Amber is a beautiful four year old. I was worried about trying adoption since we had a bad experience with it once. My doctor suggested a gentle dog. I talked with a friend who owns a Golden and she found the AGaG website for me.

I fell in love with Amber the moment I met her. Only four, she moved slowly because she'd become obese. She was shy but loving from the very start. In the month we've had her, we've watched her literally blossom - she's losing weight, plays, chases tennis balls, and isn't shy about cuddling. We can't thank AGaG enough for all the joy that Amber has brought to our lives!

In June 2008 we were lucky enough to host our first foster dog 'Angus' (in the Santa hat). From the moment he walked onto our lawn, and met our other two Goldens, I knew I was doing the right thing! After Angus required some surgery we nursed him back to health and by the end of the summer we were all in love with him. My dogs accepted him like they were brothers from the start! Angus and our dog Wumpus, who is completely blind, are always together and are both 11 years old. We can't imagine our lives without him. He continues to put a smile on our face every day! In November we adopted Angus. We look forward to spending the rest of our lives dedicated to the wonderful organization As Good as Gold!

We lost our wonderful Golden Amber to cancer. I had always called her Sunshine. Then I learned about rescue organizations, found AGAG and immediately applied.

AGAG then called me about a 2 year old named Sunshine, who I adopted and named Autumn. She was used as a breeder in a puppy mill and was found tied to a tree when rescued. She didn't even know how to walk, climb stairs, socialize, anything. It has taken her months to come out of her shell, but everyday she surprises me in some way. She loves long walks and playing ball. She is very loving, quiet and loves to cuddle. She would be happy being petted or brushed all day long.

Through our membership with AGAG, Autumn and I have met wonderful friends. I am so very thankful for AGAG and the wonderful work you do.

Last month Sunny (on the right, my first rescue) and I lost a major part of our family when 10 year old Durham died. Both our hearts were broken, and Sunny was completely lost, after 3 weeks she was still grieving; no toys, no play, slow walks. Not even the dog park worked! So I called AGaG for help and shortly after, 96lb big boy Beau (on the left) appeared.

Love at first sight for both of us! The pack is now back to normal. Beau was very nervous and submissive at first. This loving, house trained, dog-friendly dog needs to lose weight, but is a wonderful companion. He is now much calmer, and at five years old, he has finally found his forever home. Thank You AGaG!

I will always remember the day I received a call from AGaG asking if I believed in fate - it was shortly after we lost our five-month old AGaG pup, Maya. A foster home was needed for eleven-week old Buttercup. Bella (formerly Buttercup) was almost identical to our sweet Maya. It almost seemed that Maya was coming back to us in the spirit of another puppy.

We decided to be foster parents for Bella, and soon knew she would mend our broken hearts. Bella now thrives in her new home shared with Calypso, her 9-year old rescued Golden brother, and two felines. Bella is now five months old and keeps us entertained every day. We are so blessed that she came into our lives when she did, we truly believe it was fate!

Shortly before my wife's surgery, our beloved Chase (an AGAG adoptee) had a major seizure and died suddenly. As her health improved, my wife began scanning the AGAG website for an older Golden. We saw a 7 year old female labeled Hazel and pursued her. The foster family had renamed her Bella because she is so beautiful.

From the moment she entered our house we realized she had found a home. She adapted to us easily and we adapted to her, though we occasionally call her boy rather than girl since we had male Goldens for 20 years. She answers to Bella now, her official name as well as her description. She is gentle, well mannered, knows her commands, and loves to be brushed for hours. This must be a female thing since our 3 previous male Goldens only tolerated it.

Hi! I'm Benji and here I am, in my FOREVER home! I thank everyone at AGaG for all the love and care you gave me these past several months.

I especially want to thank my foster family - you were so patient and loving while I recuperated from my surgeries and helped me understand the right way to behave. My days are now filled with long walks and play time throughout the day and so much loving, well, I sometimes wonder if maybe I won the doggie lottery?

Here's a photo of me... with the dark red coat, and Cheyenne, my big brother. Thanks again, AGaG. Without you, I would not have found my forever family. We are all so very grateful for what you do, and how well you do it! All my love, Benji

Adopting Bernie was easy. Bernie is about two years old and was living in a garage when he was rescued. Two weeks after my application was accepted I met Bernie and knew immediately he would come home with me. He is one of the sweetest and most loving creatures I've ever met. He's been with me and his new golden brother Tucker for two months, and we couldn't be happier.

