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Golden Retriever Rescues By State – The Ultimate List

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If you are thinking about adopting a golden retriever to be a part of your family, you’ll want to check out today’s ultimate list of golden retriever rescues by state.

Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the country for a very good reason.

These friendly and intelligent dogs make fantastic family pets.

Sadly, while there are many excellent breeders out there selling healthy and happy Golden pups, there are also hundreds of thousands of Goldens of all ages that are homeless and in desperate need of someone to care for them.

Golden Retriever standing behind a gate

Adopting a golden retriever from a rescue won’t only bring a lot of love into your home, but it will also help some of the dogs that need it the most.

In this article, you will find a list of rescues where you can adopt a golden retriever depending on where you live.

You will also find essential information that you need to know about these amazing dogs before you commit to taking one home.

Finally we’ll share a few top tips for getting your rescue dog used to their new home as quickly as possible.

Do Golden Retrievers Make Good Pets?

Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds when it comes to pets, especially for those looking at larger dogs, rather than small pooches.

While every dog is different, the golden retriever breed has a lot of characteristics that make them ideal pets:

  • They are affectionate and friendly and will bond with you very quickly.
  • They won’t bark at or intimidate your friends and neighbors as they like pretty much everybody (so they don’t make good guard dogs).
  • They get along with other dogs, so they fit in well in homes that already have pets.
  • They bond with children quickly and form mild protective instincts; plus, they are very aware of their own size and strength and know how to be gentle with children.
  • They are very intelligent, which means they are easy to train, and are able to figure out what is required of them in new situations with minimal guidance.
  • They are eager to please and motivated by reward, which again, makes them very easy to train.

But there are also some challenges to be aware of before adopting a golden retriever:

  • They are big dogs, weighing 60 to 80+ pounds, so they need a pretty big space to call home; they won’t thrive in an apartment
    PRO TIP: Actually a Golden Retriever can thrive in any size home, but in a smaller home they will require more mental and physical stimulation. We had Apache when we lived in our small apartment and to keep him happy and healthy we walked him 3 times a day and did obedience training with him several times a day.
  • Their size means they do need to eat quite a lot, so it can be expensive to feed them especially if you choose a premium fresh brand like The Farmer’s Dog (we use The Farmer’s Dog as a topper for our dogs)
  • They need lots of exercise, at least an hour a day, and preferably more, which is a significant time commitment.
  • Because they are highly sociable, they can suffer from separation anxiety when they are left alone for a long time. They are also intelligent enough to get into trouble when left alone for too long. They should only be left at home alone for a maximum of 8 hours.
    QUICK TIP: I would not recommend leaving your Golden home alone regularly for 8 hours a day. Eight hours at home alone once in a while is okay, but don’t make it a habit. At our home if we have to leave our dogs home alone for much more than 5-6 hours then we get a puppy sitter to watch them for the day.
  • They shed a lot! If this is an issue, you can consider a golden retriever-poodle mix, goldendoodles, that tend to have the non-shedding coats of poodles.
  • They have a tendency to become overweight if overfed and don’t have the ability to control their own appetite.
    MY EXPERIENCE: Just like our Labs, our Golden’s act like they are always starving. Don’t overfeed because an overweight Golden can lead to health problems.
  • Golden retrievers are prone to joint issues in older age and will require extra care in their senior years.

None of these are reasons not to adopt a golden retriever. But they are things to be aware of and prepared for before committing to having one of these amazing dogs in your life for the next 10 to 15 years.

Why Adopt A Golden Retriever From A Rescue?

While there are many breeders out there creating amazing little golden retriever puppies out there for you to buy, there are also hundreds of thousands of golden retrievers across the country that need adopting. This is for a variety of reasons.

  • First, Goldens are very popular pets, so there are unethical breeders out there creating puppies for which they can’t find homes.
  • Second, many people adopt a gorgeous little pup, only to realize that they grow into a big, shedding dog that requires lots of care and attention. They decide that they simply don’t want them anymore. 
  • Many loving pet owners need to give up their pets due to a family member who has allergies, moving to a place that doesn’t allow animals, moving abroad, or other unavoidable circumstances.
  • Sadly, there are also people who die and leave their pets behind with no-one to care for them, or they simply abandon them.

