The Adopt a Golden organization
helped bring 36 purebred golden retrievers to Alpharetta, Georgia last weekend.
This is being called the largest international golden rescue ever.
The dogs arrived at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport late Saturday night. They were taken to Pet Lodge pet
resort.
According to Adopt a Golden, the dogs range from 6 months
to 10-years-old.
“Our guiding motto is that we never say no to a Golden
Retriever in need. These dogs are in need because the novelty of having a
Golden Retriever in Istanbul, Turkey, as a status symbol wore off, they were
abandoned and are now living in crowded shelters, in the forests or in the
streets,” explained Lauren Genkinger, founder and president of Adopt a Golden
Atlanta, Adopt a Golden is calling these dogs “Freedom Goldens.”
Each dog has been given a patriotic name, such as “Liberty” and “Glory.”
“I want these Golden Retrievers to be happy and have a
better life,” explained Yasemin Baban, the lead shelter volunteer in Istanbul
who was instrumental in helping Adopt a Golden Atlanta rescue the dogs. “I want
them to find love and affection, a home to live in, and a cushion to sleep on,”
she added.
The dogs have never heard English and have their own
interpreter in Fulton County. The only commands they know, if any, are in
Turkish.
"From a behavior standpoint, we didn't really know
what we were getting in to," Genkinger told FOX 5 Atlanta. "They're
very social though, since they're used to begging for food on the
streets."
The dogs will be medically screened, taught to walk on a
leash, be housebroken and of course will receive lots of TLC.
Adopt a Golden is now
accepting applications for adoption.
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