On Bernie's to-do list every day is to be petted and follow me around, then he and Tucker play together and take long walks with me. He listens better than Tucker does, and I raised Tucker from a puppy! Tucker and I adopted a best friend for life, and met some pretty wonderful people in the process as well. Thanks AGaG!

I just received my One-Year Anniversary postcard for adopting Betty. She is doing very well. She was a very scared dog when she came home with us, but now follows me everywhere. I've taken her to obedience class and am very pleased that she comes when I call her. She is really a very good, calm dog for only 3 years old. Harley, my daughter's lab, absolutely loves Betty and the feeling is mutual. I take Betty over once a week just to have her play with Harley. I love Betty very much and I'm very happy that I was allowed to adopt her. I will always take good care of her and I hope she lives a very long life. Thank you, As Good as Gold, for everything!

I've had Brady (formerly DJ) for three months so far. When I got him and took him home, he adjusted quickly. He loves to go for walks and does very well on a leash. Anything that looks like a ball to him he 'claims' as his own. He is not happy unless all of his tennis balls are out of his 'toy box' and are by his side or are being thrown for him to fetch.

He is such a great dog and I don't know how anybody could have given him up. He is my big 'gold' shadow. When he's not my shadow, I can always find him on his favorite blanket in the family room. Everyday I look forward to coming home and being greeted at the door by Brady.

We adopted Charlie in March 2007. Charlie is on the right in the photo with Annabelle, in December 2007. Charlie quickly became a beloved member of the family. His manners and obedience continue to improve each week. Regular exercise - including walks and runs - have helped with his high energy level. Charlie loves Annabelle and they wrestle and play in the yard.

Charlie's favorite activity is to get love - from whomever will give it. He loves to have belly rubs in front of the fire. And his favorite thing is to be brushed. If we stop, even for a second, he'll nudge our hand for more. He's affectionate and lovable and he's fit right into our home. We're so thrilled we adopted him from As Good As Gold.

We lost our two year old golden to complications from intestinal surgery. We did not want to take the time to raise a puppy again but missed the companionship of our Ryno.

A friend told us about AGaG, so we logged on to the site and decided to meet one of the available goldens. We fell in love with a year and a half old golden ball of energy. Life has been quite exciting ever since, and we've loved every minute of it.

This is Chester, who we adopted from AGAG about four years ago after we lost our first Golden to lymphoma. Chester had gone through two homes in a span of 2 or 3 years, because his owners could not deal with his bad habits. He ate a small knitted pot holder and it got caught in his small intestine and resulted in large vet bills. It was touch and go for a few days, but he had been a strong healthy dog and survived those critical days. And now he is as good as new, and we are much more aware of things that he might want to get at, such as socks, dish towels, paper towels etc. Some things dogs just do not learn.

Young, two year old, wavy-haired blonde boy, Cisco came to AGaG from a shelter where he was turned in. Cisco is a fun loving, sweet dog that had some typical 'Golden Retriever' behaviors that needed some fine tuning. Enjoying a challenge, his new Mom fell in love with Cisco and couldn't resist adopting him.

Cisco has already learned some new manners and has graduated from his first obedience class. His mom reports that 'Although Cisco didn't get to wear a cap and gown, he got lots of graduation gifts from his new Aunt & Uncle (who happen to be AGaG foster parents!) and his new Grandpa.' Way to go Cisco!

We adopted him a year and a half ago when he was 9 and absolutely adore him! The whole reason I wanted a golden retriever was because my 7th grade classroom was decorated with pictures of all the golden retrievers my teacher had in her life. It took a year to actually get my big lovable dog but it was worth it. Clifford is one of a kind, although he can be stubborn at times, he is caring and one of the sweetest dogs. He gets along with my other two dogs great, loves munching on ice and catching food in his mouth along with long walks. Since he knows exactly where the park is, he manages to pull me there. I am so grateful he is in my life and wouldn't be complete without him!

We adopted Comet (his name was Butch before). He is a very loving, kind, and gentle boy, is great with anybody and will cuddle anytime. We are very happy with him. He loves to run around and play with his bone. He carries a pillow in his mouth which makes him look adorable! He has been a fantastic addition to our family. He has many friends in the neighborhood and goes for nightly walks with my husband. The kids play with him a lot, as do their friends.

