Are you eligible to adopt?

DVGRR Adoption applicants must:

• Reside within the geographic area covered by DVGRR (Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Northern Delaware, or Northern Maryland). This requirement may be waived for applicants who have adopted previously from DVGRR, or when other special circumstances apply.
• Demonstrate the ability and commitment to provide proper care, exercise and training for the lifetime of the dog.
• Abide by the DVGRR Terms and Conditions of Adoption.
• Have a fenced in yard large enough to safely exercise the dog and agree to never leave the dog outside in the yard when no one is home. Please see our fence specifications below. To learn more about why we require a fenced yard, please click here.
• Applicants such as apartment or condo dwellers who do not have yards may apply for an exemption from this requirement using the process noted at the bottom of this page. At the discretion of the DVGRR Adoption Team, appropriate Goldens, typically senior, less active, or special needs dogs, may be placed in unfenced homes.
• Agree to keep the dog safely on leash at all times when not in a fenced-in area. This requirement applies to all adoptive homes, including those who receive an exemption from the fenced yard requirement. To learn more about the reasons for our leash policy, please click here.
• Agree to accompany the dog through a group or individual obedience class within 90 days of adoption and provide a certificate of attendance to DVGRR. This requirement may be waived on a case-by-case basis.
• All children in the home must be age six or older. In addition, dogs from shelters will not be adopted to homes with children under ten. DVGRR does not accept exemption requests regarding children under six years old in the family. Our goal is to maximize the chances of success for every adoption, and our experience has shown us that this is best accomplished when all children in the family are six and older. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of both our rescue dogs and our adoptive families. To learn more about our child policy, please click here.

To meet DVGRR’s requirements, a physical barrier fence must:

• Be constructed of wood (stockade, picket), metal (iron, chain link), PVC or wooden/metal posts with heavy gauge wire
• Be a minimum height of 4 feet, but 5 feet or higher is preferred
• If applicable, have lockable gates
• Fenced areas directly accessible from the home are preferred

To meet DVGRR’s requirements, an invisible/underground fence must:

• Be manufactured and installed professionally
• Provide professional training and support for the dog and owner
• Be located on a property that does not abut a busy street
• For more detail on invisible fence requirements, please click here.

Exemptions:

If you cannot meet the eligibility requirements, then in most cases, we cannot proceed with your application. However, we recognize that there may be exceptional applicants whose circumstances do not completely fit within our guidelines. Therefore, experienced dog owners may request an exemption to the DVGRR requirement for a fenced yard.

To request an exemption, your application must include a detailed statement describing your circumstances, lifestyle, previous dog ownership, and how you plan on safely exercising and managing an adopted Golden Retriever, while still complying with our Terms and Conditions of Adoption. (Space for that statement is provided on our application form.) Please remember that we typically place only the older or less active dogs into homes without fenced yards.

If your exemption request is accepted, and if you meet all other eligibility requirements, we will contact you to schedule a home visit. Exemption requests from first time dog owners will not be considered.

Please carefully follow the steps outlined on our “How do I adopt?” page to learn more about the adoption process.