Before You Apply, Please Consider This Important Information
When our rescue began in 2005, there was an abundance of purebred Golden Retrievers in need of homes. As the years have gone on, those numbers have declined greatly. Thus, SGRR has been taking in more mixed breeds than purebred Goldens. If you are only interested in adopting a purebred Golden Retriever, SGRR is probably not the rescue group for you.
Additionally, because our dogs are in high demand, 90% of our adoptions are direct adoptions from the south. If you feel you must meet a dog prior to adopting, then again, we are probably not the right group for you.
Additionally, because our dogs are in high demand, 90% of our adoptions are direct adoptions from the south. If you feel you must meet a dog prior to adopting, then again, we are probably not the right group for you.
A Note to Our Approved Applicants
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Applicants often ask how long it will take to adopt a dog. Sunshine, like many other rescue groups in the country, is currently in the enviable position of having many more terrific families and individuals approved and waiting to adopt a rescue dog than we have dogs. We wish that each of you could bring a rescue dog into your life as soon as you are approved to adopt. Knowing that is not possible, we ask for your patience and understanding as you await your dog. Our volunteers spend many, many hours evaluating our dogs and working on the right match to help ensure each dog finds a happy and forever home. For some of you, there will be a very short wait for a dog, while others will wait longer than hoped. This is simply a matter of getting the right match and does not reflect negatively on anyone. We are fortunate to have so many kind and giving people waiting to welcome home a dog in need. Thank you for your trust in Sunshine. We are hoping your wait will not be a long one!
Reasons to rescue...
Rescuing will change two lives forever — yours and your new companion's. Nationwide, animal shelters care for between 6-8 million dogs and cats every year, of whom 3–4 million are euthanized. The tragic fact is that there are simply not enough responsible homes for all of these wonderful, innocent animals. On occasion, SGRR will have puppies available for adoption that will be starting their lives, and some are older dogs who have been well cared for but whose owners can no longer keep them due to a change in circumstances. Many rescued dogs come to us sad and confused, and many have been neglected or abused. These sweet souls will require time and love, and often continued patience and behavioral work. Companion animals are remarkably adaptable and forgiving, with a boundless capacity for love. Their inner personalities will emerge as they feel more comfortable. While we begin the process with vetting and evaluations, their adopters are part of the rescue process and will be rewarded by seeing their new companions blossom! Just because they lived with someone else first, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t make a wonderful companion for you! If you can open your heart to one of these dogs in need, we encourage you to apply and become part of rescue.
Adoptable Dogs
Bo
Click to read about me!
Magnificent and Sweet!
Breed: Great Pyrenees
Color: Cream
Age: 1-2 years
Size: 81 lbs
Sex: Male
Bo is a sweet, affectionate 1½-year-old Great Pyrenees who loves everyone, gets along with other dogs. He arrived at our rescue severely matted and extremely thin after being found roaming the neighborhood. Bo is ready for his new life so be sure to read his story on his bio page.
Breed: Great Pyrenees
Color: Cream
Age: 1-2 years
Size: 81 lbs
Sex: Male
Bo is a sweet, affectionate 1½-year-old Great Pyrenees who loves everyone, gets along with other dogs. He arrived at our rescue severely matted and extremely thin after being found roaming the neighborhood. Bo is ready for his new life so be sure to read his story on his bio page.
Mr. Bailey’s Story — A Golden Who Deserves Every Moment of Love
Recently, Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue welcomed a very special senior Golden into our family. Mr. Bailey had been wandering all alone w hen a kind-hearted person found him and reached out to our rescue. We may never know if he simply wandered away from the home he once knew or if he was abandoned. What we do know is that we are incredibly grateful that his journey led him to Sunshine.
Estimated to be 10–12 years old, Bailey is as sweet as molasses. When he arrived, it was obvious that he had recently been seen by a veterinarian, as a large area on his side had been shaved. Our own veterinarian soon discovered the heartbreaking reason: the shaved area was where a large tumor had been removed, and Mr. Bailey was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer.
