Adopting - FAQs

ADOPTION DONATION

Youngsters   Up to 3 years old     $320
Adults   4 to 7 years old     $300
8 to 10 years old     $250
Golden Oldies 11 years and older     $200

Adoption donation may vary for SPECIAL NEEDS GOLDENS and some GOLDEN OLDIES.

How do I know if a golden retriever is a good fit for my family and lifestyle?
Goldens are sweet, loving, loyal and generally make wonderful family pets. They are outgoing “people” dogs. We lovingly call them "Velcro dogs," because they prefer to be close to their humans whenever possible. They are generally next to you, on top of you or lying at (or on) your feet. Most will follow you adoringly from room to room. Because they live to be with their people, goldens generally do not make good outside dogs; they are indoor companions. Goldens left as outside dogs may become depressed, neurotic, and destructive. Consider your life-style and household schedule - If you travel frequently, work long hours, have no time to give love, attention and exercise to a golden, you might be better off considering a different breed.

In addition, goldens need regular daily exercise in order for them to be calm enough to be good citizens in the house. Dogs will not exercise by themselves. Their owners must interact with them. Goldens that do not get enough exercise can exhibit behavior problems such as excessive barking, inappropriate chewing, digging, and other destructive behavior. They need fenced areas for safe exercise. Even senior Goldens need daily walks and play time in order to stay healthy.

Goldens are big dogs. They are prone to skin problems, ear infections and, like many big dogs, hip problems. Before adopting a golden, please make sure your budget can accommodate the expense of owning one. If you are on a tight budget, you might consider adopting a mixed breed from a local shelter. Mixed breeds often do not have as may health issues as a purebred.

Most goldens are shedding machines. They have beautiful coats which shed constantly and require frequent grooming. You can expect to have dog hair on your carpet, your furniture, your clothes, and occasionally in your dinner. In addition, they have long (generally happy) tails that can easily sweep expensive items off coffee tables. Goldens are loving, loyal, gentle, fun-loving companions, but if you prefer a fastidiously neat house, they may not be the breed for you. But the joy and love that a golden can bring to your home may well outweigh the minor inconvenience of vacuuming daily and investing in a ton of lint removers!

How do I know if a youngster or older dog would be best for my household?
Is there anything cuter than a golden retriever puppy? Probably not, but soon your 10 pound ball of fluff turns into a 50 pound whirling dervish of energy and enthusiasm. Because goldens are slow to mature, you can expect puppy-like behavior for two to three years. So if you don't have the time and a strong commitment to obedience training; if you don't want your shoes chewed, your house rearranged and your baseboards chomped, you might choose an older dog instead of a youngster. If you have very young children, a young golden might not be a good choice for you, since an exuberant young golden can easily knock your little ones over. We generally suggest that families with young children stick with dogs that are past the jumping stage.

Some advantages of a senior golden:
· Seniors are generally calmer and need less exercise than a young dog
· Many are well suited for condominiums and townhouses
· They are generally more tolerant, better socialized and easier to manage
· Seniors make excellent first dogs for young children
· Senior goldens make excellent companion animals for anyone who wants a less active dog. (Less active does not mean lazy or boring; it just means calm and better behaved and less work!)
· Most senior goldens want nothing more than to be safe and comfy and loved.

What medical care does a golden receive before becoming available for adoption?
Each dog that comes into our program is given a basic vet exam. It is brought current on vaccinations (rabies, DHLPP and bordatella). If they are intact, they are spayed or neutered. They are also tested for heartworm. If they are given a clean bill of health, they are made available for adoption. We treat any medical issues which are identified.

What is the process for adopting from Homeward Bound?
The first step is to fill out an adoption application. Once your application is received, it will be forwarded to a
Placement volunteer in your area. Within a week or so, you should receive a call from the volunteer, who will ask you some questions and schedule a home visit. Once you have been approved to adopt, you may make an appointment to visit our Adoption Center to meet dogs. Please note that most of our volunteers work full time, in addition to having family commitments. They do not get paid and they do this work out of love for the dogs. So please be patient with us if we don't contact you right away. If you have filled out an online application and haven't heard from your Placement volunteer, you may email our Placement Coordinator at 4rescue@onemain.com.

What are the criteria for being approved to adopt from Homeward Bound?
We are looking for safe, happy, healthy, loving, committed homes. We are looking for individuals and families who wish to make the dog a member of the family. The dog must be allowed to sleep inside and spend most of its time inside with the family. We are looking for homes with lots of love to give and time to spend with the dog. We prefer that you have a fenced yard (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for applicants who wish to adopt a senior dog). We are looking for individuals and families who are committed to providing excellent care to the dog, including monthly heartworm preventative treatment. We do not adopt to families or individuals with un-neutered male dogs or cats.

What if you don't have a Placement volunteer in my area?
For our out of area applicants, we require a reference from your veterinarian and photos of your house and yard. Your information will be reviewed and a determination will be made about whether we can place a golden with you.

How do I meet available dogs?
Once your application has been reviewed and your home visit successfully completed, you will be invited to make an appointment to meet dogs at our Adoption Center in Elverta. You should keep an eye on the Available Dogs list on the website. If you see a dog there that interests you, let your Placement Volunteer know.nSome of our dogs are in foster homes. If you are interested in a dog that is foster care, we can arrange for you to go to the foster home to meet the dog.

What does it cost to adopt a dog from HBGRR?
The adoption fee ranges from $200 to $350, depending on the age of the dog.

Why do I have to pay a fee to rescue a dog?
Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. We rescue goldens of any age and in any medical condition from all over California and beyond. This results in significant veterinary bills each month. We recoup some of those costs through adoption fees. We exist on donations, and we must collect fees in order to offset some of our expenses. The adoption fee that you pay allows us to continue doing what we do –saving golden lives and finding wonderful new homes for them.

What if I adopt a dog, and then decide it's not a good match for my family?
Homeward Bound has a lifetime commitment to each dog that comes into our program. If you adopt a dog, then decide it is not the right one for your household, it must come back to Homeward Bound. If, at any time during the dog's life, you find that you must surrender the dog, he/she must be returned to Homeward Bound.

How does Homeward Bound acquire their Goldens?
The majority of our goldens come from shelters. We also receive goldens directly from their owners who, for a variety of reasons, cannot keep them. We also occasionally take in a golden that has been running stray, and whose owners cannot be found..

Do all Goldens come from abusive environments?
No. Only a few of the goldens we take in have obviously been the victim of physical abuse. Many of the goldens, however, have been the victims of neglect, usually in the form of improper diet, health related issues such as ear infections, inadequate food supply, and lack of grooming and flea control. It is amazing just how resilent these wonderful creatures are, and how quickly they can bounce back with just a little TLC.

Does Homeward Bound ever get puppies?
Occasionally. However, the vast majority of goldens that enter our program are at least a year old. The ages range from one year to thirteen!

Must my yard be fenced?
In nearly all circumstances, we will require that the yard be fenced. On rare occasions, exceptions can be made if we have a golden for whom such a situation is appropriate.

What is the average size for a Golden?
On the average, male goldens normally weigh from 70 to 85 pounds. Females usually weigh from 50 to 70 pounds.

What is the life expectancy of Goldens?
Goldens can live to 15 or 16 years of age. The average age is around 11-12 years old.