As many of you know I lost my beloved golden earlier this month and have been looking into rescue organizations so here are some issues I am having first off the cost is quite high though I understand the need to recoupe some cost but 300.00 seems extreme in this ecomony wouldn't they rather GR goes to a good home . Next I live in Indiana and have found only one place that has rescues I also don't understand why you can't adopt outside of your state . I also do not understand why you can't choose which golden you are intrested in one site goes as far as saying we will match GR based on your application I don't think so sounds fishy to me . Any help would be appreciated
Trying to rescue .. Frustrated
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Chance
Sorry you are going through this.
Go to petfinder.org and put in breed of dog, age, gender and your city and state and then hit search and I bet that you will find Golden Rets. in those shelters.
I don't know if you are close to Indy, but if so, check out Indy Humane Society.
Sorry you are going through this.
Go to petfinder.org and put in breed of dog, age, gender and your city and state and then hit search and I bet that you will find Golden Rets. in those shelters.
I don't know if you are close to Indy, but if so, check out Indy Humane Society.
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13,497 Posts
Don't give up!
You sound like me about a month ago, the right dog will come around.
We did end up paying a high adoption fee, but please realize all the money that has already gone into your rescued dog. Vaccinations, wellness checkups, spay/neutering, heartworm checks, microchip, preventatives, vet care for any issues the dog was rescued with. It is usually far less, than the vet bills you would have had to pay yourself.
You sound like me about a month ago, the right dog will come around.
We did end up paying a high adoption fee, but please realize all the money that has already gone into your rescued dog. Vaccinations, wellness checkups, spay/neutering, heartworm checks, microchip, preventatives, vet care for any issues the dog was rescued with. It is usually far less, than the vet bills you would have had to pay yourself.
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686 Posts
Dealing with rescues is definitely a learning experience. Along with doing your research, be prepared for unexpected roadblocks and set backs. They will happen. Most rescues seem to require home visits, and those out of state rescues do not have people willing to do out of state home visits. So you may have to limit your search to your area. The ins and outs of rescues are a little hard to understand at first, be it politics, the administration of the rescue, etc., etc. So hang it there. It takes a little different mind set to go thru the process. Best of luck in your search....and I'm sure you will find your special Golden to adopt.
Do not give up. It took me a long time to find the right one to "adopt". I think they do only in the state so they can do a home inspection. They also want to be sure that if you are going to give the dog up that it will go back to them. I guess it is a little more difficult out of state.
We also had the same problem. We found the one we LOVED (still do I think). And they would not place him with us. I am sure they have their reasons. We were approved for anyone else but they felt he would not be a good match. My guess is my son is very small for his age.
Also in regards to the cost. I also thought it was high when I first started looking. But then realized how much money they put into these dogs. Every bit of that adoption fee is going to the dog you adopt. Maybe even more in some cases. I "adopted" Luck from an outside source (Craigslist...they posted they would not surrender him and would kill him instead...still do not even know if that is legal). Anyways, Luck had so many health issues. Still does. Very small issues but I have spent well over 1k on his vet expenses. Not even including all his food trials and so forth. I do not think I will EVER do anything but adopt from a rescuse.
Hang in there. It takes time but it will happen.
We also had the same problem. We found the one we LOVED (still do I think). And they would not place him with us. I am sure they have their reasons. We were approved for anyone else but they felt he would not be a good match. My guess is my son is very small for his age.
Also in regards to the cost. I also thought it was high when I first started looking. But then realized how much money they put into these dogs. Every bit of that adoption fee is going to the dog you adopt. Maybe even more in some cases. I "adopted" Luck from an outside source (Craigslist...they posted they would not surrender him and would kill him instead...still do not even know if that is legal). Anyways, Luck had so many health issues. Still does. Very small issues but I have spent well over 1k on his vet expenses. Not even including all his food trials and so forth. I do not think I will EVER do anything but adopt from a rescuse.
Hang in there. It takes time but it will happen.
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First off, the money goes towards the vet bills, food, transport etc. of the dogs in rescue - and $300 is not much when you consider all of that (not like they can just stack the dogs in the garage forever and not feed or care for them, right? - and many times a dog coming into rescue will have a lot of health or medical needs, nature of the beast...).
If there is only one rescue, then there is always shelters, and many rescues work together, so you can always ask, maybe they'll do a home study for an out of state rescue and so on. It can happen!