Our hearts were broken for this gentle old soul. But we also knew one thing immediately - Bailey was not going to face this alone. We are committed to giving Bailey the best life possible for whatever time he has left. He is now living with one of our treasured Forever Fosters in the South, where he is being spoiled exactly as every senior Golden should be. He gets plenty of love and attention, delicious treats, a cozy bed, and time to enjoy his favorite toys.
And the most beautiful part? Mr. Bailey doesn't know he is sick. He doesn't know he is in hospice care. He simply knows that he is loved. ❤️ He is happy. He is content. He is soaking up every bit of love coming his way. Just look at his pictures—you can see the joy in his face and the peace in his heart.
We are hoping and praying that Mr. Bailey has many more wonderful weeks ahead, filled with everything he deserves: soft beds, tasty treats, favorite toys, gentle hands, and most of all, love.
We wanted to share Bailey's story with our Sunshine family because he represents something we believe with all our hearts: Every Sunshine dog matters. Every Sunshine dog deserves to know they are loved. And when one of our dogs needs us most, we will be there. We will stand beside our dogs and do everything within our power to give them the care, dignity, comfort, and love they deserve—no matter their age or diagnosis.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible fosters and volunteers who continually step up when a dog needs them most. You open your homes, your hearts, and your lives to these precious souls. You truly are angels on earth. 💛
If you would like to help with Mr. Bailey's care, any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference and is deeply appreciated. His medical care, medications, and hospice needs are ongoing, and every contribution helps us give Bailey the comfort and care he deserves.
There are several ways to donate to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue. You may contribute to our general fund or designate your donation specifically for Mr. Bailey.
Please click to use the PayPal, Credit Card, or Venmo option or mail a check to:
SGRR
PO Box 403
Fairhope, AL 36533
Estimated to be 10–12 years old, Bailey is as sweet as molasses. When he arrived, it was obvious that he had recently been seen by a veterinarian, as a large area on his side had been shaved. Our own veterinarian soon discovered the heartbreaking reason: the shaved area was where a large tumor had been removed, and Mr. Bailey was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer.
Our hearts were broken for this gentle old soul. But we also knew one thing immediately - Bailey was not going to face this alone. We are committed to giving Bailey the best life possible for whatever time he has left. He is now living with one of our treasured Forever Fosters in the South, where he is being spoiled exactly as every senior Golden should be. He gets plenty of love and attention, delicious treats, a cozy bed, and time to enjoy his favorite toys.
And the most beautiful part? Mr. Bailey doesn't know he is sick. He doesn't know he is in hospice care. He simply knows that he is loved. ❤️ He is happy. He is content. He is soaking up every bit of love coming his way. Just look at his pictures—you can see the joy in his face and the peace in his heart.
We are hoping and praying that Mr. Bailey has many more wonderful weeks ahead, filled with everything he deserves: soft beds, tasty treats, favorite toys, gentle hands, and most of all, love.
We wanted to share Bailey's story with our Sunshine family because he represents something we believe with all our hearts: Every Sunshine dog matters. Every Sunshine dog deserves to know they are loved. And when one of our dogs needs us most, we will be there. We will stand beside our dogs and do everything within our power to give them the care, dignity, comfort, and love they deserve—no matter their age or diagnosis.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible fosters and volunteers who continually step up when a dog needs them most. You open your homes, your hearts, and your lives to these precious souls. You truly are angels on earth. 💛
If you would like to help with Mr. Bailey's care, any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference and is deeply appreciated. His medical care, medications, and hospice needs are ongoing, and every contribution helps us give Bailey the comfort and care he deserves.
There are several ways to donate to Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue. You may contribute to our general fund or designate your donation specifically for Mr. Bailey.
Please click to use the PayPal, Credit Card, or Venmo option or mail a check to:
SGRR
PO Box 403
Fairhope, AL 36533
And, as always, THANK YOU!
Courtesy Listings...
“Courtesy Posted” dogs are listed on our website to help the compassionate people who have rescued or own these dogs find homes for them. Courtesy dogs are not affiliated with SGRR and are available to be adopted privately via the information provided in their bio.
