Year in Review - 2016

2016 was a year of significant change within GRCGLAR. We successfully achieved several of our goals established at the beginning of the year and are looking to 2017 as a continuation of these efforts. Our strategic outreach program has been very successful and we have grown our volunteer ranks substantially throughout our 7 county service area, primarily in the Inland Empire and San Diego.

Our Speakers Bureau continues its outreach and had a very successful year. GRCGLAR spoke 12 times to civic and philanthropic organizations around Greater Southern California, reaching 5 different groups and spreading the importance message of animal rescue.

During 2016, we placed 94 goldens, a 4% increase over 2015 with our largest number of placements being in Orange and Los Angeles Counties with 38 and 36 placements respectively. We also saw a large percentage increase in placements in San Diego (75% increase) and Orange (80% increase) and our first placement in Santa Barbara in some time.

Traditionally, our placements increase during early summer and early fall. These are periods of time where families have lots of leisure time or when school is in session. This past year was no different as we saw our peak monthly placement rate in October, with our second highest month in June. Events are playing a larger role in placements as we saw a large increase in placements after the OC Pet Fair (April) and the Irvine Home for the Holidays (December) events.


This year our Shamrock Circle Fund celebrated it's 15th year anniversary in its mission to help rehabilitate medically challenged golden retrievers. We had fewer dogs enter the program this year however their care required more intensive treatment compared to years passed. We'd like to thank all of our special donors who participate in this program for their generosity. Without their support, this valuable program would not exist.


Shamrock Retrievers 2016
Merry, Casey, Beau, Baldwin, Carissa Anne, Marisa, and Dixie.


Finally, GRCGLAR celebrated its 15th year of operation in 2016 and proudly released its revamped website earlier this year, providing all the pertinent information about our organization in a much more readable format. In addition, we added the Petchella event in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles to our schedule. More exciting changes are in store in the coming year so please become part of the GRCGLAR family by donating here.

As we progress into 2017, we in the Rescue are constantly reminded of why are in business. There is a strong need to advocate for these beautiful canines and GRCGLAR is dedicated to be part of the social fabric of our communities. Thank you for your continued support throughout the years and we look forward to the next 15 years throughout the Southland.

Statement from GRCGLAR President - Time to be Thankful

GRCGLAR is thriving.   As we close 2015, we look back on our successes and continue in our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home Golden Retrievers in the Greater Los Angeles area.  The Golden Retriever is the most beloved canine breed in North America if not the world. Often, this popularity also poses a different set of challenges and quite often GRCGLAR is called on to remedy a difficult situation.  2015 proved that we are always ready for that challenge.

I'm appreciative of our volunteers who provide endless hours of commitment to the Goldens we help. I'm appreciative of our foster families who, while behind the scenes, provide a very valuable service to the community. They bring dogs into their homes to facilitate rehabilitation so they can be successful in their new adoptive homes.

I'm appreciative of all of our permanent foster families for the love and care they continuously give to our most challenging Goldens.  I'm appreciative of our adopters for the commitment to welcome into their home a rescue Golden Retriever. And finally, I'm appreciative for the opportunity to serve our communities and raise awareness of animal rescue.

2016 is becoming a stronger economic time for Southern California and GRCGLAR is excited to face the challenges of the new year.  Our rescue outreach program is expanding through our Speakers Bureau around the region, increasing the visibility and awareness of golden retriever rescue. We have also seen our volunteer base grow in regions like San Diego, and the Inland Empire due to our event participation. And we have seen larger grassroots efforts at the local level interested in helping the pet rescue community in an ongoing basis. Looking forward, we hope these trends continue as our Rescue grows and succeed in its mission.

In the coming year, we are committed towards the goal of making our rescue financially strong and stable and continue to serve the most needy rescue Golden Retrievers who are often neglected by all. On behalf of the Board and all of our volunteers, we thank you for your continued support of GRCGLAR.

Warmest Regards,

Gerri Monohan
President, GRCGLA Rescue

Year in Review - 2015

2015 was a year of great growth for GRCGLAR. The US economic downturn of '08 had shown a steady downturn in both adoptions and an steady increase in owner turn-ins. Thankfully, these 2 rescue indicators are heading in reverse directions which means GRCGLAR is in a stronger financial position heading into 2016.

This past year, GRCGLAR placed 90 dogs for successful adoption throughout our 6 county area. More than half of our adopted goldens were placed in Los Angeles County (50) and we also experienced larger adoption rates in San Bernardino County (7) and Orange County (21).

Our Shamrock program is a program dedicated to those golden retrievers who need extra medical care for their recovery. We had 18 golden retrievers rehabilitate through the Shamrock program during 2015. We were able to save nearly every Shamrock golden and we want to thank our 99 special donors for their extraordinary donations throughout the year that support this important program.

Shamrock Retrievers 2015
Merry, Casey, Kassandra, Ursula, Mikey, Beau, Tahoe,  Wilson, Rogan, Sassy, Snowden, Kopper, Randall, Banjo, Aggie, Charlie, Chloe, Chrissy.

We experienced a surge in volunteers in the Inland Empire and San Diego due to our annual event participation, which included Strut Your Mutt (Los Angeles), Holiday Pet Expo (Pomona), Holiday Bone-Anza (Long Beach), Doggie Street Fair (San Diego), and the OC Pet Fair (Costa Mesa). We hope to see you at one of our booths during 2016.

We also launched a new outreach program to raise awareness on golden retriever rescue. Our Speakers Bureau has made presentations to many civic organizations, discussing the challenges of pet rescue and showing off many of our rescued Golden Ambassadors. If you are interested in having GRCGLAR speak to your organization, please contact us through our website. 

On behalf of all the volunteers who keep this Rescue working, we thank you for your continued support and we look forward to continuing to serve the communities we live in. If you are in need of a wonderful pet, please consider GRCGLAR.

Strut Your Mutt 2015

A special thank you goes out to ALL who participated and donated to our fundraising effort at Strut Your Mutt last week. We had many people walk with their favorite pets during the hotter than normal temperatures in Downtown LA. Exposition Park was the perfect backdrop as these pictures show.

GRCGLAR also was called into action in rescuing a Labradoodle during the event as well.  A visiting family to the event was unaware of their canine going into heat distress. Luckily our volunteers noticed the situation, stepped in and took the necessary action to cool down the dog. Well done, GRCGLAR!

Overall, We are still one of the leading rescue organizations at this event as GRCGLAR raised over $15000 dollars during the event and was the FIFTH highest fundraising group of all the partner groups in attendance. Combined with our tremendous effort last year, GRCGLAR has raised an astonishing $84000 in two years for GRCGLAR and Best Friends.

Special recognition goes to Jo Anne, who diligiently organizes the event annually. Without her leadership, GRCGLAR would not be as successful. Other attendees included Elaine, Nancy, and Kathy (who helped rescue the dog in heat distress).

In case you missed the event, you can still donate for the next few weeks.

http://support.bestfriends.org/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=1400&pg=team&fr_id=1126

Thank you again for your support. We will see YOU at next years event!