How to Adopt

RAGOM has taken in many dogs that were suffering from heartworm, which is a common and preventable disease. The treatment for dogs suffering from heartworms is long and miserable (and very expensive).

Because of this, ensuring a dog receives their monthly heartworm preventatives is one of RAGOM’s non-negotiable adoption criteria.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied.

You can learn more about what it is like for a dog to have to go through heartworm treatment here: https://ragom.org/what-its-like-for-your-dog-to-have-heartworm/

In addition to causing pain, adverse training methods such as those listed above intimidate dogs and can be incredibly damaging to a dog’s mental well-being. They can even cause a dog to act aggressively.

RAGOM believes in using positive reinforcement to train dogs. One of our non-negotiable adoption criteria is that dogs are never subjected to negative or adverse training methods.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied.

Adopting a dog is a decision that will impact your life for many years, not to mention your wallet! Life changes a lot in early adulthood. Young adults often move a lot, have busy, unpredictable schedules, and may lack a long-term, sustainable source of income.

Because of these reasons, dogs purchased or adopted by young adults often end up in shelters or rescues. One of RAGOM’s non-negotiable adoption criteria is that adopters must be at least 21 years of age.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied.

As a rescue organization, we see many dogs surrendered to us, or worse, euthanized, because of pet overpopulation and unwanted litters.

Because of this, one of RAGOM’s non-negotiable adoption criteria is that all dogs in the home must be spayed or neutered.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied.

If you are planning to spay or neuter your unaltered dog, we encourage you to reapply once your dog is sterilized.

RAGOM serves Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and western Wisconsin (within 75 miles of the Minnesota border). Our transport and home visit volunteers are limited to this area.

Out of respect for rescue organizations outside of our territory who are also looking for adopters, we only adopt to applicants who live within our region. This is one of RAGOM’s non-negotiable adoption criteria.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied because you do not live within our region. The Golden Retriever Rescue Network lists rescues throughout the country. Visit https://www.grrnetwork.com/find-a-rescue/ to find a Golden rescue near you!

Just like us humans, all dogs have quirks and imperfections. Dogs often come to RAGOM having survived trauma, or with challenges that require training and accomodation of their unique needs.

Rescuers use the 3-3-3 Rule when explaining what to expect with a newly adopted dog.

• First 3 Days in New Home

  You can expect that a newly adopted dog will feel overwhelmed and scared. They may hide or refuse food and water, or they may test the boundaries of their new home.

• First 3 Weeks in New Home

  After three weeks, a dog will start to settle into their new home and follow the daily routine. Feeling more comfortable, they might show you more trust or reveal more of their personality. They might also start showing some behavior issues.

• First 3 Months in New Home

  It takes about three months for a dog to feel comfortable and secure in their new home, and trust that you are their permanent family.

We’re sorry, but your application to adopt has been denied.