Complaint Review: Good Dog Rescue - Enfield Connecticut

I thought it was time for a comment from someone who actually adopted a dog from Good Dog Rescue instead of all the speculation that's written here by people who didn't adopt a dog from them. 

In September, I submitted an adoption application to GDR for a purebred german shepherd puppy named Major. I went through the rather extensive adoption process, was approved for the adoption, paid my adoption fee and was so thrilled and excited awaiting the arrival of our new puppy in just 2 weeks time.

It was then that a friend of mine told me about the Ripoff Report accusing GDR of running a puppy scam. Well I got real scared at first and immediately I phoned my adoption coordinator Mike to tell him what I'd read on Ripoff.  He calmly explained it was a bogus report but he did offer to cancel my adoption if I was uncomfortable.

I was really worried but after talking to my husband we decided to stay with the adoption because we had already fallen in love with "our puppy,"  the kids were excited, and so we just decided to have some trust.

Major's arrival wasn't due for a couple of weeks and I think it was the longest 2 weeks of my life. But I think the rescue group tried to do a good job of reassuring me because Major's foster mom kept me updated with pictures and videos and information about his vet visits and so on.

Finally the big day came and it was better than I even anticipated.  Our puppy Major came off the big transport bus that Saturday morning and it was amazing.  I was crying, the kids were over the moon, it was just a wonderful first meeting.

We love our new puppy. He's everything they said he would be and more. And when I think that our family almost missed out on such a fantastic new family member because of what some people have speculated on Ripoff, well it makes me angry to think it could have cost me our puppy.  So I have decided to come back here and tell my experience so that you can finally hear from someone who has really been there with GDR.

To "Untrue": I took your advice given on August 26th and looked at your website.  It's now the end of September and you have a 9-week old AKC registered Golden Retriever listed for adoption (named Toby). Toby has the same description, including owner surrender from TN, that Michael listed in his previous comments.
I've volunteered w/ several shelters and foster-home based rescues for over 6 years now. I know from experience that AKC registered pups as young as 8-9 weeks, regardless of breed, are a rarity in the rescue community. Given the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds, makes it even more rare. As this website so nicely shows the date stamp of when posts are made, showing your claims of 8-9 week old AKC pups (which are still showing on your webpage today, months later) it gives me reason to believe the original complainant.  The 3 other complaints against Good Dog Rescue on this website dating back to 2008 are also concerning. The descriptions of each of your dogs are obvious canned statements which isn't unheard of w/ rescues, to cover basic health status/adoption info.  Although, the overwhelmed groups I know still manage to list the puppies origination info. However, the majority of your pups sound like stellar dogs w/ solid temperaments, not a problem to be found...that alone gave me reason to doubt. Again, after 6 years of rescue work, I can confidently say the majority of pups are not so perfect. Yes, they can be trained over time to overcome lack of puppy manners or socialization, but GDR is offering up more "Too good to be true" claims.
It's a shame as this behavior will only give willing adopters reason to not adopt from other, reputable groups. The internet has been an invaluable asset to get countless homeless pets adopted but, like any other activity that involves transfer of money, the internet has given the unethical an outlet to victimize even more people.
To the rebuttal that claimed the GDR website looks valid and others who had been scammed would have been all over the internet...there are 3 other complaints against this "rescue", all telling similar accounts of getting a dog unlike what was described by GDR. The puppy Golden Retriever isn't a scam unless GDR accepts payment for a non-existant puppy.  The bait-n-switch tactic is more likely occuring. While unethical, it's not illegal...they're just getting you to look at their mixed breed dogs which, according to the other complaints, are $500 or more.  A website is just a website. Anyone can make a page with pics and wonderful stories, whether it's true or not. That's how puppy mills con unaware buyers who believe they are dealing with a reputable breeder.
It really hurts to see these complaints. The ones who will suffer the most are the thousands of homeless pets still waiting for a family as unethical "rescues" give the rest of us a bad name and scare off loving homes.
Potential adopters should research the rescue groups just as a buyer should research the breeder, especially when all dealings are online or over the phone. Reputable breeders and rescues will do a reference check at a minimum when dealing with buyers/adopters that are out of the area. After all, reputable rescues/breeders want to ensure their fosters are only going to good homes. Most will want to meet face to face or have a home check done before final placement. If this isn't the case, buyer/adopter beware!

