Dirk’s Fund Golden Retriever Rescue

First off, let me preface this review by noting that I have been thinking about getting a dog for over a year now and have finally decided to take the leap. Growing up with several Goldens, I am very familiar with the breed and the responsibility required to care for such furballs.
Being partial to Goldens, I decided to look for a rescue in the area. Google led me to Dirk’s Fund. I researched their organization online through their website and Facebook and had questions about the fence requirement which was noted on FB but not on the website. I sent an email inquiring and received a very curt and terse one-​line response stating that it would depend on the dog. While the response rubbed me the wrong way, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and actually talk to someone in person.
So I stopped by the shelter over the weekend. I walked in the door and I was first greeted with the question, «Do you have a fenced-​in yard?», to which I mentioned the email and the woman responded that all the dogs they had at the time required a fence and seemed ready to shoo me out the door. Keep in mind I had been there for about 2 minutes after driving all the way out from the city. Now I know restrictions are in place for a reason, but you have to be willing to work with people a bit. Both dogs I had growing up did just fine with no fence and we had plenty of bunnies and squirrels around for them to chase. Although I live in the city, I’m 3 blocks away from a very large park and know full well what type of exercise will be necessary to wear out an average Golden.
She also had the gall to ask me what my marital status was and judge me on it. Yes, I’m unmarried and yes, I have a boyfriend. No, it is NOT OK for you to ask me what happens if we break up – that is none of your business. More questions were asked about my employment status. I work a full-​time job, very close to home. As a 20-​something recent college grad, it’s a miracle that I have said job, let alone enough disposable income to be able to afford a dog. Yet this woman made it seem as if it were a sin for me to be working all day and still want a dog. We did go out to the yard to «meet» the dogs — and by this I mean they sniffed my fingers through the fence while she continued to grill and judge me.
All in all, I was probably there for less than 10 minutes and I have never felt more judged and discouraged in my life. They must be getting some sort of enjoyment out of stereotyping people the minute they walk in the door. It’s a miracle that any of their dogs get adopted. I’m so glad I have experience with other rescues because otherwise this one incident would’ve turned me off to them for a long time. I will definitely be discouraging people from going to Dirk’s Fund in the future.
TL;DR Went to shelter and judged on housing, marital status, and employment status. No willingness to work with potential adopters. Will NEVER be supporting this rescue.

The guy I spoke to was a complete prick! I feel very sorry for the animals under his curation. We really wanted Elsa but will continue looking for a person who truly has the dogs interest at heart!

Even after reading the negative reviews about this organization, I thought I would call regardless. The man, Bob, who I spoke with was an arrogant jerk, to say the least! First off, he didn’t return my call but basically called me a liar about leaving a message. I wrote it off and proceeded with my questions, which he wouldn’t answer because I hadn’t filled out an application. I explained again to him, I had questions I wanted answered before going through the application process and also because I live in indiana. He said that was a problem because they do home visits and they don’t come to Indiana. I suggested with all the technology available perhaps there was another option, he said no. I then asked if another rescue from indiana could do the home visit he said no, he didn’t want to ask for a volunteer. He said they had 100“a of dogs to place and he was too busy. If he was more workable, there wouldn’t be that many! I feel bad for the goldens and the foster families who think they are only going to foster briefly. This man is a complete jerk and very rude, he actually hung up on me! I recommend another rescue for sure!

I have a 5 foot fenced back yard with a locked gate. Unfortunately, I also have a dog door allowing my Goldens, golden Mixes, and Lab over the years to go from the basement to the backyard whenever they wished.
I say unfortunately, because Dirks has decided we are not worthy to accept one of their rescue dogs since the Dog Door might allow the dog out where it might be stolen. Amazing! Talked with several Vets including my daughter. None fell this is rational. Nice facility, but I don’ think he is in touch with reality.
Sorry I’m not perfect and up to their standards. Pediatric Critical care MD.

I adopted an amazing golden named Stella from Dirk’s Fund in 2011. I came in with two young children and Bob was very hands-​on in helping us find the dog that would be right for our family. She was actually the only dog he said he’d feel comfortable sending home with us, and she could not have been more perfect. They performed a home visit, driving an hour out to us and leaving her with us then when they’d decided our home was a good environment.
Stella was finishing up treatment for heartworm when we adopted her. I had to bring her in to the rescue’s vet clinic in Pacific for a couple of follow-​up procedures, including one overnight stay. All of this was covered by the rescue.
They’re clearly very loving and thorough. Overzealous? Eh, maybe. But I’d rather deal with an organization that’s very particular about who they adopt out to than with a «rescue» that is getting rid of dogs as fast as possible to collect steep adoption fees, keeping their animals cooped up in a disease-​ridden basement and pretending it’s a «foster» situation (I’ve experienced this other scenario firsthand – NOT preferable to a place like Dirk’s Fund!).

We just put down our Golden Retriever a month ago and have been going back and forth about another Golden. It is a difficult decision because of the commitment and knowing the day will come again where you will have to part with another «family member.» We had our Golden for nine years and adopted him from a shelter.
So like our last Golden, I have been looking online for adoptables. The two most well know Golden rescue groups are Love a Golden and Dirk’s Fund. I regularly browse their list of dogs and decided today to go out to Dirk’s shelter to just get a feel for the dogs they have available.
They have adoption times on the weekends between 10 and 2. From the first step in the door, I felt that this place was just not for me. Talk about a bunch of righteous, over protective dog people! This is a place where they should be delighted to have people come visit them. They rely on donations to operate and people to rescue these dogs. We brought our kids and I mean, if you don’t have your kids within a foot of your side they go berserk! Our kids ran to the other side of the area by the pen where a dog was and another guy, could be this Bob guy, standing in another cage was yelling at the kids and the woman who was helping us to, «get those kids away from there!» What an ass! I get it, CYA, but there are better ways to conduct yourself
The woman who gave a tour was a bit cold, but not completely mean. They just give you the guilty before proven innocent treatment here. She guided us outside to see where the dogs were and you couldn’t even touch the dogs. Aren’t these people supposed to have a decent read on their dogs? I understand that dogs can be unpredictable, but put the questionable dogs in another area. Were talking about Golden Retrievers, dogs that will lick burglars while they’re robbing your house.
I understand a dog rescue group doesn’t want to put a dog in another bad situation, but there has to be some better treatment of prospective new families. We are not rookies with Goldens and we are well aware of costs and commitment. We spend thousands on vets bills, among cancer, wounds and ultimately trying to save him during his final days. If they want people to not get their Goldens from breeders, than they need to clean up their act. Obviously the people coming here are trying to do the right thing because they aren’t giving dogs away.
There is also a rule that you have to have a real fence or an underground fence. We have trained our dogs so it has not been necessary. If that is a requirement, it sounds as if they could be adopting out to irresponsible people sometimes that will just leave their dog out in the back yard. It shouldn’t be a hard rule, but strongly recommended or required for some dogs. Just a few days ago, I donated $ 100 to their group and I am glad it goes to helping the Goldens, but wish I would have just donated it to Stray Rescue instead. I don’t intend to adopt a dog through this group and the only reason I gave them an additional star is because they ultimately have good intentions.