Organization aims to find loving homes for Golden Retrievers

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Doreen Barnes

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EMC News - They are a loving, family-friendly breed. But the cruelty shown some Golden Retrievers has prompted several area families to co-ordinate a rescue program for these particular dogs.

"Basically the business is re-homing displaced Golden Retrievers," says Greg Healy. "Our first Golden Retriever we got back in 1990 and basically it just blossomed from there. We are working on numbers three, four and five (to re-home)."

Greg is referring to GRIN, Golden Retrievers in Need (Canada) Inc, a locally-based not-for-profit organization which was started locally by three couples, Sue and Greg Healy, Patricia and Sam Ellis with Trevor and Isabelle Tucker.

The reason this organization was set up was to address a suffering.

"There's a need for it," says Sue Healy. "It's global. There's a need for every breed imaginable."

Greg feels everyone figures that Golden Retrievers are man's best friend. They look fantastic, they're great with kids, but unfortunately not all people see this breed the same way. To some, these dogs are a commodity, puppy mills and nothing more.

These animals are typically kept in small cages with very little food, no exercise and never shown affection, held or patted.

Recently Golden Retrievers in Need (Canada) Inc., (GRIN), was contacted by the Quebec Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to rescue a dog.

"Libbi, a two-year-old, is actually from a puppy mill in Quebec," says Sue. "Five hundred dogs were taken out of a Lachute puppy mill."

Back in 2009, the Quebec government announced measures that were taking place to discourage animal abuse and the operation of illegal puppy mills. In December 2011, the Tougher Animal Welfare Legislation was introduced in Quebec with stiffer laws and fines.

The Healy family has two other Golden Retrievers who were rescues long before GRIN was set up.

"Sophie was the first rescue," indicates Healy. "She is a Southern California girl. Actually she came to us via Amarillo, Texas, purchased at a truck stop for $50 from someone who needed drugs. A Stittsville girl rescued her who was on her way home to her parents for Christmas. She knew of people associated with Golden Retriever rescues."

As stated by Healy, the girl couldn't keep the dog because she was returning to the United States but wanted to ensure that Sophie would have a good home.

The Healys were contacted and Sophie became their first rescue and eventually a member of their family.

"We started fostering Sophie and it turned into an adoption," admits Greg. "She came to us on December 2, four years ago."

Greg, Sue and daughter Melisa had just lost their 13 year-old female when Sophie came into their lives.

GRIN has about 10 foster homes and would like more if people are interested.

"We are looking for foster homes as well as forever (adoptive) homes," says Greg. "These foster homes are spread throughout Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston and Belleville."

"We are working towards getting a couple of foster homes in Toronto," adds Sue. "There are a whole lot of criteria that these homes have to meet. We know through the questions we ask, a visual visit and references from a veterinarian whether it would be a good home."

Questions

The type of questions asked on the Adopt/Foster Application are: the adoptee's work schedule, who will be living with the dog, are there other pets, where will the dog be during the day, during the night or when the family goes on vacation, how much exercise will the dog be given, is there a fenced-in back yard, why adopt a rescue dog, and many others all pertaining to the safety of both the dog and family.

"Although it's very difficult to let a foster dog go, we want it to be a forever home for the dog," says Sue. "Because we do such an extensive check on the people and do not lose contact with them, we feel better. Families are invited to the annual Golden Retriever picnic in September. If there are any issues we are always available 24/7."

For those adopting, GRIN is working to match a Golden Retriever who will remain in a home for the balance of its life as a good canine companion. To do this it is necessary to ensure the family and the canine are a pleasant fit.

Once an application has been completed, it does not mean that the foster home or forever home has been approved. It means that a volunteer will be arranging a home visit, possibly with the accompaniment of a Golden Retriever to give the individuals an idea of what it would be like to have this dog in their environment.

Veterinary reference checks are also carried out.

GRIN can and will decline an applicant should they feel the fostering or adoption would not be in the best interest of the parties. There's also a cost associated with the adoption which can be from $200 up to $400 depending on the age.

"All of our dogs when they are adopted out are spaded or neutered, micro chipped and have all their shots with as clean a bill of health as we can give them," says Greg.

The micro-chip is in case a dog should become lost or is surrendered to a shelter, GRIN would be notified.

GRIN also provides all medical information about the animal at the time of adoption.

"Basically GRIN does maintain ownership of the dogs," says Greg.

Should a GRIN dog lose its dog tags and wander off, with the imbedded micro chip, the dog's owner can be traced back by GRIN, who could return the dog to its rightful owner.

Greg also gives an example of a dog that would not be placed in a forever home.

"The ten year-old dog that we just picked up in Renfrew has medical issues which may necessitate us to permanently foster, rather than adoption because of the cost involved in the medical care of that dog," he explains.

"She has also been diagnosed with a level three heart murmur which means she may not be able to go under anesthetic, therefore she may not be able to be spade," adds Sue. "All our dogs are not for breeding purposes, they are to be family pets."

This organization wants the public to realize that there is a need for foster homes, as there are a lot of dogs being rescued from the Quebec area and every dog deserves a safe loving home.

To raise funds to offset the costs of fostering a Golden Retriever, especially medical issues, spading and neutering, vaccinations, travel costs and the overall care, Tag Days will be introduced as well as selling t-shirts and other doggie paraphernalia.

For anyone wanting to know more information can go to www.grincanada.com or send an email to info@grincanada.com or Facebook.

Eventually there will be the availability of a blog on the website to assist in answering queries.




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