PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT PLACE GOLDENS OUTSIDE OF MICHIGAN!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, A STATE-BY-STATE LISTING OF GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE GROUPS CAN BE FOUND AT www.grca-nrc.org/Localrescues.htm.
GRRoM DOES NOT PLACE GOLDENS IN NURSING HOMES, ADULT DAY CARE HOMES/FACILITIES, CHILD CARE HOMES/ FACILITIES, ETC.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to locate suitable adoptive homes for homeless and displaced Golden Retrievers while providing shelter, food, companionship and medical care to the Goldens in our program. We are also committed to educating the public on all aspects of dog ownership. This includes caregiving, population control, proper diet and exercise, and the importance of regular veterinarian visits.
Since 1991, we have placed over 3000 Golden Retrievers in adoptive homes.
SURRENDERING A GOLDEN
If you are giving up a golden, call our hotline at 248-988-0154 and follow the prompt to the correct voice mailbox. Please do not email the information.
ADOPTION PROCEDURES
1. Please email your name, address, and phone number to GRRofMI@aol.com. We will email you an adoption application. Do NOT call the hotline if you are emailing your request.
2. Email when the application is completed, and the address of your assigned Interviewer will be provided for you to submit the application and $10.00 application fee.
3. Your application will be reviewed, and a member of GRRoM will contact you for a telephone interview. Beginning March 1, 2009, we will be doing home visits before applicants are approved.
4. If you are approved, you will be given a list of the adoptable dogs you qualify for, including contact names and phone numbers. It will be your responsibility to arrange for visits directly with the foster homes, and request updated lists from your interviewer. The list changes often, so don’t be surprised if some of the dogs are no longer available.
5. You will be required to visit 2 goldens in their foster homes, along with your whole family (including your dogs), roommates, or other members of your household. Our goldens are located in foster homes all over Michigan.
6. If you find a dog that you would like to adopt, you will need to contact your interviewer. The interviewer and foster home will make a determination regarding your adoption request. It is not uncommon to have multiple families interested in the same dog. If this occurs, a decision will be made based on what is in the best interest of the dog.
7. If your adoption request is approved, then the adoption fee will be required at that point, and a contract is signed with GRRoM binding you to the good care of the dog, and obligating you to notify GRRoM if your address changes and/or the dog is deceased. Our adoption fee is $400 for goldens under 6 months, $250 for goldens over six months. We have a new program for older and special needs dogs. GOLD STAR dogs will have a one time $100 fee after which other Gold Star dogs adopted by the family will have the adoption fee waived. At the time you pick up your dog, you will be required to provide an identification tag for the dog, a leash, or anything else stipulated in your adoption conditions.
8. We do not adopt dogs with an unknown history to families with children under ten.
9. If your adoption request is denied, your interviewer will discuss the reasons for the denial with you.
If you cannot comply with the above procedures, our program may not be for you. We would be happy to refer you to other adoption programs which may be more suited to your needs. We hope you decide to adopt a Golden through GRRoM, and look forward to receiving your application!
We cannot provide you with more information on individual dogs than what you see on their petfinder bios until you are in our program, so please do not request it from our email address. Adoption Applications can be obtained by emailing your request to GRRofMI@aol.com.
NOTE TO PREVIOUS ADOPTERS: IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOUR INTERVIEWER WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, YOU WILL NEED TO RE-APPLY.
Please come visit us at www.GRRoM.com where you can read our Success Stories, see our Golden Angels, search our database of obedience classes in Michigan, and much more!
YOU CAN READ OUR ONLINE NEWSLETTER AT WWW.GRROM.COM
GRRoM FAQ’s
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE UP THESE WONDERFUL DOGS?
Many dogs of all breeds, including Goldens, find themselves in need of being re-homed. These include family changes due to divorce, moving to other situations, job changes, retirement, health and finances. Some families get a dog without thoroughly researching the needs of the breed they are getting, and end up with a dog that doesn’t fit into their family or lifestyle. Some people underestimate the amount of time and effort owning any dog involves, and the time commitment that it takes to raise and train a puppy to become the adult dog that everyone wants. Goldens also are sporting dogs and require daily hard exercise (about 20-30 minutes twice a day) to adjust to the calm house dog role. Dogs who do not have this energy outlet may have behavior issues such as chewing, barking, and excessive activity in the house. Goldens, although they are great family dogs, and are very intelligent, are not born that way -- they require extensive training, exercise, and understanding of their faults, i.e. shedding, constant proximity, and need of human family companionship. Although they are wonderful dogs and are beautiful to look at, GOLDEN RETRIEVERS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL FENCE TO ADOPT A GRRoM DOG?
