Adoption Process

Opening your heart and home to a dog in need can be a most rewarding experience.

Thank you for your interest in adopting one of our dogs. GCGRRinc. is committed to finding the right home for the right dog so everyone is happy and pleased with the adoption. Please download and print out the Adoption/Foster Application. All information must be complete or the application cannot be processed. If a question does not apply to you, please mark N/A. Please print neatly in PEN or type your application. We reserve the right to decline applicants who cannot meet our requests for our rescue.
For an Adoption Application in PDF format click HERE

Our Adoption Team will review your application and contact you for an “over the phone” interview. If all goes well with the interview we will schedule a home visit by one of our volunteers. We ask that ALL family members be home for the visit. That includes your two legged AND 4 legged family members!
Once a match is made based upon the application, interview and home visit, you will have the opportunity to talk with the foster family.
If all parties agree that the match is a good one, an appointment will be set up for you to meet the dog. If all goes well with the meeting, a contract will need to be signed and your adoption will be complete.
Please keep in mind that the adoption process can happen within weeks or it may take months depending on the needs of the dogs we have and the specifics of your family situation.

Adoption Fees

Dogs adopted from our organization must first visit one of our network veterinarians before they can enter our organization. At the very least, our dogs will have up-to-date vaccinations and will be spayed/neutered. The Veterinarian carefully examines each dog and medical issues are addressed if present. To help cover a portion of the costs of this medical care, it is necessary to charge an adoption fee. The fees are as follows:

     AGE                    ADOPTION FEE

  • Under 6 months:     $500
  • 6 months-1 year:     $475
  • 1 to 3 years:            $400
  • 3 to 7 years:            $350
  • 7 to 10 years:          $325
  • +10 years/Special Needs:  Fees set on case by case basis

Please remember that our Goldens have been examined by one of our network veterinarians and their medical needs are addressed. In addition, each golden has had vaccinations, a heartworm and fecal test, a spay or neuter, a microchip registration, and have been placed on flea and heartworm prevention. The adoption fee only covers a portion of these expenses.

Please note we’re located in Charlotte County, Florida and service the coastal communities of Southwest Florida. We would love to be able to provide one of our wonderful Rescued Goldens to everyone in the State of Florida who are devoted to these dogs as much as we are.  HOWEVER, if you are not located in the above stated areas we serve, or are not sure, please email us first to see if we are able to process an Application from your area. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Adopting to Families with Children

For safety reasons, GCGRR will only place dogs that have a known history of having lived with children with applicants that have children and hesitate to adopt to families with children under the age of 8 years old. We do this for the safety of your children. Also, a fence is required for adoption to a family with children so everyone has a safe place to play together. Please note that Electronic or “Invisible” fencing is not considered a safe option for our Goldens.

Adopting to Senior Citizens

GCGRR will adopt to senior citizens, however, certain circumstances must be met. We try to balance the needs of our Golden Retrievers with the needs of the human caregivers. We will only adopt older Golden Retrievers to homes where the applicant is age 70 and up. Please keep in mind  that Goldens are very active dogs well into their senior years and while the average life span is 10-12 years, we have welcomed many Goldens who are aged 13-15 years old!