Foster Parents
Being a foster parent is a very rewarding job, but we ask that you have enough time each day to socialize, walk dogs on a lead and play with the foster dog. These dogs will be grateful for whatever time you can give them.

Foster parents have to attend a foster training class (held quarterly) before fostering, unless they have adequate experience. The Foster Home Team Leader and Ted Terroux, GRRR's trainer/behaviorist, will also be available for advice and support. You should keep in mind that some rescue dogs are not housebroken, may be ill, or may have had no obedience training. Sometimes we need to bring Goldens into the program on extremely short notice.

Our first concern is for the safety of your family, your dog(s) and for the rescue dog(s). Therefore, we ask that our foster homes have the facilities to keep a rescue dog separate from other dogs, as well as confined in an area where the dog cannot be destructive. Confinement, preferably in a training crate, is also invaluable for housebreaking when needed. Foster homes must also be available to transport dogs to and from Sage Valley Pet Center for visits with potential adopters.

Fundraising Team
Join the fundraising team, where there are many ways to become involved with fundraising and grant writing, including planning special events and selling fabulous GRRR merchandise, along with an opportunity to feel good about raising funds for our beloved Goldens.

Home Visit/Follow-Up Team
Ever wonder how good a new home will be for a rescued Golden, or if a placed Golden has truly found their ‘forever home?’ This team takes the responsibility of making home visits before adoptions or follow-up calls and/or visits after adoptions. This is not done for every dog we place, but primarily for special needs situations or dogs coming from out-of-state. The team may also be called upon to answer questions and offer help to new adopters.

Volunteer Interaction Program (playing with rescue dogs)
Some rescued Goldens won’t find their new homes right away and may not be able to go to foster homes for a variety of reasons, but they ALL need the best care and attention we can give them in the meantime. VIP volunteers can make a huge difference in the quality of their lives. While they lounge in our kennel spaces at Sage Valley Pet Center in Golden awaiting their lucky day, they need to be played with and walked and reassured as much as possible; it greatly benefits them to have people-contact during their stay at Sage Valley Pet Center. We ask that you are able to commit to a regular schedule such as once every week or two, depending on the number of dogs being kenneled at the time. You must be age 18 or older for this position.

Special Events Team
It is important for GRRR to host special events like its annual Halloween party and to participate in local dog events such as the Plum Creek Dog Show. Volunteers on this team will be responsible for orchestrating these functions, as well as planning new events or suggesting participation in events sponsored by other like organizations. They will be expected to pass out information about the breed, and best of all, show off our Goldens. This team also plans the annual Rescue Reunion Picnic at which we honor all the Goldens adopted through the program.

Transportation Team
Transportation volunteers are a very necessary part of the rescue process and your willingness to come to the aid of a Golden that needs a ride on an occasional basis will be most appreciated. It could involve being picked up at a shelter and taken to a foster home, taken from a kennel to a vet, or even picked up out of town or in another state. Transportation volunteers should use a crate in their car. The family dog(s) should not be taken along when transporting a rescue dog due to the possible exposure to disease or incompatibility between dogs. If it involves a long trip, soliciting volunteers from other groups to drive ‘legs’ of the journey may be needed.

Website/Newsletter Team
The GRRR Newsletter is an integral part of the rescue process because it keeps everyone in touch and makes everyone aware of what is going on with this organization. This team writes articles for the quarterly newsletter, including labeling and mailing it. These volunteers will take pictures and write profiles of Goldens awaiting adoption. The GRRR website updates are also part of this group’s efforts.

To receive more information by mail, please click here.