As Good as Gold - Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois

07/12/2025

Holiday Shopping at As Good as Gold!

Check out these and other must have items from As Good as Gold's virtual shop!

Don't Delay! Order Today!
https://www.asgoodasgold.org/shop/

06/12/2025

LOOKING FOR SPECIAL FOSTER HOMES

Some dogs don’t come to us ready-made. They arrive with uncertain pasts, timid hearts, and behaviors shaped by fear, neglect, or simply never having been shown the way. But with time, love, positive reinforcement, and patience—they transform.

We are looking for passionate, dedicated dog lovers who are ready to open their homes and hearts to dogs who need just a little more. More understanding. More guidance. More grace. These dogs aren’t broken—they’re just waiting for someone to believe in them.

Many of these dogs thrive best in a solo environment—a home where they are the only canine companion, free to decompress and grow without competition or stress.

We have a special need for foster volunteers who:

* Have no other dogs in the home
* Have a fully fenced yard for safe exercise
* Spend more time at home than away
* Have training experience or the time & passion to learn alongside their foster dog

When you foster a dog who needs a little extra, you’re not just helping them—you’re investing in yourself. You'll gain invaluable skills in positive training and canine communication that will enrich your relationship with dogs for the rest of your life.

You’ll witness a transformation that only love, consistency, and care can create. And you’ll never forget the moment that scared, unsure dog looks at you with trust for the very first time.

If you would like to have more information on our fostering program, contact us at [email protected]

06/12/2025

Volunteers Make the Difference!

Because As Good as Gold is a non-profit, volunteer-supported organization, every activity requires volunteer participation. Members can volunteer to open their home by fostering a rescued golden retriever waiting to be adopted, transport dogs, perform home visits for potential adoptive families, participate in public education and fundraising events, work on administrative activities, join a committee or department as an assistant, make phone calls for various coordinators, or even put a special talent, such as sewing to great use!

3,602+ Rescues and counting!
53 Foster Homes
202 Volunteers
853 Members

Contact us today! [email protected]

05/12/2025

Holiday Shopping at As Good as Gold!

We've added three new items to our shop ....

Check out these and other must have items from As Good as Gold's virtual shop!

Don't Delay! Order Today!
https://www.asgoodasgold.org/shop/

05/12/2025

Annual Holiday Fundraiser - Order by December 8 to guarantee Christmas delivery!

Have you started your wish list yet?
Support As Good as Gold with your purchase of fresh greenery and/or handcrafted ornaments from Christmas Forest. As Good as Gold receives 10 percent of all sales!

Wreaths, 51 designs and sizes
Natural garland, swags, and over-the-door wreath hangers
Guaranteed fresh greenery of pine or fur
Ornaments: 60 choices, handcrafted and of heirloom quality
Free Shipping

Ordering Process:
Go to www.ChristmasForest.com
Click “Add to cart” to order greenery, ornaments, or hangers
Enter AGAGO in the club/promo code at checkout

Orders must be in by December 8 to guarantee Christmas delivery.

Enjoy fresh Christmas wreaths from Christmas Forest. Since 1976, our artisans have created & shipped gorgeouos Christmas wreaths handcrafted from real noble fir.

05/12/2025

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Because As Good as Gold is a non-profit, volunteer-supported organization, every activity requires volunteer participation. Members can volunteer to open their home by fostering a rescued golden retriever waiting to be adopted, transport dogs, perform home visits for potential adoptive families, participate in public education and fundraising events, work on administrative activities, join a committee or department as an assistant, make phone calls for various coordinators, or even put a special talent, such as sewing to great use!

We have several opportunities on 3 teams:

Intake/Assessment Team
* Intake Coordinators
* Rescue Assessors.

Fundraising Team
* Individual Fundraising Coordinator
* Corporate Fundraising Coordinator
* Grant Writers

Marketing Team
* Canva designers
* Constant Contact pro
* Social media specialist
* Merchandise manager

If you have an interest, please sign up here to volunteer!
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E356588&id=4

04/12/2025

BOLT - is available for adoption!

