Update October 18, 2015

They're HERE!

Our Turkey dogs are here, on U.S. Soil, and four Love a Golden Rescue volunteers were there to meet them at the airport. Imagine the excitement! Our beautiful goldens are Harry, Truman, and Bess.

If these names sound familiar, it is because Love a Golden Rescue decided on a presidential theme in order to honor Missouri. Thus, the names— Harry, Truman and Bess.



Harry (male) is approximately 2 years old, neutered in a municipality shelter and has been treated for mange. He is social.

Truman (male) is very social and was living with many other dogs in a small shelter.

Bess (female) is approximately 1. She was brought to a shelter when she was about 6 months old. There she was spayed. Volunteers refused to leave her on the streets and took her to a private shelter. There she waited for someone to choose her.

When it came time to decide which goldens we would receive, all we had were photos and very brief bios of the available dogs. Almost immediately, we realized that it would be nearly impossible to choose which dogs to save and which to leave behind, so we just chose the first three dogs on the list.

Once selected, Harry, Truman and Bess went to a clinic and received health certificates and passports for travel. During this exam they were very thoroughly vetted. Then, these three lucky goldens were then moved to a “pet hotel” and made comfortable until transport.

Love a Golden Rescue - still an all-volunteer group - is primarily committed to rescuing dogs locally. However these goldens from Turkey deserve a second chance to have a wonderful life, too. The international effort is huge. Already more than seven golden rescues in the U.S. are involved and more are coming on board for 2016. Love a Golden Rescue is proud to be taking part. However, to cover the extra expenses, we must raise funds over-and-above our usual annual fundraising.

To help pay for bringing the dogs from Turkey to America, we're selling T-shirts and hoodies—clothing that was designed by a talented, local volunteer. THIS LINK will take you to our web page where you can see the shirts and hoodies. Turkey Dog Rescue Wear will make great gifts and allow the wearer to proudly proclaim they are a part of this international rescue effort. But please note: the hoodies and T-shirts will be on sale ONLY until November 30th!

You may have heard about the situation with Golden Retrievers in Turkey. There are more than 500 homeless Golden Retrievers roaming the streets (out of an estimated 50,000 stray dogs - many pure bred), foraging in the forest or stuck in the shelters of Istanbul. The Washington Post, USA Today, CNN (video) and other news outlets have done a good job covering the story.  A golden retriever rescue, Adopt a Golden of Atlanta (AGA), has worked hard, in tandem with volunteers in Istanbul, to implement the rescue of these goldens.

AGA has taken the lead with three airline flights of these rescued goldens referred to as the “Turkey Dogs”. AGA has also documented these rescues every step of the way on a truly heartwarming Facebook page.  In September, another group of these goldens will arrive at three additional rescues, in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Love a Golden Rescue in St. Louis is now partnering in this massive rescue with another Midwest group, Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota. In October, we'll be taking three goldens from Turkey. Our three dogs will be coming to the U.S. with a group of twenty goldens. These are mostly young, beautiful and healthy goldens, however there are some in this new group that are older and have health issues.

Now we need to raise additional funds to cover the travel expenses of these three goldens. If fundraising and volunteer support go well for this initial group, we will take additional Turkey dogs in the future. The good news is that these Turkey dogs will arrive in the U.S. with all required shots and having been spayed or neutered. For those of you interested in providing a forever home, the adoption donation for the Turkey Dogs will be $500.00 and the special requirements are that there is no child under the age of 10 in the home and that there is a physical fence on the yard

Of course, Love a Golden Rescue is a small rescue group made up entirely of volunteers. Even though we're small, we're fierce when it comes to our dogs. While we can't make the same, huge impact like the large rescues can, we know that every Turkish Golden Retriever we can get into rescue in America will mean a huge improvement in the dog's life. Love a Golden Rescue dogs receive top notch treatment. They benefit from the same veterinary care as our own personal dogs. While in foster care awaiting their forever homes, the dogs learn how to live in a house and be part of a loving family. They are petted, groomed and, of course, showered with praise. Not only that, but these particular dogs will also learn English, while their foster families and forever home families learn a bit of Turkish along the way!

Please join Love A Golden in what has become a huge international effort to save these dogs. This is a fabulous example of “thinking globally and acting locally.” Please click on either button immediately below if you are inclined to help financially.

Phone:  314-963-5232