These are the golden retrievers that find themselves in rescue centers, waiting for new homes.

OUR EXPERIENCE: We had friends buy a Golden Retriever with all the best intentions. Unfortunately, they learned that owning a Golden Retriever did not fit their lifestyle and ended up putting their dog up for adoption.

What To Expect From Golden Retriever Rescue Centers

When you head to a golden retriever rescue center, expect to find a range of dogs that are identifiable as golden retrievers or golden retriever mixed breeds.

They will range in age from puppies to mature dogs and will have different levels of training and socialization.

The rescue center will provide the dogs with medical care, shelter, and training, and at the same time, look for suitable homes for each dog.

Expect the rescue center to ask you a number of questions to ensure you are ready to adopt a golden retriever. They will work with you and consider:

  • Whether your lifestyle will permit you to care for and spend quality time with a pet?
  • Whether you are prepared for the financial burden of caring for a dog for the next 10-15 years, including food, veterinary bills, and so forth?
  • Whether you have the facilities to keep a large dog like a golden retriever?

If you are a suitable candidate, they will then work with you to find the most suitable dog from the shelter for you to adopt.

Don’t worry; rescues will not place dangerous dogs, such as dogs that bite, in your home.

PRO TIP: If you’re looking to adopt a Golden Retriever then you might want to talk to breeders. A reputable breeder will require the people who buy their puppies to return them if for any reason they are unable to continue caring for them. Reputable breeders will sometimes have dogs they are willing to adopt out.

Without further adieu. Here’s our list of Golden Retriever rescues by state:

Golden Retriever Rescues By State

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

  • MAGRR Golden Retriever Rescue (Located in Germantown, TN. Serving beyond West Tennessee and the “Memphis Area” into portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, and even Louisiana.

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

 Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

 North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Tips For Caring For Rescue Dogs

You might want to take a look at our new puppy checklist before bringing home your new puppy. While our list focuses on puppies you’ll find a lot of items you’ll also need for a rescue dog.

Unlike brand new pups adopted from responsible breeders, rescue dogs often come with behaviors and habits from their previous homes that may or may not be suitable for their new home with you.

There are a few things you can do to make your dog feel comfortable in your home quickly and start learning new house rules without delay. 

Golden retrievers in particular are very intelligent pups and should have no problem adapting if you do a few smart things.

  • Dogs, like children, thrive on regularity, so create a schedule for them. Establish regular eating and exercise times, so they learn to know what to expect.
  • Reward your dog for correct behavior by treating them with food or play. Don’t yell or punish. Your dog can develop a negative reaction to this, especially if they have been punished by previous owners.
  • Make sure everyone in the house is giving the same commands and following the same rules. It can be confusing for dogs when people use different commands for the same behavior, or when different behavior is acceptable with different members of the household.
  • Teach children to respect the new dog, and supervise them when they are together for the first few weeks. Children should be taught not to disturb the dog when it is eating or sleeping, not to approach or touch the dog’s food or toys, to touch the dog in a gentle way, not to give human food to the dog, and so forth.
  • Take time to introduce your dog to any other animals in the house. Keep them separated for a few days but allow them to pick up one another’s scent. You can then allow them to see each other, and even be in the same room together supervised. Let them approach one another; don’t force them to be close together.
  • If they are not house trained, have them sleep in a crate, but not alone. It is better to place the crate in someone’s room. They can stop sleeping in the crate when they can consistently “hold it” the whole night.
  • If your dog gets anxious when you leave the house, try and make this time less traumatic. Don’t make a big deal when you leave or enter the house, so that it doesn’t feel like an “event.” You can also train them to accept your coming and going by simply leaving the house for a few minutes and coming back. Extend the period you are away for longer each time.
  • If your dog has significant behavioral problems, consider investing in a professional trainer.