We thank the As Good as Gold President for taking such good care of him and letting us adopt him. We also thank our friend who fostered him, and just happened to mention him at dinner one night last year.

Here is Dakota, our wonderful new Golden (since Aug 15). We have had Goldens for almost 40 years, until we lost our last two a day apart in May. Dakota has totally brightened our lives. We only feel bad for the family that had to give up such a wonderful dog. We are retired, and he is our constant companion. The pictures show him enjoying life at our lake house.

Tall, blonde and handsome, isn't that what many are looking for in a mate? Well, that's what Divot's new family was looking for anyway and that's what they found when they came to AGaG looking for a new companion to adopt.

Having lived in a shelter for a short time, Divot quickly learned that he much preferred the life of luxury. His new 'Golden' sister, cocker spaniel mate, and new 'Human' brother to play with, he's found heaven. Currently in the upper levels of intermediate obedience, Divot is learning lots of new manners and is the 'Clown' of his new family. His new adoptive family reports that he is just the biggest lover ever and they just adore their new family member. They say they couldn't have asked for a better match!

We've had Dudley in our family for seven months now and it feels like he's been a part of us for so much longer. Dudley is the best cuddle bug in the world. He enjoys his walks, playing with his toys and a great belly rub. He is so obedient and gentle, you can't help but always want him near you. Our friends and family all adore him. It's so great when we come home and he falls to the floor as if he is bowing to you, and all you want to do is pet him unconditionally! We are so grateful to have Dudley as a part of our family and look forward to enjoying so many great memories with him!

We adopted Finley from AGaG in October 2007 after losing our beloved 10 year old golden in September. We knew Goldens were the breed for us and we wanted a rescue, so we headed to Petco to get the adoption process started.

Finley made herself right at home from the start. She's still a puppy and loves to play catch/fetch. She loves water and looks longingly at the shower door, trying to figure out how to get in! Finley loves watching Animal Planet - she runs up to the TV to watch, sit and bark at other animals. She loves to 'Roo roo' at us, snores like a truck driver, and enjoys romping in the snow. AGaG knows what they are doing when they place a dog. Finley is perfect for us and we're SO thankful!

After adopting Ginger four weeks ago, she has really settled into our home and has accepted our other two dogs very well. She loves to be cuddled, can't get enough of playing with stuffed toys and has even started to run with our other two dogs trying to get toys away from them and inviting lots of doggy play time. When we mention it is time for a walk, for lack of a better word, she goes bananas. She loves our back yard and is constantly chasing squirrels and rabbits. Our sincerest thanks to AGaG, for such a wonderful addition to our family.

We got Ginger about 1 1/2 years ago. When we went to pick her up, she just had puppies and had surgery with a horrible ear infection and allergies and she still walked right up to us with those loving eyes and stood up on her back paws to greet us! It was love at first sight! Her allergies are now under control and she is a happy companion with our other Golden, Tess, they both adore each other. Ginger is just happy all the time and wants to cuddle and sleep with us every night. Thank you As Good as Gold, for bringing her into our lives, she is truly a gift from above. We are so grateful for this organization, you do a terrific job!

We fostered Hollie with the option to adopt since April. Hollie fit in from day one, already housebroken. We leash trained her with the goal of allowing her to run free on our property when we are outside.

Hollie does barn chores with me every day - we clean stalls, feed the horses and cats, groom horses, and turn horses out and bring them in. Hollie loves to go fishing and mushroom hunting with Buddy, and Buddy loves having a 'fishing' dog as a partner!

Hollie barked and growled at the horses at first, but no more! Hollie is indifferent toward our cats, and very loving and playful. She plays with the toys and sleeps on the bed sent by her previous family. Hollie is Happy and Loved!

My family had to put our Golden down 2 years ago when she was 15. We knew we wanted another Golden, but didn't want a puppy. We were happily surprised when we got 5 year old Hunter through AGaG. He was shy at first and very "chubby". He is now down to a healthy weight and has acclimated very well. He loves trotting around the house with pillows and bringing them to us as gifts. He also loves shoes and items of clothing, though he never chews on anything. Hunter, once lazy; now loves chasing chipmunks, squirrels, and birds. He truly is our "shadow" and always is where we are. We are amazed with his wonderful personality and temperament, and honestly couldn't be happier. Knowing that we have given him a better life is extremely rewarding!

