Turkish Goldens
Street dogs have existed in Turkish culture for hundreds of years. In 2005, Golden Retrievers began to appear among this population.
First introduced to the country by those who could afford to import them, Golden Retrievers are now readily available for as little as 50 Turkish Lira ($20 US dollars) and have become very common throughout Turkey. However, too many end up in municipal shelters or struggle to survive on their own.
Golden Retrievers are not for everyone: they are big, they shed, and they require lots of exercise and attention. For these reasons, sadly, many Turkish families give them up. Other reasons for abandonment reflect what we witness in the United States: lifestyle changes, costs of ownership, medical issues, and allergies.
As a result, there are many more homeless dogs in Turkey than shelters can accommodate. Because there is no shelter euthanasia and few adoptions in Turkey, these dogs either live out their lives in a shelter or languish on the streets or in the forests after being vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
Golden Retrievers don't fare well on the streets. They are not pack animals and won't defend themselves, so many are attacked by other dogs. Their survival depends on people helping them.
An American traveling in Turkey took notice of these dogs and learned that Turkish shelters were full of Golden Retrievers. Recognizing their plight, the traveler contacted Adopt a Golden of Atlanta (AGA), a Golden Retriever rescue in Georgia. AGA mobilized and began coordinating rescue efforts.
Learning of these Goldens in need, RAGOM reached out to AGA to help and began rescuing Turkish Goldens in September 2015. As of April 2018, RAGOM transported almost 100 dogs from Turkey to Minnesota and continues to work with Turkish volunteers to save these dogs.
Video: Journey to a Golden Life [1]
Turkish Goldens Rescued by RAGOM
Our mission to help these dogs is unlike anything we have ever done, and we could not do it without donations to help us welcome these special dogs to America and safely into our care. To help increase awareness of our efforts, please like the Turkish Goldens - Rescued by RAGOM Facebook page [2].
