Rescue In The News

The Clevelands of Greenville weren't certain they wanted to adopt another pet at this stage in their lives, but Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue helped them make up their minds.

With seven grandchildren under the age of 6, Ron and Marjorie Cleveland recently added another member to their large family -- golden-haired Amber, adopted from the Upstate rescue group.

"She was ideal for us," Marjorie Cleveland said. "She's been trained, she's a lovely girl who is good with our grandkids and is good with our cats. We just enjoy her so much."

Amber's story is typical of the dogs in Foothills Rescue's care, according to Barbara Loomis, a volunteer with the group.

The Clevelands hadn't owned a dog in 13 years, since they lost the last of two beagles that had been family pets. Because of their grandchildren and two elderly housecats, they were wary of adopting a puppy and had been willing to wait to find the perfect dog for their family, Cleveland said.

She said she found Foothills Rescue through its Web site and enjoyed reading the stories of the dogs up for adoption. She said she was very impressed by and not the least bit deterred by the group's strict adoption policy.

"They call you, they visit you, they check you out, and they do a very detailed application," she said. "I was very impressed by what I saw. They really network, they're so enthusiastic and they really care about the goldens."

Loomis said the group, which has a network of about 100 active volunteers spread across the Upstate and western North Carolina, adopts out five golden retrievers a month on average. That's nothing, however, compared to the number of requests for surrendered and unwanted dogs they receive, she said.

"We are only able to help as many dogs as we have foster homes for," she said. "A dog who is in a shelter is always taken first because their time is short. We have many shelter rescues who were on their last day who are now in happy, forever homes giving and receiving tons of love."

Both Loomis and Cleveland said golden retrievers make wonderful, people-oriented pets. "If you want the most dedicated, loving, giving, smiling dog who is gentle with children and the elderly, who rarely has a bad day and thinks you are all that and a bag of doggie biscuits no matter what you look like or how you smell, get a golden retriever," Loomis said."They are the Boy Scouts of the canine world."

As for Amber, she can now often be found trotting happily alongside her new owners on long nature walks around Greenville.

"She just goes everywhere with us," Cleveland said. "She rides in my husband's truck, she goes in the car with us and we take the trails with her. Her tail goes up, and she is so happy. We take the grandchildren with us, and it just makes a nice family outing."

Retrieved retriever proves golden for family