An Idle Thought

[SdJessF]

I am so glad I found this thread. We lost our beloved rescue golden last fall and we have been through the wringer tying to adopt another golden. Since our last time getting a dog from a golden rescue we have had a couple kids. Now no one wants to deal with us, not even consider it. We don't want a dog that is unsafe with kids (been down that road with another dog from another rescue), but surely there are SOME goldens needing homes that would be fine with kids, right?

We finally found a group that said they'll work with us and they did a home check. The volunteers told us, right in front of our children, that we were approved and we could start inquiring about the dogs they have available (not that any of them, save one very old senior, were approved for children). The next day I got a call with a list of things that we had to change about our house to get approved. Heartbreaking. We did do what they asked, but we're still waiting for the approval. I wrote an email to check how things were going and to inquire about a younger dog on their list, but got a very terse reply reiminding me that we were not approved so we should not be asking about dogs. :-(

This has been utterly heartbreaking for all of us. I have sung the praises of golden rescues for over a decade, and I'm left feeling dejected. Adopting Rocky was one of the best things we ever did. He was the furry heart of our family.

After reading here, I gathered the names of all of the good breeders you all have recommended within about five hours of here and wrote every one of them an email telling them a little about our family and that we are looking for leads on any adults or older puppies who needs home. The very next day I heard from someone nearby who had a possibility for us. We're going to see her today. Hopefully our family will be complete again.

I know there are good rescues out there, I know I do. It's too bad that so many families are being kept from rescuing.

[Dallas Gold]

Originally Posted by SdJessF

I am so glad I found this thread. We lost our beloved rescue golden last fall and we have been through the wringer tying to adopt another golden. Since our last time getting a dog from a golden rescue we have had a couple kids. Now no one wants to deal with us, not even consider it. We don't want a dog that is unsafe with kids (been down that road with another dog from another rescue), but surely there are SOME goldens needing homes that would be fine with kids, right?

We finally found a group that said they'll work with us and they did a home check. The volunteers told us, right in front of our children, that we were approved and we could start inquiring about the dogs they have available (not that any of them, save one very old senior, were approved for children). The next day I got a call with a list of things that we had to change about our house to get approved. Heartbreaking. We did do what they asked, but we're still waiting for the approval. I wrote an email to check how things were going and to inquire about a younger dog on their list, but got a very terse reply reiminding me that we were not approved so we should not be asking about dogs. :-(

This has been utterly heartbreaking for all of us. I have sung the praises of golden rescues for over a decade, and I'm left feeling dejected. Adopting Rocky was one of the best things we ever did. He was the furry heart of our family.

After reading here, I gathered the names of all of the good breeders you all have recommended within about five hours of here and wrote every one of them an email telling them a little about our family and that we are looking for leads on any adults or older puppies who needs home. The very next day I heard from someone nearby who had a possibility for us. We're going to see her today. Hopefully our family will be complete again.

I know there are good rescues out there, I know I do. It's too bad that so many families are being kept from rescuing.

Best wishes for finding a good dog for your family from the breeder. It sounds like this is the best way for you to proceed right now in this stage of your life. I hope your family will be complete with the addition of a 4 footed companion soon.

[ChoppersMOM]

This is exactly why so many goldies end up staying in foster care or rescues... Because they think they have the cookie cutter fomula for the perfect adoptive family and household. Unfortunately not all goldens are the same and neither are all families for that matter. What also sickens me is the price for a rescued golden. I had a rescue tell me a dog I was interested in was $600, he was 7 years old. I just spent $2700 in 6 days trying to save my 7 1/2 year olds life... the price is a little steep. And this is also why people go and buy puppies... When rescues want $800 and local breeders (not saying they are the champion bloodline pups) want $500...

[SheetsSM]

Originally Posted by ChoppersMOM

When rescues want $800 and local breeders (not saying they are the champion bloodline pups) want $500...

I think it's shortsighted to compare a pup from a BYB being sold for $500 to a rescue that has been brought current on its vaccinations, spayed/neutered, tested (and treated if necessary) for heartworms & tickborne diseases, microchipped and treated for whatever other ailments they came into rescue with. Rescue (when done right) is expensive & even with discounts from vet clinics I haven't met a rescue yet that's operating in the black. While I've been volunteering with rescues primarily in the midwest & south, a majority of the goldens coming in are HW+ with the average treatment being $500/dog.

I am saddened to hear that so many folks are having issues getting approved. Though I move every couple of years, I make a point to volunteer with my local GR rescue to not only share my passion for the breed but also to attempt to influence change for the good and share the policies/procedures with each of the groups to incorporate best practices. For me, I'm doing my best to be a part of the solution & not a victim of it.

[ChoppersMOM]

Not trying to be short sided at all... Merely stating that I think it is a lot of money to ask of people for a dog that may not live very long. I am under the impression the idea is to get these dogs rehomed and I just feel like that isn't always the case. Then you hear of people saying "if they can't affor it, then they can't afford the dog". I know people who are not well off but they make do with what they have and they take thir animals to shot clinics and to a spay clinic... And their dog is fine with them just as good as if it were a rich family. In the end it should be whether the family can provided a quality living situation not how much money. So sorry if I did not convey my feelings adequately in my first post.

[Charliethree]

Though there may be some rescues not 'operating' up to people's expectations - there are a LOT of rescues doing a world of good, changing lives for those who need help the most, the sick, the injured and the abused and the unwanted.

[Calistar]

Since I started this thread over a year ago, I would like to chime in. I don't think that anyone has said that there are not good rescue services out there. But there are certainly far too many that have restrictive arbitrary rules which in many cases make requirements on potential adoptive families that are far from agreed upon by a wide variety of people across the dog world. They are definitely sufficient in number to make the process difficult at a minimum and to unfortunately give rescue services in general a bad name. If the rescue services would unite and adopt a consistent set of requirements for potential adoptive homes that would allow rescue organizations at location A where a potential adoptive home is available for a dog at location B then more dogs could be placed. But unfortunately there are too many rescue services that place arbitrarily selected rules developed by inexperienced volunteers on potential good adoptive homes resulting in the people simply pursuing another less insulting and abusive avenue. The big loser in that case is the dog who only wants a loving home.