We lost our beloved Golden, Maggie in January 2009. We were lost without her. A friend suggested adoption and told us about AGAG. We went on the website and found out they were going to be at a Petco in Orland Park. We attended the Petco Meet & Greet two weeks later.

We talked to so many wonderful volunteers, met their adopted goldens and heard all their success stories. Our minds were made up; we wanted to adopt from AGAG.

Two months later, we have two beautiful four year old Goldens named Jack & Jill. They are brother and sister. They came to us very well trained and so loving. They were overweight, but after daily walks and a doggie diet, they are now in great shape. We couldn't imagine life without them. Thank you AGaG!

Jake and Hailey were given up in December 2009 and became my Christmas and Birthday gifts. I had always adopted senior goldens, but decided to foster a younger pair. Raised together, 6-year-old Jake and 5-year-old Hailey are very loving and cuddly. They are inseparable, playing with the same toys, finishing each other's food, and cleaning each other's ears. Jake is 92 pounds of muscle and an expert escape artist. In March, he found his way to Lake Osborne and went swimming, chasing ducks and geese. Hailey followed, of course. We keep Jake under control now with a gentle leader and he's a great boy. Hailey is smart and curious, learns tricks easily and always gets her way. She has very bad hip arthritis and was overweight, but she has lost 22 pounds and now is a bundle of energy. She could be a Jennie Craig model! Her orthopedic vet is amazed and thrilled. She'll need surgery in the future but for now she's a slim lady enjoying life. They both love veggies (Brussels sprouts are their favorite), runs in the dog park, and a mile or 2 walking every day. Thanks to AGAG for bringing them to us!

Hi, my name is Chelsea (on the bottom) and I am a 6 1/2 year old golden retriever. Several months ago, my family decided that it was time that I get a new friend. 'Jenna', an adorable 2 year old golden soon came bounding through the door, and ever since we are like 'peas and carrots'.

We adopted Jenna in August. When my parents go to work during the day, I teach Jenna everything I know. I've taught her how to get on the couch, steal dad's socks, and take afternoon naps on mom and dad's bed. Thank you As Good As Gold for giving me my new best friend!!

Kasey is a very pretty petite, reddish colored one year old female that came to AGaG as a stray.

Now that she is living with her new family, Kasey realized that life on the run wasn't all it was cracked up to be. She much prefers her new life with her three new canine companions to romp and play with and her two new human sisters to get lots of hugs and kisses from.

Her new mom reports that Kasey has become best friends with and is inseparable from her new sisters. She spent her first Easter with her new family hunting eggs and getting lots of love! Kasey is a wonderful sweetheart who deserves the good life she now has!

Last year we lost our beloved Casey Girl at 15. We have been AGAG members for a few years and AGAG paired us up with Lady Girl. She had some health issues that her owners couldn't handle, so AGAG stepped in to treat her. She then stayed with a fabulous foster family as she healed. We have had her for a month and couldn't love her more. She knows her manners inside and outside (unless of course she sees a squirrel or chipmunk and her sparky personality comes out). She is fun to watch playing with her toy squirrel, flipping it in the air and pouncing. We thought we wanted a younger dog, but are so pleased with her calm temperament and we trust her in the house without being crated. Thank you so very much As Good As Gold!

I just wanted to take a minute to let you know how happy we are with our rescue. Logan is about 14 months old now, and doing so well and having a ball. My daughters are able to walk him and we have found other dogs for him to play with. He truly is a great addition to our family!

We adopted Lucy (originally Lily - on the left) a month ago. Lucy is a larger golden who has a heart as big as she is. She loves to play with her new golden brother who thinks that she is just the best thing next to dog treats! Her forever 'human' family adores her. She's an 80-pound lap dog who cuddles on top of you and once she's comfortable she's NOT MOVING and neither are you! Some people have told us that we gave her the 'gift' of a great home but we believe she was a gift to us. Lucy's love is unconditional as ours is to her. Thank you AGaG for the opportunity to adopt such a wonderful 'gift' into our family.

