It can take anywhere from 3 months to well over a year (or more) before you adopt a Golden. The timeframe really just depends on how many Goldens we have available at the time, what you are looking for, and how many other applicants are looking for the same thing. If you are looking for a very specific Golden (age, gender, look, training level, etc.) than you should expect a much longer wait.

We do not share our roster of available Goldens publicly. Every now and then, if there are special needs or circumstances, we will post a Golden on Petfinder. Typically, our Goldens are only shared with our approved applicants. We do not have a facility where you can come see our available Goldens. Our Goldens are located in foster homes throughout the State of Michigan.

Goldens from 7 month to 7 years old have an adoption fee of $350. Goldens that are aged 8 years and older are $200. Any Golden from Turkey has an adoption fee of $500. When you adopt a Golden from Great Lakes your Golden will have been spayed or neutered, up to date on necessary vaccines, micro-chipped, heartworm tested, fecal checked and looked over by a vet.

The short answer is no. That being said, we have a strict containment policy, and we will talk with all adopters in great depth about what your containment plan is. We get to know each Golden in our organization and then determine if that Golden needs a physical fence or if the Golden could go to a home with a detailed walking plan, tie-out or an invisible fencing system. Over the recent years, we have kept close tabs on how many Goldens need a physical fence versus being eligible for another containment plan. The vast majority of our Goldens do need a physical fence, but we have a few Goldens each year eligible to go to a home without one. If you do not have a fence, expect a much longer wait. With only a few Goldens each year not requiring a physical fence, those Goldens get even more families interested.

GLGRR has a strict containment policy. For the safety of our Goldens, we do not allow them to be left to run/walk freely in an unsecure/unfenced area. You must either have a physical fence, a tie-out, invisible/electric fencing, or a walking plan for your Golden. Natural barriers such as shrubs, trees, water, rocks, etc., are not forms of containment.

You can start the adoption process by heading over to the "Adopt" tab on our website and filling out the pre-application form.

Yes, we do receive a ton of interest in adopting because Goldens are just so great! In most cases, any of the Goldens on our roster receive interest from several families and end up having multiple visits from different families. It is great that we have so many wonderful homes wanting to adopt a rescue Golden, but it can become frustrating for applicants. At the end of the day, we can only pick one family to adopt each Golden, so that leaves many others not being chosen. It is important to remember that we select families based on who is the right match for each particular Golden. We do not select families based on how long they have been waiting.

First and foremost, we are looking for adopters that can provide a safe and loving home for the entirety of a rescue Golden's life. We need homes that have knowledge about everything that goes into properly caring for a Golden. Our interviewers make sure that any of our applicants have adequate knowledge in regards to daily care, safe exercise, proper nutrition, good training habits, understanding of medical needs, and more. If you have owned a dog previously, we will do a veterinary check. We require that all of your current and/or past dogs were spayed or neutered, kept up-to-date on rabies and DHLPP vaccinations, are heartworm tested annually, kept on heartworm preventative for a minimum of six months (May-October), and have routine vet visits. We do support the use of Titer testing for vaccinations. If there is a medical reason that your dog does not meet one of the above requirements, it will be assessed on an individual basis and your vet will be contacted by your interviewer to verify the medical issues.

We do not have a policy against adopting to families with young children. However, almost all of the Goldens that we have adopted out over the last couple of years require any children in the home to be 8+ years old. We are never going to adopt out a Golden with an unknown history to a home with young kids. Your child's safety is a priority to us, as is setting up each Golden for success in his/her new home. If you have young kids, be prepared to wait quite a while before the right Golden comes along.

While Golden puppies are so cute and what some may be looking for, it is extremely rare for us to have a Golden puppy. Generally, all of our available Goldens are over a year of age. If you are only looking to adopt a Golden under 6 months of age, we are likely not the best fit for you. If you decide you want to purchase a puppy, please be diligent with your research. There are so many people that accidentally adopt from a puppy mill. We have taken in more and more Goldens that were purchased as a puppy and now have a serious medical or behavioral issue.

Yes! As a first time dog owner, you may not be eligible to adopt every Golden, but you can certainly still adopt. If you are a first time dog owner, be prepared to answer more extensive questions about routine care, veterinary requirements, common medical issues and training. Depending on your experiences, it may be best to consider adopting an adult Golden that doesn't have higher training needs.

Recently, we have been asked about emotional support and therapy Goldens. It is important to keep in mind that rescue Goldens often come in with a lot of “baggage” and issues of their own, so becoming a certified therapy dog or emotional support animal is questionable. If you are looking for a personal therapy Golden, we will be requiring proof that you have spoken with a professional trainer, you have put down a deposit on training sessions with the trainer, and the trainer will be a part of the adoption process by accompanying you to all visits you go on. Our fosters are not professional trainers or behaviorists, so they will not be able to identify every quality needed for a good therapy Golden. The training required for these animals is extensive and we want to be sure that you are committed to the process. We will follow along with the progress of your training. Please keep in mind that not all of our available Goldens will be eligible to become a therapy or emotional support Golden.

We take in Goldens from all sorts of different backgrounds. Some may of been surrendered by their owner, others have never had a human of their own to love. One common thing between all of the Goldens we adopt out is that their desire to love and please is so strong. Our foster homes provide these Goldens a transition space where they can decompress and get ready to find their forever home. While in foster care, GLGRR makes sure that each Golden is spayed or neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, has a heartworm and fecal test, and is given a microchip. In most cases, the Goldens we get in need training. Some need to be completely housetrained, while others just need to work on their manners. The foster home starts the process, but it is often up to the adopters to continue the training process. As an adopter, plan on needing to do some work with your adopted Golden. It is a great bonding experience! Lastly, expect to be loved immensely by these Goldens. Our beloved Goldens have the biggest hearts and so much love to give. They may take a few weeks, or even months, to truly settle into your home, but once they do expect to have the best dog ever!

In 2017, GLGRR partnered with dedicated volunteers in Turkey to bring over abandoned and abused Goldens, so that they can have their chance at a forever home. In Turkey, there are thousands of abandoned dogs that are left to fend for themselves on the streets, beaches, and in the forests of Turkey. GLGRR is one of many organizations throughout the country that has stepped up to help the Goldens. As we know, Goldens are so mild mannered, so they often don’t stand as well of a chance when left to fend for themselves. At this point, we have brought over around 50 Goldens from Turkey. The Goldens don’t know English when they arrive, but they know love and affection. These Goldens are thoroughly vetted, like any of our dogs, before adoption. Many of the Turkey Goldens have never lived in a house, so we start working on their manners, but the adopter will have to continue that work. These Goldens often are very eager for food and treats and can have a high prey drive, likely because they were starving at one point. The Turkey Goldens have all been so loving and appreciative for the second chance that they receive!