Golden Retriever Rescue FAQs

Is There A Golden Retriever Rescue In Every State?

There are golden retriever rescue centers in almost every state. A few smaller states do not have them, such as North Dakota and South Dakota, but rescues in neighboring states are prepared to help residents adopt a pup.

What Are The Things To Consider When Adopting A Golden Retriever From A Rescue?

When you are adopting a golden retriever from a rescue, you may be taking on a dog that has already been abandoned or inadequately cared for once.

The rescue center will want to be sure that you are prepared to take on the responsibility of a large dog, as they won’t want to see the pup suffer neglect a second time.

Rescues will work to match you up with a dog that suits your lifestyle and won’t match you up with a dog that has serious behavioral problems.

Your dog may well have habits and hangups from their previous owner, so be prepared to spend extra time training and socializing them.

Can Golden Retrievers Be Left Alone?

Golden retrievers are very social dogs and they don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time.

They are also highly intelligent, which means they are smart enough to get into trouble if you leave them with nothing to do for hours on end.

Every golden is different, but as a general rule, they should only be left alone for a maximum of eight hours at a time.

Do Golden Retrievers Need Another Dog As A Companion?

Golden retrievers are sociable animals that will get on well with other dogs and also cats, which means they make a great second pet. But no, a golden does not require another dog as a companion.

And just because you have another dog will not mean that your dog can be left alone for longer periods of time.

Are Golden Retrievers Expensive To Maintain?

Golden retrievers can be relatively expensive to maintain, mostly because they are large dogs and, therefore, generally need to eat a fair amount.

They can also have steep medical bills when they get older as they are prone to a few medical conditions, such as joint issues and cataracts. You should probably expect to spend at least $1,000 a year maintaining a golden retriever.

The Verdict

Golden retrievers make fantastic pets. If you adopt one from a rescue, you will not only be bringing a lot of love and fun into your home, but also helping a dog that really needs it.

There are rescues all over the country where you can find your perfect golden retriever companion.

But always remember that owning a dog is a responsibility as well as a pleasure.

Make sure you are ready to take on the responsibility for the next 10 to 15 years before bringing your new best friend home.

We tried to include all the Golden Retriever specific rescues we could find across the internet.

If you know of a Golden Retriever rescue that’s not on our list please leave us a comment or send us a message through our contact form.

Another great place to find adoptable dogs and puppies is Petfinder.com. We adopted our first puppy, Linus from Petfinder.com and couldn’t have been more happy with our fuzzy friend.

How about you? Did you adopt a Golden Retriever or are you planning to adopt?

Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.

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Golden Retriever Rescues By State - Golden Retriever standing behind a gate.

Linus: The First Puppy In Training

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Handsome Linus
Rest In Peace, Linus. We love you!

It’s been 1 month since we said goodbye to Linus and today Linus’ ashes returned home to us.

I’ve been trying to write this blog post everyday for the past month, but it’s been difficult.

The memories come rushing back, my stomach gets knotted, and it becomes too difficult to continue.

Today I’m getting over the hump. I’m going to finish my tribute to Linus and share a few pics and memories of my best buddy.

By the way, I just saw the newest Avengers movie and today’s title was inspired by MCU’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Yep, with or without Linus I’m still a nerd…

The First Puppy

Linus Puppy, Down-Stay
Just a few days after we brought home Linus from the shelter.

We rescued Linus from the Carson Animal Shelter on Friday, January 7th, 2005 and the shelter said he was 2 months old (We declared his birthday to be November 7th, 2004).

He was very sick, anemic, covered in fleas and ear mites, had worms, and we later found out a severe stomach infection.

Linus didn’t move and was doing so poorly we thought he may have passed away on our car ride home.

The first day home I used a flea comb to literally remove hundreds of fleas one by one from Linus. I sat there with him in my lap for over 3 hours combing the poor little guy.

We got an appointment with our veterinarian first thing Monday morning and after his wellness check Linus was put on meds for the afflictions mentioned above.

