Miles -- rescued at age 12 now age 17

Every year across the United States, nearly 10,000 Golden Retrievers are taken in by GRCA Rescue organizations. Reasons might be that a family has a new baby; moved to a new house, apartment or retirement home; or encountered medical problems, death, divorce or allergies. Sometimes a home isn't truly prepared to meet a dog's needs for exercise, training and care. Families, unable to pay bills, may abandon a dog at a veterinary clinic, boarding establishment or animal shelter. These are not necessarily problem dogs and may have ended up in rescue through no fault of their own. Others may have been rescued from puppy mill raids, are strays off the street or were dumped at an animal pound.

Most rescue organizations screen their intakes carefully for health, temperament and training issues and devotedly work to match their charges with 'forever' homes. Adopting your Golden Retriever from Rescue can be mutually beneficial. An abandoned Golden Retriever finds a loving 'forever' home and you may receive a devoted companion with known habits, personality and training, all at a nominal cost to support rescue efforts. You might wish to read, "Reasons to Adopt a Golden Retriever Rescue."

Rescue organizations also have senior goldens who have been abandoned because of advanced age or a death in the family. If you feel you cannot take on a 10-12 year puppy committment, but would enjoy a devoted, slower-moving companion for several months to several years, please consider reading about adopting a Golden Oldie.

Sometimes, conscientious breeders keep a puppy to see how it will mature, but decide at six months to three years that it will not be bred and would be happiest in a home where it is a beloved pet. Inquire among breeders, if they might have such a Golden Retriever, and if it's received housebreaking and household manners training.