Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Needs special attention,
Needs experienced adopter,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA ONLY. Will be available starting 9/28/23, but we are accepting applications now.
Meet Cali. She is a 5 year old white golden who came to us as a rescue from a backyard breeder where she experienced a life of neglect. As a result, we are asking that you please don’t apply if you are looking for a “typical” golden retriever.
Cali came to us 5 days after having 10 puppies, 9 of which died. The other one was picked up by a different rescue that left Cali behind.
Cali is in rough shape. She arrived severely underweight with ear infections in both ears, scabs and sores all over her back from a horrible flea infestation, pressure sores on her elbows and ankles from spending years sleeping on concrete, worn down and dirty teeth, and pyometra that required an urgent spay surgery. She is on the mend, but it will take her a while to get her weight up and get to a totally healthy physical state.
Emotionally, Cali has been through some serious trauma. She is uncertain, afraid, and hesitant in new situations/with new people. It appears her life was spent outdoors as she has been trying to adjust to being an indoor pup.
We will be honest, we don’t know fully who Cali is at this point. She is still pretty shut down, and she probably doesn’t even know who she is when given a safe, loving environment.
What we have seen from her so far is that she is sweet once she starts to trust you. She’s good around other dogs as long as food/treats aren’t involved (she’s been starved, so she doesn’t want to share food/treats). She hates to be alone and is very velcro in her foster home. She would do best in a home with people who work from home or are retired and can be with her pretty consistently throughout the day.
We have started to see little bits of progress from her in the few short days she’s been with us. Initially afraid of stairs, she’s now going up and down them with much less hesitation. She’s learned how to hop up on the couch and seems to enjoy the comfort those offer. She’s only had one potty accident in the house. She’s eating very well and is getting better with walking on a leash.
Cali has a ton of potential, but, as we said, she is not your typical golden retriever at this stage. If you are looking for a golden that has the normal golden temperament, Cali isn’t the pup for you. She is a very special girl who needs a very patient, special home that expects nothing from her and is up for the beautiful process of helping her heal. Whoever is up for the journey is going to be rewarded with an amazing soul dog, and Cali will easily be one of the most wonderful parts of your life.
Please fill out an adoption application on our website if you are interested in adopting Cali.
