Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue

Our goal is to find loving homes for all dogs that come through our doors. While in our care or foster homes provide stability for each dog. Some dogs take longer than others to adjust, or just get healthy enough to move to their forever home. We provide an alternative to shelters for families looking to re-home their pets, and safe harbor to do so.

Our Behavior and Rehabilitation program is expanding geographically and we are engaging fosters and volunteers to work with these dogs, providing proper training and guidance for the more problematic dogs. We have seen a significant increase over the years in this area.

Our Education and Outreach program provides assistance in the way of resources for the public, as well as awareness of our mission and vision.

Through our Permanent Foster Program we provide a lifetime of love and care for dogs that have medical issues beyond typical care, usually life-threatening diseases or very old age.

Team work. We have a large volunteer force who give their time, resources, and skill, abilities to their own area of interest. A strong fundraising team helps keep us afloat financially, we have a vast network of training resources, our foster network includes an additional 100+ volunteers just for this purpose, all with a passion for saving dogs.

Through monthly board meetings we address our financial health, all current events and concerns that affect our ability to operate, and manage our volunteer base effectively. Each member of the board wears other hats and is is supportive the rescue in other ways...boots on the ground so to speak.

Through targeted fundraising efforts we are budgeting specifically for our international dogs.

We have a solid events team that promotes our mission, as well as a strong social media presence. Networking with other rescues, we have established long term relationships that expand our resources.

Through organization, planning, communication, initiative, perseverance, education, leadership, selflessness, and mostly the love for dogs, every aspect of our rescue, from operations and administration, to picking up a dog from the shelter is a product of team work by a group of dedicated volunteers wanting to give these dogs a better life.

We provide educational and leadership opportunities for any volunteer wishing to do more and a mentor program for the newer volunteers so they feel a part of the team.

With a pulse on our financial health at all times, we are aware of any limitations that may arise and plan accordingly.

Since 2008, SCGRR has rescued and re-homed 300-400 annually. 2018 was the year we re-established our international program. The volunteers that took lead have worked directly with the FDA to ensure SCGRR is working within APHIS guidelines to get these dogs to the United States, bringing in 60 dogs from other countries. Despite the CDC ban on importing dogs, we have been able to continue our mission of rescuing dogs from South Korea in 2020. We are currently on hold with China.

Aside form every day rescue operations, we are currently focusing on our Behavior and Rehabilitation program. There has been a significant increase in the number of dogs with aggression issues. Enlisting trainers from all counties in our geographic area, SCGRR is providing support, training, and resources for fosters and volunteers that handle and transport these dogs. Through a lot of hard work and a diligent screening process, we have been able to find permanent homes for these dogs.

We have increased our public awareness through representation at large events (such as Goldie Palooza and Surf Dog) as well as smaller localized events. Increasing our events lead team, we will continue to expand public awareness to other communities in the Southern California area. This increase in awareness has brought new volunteers and foster families. Surpassing any year thus far, in 2019 we had 21 bonded pairs of dogs (not always 2 goldens) and four litter of puppies. Foster requirements for these needs are different.

Our social media outlets continue to attract more followers and in 2018 we expanded our fundraising efforts through Facebook. This brings a new source of financial support through for smaller dog campaigns and reaching people who just want to give via direct donations. 2019-2021: Facebook continues to blow up with fundraising for dogs in need. Our social media has been a way for people to stay connected and give generously throughout the pandemic.

TikTok came on board in 2021 with roughly 5,000 followers adding to much welcomed visibility for our mission.

Through the pandemic 2019-2021 we were able to keep our doors open for operation while complying with the ever flexible mandates from the CDC. Virtual home checks and in-person adoptions continued as we were able to save a record 953 dogs, facilitating 876 adoptions. Creative fundraising ideas were implemented to keep our doors open and support our mission. We stayed connected with our supporters and volunteers through social media and newsletters while keeping everyone apprised of our operations as the COVID mandates changed our ability to do business.

In 2021 we launched our new website, streamlining user experience while integrating our database information and social media. We adopted a new donor management program from Bloomerang.

In 2022 we have added a much needed board seat as a Medical director to alleviate this load that has been dispersed among other board members.

2023 brings change in leadership