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Our adoption process is, by design, thorough to ensure each dog finds the best possible forever home. These dogs have been surrendered to us for various reasons, and we work hard to make sure they are healthy, happy, and ready for their next chapter in life.

FAQs

Can you find us a golden retriever to meet our needs (family, home environment, and lifestyle)?

Absolutely! We understand how important it is to find the right match. That’s why we’ve provided detailed information below, along with

additional links for you to review. Please take your time to read through our policies and processes. This will help you decide if GRRMF is the right fit for your expectations.

What is the application processing fee?

There is a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee. You will be prompted to remit this fee after successfully submitting your online application. Please note that this fee must be received before your application will be reviewed. If your application is declined or if you withdraw your application for any reason, the processing fee will not be refunded.

What are the adoption fees?

Our adoption fees range from $450 to $850, depending on the age of the dog you are matched with. See below for our current fees by age. Please note that adoption fees are subject to change based on medical costs, transportation, or unexpected charges incurred to ensure the wellness of the dog while in our care.

How long is the application processing time?

Our current processing time from start (when you submit an application) to finish (when you receive your application approval) is approximately 2 months. This includes 3-4 weeks before first contact to schedule our phone interview, the availability of time you and our volunteers have to complete the phone interview, and to schedule and complete the home visit. There are exceptions to this timeline that can make the processing time a little shorter or longer, depending on the number of applications we are processing and the availability of our volunteers and hopeful adopters.

Please remember we are a 100% volunteer organization. We thank you for your patience as our committed volunteers work as quickly as possible to complete these important steps for you.

Key things you need to know about GRRMF

1. Area of coverage

We cover:

• West coast: Gainesville to Sarasota
• Central and north-central Florida
• East coast: Jacksonville to Vero Beach
• Tampa/St. Pete and surrounding areas, including Bradenton

We do not cover:

• South Florida (east coast south of Vero Beach)
• West coast south of Sarasota)
• Big Bend or the Panhandle

There are other rescues in Florida that cover these areas beyond our reach. If you have questions about your area of coverage, email us at info@grrmf.org before filling out an application. You can also use this link, which has a directory of golden rescues nationwide including Florida.

You can also do a google search on Golden Retriever rescues near me to see their area of coverage on their websites. For other areas, check the golden retriever rescue directory or search “Golden Retriever rescues near me.”

2. If you rent

Submit a letter from your landlord or the specific section in your lease allowing you to have a big dog (70+ pounds) before we review your application. This must be sent within two weeks of application receipt, or your application will be closed.

3. Fences and doggie doors

• Fenced Yard: Required for dogs under 5 and for families with young children.
• Electronic/Invisible Fences: Not accepted.
• Doggie Doors: Not approved, especially those with unsupervised access.

4. Young dogs

For dogs under 4, adopters must attend obedience training with the dog. Sending your dog to boot camp is not an option.

5. Seniors wanting to adopt

Please review our specific guidelines for senior applicants.

6. Therapy work

We do not adopt dogs specifically for Service Dog or Emotional Support Dog roles. A dog adopted through GRRMF is to be your pet.

We do not perform temperament testing to determine the likelihood of therapy work behaviors for any dog in our program. When you adopt, you must ensure time is provided for your dog to settle in and adjust to their new environment and people. Only then will you understand their needs and comfort level to determine if THEY may have an interest in moving forward into therapy work. A dog’s interest is dependent on many factors but perhaps the most important is the relationship between the dog and the handler.

If your dog shows interest in therapy-work after settling in, complete CGC certification to gain that mutual confidence of working as a team and consider joining our Hearts of Gold therapy team. Check out the Hearts of Gold YouTube channel. It will put a smile on your face!

What happens when we receive your application?

1. Application review & vet check

We review your application to ensure it is complete and aligns with our policies. We will contact your listed veterinarian, so please inform them to release information about your pets. Delays may occur if this step is not completed.

2. Phone interview

After the initial review, a phone interviewer will call you. The call may take a few minutes to over 30 minutes, depending on the questions we have about your application.

3. Home visit

If the phone interview goes well, we will arrange a home visit. The entire family must be present. We offer virtual home visits for those who qualify. You will be contacted to schedule this or informed if your application is on hold pending volunteer availability.

