Restrictive rescue rules.

[brianne]

I also live in New England and made the same journey you are starting on. I desperately wanted to rescue and would have been happy to adopt from our local animal shelter where all our other pets came from, but my 12 year old son kept begging for a Golden. We had adopted a couple of GR previously.

I was turned down by several rescues even though I had vet references, etc. because I didn't have a fenced yard.

I did what the earlier posters suggested: I contacted the rescue directly and talked with them. After taking time to get to know me a little bit, they made an exception to their rules and I adopted a 5 year old male GR.

Rescue groups are incredibly dedicated, hard-working folks who do this out of their love for dogs. They don't deny potential adopters to be spiteful - they want the best home for the dogs. And the fees are incredibly reasonable for a fully-vetted dog.

I adopted through Peppertree Rescue in NY, but my dog was actually in the possession of Keeper Rescue in NY because Peppertree didn't have an available foster home for him. They were wonderful to work with. As we speak, Keeper Rescue has 3 or 4 GR or mixes on their site. Check them out!

It was a bumpy journey, but don't give up hope. You will find your new dog. Thank you for rescuing!

[goldy1]

BentleysMom and SheetsSM have said exactly what I would say. Make personal contact with the rescue coordinators and keep in touch with them on a regular basis.

Your home and lifestyle sounds awesome for a Golden.

A long time ago I was doing cat rescue in NJ and I was awful at it because virtually "nobody" met my criteria - even when they met the real criteria. I wanted absolute assurance that these cats would be adored and loved and have the perfect, safe and happy life.

Honestly, the rescue rules are made so restrictive because by making objective rules, it is one way they can assess the person's level of committment.

Please hang in there - somewhere a Golden is waiting for you!

[goldy1]

Originally Posted by General V

I have done rescue work for 30+yrs. I had lost my APBT Mikado ( who was a rescue) to kidney failure at 6yrs of age. I was lost with out him. I saw a female APBT that was blind and I wanted her so bad. I called I had referance from 5 vets, 3from dog club members, 2 from a therapy group, and a number of just friends. I couldnt get the pup because I too did not have a fenced in yard. Excuse me she was BLIND I wouldnt be putting her outside by herself even if the yard was fenced. I even had an internet friend that works in a APBT rescue call and verify that I was a good home. They wouldnt budge at all. I would have been a great home for her.

The part about her being BLIND and put out in a yard by herself - actually made me laugh. Of course this would never happen! Sometimes the rules get in the way of placing the dogs.

[CAROLINA MOM]

Originally Posted by brianne

I also live in New England and made the same journey you are starting on. I desperately wanted to rescue and would have been happy to adopt from our local animal shelter where all our other pets came from, but my 12 year old son kept begging for a Golden. We had adopted a couple of GR previously.

I was turned down by several rescues even though I had vet references, etc. because I didn't have a fenced yard.

I did what the earlier posters suggested: I contacted the rescue directly and talked with them. After taking time to get to know me a little bit, they made an exception to their rules and I adopted a 5 year old male GR.

Rescue groups are incredibly dedicated, hard-working folks who do this out of their love for dogs. They don't deny potential adopters to be spiteful - they want the best home for the dogs. And the fees are incredibly reasonable for a fully-vetted dog.

I adopted through Peppertree Rescue in NY, but my dog was actually in the possession of Keeper Rescue in NY because Peppertree didn't have an available foster home for him. They were wonderful to work with. As we speak, Keeper Rescue has 3 or 4 GR or mixes on their site. Check them out!

It was a bumpy journey, but don't give up hope. You will find your new dog. Thank you for rescuing!

I just looked at Keeper Rescue's available dogs, they have an adorable young female named Twinkie Marie and a couple of good looking boys.

Pet Search Results: Adoptable Pets in Amsterdam, NY: Petfinder

[GoldensGirl]

Originally Posted by CAROLINA MOM

I just looked at Keeper Rescue's available dogs, they have an adorable young female named Twinkie Marie and a couple of good looking boys.

Pet Search Results: Adoptable Pets in Amsterdam, NY: Petfinder

One of these boys, Duffy, is deaf. He was mistreated for a while but has mostly recovered and he really deserves someone who will give him a loving home. Of course they all deserve loving homes...

Twinkie Marie is less than a year old. She's on the darker reddish side and looks to be a lovely girl.

Joe is six years old and Keeper says he's a very affectionate boy who is well behaved and good on leash and in a car.

[ScoutAMunk]

I ran into the same thing. I literally looked for over 5 mos for a golden. Hubs and I were set on a rescue for moral reasons but the rescue agencies were ridiculous with their reqs. I just started devouring animal shelter posts looking for one. It took over 5 months, two scams, lost a goldie pup that was in quarrantine due to parvo because shelter wouldnt allow us to pay a vet to treat her in shelter til out of quarrantine..still t'd bout that, and countless calls..but we finally found our golden boy. You can join most animal shelter pages on face book..itll help speed your search. Best wishes on your search.

[Wyatt's mommy]

I agree op that is why so many rescues are over crowded. Perhaps they should not even list the restrictions at all if they tend to make exceptions. Most people will read the restrictions and move on, when they could had very well rescued a wonderful pet.