Adoptions Pending
The dogs listed below have Adoptions Pending. This means they are spoken for - the adoption contract has been signed and the adoption fee has been paid. Once the dog is medically cleared, he or she will go to their forever home.
Happily Adopted
Ozzy
Happily Adopted!
Ozzy (now Sam) is settling in well, he is overly enthusiastic and has a hard time being alone, as if! He is clinging on to you for dear life if you try to leave. He has quite a lot of accidents (thank goodness for swiffer), because he is probably very overwhelmed with emotions, this will pass as he gets older, I think. We will need to put him on training soon; he loves bunnies we are finding out (almost plant faced me in the yard lol). He is also a bit of a goof, and loves to be goofy on his back, which made him fall of the couch, which surprised him the most, hahaha.
Sam has found his forever home, he will be safe here. He just needs to find that out for himself. ~ Scarlet & Hans
Ozzy (now Sam) is settling in well, he is overly enthusiastic and has a hard time being alone, as if! He is clinging on to you for dear life if you try to leave. He has quite a lot of accidents (thank goodness for swiffer), because he is probably very overwhelmed with emotions, this will pass as he gets older, I think. We will need to put him on training soon; he loves bunnies we are finding out (almost plant faced me in the yard lol). He is also a bit of a goof, and loves to be goofy on his back, which made him fall of the couch, which surprised him the most, hahaha.
Sam has found his forever home, he will be safe here. He just needs to find that out for himself. ~ Scarlet & Hans
Sadie
Happily Adopted!
Things are going well. Sadie is a total love bug, a people dog, and a total couch potato. She immediately jumped up on the couch and loves snuggling with whoever is sitting there. She also wants to only sleep in our beds — last night she decided to leave the master BR and sleep with our oldest son (probably because there was more room for her there!). She and Nessie are working things out. They walk together fine, they sleep in the same areas, they follow each other around a bit. They just have different styles of play, and Nessie can get a little obnoxious when she gets too excited from their play wrestling, so we are monitoring, but overall they’re doing really well. She is totally fine with the cats, mostly ignoring them unless they come up to say hi. She also likes to hang out in her crate (when not on the sofa) but today is the first day she spent any time in it without us there (just a few hours). She’s also met our dog walker and will be added to the walking routine tomorrow. So overall things are great! ~ Emily & Steven
Things are going well. Sadie is a total love bug, a people dog, and a total couch potato. She immediately jumped up on the couch and loves snuggling with whoever is sitting there. She also wants to only sleep in our beds — last night she decided to leave the master BR and sleep with our oldest son (probably because there was more room for her there!). She and Nessie are working things out. They walk together fine, they sleep in the same areas, they follow each other around a bit. They just have different styles of play, and Nessie can get a little obnoxious when she gets too excited from their play wrestling, so we are monitoring, but overall they’re doing really well. She is totally fine with the cats, mostly ignoring them unless they come up to say hi. She also likes to hang out in her crate (when not on the sofa) but today is the first day she spent any time in it without us there (just a few hours). She’s also met our dog walker and will be added to the walking routine tomorrow. So overall things are great! ~ Emily & Steven
Finn
Happily Adopted!
We have been having so much fun with Finn! So far Mr. Finn has learned that he's not afraid of vacuum cleaners, that chipmunks rank right up there with stuffy toys and cuddling with lots of pats and rubs is fantastic!! He's pretty obedient and already very protective of his new pack and environment...we are having such fun just learning about his personality and habits!!! We attached a few pics of him in his new backyard...he loves to run after balls (doggie footballs in
particular as it is the season)! We'll keep you updated as to
his progress: thank you SGRR for all you do. ~ Kathy & Dave
We have been having so much fun with Finn! So far Mr. Finn has learned that he's not afraid of vacuum cleaners, that chipmunks rank right up there with stuffy toys and cuddling with lots of pats and rubs is fantastic!! He's pretty obedient and already very protective of his new pack and environment...we are having such fun just learning about his personality and habits!!! We attached a few pics of him in his new backyard...he loves to run after balls (doggie footballs in
particular as it is the season)! We'll keep you updated as to
his progress: thank you SGRR for all you do. ~ Kathy & Dave
Travis
Happily Adopted!