We first took in Cricket in 2007 and had to get Madison early 2008. Now the girls are best buddies and we love them so much! We don't know what would have happened to them without As Good as Gold. Thank you!

Hi, my name is Mandy and I want to share my new life with you! I lived in a home where I was loved, but didn't get enough exercise and was fed too much.

My new family all love me like crazy. My Mom walks me everyday and I have lost 15 pounds.

I LOVE to swim in my new pool and will fetch the ball out of it as many times as someone will throw it! I love everything about my new life. I greet my new family, follow them from room to room and want to be the center of attention, just like a golden should be. Thanks to my first family and to AGaG for helping me find my forever home!

Maya chose us to be her adoptive family in July, 2008. We first met Maya while she was in foster care at our friends' home. Her adorable ball of fluff was hard to resist, but it was her senior Golden brother, Calypso who gave us the final paw and tail wag of approval. Since Maya came to us at 10 weeks of age, she's been having a ball with her canine and feline siblings. She's enjoying the good life filled with belly rubs, chasing anything that moves in the wind, and most importantly knowing that she's found her forever home. We can't imagine our family without her.

Mayble (aka Dunkin) came to me from AGaG about nine months ago. She certainly enjoys going for hour-long walks around the neighborhood. Her new favorite activity to do is dock diving and swimming up at my grandparent's lake house in Wisconsin. After we are done with our activities for the day she ends up on the couch all sprawled out. When I come home, I am always greeted with a smile that only a golden retriever can give.

We lost our Golden, Owen, on April 15th 2009. Max joined our family on August 29th. I found out about As Good As Gold from a fellow employee of my Company. He told me a little about the organization and gave me an application for adoption. After meeting all the requirements for adoption we heard there was a handsome 4 1/2 yr. old male that needed a family. We are so happy that Max found our family. We are enjoying each other every day. Max likes to go for walks to the park with Kevin, my husband, and Robin our 7 year old daughter.

Our ten year old collie mix who came from a shelter, died suddenly in June, 2007. We wanted to adopt again, when my wife found AGaG on the web. After interviewing and being placed on the waiting list, AGaG soon called about Miller; an eight year old male whose owner gave him up due to allergies.

He is the most wonderful dog! Lovable, instantly kind to our cats and by now, he has us almost completely trained. We took him to the reunion this fall and he met lots of friends. He loves car rides, visiting PetSmart, getting biscuits from the mailman and the girls at the drive-up bank window.

He loves the snow, cold weather, dinner, getting his belly rubbed, and life in general. We are grateful to AGaG, and even more so to Miller for rescuing us!

Sweet Miss Molly came into our lives this past March shortly after the loss of our second golden. She soon filled the hole in our hearts with her sweet puppy face, intelligence, trusting nature, gentleness toward our elderly Mom, playfulness & patience with her new 'baby brother', Austin.

She's a seven year old with the energy level & attitude of a two year old! She LOVES to play with her squeaky toys (especially her 'hippo'). She enjoys running, playing hide and seek, wrestling & playing tug-of-war with Austin. They play hard then nap, seemingly glued to each.

Thank you AGaG! Molly has brought smiles, laughter, love and joy back into our lives. You have 'rescued' both her and us!

My name is Molly. My previous owners had a lot of love to give me but not a lot of money to care for me. I was having seizures and I have a thyroid problem. I was given up to AGaG and traveled from Chicago to Rockford to be with my foster family. I was very nervous and scared, but I felt pretty good about the new humans.

My foster family was very patient and loving and had what they call a foster failure - instead of just fostering me they decided to adopt me! Now I go on walks everyday with my new parents. I have also lost a few pounds and my fur is finally starting to look lush and full. It really is a dog's life and I would not a want it any other way.

I adopted Molly 2 years ago. She loved walks, going to the Dog Park and she liked to 'jump' at one of my cats just to see it run. But they were friends - sleeping on the floor inches apart. Molly seemed to know when I wasn't feeling well and would stay as close to me as she could. We cuddled together during thunderstorms (which made Molly nervous).

Molly suffered a mild stroke in November, and a week ago she suffered small seizures and was put on medicine. This morning I had to let Molly go. My house feels empty, my heart feels heavy and the tears keep flowing. Attached is a picture of Molly waiting for the cat to pop out from behind the couch. Live, Love, Bark!