FAST FACTS
* 4 years old
* Male
* Medium-high energy
* Weight: 62 pounds
* Good with kids? Good with teenagers; has not been around younger kids
* Good with cats? Unknown
* Adoption fee: $550
* House-trained
* Crate-trained
* Sweet, snuggly, smart boy
* Eager to learn and to please
* Good with adults and older children
* Loves walks and is a good walking companion

Medical concerns: Takes 40 mg Fluoxetine daily for anxiety

Requirements (no exceptions): Needs someone home most of the day; positive reinforcement training; fully fenced yard; adopters willing to meet Bolt a few times at his foster home before adopting him

Bio:
My name may be Bolt, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll bolt away from you. I am more likely to bolt toward you! That’s because I love people and love being near them. Do you like going for walks? Me too! Need someone to ride shotgun while you run errands? I’m your guy! Need some snuggles at the end of the day, or any time? I’m always there for you! Do you like doing dog sports? I’m always up for learning something new!

I also love being around other dogs, but when I first joined my foster home, being around my canine foster brothers was so exciting that I simply could not settle down. I just wanted to play, play, play and wouldn’t take no for answer.

I am happy to report that thanks to my foster parents’ and foster siblings’ patience – and working with a great trainer – I am much better at reading other dogs’ body language and responding to cues that help me disengage when I start to get overstimulated. And guess what? To help my forever home continue my training and make my transition to a new home successful, As Good as Gold will pay for three private sessions with my trainer (she can do it virtually or in person depending on where I land). In addition to that, AGaG believes I’ll benefit from also taking at least one series of positive reinforcement training to promote socialization, good manners (we’re working on those!) and bonding with my new family.

While I like to play, take walks and be active, I also can settle. Both my foster parents work from home, so I spend the day supervising my foster dad while he does his thing at his desk. Sometimes I do the same with foster mom, but foster dad seems to need my supervisory skills more.

AGaG ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS, NO EXCEPTIONS:
* Be at least 23 years of age
* No children under 6 years of age living in your home
* We primarily adopt goldens to families living within Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and the southernmost counties of Wisconsin
* If you do not own your residence or live in a condo, you will need a letter from your landlord or property management company
* Do not use an invisible fence
* Are not over your town/county's pet limit
* Have the knowledge and agreement of all adults living in the household

For adoption information, please email us: [email protected]

04/12/2025

RODIN - is available for adoption!

Fast Facts
6-year-old male
Medium energy
Sweet and happy
Loves attention
Mixed breed
Housetrained
Comfortable in restricted area
Fenced yard required

Bio:
I can’t say for sure if the sculptor Auguste Rodin is my namesake, but if he is, I’ll take that as a compliment. I’m a mishmash of golden retriever and supposedly a poodle, but as you can tell from my photo, I lack a poodle’s curly coat. I look like a short golden, not a golden doodle. Foster mom thinks I may have a herding breed in my ancestry. I love to follow her around throughout the day and enjoy her attention or the attention of visitors.

When I first arrived at my foster mom’s house, I was an excitable guy, especially when we had company. Around foster mom, I was mostly cool, calm and collected. But visitors got me going! My go-to for letting off steam was to bark – a lot! I’m happy to report that thanks to foster mom’s patience, an excellent trainer provided by As Good as Gold and anti-anxiety medication, I’ve made great strides. In fact, my trainer says I’m a good dog with lots of good qualities and that I’m smart!

I can be reactive when I see other dogs – I bark at them – so that’s something else we’re working on with my trainer, and we’re making progress there, too. Even so, I’ll do best as the only dog in the house because I’m one of those Velcro kind of dogs.

Here’s what my foster mom has to say about me:

“Rody is a sweet, happy boy – well-behaved and house-trained – who wants to be near his person and soak up all the attention. He doesn’t have a lot of bad habits. He’s curious about everything, always wants to know what I’m doing.”