Within a couple days Linus was feeling better and playing with his little pal Ralphie (my parent’s dog).

Puppy Linus playing with Ralphie
Ralphie used to knock Linus to the ground. When Linus got older he got his payback and would constantly knock Ralphie to the ground.

Did You Know: I’ve raised over a dozen guide and service dog puppies and when it came to potty training, Linus (my very first puppy) was by far the easiest to train.

The Camper

We took Linus camping in the Sequoia’s when he was about 1 year old. He was an awesome camping buddy. I have a few funny facts to share about our first camping experience.

POTTY TRAINING 101

Remember how I said Linus was brilliant when it came to potty training? Well we messed up.

The only place we had him potty was on the grass.

We didn’t realize this was the only place he’d ever potty until we got him to our campsite where there was no grass, only dirt.

He didn’t pee or poop for over 24 hours and we thought we were going to have to take him back down the mountain.

Fortunately he decided he couldn’t hold it any longer and did the longest pee ever (think Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own).

A CLOSE CALL

Linus didn’t want to get wet.

We let him off leash while we hiked down the river trail.

While hopping from rock to rock trying to avoid getting wet Linus nearly fell over side of a waterfall which was probably about 20 feet up with a shallow bottom.

THE BEST ALARM CLOCK

We let Linus wander our campsite off leash.

He always stayed close, but from time to time he disappeared down to the river.

We’d lose track of him, but when we called his name he’d happily come running up the trail.

Late that night we woke up to a strange noise and initially thought, BEAR! but it was coming from inside our tent.

After the initial grogginess wore off we realized Linus was gagging and as I struggled to find my flashlight I heard the inevitable sound and smell of dog vomit.

We found a half eaten sandwich, corn, and some other delicacies Linus apparently found and feasted on down by the river. YUCK!

Linus and Colby hiking
Me and Linus hiking through the Sequoia’s. The waterfall doesn’t look to high, but it was about 20 feet. Linus almost fell over the falls…YIKES!

The Coyote Hunter

We lived in a condo on the golf course for the first 10 years of Linus’ life. This meant no big yard, but a huge playground on the golf course until…

HUNTING WABBITS

Our condo was on the first hole so in the early evening when there were no more golfers on the course I’d walk Linus on leash along the driving range fence then let him run around off leash near the second hole.

One day he spotted a rabbit and proceeded to chase him around the back of the driving range fence and then onto the DRIVING RANGE!

Luckily I was able to get him back under my control before he got pelted by golf balls.

That was the last time we let Linus off leash on the golf course until…

WILE E. COYOTE

We had beautiful sunsets over the golf course and I liked taking Linus for his evening walk around this time.

A few short years ago we were walking at sunset when Linus spotted a coyote.

To this very day I don’t know how he did it, but he slipped his collar and bolted across the golf course trying to catch this coyote.

I went running after him yelling his name, but within seconds Linus and the coyote were beyond my view.

I felt like crying because I wasn’t sure if Linus would ever find his way home, if he would get attacked by the pack, or even end up getting hit by a car if he wandered into the street.

Luckily, about 30 seconds after I started walking back to the house I saw Linus trotting back towards me as content as could be.

Did You Know: After Stetson was career changed from the Guide Dog program I’d let him and Linus race down the first hole of the golf course. Stetson tried hard, but Linus would run circles around him.

This video reviewing the ComfortFlex Sport Harness from 2012 mostly featured Linus and at the end he’s running on the outside edge of the first hole on the golf course.

The Dog Trainer

Linus was the best dog trainer in our house.

He taught the puppies not to get on the furniture.

When puppies got crazy and out of control he let them know it was inappropriate.

Linus kept the puppies in check, but he also played with the puppies.

Check out this video of him playing with Charlie and Riley a couple months ago.

My Best Friend

For the past 13 1/2 years Linus was my best friend.

I spent more time with Linus these past 13 and 1/2 years then anyone else.