Hmmm… A new 'Golden' brother to play with every day, two new human sisters to play with, a new soft comfy blanket to sleep on at night on the floor right next to a mom and dad, two blocks from a large park to walk to often with a new family, toys to play with? Four year old Monty couldn't refuse this new life! His former family reluctantly turned him over to AGaG, as they had to move and could no longer keep him.

Monty went directly into our 'Placement with Option' program where his new family had waited a long time on a list to find the right fit for them. His new family reports that Monty was well worth the wait! Monty loves to bark at the car doors he hears closing, wondering if it's someone coming to visit him, and he loves to 'talk' back to the other barking dogs in the neighborhood!

Oscar and his brother were left at an area shelter that contacted AGaG. Oscar was at a foster home for two weeks when we picked him up on New Year's Eve. The foster parents told us he was 3-4 years old, house trained, well behaved and very affectionate. Oscar was a bit timid at first, but his confidence has grown by leaps and bounds since. This is the fifth Golden that I have owned so I know the breed well. Oscar is a wonderful example of why people love Goldens. I can't imagine why he was given up, but we are certainly glad that he was. Many thanks to the people at AGaG, especially Oscar's wonderful foster parents - you all were great.

Otis came to us as a nine and a half year old foster dog. Since he is older, we certainly didn't expect him to be as playful and spunky as he is! With him in the house, all of us are having more fun (including Rocky and Duke)! We are so happy Otis will live out his senior years with us (and based on how much he smiles, I'd say he's happy too)! I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to adopt a senior -- I would highly recommend it!

Once upon a time, seven years ago, a six year old Golden named Harley was relinquished to us by a friend. Our friend was heartbroken, but knew we would love and care for him. Harley is now almost 13, and needed a friend (and I wanted another Golden!).

We wanted a young Golden, 4 years or so, but AGaG volunteers introduced us to the most energetic nine year old you can imagine! Parker is now a full-fledged member of our pack of two humans and two 'old' Goldens. We love them more than we can express!!

Harley (on left) and Parker (on right)

Although we've been golden owners as far back we can remember, after losing our last pair, we didn't think we would have another one. Red came to us through AGaG from a shelter as a stray. This young, squirmy, hyper, loving, affectionate, and beautiful guy came only as a temporary foster dog, but he wormed his way into our hearts so quickly there was no letting him go.

He's learned how to remove the toilet paper roll and run it through the house, he's gotten skunked, he sneaks into the garbage, and many other things that have made our lives full again. Just hearing that "thump-thump" of the tail or seeing his cute little face resting on my lap tells us our lives would be empty without him. Thanks to AGaG for filling our lives again, and bringing this wonderful loving sweet boy to us!

Our Rocky is the perfect buddy - Play? Yes! Go for a ride? Sure! Go for a swim? Yes! Sit and relax? O...k...a...y... (rolls his eyes). Rocky is a handsome fellow and his coat is so luscious that one of our young neighbors exclaimed 'petting him is like getting and giving a massage at the same time!'

He's a bit of a goof ball which endears him to us all the more. He's been known to chase his own tail, bathe the cat, and entertain himself by bouncing and catching a rubber ball! He cavorts like an oversized puppy and learned to bring in the newspaper by his third day with us.

We're extremely grateful to have Rocky in our family, and we owe a big thank you to his foster mom, and to AGaG for your hard work and dedication. We could not be happier!

We adopted Ruben four months ago, after we lost our last Golden. Ruben was relinquished by his owners, after going through 3 surgeries. He then had knee reconstructive surgery while in foster care. He gets chiropractic or acupuncture weekly, and hydrotherapy pool walks. He has gained muscle, his fur has grown back.

He is a real charmer and cuddler, car rides are his favorite activity. Each day starts and ends on his dog bed while I stroke his face. We can't imagine life without him - yesterday my husband was looking at him and said 'I love you Ruben, I really do', and Ruben gave him 'those eyes', put his face on my husband's knee, as if to say 'love you too!'

Our family decided to find a playmate for our four year-old golden, Roxy. We contacted AGaG and were introduced to Buddy, a six year old golden who was rescued from a puppy mill in Iowa. He was used as a stud dog, kept in a cage for most of his life, sick and needed dental work. AGaG and his foster family nursed him back to health and six months after he was rescued, we brought him home and renamed him Rudy.