Everything is going wonderfully, and I am 100% keeping him. His name is
now Goose, and he has very quickly become my absolute best friend. He’s settling in so well and has already met all of my family members (and their dogs). He absolutely loves the dog park and has been such a happy, sweet boy. I’m taking him to the vet tomorrow, and he’s also signed up to start obedience classes this Saturday. I attached a few pictures so you can see
how he’s doing! I’m so grateful he found his way to me! ~ Alana
Everything is going wonderfully, and I am 100% keeping him. His name is
now Goose, and he has very quickly become my absolute best friend. He’s settling in so well and has already met all of my family members (and their dogs). He absolutely loves the dog park and has been such a happy, sweet boy. I’m taking him to the vet tomorrow, and he’s also signed up to start obedience classes this Saturday. I attached a few pictures so you can see
how he’s doing! I’m so grateful he found his way to me! ~ Alana
Lilly
Happily Adopted!
Lilly is settling into her new home wonderfully and making herself right at home. She has already turned into our little shadow, happily following us around everywhere we go. She’s enjoying playing fetch in the yard and exploring the neighborhood on walks. Her sweet personality radiates. She’s getting used to the new routine and having fun with us. She is learning fast, already ringing the bells at the door whenever she wants to go outside. She’s even starting to get the hang of sitting politely before walk time before we open the door, though getting her harness on past her puppy nibbles remains an Olympic sport! She is just the best! ~ Dayna & Grant
Lilly is settling into her new home wonderfully and making herself right at home. She has already turned into our little shadow, happily following us around everywhere we go. She’s enjoying playing fetch in the yard and exploring the neighborhood on walks. Her sweet personality radiates. She’s getting used to the new routine and having fun with us. She is learning fast, already ringing the bells at the door whenever she wants to go outside. She’s even starting to get the hang of sitting politely before walk time before we open the door, though getting her harness on past her puppy nibbles remains an Olympic sport! She is just the best! ~ Dayna & Grant
Newman
Happily Adopted!
Newman doing great! Jake worked from home today and said he’s a little anxious with the storms that are going on now, but not too bad. He is settling in very well. Newman is such a very chill, low maintenance dude
who just wants to be near us. An absolute angel. In fact, he doesn’t even acknowledge the cat, and doesn’t care when the cat sniffs him or walks up
to him while eating. Which is perfect!! ~ Nicole & Jake
Newman doing great! Jake worked from home today and said he’s a little anxious with the storms that are going on now, but not too bad. He is settling in very well. Newman is such a very chill, low maintenance dude
who just wants to be near us. An absolute angel. In fact, he doesn’t even acknowledge the cat, and doesn’t care when the cat sniffs him or walks up
to him while eating. Which is perfect!! ~ Nicole & Jake
Sky
Happily Adopted!
All is great here and Sky has made himself part of the family! He does love playing fetch. ~ Alison & Jan
All is great here and Sky has made himself part of the family! He does love playing fetch. ~ Alison & Jan
Winston
Happily Adopted!
Winston’s settling in really well and getting more comfortable with his surroundings. He had no problem getting into an elevator for the first time! He definitely likes to be close and will follow you everywhere once he wakes up from a good nap. He did well visiting David's brother’s house, and explored every room multiple times. He enjoys playing ball, but also seems to have a thing for rocks - he picked out the biggest one he could find and played with it for awhile, even though it was too big to fit in his mouth! He’s a big cuddler, loves sleeping at the foot of the bed, and devours his food. Winston has been getting three walks a day and the training harness is going well. He rides nicely in the back of the car. Overall, he’s doing great! ~ David
Winston’s settling in really well and getting more comfortable with his surroundings. He had no problem getting into an elevator for the first time! He definitely likes to be close and will follow you everywhere once he wakes up from a good nap. He did well visiting David's brother’s house, and explored every room multiple times. He enjoys playing ball, but also seems to have a thing for rocks - he picked out the biggest one he could find and played with it for awhile, even though it was too big to fit in his mouth! He’s a big cuddler, loves sleeping at the foot of the bed, and devours his food. Winston has been getting three walks a day and the training harness is going well. He rides nicely in the back of the car. Overall, he’s doing great! ~ David
Cooper
Happily Adopted!
