How to Adopt a Rescue Dog

So, what exactly do you have to do to adopt a dog? One option is to contact a “rescue group.” In my case, we wanted to adopt a Golden Retriever or Golden Retriever mix. We were familiar with the breed and knew that we could give an orphaned dog a great home. You who have never gone through the process may think it is very simple. From personal experience, I can tell you with no doubt in my mind that it’s not easy at all. You emotions soar and fall throughout the process but rest assured you will be matched with a special “forever friend”. I would like to teach you how to adopt a dog from the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue in North Carolina.

The first step is to sit down with your family and come to an agreement on what you are looking for in a dog. Personality, gender, age, and health of the dog must all be considered. To adopt a dog from the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, you should try to attend one of their monthly adopt-a-thons. You can meet the staff and fill out an application form. The application form will have all of your important information and desired dog profile. The NRGRR take their mission seriously and will check your references. They even called our veterinarian in Canada to see if we were responsible dog owners! When you are approved they assign you a caseworker to keep on the lookout for any new dogs coming into their adoption system. You can also look at the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue’s website to view adoptable dogs. The dogs come into the system as strays, shelter rescues, and sadly due to owner surrender.

The second step is waiting. Your caseworker works on your behalf to match you up with a dog that fits your profile. All dogs brought into the system are examined by a vet. They are neutered, given vaccines and treated for heartworm or other health problems if needed. The dogs are then fostered by caring families while they await adoption. Your caseworker will set up the appointment between you and the foster family to see the dog. On the day of your visit, you will interact with the dog and decide if it’s a good match for you. The foster usually insists on meeting each member of your family and will ultimately decide if you are a good match for the dog. The foster has a tough job because multiple families may be interviewed for the same dog. You may think you and the dog are a good match, but the dog may go to someone else. Try not to lose heart. The next interview may have you taking your new “forever friend” and leash into the back seat of your car.

That’s the basic process of adopting a dog from the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue here in North Carolina. Remember, you need a lot of patience in the process of adopting a dog this way. You may have many let downs, just like I did. Do not be discouraged, for you will find the right dog in time. Our dog, Sunny, is a blessing to our family and I can’t imagine our home without her. If you want to learn how to properly establish a healthy relationship with your dog, I would suggest watching “The Dog Whisperer” with Cesar Millan on the National Geographic channel. I hope you will consider visiting a rescue when your family is ready to adopt a dog. The Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue is a wonderful organization. Their website is www.goldenrescuenc.org.