As for why you can't always pick out a dog and get it, well... the people who are caring for the dog in rescue likely know much much more about the dog, it's history and so on, and are going to be better able to place the dog and know the match will work out forever. Same as with many breeders, they will pick out the pup that is best suited for each new home based on their experience and wisdom. They may not want to put all the 'issues' on a website (or they might not get any interest at all) so they will screen the dogs accordingly.
Hope that helps!
Lana
If there is only one rescue, then there is always shelters, and many rescues work together, so you can always ask, maybe they'll do a home study for an out of state rescue and so on. It can happen!
As for why you can't always pick out a dog and get it, well... the people who are caring for the dog in rescue likely know much much more about the dog, it's history and so on, and are going to be better able to place the dog and know the match will work out forever. Same as with many breeders, they will pick out the pup that is best suited for each new home based on their experience and wisdom. They may not want to put all the 'issues' on a website (or they might not get any interest at all) so they will screen the dogs accordingly.
Hope that helps!
Lana
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I'm sorry you lost Chance and am also sorry you are having trouble finding a new friend.
I do not work with a rescue and do not qualify for rescue with my local GR group. However, I do realize what a wonderful service they provide. I have had five "rescue" dogs in the last 8 years and would like to share my knowledge based on them.
1. My first rescue I found. he was quite old and had not had good care for a while. His issues: absolutely none based on personality and behavior. He had typical old age issues.I only had him 8.5 months, but he reintroduced me to the joy dogs bring.
2. Owner release. this one was my heart dog. Absolutely smart, well trained, immediate bonding. It turns out he was also H/W postive and had indolent ulcers in his eyes, so his vet bills cost me appreciably more than a rescue would have charged me. Worth every cent and then some. I still grieve over losing him.
3. Chance - shelter rescue. Numerous phobias we had to work through. It took months to turn him into a basically well adjusted happy dog. He never did get over some of his fears (camera for one!). within 3 months I had to have a tumor removed from his side - $350. Otherwise, just normal vet bills until a liver mass took him from me 2.3 years later.
4. Copper - shelter rescue. He was very destructive, male dog aggressive, rather ADD too. He has cost me an enormous amount of money in the 5 years we have been together and I am very happy he is still around to break the bank.:
5. Jack - BassettX I found 2.75 years ago. He was a starved pitiful little puppy with rickets. His vet bills so far have been pretty reasonable, but he is young and still has time to spent my money.
So.... it is not necessary cheaper to go with a different type of rescue (shelter, owner release) over a formal one with a rescue group. most of them have training and knowledge that enables them to find you the best fit for your family and hopefully all health issues have been taken care of or at least you are informed of them.
The rescues are very much interested in placing their charges in a good home. that is one reason they will not do an out of state adoption. they cannot verify that it is inded a good home.
If you and the dog do not get along, they will take him back and you can try to find a better match. If you get a problem child from the shelter (like I have) and you take him back, you know he will be put to sleep. That is sufficient reason for me to work through any issues, but it has not always been easy.
You can possibly find your dream dog at a shelter or through Craig's list, but he might come with more baggage than you can handle. Once copper is gone, I am sure I will find anther sad face to bring home whether it is beside the road, at a shelter or somewhere else but there have been times when I thought I had bit off more than I could chew.:no:
Sorry for the tome. I wanted to try to give you the big picture.
Good luck. I hope you find a new friend soon.
QUOTE=CHANCE;963998]As many of you know I lost my beloved golden earlier this month and have been looking into rescue organizations so here are some issues I am having first off the cost is quite high though I understand the need to recoupe some cost but 300.00 seems extreme in this ecomony wouldn't they rather GR goes to a good home . Next I live in Indiana and have found only one place that has rescues I also don't understand why you can't adopt outside of your state . I also do not understand why you can't choose which golden you are intrested in one site goes as far as saying we will match GR based on your application I don't think so sounds fishy to me . Any help would be appreciated[/QUOTE]
I do not work with a rescue and do not qualify for rescue with my local GR group. However, I do realize what a wonderful service they provide. I have had five "rescue" dogs in the last 8 years and would like to share my knowledge based on them.
1. My first rescue I found. he was quite old and had not had good care for a while. His issues: absolutely none based on personality and behavior. He had typical old age issues.I only had him 8.5 months, but he reintroduced me to the joy dogs bring.