Rudy and Roxy are now best friends. Rudy has learned how to play with squeaky toys and run around the yard. He loves to eat as much as he can, enjoys daily walks with Roxy and cuddling. Rudy has been a terrific addition to our family, and we are lucky to have found him. Thank you, AGaG!

After the loss of our almost 16 year old Golden Retriever, I began a search for another. I filled out an application with AGaG, and not long thereafter received a call. A representative immediately came to interview our family, and brought Sadie along, who instantly caught our attention and heart.

Sadie (formerly Sandy) brought joy and healing back to our home. Almost two years old, she has had hip dysplasia surgery on her right hip. We walk Sadie daily to build up her muscle mass (and decrease ours). Sadie is very smart and immediately adjusted and bonded to our family and home. She is enrolled in positive dog training classes, and we look forward to a long life and many camping experiences with Sadie.

From Sadie's new family: 'A petite golden female at a lady-like forty pounds, Sadie was adopted by our family with four kids, a mom and dad, and two cats. From the first day, Sadie has been a loving animal and is already a full-fledged member of the family.

She is full of affection and personality, and loves to horse-play with the kids, and romp in the snow. Sadie is now healthy and very happy. She is a great companion, a loyal family member, and a responsive well-trained dog.' Sadie's family is forever grateful to AGaG that she came into their lives.

In 2007, our family took in three AGaG goldens! All came as foster dogs and ended up staying. Marley was abandoned and four months old when we took him in. Sam and Hobbes (eleven and five years old) were owner relinquishments. We adopted Hobbes at Christmas, and Sam is a 'long term care' foster. We have helped them both through various illnesses and injuries, and they return the favor by their wagging tails and giving us wet kisses.

All three are very lovable and their different personalities keep us entertained. Marley is the clown, and the pesky little brother - stealing toys to get a reaction. Hobbes is very sweet and takes care of the others by giving them toys. Sam, the distinguished old man, keeps everyone in line and wants nothing more than to lie near us or follow us around.

We adopted Sam, 'Shmooly' is his nickname, in April 2008. It was love at first sight for my children, me, and our 3-1/2 year old sugar-spun lab Nicki. He is our missing link; sweet, gentle, loving, and funny. Nicki and Sam seem like they have been together forever. They play together and keep each other company. I am so glad about our decision to contact AGaG. Sam fits perfectly in our family.

Lucky #3! My 1st golden came from a terrific local breeder. Jake was 8 weeks old and died of cancer at age 11. Only you golden owners can really understand what losing your dear senior golden means. My 2nd golden, an 8 year old rescue named Bear lived with me 3 years, and it was the best 3 years! After losing him to a stroke while chasing fish in Wisconsin, I knew I could waste no time finding a 3rd golden.

Sammy, a 7 year old AGaG rescue came to me from southern Illinois, after 2 other families gave him up. I'm his 3rd owner and he, my 3rd golden. I have never known a 'cuddler'. He never leaves my side. And what do you know - he, too, is a Sox fan!

After 10 months in foster care, 9 and 10 year old Jordan and Sassy came into my life in December, 2007 - one of the best decisions I have ever made. I intended to wait a year after losing my 15 year old golden, but this pair was featured on the AGaG website and won my heart.

This 'married couple' differs in every way: size, color, personality. No one could ask for happier or more loving dogs. They love to make snow angels, play tug of war, 'terrorize' squirrels and birds, entertain company, and nap on 'their' couches while always showing boundless affection. They feel as fortunate and happy about sharing a new life as I do. Thank you to AGaG for making this possible!

We had to say goodbye to our golden girl at 8 years young in June, who was also a rescue. You all know just how devastating that is to lose them.

We knew that we needed to rescue another dog. We got a call from AGaG and went to meet a golden named Sebastian - we fell totally in love with this sweet boy. He might just be the cutest dog ever! I know we have said that before too!

This 6 year old boy has lots of energy, and is the best cuddler ever! (I think my hubby might be jealous) Thank you to everyone at AGaG, especially to his awesome foster family.

Sheba is a beautiful 12 year old light red senior girl who came to As Good as Gold when her owner passed away.

As our seniors can sometimes be a little more difficult to adopt out, Sheba opted to take part in our 'Assisted Living' program wanting to soak up as much attention as she could from as many people as possible.

