Become a Volunteer With Golden Beginnings

Meet Some Of Our Volunteers Click Here

Submit Volunteer Application Online Print & Mail Volunteer Application (PDF) If you're thinking of becoming a volunteer but you're unsure if it's for you, read some of the feedback from some of our wonderful volunteers. CLICK HERE

Wanted: Volunteers!

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue and we believe that there is no such thing as an insignificant contribution and that every volunteer brings value to the organization. Whether you foster a dog, help out with transport, volunteer on the hotline, or help with any other volunteering opportunities that we have to offer, you help save a Golden.

Volunteering once a month, twice a year, or fostering a dog all mean the world to a homeless Golden!

When you volunteer for Golden Beginnings, you become part of a team that supports each other and gets the job done!

Current Volunteering Opportunities:

Foster care:
Foster families provide a home for homeless Goldens. Our Foster Coordinator will work with you to determine which of our dogs will be right for your home, situation and family. GBGRR covers all veterinary care costs and the support that you will get from other foster families is second to none! The more foster families we have, the more Goldens we can rescue. Click here for more information on fostering. 

Transport team:
On a normal day, transport would be limited to the Houston area. In cooperation with other rescue groups, we often need to provide transport for dogs who are in other parts of Texas or Louisiana. Often, a member of the transport team will help a foster family get a dog to a vet appointment.

Public awareness and education events:
We hold anywhere from 1 to 2 adoption days per month. We welcome the opportunity to spread the word about rescue and help educate the public about Goldens. The more volunteers we have, the more public awareness events we can have!

Adoption team:
Members of the adoption team work with potential adopters as well as with our foster families to help match one of our dogs with the perfect family.

Hotline team:
Our hotline is checked 7 days a week and even on holidays. Volunteers answer calls from the public asking for help rescuing a dog as well as about adoptions. Many a lost Golden has been reunited with its family thanks to the diligent work of our Hotline team!

Fundraising:
We hold several fundraising events during the year. From baking cookies to collecting silent auction gifts, fundraising provides the necessary funds that are needed throughout the year for our sick or injured Goldens. We're always looking for fun and different ways to raise money for our program and would love to hear your ideas!

If you're thinking of becoming a volunteer but you're unsure if it's for you, read some of the feedback from some of our wonderful volunteers below:

For anyone who has a little extra room in their house (and heart) that they can share for a while, I highly recommend becoming a foster family. Our five year old told me recently, "Mom, we rescue golden retrievers. We're rescuers, that means we're heroes! ...Even though we can't fly."

Jennifer & Laureli Moody

I have been fortunate to establish long lasting relationships with different members of this wonderful organization. If you want to meet incredible Goldens and their rescuers, please come out to some of our many events or better yet – become a volunteer!

Linda Barr

Fostering was the best therapy for a broken heart … I've met so many people who are dedicated and devoted to rescuing Goldens and I am honored to call them my friends.

Gina Craig, Henri and Tatum

On Christmas day 2000, I adopted Abby as a 5-week old puppy, and that is when I fell in love with Golden Retrievers. There are so many ways to volunteer for this great organization, and we can always use people with a little bit of time here and there.

Pam Frank

I was amazed to learn that there was even a need for a Golden Retriever rescue group because I always thought “who doesn’t love a Golden?!” I am so thankful to have found others that are dedicated to making sure these precious babies are taken care of forever!

Midge Leonard

We got involved in rescue after losing our first Golden, Reyna, very suddenly to hemangiosarcoma. A home without a Golden was intolerable! We discovered Golden Beginnings while searching for an adult Golden to adopt. We believe that our beloved Reyna was somehow pushing us, and everything we do now for Golden Beginnings will always be in her honor.

Robin and Randy Miller

Anyone who has visited our website knows how addictive it is. One day, I saw that GB needed volunteers for the picnic and decided to offer my assistance. After the picnic, I joined the adoption team and I've been volunteering with this team for almost 2 years.  My husband and I are both very busy, but the great thing about volunteering is that you can dedicate a little or a lot of time to it. GB has so many great volunteers which makes the events a lot of fun, and it is very rewarding to be a part of the success stories!

Jennifer Nicholas

Our world already revolved around our young Golden Travis. But in 2003, when a friend in rescue asked us to pick up a stray from a local shelter, we discovered the behind the scenes world of rescue and our commitment to Golden Retrievers went to another level.

Joanie Patrick

With two dogs in residence, space became an issue, so we don’t foster a lot any more. We joined the Adoption Team so we could continue helping these wonderful animals. We also are very glad to do intakes and transports when we can. Life can be very interesting for Adoption Team members, and it is very rewarding when we match one of our families with the right golden. We both feel very fortunate to work with this wonderful group of people, and through GBGRR to share our deep love of the Golden Retriever breed.

Glenn & Lynn Perrine

I love dogs, all dogs, and hate the abuse and neglect they suffer from humans. As much as I want to stop that and save everyone of them, I can't. However, I lost my heart to a wonderful breed of dogs called Golden Retrievers, and fortunately for them-and me-there is Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue. GBGRR doesn't just put a band aid on these wonderful dogs, they turn their lives around. The rewards of volunteering are priceless.

Toni Ritsema

Our Golden, Gracie Rae, is the reason I got involved with rescue. We adopted her in April 2007 (before our daughter was born) and she is incredible. She is SO wonderful with our daughter and the most loving and loyal dog you can imagine. Golden Beginnings has so many different volunteering opportunities available. The people involved in this organization are truly passionate about their love for Goldens and finding the perfect home for each and every one of them. If you want to help, I would encourage you to contact us. You won't regret it!

Erica Walsh
 

I have covered the gamut....adoption team, hotline team, fostering, Meet and Greets, and the proud owner of two alumni! I can not say enough about the kind people involved in this organization! When you become involved in GBGRR, you become one of many wonderful, caring, loving friends who all have something in common.....our love for our Goldens!

Kathy Yarnick