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International Outreach Dogs
RAGOM International Outreach (RIO) supports the rescue of dogs in peril beyond our country’s borders. From Goldens languishing on the streets of Turkey to Goldens stolen and sold into China’s illegal dog meat trade, RIO’s mission is to ensure that these gentle, deserving dogs around the world are offered the chance for a Golden Life.
Turkey
- Thousands of Golden Retrievers in Turkey are given up by their families or abandoned to fend for themselves. Reasons reflect what we witness in the United States: lifestyle changes, costs of ownership, medical issues, and allergies.
- 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 learned that Turkish shelters were full of Golden Retrievers. Recognizing their plight, the traveler contacted Adopt a Golden of Atlanta (AGA), a rescue group in Georgia. AGA mobilized and began coordinating rescue efforts.
- RAGOM reached out to AGA to help and began rescuing Goldens from Turkey in September 2015. RAGOM has since transported more than 100 dogs from Turkey to Minnesota and continues to work with Turkish volunteers to save these dogs. Video: Journey to a Golden Life.
China
- Thousands of Golden An estimated 10 million dogs are killed and consumed each year in China, and Golden Retrievers are one of the meat trade’s most popular breeds. A majority of dogs hauled to slaughterhouses are stolen pets and retired breeding dogs. Rarely leashed in China, dogs are easily snatched from their owners and forced into a waiting vehicle.
- Volunteers in China are working hard to save these dogs from a terrifying fate. They approach butchers when they see a dog tied up behind the premises and plead for the dog’s release. Other rescuers watch for large trucks filled with stolen dogs en route to the slaughterhouses and do their best to stop them.
- Once the dogs are rescued from the trucks, butchers, or slaughterhouses, they are housed by wonderful rescuers in China. However, the facilities are incredibly full, sometimes housing as many as 500 – 1,000 dogs. Adoption of larger breeds, which are still banned in many areas of China, is not likely.
- The only hope for these dogs is to find homes in other countries. Dog rescue organizations around the world are answering the call to get these dogs out of China and into adoptive homes. RAGOM joined this effort in March 2019.
- The logistics are complex, and we are always looking for flight volunteers. If you are traveling to China and are willing to accompany dogs on your return flight to the U.S., please email [email protected].
RAGOM International Outreach (RIO) supports the rescue of dogs in peril beyond our country’s borders. From Goldens languishing on the streets of Turkey to Goldens stolen and sold into China’s illegal dog meat trade, RIO’s mission is to ensure that these gentle, deserving dogs around the world are offered the chance for a Golden Life.