He never wanted to leave my side. He was my shadow.

He was in tune with me. If I was sad he’d comfort me. If I was excited he was ready to play. If I wanted to take a nap he’d lie down beside me.

Every night he’d lay on the pillow above my head and then would rest his head next to my right ear.

I’ll never forget him and I miss him dearly.

Linus And Allison

My wife, Allison met Linus when he was 6 years old. She misses him deeply and shared some of her memories:

Linus and Ali Selfie
Linus and Ali Selfie

I don’t know where to even start with Linus.

The Protector

He was our protector.

I felt safe when I was home alone with him. He would bark at anything that came close to the house…whether it was of the two or four-legged variety.

He would follow me around the house at night to make sure that everything was okay.

Cats knew that they had no place in our backyard. And he was even so brave as to chase a coyote away from the house one night.

A scary moment for us, but it shows his spirit and his drive to protect us.

The Big Brother

Linus and Emma Selfie
Emma and her buddy, Linus.

He was the BEST big brother.

When our daughter was born, Linus would run up to the crib when she started crying and then would look at us like “are you goign to do something?”

He would sleep on the bed so he could watch her sleeping in her crib.

He followed her around the house when she started crawling and would often sniff her to make sure she was “okay”.

She learned “nice nice” (our form of petting) with Linus…he was so patient with her even though sometimes her “nice nice” was a little rough.

He let her lay on him and didn’t get bothered when she would talk to him (loudly…partially yelling/screaming) and wake him up from his nap.

The Comforter

He wasn’t a cuddler, but he knew how to to comfort you when you were sad or not feeling your best.

Any time I was crying, Linus would come up and lay next to me. When I was stressed out or sad, he would let me hug him (even though I’m sure he would rather me not).

When I was sick he would lay on the bed with me to make sure I was okay.

I don’t know how he did it, but he had perfect timing and would always make me feel better…always.

He made me feel like he genuinely cared.

The Comedian

Remembering Linus… Linus vs the Drone.

A post shared by Puppy In Training (@puppyintraining) on

He was a comedian and didn’t even know it.

Sometimes he would fart as he jumped onto the bed or the couch and look around like “who did that?!”

Other times he would fart and look at his butt like “where did that come from?!”

He bit my butt (playfully) to make both Colby and I laugh…I swear he was protecting me (and missed), but Colby thinks he was protecting him.

He liked to lay on our pillows on the bed, but would only drool on mine…leaving a nice little round wet spot. Thanks Linus.

And not to mention the random poo streaks on the pillows…but only on the pillows on my side of the bed, never Colby’s side.

Gentle Yet Firm

He was gentle, but laid down the law when need be.

Linus knew when he could play hard and when he had to hold back.

He would get really excited to see our family, but knew that with the older folks and the babies he needed to be calmer when greeting them.

He knew he couldn’t play too rough with the puppies, but made sure to tell them who was in charge.

He would knock them over when he thought they were playing to hard.

With the older dogs he would chase/herd them in the backyard until things got too rowdy and then he would make everyone take a time-out to settle down.

The Boss

Linus and Charlie
Linus putting Charlie in time out.

He was the boss.

Linus was the king of our house. He always had the best seat in the house or the best spot at the head of the bed (on top of all of our pillows).

As he got older he was like a wise old grandpa. Everyone loved him…he was handsome, his fur was super soft, and he always played and looked younger than his age.

He was fast and spry even up to the very end when he wasn’t feeling good.

The vets told us that his heart disease was so advanced that they were surprised he didn’t show signs earlier that he wasn’t well…but that wasn’t his nature.

He’s tough and I feel like he didn’t want us to worry. He was definitely the leader of our pack.

It’s been hard to focus lately because I’m still so sad…and it’s hard to look at pictures of Linus because I just start to cry, but at the same time the pictures make me smile cause I imagine all the good times we had with him.

I feel very blessed and honored to have had seven years with Linus (I came into his life when he was six).

