Please read and make sure you are willing to conform to these policies! If you are unable or unwilling to conform to NEARR's policies, then in most cases we will be unable to proceed with your application.

Retrievers and Children

Because we place a very strong emphasis on safety, we are extremely careful about the retrievers we will place into families with young children. We will only place owner-surrendered dogs who are known to be good with children in a home with children. We will not place any dog that was originally a stray in a home with children.

Fencing requirements for families with children are:

• If you have children under 6 years of age and want to adopt a retriever under 4 years old, you must have a physical fence (not invisible fencing).
• If you have children under 6 years of age and you are adopting an older dog (4 years of age and up) we may consider no fencing. In this case, you should be committed to leash walking your rescued retriever to ensure that they get the necessary amount of exercise.

While actively playing with children is great fun and exercise for a retriever, children cannot be expected to provide the only exercise for a dog. Retrievers are extremely active, high-energy dogs that require consistent exercise. Labrador and Golden Retrievers are considered puppies until they are between 2 and 3 years of age. Their delayed adolescence period (which is the most common age during which they are surrendered to shelters or rescues) can prove to be problematic for the dog and for you if you are not prepared to commit to their needs. Behavior problems such as barking, chewing, or digging can frequently be the result of not giving a retriever enough exercise.

The demand for rescued retrievers with "child experience" is high, so the wait to adopt for a family with young children can be lengthy. We do not want to discourage you from considering the adoption of one of our wonderful rescued retrievers, but we do want you to have a realistic understanding of the probable delay.

Fencing

NEARR does not generally require that NEARR dogs only go to homes with fenced-in yards. However, the following instances will require a properly fenced-in yard for a NEARR dog:

• You are a family with children aged 6 years and under and would like to adopt a retriever under the age of 4 years.
• You have a young, high energy dog and are looking to adopt a similar dog. We require a fence in this case as playing with another dog can distract them from boundaries and can result in escapes.
• The specific NEARR dog has proven that he/she requires fencing.

Invisible Fencing

While invisible fencing is a good solution for places where zoning or other limitations prevent a physical fence, it is not the ideal situation for rescued dogs, particularly retrievers:

• It does not keep out predators (wildlife, other dogs, or people).
• It does not allow a dog to return home once it bolts.
• For retrievers (who have a high pain tolerance, a genetic desire to roam, and a high prey drive), it may not be sufficient to contain them.
• If two or more active dogs are in residence, they can go outside the region while playing and will be unable to return.

NOTE: NEARR considers an invisible fence the equivalent to "no fence" in the case of those dogs which require a fence.

Swimming Pools

Because of the tragedies involving dogs drowning in swimming pools, NEARR has these policies regarding swimming pools:

• Dogs should only be allowed access to the pool when there is a responsible adult present.
• An inground pool should have steps; a ladder is not acceptable and you must be committed to teaching your dog how to use the steps.
• An inground pool must have an elephant cover or a locked enclosure.
• An above ground pool should have a locked gate.

Other Pets

If you have any other pets in your household:

• All existing pets (cats/dogs) must be up-to-date on their vaccinations.
• All animals must be well maintained and in good heath.
• Existing dogs must be well socialized with humans and dogs. If your existing dog is not well socialized, please be sure to specify on your application the measures you’ve taken to compensate for your current dog’s behavior problems.
• Your existing dog must have met successfully with any NEARR dog that you are interested in adopting prior to the Board approving your adoption.
• The NEARR dog must be tested with any type of “non-dog” pet before adoption.

Training

We strongly feel that all retrievers, being very energetic and intelligent dogs, benefit immensely from obedience training. Training classes also offer a wonderful opportunity to bond with your rescued retriever. You must enroll in obedience classes with your NEARR dog within 90 days of your adoption.

Puppies

It is rare that we receive puppies into our program, and when we do they are usually retriever mixes (we rarely get dogs under 9 months of age). If you would like a puppy, we would be happy to help you find responsible and reputable breeders in the area that we serve. Please do not buy a puppy from a pet store. These puppies are most likely the result of a puppy mill, where dogs are kept in deplorable conditions, bred repeatedly, and used purely for profit. They also have a statistically higher chance of developing genetic flaws and diseases. (The Humane Society has more information (link) on puppy mills.)

We only adopt puppies to adopters who are home either most of the day or who are willing to make accommodations – puppies must not be left alone for more than 4 hours. Your puppy will also be required to be spayed or neutered at an appropriate age, and we require a spay/neuter deposit that is refundable upon proof of operation.

Special Needs Dogs

At times, we receive dogs into our program who have special needs. NEARR is committed to making you aware of any special needs that any of our dogs may have. In this case, you must be prepared for the cost of treating a special needs dog.

NEARR sometimes receives dogs who have behavioral issues. We usually become aware of these issues while a dog is in foster care. If this occurs, NEARR will be very up front about these special circumstances and will only adopt these dogs out to dog-savvy owners who are extremely committed to training these dogs correctly.

Miscellaneous

• Dogs are high social animals and wish to be with their pack as much as possible -- that means you! NEARR does not adopt dogs to families that want an "outside only" dog. All dogs adopted from NEARR will live and sleep inside the home.
• We do not consider dog runs, tying, or chaining a dog outside safe or appropriate for your dog. When dogs are tied up outside, they can be stolen, abused, strangled, or attacked by other animals. Retrievers are unhappy if they are not with their people, whether you are inside or outside away from them.
• NEARR dogs should not have access to the outdoors via a dog door when left alone.
• You must not leave the dog outside when no one is home.
• You must never allow your rescued retriever to ride in the back of an open truck, whether or not the dog is restrained. Additionally, dogs in convertibles should have an appropriate restraint such as a doggie seatbelt.
• You must be committed to keeping your dog leashed, or otherwise contained, unless you are in an enclosed or isolated area in which it is safe and legal to have your dog off leash.
• All family members, including other dogs, must be present during the home visit and when meeting a prospective "adoptee" retriever to be sure of a good match.

NOTE: The NEARR Board of Directors reserves the right to change any policy at any time. Exemptions to NEARR policies will be decided on a case-by-case basis.