Dogs in Foster Care:
Goldens Needing Homes
Updated August 31, 2010

Below are a few of the dogs we have who are looking for new homes. We have dogs coming into our program every few days so this is by no means a complete list.

All of our dogs have the personality and temperament that Goldens are well known for, however not all of our dogs are "pure" Golden and very few will be of show quality in terms of looks. None will be perfect, but all have the potential to grow into wonderful companions with patience and love.

Some of these dogs have been through a great deal before coming into our program. We strive to make sure that the match between Golden and new family will be the best possible — we want our placement to be their "forever" home.

We pride ourselves on helping special needs and senior dogs in getting a second chance at life and we encourage you to consider one of these sweet gems!

We don't always make placements in the order in which applications are received. If your application is approved, we will work with you to find the right dog for your family. We appreciate your patience with this process.

Abby (#2035)

As told by her foster family: Abby (#2035) is a two year old female Golden Retriever mix. She is about 55 pounds, spayed, and has gone to the vet and gotten all her shots up to date and a clean bill of health. Here is what I know about Abby after having her live with us the past two or three weeks.

Abby lived with her original family since she was a puppy but now needs to find another home, since her dad has been sent to Afghanistan and her mom just had a baby.

Abby is obedience trained. She knows how to heel, sit and lie down. Stay is hard for her, but she has been trained to do it, it is just really hard for her. Abby is a dog who really will need a good walk or exercise session each day. I walk her for 45 minutes a day or have the kids take her for a bike ride for about 20 minutes if I don't walk her. She needs every minute of this exercise as she is one energetic little dog. Whoever adopts her should be ready to 'fine tune' her obedience skills, but she is smart and will make a lot of progress in a short time I think. She really should go to a family that is committed to exercising her every day. Having a runner in the family would be perfect!

Abby has done just fine with our Golden Retriever, Wilson. She is dominant and he is not, so it works out fine. She really likes attention and will work hard to get it unless she is required to sit and wait to be petted. She can do it, but again, she wiggles pretty hard trying to settle down.

Abby has been to the dog park twice. She is pretty good with other dogs, gets a little excited and barks, but generally is running around busy, busy, busy with her tail up and a happy disposition. When called, she has to be called loudly, she would rather keep doing what she is doing, but does come. This will be another thing to work on with her.

Abby behaves well in the house, settles quickly and understands off-limits areas. However, if a cat strays through her field of vision, she is off to the races. Our cats are a little jumpy lately, but we figure it is good for them. I suspect if she caught one, she would have zero idea what to do next. She also is a self-identified watch dog, and does a good job at letting you know when people are coming to the door, etc. She quiets down when told to do so.

Adoption Fee: $300.00 + $35 microchip fee. If you are interested in adopting a dog from Golden Bond, please read the pages in our "How to Adopt" section: Before You Start; Adoption Process; Adoption Application.

Bella (#2041)

Wow, where to start? Bella's mommy was a Golden Retriever and her daddy was a Rhodesian Ridgeback. She is one smart, silly, loving, little girl. Bella (#2041) was born on May 30, 2010. She has been with me, her foster mom, since she was just 7 weeks old. Bella loves her two foster sisters. She is learning how to play with others from one of them and she is learning manners from the other. She can make rather a pest of herself with other dogs. A home with other dogs is fine as long as they are very tolerant. I wouldn't recommend Bella for a home with small children at this time. She still has very sharp puppy teeth and when she gets excited she forgets not to use them on us poor human types. We are still working on not jumping up on people. A home with older children would work out just fine. Since she is part Ridgeback, she will probably be taller than the average female golden.

I just started training with Bella this week, 8/13/10. She has already learned to sit and how to play the eye contact game, she is so smart. Next we will learn how to lie down and walk on a leash. I fully expect her to pick up new commands just as fast as she did her previous commands. Did I mention she is smart? As Bella is still very much a puppy, she will need her new family to take her to obedience classes and continue her education. A well trained dog is a happy dog, not to mention much easier on her family's nerves.

We are still working on house breaking but she is trying very hard. She does go to the back door and whines if she needs to go, when she is confined to a smaller space (my laundry room). She is having fewer accidents and is able to make it through the night in her crate.

Bella still needs to get through some medical maintenance before she'll be available for adoption. She needs 2 more sets of shots, to be spayed, and to get her microchip. She should be available to go to her new home around the middle of September.