Not absolutely, although we do require some form of containment for the dog. This means that boundary training, letting your dog out the door to the open yard to go potty, or allowing your dog loose “at the cottage” is NOT ALLOWED. All of these allow for the dog to possibly be distracted or enticed to run away or explore and get lost, stolen, or hit by a car. Containment methods may include a physical fence, of sufficient size to allow exercise for the dog, invisible type fence, or a tie-out (only for short potty purposes) and leash walks combination. During the evaluation process, the needed containment method will be determined by the foster home and the dog’s history and is not negotiable.
IS AN INVISIBLE FENCE OR GENERIC ELECTRIC FENCE OK?
Not for some of our dogs. We have some dogs who have been turned in for problems using electric fencing; we have had dogs at shelters go unclaimed with electric fence collars on; and we have dogs whose behavior in their foster homes indicates too much of a prey drive to be reliably trained to an electric fence. These dogs will be designated PHYSICAL FENCE ONLY, and this is not negotiable.
I LIVE IN A CONDO THAT DOESN’T ALLOW FENCING OR ELECTRIC FENCING. CAN I GET A GRRoM DOG?
Yes, but you would be VERY limited as to the dogs that would be available to you. These would be mostly senior dogs or dogs with limited mobility whose exercise requirements can be met by leash walks and a tie-out for potty breaks. Tie-outs are NOT to be used for exercise. Please consider how you would give a GRRoM dog the exercise he/she will need. (See WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE UP THESE DOGS? above).
I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND WOULD LIKE TO GET A GOLDEN FROM GRRoM. WHY ARE SO MANY OF THE DOGS ONLY FOR OLDER CHILDREN?
This is a policy that we have adopted for the SAFETY OF OUR ADOPTERS’ CHILDREN. Dogs that come to us as shelter strays, where we know NOTHING of their past history, are designated for children 10 years old and older. We do not know that this dog may have been abandoned because of unfriendly behavior toward children, and we do not want to place your children at risk. Evaluation in the foster home is limited and may not show all the behavior that the dog might exhibit in his eventual home with different children. Dogs that have had good experiences with children will be listed with these ages, but please know that these “kid experienced” dogs are limited, so you may need to be patient for one to become available and be a match for your family. We make absolutely no exceptions to this policy.
I HAVE ANOTHER DOG. HOW WILL I KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE COMPATIBLE?
Most of our GRRoM dogs are fostered in multiple dog households, so we know how dog friendly our dogs are. When you visit dogs in their foster home, you are required to bring your dog(s) along so that they can meet and the foster can assess compatibility. If the foster does not feel that the dogs will get along long term, they will not allow the adoption. Many of our dogs are of a temperament that will do better with another animal (preferably a dog) in the household. These dogs are designated this way and the foster’s recommendations should be followed.
I WANT A PUPPY! CAN I GET ONE THROUGH GRRoM?
GRRoM does not often have puppies, and when we do, they have special requirements based on a puppy’s special needs. All puppies are placed in homes with a physical fence. Electric fences are not suitable, as most puppies are not ready for the training required to use an electric fence system. Puppies grow and learn to run very quickly, so just letting them out in an unfenced area is not safe. Puppies need to run and play to work off energy to help them develop good house manners. Puppies also are only adopted to families with children over age 5, who can understand proper and safe treatment of puppies, and are able to play appropriately with a young dog who may have sharp teeth, but not know how to behave with them. For the puppy’s comfort, a family member must be home at least half the day, as puppies are not able to be totally housetrained for a full workday until about 6-7 months of age. A puppy class or a beginners obedience class will also be required, depending on the puppy’s age. Depending on the situation, puppies may go home on a spay/neuter contract, but must be spayed or neutered as soon as possible.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADOPT A GRRoM GOLDEN?