4. Disposition

After reviewing your application, phone interview, and home visit, our committee will make a final decision. If approved, you will receive an email with next steps and be placed on our waiting list. If not approved, you will receive an email explaining the reasons.

What happens if my application to adopt is approved?

Our Adoption Administrator will contact you to confirm your approval and serve as your initial point of contact. If you have a specific dog in mind from our website, please let us know. Often, we have additional dogs not yet listed as they are being prepared for adoption.

Matchmaking is our specialty

Finding the perfect dog for your family may take some time. Currently, there is a waiting list for young adult golden retrievers. However, if you are interested in adopting a puppy under 1 year old, an older golden retriever, or a golden retriever blend, you may find your perfect companion sooner.

Finding an ideal pup for your family

Each GRRMF dog has an Adoption Coordinator. If we find a potential match for you, the Adoption Coordinator will contact you with details about the dog. You’ll then connect with the foster family to learn more about the dog. If it seems like a perfect match, you can arrange to meet the dog in their foster home.

If it truly is a match made in heaven, you’ll be able to take your new dog home. Since we do not have a central facility and all our dogs are in private foster homes, we will only have you view one dog at a time. If the first dog we suggest isn’t the right fit, we’ll continue working to find you another match.

Happy Endings!

You might think this process is quite involved and time-consuming. Please understand that once we take in a dog, it becomes our responsibility to find it the perfect forever home. Just as you would want the best for a dog you could no longer keep, we strive for the same. We’ve successfully adopted out over 4,300 dogs to happy families and cherish working with each adoptive family to create more happy endings for our goldens (and you!).

The story from the dog’s side

Our dogs

Most of our dogs come from owner turn-ins due to moving, financial distress, lack of time, or health issues. We also rescue dogs from shelters and occasionally take in strays or dogs from other rescue situations outside Florida.

Veterinary requirements

The first stop for your new family member is one of our vets. They receive a thorough check-up nose to tail, are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. Any known health issues will be addressed and disclosed to you before adoption.

As the microchip registry will list GRRMF, it means you have an ally in locating a lost dog if that should happen. Any known physical problems will be dealt with, and any continuing health issues will be disclosed to you prior to you making a decision on adopting.

Foster homes

Next, this lucky pup goes to live with one of our foster families, where they receive love and care in a real home environment. Foster parents evaluate the dog’s personality and behavior, including interactions with cats, children, and other dogs. This helps us find the best match for your family. Since we don’t have a central facility, you’ll meet one dog at a time, based on your willingness to travel.

In conclusion

We highly recommend reading the Learn section on our website before submitting your application. This will answer more of your questions and provide insight into the care we want our dogs to receive.

Yes, this process takes time but consider it from your pup’s perspective. Many of our goldens have had multiple homes, which can be confusing and stressful. The extra time and care we take helps ensure this will be their last move, allowing them to settle into their forever home.

We do charge an adoption fee, which helps defray the average $2000 expense per dog in our program. Adoption fees are subject to change based on medical costs, transportation, or unexpected charges. Donations from individuals also help fund our program.

Note that adoption fees are subject to change based on medical costs, transportation or unexpected charges incurred to ensure the wellness of the dog.

How to start the adoption process

Read our policies

Ensure you have read and can meet our policies, including the area of coverage.

Photos to collect before starting your application

You will attach these photos to your application.

• Yard Photo: From your backyard door, showing the yard, pool, and fence, if applicable.
• Living Area Photo: Where your GRRMF rescue dog will spend most of their time.
• Sleeping Area Photo: Where your GRRMF rescue dog will sleep at night.
• Dog/Kitchen Photo: Current dog(s) in your home or your kitchen if no dog is currently living there.

Submit your application

After you submit your application, a volunteer will contact you. Our target is four (4) weeks to complete the preliminary steps before first contact with you for the phone interview.

Processing fee

• There is a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee.
• This must be paid before your application is reviewed.
• If your application is declined or withdrawn, the fee will not be refunded.
• Click here if you cannot locate the payment link after submitting your application,

Waiting period

The waiting period varies based on the dog’s background and traits. More specific parameters (gender, age, color, weight, breed) may result in a longer wait. Young adult purebred golden retrievers have high demand, while puppies under 1 year, seniors (7+), golden blends, and other retrievers may have a shorter wait.

You can also print out the application and mail it with a $25.00 check payable to GRRMF. Note that mailing will delay processing.