To adopt one of our dogs, you must be a resident of North Carolina. If you live more than 3 hours from the Raleigh-Durham area, adopting from us may be challenging.

If you are just beginning the process to apply for one of our posted dogs, please be aware that previously approved applicants will be given priority.

Complete the application below. Once you submit your application, you will be directed to a payment link for our application fee. Our application fee is non-refundable. If you do not have access to email, call us at (919) 676-7144 and leave your contact information. A volunteer will call you back within a few days and send an application to you and you can mail it to us. Please be aware that this extends the time for approval.

A volunteer application advisor will be assigned to you and will contact you to discuss your application. Depending on the volume of applications we receive, processing may take up to 2 to 3 weeks, so please be patient and we will reach out to you as soon as we can. If you currently have any dogs or have had a dog in the last few years, we will contact your veterinarian for a reference and to verify your dog(s) is up to date on all vaccinations and heartworm prevention.

If you have never owned a dog or it has been several years, we will schedule a home visit.

If your application is approved, you will receive an approval letter via email.

Approved applications are good for one year from the date of approval. An application approval with NRGRR does not guarantee an adoption of a dog from our organization.

In general the ratio of approved adopters to dogs in our rescue is 3 to 1 or greater.

When dogs are ready to be adopted, we will post them on our website. Check the Our Dogs page and/or come to our Meet and Greet events to see what dogs are available for adoption.

If you see a dog(s) that you like, make sure you carefully read the dog’s profile to be sure you would be a great match; paying special attention to the notes about children, fences, cats or schedules for that dog.

If you think you would be a great match, email your application advisor ASAP to let them know you are interested in one or more dogs.

After a careful review of applications and matching criteria, the foster decides who to call and possibly visit. The foster knows best about the total needs of the rescue dog.

We ask you to trust our process and wait patiently as the foster makes the decision on which applicants to contact. Your application advisor will provide feedback as it becomes available. If the foster thinks your application is a fit, they will contact you for a meeting to evaluate the match. If the foster meets with you and decides you are the right adopter for their foster dog, they will contact you to verify that you are still interested in adopting our dog. If you are not selected the foster or your application advisor will contact you and let you know.

If it is agreed that you will adopt our dog a date and time will be set for you to sign our contract, pay the adoption fee and pick up the new member of your family. We’ll provide instructions on how to get the dog’s vet records transferred to your vet, and your information will be added to the dog’s microchip after adoption.

You can print a copy of the Steps to Adopt from NRGRR here.

You can download and review a sample copy of the NRGRR Placement Contract here.

Note: Adoption fees will be increasing by $50 beginning January 1, 2025 to help offset costs. The operational expenses per dog have increased by over $300 this year to over $2,000 per dog.

Application Fee = $40

Adoptions Fees (through December 31, 2024):

International dogs (all ages) = $800

8 weeks - 1 year = $450

1 year, 1 day - 4 years = $400

4 years, 1 day - 9 years = $350

Senior - 9 years, 1 day = $150

Seniors to seniors* = No fee

*Senior dogs 9 years + 1 day for approved applicants who are 65 years and older.

Adoption fees help cover expenses, which average over $2000 per dog.

Additionally, NRGRR continues to bring Golden Retrievers to the Triangle from Turkey, Albania, Macedonia, and Kosovo. Our fees include travel, vet care, vaccinations, microchip, spay/neuter, heartworm, and flea and tick preventatives and other care, as needed, such as heart worm treatment, diagnostics, surgery, medications, or training costs as required by individual dogs.

Application Fee = $40

Adoptions Fees:

International dogs (all ages) = $850

8 weeks - 1 year = $500

1 year, 1 day - 4 years = $450

4 years, 1 day - 9 years = $400

Senior - 9 years, 1 day = $200

Seniors to seniors* = No fee

*Senior dogs 9 years + 1 day for approved applicants who are 65 years and older. goes here