Golden Retriever Rescue Loves Abandoned Aging Dogs

The Internet has a vast supply of information about Golden Retriever rescue in your respective area. The rescue units are a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue, foster care and placement of Golden Retrievers in your area. The rescue units have created their own websites describing the history and special needs of the many Golden Retrievers waiting for adoption. The websites list special fundraising events where you can find more information about playing a part in this worthwhile cause.

Volunteers are always sought after and one can easily find that their help will be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately the work is challenging and without monetary compensation but it is very rewarding. Many Golden Retrievers are found on the street homeless with special medical needs or their original owners cannot take care of their pet anymore and have to surrender the animal to a local rescue unit. Donations are greatly needed for providing medical attention. Foster homes and volunteer services are urgently required and don't hesitate to contact a rescue outlet within your area.

Golden Retriever rescues are non-profit all volunteered staff active in the United States. The main goal is to find suitable homes for unwanted, stray or abandoned Golden Retrievers. The rescue places hundreds of dogs each year into foster homes.

The majority of dogs are surrendered but the rescue also works in union with area shelters. The dogs rescued are spayed or neutered, updated on vaccinations, tested for heartworm and intestinal parasites. A minimum donation is requested to help offset the costs of caring for the animal. The rescue unit continues due to the support and dedication of volunteers. There are a variety of tasks to choose from as a volunteer as the rescue needs are great. Most volunteers are dog loving individuals and families who wish to participate in this worthwhile cause.

Another goal of the rescue unit is to educate the public about Golden Retrievers as well as general responsible pet care. Many of the rescues have information booths at local pet fairs, pet supply stores and dog shows. The rescue will often supply information about breeders if you are set on purchasing a Golden Retriever puppy.

If you are looking to adopt or volunteer at a Golden Retriever rescue look no further than the local pet fairs, pet supply stores or dog fairs for reliable information. The Internet is another good place to start as it lists Golden Retriever rescue centers in your local area. The website of any Golden Retriever rescue can provide almost any information you require about selecting, fostering and caring for a Golden Retriever adult.

Donations and volunteer services are the main source of support for a Golden Retriever rescue. These non-profit organizations aim to find loving and solid homes for stray and abandoned Golden Retrievers. At this time, the need for foster homes is greater than ever and the rescue urgently needs volunteers to help them reach their mandate. Each year hundreds of Golden Retrievers find happy homes because of dedicated support from volunteers who are simply dog loving people. Additionally, if you join an email list with a rescue you will receive the latest news of animals being placed in homes in your area.

Carol Matthews is a lover of animals and has many years of experience fostering and owning dogs. Golden Retriever rescue is a non-profit all volunteer staff placing hundreds of displaced Golden Retrievers into homes each year. This article will give general Golden Retriever information to individuals interested in volunteering or fostering a dog.

Jun 16, Search and Rescue Dogs -- Heroes of Disaster Relief

Search and rescue dogs are the hard-working heroes of disaster relief. With a sense of smell far more powerful than man's and an ability to probe nooks and crannies that humans cannot penetrate, these dogs find people in even the most difficult situations.

Skilled volunteer search and rescue (SAR) units across the United States and around the world operate in conjunction with local law enforcement or other applicable emergency services agencies to assist in the location of missing persons.

Experts estimate that a single SAR dog can accomplish the work of 20 to 30 human searchers.

It's not just about smell, either.

The dogs' superior hearing and night vision also come into play.

Even in cases where victims are presumed dead, dogs are invaluable assets. They locate the bodies so family members can have closure and give their loved ones a proper burial.

Not all SAR dogs perform the same type of search.

Some dogs are tracking (or trailing) dogs.

Others are air scent dogs.

Tracking dogs need to smell something which belongs to the missing person, like a shirt.

Then they search for just that smell, with their nose to the ground.

Air scent dogs, on the other hand, work with their nose in the air.

They pick up human scent anywhere in the vicinity.

They don't need an article to work from or a scent trail. They locate a scent carried in air currents and seek out its origin--the point of greatest concentration.

They might be called in to find a missing hiker located "somewhere in the national park."

Air scenting dogs might specialize in a particular type of search: Avalanche dogs search for people who are trapped under the snow. Urban disaster dogs search for human survivors in buildings that collapsed due to a natural disaster (earthquake, mudslide, hurricane, typhoon, tornado or flood) or an act of terrorism. Cadaver dogs search for the scent of human remains. Water search dogs locate drowning victims even when the bodies are completely immersed.

Water search and cadaver dogs are the only types specifically trained to scent for human remains, though some SAR dogs may be cross-trained to alert for both scents in different ways.

People's scents are as unique as fingerprints. Wherever we go, we leave an invisible trail of scent behind us which dogs can easily identify.