2. Owner release. this one was my heart dog. Absolutely smart, well trained, immediate bonding. It turns out he was also H/W postive and had indolent ulcers in his eyes, so his vet bills cost me appreciably more than a rescue would have charged me. Worth every cent and then some. I still grieve over losing him.
3. Chance - shelter rescue. Numerous phobias we had to work through. It took months to turn him into a basically well adjusted happy dog. He never did get over some of his fears (camera for one!). within 3 months I had to have a tumor removed from his side - $350. Otherwise, just normal vet bills until a liver mass took him from me 2.3 years later.
4. Copper - shelter rescue. He was very destructive, male dog aggressive, rather ADD too. He has cost me an enormous amount of money in the 5 years we have been together and I am very happy he is still around to break the bank.
:5. Jack - BassettX I found 2.75 years ago. He was a starved pitiful little puppy with rickets. His vet bills so far have been pretty reasonable, but he is young and still has time to spent my money
.So.... it is not necessary cheaper to go with a different type of rescue (shelter, owner release) over a formal one with a rescue group. most of them have training and knowledge that enables them to find you the best fit for your family and hopefully all health issues have been taken care of or at least you are informed of them.
The rescues are very much interested in placing their charges in a good home. that is one reason they will not do an out of state adoption. they cannot verify that it is inded a good home.
If you and the dog do not get along, they will take him back and you can try to find a better match. If you get a problem child from the shelter (like I have) and you take him back, you know he will be put to sleep. That is sufficient reason for me to work through any issues, but it has not always been easy.
You can possibly find your dream dog at a shelter or through Craig's list, but he might come with more baggage than you can handle. Once copper is gone, I am sure I will find anther sad face to bring home whether it is beside the road, at a shelter or somewhere else but there have been times when I thought I had bit off more than I could chew.:no:
Sorry for the tome. I wanted to try to give you the big picture.
Good luck. I hope you find a new friend soon.
QUOTE=CHANCE;963998]As many of you know I lost my beloved golden earlier this month and have been looking into rescue organizations so here are some issues I am having first off the cost is quite high though I understand the need to recoupe some cost but 300.00 seems extreme in this ecomony wouldn't they rather GR goes to a good home . Next I live in Indiana and have found only one place that has rescues I also don't understand why you can't adopt outside of your state . I also do not understand why you can't choose which golden you are intrested in one site goes as far as saying we will match GR based on your application I don't think so sounds fishy to me . Any help would be appreciated[/QUOTE]
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Well said.. We paid $250 for our golden from our rescue in 2004. Our golden had been in rescue for a year with severe skin and allergy issues. The rescue spent hundreds of dollars getting him much needed medical care, allergy tests and medications. While he as already neutered and fortunately was HW negative (HW treatment can be in the $400 to $500 range), he still cost the rescue much more than we paid in adoption fees for him. Some dogs require thousands of dollars in surgeries to get them ready for adoption yet are adopted for only $300. After volunteering for the rescue group I learned that adoption fees only cover a small portion of the money needed to medically treat all the dogs coming into the rescue. The rest is raised from donations and grants given by other organizations for specific purposes. In the end they could have charged us $1000 and it still would have been a good deal because our rescue has given us much much more than the money ever could.
I hope you find a wonderful new golden companion!
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I just want to point out, $300 will most likely not cover the vet costs the rescue has already expended on any given dog, and multiply that by the number of dogs cared for over a year, I know the rescue I volunteer for runs in the negative on adoption fees vs. vet costs. The basic vet care GRRNT provides, (i.e. spay/neuter, vaccinations, heartworm test, fecal test, microchip), even at a discount is more than the adoption fee we charge. And then if the dog needs additional vet care of any kind it's substantially more. That also means that you don't have to go to a vet and spend that much or more right off the bat, because the dog is already vetted by the rescue before you adopt it.
The rescue and foster families know the dogs intimately, and are the ones best equipped to match a dog with a family. So allowing them to match you to a dog is actually the best way to go.
Have you checked with other rescue groups in surrounding states? I know there are some that adopt out of their local area, or out of state. You can find a list on the GRCA website: http://www.grca-nrc.org/state_listing.html
Petfinder is a good place to look, and there are a lot of nice dogs being posted on cragislist too.
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You should watch this site for Goldens needing rescue from Indiana shelters. I remember a few being in shelters needing to be rescued.
This is a Golden Mix, but check Petfinder Shelters.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14959003
Another mix, but oh so cute.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14764266
Meet Bill
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934615
I have to stop looking. Too many dogs in need. Breaks my heart. There is a senior in need, too. Says Golden Mix, but looks pretty Golden to me.