Cooper sadly had to be surrendered back to Sunshine after his adopter could no longer keep him. But he has now made a forever home with Pat, who is a prior adopter! Pat shares with us that at first Cooper was shy finding a safe place sleeping in a small room in her house. Coming from a small apartment it is understandable that it might be strange for him to have so much room to roam. Very quickly he felt safe and came to stay with her in the Den. She tells us that Cooper is such a good boy. They go for a 2-mile walk every morning and it poops him out!
Cooper sadly had to be surrendered back to Sunshine after his adopter could no longer keep him. But he has now made a forever home with Pat, who is a prior adopter! Pat shares with us that at first Cooper was shy finding a safe place sleeping in a small room in her house. Coming from a small apartment it is understandable that it might be strange for him to have so much room to roam. Very quickly he felt safe and came to stay with her in the Den. She tells us that Cooper is such a good boy. They go for a 2-mile walk every morning and it poops him out!
PAW PRINTS OF LOVE: A RHED AND THATCHER BEACH ADVENTURE
Click to learn more
Rhed (adopted from SGRR) and Thatcher are playful Golden Retriever brothers who LOVE the beach. Come along as they play, romp and frolic from morning to night, leaving loving hearts behind in everything they do.
Written by SGRR adopter Barbara Davis and her sister Pam, this beautifully-illustrated children’s book promotes active engagement and participation with the text through discovery, encouraging the young reader (baby to age 6) to explore the colorful illustrations for the hidden tracks of love. It is a celebration of siblings, sun, sand, sea, exploration and finding the joy in each moment
Proceeds from Rhed and Thatcher will be donated to SGRR and other organizations. Treat the kids you know to this delightful story of brotherly love and fun in the sun and help some dogs along the way!
Written by SGRR adopter Barbara Davis and her sister Pam, this beautifully-illustrated children’s book promotes active engagement and participation with the text through discovery, encouraging the young reader (baby to age 6) to explore the colorful illustrations for the hidden tracks of love. It is a celebration of siblings, sun, sand, sea, exploration and finding the joy in each moment
Proceeds from Rhed and Thatcher will be donated to SGRR and other organizations. Treat the kids you know to this delightful story of brotherly love and fun in the sun and help some dogs along the way!
Jackson’s Story: One Dog’s Journey to His Forever Home
Click to find out more!
Authored by one of SGRR's adopters, this children's book is written from the dog's perspective. We hope you will read the heart-rending story of Jackson's abandonment and journey to his forever home. Young readers will learn that dogs feel pain, fear, confusion, and sadness, just as we do, and will realize the importance of responsible, loving dog ownership.
Happy Tails 2026 Click for 2026 Happily Adopted stories
Click below to visit our older Happy Tails pages to read about more happily adopted dogs! Happy Tails 2025 Happy Tails 2024 Happy Tails 2023 Happy Tails 2022 Happy Tails 2021 Happy Tails 2020 Happy Tails 2019 Happy Tails 2018 Happy Tails 2017 Happy Tails 2016 Happy Tails 2014-2015 You can also read special adoption stories through this link! |
Forever Fosters
 Click to view our Forever Fosters
There are wonderful humans who will provide special dogs with a forever foster home, giving them all the love and attention they could ever hope for. Because of their age and/or disability these dogs were considered un-adoptable but they are still able to live with a good quality of life. SGRR pays for ongoing medical care for these special dogs Consider being a forever foster or sponsor so that we can continue to show that dog how wonderful his or her world can be. This is the true meaning of "rescue."
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