GRRoM has a non-refundable $5 application fee that is submitted with your application. If you are matched with a GRRoM dog, our adoption fee is $400 for goldens under 6 months, $250 for goldens over 6 months, and a $100 one time adoption fee for our Gold Star dogs. All dogs are up to date on their vaccinations and are spayed and neutered. If any treatable health issue exists, such as the dog having heartworm disease or an injury, this is corrected before the dog is put up for adoption. If the dog needs any continuing medications or other costs, they will be discussed with you during your visit so you can include this information in your decision process. You will be responsible for a “well-baby visit” to your vet with your new dog within two weeks of adoption to get vaccination records established and purchase heartworm preventative. Remember also, that you will need annual vet care, grooming, and basic care needs as additional costs to you.
WHAT IS THE GOLD STAR PROGRAM?
GRRoM has many older and special needs dogs in our program that need special homes. In order to encourage adoptions of these dogs, we have instituted a program where these dogs will have a one time adoption fee of $100. After the first fee, Gold Star dogs can be adopted by the family for no adoption
fee. We hope that once you have adopted a special dog, you will enjoy the benefits and adopt more!
HOW LONG DOES THE ADOPTION PROCESS TAKE?
The process can take anywhere from a week to several months depending on the dog you want and the availability of appropriate dogs in the program. As soon as you e-mail or call the hotline, a packet and application are e-mailed or mailed to you. It will take several days to reach you by mail, but will be emailed usually within one day. (Either email your request or call the hotline, but not both). You then read the packet and fill out the application and mail it to your interviewer with your application fee (maybe 2 days). Your interviewer will call you within a short time to do your phone interview. Then you are ready to look at dogs. This may take as much or as little time as you are willing to spend. Appointments are made with our volunteer foster homes at their convenience, but most can be made within a week. Your availability to visit WITH YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND OTHER DOGS may lengthen this process. One family member may not pre-screen dogs and take the rest of the family back later. This is not considerate of our foster families’ time. Seeing appropriate dogs, and being willing to travel is a big help. Please remember though, that the more specific your criteria for a dog, the fewer dogs may be available, if they are at all; and other factors like lack of a fence, young children, and some work schedules may make dogs that are available to you rare. Dogs come in and are adopted almost on a daily basis, so if you are patient, an appropriate dog for you should be available, but it is hard to say within what time frame. If you are looking for a dog quickly, then our program may not be for you.
WHAT DOES MY INTERVIEWER DO?
Your interviewer is your “case manager” while you are finding a GRRoM dog, and one of your contact people with GRRoM after adoption. Your interviewer begins to know you and your family situation during your phone interview, and can make some initial suggestions of the kind of dog that would do well with your family. As you visit dogs, and feedback is provided from you and the foster families that meet you in person, the interviewer gains more knowledge of your family and can again help guide you toward dogs that might be a good fit. The interviewer also has the wonderful job of announcing your adoption, when that right match is found, and after the adoption can be your contact for any questions you may have.
IF I SEE A DOG ON PETFINDER, WILL I BE ABLE TO GET THAT DOG?
Possibly not. Our Petfinder list is updated DAILY as dogs are made available for adoption and as dogs are adopted and go home. This is an “example” of the kinds of dogs we have available, not a list from which to choose your next dog. If you are looking for a golden to adopt, we recommend that you get your application and interview completed, and be able to act on an appropriate dog that becomes available. At this point you will have the contact numbers, and will be able to call the foster home and discuss the dog and your family situation in more detail and possibly make an appointment to visit the dog. During this process, please go past looking at the photos and read the description carefully to determine if you are possibly a match for this dog. These descriptions have been prepared by the dog’s foster family and are based on evaluation of the particular dog. Remember that many of our dogs are in the GRRoM program because of inappropriate situations for the dog’s needs. Be sure that you can provide for these needs before you call the foster for a visit to a particular dog.
WHY DO SOME DOGS SAY “YOUNG, ADULT OR SENIOR” RATHER THAN AN AGE? HOW OLD DO YOU THINK THESE DOGS ARE?