This is a Golden Mix, but check Petfinder Shelters.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14959003
Another mix, but oh so cute.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14764266
Meet Bill
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=14934615
I have to stop looking. Too many dogs in need. Breaks my heart. There is a senior in need, too. Says Golden Mix, but looks pretty Golden to me.
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12,622 Posts
I am so sorry for your loss of Chance!
I just wanted to address the cost to adopt. If you actually figure out how much it costs for all the vaccinations, spay/neuter and the vet visits, $300 is quite a bargain.
So you can understand why a rescue charges what it does (our fee is sliding based on age, up to $375), we can use my Danny as a case in point. He was 5 months old, in a shelter and in congestive heart failure due to 2 heart conditions (SAS and PDA). Our rescue pulled him, did an ultrasound and then to the vet school. The vet school did surgery on him and by that point, his costs were somewhere around $3000. He still needed another set of shots and to be neutered. Plus during that time he lived in our home as a foster for 6 months. Of course, we ended up falling in love with him, paid his $350 adoption fee and felt like we got a huge bargain!
Now, we may get in the occasional healthy, already altered and vetted dog. We will still charge the regular adoption fee. We aren't making money on this one dog, instead, this one dog is helping us not LOSE as much money as we would have without his coming into the rescue.
I just wanted to address the cost to adopt. If you actually figure out how much it costs for all the vaccinations, spay/neuter and the vet visits, $300 is quite a bargain.
So you can understand why a rescue charges what it does (our fee is sliding based on age, up to $375), we can use my Danny as a case in point. He was 5 months old, in a shelter and in congestive heart failure due to 2 heart conditions (SAS and PDA). Our rescue pulled him, did an ultrasound and then to the vet school. The vet school did surgery on him and by that point, his costs were somewhere around $3000. He still needed another set of shots and to be neutered. Plus during that time he lived in our home as a foster for 6 months. Of course, we ended up falling in love with him, paid his $350 adoption fee and felt like we got a huge bargain!
Now, we may get in the occasional healthy, already altered and vetted dog. We will still charge the regular adoption fee. We aren't making money on this one dog, instead, this one dog is helping us not LOSE as much money as we would have without his coming into the rescue.
Our Tundra falls into the category of your last paragraph. Our local adoption agency knew we were looking for a golden and happened to be at an out-of-town high kill shelter(looking for dogs to bring back) when the owners were surrendering him as an 11 month old pup. They grabbed him and brought him back to our town and left a message at our house. One of the directors happened to be our neighbor so I got the "scoop" on him and just waited till they were open and went and got him..it was love at first sight! He was fully vetted, neutered and no "issues" so he pretty much didn't cost them anything and we paid $220 for him.
For most rescues, puppies up to 2 or 3 years old will bring the highest prices. The 300 to 350 for these easily placed, very desirable, dogs (providing there are no major temperament issues) helps to cover the cost of maintaining the permanent fosters and the medically needy older dogs. The dogs returned when their owners can no longer care for them (which is part of most contracts) are frequently older and sickly. Some may stay in foster care for the rest of their lives. The higher fees on the younger dogs helps to cover the costs of the older dogs. Sort of a Medicare situation!
I adopted the dogs I was fostering (old, senior, medically needy) because I felt I financially could do so. The rescue did cover much of their vet needs while I was fostering. Spay and neuter, dental, grooming, microchipping, heartworm testing, etc. As a foster who adopted I paid $270 to adopt them both as a bonded pair. I won't even go into what they have cost since, but without the start they got from rescue I don't think I could have done it. Thank you to the puppy adopters who pay a little more. You have let these great furkids have a decent life.
What you pay to the rescue for a wonderful, matched to your home dog, helps many other dogs live to their full potential. What a great deal for all of them!
I adopted the dogs I was fostering (old, senior, medically needy) because I felt I financially could do so. The rescue did cover much of their vet needs while I was fostering. Spay and neuter, dental, grooming, microchipping, heartworm testing, etc. As a foster who adopted I paid $270 to adopt them both as a bonded pair. I won't even go into what they have cost since, but without the start they got from rescue I don't think I could have done it. Thank you to the puppy adopters who pay a little more. You have let these great furkids have a decent life.
What you pay to the rescue for a wonderful, matched to your home dog, helps many other dogs live to their full potential. What a great deal for all of them!
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