My experience with this rescue left me feeling disappointed due to a lack of transparency and communication regarding the adoption process. I fully support the need for rescues to carefully screen potential adopters and ensure dogs are placed in safe, appropriate homes. However, I was not informed in advance that the home would be expected to be fully "dog-ready" on the day of the site visit. During the visit, concerns were raised about items such as shoes and visible cords, despite the fact that practical solutions were already available and could easily be implemented before a dog was brought into the home. Had the rescue clearly communicated its expectations beforehand, I would have gladly prepared accordingly. Instead, the process felt more focused on identifying deficiencies than on understanding whether I had a thoughtful plan to safely integrate a dog into my home. I also found the overall experience to be more adversarial than collaborative. I expected the visit to be a conversation about responsible dog ownership, daily routines, enrichment, training, and safety plans. While those topics were discussed, I left feeling judged rather than supported. I appreciate the important work that breed rescues do and respect their commitment to their dogs. My hope is that the organization will consider providing clearer guidance to applicants about home visit expectations so that prospective adopters can prepare appropriately and have a more positive experience. read more

UPDATE: After the long process of filing a complaint with the Texas Bar Association, we were extremely relieved to learn action was taken to ensure others do not have to endure the hell we went through with GRR. It doesn't bring back our Scout girl but feels like there was some justice at the end of the day. We continue to pray that Scout is in a good home, loved, and well cared for. Check the names of people leaving positive reviews with GRR's board members and you will find significant overlap. These are their "experts" who have no more qualifications than any other previous pet owner. You would think at the very least, that their medical expert would be a qualified vet, but you'd be wrong. They are the top experts because they've been doing this for x amount of years. I wish we would've listened to our vet when she told us she'd heard horror stories about this organization over her 35 year career in the industry but the heart wants what the heart wants. We so badly wanted to see the good in this organization and for them to do what was morally right. Please don't go in as naively as we did. TL;DR- avoid at all costs! These are some of the most unprofessional people that I've ever had to deal with. Your "team of experts" are board members with strong opinions. No one with any formal training in veterinary behavior, medicine, or adoption. Every decision about the dog is made by a group of 10 or so Karens who somehow feel empowered after acting solely in their best interests with zero regard as to what's most beneficial for the dog. It still makes me nauseous a year later. I strongly urge anyone considering Golden Retriever Rescue (GRR) to read their reviews and research past lawsuits before donating, adopting, or fostering. We had a dog in our home for a year--loved and cared for her like family--only to be forced to return her after GRR launched a prolonged legal battle. I couldn't bring myself to drop our baby off for them to pick up but I know my husband was sobbing, our attorney was sobbing, and the dog was audibly crying out as my husband was forced to walk away. Despite advice from three attorneys that our offers were more than fair, GRR refused to compromise. Their founder, an attorney, used her legal background to push the matter through court. Even after we won an initial motion, we were facing over $15,000 in legal fees and emotional exhaustion. We simply couldn't keep fighting. The reasons they gave for reclaiming the dog had nothing to do with her well-being and everything to do with personal bias. Internal emails we obtained (photos attached) show their decision was based on disliking us--not any failure to care for the dog. They cited things like "renaming her", asking about delaying spaying based on science, asking questions, and a 1 day late foster report (which we immediately corrected). To make matters worse, when we tried to resolve things peacefully, they refused to return the dog's medicine and even attempted to involve the police. Their behavior made it painfully clear they prioritized control over compassion. Disturbingly, GRR's founder was also breeding and selling golden retrievers for profit during her time as president of this nonprofit--raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest and potential tax fraud. This organization may not be what it claims to be. We are heartbroken and disgusted. Please think twice before working with GRR if you care about ethical practices and the true welfare of animals. read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue - Regardless of what he had to say about us, where is there any concern for the dog? - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

My husband Tyson and I lost our 5 year old Golden, Hopper, unexpectedly and quickly in January of this year. We had been following GRR on Instagram for years at this point and had always planned to eventually adopt with them we just didn't know how soon that opportunity would arise. GRR was thorough and thoughtful through every step of this experience. Every single person we encountered in this organization is a true Golden lover in every sense of the word. Our situation was handled with care and compassion as they worked with us at every step of the extensive but necessary process to find the right Golden baby for our home. Every aspect of our lives and our other pets lives was taken into careful consideration. Murphy came to live with us at the beginning of June and it's just as though he was always part of our family. We are so thankful to GRR for the work that they do and did how they have made a difference in our lives. read more