When GRRoM has no records of how old a dog is, that is, there are no registration papers, vet records that indicate a date of birth, or the dog comes to the shelter as a stray, we designate the dog to be either Young, Adult, or Senior. If we have records that at least indicate the dog’s month/year of birth, these are listed in the dog’s bio. Because a dog’s age is very difficult to determine, and even vets have many “guesses” as to how old a dog is, we no longer indicate a year age of dogs where we have no history. We do ask that you base your choice of dog on his/her activity level and appropriate fit to your lifestyle, rather than his number age, since many times our dogs’ ages do not indicate the activity level of the dog and you might miss the perfect fit. Remember, too, that no one can guess how long a dog will live, so getting a younger dog may not guarantee many years with that dog. Choosing a dog that will fit your lifestyle NOW may be your best option.
WHY DO WE NEED TO SEE MORE THAN ONE DOG?
We have found that over the years, every family wants the first dog they see. That is why boxes of puppies on the roadside get purchased -- a golden is a hard thing to pass up! But we have also found that sometimes the subsequent dogs are a better fit for the family, and if the family goes and sees more than one dog, they will have a comparison to see which is the BEST fit. We want you to adopt the dog whose behavior and activity fit your lifestyle, not the one with the cutest face on the website. Most families thank us for this process, as they have found that having comparisons makes the choice easier, and they KNOW that they have the right dog. Think of it this way … when you bought your sofa, didn’t you look at more than one? Also, from GRRoM’s perspective, this gives more than one foster family a chance to meet the applicants. This is always helpful to us in that this information goes back to your interviewer, who will be better able to help you find your perfect Golden.
IT SEEMS HARDER TO ADOPT A GOLDENT THAN A CHILD -- WHY?
Many of our goldens are in our program because the dog was purchased on an impulse -- maybe seen in a box on a country road, or in a pet store window, without understanding the effort that goes into owning a dog, or the characteristics of the breed or age and activity level of the particular dog. We want to give these dogs a second chance, and get it RIGHT this time, as well as have you go home with the RIGHT dog for your family and lifestyle. By allowing you the time to “shop around” and see the different possibilities, as well as allowing our fosters to see the dog in many family situations, we hope to give our dogs and their new family the perfect “fit.”
WHAT IF MY SITUATION CHANGES AFTER THE ADOPTION AND I CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR OR KEEP MY DOG?
We will always take a GRRoM Golden back for any reason. Should you become unable to keep or care for your Golden, family or friends willing to assume the responsibility and sign a GRRoM Adoption Agreement would be considered for the re-homing of your dog. Each year, you are sent an annual letter for you to update any address or phone information for our records, and let us know how your dog is doing. If your Golden was placed with a microchip, we can update our database with that information at that time.
SHOULD I HAVE MY ADOPTED GOLDEN MICROCHIPPED?
Since April 2006, GRRoM has microchipped each of our dogs. This information is given to you at adoption, and the dog is registered to you with PetTrac. GRRoM is always listed as a last resort contact, but you, as the adopter, must change address and phone contact information with PetTrac if you move. This is the only way that PetTrac knows how to contact you if your Golden is found and scanned. Your dog also MUST wear a collar tag with your address and phone number at all times.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OR SUPPORT PROVIDED IF I WERE TO ADOPT A SPECIAL NEEDS GOLDEN?
The answer to that is no. We provide all the information that we have obtained in the evaluation of the dog, and we disclose everything we know about the dog and any expenses that would go along with the dog, but we expect the adopting family to accept any future expenses that the dog might incur, as they would with any dog where future health or issues are not known. It is the adopter’s choice whether or not to take on the responsibility of a special needs dog, and this is discussed extensively prior to adoption, and documented in the adoption contract.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ADVICE AFTER THE ADOPTION? WILL GRRoM BE THERE FOR ME?
At the time of your adoption, you will get contact numbers for your interviewer, the dog’s foster, and the GRRoM board. Any of these people can be contacted at any time if you have an issue with your dog, or just have a question. We want your new family to be the best it can be, and can help you find a good obedience class, a sport your dog will enjoy, or a good specialty vet if your dog is in need of one. We would much rather help you with a problem early and get it fixed than to have you not able to keep the dog and return him/her to the program.
PLEASE NOTE: GRRoM HAS A WONDERFUL NEW AFFILIATE THAT HAS AMAZING MERCHANDISE FOR ALL BREEDS!
GRRoM WILL RECEIVE 5% OF YOUR PURCHASE IF YOU SHOP AT DOGSTUFF / SOURCE MENAGERIE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINK: www.dogstuff.com/a/251a6891.html.
