to rehome the dog outside of or parallel to Rescue’s rehoming process will constitute a breach of contract. Such acts will result in liquidated damages in the amount of $130 for which the surrendering party is liable. You will remain responsible for the care and upkeep of the dog at your expense while it remains in your possession.

  • AWPGA Rescue works to make the rehoming process as smooth and timely as possible. Some dogs are placed in as little as a day or a week. Others, especially those needing homes with specific experience, may take a few months. 

    No matter how long it takes, AWPGA Rescue will not transfer your dog to another rescue or shelter. We stay involved and work closely with you until we find the right home. 

Want to Foster a Rescue Griffon?

Foster families are vital to our rescue efforts! As a foster, you provide a safe and loving home while we find the dog’s forever family. 

Foster Process: 

  • Contact the Rescue Chair 

  • Become a pre-approved Foster 

  • Fill out a Foster Agreement Form 

  • Coordinate with the Rescue Chair when a dog needs placement 

  • Fostering means providing a temporary, loving home for a rescue Griffon while we search for their permanent family. You’ll care for the dog’s daily needs—feeding, exercise, socialization—and help them adjust to home life.

  • You’ll be responsible for: 

    • Keeping the foster dog indoors unless supervised outside 

    • Providing daily exercise 

    • Keeping your own pets separated from the foster dog for at least 10 days 

    • Caring for the dog’s well-being while they’re in your home 

    • Taking the foster dog for veterinary care, when applicable** 

    • Returning the dog to AWPGA Rescue when instructed You also agree not to rehome the dog on your own. All adoptions are handled through AWPGA Rescue. 

    **Veterinary care (i.e., vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter, heartworm prevention, etc.) is coordinated through the AWPGA Rescue Chair and requires AWPGA Board approval for related expenses. Care is arranged with an AWPGA Rescue Chair pre-approved veterinarian. 

Want to Adopt a Rescue Griffon?

Our goal is to ensure every Griffon finds a safe, loving, and permanent home. Adopting a Griffon is a rewarding experience, but it takes commitment. Many rescued Griffons are past the puppy stage, but they still need patience, training, socialization, grooming, and healthcare.

What is the process for adopting an AWPGA Rescue Griffon?

·       Fill out an Adoption Application Form

·       Be contacted by a member of the Rescue Committee

·       Coordinate with the Rescue Chair

·       Fill out the Adoption Placement Contract and submit the $130 adoption fee

·       Pick up your rescue Griffon

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  • You must complete our Adoption Application Form and undergo vetting by the Rescue Committee. Our goal is to ensure every Griffon finds a safe, loving, and permanent home. Adopting a Griffon is a rewarding experience, but it takes commitment. Many rescued Griffons are past the puppy stage, but they still need patience, training, socialization, grooming, and healthcare.

    Ideal Homes have:

    • Active families

    • Large, well-fenced yards

    • Children are mature enough to handle a large dog

    If your profile matches that of an ideal home, a member of the Rescue Committee will reach out to discuss potential rescue prospects.  

  • Unlike other breeds, on average we receive less than 30 rescue Griffons per year. The duration of how long it takes can vary from month to month and applicants will not be contacted by the Rescue Committee immediately upon submission of the Application Form unless a rescue is available near their geographic location, and they match the criteria suitable for the rescue’s needs.

    When Rescue has a Griffon available for adoption, often the dog must be moved immediately. An email will go out to applicants that fit the needs of a specific Griffon soliciting their interest. When you are contacted, you must be ready to make an immediate decision after expressing interest. 

  • Applicants can always indicate in the Adoption Application Form when they are ready to adopt. If an indication of readiness is not explicitly noted in the Application and when expression of interest emails is ignored more than twice, your application will be deleted from the Rescue database. Additionally, the Rescue Application database is purged annually of all applications with no response to keep an active pre-vetted list of candidates.

  • The Rescue Chair will call you to discuss your application and determine if you are a suitable candidate. If you are selected, you will be placed in contact with the Surrendering owner or foster to find out more information about the dog and coordinate a pickup date. Selected candidates must fill out an Adoption Placement Contract and pay the $130 adoption fee before picking up the rescue Griffon.  

  • As an adopter, you agree to provide humane care, including food, water, shelter, and necessary veterinary care. The dog must live in your home (not in an outdoor kennel), cannot be chained or used for fighting or experimental purposes, and must follow all local laws, including leash laws. You also agree not to sell, trade, or give away the dog. If you can no longer keep the dog, you must return it to AWPGA Rescue.

  • Yes. There is a two-week trial period. If you decide during that time that the adoption isn’t a good fit, you can return the dog and receive a full refund of your adoption fee.

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Fill this out upon Griff Adoption

Fill this out first

Interested in volunteering for the Rescue Committee?

You must be a member of AWPGA in good standing to be considered and Rescue is always looking for volunteers. Simply fill out a Rescue Volunteer Form.

AWPGA Rescue Dog Anshel

Make a donation

AWPGA Rescue is entirely volunteer-run and funded by donations. Every dollar goes toward veterinary care, transportation, food, and other costs to rehome our Griffons safely. Please help us continue this important work and keep rescue costs affordable.

3% Cover the Fee

AWPGA Rescue is a volunteer-run program under the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association. While donations go directly toward the care and rehoming of Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. We appreciate your support in helping us cover veterinary care, transportation, and other rescue expenses.

Anshell...moved from Arizona to California with another Griff and a little Terrier.