Adoption FAQs
GRRAND Geographic Placement Areas by County
Without exception, GRRAND adoptions are limited to the geographic counties shown in the table below.Note: It is our policy to meet face-to-face during the adoption application process for home visits, follow-up visits, and other one-on-one meetings. We do not process applications outside the boundaries listed below because we do not have experienced volunteers living in those areas. The geographic limitation is in place for the safety of our volunteers who would have to travel to conduct face-to-face meetings and assist during emergency situations involving a dog we have placed in those areas.
| Kentucky Counties | Ohio Counties | Indiana Counties |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson (some areas) | Butler (some areas) | Clark (some areas) |
| Boone (some areas) | Clermont (some areas) | Floyd (some areas) |
| Bullitt (some areas) | Greene (some areas) | |
| Campbell (some areas) | Hamilton | |
| Fayette | Montgomery (some areas) | |
| Jefferson | Warren | |
| Jessamine | ||
| Kenton (some areas) | ||
| Madison (some areas) | ||
| Oldham | ||
| Scott (some areas) | ||
| Shelby (some areas) | ||
| Spencer (some areas) | ||
| Woodford |
What are your fencing policies? If you have no fence and live in a household with adults (all of whom are 16 years or over), have previous experience with pets, and commit to leash walking we will consider your application. If you have children who have not yet turned 16 years of age, you must have a fence and there is no exception to that policy. Your fence must meet the following standards to adopt a dog.
a) A fully enclosed, secure, fence must:
- Be attached to the house without an opening, including a driveway; if the fence crosses a driveway, a gate must be used to close the driveway opening
- Be accessible from a door in the house so that the dog goes directly from house to the fenced yard
- Be at least 4’ high
- Be secure at ground level
- Be equipped with a lockable gate
- Provide ample space for dog to exercise and eliminate
- Have no openings including loose or broken boards
b) The invisible fencing for underground wiring must meet all the following qualifications in order to be approved:
- Must be professionally installed by a local company,
- The local fencing company must conduct hands-on training with your GRRAND dog to ensure the dog fully understands how the fence works, and
- Your home must not be located close to busy streets or intersections.
What is your policy for children under 6 years of age? The great majority of our rescued goldens come from animal shelters and their histories are generally unknown. Due to our emphasis on safety, GRRAND will not place into families with children under the age of six any of the following:
- Goldens who have had no exposure to children or were given up because of characteristics that are incompatible with young children
- Goldens who have no documented history
- Puppies under the age of 6 months who still have sharp puppy teeth
The only potential exception to this policy is for experienced pet owners whose children have been raised with a dog or dogs in the home. This exception is only for the adoption of adult dogs. An approved exception will require the adopter to sign a waiver of liability prior to the adoption.
What is your Vet Care policy? Our Vet Care Team will keep a new adoptive parent up to date on the medical care each GRRAND dog has received.
- Each dog will receive an intake exam with testing for infections, fecal exam, vaccinations, and placement or recording of a microchip. GRRAND covers these costs.
- If test results indicate a need for further treatment, we expect you to help by taking your dog to our partner vet clinics as needed.
- If a dog has been placed before all treatment has been completed, you may need to take your new dog for multiple vet visits. We will work with your schedules throughout.
- GRRAND covers the cost of spay and neuter procedures for all dogs. For a very young dog, this may occur months later, but one member of our team will always be tracking each dog.
May I select the dog I want? We welcome your inquiries about specific dogs and will be glad to talk to you about your options. Some dogs may not be the right fit for your family and lifestyle or may already be meeting a previously approved family.
How do I make a request for a puppy? If you are only interested in adopting a puppy, you should submit your application and ask to be placed on a waiting list
Do I have to apply if I have adopted before?
- Applications are required for each dog placement including first-time and previous adopters.
- Approved applications are maintained as active for up to 6 months.
What is the adoption application process? Upon submittal of your application, please notify your references and veterinarian that GRRAND will be contacting them by phone. To process your application GRRAND will:
- Review your application information
- Contact references by phone
- Contact your veterinarian to verify your history of vet care
- Arrange a home visit to discuss your preferences if references and vet follow-ups are suitable
- Contact you to discuss potential dogs matching your needs and family lifestyle
- Contact you to schedule a meet and greet with some of our rescued dogs
- Process your application in the order received
Note: IF GRRAND is unable to verify you have provided responsible vet care for your pets, your application will likely be declined.
How long will it take to process my application? Your application will be processed as quickly as possible by GRRAND volunteers. We appreciate your patience and will provide status updates as appropriate. If you have questions during the process, contact us.
Why do you have an Adoption fee? The average cost to rescue one GRRAND dog is over $1,000. Just like any responsible pet owner, we must ensure our dogs are healthy, neutered, or spayed, and vaccinated prior to placement. Adoption fees are used to compensate for vet expenses and boarding costs incurred by GRRAND for each incoming dog. Your adoption fee is used to offset the following costs:
- Examination by a veterinarian
- Updates for all shots and vaccinations
- Testing and treatment for heartworm, intestinal parasites, ear infection or other identified illnesses
- Spay or neuter if not already altered
- Microchipping
- Temperament assessment
GRRAND is also available to provide:
- Lifetime resources, information, and advice about caring for and training your new dog
- Lifetime guaranteed home for your dog in the event you are unable to keep him/her for any reason
What happens after I adopt a dog? Expect post-adoption follow-ups from GRRAND to assist you with the transition of your new dog and to answer questions you might have.
- GRRAND will keep you up to date on the medical care each dog has received
- GRRAND will identify the need for further treatment(s) as medically appropriate for the dog
- You will need to provide transportation to GRRAND’s partner vet clinics if authorized and scheduled by a GRRAND representative, including the potential for multiple visits
- GRRAND will cover the cost of those identified medical needs and veterinary appointments
- GRRAND will schedule post-adoption follow-ups to assist you with the transition of your new dog and to answer questions you might have.
How do I know if a Golden Retriever is the right fit for my family? Take the time to review this document to understand the characteristics and care requirements for a Golden Retriever.
How long will it take a newly adopted dog to adjust to his/her new home and how can I help? Of course, all dogs are different but to help you understand how they process a new environment, please review the 3.3.3 Rule in the graphic below.
You can help by:
- Being slow and patient with them
- Letting them adjust at their own pace
- Avoiding the urge to push them into something with which they are not comfortable
- Giving your new dog a private space to help with the adjustment
- Avoiding overstimulation
- Rewarding good behavior with calm, soothing talk, treats, etc.