We adopted our sweet Kinsey girl about 18 months ago from GRR and we couldn't be happier! Each step of the adoption process is clearly spelled out in GRR's website so there are no surprises. It is a volunteer organization and every person we spoke and met with were extremely kind, supportive and knowledgeable. There is also a lot of suppport after the adoption process if there are questions or need for additional training. In fact, we had such a great experience that I became a GRR volunteer! I love that GRR truly looks out for the best interest of every dog they rescue and goes to great lengths to place each and every dog with the right forever family. read more

My wife and I have had Willie who we adopted from Gold Ribbon Rescue in early February. We couldn't be happier. He loves the big yard we have and loves chasing tennis balls. He will play forever or until my arm falls off. After he is done, he goes to our swimming pool and lays down on the landing to cool off. Then he is ready to go again and I throw tennis balls in the pool and he uses his huge feet or what I call his paddles retrieving. This was our first golden retriever we had ever had. He is calm, smart, friendly and seems to always want to please. Honestly, the best dog we have ever had. Gold Ribbon Rescue was great to work with. Their process works. I was thinking, hmm, you decide what dog would be good for us? But they were spot on in matching Willie with us. The people I have dealt with Gold Ribbon Rescue have inquired since and want to know how Willie is doing and I have sent pictures. If you are thinking of a Golden Retriever, this the place to go to. read more

The owners of the rescue are rude, they feel only their rules apply to finding a home for their dogs. This doesn't seem like a rescue looking for homes rather a breeder that demands everyone to follow only their rules be ware of looking for a rescue dog from this place read more

I just recently adopted my new dog through GRR and it was an incredible experience start to finish. Yes, it's thorough and yes it takes time, but I definitely feel like that is by design and ultimately matched me with a pretty incredible pup - you shouldn't be in a hurry to find your next family member! The care and passion for each dog is apparent, and I had a whole support team throughout the process to ensure I had all the information and resources I needed to bring my Cooper home. read more

We can not say enough fabulous things about GRR! They so lovingly and thoughtfully brought us through the process of adopting our sweet boy Jax. The way they care for so many dogs physically and emotionally and find them the best homes for them is truly inspiring. They really know what they are doing when it comes to caring for, training, and matching these dogs with their forever homes. We could not be more grateful to our whole team of expert dog lovers for how wonderful this whole process has been. If you are considering a golden retriever PLEASE check them out and adopt, don't shop! There are so many beautiful babies that need homes and I trust GRR with that more than anyone! read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

See all

My husband and I adopted a beautiful, gentle, and very sweet 8 year old Golden Retriever from Gold Ribbon Rescue the first of July this year. We are so very glad there is this organization to rescue these wonderful dogs! All the different people involved had one thing on their minds: to provide for the best interest of and home for each of these dogs. As a result, it took time to find the right dog for us. We had interviews with several different people concerned with various aspects of the dogs care. Each person we spoke with were wonderful and gave us very good advice. We're very thankful to have worked with Gold Ribbon Rescue as we are crazy about their choice of Chester for us!! Ron & Jodie read more

We've had a great experience being a foster for GRR. They have provided us with anything we needed for the dogs we've fostered (baby gate, food, vet appts/meds) and keep in contact with you to ensure everything is going well! They have lots of processes in place to make sure these dogs are matched with the perfect families for them! read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