Sheba now resides with other 'Seniors' in an assisted living facility and enjoys the slower pace and all of the attention from the residents. She just loves to make people smile!

After the loss of our beloved 13.5 year-old brittany spaniel mix, our family was in search of a companion for our 5 year-old Golden Retriever, Jesse. We chose to pursue another Golden Retriever because of Jesse's wonderful demeanor and our desire to rescue a dog in need of a wonderful home. We adopted Shooter (on the right) from the AGaG organization and have truly found a life long friend for our family. Shooter immediately adjusted to Jesse and our home. He wakes us up daily with kisses of gratitude and thankfulness! The adoption process was a wonderful experience. Thank you As Good as Gold!

We adopted Stuart Von Sniffer (formerly Tyson) several months after two of our goldens died. Shortly after completing our adoption application, we met Stuey. We immediately fell in love with his expressive eyes and distinctive "Mohawk" running down his nose. He was very calm for an eight month old male, but feisty enough to encourage our 10 year old Mr. McMurphy to run and wrestle again. Stuart loves our grandchildren and is especially gentle with the two toddlers while playing ball and "sharing" his bones. He also loves stuffies, walks, swimming, belly rubs, biscuits, performing his tricks and just being close to us. He's very eager to please and completed basic dog obedience and received his AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification before he was a year old. Thanks AGaG for finding Stuey for us!

Last June I was picking up meds at Arboretum animal clinic for my older male golden. He lost his mate 15 months prior. I saw the As Good as Gold truck, and out came a very large 88 lb. female golden 'Suzi Ann' with her foster dad. I was drawn to her gentleness, watching as kids, strangers and other dogs greeted her. She was a pretty and young, but overweight.

I knew that proper feeding and exercise would help her become healthy, and I adopted her in August. She will soon have surgery on both hips to compensate for the weight damage. We renamed her 'Sunny' and she now weighs 68 lbs, can jump into the car, and on the couch! She is a playful addition to our home, and we love her to death!

We learned about AGaG while trying to find a doggie sister for our female Golden in the fall of 2008. After passing the application and home visit steps, we heard about a 7.5 pound 4-month old who was rescued from a puppy mill in Indiana. We brought her home and I have been smiling from ear to ear ever since. Our 5-year old Golden Sam was initially surprised when 'mini-me' first appeared but soon they were playing nicely, chasing each other in the yard, and cuddling together when they tired.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers at AGaG who were involved in bringing this little-one into our lives: the home visit volunteer, the foster parent who transported her, the adoption coordinator, and of course her foster parents. Sydney is now a healthy 32 pounds and a happy, cuddly puppy.

Remember the 'Charlie Brown' cartoons? Well, the 'Little Redheaded Girl' has come to life in the form of a Golden Retriever! Being a typical three year old, Sydney loves to run and jump - jumping so high that she was able to escape her fenced-in the yard and go visiting in the neighborhood.

Sydney came to AGaG as an owner relinquishment when her owners could no longer care for her. Sydney has found a wonderful new life with her new Mom, who also happens to be a dog trainer! This is what AGaG refers to as a 'match made in heaven.' She's enjoying her new lavish life being the center of attention with her mom, going for lots of walks and learning some new manners!

It was a big decision to get another dog. Maggie, sweet and submissive, had been an only child for 8 years. But we thought that she would benefit from having a companion and we really wanted another dog. Four year old Tanner has been with us for 3 months now. Maggie is getting used to sharing us with Tanner. He is very loving and sweet, and loves to run around the house with a slipper or remote control in his mouth. He makes low throaty sounds when he's being brushed and almost falls asleep. He was very overweight but has made great strides towards getting healthy. Thank you so much for Tanner - almost every day we look at each other in amazement at how fortunate we were to get this gentle giant.

Yoko is a young one year old female that came to AGaG from a Shelter where she was turned in by her previous owners. Yoko immediately went into our 'Placement with Option' program where she found her new forever home!

Her family reports that she is a 'great puppy who loves her new golden sister and is learning fast.' She has found a coffee table in her new home that she has claimed as her new bed! She enjoys the good life now with her new Mom and a new Dad that works from home and is able to give Yoko all of the attention she needs and wants! What a life!