An Idle Thought

[Calistar]

As we sit awaiting January 11 when we bring home our new golden puppy Gumbeaux, we have reflected on the entire rescue process. Where we live there is a rescue organization to which we applied. We had our home visit and were approved and time went by and nothing . We contacted other rescue organizations In Southern California, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta to name a few. Every time we were rejected because we lived too far away for them to do a home inspection. We would try to explain our local rescue group had approved us but simply had no dogs. Every time we would hear that they don't trust the inspection of other groups. The national golden retriever club would do well to get the rescue groups to work more closely together on issues like this. The individual arrogance of these clubs with respect to home visits does nothing but hurt the goldens looking for their forever home.

Because of our experience, we decided to buy a puppy rather than wait for an indeterminate time for a rescue golden. I would suspect others have done likewise. While i would not want to demean the hardworking people at the golden rescue organizations, they just need to stop and exhibit a little common sense.

[nolefan]

I'm sorry for your frustration. It does seem a shame that they haven't found a way to deal with this issue given how the internet has brought us all closer together in so many other ways.

wishing you the best as you count down the days to bring home your new puppy.....

[Penny's Mom]

I've noticed the same sort of attitude in Michigan, pretty sanctimonious. I understand the reasons, but it's over the top so they just end up keeping the dogs. There's no way we would ever be approved for one of their dogs. I would love to rescue a senior or two in the future, but I don't hold out much hope for that.

[SheetsSM]

I'm sorry for your experience. When I was stationed in OK, I volunteered with the golden rescue there, we had a plethora of goldens and were dependent on our networkIng with GR rescues in other states, I actually had another breed rescue help me out with a home visit for a family in TX where the other TX GR rescues didn't cover. We try our best, but at the end of the day, we're doing the best we can with the goldens' welfare as the priority. There is nothings worse than to get reports that a dog you adopted out is far removed from the rescue and living in less than stellar conditions and not being able to do anything about it

[Calistar]

Another issue that we had was that our local rescue group absolutely had a fit when we initially said we used kennels for sleeping our dogs or when we leave for an extended period. We had actually agreed to second guess what had been a long held belief in handling dogs that had always worked successfully for us and most people we knew in order to get approved. When we grew tired of waiting and started contacting breeders, they were almost unanimous on the idea of having dogs sleep in crates. It made me think that possibly the rescue people are not as knowledgeable as we would have hoped they would be.

[goldensrbest]

Yes, i agree with you, adopting from a rescue,is just so hard to do.

[Dallas Gold]

I had a very reputable breeder tell me once that it was much harder to adopt from Golden Retriever rescues than reputable breeders! I don't know if that's true or not, but found that comment very interesting.

I used to volunteer for one of the local golden rescues here. At one point (late 2005, early 2006) they were talking with a Colorado Golden rescue about transferring dogs there in hopes of a better chance of adoption, but unfortunately the Colorado group (don't remember which one) did not want Goldens with medical issues like Heartworms. Heartworm disease is a major issue down here with a good number of shelter dogs testing positive for it if they were strays or outside dogs. It was just too much to accomplish at the time, especially since both groups were run by volunteers with no paid professional help or administration. I know of a couple of transfers of senior Goldens to somewhere on the West Coast, but it's a complicated matter (sharing of intake expenses and medical exams/treatments/procedures) and is harder to do than you would imagine if you've never been involved in rescue. Since they are non-profit groups with tax exempt status everything has to be documented and approached with that in mind as well.

There are groups, with more professional/paid administrators running the rescues, that have established transports, but they usually work with area shelters and it usually involves volunteer pilots doing the transports with donated private planes. There is a group on Spokane that is associated with some of the local municipal shelters here in doing these types of transports--usually mixes.

I'm sorry you weren't able to rescue when you wanted to do so, but it really is a good thing your local group didn't have a lot of dogs needing homes.

[Dallas Gold]

Originally Posted by Calistar

Another issue that we had was that our local rescue group absolutely had a fit when we initially said we used kennels for sleeping our dogs or when we leave for an extended period. We had actually agreed to second guess what had been a long held belief in handling dogs that had always worked successfully for us and most people we knew in order to get approved. When we grew tired of waiting and started contacting breeders, they were almost unanimous on the idea of having dogs sleep in crates. It made me think that possibly the rescue people are not as knowledgeable as we would have hoped they would be.

Rescue groups have legal title to the dogs before adoption and can establish whatever rules they want to screen potential adopters. They have financial and legal responsibility for them. Most want to make sure dogs aren't kenneled or sheltered outside, Golden rescues especially. If this is your arrangement you will probably do better going through a breeder.

At rescue adoption meet and greets I've heard people complaining about the spaying/neutering policy (all done before adoptions)...spay/neuter is one of the underlying pre-requisites of most rescues and they aren't going to waive that one!

[Deber]

I am with you on Rescue Groups too. We wanted 2 rescues, but we were denied because of our age. Really frustrating and hurtful. No visits, no consideration of our experience, just we were on the borderline of their age limit. So we have 2 pups! Really feel that each family should be evaluated on its own merits. So many dogs need homes, yet the door was slammed in our face when we wanted one.

[Dallas Gold]

Originally Posted by Deber

I am with you on Rescue Groups too. We wanted 2 rescues, but we were denied because of our age. Really frustrating and hurtful. No visits, no consideration of our experience, just we were on the borderline of their age limit. So we have 2 pups! Really feel that each family should be evaluated on its own merits. So many dogs need homes, yet the door was slammed in our face when we wanted one.

Was this a golden rescue group? Wow... What is their age cut off? I hope they realize that empty nesters can have disposable income to donate to rescues in appreciation for their affection for their new family members.

Sheesh... that is ridiculous! I know of one guy in his 80s that adopted a puppy from a local Golden rescue a few years ago.