GRR reserves the right to deny an application deemed not appropriate for a rescued Golden.
Age eligibility: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
Fences: GRR requires a fenced yard attached to your dwelling (dog parks do not qualify). The fence must be at least 4' high. GRR does not accept an invisible fence as an appropriate fence. Barbed wire and cattle guards are not acceptable fences. Dogs need sufficient room to exercise and play.
GRR reserves the right to deny any applicant who:
Children: GRR does not adopt dogs to families with children under the age of 8 years old. This also applies to fostering. GRR does not make any exceptions to this policy, as it is for the benefit and safety of the children and the dog.
Family Schedules: Goldens are active dogs and need to run, play, exercise, potty and have mental stimulation at least every 4 hours. Puppies may need the same in 2-4 hour increments.
Puppies: Dogs under 6 months old cannot be left longer than 2-4 hour increments.
Being transported: The dog shall always ride inside an enclosed vehicle and never in an open truck bed, whether contained in a crate, loose or tethered.
New Dogs in Home: The family has not adopted, or is currently fostering a dog or otherwise acquired a new dog within the past six months and does not plan to do so within the next six months after adopting a dog.
Medical/vetting requirements for resident cats and dogs:
When applicable, we will request at least a three year vetting history. We also acknowledge there might be exceptions due to the frailty of senior pets or for certain medical conditions and treatment plans.
GRR only accepts heartworm preventatives deemed appropriate by the American Heartworm Society.
Titer tests for vaccinations (when appropriate) may be deemed acceptable.
Aversive Training Methods: Any type of electronic/battery operated collar such as, but not limited to, shock/vibration collars, choke collars, prong collars or excessive use of force, for example, is not allowed.
We believe in science-based, fear-free, force-free positive reinforcement training. If you need recommendations for trainers in your area, we are happy to help.
Out of area applicants: We cannot consider applicants who live outside the immediate Austin-San Antonio areas due to the limited resources of trained Home Visit volunteers needed to complete the in-person Home Visit portion of our interview process. We do not ship or transport dogs for adoption.
Leashes: Do you agree to keep the dog on leash anytime he or she is outside an enclosed fenced-in area? This is for the safety and protection of the dog from unexpected and sudden dangers.
Inside When Gone: Do you agree to keep the adopted dog inside the home anytime the family is sleeping or away from home? Places such as, but not limited to, screened-in porches and garages (even if air conditioned) are unacceptable. This includes closing access to a dog door to prevent the dog from being able to go outside the home when the adults are gone. How will you manage this?
Service dogs: GRR does not place adoptive dogs to be service or therapy dogs for physical, mobility, psychological or emotional reasons.
Previous adopters: GRR always requires a new application plus a new interview and/or home visit if 5 years have passed (address change, new pets or new residents in the home will require a new phone interview and/or home visit). GRR reserves the right to require one or both to be completed sooner.
Dog houses and kennels on the property may be deemed unacceptable and will require further explanation.
Dog's Primary Home: will not be a nursing home or group home.
Post-adoption: Gold Ribbon Rescue requires the adopter to establish their newly adopted dog with a veterinarian within three weeks post-adoption.
Service dogs: GRR does not place adoptive dogs to be service or therapy dogs for physical, mobility, psychological or emotional reasons.
The FHTA family will be the foster on record and is expected to abide by all of the same requirements of GRR approved foster families. The only difference is the FHTA family may adopt their dog when the dog is medically and behaviorally cleared, provided all parties agree the dog is the right fit.
GRR pays for all reasonable, required and approved medical and/or training expenses while the dog is a foster. If it's deemed that the dog is not the best fit, then GRR will move the dog as soon as possible or the dog may stay in the FHTA’s care until matched to an appropriate adoptive family and adopted.
If a family is approved to adopt, they may be asked if they are open to be considered for the FHTA process. FHTA means that an approved family who desires to adopt a dog from GRR will take the new dog in as a foster with the hope to adopt, as long as the dog ends up being the right fit. FHTA families are assigned to a matchmaker and they work closely together to determine the dog that is deemed as the best fit for the dog and the family, just the same as if the approved family only desired to do a straight adoption.