You see, we're constantly shedding skin cells.

The bigger cells fall to the ground and the smaller particles float in the air.

Dogs can easily smell these microscopic cells.

That's because their sense of smell is about 40 times stronger than ours.

Search dogs can work day or night, in all kinds of weather.

They're especially effective where human sight is most limited--in the dark, in dense brush or debris, and in collapsed buildings.

SAR dog training capitalizes on a dog's natural prey/play drive.

For these dogs, locating the origin of a human scent means playing an intense game of "find the ball."

That's the bottom line: associating human scent with something the dog wants very badly, and then teaching him to alert his handler to its location.

Each time the dog completes a task, he gets his reward--a hug, a treat, or playtime with a favorite toy.

Alert is the term used to describe the signal used by the dog to tell the handler he has located the victim or object of the search.

There are several types of alerts: Focused bark for a minimum of 30 seconds as he remains with the victim Passive alert where he quietly sits down at the location of the find Aggressive alert where he digs at the location of his find (especially useful in avalanche search situations) Re-find where the dog returns to the handler, barks, then returns to the location of the victim.

SAR dogs learn skills like getting used to climbing different surfaces; walking on shifting rubble; navigating a tunnel; balancing; not being afraid of high places, noisy helicopters or moving vehicles; following the directions of the handler (by verbal and hand signals); learning how to climb ladders; and being able to ignore all distractions.

Training search and rescue dogs can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Some SAR dogs are professionals employed by rescue services, but most are volunteers. They are family pets who train and practice regularly with their owners so they can be called out at a moment's notice to help in a rescue effort.

In general, the best prospects usually come from the sporting and herding breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Border Collie.

These breeds are chosen because of their physical strength, high energy and strong prey drive.

Many rescue dogs actually come from animal shelters because they had too much energy for their original owners.

With their excellent sense of smell, desire to please, and love of people, the Golden Retriever is a natural breed for this heroic activity.

To succeed as a search and rescue worker, a dog must possess certain qualities. He must be intelligent, agile, confident, obedient, adaptable, and have a high level of endurance and persistence.

He must learn to be calm in noisy, stressful and changing situations. He also has to get along well with other dogs and people, as they often travel many miles with other SAR teams to rescue sites.

A good candidate has a high degree of trainability. But a SAR dog who can't think for himself is useless. Air scenting dogs work off-leash, so the handler won't always be nearby to give commands. The ideal search dog can solve problems on his own but is always aware of his handler.

We all love a hero, don't we? And search and rescue dogs are some of the biggest heroes of all.

They often go above and beyond the call of duty to save someone, risking their lives in the process. Many people owe their lives to these amazing dogs.

Return from Search and Rescue
to Types of Working Dogs

Return from Search and Rescue
to Lovable Golden Retriever Home Page

View the original article here

Jul 12, Dog Rescue Centres -- Great Places To Find Your Dream Dog

Dog rescue centres operating in the U.S. and other countries are great places to find the dog of your dreams (like a Golden Retriever!).

Rescued dogs for sale come in all ages, sizes and both sexes.

They all need homes, and will make wonderful, loving pets for people willing to give them a second chance.

Most rescue dogs are at the centres through no fault of their own. They're merely victims of circumstances.

Sometimes a family doesn't have the time to properly train and take care of a dog.

Other times, the owner may have a health problem, be going through a divorce, or have another family situation that makes dog ownership low on their list of priorities.

Sometimes dogs that need rescued are owned by elderly people who are forced by circumstances to move into small senior apartments, assisted living, or care homes that don't allow pets.

These owners often bring their beloved canine companions to dog rescue centres, hoping they'll be re-homed.

For that reason, many dedicated people work diligently to ensure that the next home will be a permanent one.

The best dog rescue centres get adequate histories from the previous owners.

They fill in any gaps in the animal's history with their own observations and experience, and that of trained foster caretakers.

They may do some personality and temperament testing, as well.

The high success rate of dog rescue organizations comes as a result of their hard work at matching each rescue dog to a suitable family.

They want permanent loving homes for these canine victims, where they can enjoy long and rewarding relationships.

To help make sure the right dog goes to the right family, staff members may ask you about your home and yard, whether there will be anybody home during the day, and also whether you have any other pets.

Rescue groups will probably screen you as carefully as would a breeder selling you a puppy.

Before the dog is allowed to leave the kennel there may even be a home visit, as the rescue workers want to see if your home is suitable for the dog.

They have to be sure that your yard is escape-proof if you want a puppy and that there are no steep stairs if you wish to adopt an elderly dog.