I’m sad my one-year old daughter wont really remember him, but she is very lucky to have had Linus watching over her and protecting her the first year of her life.

I hope Linus is having fun up in heaven…running around, chasing/herding other dogs, and playing with our other four-legged pets and two-legged relatives up there.

I know I’ll see him again in my dreams and I know for sure he’ll be watching over us because it’s just in his nature.

Thank you for everything Linus! I love you buddy…see you on the other side!

Linus and Charlie Chase
Run free Linus. Have fun playing and chasing puppies in heaven.

In Loving Memory of
Linus
November 7, 2004 – May 7, 2018
Rest In Peace, Linus. We Love You.

4th Annual Fall Pet Days in Orange County

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Do you guys remember the last time we visited the Pet Days event in Orange County? It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but I just took a look back at the archives and we went to the First Pet Days way back in 2008!  I bet a lot has changed since then and hopefully it has expanded well beyond the small section it occupied 5 years ago.

Anyhow, we’re going back to the Fall Pet Days and we’ll be there representing Guide Dogs of America!  I’m scheduled to be there this Sunday, November 3rd from 9am-12pm.  Unfortunately, Adelle will not be joining me (she’s a Canine Support Teams pup).  However, I will be working with GDA puppy in training, Duncan.

Here’s Duncan as a puppy (he’s the little guy).

Little Duncan, Big Swagger!
Little Duncan, Big Swagger!

Duncan’s no longer a little guy…he’s probably closer to the size of Swagger (the big guy in the pic).

OC Pet Days

Okay so let’s get to the details about these OC Pet Days…

WHAT: 4th Annual Fall Pet Days
WHEN: November 2nd and 3rd, 2013: 9am-3pm
WHERE: Orange County Fairgrounds
Orange County Market Place
88 Fair Drive – Orange County Fairgrounds,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Pet Days Features:

  • Pet Wellness Information
  • Spay and Neuter Information
  • Training Tips
  • Animal Welfare Education
  • Non-Profit Pet Organizations
  • Specialty Rescue Groups
  • Guest Speakers and Demonstrations
  • plus ADOPTIONS
  • Family Fun
  • Free Face Paintings
  • You’ll never find a better friend

Our annual Fall Pet Days are held in conjunction with the weekend swap meet at the OC Fair and Event Center.

Sorry birds or personal pets are not permitted at the OC Marketplace or Fairgrounds.

Here’s the flyer for the 4th Annual Fall Pet Days:

Pet Days
Pet Days

It’s only a few days away so don’t forget to mark your calendars. If you do decide to go don’t forget to stop by our GDA booth and say hello. Duncan and I will be there Sunday from 9am-12pm.

Have you been to one of the past Fall Pet Days at the OC Fairgrounds?  If so, what did you think about it?  Hopefully we see you guys this weekend!

Redbox Donating Proceeds For Shelter Me DVD Rentals

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Are you not sure what to do this weekend?  Are you thinking about making some popcorn and renting a movie?  If you’re an animal lover like me you might be interested in renting Shelter Me from Redbox, a documentary about shelter dogs and their new homes.

While browsing through our Facebook news feed and RSS feed the past couple days we saw DogTipper and Keep The Tail Wagging talking about the new Redbox Docmentary: Shelter Me.  We were very excited to hear that RedBox would be donating the proceeds from the Shelter Me DVD rentals (through April 29th, 2013) to the Halo Pet Foundation.

Curiosity got the better of me so I decided to take a peek at the trailer to see what this DVD was all about.  Take a look at the trailer:

Shelter Me Trailer

I was very excited to see that not only was this a documentary about shelter dogs, but also a story about how shelter dogs were helping people with disabilities.  What was even more exciting was I caught a glimpse of one of the service dog jackets during the video and it looked a little bit like this one…I mean a lot…well I mean exactly like this one!

Apache CST Puppy
Apache CST Puppy

In case you don’t recognize him that’s Apache proudly wearing his Canine Support Teams (CST) Puppy In Training jacket.  The very same jacket I saw in the Shelter Me trailer!  Apache was my 4th Guide Dog puppy in training and after getting dropped from the guide dog program moved on to CST and is now a working PTSD Service Dog!  Go Apache!

