9/15/15 Foster Update: We have discovered something wonderful about Stevo. He was trained as a Service Dog!!! He knows all the commands. Stevo spent time with a Sunshine volunteer named Jeff who once trained service dogs, and he noticed that Stevo was following him as a service dog would, so he tested Stevo:
~If you say “Front” he puts his head forward so you can take off his collar;
~If you say “Dress” he sticks his head out to put his collar on;
~If he pulls on lead--one yank, say “Heel,” and he is at your left side;
~Say “Get Busy," he pees or poops;
~Sit down in your office, Stevo goes underneath automatically.
Stevo is just an incredible dog—very smart, affectionate, and we are still learning things that Stevo knows. If you are looking for a truly awesome family dog, here is your guy!
9/8/15 Foster Update: Stevo’s Foster Mom adores gentle, loving Stevo! The staff at the vet’s office fell in love with him too. Everybody loves this dog! His gorgeous dark gold coat is growing in and his teeth are beautiful. He is feeling really good with a new diet and the addition of an inexpensive anti-inflammatory medicine to help his back legs. He even hops around when he knows he is going out for one of his frequent walks. Stevo has a goal weight of 90-95 lbs and he is well on his way! He is so much fun to spend time with. His foster puts a ball on his nose and he'll catch it in mid-air! And then he rests with his head in her lap. Awwwwwww!!! Stevo is such a great dog — please do not overlook him if you are looking for a wonderful family dog who loves cats, bunnies, and children. He will do best with a fenced yard. He is ready to meet you.
Background: Stevo is a 9-year old, gentle giant of a Golden Retriever. Stevo came to Sunshine to find a home because his family must move from their home to an apartment and cannot take Stevo along. Stevo had lived with his family, including a 12-year old boy, since he was a pup. He is good-natured toward all people and especially loves kids. He met our volunteer and acted as if he had known her forever. Stevo also got along great with the family cat, who he slept with, and has lived amicably with bunnies. Stevo is extremely lovable and he is also lots of fun! He "gives paw” when asked, takes treats very gently, and says “I ruff you” for a treat! He loves belly rubs, knows sit, and lay down, plays dead, and will even make a “cute face” when asked! One of his favorite things is playing fetch with a tennis ball, which has been his primary form of exercise recently, playing fetch with his human brother after school. Stevo’s other favorite thing is going for car rides — any place, any time! When his leash goes on, he assumes he is supposed to take himself for a walk and carries his leash, looking up at whoever is with him for direction. He does not pull while on a leash, and loves being walked.
While Stevo got along fine with his extended family's Min-Pin dog, he is not as welcoming to strange large dogs who rush over to meet him. While we have not experienced this, his former owner stated that she was afraid to walk him due to his size, in case he became aggressive toward another dog, as he once bit a dog’s ear when the dog rushed him. Stevo lived as an only dog and did not meet many other dogs. We believe he would do okay if introduced slowly and carefully to new dogs, but also that he has earned the right to live as an only loved dog if he prefers. He has never had to compete with another dog for food, toys, or attention and he seems to like it that way! Stevo’s ideal home would have a cat, no other dogs or possibly a small dog, a fenced yard, and possibly kids to cuddle and play with.
It is heartbreaking for a dog to lose the only family he has known just as he enters retirement years, but this big gentle soul will bring lots of love and happiness to the people who are kind enough to open their hearts to him. Stevo is up-to-date on his vaccinations, neutered, and house trained. He is currently in a foster home in CT and is ready to meet you.
If you have already been approved for adoption through SGRR, please contact the
Adoption Committee to be considered to adopt Stevo.
If not yet approved, please visit our website to lean more and to submit an online application.
Click here to visit our website.
Please contact us with any questions regarding your application status.
PLEASE APPLY by submitting an application via this online link:
Click for Adoption Application
About Our Rescue
Before being approved to adopt, all potential adopters need to complete our online application and participate in our pre-adoption review process. The process includes the completion of an online application, a reference from the applicants' vet, a phone interview, and a visit to the applicants' home. The application process helps us determine what type of Golden would be best suited for the applicants' life style. In some cases, the specific dog you are interested in may have found a home before this process is complete or further assessment may find that this dog is not the right match for your family. We are regularly getting new Goldens in need of a home, so we encourage you to apply and get approved so that when the right dog comes along you will be ready.
The information provided on each dog is based on observations of our vets, volunteers, fosters and when available, trainers. While we do our best to report any and all issues, SGRR does not make any guarantees as to the health or temperament of any dog. Dogs evolve differently in different environments and we cannot predict with any certainty how the dog you adopt will act in your home.
SGRR Adoption Fees (subject to change)**
Puppies under 6 months $650
Young dogs 6 months - 6 years $550
Young dogs - Special Needs $450
Senior dogs 7 - 9 years $450
Seniors dogs 10 years and older $350
Senior dogs - Special Needs $300
Young Bonded Pairs $850
Senior Bonded Pairs $750
**Please note: The fees listed represent a slight increase and are effective for applications received after June 1 2014. We regret the need to increase the fees for our dogs, but found it necessary due to the increased costs we are faced with for each dog's care and placement.
A contract is signed the day of adoption. Under the terms of the contract, all adopters are required to bring the rescue to a vet within 7 business days. The dogs receive basic veterinary care prior to adoption. If your vet identifies an illness that an adopter is not willing to treat, then the dog is returned and a full refund is provided.
Many of our dogs are fostered in private homes and we do not have a facility to visit. We are committed to our dogs before, during, and after adoption! The rescue retains title to the dog and can never be released or sold. Should the adopters no longer be able to keep the dog, SGRR must be notified so that we can take the dog back into rescue and place it into another home. We reserve the right to remove a dog at any time should we find the adopter is no longer caring for their Golden in a way we see fit. Adopters then have to agree to follow up visits as needed.
Please be a ray of light for this Sunshine dog and make a tax deductible donation toward medical and other expenses. Every cent of your generosity goes directly toward the care of a Sunshine dog.
Please click on the Donation link below to support SGRR!
