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Canada’s Dog Ban: Click here to find out how you can help.

Hello to all you Golden Retriever lovers.

Here is the latest on our battle against the CFIA Ban and how we are taking the fight to the next level.

Advocacy in Action

The CFIA might have hoped we’d back down, but they underestimated our determination! Our team has launched a powerful campaign, reaching out to Members of Parliament with clear demands, actionable steps, and non-negotiable outcomes.

We will continue to apply pressure until the necessary changes are made!

Rescuing Goldens, Near and Far

It is crucial to reiterate that saving every Golden possible in Canada remains our top priority. In fact, we ensure that all shelters are aware of our readiness to assist all Goldens in need (with the exception of repeat biters).

However, in recognizing our global interconnectedness, coupled with available adopters and resources, we firmly advocate for extending our reach beyond borders. Every Golden in the world deserves a life free from suffering.

We uphold rigorous adoption standards, ensuring we never contribute to shelter overpopulation! All Golden Rescue adopters are legally bound to return the Golden to us if unable to provide care. This commitment safeguards against any potential strain on shelters, reinforcing our dedication to responsible rescue practices.

Rallying for Change

Exciting plans are underway as we enter the early stages of organizing rallies to advocate to amend the ban. Vancouver, Ottawa, and potentially Toronto are our targeted locations, aiming to capture substantial media interest. When the time comes, most likely in the warmer spring months, we urge all supporters to stand with us, alongside with your beautiful Goldens (be they international, domestic, or non-rescues) to amplify our voices and unite for change!

Thank you for your unyielding support. It’s not just appreciated… it’s essential! Let’s keep pushing forward, stronger and louder than ever.


Puppy mills in Canada

Golden Rescue continues to advocate for an amendment to the CFIA ban; however, we also are trying to address issues closer to home ~ puppy mills. Below is an email that we sent to the CFIA, Santé Canada/Health Canada, and numerous MPs who are sympathetic to what we are hoping to accomplish.

On behalf of Golden Rescue, I wanted to share with you a recent article in the Toronto Star about the rise of inhumane puppy mills that exist throughout our country.

As you know, Golden Rescue has been working alongside a number of other rescue organizations to amend the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) ban on the import of rescue dogs, which has resulted in the torture and death of thousands of innocent animals around the globe.

Meanwhile, according to the report by the Toronto Star, “puppy mills are not banned by any provincial government. There are about 2,000 puppy mills across Canada, with the majority of mills in Ontario and Quebec.” The lack of regulation around these mills is deeply concerning and it is unfortunate that the government has prioritized the abrupt and miscalculated halt of the work of international rescue organizations instead of working on the clearer and more direct challenges with puppy mills here in Canada.

We feel our request to amend the ban is not unreasonable as Golden Rescue is proud to have rescued over 2,000 Golden Retrievers without a single case of rabies. Further, a number of discussions with the CFIA about our process and proposed amendments to the ban have been both positive and encouraging, and we feel confident that we can follow our U.S. counterparts and build an amended system that allows for the safe rescue of animals.

The challenge, however, is the lack of urgency around implementing these changes. We firmly believe that we must work quickly on this to accomplish two things:

  1. To allow rescue groups to help save the lives of suffering animals by allowing for a responsible and measured approach to rehoming these animals.
  2. To lessen the reliance on puppy mills by enabling rescue organizations to rehome dogs which will, in turn, discourage online purchases from puppy mills.

Golden Rescue continues its willingness to support the CFIA in developing amendments that will allow for the safe rescue and rehoming of dogs and emphasizes the importance of moving forward quickly to minimize the devastation to animals around the world.

#3769 Philo before rescue

#3769 Philo today

#3808 Bubba when found in Istanbul with a mangled leg

#3808 Bubba today