So frustrated with GR Rescue!

    • Gold Top Dog

    So frustrated with GR Rescue!

    I am so frustrated with the local Golden Retriever rescue!

    Last week my brother was getting his car washed at a very busy car wash. He found a young, filthy golden retriever pup being taunted and pushed around by the employees. They claimed it had been driving them crazy for over a week and wouldn't leave. He promptly scooped up the pup and drove him to his vet. He had him checked for a microchip (negative) and he had no collar. The vet said he couldn't be more than 12 to 15 weeks and he had clearly been on his own for a while. My brother brought the sweet boy home, cleaned him up and fed him.

    Meanwhile, he decided between his aging malamute and adult husky he really wasn't up for a puppy, so he called the golden retriever rescue. They were rude to him on the phone. They said they would be very upset if they showed up and it wasn't a golden. He assured them the pup was in fact a golden and that his vet agreed with him. They agree to pick up the puppy. They came to his house and took the pup. Within 2 hours he gets an angry call back accusing him of keeping his biting problem a secret from them. They said he was an awful biter and that he would need to pick up the pup. If he wanted their help placing the pup he would need to teach him not to bite first.

    I've met this pup, he is not an aggresive biter. He is a puppy. Do you know of any puppies that aren't nippy? I don't, he's just playing with his mouth the same all puppies do, not biting out of fear or aggression. So now my brother has this puppy at his house and he's trying to place the pup on his own since the rescue was so unhelpful. I would take the pup in a heartbeat if I didn't already have 2 basenjis, a cat and a baby on the way. I'm just so annoyed, how can a rescue organization be so unfamiliar with basic puppy behavior?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh. My. God.
     
    That just leaves me speechless......WTF???? Are rescue organisations not supposed to be...um....caring?  And they were going to be angry if it wasn't a Golden? Why? because if it had been a different breed they would have had one less dog to be nasty to?
     
    Shocking.  And heartbreaking.  I had a Golden when I was younger - I love them.
     
    Kate
    • Gold Top Dog
    That is just unbelievable!    I hope that poor puppy finds a good home.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Where are you located?  My friend's mom in NJ does golden rescue.  Maybe she could help somehow... even maybe by contacting a better group to help you.
    • Gold Top Dog
    oh geez! that makes me so mad. i hate stories like this! how can they even call themselves a rescue? it doesn't seem like they have priorities straight. i don't get it.
    good luck with the pup, anyway.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Where are you located at?  Our local GRR group is wonderful.  Maybe you can get him into a different rescue group.  Good luck and God bless you both for caring.
    • Gold Top Dog
    We're located in Phoenix, AZ.  If any of you know of a good golden rescue in Arizona please let me know.

    Thanks.
    • Gold Top Dog
    i hate breed resuces anyway. they think they are so much better than everyone else
    • Gold Top Dog
    Basenjimom-
     
    I believe you've worked with BRAT, so you may be a little spoiled in dealing with breed rescues.  [;)]  Sadly, and this is NO excuse for treating your brother like they did, many breed rescues are overwhelmed with the amount of dogs out there.  I can't imagine doing lab rescue.  Or pitt bull, or cattle dog, etc.  I know someone who drove an hour one way to rescue a Bernese Mnt dog.  When she got there, the dog was WHITE in color.  With gas being around $3/gallon and driving a car big enough to transport a BMD, that was not an inexpensive trip.  And if you're at all familiar with the BMD's, you'll know they have a very striking, attractive colors, but they aren't solid white. 
     
    Perhaps your brother could put postings in vets' offices or look for an all breed rescue?  Wish I had something more helpful.  (Actually my experience with Basenji and Malinois rescues have been great.  However, years ago I found a cattle dog and called rescue.  They said they wouldn't deal with any mixed or purebreds with docked tails.   So I placed that pup on my own.)
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thats terrible! ;_;
     
    I hope you find the place you need. Call your vet for advice!
    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog
    Having worked with breed rescues - some are good, and some are bad.  It seems to me that there are so many Goldens out there, why wouldn't there be many Golden rescues... ie, you're going to get some good ones and some questionable ones. 
    Anyway, I know nothing about these groups (good or bad), but here are some Golden Rescues in your area of AZ:
    [linkhttp://www.golden-retriever.org/]http://www.golden-retriever.org/[/link] (Phoenix, AZ)
    [linkhttp://www.azgoldenretrieverconnection.org/]http://www.azgoldenretrieverconnection.org/[/link] (Scottsdale, AZ)
  • Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue: 1-602-566-8101
  • Palo Verde GR Rescue: 1-520-663-0718 or 1-520-885-0186
    • Gold Top Dog
    Here's an all retriever rescue in AZ: [linkhttp://www.azrr.org/]http://www.azrr.org/[/link]
    • Gold Top Dog
    Thanks so much for all those links.  We'll start calling today and see if one of them can help.  I think we need to get this pup placed soon or either my brother or I will end up keeping him since he is such a sweetie (and it really isn't a good time for either of us). 
     
    Agilebasenji:  You are so right about BRAT.  They are the only rescue I've ever really worked with and they are so well run.  I just assumed that's how all the rescues were.  Silly me. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    I have an update on the pup.  My brother did get in contact with a rescue willing to help him, for now he said he can keep the dog until they have space open up.  However, he thinks he found an excellent home for the pup through luck.  He was out walking his dogs (all 3 now) and stopped to talk to his neighbor 3 houses down.  He knows them fairly well and asked about their golden retriever.  It turns out they had to have their golden put down due to cancer just a few weeks ago.  They have 2 heart broken kids and the parents said they were planning to start looking for another dog soon.  It seems almost as if this was meant to be. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    YEAH!  Keeping my fingers crossed it all works out.