You can usually rely on the staff's evaluation of the dog, their choice for you, and their help in his adjustment to his new environment. The last thing they want is for this dog to be uprooted once again.

Expect them to be firm and possibly even intimidating to make sure that you're the right person for this dog. You see, they already know the dog. They don't know you!

Since these rescued and recycled dogs have usually spent some time in a foster home for evaluation, you'll know something about your dog before you even take him home.

The staff will be able to tell you about his background, the reason he was given up, and how he relates to men, women, children, and other pets.

They'll also tell you candidly if, in their opinion, there are likely to be any temperament or health problems.

Required veterinary care--including, in most cases, spaying or neutering--is provided by these dog rescue groups before adoption.

The centre will supply you with the dog's veterinary record, so your own vet will be aware of your dog's medical background. They'll include a record of your pet's vaccinations, which you'll want to keep up to date.

They may also give you a few days' supply of the dog's regular food, so if you wish to switch him to a different food, you can make a gradual change in order to avoid digestive problems.

The adoption fees charged by dog rescue centres help pay for veterinary care for the rescue pets, as well as the expenses of operating the facility.

It's money well spent in the quest to find the best possible homes for well-deserving, loving dogs.

When you choose to adopt rescued dogs, you're choosing to give a good dog a second chance at life--and the chance to be your best friend.

Return from Dog Rescue Centres
to Golden Retriever Adoptions

Return from Dog Rescue Centres
to Lovable Golden Retriever Home Page

View the original article here

Jun 16, Search and Rescue Dogs -- Heroes of Disaster Relief

Search and rescue dogs are the hard-working heroes of disaster relief. With a sense of smell far more powerful than man's and an ability to probe nooks and crannies that humans cannot penetrate, these dogs find people in even the most difficult situations.

Skilled volunteer search and rescue (SAR) units across the United States and around the world operate in conjunction with local law enforcement or other applicable emergency services agencies to assist in the location of missing persons.

Experts estimate that a single SAR dog can accomplish the work of 20 to 30 human searchers.

It's not just about smell, either.

The dogs' superior hearing and night vision also come into play.

Even in cases where victims are presumed dead, dogs are invaluable assets. They locate the bodies so family members can have closure and give their loved ones a proper burial.

Not all SAR dogs perform the same type of search.

Some dogs are tracking (or trailing) dogs.

Others are air scent dogs.

Tracking dogs need to smell something which belongs to the missing person, like a shirt.

Then they search for just that smell, with their nose to the ground.

Air scent dogs, on the other hand, work with their nose in the air.

They pick up human scent anywhere in the vicinity.

They don't need an article to work from or a scent trail. They locate a scent carried in air currents and seek out its origin--the point of greatest concentration.

They might be called in to find a missing hiker located "somewhere in the national park."

Air scenting dogs might specialize in a particular type of search: Avalanche dogs search for people who are trapped under the snow. Urban disaster dogs search for human survivors in buildings that collapsed due to a natural disaster (earthquake, mudslide, hurricane, typhoon, tornado or flood) or an act of terrorism. Cadaver dogs search for the scent of human remains. Water search dogs locate drowning victims even when the bodies are completely immersed.

Water search and cadaver dogs are the only types specifically trained to scent for human remains, though some SAR dogs may be cross-trained to alert for both scents in different ways.

People's scents are as unique as fingerprints. Wherever we go, we leave an invisible trail of scent behind us which dogs can easily identify.

You see, we're constantly shedding skin cells.

The bigger cells fall to the ground and the smaller particles float in the air.

Dogs can easily smell these microscopic cells.

That's because their sense of smell is about 40 times stronger than ours.

Search dogs can work day or night, in all kinds of weather.

They're especially effective where human sight is most limited--in the dark, in dense brush or debris, and in collapsed buildings.

SAR dog training capitalizes on a dog's natural prey/play drive.

For these dogs, locating the origin of a human scent means playing an intense game of "find the ball."

That's the bottom line: associating human scent with something the dog wants very badly, and then teaching him to alert his handler to its location.

Each time the dog completes a task, he gets his reward--a hug, a treat, or playtime with a favorite toy.

Alert is the term used to describe the signal used by the dog to tell the handler he has located the victim or object of the search.

There are several types of alerts: Focused bark for a minimum of 30 seconds as he remains with the victim Passive alert where he quietly sits down at the location of the find Aggressive alert where he digs at the location of his find (especially useful in avalanche search situations) Re-find where the dog returns to the handler, barks, then returns to the location of the victim.

SAR dogs learn skills like getting used to climbing different surfaces; walking on shifting rubble; navigating a tunnel; balancing; not being afraid of high places, noisy helicopters or moving vehicles; following the directions of the handler (by verbal and hand signals); learning how to climb ladders; and being able to ignore all distractions.