To "Untrue": I took your advice given on August 26th and looked at your website.  It's now the end of September and you have a 9-week old AKC registered Golden Retriever listed for adoption (named Toby). Toby has the same description, including owner surrender from TN, that Michael listed in his previous comments.
I've volunteered w/ several shelters and foster-home based rescues for over 6 years now. I know from experience that AKC registered pups as young as 8-9 weeks, regardless of breed, are a rarity in the rescue community. Given the Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds, makes it even more rare. As this website so nicely shows the date stamp of when posts are made, showing your claims of 8-9 week old AKC pups (which are still showing on your webpage today, months later) it gives me reason to believe the original complainant.  The 3 other complaints against Good Dog Rescue on this website dating back to 2008 are also concerning. The descriptions of each of your dogs are obvious canned statements which isn't unheard of w/ rescues, to cover basic health status/adoption info.  Although, the overwhelmed groups I know still manage to list the puppies origination info. However, the majority of your pups sound like stellar dogs w/ solid temperaments, not a problem to be found...that alone gave me reason to doubt. Again, after 6 years of rescue work, I can confidently say the majority of pups are not so perfect. Yes, they can be trained over time to overcome lack of puppy manners or socialization, but GDR is offering up more "Too good to be true" claims.
It's a shame as this behavior will only give willing adopters reason to not adopt from other, reputable groups. The internet has been an invaluable asset to get countless homeless pets adopted but, like any other activity that involves transfer of money, the internet has given the unethical an outlet to victimize even more people.
To the rebuttal that claimed the GDR website looks valid and others who had been scammed would have been all over the internet...there are 3 other complaints against this "rescue", all telling similar accounts of getting a dog unlike what was described by GDR. The puppy Golden Retriever isn't a scam unless GDR accepts payment for a non-existant puppy.  The bait-n-switch tactic is more likely occuring. While unethical, it's not illegal...they're just getting you to look at their mixed breed dogs which, according to the other complaints, are $500 or more.  A website is just a website. Anyone can make a page with pics and wonderful stories, whether it's true or not. That's how puppy mills con unaware buyers who believe they are dealing with a reputable breeder.
It really hurts to see these complaints. The ones who will suffer the most are the thousands of homeless pets still waiting for a family as unethical "rescues" give the rest of us a bad name and scare off loving homes.
Potential adopters should research the rescue groups just as a buyer should research the breeder, especially when all dealings are online or over the phone. Reputable breeders and rescues will do a reference check at a minimum when dealing with buyers/adopters that are out of the area. After all, reputable rescues/breeders want to ensure their fosters are only going to good homes. Most will want to meet face to face or have a home check done before final placement. If this isn't the case, buyer/adopter beware!

Most rescue groups get their own stalker if theyve been around long enough and I guess Michael Arandt (aka Jim from NJ, sometimes George from Hoboken) is ours.  A 29yo bachelor living in a NYC hi-rise apartment, Michael Arandt was denied a golden retriever puppy adoption in Feb 2011.

Since then, hes made it his mission to cyber-stalk Good Dog Rescue with his fantastical allegations of a "puppy bait and switch scam."  Read his raging rants then take a look at our website and decide for yourself. 

Dear Dorothy: At the end of this are actual descriptions of golden puppies posted by good dog rescue from the past few months. As you can see, the only thing they changed was the name of the puppy of the month and the birth date. The adoption fees are $1150, much too high for a reputable shelter indicating again the possibility of trafficking from a puppy mill or putting price too high to discourage people from inquiring about puppy, but driving people nevertheless to the site (therefore the suspicion of bait and switch). It is no different than disreputable real estate agencies who post a too-good-to-be-true apt listing for a ridiculously low price to get people to call. The apt (which never really existed) is of course 'already rented' when you call, but they try to interest you in other apts at, or above, market price. You call about the $600 apt and they try to interest you in the $3500 apt. The same has been my experience with good dog rescue. No matter how quickly I called about the golden retriever puppies they post each month, the response was invariable. 'There is an adoption pending. Please check out our site for other dogs.' After a couple of times of this happening, I asked to be kept abreast of other puppies who came up as my application was already on file and they knew there was a loving home, ready, willing and able to adopt awaiting a puppy of that sort. Of course, the next month, a puppy with identical description came up and I was never notified. When I asked them about this and alerted them to my suspicions, even though they had had my application on file for months and were reminded in every correspondence of my location, they responded finally that they don't adopt to my location. Here now are the descriptions. I am trying to figure out how to post the pictures as well so that you can see the suspiciously regular and identical pattern in the pictures as well:

JULY
Max is a 2mo male purebred AKC Golden Retriever who was surrendered with his sister by their owner in rural TN. Max lives in the house with his foster family where he's lovingly cared for while awaiting his forever home. Happy, playful, outgoing puppy! Full of fun and life, very confident and never meets a stranger. Well-socialized, has grown up around kids, cats and other dogs. Recommended for children 6 years and older. Instruction has begun with crate training, housebreaking and leash walking. AKC registration. Birth date is 4/29/11. Weighs about 10 pounds, healthy, altered and utd on shots. This is an adorable puppy with a happy, loving temperament who will make a great companion for a family who loves the breed. Here's a note from the foster mom: "AWESOME PUPPY! Max is sweet, loving and affectionate. It's so much fun watching him learn what toys and treats are for! He sleeps 6-7 hours in the crate at night, learning how to walk on a leash. Is very in tune with people, very intelligent and eager to please. Typical golden temperament. He's "learning the ropes" from our big dogs, following them everywhere and trying to keep up. Very nice pup, will be a great family dog."

Blondie is a 2mo female purebred AKC Golden Retriever who was surrendered with her brother by their owner in rural TN. Blondie lives in the house with her foster family where she's lovingly cared for while awaiting her forever home. Happy, playful, outgoing puppy! Full of fun and life, very confident and never meets a stranger. Well-socialized, has grown up around kids, cats and other dogs. Recommended for children 6 years and older. Instruction has begun with crate training, housebreaking and leash walking. AKC registration. Birth date is 4/29/11. Weighs about 10 pounds, healthy, altered and utd on shots. This is an adorable puppy with a happy, loving temperament who will make a great companion for a family who loves the breed. Here's a note from the foster mom: "AWESOME PUPPY! Blondie is sweet, loving and affectionate. It's so much fun watching her learn what toys and treats are for! She sleeps 6-7 hours in the crate at night, learning how to walk on a leash. Is very in tune with people, very intelligent and eager to please. Typical golden temperament. She's "learning the ropes" from our big dogs, following them everywhere and trying to keep up. Very nice pup, will be a great family dog."

JUNE
Ben is a 2mo male purebred AKC Golden Retriever who was surrendered with his sister by his owner in rural TN. Max lives in the house with his foster family where he's lovingly cared for while awaiting his forever home. Happy, playful, outgoing puppy! Full of fun and life, very confident and never meets a stranger. Well-socialized, has grown up around kids, cats and other dogs. Recommended for children 6 years and older. Instruction has begun with crate training, housebreaking and leash walking. AKC registration. Birth date is 3/21/11. Weighs about 10 pounds, healthy, altered and utd on shots. This is an adorable puppy with a happy, loving temperament who will make a great companion for a family who loves the breed. Here's a note from the foster mom: "AWESOME PUPPY! Ben is sweet, loving and affectionate. It's so much fun watching him learn what toys and treats are for! He sleeps 6-7 hours in the crate at night, learning how to walk on a leash. Is very in tune with people, very intelligent and eager to please. Typical golden temperament. He's "learning the ropes" from our big dogs, following them everywhere and trying to keep up. Very nice pup, will be a great family dog."

APRIL
Dakota is a 2mo male purebred AKC Golden Retriever who was surrendered by his owner in rural TN. Daktoa lives in the house with his foster family where he's lovingly cared for while awaiting his forever home. Happy, playful, outgoing puppy! Full of fun and life, very confident and never meets a stranger. Well-socialized, has grown up around kids, cats and other dogs. Recommended for children 6 years and older. Instruction has begun with crate training, housebreaking and leash walking. AKC registration. Birth date is 12/21/10. Weighs about 10 pounds, healthy, altered and utd on shots. This is an adorable puppy with a happy, loving temperament who will make a great companion for a family who loves the breed. Here's a note from the foster mom: "AWESOME PUPPY! Dakota is sweet, loving and affectionate. It's so much fun watching him learn what toys and treats are for! He sleeps 6-7 hours in the crate at night, learning how to walk on a leash. Is very in tune with people, very intelligent and eager to please. Typical golden temperament. He's "learning the ropes" from our big dogs, following them everywhere and trying to keep up. Very nice pup, will be a great family dog."

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If true, I agree this would be very disturbing. However, it doesn't make sense to me. Have you read the dozens of happy tail stories on their website. And where are all the complaints from the supposed "scammed victims?"  If this were indeed true, then victims' stories would be all over the internet.  Your allegations don't ring true to me, I just don't buy it.