Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue
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MAGRR Northeast Adoption Procedures

 This page contains VERY IMPORTANT information for potential adopters in the Northeast. Please take the time to read and understand it.

If you have any questions about our adoption policy,  please ask! We want you feel completely informed and comfortable with our procedures. This process can be lengthy, therefore, we hope you will remain patient with us. Please remember that we are volunteers, who, in addition to doing our best to find homes for these precious dogs, have families, homes, and careers that we are trying to maintain as well.

 For obvious reasons, a Long Distance Adoption takes more time than a local adoption, but the outcome is definitely worth the wait! Our procedures are as much for your benefit as they are for the Golden's.

A MAGRR adoption requires patience and cannot be rushed.

 
This is a BLIND ADOPTION
...meaning, you are adopting a Golden that you have never met.


Unless you personally choose to make travel arrangements, you will only get to know this dog through pictures, email, and by speaking with the foster family. If you have any reservations about this, then a long distance adoption is probably not for you. You must be committed to the Golden before he travels 1000+ miles to get to you. The journey can be confusing and stressful for the Golden, so before we put him/her on the transport, you MUST be absolutely certain that this is your new family member. 

MAGRR always has the Golden's best interest at heart and will provide you with as much detail as possible when describing the personality, habits, and behavior of the dog that you are considering. We will NEVER intentionally mislead you. Once your Golden arrives, it may take a few days for him/her to get acclimated. You can expect panting, pacing, and possibly even an accident in the house as he/she adjusts to the changes of a new environment. These are normal signs of stress and should subside within a few days as your Golden begins to feel at home.

If you have carefully considered all of this information and would like to proceed with a MAGRR adoption, continue reading the information below. Be aware that these procedures are based in legal precedent to protect everyone concerned.

 

FEES:

Adoption Fee:        $300
Health Certificate:   $50
Transportation Fee: $125

ALL fees must be paid using PayPal, a certified check, or a cashier check arriving in Memphis prior to the Golden's departure day. There is a small, additional fee for using our PayPal service.

Transportation Fee is for our approved ground transportation.

Alpha Dog Transport

is the approved methods of transport, as they are licensed by the Department of Agriculture. 

There is one other transport that can be used in the event Alpha is not available.

 


All dogs travel with a U.S. Health Certificate and current vaccination records. 

We require all MAGRR dogs to be in a foster home for a minimum of 2 weeks before traveling.

 

  



4 Step Application Process

 

  1. Copy and paste the following link into your browser:
     http://www.magrr.org/Applications/onlineadopt.htm
    Fill out the application. Be sure to enter your email address correctly! We will notify you, (via email) to let you know that your application has been received.
  2. The next step is the "vet check."
    If you currently own a pet or have owned one within the last 3 years, we will call your veterinarian for verification.
    Please inform your vet that a representative from MAGRR will be calling and give permission to release your information.

     
  3. Following the vet check is the telephone interview. You can anticipate a phone call from one of our Adoption Team members to discuss MAGRR and the long distance adoption process. Do not feel intimidated, this is a good opportunity for you to ask questions or address any concerns.(And we southerners just love to chat!)

  4. The last step is for someone to visit with you in your home.  MAGRR will notify you via email when your Home Visitor has been selected. It may take a while for us to find a previous adopter in your area. In some cases, another rescue group will perform this task for us.  The Home Visitor will contact you directly to schedule the visit.

  5. After the home visit, your application will be passed to our Adoption Coordinator who will begin the search for the perfect Golden for your family.

Feel free to browse our "Available Dogs" but please understand, not all of the dogs will be an appropriate fit for your home, and some are not candidates for long distance adoption.

After your home visit volunteer has submitted a written home visit report, you will be contacted by our Adoption Coordinator about specific dogs who would be an appropriate match for your family.  It will then be your responsibility to call the Foster Parent of the dog to ask any and all questions about the Golden's personality, etc.  You will be interviewing the Foster and he/she will be interviewing you to see if your home and family will be a good match for the Golden who is being fostered.  The Foster parent knows the dog better than anyone! Comprise a list of questions to ask the foster family, such as "What brand of food does the dog eat, and how often?" "Where does the dog sleep at night?" "Can the dog swim?" etc.

 

Once an appropriate match has been agreed upon,
the Adoption Process is as follows:

 

ADOPTION:
 An "Adoption Instruction" email will be sent to you with the proper way to complete the paperwork to finalize the adoption.

TRANSPORTATION:
 The ground transportation company has an air condition/heated trailer with secured crates.  It is a safe way for the doggies to travel.

  • Leave Memphis on Friday Morning: 

  • Arrive in the Northeast on Saturday

See Alpha Dog Transport  for schedules and stops.
You must meet the transport at the appropriate stop and phone a MAGRR representative when your new Golden arrives. More instructions will be provided once your adoption has been finalized.

FOLLOW-UP:

You will now be a part of the MAGRR Family. 
This is very special! We will need pictures and periodic updates on how your Golden is doing.  We are very attached to our sweet Goldens, even those who travel far to begin their new lives, and want only the best possible homes for them.  We expect to keep up with them throughout their entire lives. We will smile at the pictures that you send, laugh at the stories that you tell, and someday, a very long time from now, weep with you when your Golden is gone. Your updates are our sweetest rewards. Please keep in touch!