Training search and rescue dogs can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Some SAR dogs are professionals employed by rescue services, but most are volunteers. They are family pets who train and practice regularly with their owners so they can be called out at a moment's notice to help in a rescue effort.

In general, the best prospects usually come from the sporting and herding breeds such as the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Border Collie.

These breeds are chosen because of their physical strength, high energy and strong prey drive.

Many rescue dogs actually come from animal shelters because they had too much energy for their original owners.

With their excellent sense of smell, desire to please, and love of people, the Golden Retriever is a natural breed for this heroic activity.

To succeed as a search and rescue worker, a dog must possess certain qualities. He must be intelligent, agile, confident, obedient, adaptable, and have a high level of endurance and persistence.

He must learn to be calm in noisy, stressful and changing situations. He also has to get along well with other dogs and people, as they often travel many miles with other SAR teams to rescue sites.

A good candidate has a high degree of trainability. But a SAR dog who can't think for himself is useless. Air scenting dogs work off-leash, so the handler won't always be nearby to give commands. The ideal search dog can solve problems on his own but is always aware of his handler.

We all love a hero, don't we? And search and rescue dogs are some of the biggest heroes of all.

They often go above and beyond the call of duty to save someone, risking their lives in the process. Many people owe their lives to these amazing dogs.

Return from Search and Rescue
to Types of Working Dogs

Return from Search and Rescue
to Lovable Golden Retriever Home Page

View the original article here

Jul 12, Dog Rescue Centres -- Great Places To Find Your Dream Dog

Dog rescue centres operating in the U.S. and other countries are great places to find the dog of your dreams (like a Golden Retriever!).

Rescued dogs for sale come in all ages, sizes and both sexes.

They all need homes, and will make wonderful, loving pets for people willing to give them a second chance.

Most rescue dogs are at the centres through no fault of their own. They're merely victims of circumstances.

Sometimes a family doesn't have the time to properly train and take care of a dog.

Other times, the owner may have a health problem, be going through a divorce, or have another family situation that makes dog ownership low on their list of priorities.

Sometimes dogs that need rescued are owned by elderly people who are forced by circumstances to move into small senior apartments, assisted living, or care homes that don't allow pets.

These owners often bring their beloved canine companions to dog rescue centres, hoping they'll be re-homed.

For that reason, many dedicated people work diligently to ensure that the next home will be a permanent one.

The best dog rescue centres get adequate histories from the previous owners.

They fill in any gaps in the animal's history with their own observations and experience, and that of trained foster caretakers.

They may do some personality and temperament testing, as well.

The high success rate of dog rescue organizations comes as a result of their hard work at matching each rescue dog to a suitable family.

They want permanent loving homes for these canine victims, where they can enjoy long and rewarding relationships.

To help make sure the right dog goes to the right family, staff members may ask you about your home and yard, whether there will be anybody home during the day, and also whether you have any other pets.

Rescue groups will probably screen you as carefully as would a breeder selling you a puppy.

Before the dog is allowed to leave the kennel there may even be a home visit, as the rescue workers want to see if your home is suitable for the dog.

They have to be sure that your yard is escape-proof if you want a puppy and that there are no steep stairs if you wish to adopt an elderly dog.

You can usually rely on the staff's evaluation of the dog, their choice for you, and their help in his adjustment to his new environment. The last thing they want is for this dog to be uprooted once again.

Expect them to be firm and possibly even intimidating to make sure that you're the right person for this dog. You see, they already know the dog. They don't know you!

Since these rescued and recycled dogs have usually spent some time in a foster home for evaluation, you'll know something about your dog before you even take him home.

The staff will be able to tell you about his background, the reason he was given up, and how he relates to men, women, children, and other pets.

They'll also tell you candidly if, in their opinion, there are likely to be any temperament or health problems.

Required veterinary care--including, in most cases, spaying or neutering--is provided by these dog rescue groups before adoption.

The centre will supply you with the dog's veterinary record, so your own vet will be aware of your dog's medical background. They'll include a record of your pet's vaccinations, which you'll want to keep up to date.

They may also give you a few days' supply of the dog's regular food, so if you wish to switch him to a different food, you can make a gradual change in order to avoid digestive problems.

The adoption fees charged by dog rescue centres help pay for veterinary care for the rescue pets, as well as the expenses of operating the facility.

It's money well spent in the quest to find the best possible homes for well-deserving, loving dogs.

When you choose to adopt rescued dogs, you're choosing to give a good dog a second chance at life--and the chance to be your best friend.

Return from Dog Rescue Centres
to Golden Retriever Adoptions

Return from Dog Rescue Centres
to Lovable Golden Retriever Home Page

View the original article here