If I could give this group a higher rating than a five I would definitely give it! We have been blessed with adopting (5) wonderful Goldens from this organization since 2007!! The care and compassion shown by Gold Ribbon Rescue for the Goldens they intake is so heartwarming and amazing!! We have had wonderful volunteers from Gold Ribbon Rescue who guided us through every step of the process of adopting our Goldens over the years. We would never go anywhere else to adopt. Gold Ribbon starts working for these Goldens before day one by planning and bringing these sweet babies into their care and getting them immediately vetted to bring them all up to date on shots, spay/neuter surgery, heartworm and flea tick preventions and then places them in some pretty fantastic fosters homes where they are worked with and taken through any medical treatments they may need and preparing them to be adopted. Having dealt with this organization since 2007 and in all (5) of our adoption experiences the volunteers have all been so wonderful in making sure we were always kept so well informed, answered all our questions, gave us such wonderful advice, stayed in touch with us even after our adoptions to make sure our Goldens settled in well, etc. The work from all of the many, many of the volunteers we encountered has been done with such commitment and compassion. We have recommended friends over the years to Gold Ribbon who have adopted from them as well and they have all had wonderful experiences as well. Gold Ribbon Rescue has definitely made a huge impact in our lives and we are forever so grateful to them for the amazing Goldens that have been such a big part of our family! read more

See all

We applied here when looking for a dog recently. Application fee is required, $25. According to them: "Rescued Golden Retrievers can have all sorts of issues that come with them as a result of what they have lived through before being taken into rescue. Rescued Goldens, in general, are not well trained and require intensive amounts of time and training to make them good" What is this? Saying that you never receive and thus won't have available Golden's that have no serious problems makes no sense whatsoever. You should make these uncommon requirements  apparent on the website because we've applied to you guys before and been denied when other rescues had no issue with our requirements and application. Honestly it feels like a scam to get more applications to deny and thus make money on the required application fee. Is this how the rescue intends to come off? read more

We are very pleased with Gold Ribbon Rescue. They matched a senior Golden girl to us and we could not be happier. The applicant screening process is very thorough and the wait for the right match can be lengthy, but it's well worth it. It's clear that GRR's first priority is the long-term health and well being of the rescues. If you are looking for a beautiful, "certified pre-owned" Golden Retriever and are willing to meet the posted adoption requirements, I would recommend that you check out GRR. read more

We worked with Gold Ribbon Rescue and now have our wonderful dog, Mia! The interview process was thorough but also made easy by everyone there. They were committed to making sure we were a good fit for Mia, and her for us. We were impressed with the level of care and concern given to Mia (and to us) throughout the process. We are so grateful to have found GRR! Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a golden! read more

In 2013 my husband and I lost our old Golden Retriever, Duke, to complications of old age. We really couldn't imagine not having another Golden in our lives. We saw Gold Ribbon Rescue on the internet and applied to adopt. The process seemed lengthy but after we realized how dedicated this group of volunteers was to find the right home for each dog, we were sold. We had a phone interview, home visit, discussion with a match maker (yes they really talk to you to make sure you are the right home for one of their dogs) we fostered to adopt Charlie. He was a best friend to everyone that knew him and the perfect dog for us. He recently crossed the Bridge at 13-1/2 years of age. I have been volunteering with GRR ever since we got Charlie and it has been so rewarding. I've made some wonderful friends, but most of all, everyone at GRR puts the interest of the dogs first. read more

We have adopted 5 Golden Retrievers from this group and had the best experience. The process was great and thoughtful and the support we received from the group was incredible. I was so happy I started volunteering for the group. read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue goes above and beyond what most rescue groups will do. It is very clear that the needs of the dogs are the priority with balancing finding the perfect families to foster and adopt the dogs. Having over 200 volunteers speaks volumes to the support they have. My husband and I have spent many years supporting GRR and will always continue to do so. read more

My husband and I decided we wanted to commit to rescue 4 years ago. I googled and found Gold Ribbon Rescue! We were blown away by the thorough screening and vetting process and the commitment and genuine care of their amazing volunteers! Every singie person involved volunteers their time and resources to give every dog the wonderful forever life and family he or she deserves. We have since rescued 4 Golden Retrievers, 3 from Gold Ribbon Rescue, amazing, deserving, wonderful dogs! Both my husband and I are so impressed with this all-volunteer non profit organization and highly recommend to anyone interested in adopting, fostering or surrendering a dog in need of the very best care! Excellence, integrity, passion and commitment are the hallmarks of this group! read more

What an amazing organization! We recently adopted a golden here, and our experience was fantastic! Everyone I worked with through the entire process from the phone interview, house visit, and meet and greets were amazing! Highly recommend adopting from or volunteering for this organization. read more