After seeing the CST jackets in the trailer I had to check out the full documentary.  After all by renting I was also making a donation to a good cause!

A Little About The Shelter Me Documentary

Shelter Me was broken up into three parts.  The first part followed two pit bulls from the time they were picked up off the street to finding loving homes.  Two adorable dogs that goes to show you that there are plenty of wonderful pets waiting to be adopted from your local shelter.

The second part of the documentary focused on two owner surrendered dogs that made their way from the animal shelter to the Canine Support Teams Prison Pup Program.  This part focused more on the CST Prison Pup Program then it did on the two dogs, but it really gave you some insight into how much these shelter dogs impacted the lives of their trainers as well as the people they later served as working Service Dogs.

Finally, part 3 focused on another Service Dog organization: Freedom Service Dogs.  Part 3 was mainly about PTSD Service Dogs and really gave you an inside look on how these types of dogs change the lives of veterans with PTSD.

Those short summaries do not do the DVD justice, but are just to give you a brief idea what Shelter Me is all about.

My Thoughts On Shelter Me

This documentary is probably more interesting to me then it is for most other people.  First of all, I feel connected to each of these stories.

  • Part I has to do with dogs rescued from a Los Angeles shelter.  I rescued my very first dog, Linus from an LA County Shelter.
  • Part II has to do with shelter dogs working with Canine Support Teams in the Prison Pup Program.  My last guide dog puppy graduated from the CST Prison Pup Program just over a month ago!
  • Part III has to do with PTSD Service Dogs and the organization Freedom Service Dogs.  First, a friend of mine actually volunteered at Freedom Service Dogs evaluating dogs to find if they were suitable as potential Service Dogs.  And of course, Apache graduated as a PTSD Service Dog!

Apache CST Graduate
Apache CST Graduate

When Apache graduated, CST changed out his Puppy In Training jacket and replaced it with a Service Dog jacket custom made using material from Apache’s handler’s military uniform.

So my review may be a bit biased, but I think this was a wonderful documentary that most animal lovers will enjoy.  By the way, I was looking for Apache amongst the other Prison Pups, but I don’t think he was a part of that group.  Apache was a bit of an over-sized Golden Retriever so I think he would have stood out amongst the other pups.

What do yo guys think?  Are you interested in watching a documentary about shelter dogs this weekend?  If so, rent Shelter Me from your local Redbox and let us know what you thought about it in the comment section below.

7 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Rescue Puppy

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Are you thinking about bringing home a new puppy?  If so, you should consider adopting a puppy from your local animal shelter or rescue.  We adopted our little Linus from the animal shelter over 8 years ago and it was perhaps the best decision we ever made!

Every year we try to support our local animal rescues and shelters by visiting, donating, and volunteering our time at the large pet adoption events.  We’ve volunteered as fosters for puppies and dogs for Cuddly Canines Rescue.  And of course we always like to share pictures here on the blog and at our Facebook page of adoptable pups and dogs from the adoption events we attend.

There are a lot of misconceptions about rescuing a dog or puppy.  Here are a few we hear all the time.

A Few Misconceptions About Rescue Puppies

Black Lab Mix Puppy
Looks like a black Labrador Retriever mix rescue puppy!

  • There are only mixed breeds at rescues and shelters: The Humane Society estimates that 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred.  We love our Aussie, Lab, Husky, Chow mix breed (actually that’s just a guess) Linus, but there are plenty of breed specific rescues out there too.  Just go to PetFinder.com and search for your breed of choice.
  • They don’t have puppies – Linus was an adorable 10 week old puppy when we picked him up from the Carson Animal Shelter.  Check him out: Linus the Aussie mix puppy.  Cuddly Canines rescues puppies and has adoptable puppies all the time.  Check out their page: Cuddly Canines
  • They don’t have purebred puppies – While it may be more difficult to find a purebred puppy of your choice we do see them all the time at rescues and shelters.  I’ve seen litters of purebred Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd puppies recently up for adoption.  I also saw a litter of Labradoodles (technically not a purebred, but a very popular hybrid cross) up for adoption at PetFinder.com a few days ago.