Weight: 62 pounds
Good with kids? Unknown
Good with cats? Unknown
Adoption fee: $550

Medical concerns: Needs to lose some weight; taking 40 mg of Fluoxetine daily for anxiety

Requirements: Must be an only dog; fully fenced yard and positive reinforcement training

ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS, NO EXCEPTIONS:
* Be at least 23 years of age
* No children under 6 years of age living in your home
* We primarily adopt goldens to families living within Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and the southernmost counties of Wisconsin
* If you do not own your residence or live in a condo, you will need a letter from your landlord or property management company
* Provide excellent vet care for your dog(s)
* Do not use an invisible fence
* Are not over your town/county's pet limit
* Have the knowledge and agreement of all adults living in the household
* Be prepared to make a lifetime commitment

If interested, please fill out our online adoption application form; please make sure you fill in every required field/question or your submission will not go through:
https://www.asgoodasgold.org/online-adoption-application/

OR

Contact us: [email protected]

04/12/2025

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Check out Christmas Forest and the AGaG Shop for unique gifts for your loved ones this holiday season!

Christmas Forest
https://www.christmasforest.com/

AGaG Shop
https://www.asgoodasgold.org/shop/

03/12/2025

Our incredible volunteers give their time, homes, and hearts to every dog we rescue—but love alone can’t cover the cost of care. Medical expenses are our largest financial challenge. The average cost to rescue a golden now exceeds $1,400, and adoption fees cover less than half of what it takes to prepare each dog for a safe, healthy new beginning. For dogs who require extensive medical treatment or behavioral rehabilitation, costs can climb beyond $2,200.

This Giving Tuesday, we are striving to raise $44,000—enough to support the medical care of 20 goldens who need us most.

Your donation directly fuels our rescue efforts: vaccinations, medications, spay/neuter procedures, diagnostics, treatment for illness or injury, and the rehabilitation that helps every dog move confidently into a loving forever home.

Every dollar makes a difference.

Thank you for helping us give each golden the healthy, happy future they deserve.

Morgan’s Story

Morgan’s dad, Barry, says of her, “Morgan is a quintessential representation of the

As Good as Gold mission.”

It’s been more than seven years since I came to As Good as Gold, I was two-months old. My relinquishment came about once it was discovered that I had a heart murmur. I moved in with a really nice man; he was my foster dad.

Then came vet visits and tests. Foster dad explained to me that I had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which is a congenital heart defect. The doctors also found that I had serious issues with my liver, a malformation of veins misdirecting blood flow around it. I didn’t know what all that meant. I just realized that foster dad’s voice seemed concerned and sad.

My first summer with foster dad included numerous trips to the Purdue Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette, Indiana for consultations, exams, and then surgery. Then, know what? He formally adopted me! Wow, I felt so very loved finally knowing I had my forever home! I spent much of that summer poolside at our friends’ house next door. Dad says I was “flirting” with my neighbor's son and some of his college buddies. Oh, dad! I was playing with my furry friend at their house too, Nala. (Nala was also an AGaG adoption.)

Surgeries at Purdue included repair of the area related to the liver and corrective surgery for the PDA. Weeks later, when we visited the Purdue medical team for follow-up, I saw so many smiling faces and heard lots of happy voices when they realized how well I was doing! I heard the vet say, “The PDA has closed completely; so as far as her heart is concerned she can expect a normal life. Tests showed that the liver repair was successful too.” Four paws UP!

During those first years, my golden sister, Nell, and I mentored new fosters and attended many Golden Greets. These days, my dad is not as mobile as I am. But he and I feel very blessed to still have the wonderful neighbors next door. There’s a gate between our large back yards. Nala and I visit each other often throughout the day. And her dad takes us for walks together every morning. It’s fun to greet people and other dogs during our walks.

The human I’m closest to is my dad. He has loved me through the good times and the sad. I lie as near to him as possible. He tells people I’m a “miracle.” Thanks to dad and those who donate to As Good as Gold, I feel like I’m living a miraculous life too.

MAKE A DONATION:
https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/as-good-as-gold/giving-tuesday-2025-1

03/12/2025

Please consider donating to help us rescue more beautiful golden souls like Meg! We couldn't do what we do without your support! Thank you!
https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/as-good-as-gold/giving-tuesday-2025-1