Rescued Golden Retrievers at Meet and Greet

One must wonder what Sophie might think.  Many of us treat our dogs as well as, if not better, than our human companions.  There are doggy ensembles, complete with shoes and hats and thousands of variations of treats and toys, beds and services.

Sophie, a Golden Retriever, was riding in the back of a pickup truck when a bump in the road threw her from the vehicle.  Her people were seen looking back at her before they drove off, leaving her in their dust with a broken leg.  She would never see them again.  However, her luck was about to change.

Now she lives in a foster home affiliated with As Good as Gold, a membership based, all-volunteer non-profit organization comprised of over 400 volunteers who support or welcome broken and broken hearted Goldens into their homes, while searching for the perfect human match for them and many others of the same breed. 

“We have about 85 foster homes in Northern Illinois,” said As Good as Gold spokesperson, Colleen O’Brien.  “At any given time we have 30-40 in foster care.”

On Saturday, March 5, some of those dogs, which are recognized as one of the best fits for families, and their caretakers, will meet and greet the public at Pasquesi’s Home and Garden in Barrington.  The afternoon will be one of many meet and greets scheduled in Northern Illinois as the eight-year-old organization spreads the word about rescue, adoption and care of one of America’s favorite breeds of dog.

Susan Lunn and her husband Joe organize the events that introduce both dog and organization to the public.   Pasquesi’s may seem an unusual location for such an event, but As Good as Gold is trying to think out of the box, or pet store, in this instance.  “Pasquesi’s has a dog department and they allow dogs in the store, so it can facilitate a dog event,’” Lunn said.

The dogs arrive at the shelter for a myriad of reasons, according to Lunn.  “There are good reasons, and there are other reasons,” Lunn said.  “The dogs have been abused, thrown out of cars, especially in the economic crisis, people have had to move from houses to apartments or can’t pay for their care.”

“A lot of dogs that are owner relinquished are relinquished because the dog didn’t have proper training or the owners didn’t know what they were getting into,” O’Brien said.  Not that the breed is difficult to live with.  Golden retrievers consistently score high as family dogs.  Sometimes all that is needed is an obedience class to teach manners.

After placing 1,200 dogs over eight years As Good as Gold prides itself on the ability to match dogs with their forever homes, which is why the can’t be adopted on the spot Saturday.  “We have an adoption application and its very detailed,” Lunn said.  “We want to make sure the adoption is good for the dog and the family.”

After the questionnaire is filled out, the next step is a home visit where a volunteer visits the potential residence to make certain it will be a safe and happy home for a dog and its new family.  Then the process of matching dog to owner begins.  A little like online dating, the would-be dog adopter is matched with the dogs in foster care, based on things like temperament and level of activity. When the match is deemed perfect, the adoption takes place.  Because of their strident measures, As Good as Gold can boast a 99 percent permanence rate. 

According to O’Brien, As Good as Gold exists solely on donations which come from the meet and greets as well as “A Golden Night”, an annual fundraiser at Brookfield Zoo which will occur on May 14 this year.  “That pays most of our veterinary bills,” said O’Brien.

The veterinary bills for the approximately 200 dogs taken in each year, are colossal, O’Brien said and for good reason.  “We will not turn away a dog for medical reasons.  We’ve taken in dogs with brain tumors, we’ve taken is dogs with days to live.  We do what we can to give them a good quality life no matter how much life they have left.  We let them feel what its like to be part of a family with love.”

For more information about the event, fostering, adopting or contributing visit: AsGoodasgold.org, call: 630-588-0115 or write: PO Box 5460 • Woodridge IL 60517-0460

If You Go:

What: As Good as Gold meet and greet.

Where: Pasquesi’s Home and Garden, 990 W. Northwest Highway, 
Barrington, IL

When: March 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.