A list and links for Rescue services in Alberta. On-line "shopping" in most cases.
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/rescue/abrescue.htm
A dog is a lifestyle choice. Unlike cats, which sort of wander in and out of your life and can be fairly self-sufficient, a dog is underfoot throughout your day. They are social creatures and you are the centre of their universe. Long days alone isn't a good life for them.
They are permanent two year olds for about 10-14 years and then . . . . . always a difficult day in the future.
After we lost Abby & Keeper in 2010, we got Ruby via Kijiji and Pete through an owner surrender.
Kijiji can be controversial but its very difficult to find Golden Retriever's in shelters. Unfortunately, there's no end of them for sale. In the end though, Ruby was in fact a rescue . . . . . her hair was falling out from improper nutrition, she had an untreated ear infection, she had no muscle mass and no winter coat wth her belly hair worn off from spending most of her time in a crate in a garage. We were her third home in her first 1.5 years of life. We bought her for a few hundred bucks but definitely a life-saving rescue from the clueless dopes she was with.
Pete was an apartment dog in downtown Calgary, well cared for and well-loved by the young lass who was his owner. She was moving to Vancouver to pursue a new career and felt she couldn't look after him well enough. We heard about each other through our neighbour.
Keeper was a purebred Golden and also an owner surrender in her first year of life. We bought Abby as a purebred puppy, paying large dollars.
We also have four rescue cats, Daisy, Polly, Maude and Skyler.
Good luck with your dog!!
This picture of Pete & Ruby up in the Highwood Pass last October was just selected for "December" in the upcoming 2013 Golden Retriever Rescue Of The Rockies (GRRR) in Bolder, Colorado fundraising calendar.
Cowperson