Labrador Retriever Rescue Organizations in Washington DC, Florida, and California

According to the American Kennel Club, Labrador retrievers are the most popular breed of dog to own in the United States. This is not surprising given that this breed is eager to please, is easily teachable, is kind, is not aggressive, is outgoing, and intelligent. Labrador Retrievers are often used on search-and-rescue teams, as guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, and in the detection of narcotics in law enforcement because they are so trainable and eager to please. If you are considering getting a Labrador Retriever, please consider getting your furry friend from one of these Labrador Retriever rescue organizations.

Labrador Retriever Rescue of DC/MD/AVPA: The aim of the Labrador Retriever Rescue of DC/MD/AVPA is to place unwanted, abused, abandoned, or neglected Labs with loving families in the Washington DC metro area. This rescue organization serves: Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland, expect for the eastern shore and western Maryland, New Jersey, within 30 miles of Pennsville New Jersey, Northern Virginia, and Lebanon and Lamcaster counties as well as some parts of Dauphin, Berks, and York counties, located in Pennsylvania. All of the adoptable dogs are kept in foster homes throughout the organization's service areas while they wait to be adopted.

In order to adopt from the Labrador Retriever Rescue of DC/MD/AVPA, you must fill out an adoption application. The application asks for information about you, your family, and your environment, such as: what type of dog you prefer (male or female, energy level, age, and color), why you want to adopt a dog, whether you have a fenced yard, what type of home you live in, where the dog will stay during the day/night, if anyone has allergies, pet history, and veterinarian information. You must also provide the organization with two references for the application process.

The rescue asserts review of your adoption application may take up to four weeks in duration. Next, the organization will contact you for a telephone interview where an Adoption Coordinator will inquire about your application to get a better sense of which dog/s might be best for you. You may also be asked to go through a house evaluation where an Adoption Coordinator will bring a Lab to your home to see how everyone in the home interacts with him or her. During the home visit, the Adoption Coordinator will also want to see the potential adopted dog's living space and your yard, if you have one.

After the telephone interview and home evaluation, you will be able to begin visiting Labs in their foster homes. The rescue requires that you visit at least three dogs before you adopt one of them.

If you would like more information about the Labrador Retriever Rescue of DC/MD/AVPA, you may visit the organization's website.

Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc.: The Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc is another rescue organization you may want to consider adopting from if you are interested in getting a Lab. This rescue is a non-profit organization that aims to find forever homes for all of its rescued dogs. The organization has several requirements and policies each applicant must follow in order to adopt a dog. For instance, all adopters must live in Florida as a home visit is required of each potential adopter before adoption occurs. The potential adopter must also be willing to agree not to leave children 10 years of age or younger unsupervised with the dog, to place the dog on heartworm medication, to provide the pet with annual vaccinations, and to enroll young Labs in obedience classes. You can read all of the adoption policies this organization possesses by visiting their Application Policies page.

To begin the adoption process, you must fill out an application for adoption and pay a $25 application fee. The application may be filled out on-line. Once the application and payment have been received, you will receive a call from a Rescue Volunteer who lives nearest you, who will ask about the expectations you have of the dog and about your history with animals. After the telephone interview, a Rescue Volunteer will conduct a home evaluation with you and anyone else who lives in the home.

When you have passed the home evaluation, you will be able to discuss what type of dog you would like to adopt. The volunteer will be able to tell you about specific dogs up for adoption and set up times for visits in the foster homes with the dogs you are interested in seeing. The organization asks that you wait at lest one day after seeing the dog before you decide to adopt unless you have had to drive a long distance. All adoptions must be approved by the volunteer at the foster home as each foster home volunteer knows the dog's needs the best.

Adult dogs aged 6 months to eight years old cost $250, puppies up to six months old cost $275, and senior dogs eight years of age and older cost $150. If you would like to learn more about the Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc., you may visit their website.

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue: Another great rescue organization to consider adopting a Lab from is the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue. The Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue is a non-profit organization that serves the San Francisco Bay area with the telephone area codes: 925, 831, 707, 650, 510, 415, and 408. This organization places both purebred Labs as well as Lab mixes into forever homes.

To start the adoption process with the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue, contact one of the Rescue Representatives in your area. You can find a Rescue Representative on the organization's contact page. The Representative will discuss the rescue's policies and adoption requirements with you to ensure that you meet all of the eligibility requirements. If you meet the requirements, the Representative will send you an adoption application you must fill out and return to the organization. You must also mail a minimum of a $300 donation with the application. If you choose not to adopt a dog through the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue within two weeks of the receipt of your application, your donation can be refunded upon request.

Once you adopt a dog, you are granted a two-week trial period with the dog in your home to make sure you are a good match. The organization asserts that if you find that you are not a good match, you may return the Lab to the group. However, they declare this does not occur often because the volunteers work diligently to ensure that you and the right dog are matched up on the first try. If you would like to know more about this Lab rescue, you may visit their website.

If you are looking for a Labrador Retriever to add as a member of your family, I encourage you to check out these three Labrador Retriever rescue organizations. Each organization will help you find the best dog for you.

Sources:

American Kennel Club: AKC Meet The Breeds: Labrador Retriever:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/labrador_retriever/index.cfm

Labrador Retriever Rescue of DC/MD/AVPA: Home:
http://lrr.org/

Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc: Adoption Policies:
http://www.labradorrescue.net/adoptpolicies.html

Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Inc: Home:
http://www.labradorrescue.net/adoptpolicies.html

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue: How to Adopt from GGLRR:
http://www.labrescue.org/adopt.html

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue: Home:
http://www.labrescue.org/