If you've got a hankerin for a hairy, slobbery, golden hunk of love, then please call these folks! We have adopted two gorgeous perfect goldens from them and it is apparent how much they love all their charges and how serious they are about finding them the proper homes. Now, your first time in, they will put you through the ringer a bit and I think that's great cause it means they want the dogs well cared for. It's a bit like adopting a child. You'll have a phone interview, then someone comes and checks out your house (you MUST have a privacy fence!), then they bring the dog you are interested in over for a brief visit with you and your other animals, THEN you get a 24 hr mull it over period, and THEN you get your dog after paying them some money ($300). I know all this sounds rigorous and possibly expensive, but consider that they rescue these beautiful, trusting animals from bad homes, from the pound, from puppy mills, and just from people who don't want to care for them anymore. They outfit them with all their shots and treat them for any issue they have before adoption (alot of times for heartworms). They give them basic training when needed and have them spayed as well. Get to know these people and you realize that this "charity" is a full-time job for many. They operate like a well-oiled machine with many cogs along the interview process. Not to mention all the great people that foster these guys and train them, and all of them volunteers! All the adoption fees go into the care of the dogs themselves. These people adore goldens and are willing to put tons of hours in to assure a great home for them. So in my opinion, I would much rather give my money to them when "purchasing" a dog than anyone else. And since I am a repeat customer, I can skip some of the interview process. These folks have made us some very happy dog parents! read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue - Animal Shelters Near Me

Bailey has been suspected of being a poop eater since his first few weeks at home. The other day, it was confirmed. Today, Bailey was caught red-handed (literally- he's a Ginger) with poop in his mouth again. If I wasn't so busy being disgusted, I would've snapped a photo for dogshaming.com. Where is he now? Oh ya know, just lying in bed with his MOUTH on my leg. I've yet to move said leg. Now, if that isn't love then I don't know what love is. Thanks, GRR! read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue - Sweet Bailey - Animal Shelters Near Me

We just had our first adoption anniversary with Bear, our most handsome Gold Ribbon Rescue fella! It got me to thinking how very thankful we are for this sweet guy and for all of the hard work GRR does on behalf of these dogs! He is actually our second adoption from Gold Ribbon Rescue. Our first was Troy back in 2012. Our experience then and now working with GRR has been wonderful! The people/volunteers who are the heart of this organization are so dedicated to the health and well-being of all of the lucky dogs that come into their care. They work tirelessly to ensure these dogs get the best life possible. When Bear came into GRR's care, he was between 10-12 mos old and had been found running loose on an oil lease. When a dog comes into GRR's care, they immediately have them thoroughly checked out by a vet. On Bear's intake, they found he had sever hip dysplasia and would need a total hip replacement. Wow! GRR did not hesitate to give him the treatment he needed. We were able to foster him as he went through his recovery. Our foster coordinator Denise was in constant contact to ensure all was going well. On our offical adoption day, Denise and her husband Joe both came to celebrate the occasion. It was so special. Gold Ribbon Rescue is an incredible organization because of the dedication of the people who make it happen! read more

Great folks who are truly concerned about the welfare of the dogs they rescue. The process is a long one but it does weed out the people who want to adopt a dog for the wrong reason. read more

We got our Dallas from these great people. Could not have wished for a better dog. We have an easily spooked cat and another dog. They were patient and worked to make sure that all the fur babies would be safe and happy. Truly a great organization to work with. read more

I am so glad that I discovered your organization. I love Goldens and have lost two of my precious angels in the past 2 years. I will definitely contact you when I get in a position to adopt another golden. They are FABULOUS!!!!! Love to all your fur kids at GRR. read more

Gold Ribbon Rescue is the Gold Standard (nay, the Platinum Standard) for rescue groups. I have adopted 3 furry family members from them, and from start to finish, everything is done with kindness and an eye toward the best welfare of the dogs in their care. I do not have sufficient words to praise the group. I will say that it is 100% volunteer, and that 100% of any donations to Gold Ribbon Rescue go towards the Goldens in their care. No administrative fees. It's all about the dogs. And, one of the first things I learned is that they find the right family for the dog because their goal is to have it truly be a forever family. read more