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Our History: Since its formation in 1985, the success of Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue has been the result of volunteer efforts. Its two founders started the program as volunteers twenty years ago and continue to serve today. Over the years hundreds of individuals, solely motivated by their affection for Golden Retrievers, have assisted in finding homes for over 4,000 Goldens while making YGRR a national role model for other rescue organizations. YGRR was one of the first breed-specific rescue organizations in the United States. Due to the rising popularity of the breed, increasing numbers of Goldens were in need of assistance. Unfortunately, popularity did not directly translate into a higher level of responsibility on the part of the dogs’ owners. Although Co-founders Joan Puglia and Susan Foster were members of the Yankee Golden Retriever Breed Club, the Club was not in a position to financially support the establishment of a rescue group. Joan and Susan created YGRR as a completely separate nonprofit, charitable organization [501(c)(3)]. Within a few months a functional organization was formed and included a constitution, bylaws, policies and procedures. Veterinarians throughout New England were contacted for free or discounted veterinary care and a network of foster homes set up. Since the program’s inception, all Rescue Goldens have been spayed or neutered and given all necessary and appropriate medical care prior to being made available for adoption. In addition, age and/or medical needs have never been a determining factor in the admission of dogs to the program. With very limited resources, the early years of the program were a hand-to-mouth existence. A variety of fundraisers kept the dogs fed and their medical needs met. By 1990, YGRR had provided services to more than 600 Goldens. Efforts to publicize the program to animal control officers, animal shelters and veterinarians throughout New England were successful and the organization rapidly gained visibility. With more visibility came an ever increasing number of requests for our services. Growth in services translated into a growth in expenses. The simple fundraisers of the past were not enough to keep pace with our needs. Joining together with those having a genuine interest in the welfare of Golden Retrievers we established a membership, created a newsletter entitled The Golden Times, introduced special events such as the Annual Auction and Dog Walk and introduced a mail order catalog that sold a variety of items under the name of Golden Goodies. Not only did this bring new revenue but also new volunteers and adopters into the program. As the years progressed the demand for YGRR services exploded, outgrowing the capabilities of our cooperating veterinarians and boarding kennels. It was obvious that YGRR needed a home of its own. Although YGRR was able to purchase Riverview in Hudson in 1996, it was clear that the property was not sufficient to support the organization’s needs unless the kennel facilities were expanded. As a result a second capital campaign was conducted in 1999 and 2000 to obtain funds to build a state-of-the-art rescue, adoption and education center in Hudson, Massachusetts. This beautiful, twenty two acre property was not the result of one person’s labor but rather the product of many gifts, large and small, from individuals as well as foundations. The physical plant of Riverview is the framework that allows the true purpose of the organization to grow. The result is further enhanced by thousands of hours of donated volunteer manual labor. Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue is an organization that has established a caring, professional presence in the animal shelter environment. The program is now carried on by a small professional staff that includes an Executive Director, a Kennel Manager and an Adoption/Intake Coordinator. These positions are augmented by hands-on volunteers under the guidance of a hard working volunteer Board of Directors. Each year, hundreds of YGRR volunteers provide thousands of hours of service in support of various facets of our program. Volunteers attend specialized training programs and perform home visits on prospective adopters as well as transport dogs from shelters and pounds to participating veterinarians. Volunteers are crucial in educating the public about the program and performing community outreach on YGRR’s behalf. Volunteers maintain the website, send out adoption applications and walk dogs at Riverview. It is the commitment of these volunteers and our staff that keeps YGRR running and it is the Goldens they serve who inspire these efforts. In 2005 we celebrated our 20 th anniversary. The challenges continue, but the rewards are great. The number of aging and/or Goldens with medical needs has greatly increased. At any given time more than 50% of the Goldens at Riverview fall into these categories. From hip dysplasia to heartworm disease, epilepsy to morbid obesity, the problems are varied and challenging. With the construction of the new Senior Center at Riverview, we will be able to more comfortably house and assist the most frail of our kennel residents. Although they have been refined and made more efficient, most of the policies and procedues designed during the organization’s first year still govern YGRR’s operations today. Providing exemplary medical care and permanent, loving homes for Goldens in need is the purpose of YGRR and all functions support the accomplishment of that goal. We are eternally grateful to all our supporters. We continue to work on improving our services and look forward to another 20 years of growth. Your compassion and generosity has helped us re-write so many sad stories. We could not do it without you. Thank you so very much.
Rescue and Adoption services for Golden Retrievers from the six New England states. Address: P.O. Box 808, Hudson, MA 01749-0808 Hotline: 978-568-9700 Adopt
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