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Are you interested in a rescued or a rehomed Goldendoodle? There are a lot of benefits and a few issues when bringing a rescue into your home, but the long-term love and affection is worth surmounting the challenges. You will find several foster-based Doodle rescue organizations, and some Golden Retriever rescue organizations, who also rescue Goldendoodles, listed in the Information section on page 91.

Parvo

When there is a parvo or a distemper outbreak in a region, a breeder may not allow you to visit the puppies. Be wary, though. Saying there is an outbreak in their region is a frequently used trick of puppy mills to keep people from visiting their facility. If you get this response, simply do an in-depth Internet search based on the breeder’s location and the type of outbreak he/she claims is occurring. You can also call a local animal shelter or a local veterinarian. If there is no current record of an outbreak, steer clear of the breeder. That said, parvo is a deadly disease and extreme caution is understandable. If there is an outbreak in the region and the breeder is adamant about no visitors, do some additional research of the breeder’s credentials and the regulatory bodies to which the breeder belongs. Ask for references from people who have been to the breeding facility. Also, in this age of technology, ask the breeder if he/she will provide a live virtual tour of his/her home and breeding facilities via your smartphone once a puppy application has been submitted. Hold the application fee until the virtual tour takes place.

Working with a rescue organization that utilizes foster homes for their rescue dogs brings some wonderful benefits for the adopting family, particularly if this is a first ever dog. A foster family gets to know the dog, both the good and the not so good, and provides a clear picture of what type of family is best for that particular dog: kids/no kids, cats/no cats, other dogs/must be a solo dog, and so on. A foster family also works to train the rescue Doodle or shore up what training she may already have.

Reporting Abuse

If you see evidence of neglect and/or abuse of either the puppies or the parents, do not hesitate to contact the ASPCA at www.aspca.org. Your voice may be the only one for the neglected animals.

Loving foster homes make safe transitional places for dogs needing new homes without the trauma of being in a shelter. Foster homes also help shelter dogs, as well as dogs from hoarders and puppy mills, learn how to function in a home with a variety of social situations—often including children and other dogs—before moving on to their forever homes.

A rescue dog can come into foster care or a shelter tainted by the opinions of a previous owner. “Unfriendly, unlovable, and grouchy” is an actual quote from a relinquishing owner of a dog that, when placed in foster care, turned out to be a lovable, goofy, snuggly dog just waiting for the right family to find him. He’s a very happy camper these days, living with his “foster failure” family—he was so sweet they adopted him!

Maybe it’s anthropomorphizing, but rescue dog owners will tell you the bond they share with their dogs is a unique treasure: the dogs are grateful for caring owners who took a chance on them.