Hand Me Down Dobes is the oldest and largest purebred Doberman rescue in Ohio. Since 1994 our mission has remained the same - to rescue, rehabilitate and place Dobes into loving, forever homes.

We follow the Doberman Pinscher Club of America’s Code of Ethics. For more information visit the DPCA at www.dpca.org.

The HMDD 2025 Rescue Calendars are here!

Each and every month is special as you see the many faces of rescue! Our professional quality, spiral bound calendars are only $25.00 each, including shipping and handling. 

Every Dobe deserves a forever home, and all proceeds directly benefit our rescue, helping us save and care for dogs in need! 

The calendars are only available during this presale. Order yours today!!

Check out safely and securely with this Paypal link, or send a check to HMDD, P.O. Box 12325, Columbus, OH 43212-0325, and make your purchase before they’re all gone!

 

UPDATE about Wilder

We wish we could report major improvements and significant weight gain for sweet Wilder, but instead, we will say that he is now stable and making gradual progress. This poor fellow was somehow exposed to Kennel Cough before joining HMDD, and shortly after, began coming down with symptoms. Any dog that is underweight is at a higher risk for complications, but for those that are severely emaciated like Wilder, there can be a quicker decline with more serious consequences. With an immediate response to his cough, we were able to get him on appropriate medications and keep him comfortable. We gave a BIG sigh of relief when his x-rays revealed that the infection did not progress into pneumonia. This sweetheart remained a cheerful, stubby wagging doberboy even when sick. Now feeling much better, Wilder is eating more and should finally be on the road to recovery! Thank you for following his story and supporting our efforts in helping this magnificent breed.

Please Sponsor Wilder

Another call has come in and it is about an emaciated male Dobe picked up as a stray. Once again, we jumped into action. This 6-year-old fawn doberboy weighs in at an appalling 39 pounds, his proper weight should be between 75-85 pounds. We have named him Wilder to celebrate his amazing story of survival in the urban jungle.  Remarkably, he has a magnificent temperament! He is, of course, starving, but he remains friendly, curious, and engaged with his surroundings including wagging his little stub for every human he meets. He melted the hearts of the humane officers, shelter staff, and vet clinic staff who were lucky enough to meet him. This sweetheart is a testament to the resiliency of Dobermans. Time and time again we see dogs who have been neglected, abused, and cast aside by humans, yet they are able to remain loyal, obedient and true. 

 

Within a few hours of joining the HMDD family, Wilder has had a full medical work up, has begun a re-feeding schedule, and tonight will be sleeping in the loving arms of his foster mom. He will never know hunger or neglect again.

 

As we continue celebrating our 30th year as a rescue, we would like to take this time to thank YOU, our supporters, who help us continue our mission to save these majestic dogs. We feel honored to be able to rescue and rehabilitate dogs like Wilder. To be able to answer the call to help dogs in desperate need, without hesitation, is a result of the support of our donors, foster parents, transporters, and those who work tirelessly, day after day, behind the scenes. Again, thank you!

Welcome to Hand Me Down Dobes!

Welcome and please join us as we celebrate three decades of saving Dobermans! Hand Me Down Dobes began as part of the forward thinking rescue “movement” that was gaining speed in the early 1990’s, and since then, our nonprofit charitable organization has placed thousands of dogs into loving, forever homes! Learn more about us.

Some of the Dobes that come into our care are homeless, lost and never looked for, or just unwanted.  Some of them have suffered from abuse and neglect.  Others are sorrowfully surrendered because their owners can no longer care for them due to unfortunate family circumstances or major life changes.  Less frequent are the dogs that come to us from cruel environments or from disreputable breeders such as puppy mills.

We take the health of our rescued dogs seriously and they receive immediate and thorough veterinary care which includes a wellness exam, vaccinations so the dog is up-to-date on Rabies, DHLPP and Bordetella, as well as a heartworm and fecal test. The dog is treated for any medical issues, spayed or neutered, microchipped and placed on preventatives for heartworms as well as fleas and ticks. Occasionally dogs have more serious health issues where they receive care from a veterinary specialist.

Dobermans form strong bonds with their people even when neglected or mistreated. Aware of the emotional trauma they experience when losing their home, we place all of our rescues into caring foster homes where they receive the love, attention and time needed to emotionally heal before they find their forever home.

Although we are a large rescue, we provide personal, attentive support throughout the adoption process—and after! From application through adoption—and for the life of the dog—-we are here for you. Viewing many purebred Dobermans on this website will help you narrow down which dog is the best match for you, your family, your home and lifestyle. Our dogs range in age, energy level, training needs and home requirements. We are knowledgeable and experienced with Dobes and the dogs in our rescue, and will assist you in finding the right match for you as well as the dog. At any given time we have several Dobermans awaiting the loving, forever home they deserve. Will it be yours? Learn more about our adoption process.

Not ready to adopt but want to help a Doberman?  Then fostering is for you!  We are in desperate need of good foster homes.  You provide the loving care and we provide EVERYTHING else needed for your foster dog.  Please make a difference and fill out your application to foster today!

Hey all you coffee lovers!!

Doberman Coffee Company, a Cleveland based company has selected Hand Me Down Dobes along with nine other rescues to receive 20% of the profits for the next year!! We are super excited to team up with this wonderful company who believes in our mission and who shares the same passion for rescue dogs.
Doberman Coffee Co –
Drink Coffee. Save Dogs.
Every abandoned dog deserves a second chance. At Doberman Coffee Co., we use the sale of our single origin and blended coffees to help them find new homes. Twenty percent of our profits benefit no-kill animal shelters, dog foster care organizations, and Doberman Rescue operations.
You benefit from big, bold flavor — dogs benefit from your big, bold heart.
Visit their website, http://dobermancoffeecompany.com/” and order your coffee today!!

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