Note from Bella:

Hello! I am such a happy girl. I love scratches and belly rubs and boy is my belly soft. I really, really try hard to please you. As much as I like it here with my foster mom and sisters, what I really want is this thing they call my forever home. That way I can have lots of attention and love from you. I promise to love you and be devoted to you all the years of my life. I have so many things I want to share with you. Won't you please consider me?

Adoption Fee: $400.00 + $35 microchip fee. If you are interested in adopting a dog from Golden Bond, please read the pages in our "How to Adopt" section: Before You Start; Adoption Process; Adoption Application.

Franko (#2047)

Franko (#2047) is a 1-year-old, 50-pound Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix. He came to Golden Bond when his young owner went away to college.

"Frankie" has lived with cats, chickens, goats, and children. He is comfortable with other dogs once he gets acquainted.

Franko is somewhat timid in new situations, but he warms up quickly when people sit on the floor and give him attention. He loves to lay with his head on a person's lap. He is learning to play with dog toys and run after balls. He especially enjoys playing with puppies.

Franko likes to go for walks. He rides happily in a car. He is active and busy outside, calm and mellow inside. Amazingly, for such a young dog, he doesn't chew anything other than dog toys.

Frankie will do well in a household with children and other animals. He will benefit from continued socialization and training. He is a sweet, affectionate, mellow boy who will be a great companion.

Adoption Fee: $300.00 + $35 microchip fee. If you are interested in adopting a dog from Golden Bond, please read the pages in our "How to Adopt" section: Before You Start; Adoption Process; Adoption Application.

Check out the Recent Adoptions.

Please Note: In general, we do not make placements out of our geographic area. We accept applications from Oregon and Washington.

The dogs listed here are typical of dogs we have coming into rescue. If you are new to our web site, they may already be placed into a new home by the time your application is processed. In addition we may feel that a certain dog is not the best match for your family. We ask your patience and trust in finding the best match for our dogs and for your family. We have many interested and qualified families waiting for the right Golden. Some adoptions may happen without a dog being listed here.

We have several other dogs in foster care who are not yet ready to be listed here. So, check back in a few days for additional listings.

We are an organization staffed entirely by volunteers. Many of us have full time jobs and families. We dedicate what free time we have to Golden Bond Rescue and helping needy Goldens. Sometimes the adoption process takes a little longer than we would like. Thank you in advance for your patience. Once your application has been approved, we strive to find the right Golden to fit in with your family.

Age

Many folks getting a dog think that "younger is better". While this can be true for some families, there are some distinct advantages to Goldens in their middle years. First, the older they are the more likely they are to have manners and be calm! Goldens mature later than some other breeds. A 3 to 4 year old Golden is still very much an adolescent and most of the time needs lots of exercise (at least two 30-minute sessions of aerobic activity per day), training, patience and more exercise.

We frequently have dogs in rescue who are older adults (5 to 8 years old) but not yet into their senior years. Many families think that they need a young dog to maximize the number of years that they have together. While we understand this desire, we want you to know that with good veterinary support, optimal nutrition and exercise, many Goldens live 15 to 17 years! In addition, older "seasoned" Goldens are often WONDERFUL with children.

We always have Goldens waiting to be adopted by loving families who want a rescue Golden. Although most rescue Goldens are house-trained they still require time, patience and training to fit into their new families and be good citizens. This training is an ongoing process. People who want to adopt because they "don't have time to train a dog" should think carefully about the time and commitment they have to give to any dog. Senior Goldens are often the best choice for individuals or families with busy schedules. A quiet, gentle walk morning and evening and a restful day spent snoozing and waiting for their owners are what seniors live for.

The joys of adopting a Golden are many. Taking walks on the beach, having a Golden face greet you with glee at 6 am for an early game of "toss my hedgehog" please! The people you meet when you have "love on a leash" will astound you. No matter what the age of your adopted Golden, your years together will be sweet and full of surprise. As it has been said: there are no guarantees in life except death and April 15th!

Requirements for adoption:

1. Fenced yard and/or kennel of adequate size for a Golden.
2. Golden must be a family member, (inside dog). Learn more about Goldens.

Please see our Before you start page for more information.

We reserve the right to decline applicants who can not meet the needs of our second chance Goldens.

Last Updated: August 31, 2010
Contact Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon, Inc.