Adoption Overview

Because of our Application and Pre-Screening process, many of the dogs that become available to AGR are placed immediately with their new Foster-With-Intent-to-Adopt (FWITA) homes, without ever being listed as Available on our website.

If you are interested in adopting a Rescued Golden Retriever or Retriever mix, we recommend that you submit an online application by clicking  HERE   to get the process started so that you will be on the list of adopters when the right dog for you comes in. Note that there is a $25 adoption application fee required in order to process your application.  This $25 application fee may be paid via: Zelle (to info@arizonagoldenrescue.org), or PayPal (fee is $26 if using PayPal), Or you can mail a $25.00 check to AGR at 5350 W. Bell Rd, STE C122-158, Glendale, AZ 85308.  If the payee name does not match the applicant name, please include that information in the check memo.  After this application fee is paid, then you will be contacted regarding scheduling a home evaluation.

​AGR will only adopt to those whose principal domicile residence is within the state of Arizona. Further, it is AGR policy that we will GENERALLY not place a dog under 3 years of age with a family that has children under 3 years of age. Also, puppies or active/energetic dogs regardless of age are not appropriate for most apartment dwellings and will require a fenced yard.

If an adoption applicant resides outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area AND if that applicant has resident dogs in their home, they will be required to bring their resident dogs to Phoenix for a meet-and-greet with an AGR representative and any potential dog they might be interested in before being offered that dog for adoption. This is to ensure compatibility in how the resident dog(s) and new adopted dog might get along.

Our sole purpose is to find the best home for the dog, as the dog always comes first.  Our criteria for evaluating potential adopters gives primary consideration to the health, safety, and well-being of the dog, as well as the health and safety of the adopter. As such, we reserve the right to deny an adoption, even if a potential adopter feels they may be the best home for a particular dog.

Again, note that not all our rescue dogs are necessarily shown on our website; some dogs that we take into rescue are placed in their new homes so quickly that they never are listed on the website. Also, some adoptable dogs may remain on the website until their adoptions are finalized. As hard as we try to screen the adoptable dogs and their new potential "Forever Homes", there is always the possibility that the FWITA (Foster-With-Intent-To-Adopt) and the adoptable dog are not compatible and then the dog would return to available status.

Because we have new rescues coming in all the time, if the Golden that is the right dog for you is not available at this time it will probably come into Rescue and you would be notified of the availability.

Browse through our Adoption Process pages for further information on how we assess and clear a dog for adoption- and how to match that dog with a household best suited to both of their needs and behaviors.

Our adoption fees are based upon the Golden’s age.

  • Puppies up to 2 years of age are $500 

  • Dogs 2 - 5 years of age are $475 

  • Dogs between 5 and 9 are $450 

  • Dogs over 9 years of age are $400.

  • If a pair is adopted, the cost will be the full fee for the younger dog and half-fee for the other/older dog.

If/when an AGR dog is placed with an applicant, either as a "foster only" or as a "Foster With Intent To Adopt", the applicant must be a current paid AGR member, otherwise our insurance will not cover them if anything untoward happens.  A Membership Application may be submitted online from this website (click on Membership) if the applicant is not already a current paid member.

When AGR takes a Golden into Rescue, we incur veterinary costs. Sometimes these costs are minimal, as when only a general physical is done. In other cases we have significant medical expenses. What little money we might receive on the adoption of one dog will go to offset the medical expenses of the next dog. Adoption fees by themselves never cover all our expenses with rescued dogs. In recent years, the average cost of veterinary services has been at least $2,000 per dog.

For more information on our adoption process and adoption fees check out our  FAQ .