Adoption Fee

Gold Ribbon Rescue is committed to providing the medical care and vetting of all dogs that find their way into our rescue.

The vetting process consists of vaccinations, fecal and heartworm tests, spay and neuter, bathing, nail trim and any other medical needs the dog has. Some of these consist of treating mange, parasites, ear infections, allergies, or even more costly conditions such as orthopedic surgery and dental cleaning with tooth extractions, just to name a few. Dogs often must have professional training which adds to our costs.

A GRR dog must be medically and behaviorally cleared before adoption. We make all medical records available to the adopter and we disclose all that we know about the dog including any current issues we are aware of. We appreciate the hundreds of families who choose to rescue a pet instead of purchasing one and especially those that choose to adopt Goldens.

Why do you have an Adoption fee? Why aren't your dogs free?

Just like any responsible pet owner, we must ensure our dogs are healthy, neutered and vaccinated prior to placement. Consider how much you pay just to get your dog's annual exam, shots and heartworm preventative. Our dogs receive an extensive medical evaluation and are:

  • Current on all shots, have had a complete exam and all known issues are treated
  • Heartworm free (treated if necessary) and placed on preventative
  • Spayed or neutered
  • Needed surgeries or known issues addressed
  • Temperament tested
Note: Puppies may not be fully vaccinated and spayed/neutered due to their age and those expenses would be the adopter’s responsibility, post-adoption.

Then consider our dogs also come with:

  • Education on how to care for him/her
  • Lifetime guaranteed home for the dog if you cannot keep him/her
  • An organization full of resources on how to care & train for your dog, answer questions and advise on things for the rest of its life

Don't the vets donate their services so you get free vet work?

No, we do not get free vet work. We do get reduced vet fees from our GRR vet partners. Our veterinarians are very good to us, and we could not do it without them, but they still must make a living and cover their expenses.

What are the typical vet costs?

Our typical vet fees (after our discount) with our approved GRR vets are:

  • $50 for a basic wellness exam
  • $200 for Rabies, DHLPP and Bordetella vaccinations, a Heartworm test and fecal exam
  • $400 to neuter/spay
  • $900 Heartworm treatment
  • $1000 dental extractions and cleaning
  • $1000+ for Orthopedic procedures and surgeries

What vet care does the dog come with?

All GRR dogs are examined by a vet upon intake and are:

  1. Brought current on all shots: Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, plus other viruses (DHLPP), and Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
  2. Given a fecal to check for intestinal parasites (worms) and treated appropriately
  3. Spayed/neutered if medically and age (>6 months of age) appropriate
  4. Tested for heartworms, treated if necessary, and then placed on preventative
  5. Treated for any other identified health issues such as ear infections, skin rashes/parasites, allergies, dental issues, etc.
  6. Placed on flea and tick preventative to ensure they are parasite free (and welcome in their new home –this last part– not needed)
Note: Puppies are examined and treated as appropriate to (for) their age.

What do you do when the dog costs more than the adoption fee?

We do not deny care or turn away dogs based on their medical needs. Since our adoption fee generally does not cover the cost of a dog's care, we rely heavily on fundraising and donations to make up the difference. We are a non-profit group and all donations are gratefully accepted and tax deductible.

Other than dog care, where does your money go?

We are staffed completely by volunteers, have no paid employees and no shelter or kennel facility. All dogs are cared for in our volunteers' own homes. GRR does not even pay for dog food -- it is graciously donated or provided by the foster family, unless the dog is on a special vet prescribed diet. We maintain minimal operating expenses for our hotline, website hosting and postage. We scrimp and save everywhere we can so that all of our monies can go to the dog’s care and rehabilitation.

What are your adoption fees?

Our adoption fees as of February 15, 2023 are:

  • Puppy - 7 years: $550
  • Dogs 8 - 10 years: $350
  • Dogs 11 years and older: $250
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