I've thought a lot about the golden retriever breed lately - maybe because I now share my
life with three goldens:  Redford (1), Annie (4) and Ben (7).  In the last few years I have
lost six of my beloved goldens - Buckley (8), Abby (9), Logan (12), Trooper (14), Finn (15) and
Holden Golden (8).  What I wouldn't do for one more day with them.  It makes the reason
for AGA even more special.  When we established AGA we decided to focus on owners who
needed to surrender their golden retriever and felt they could no longer care for their
golden for any reason.  We did not care why they couldn't keep their golden any longer.  We
found out giving up your golden was always a gut-wrenching decision to make and we had to
be understanding and try to be in those owners' shoes for one minute.   

 

Our first AGA golden was a 6 month old Purebred pup whose dad was being deployed to Iraq. 
Imagine going to war and leaving your dog with strangers who promised to take care of your  

dog like it was their own.  It is a very hard thing to do, probably the hardest thing they have
ever had to do.  So, changes happen, people move, have financial problems and there is no time
left in the day for their dog - it doesn't fit into their life any longer.  The obligation we have
to the dogs we take into our program is huge.  It is imperative we take it very seriously.  I
have always said the expectations we place on this breed may be too high.  Sure, the friendliest
dogs on earth will bounce back from losing their family and the only home they ever, had in no
time.  Maybe they need more time.  Why do some have severe problems adjusting to their new
lives? Aren't all goldens the same?  They aren't allowed to be bad.  Right now we have several
goldens who have not adjusted well to being abandoned, regardless of why.  We have turned to
U.S. Canine, owned and run by Atlanta's dog whisperer Angie Woods, to help us with these