So now that you know that there are puppies even purebred puppies available at animal shelters and rescues what are the 7 reasons why you should adopt a rescue puppy?

7 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Rescue Puppy!

A rescue puppy will change your life!  Every day I see the popular paw print bumper sticker “Who Rescued Who?”  It’s so true!

Who Rescued Who?
Who Rescued Who? Adopt a rescue pup and you’ll know what it means…

#7 – They Will Make You More Social

First of all, a puppy won’t just make you more social it will make you the most popular person amongst your group of friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers.  Trust me, as a puppy foster and guide dog puppy raiser everyone becomes your best friend.

A second benefit is as your puppy gets old enough to go on walks through the neighborhood you’ll notice that you talk to your neighbors a whole heck of a lot more than before you had a puppy.

#6 – They Will Help Reduce Your Stress

Check out this study on stress relief and pets.  Just in case you don’t want to click through to that article recent studies have shown that spending time with your pet may be a better stress reliever than talking your problems out with a friend!

Recent research shows that, when conducting a task that’s stressful, people actually experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a supportive friend or even their spouse was present! (This may be partially due to the fact that pets don’t judge us; they just love us.)

Linus and Stetson are great listeners!

#5 – Your Future Jogging Partner

A new puppy will help get you more exercise.  When they are puppies they probably won’t make great jogging partners, but as they get older they will make at least a good walking partner.

Of course as puppies you’ll probably be walking them back and forth to their potty spot in the backyard…also great exercise!

#4 – You Are Saving A Life

Some people have told me that this isn’t necessarily true because who wouldn’t have adopted that adorable puppy?  I do agree that an adorable puppy will get adopted, but the longer he stays at the shelter or rescue the more likely other puppies and dogs will not be able to occupy his space in foster care or at the shelter.

That’s right I said other puppies may not have a place at the shelter.  Did you know that some shelters will euthanize puppies if they are too young (under 8 weeks of age).  This is because even though the pups would easily get adopted the shelter does not have the resources to care for a young litter of pups and if a rescue cannot come in and save these little guys the animal shelter is forced to euthanize 🙁

#3 – You Won’t Be Supporting Puppy Mills or Unethical Breeders

Please, please, please do not purchase a puppy from the pet store!  I’ve heard and read that 99% of puppies at pet stores come from puppy mills.  While I’m not sure where this statistic comes from I do know that the percentage is very high.  So please, please, please, do not purchase a puppy from the pet store.

#2 – You Save Money

Adoption fees for a puppy from the animal shelter or rescue are much less than going to a breeder.  Many breeders will charge thousands of dollars for their puppies.  However, rescuing a puppy like Linus from the animal shelter cost us $37 and that included microchip and his first set of vaccinations.  When I fostered for Cuddly Canines the adoption fee was $350 (a bargain in my books), but that included spay/neuter, de-worming, first round of vaccinations, grooming, and microchipping.

#1 – Puppy Breath!

YES!  The Puppy Breath!  It’s kind of a stanky, skunky smell, but if you’re a puppy lover I’m sure you already know and love the PUPPY BREATH!

There you have it!  7 reasons why you should adopt a rescue puppy!  We adopted Linus just over 8 years ago and we haven’t regretted it one bit.  Linus is a unique, one of a kind Australian Shepherd, Chow Chow, Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky, and who know what else mix.  We wouldn’t give him up for the world!

So how about you?  Are you looking to adopt a rescue puppy or have you adopted a rescue puppy in the past?  If so, tell us your story in the comment section below.

If you are looking to adopt a rescue puppy and you don’t know where to start might I suggest checking out PetFinder.com?  That’s how we found our little Linus 🙂

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