[Megora]

One thought I had revisiting this thread - a while back I contacted the golden rescue here in Michigan after we just lost our older golden (Sammy). I initially just wanted to adopt our next golden vs going the puppy route again - especially as my Danny was pushing 12.

I got a fairly rude email back from the woman over there, basically they will not talk to you unless you have a fence (6 foot). She suggested I adopt seniors and was ready to recommend a couple in their program. I was aghast and reminded her that we just lost a 13 year old and had an 11 year old who we were already dreading losing. To get yet another senior would have been too much pain for us.

The woman was unfeeling and repeated that they do not adopt to homes without a fence.

That's probably why they have certain dogs living with fosters for years, because unless you adopt to houses in more urban areas....

Anyway, then I inquired with another rescue not too far from my home - and ironically not too far from where I found Jacks' breeder. There they didn't care about the fence, but they basically labeled me as a bad owner and treated me like one because my 11 year old, never-been-bred, senior was intact.

I was upset and... furious. And I think people on here know that I was searching after I lost Danny, again looking to adopt a golden retriever or a similar breed from a rescue and still had to deal with the same reactions. Either it was the fence, or it was the fact that Jacks was intact. Didn't matter I had a LOT of references (vet, well-known trainers in this area, friends in rescue, etc). I was treated like some kind of BYB in training.

Fast forward a couple years and I'm somewhat able to look back with a little less emotion, and I do see a lot of providence in there.

Had I adopted that golden right off after Sammy, we would not have brought home Arthur or Jacks.

And then if I'd gotten that muttsky that I was eyeballing a couple years ago, I would not have even considered bringing Bertie home.

I was meant to have Jacks and Bertie... and Arthur. And those are three dogs that would not be in our hearts and homes had those rescues been willing to go case by case with me.

I hope that those dogs found homes and aren't still stuck in foster-limbo. But the fact is, the ones I was looking at were probably not meant to come to us.

So my advice to the OP - keep looking. Sometimes you have adoptions fall right into your lap, as Arthur's adoption did. I saw him on Petfinder and couldn't take my eyes off his picture. We called his foster that same night - it was like almost 10 PM? She answered and liked us enough to invite us to come visit. When my sister walked in through the door, Arthur ran up to her and jumped in her arms. Keep in mind that collies are a bit more standoffish and reserved around strangers. The foster saw that and felt as we did that it was meant to be. Arthur was not the golden I wanted, but he did belong to us and was exactly the dog that my sister needed.

I'm somebody that does love the golden retriever breed - as in the standard. I love the look and temperament of a well-bred dog. So I will always support GOOD breeders and probably will always have at least 1 golden who came home as a puppy from a breeder, from a litter that I specifically chose. And fwiw, the price of Bertie was $1200. The price had I adopted a puppy from your average rescue in this area would have been between $400 and $600.

But I also support rescue - and definitely I feel now that instead of getting upset about those rescues that won't adopt to you. Keep looking. You will find the dog you want elsewhere. There are shelters. The humane society (I've heard) is a bit easier to adopt from as well. And there are also rescues where they will work with you and you will find a dog that you were meant to have.

[DanaRuns]

I can relate to Megora's feelings of outrage and anger. I was once turned down by the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, and it really made me hurt and angry. They made me feel like I was a terrible dog owner. Why? Because I was renting. I had just moved back to California from Washington, DC, and they declared that I was unstable and an unsuitable candidate, even though I had a rescue Golden at the time, which under my ownership had become a marine search and rescue dog. I had had Goldens for 25 years at that point, and had given great homes for all of them. I had references from a vet and the Coast Guard, even, and the written approval of my landlady. Nope. No dice. And they made me feel terrible when they turned me down, and I was angry.

It ended up to be the best thing ever, though. In my anger I decided that for the first time I would buy a puppy from a breeder. So I started calling around. I hit on a breeder who had a litter and was in the midst of a nasty divorce. Long story short, one day one day she called in a panic. Her ex-husband was coming over to take the puppies away. She had to send them to homes right that minute. The person who was buying the pick male was unavailable. If I would come over right away I could have him, but would have to sign a co-ownership contract and agree to show him. I knew nothing about showing dogs, only wanted a healthy pup. But it was a great opportunity and I could come right then, so I agreed. This was January 1, 2000. I ended up with my magnificent heart dog, Charlie, who in my signature pics is the puppy in the snow and the old dog sitting up in the beach photo. I lost him just a few months ago, 12 years later, holding him in my arms as he took his last breath. I spent many thousands of dollars showing him, and more giving him the best possible life I could, taking him with me everywhere I went. Throughout his entire life, I was his one constant. We were inseparable.

Had the rescue thought I was a suitable owner, I would never have had Charlie, never have become interested in showing dogs, and never have learned anything about the breed standard or its importance to the breed.

Right now I have two rescue dogs, two rescue cats, and I'm getting another show prospect puppy. I love my rescues, but thanks to being turned down in 2000, I now have a love of and appreciation for the Golden Retriever breed that I never would have had otherwise. Having Charlie changed everything. The difference between him and my many rescues was so remarkable, it opened my eyes to a whole new world. So, thanks SoCal GR Rescue, and bite me!