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4 Best Goldendoodle Rescue in New Jersey (NJ)

Upodated 04/19/2024 – Are looking for a Goldendoodle Rescue to adopt in New Jersey, but don’t know where to start? You are not alone. Goldendoodles are wonderful dogs that are high in demand, making it difficult to find one from a reputable breeder. Let alone finding one that is looking to be adopted.

But even with the high demand, there are still Goldendoodles in need of a new home throughout the USA. You Just need to know where to look.

The best place to find a Goldendoodle rescue is at a rescue organization that specializes in re-homing Goldendoodles. In the case of the Goldendoodle you should look at Golden Retriever Rescues, Poodle Rescues and doodle rescues.

On occasion, you may be able to find a Goldendoodle in need of re-homing through a local shelter or general rescue but it’s not common. Most specialized rescue organizations have a relationship with the local shelter to inform them when a Goldendoodle is placed in that shelter.

Here we will show you the 5 Best Goldendoodle rescues to find a doodle, plus tips to help you during the adoption process.

In this post you will find:

  • Are you ready to share your life with a Goldendoodle Rescue?
  • Tips on how to increase your chance of being selected by a rescue
  • 3 Best Places to Find a Goldendoodle Rescue
  • How much does a Goldendoodle Rescue Cost?

Are you ready to share your life with a Goldendoodle Rescue?

Before you start looking for a Goldendoodle Rescue make sure to do your research. You should look into what it takes to care for a Goldendoodle.

Here is a quick overview of life with a Goldendoodle.

  • The Goldendoodle or Mini Goldendoodle is a cross between the fun-loving Golden Retriever and the highly intelligent Poodle.  
  • When you cross the two breeds you end up with a high energy, fun loving dog that is a family favorite.
  • Goldendoodles require regular coat maintenance.  This includes having professional haircuts every four to six weeks and daily brushing at home.  
  • While the Goldendoodle is billed as a non-shedding dog, they can still shed.   This is one of the reasons they end up in rescues.
  • While Goldendoodles can be hypoallergenic due to less shedding, a person with pet allergies can still be allergic to them.
  • Goldendoodles come in a few different generations. The most common ones you will find in rescues are the F1 Goldendoodle, and F1b Goldendoodle, but there are also the F2 Golden doodle, the F2B Golden doodle and multi-generation Golden doodle. The F1 Goldendoodle and the F2 Goldendoodle have the greatest chances of shedding. 
5 Best Goldendoodle Rescue in New Jersey (NJ) 0 Happyoodles.com Cream Goldendoodle in yard

Before adopting a Goldendoodle

Before deciding to adopt a Goldendoodle it’s important to think about how you will care for them. In our post Why the Goldendoodle is not for everyone we go over some of the aspects of Goldendoodles you may not be ready for. 

In addition, some rescue dogs come from difficult situations, or have medical needs. They may need special care and guidance to help them live a normal life. Make sure you are ready for these challenges before adopting a doodle.

How To Increase Your Chance Of Being Selected For A Rescue Dog

Infographic listing out 12 tips to help you get selected by a rescue organization

4 Best Places to Find a Goldendoodle Rescue in New Jersey (NJ)

Happy goldendoodle

1. IDOG Rescue

IDOG Rescue is another national rescue organization that has a network of volunteers that rescue and foster Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and other doodle types throughout the USA.

Their volunteers have working relationships with local shelters that inform them when they get a Goldendoodle in. This allows the group to get the dogs out of the shelter environment and into a home quickly.

They also work with individuals that need to re-home their Goldendoodle.

To find a Goldendoodle Rescue in New Jersey follow their Facebook page. They will list dogs coming into the program or available for adoption on their Facebook page.

You can find dogs in New Jersey by looking for the NJ after the dog’s name in the post.

As an example, the Facebook post will start with; “Click here to learn more about Levi- NJ:” indicating that Levi is in a foster home in New Jersey.

2. Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR)

The Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue is a regional non-profit organization that rescues and re-homes displaced Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and other dogs in need.

As you can tell by their name they started out as a Golden Retriever Rescue that then added Goldendoodles to the mix

Like the other Goldendoodle rescues on this list, DVGRR obtains their rescues through local shelters and re-homing services for doodle owners that need to give up their doodle. But they also have puppy mill surrenders due to their location in Pennsylvania.

DVGRR evaluates all their dogs for general health and temperament. In addition, incoming dogs receive complete veterinary care at their on-site veterinarian clinic.

DVGRR allows out-of-state rescues, but you must be willing to visit their kennel that is located in Reading, PA before the adoption is finalized.

DVGRR maintains accounts at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you are looking for a Goldendoodle you should follow at least one of their social media accounts or frequently check their website for available dogs.

Goldendoodle side view

3. Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue

The Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue started off specializing in Poodles, but with the increase of doodles in need they began to accept Goldendoodles, other poodle mix-breeds and hypoallergenic companion dogs into their program.

While they are located near Fairfax, Virginia they do allow out-of-state adoptions with an approved application. You must be willing to go to Leesburg, VA to meet the dog before the adoption is finalized.

Dogs that come into this rescue are housed in private foster homes and evaluated before becoming available for adoption. Care while at Somerset Cottage Poodle Rescue may include:

  • Physical exam
  • Spay/neuter if necessary
  • Vaccinations brought up to date
  • Tests for Heartworm, Lyme, anaplasmosis 
  • Deworming
  • Flea and Tick preventative
  • Heartworm preventative           

4. Petfinder.com

You may be able to find a Goldendoodle Rescue at a shelter or general rescue in New Jersey, but there are over fifty general rescue groups in New Jersey and most will not have a Goldendoodle available for adoption. Rather than spend hours sifting through these websites, I suggest you use Petfinder.com.

Petfinder.com allows you to sort by breed, including the Goldendoodle and Mini Goldendoodle. You can even set up an alert to let you know when a new Goldendoodle is listed.

How much does a Goldendoodle Rescue Cost?

Because Goldendoodles are very popular is it common to pay higher adoption fees for them. Adoption costs can range between $200 and $1000 to adopt a Goldendoodle in New Jersey.

Rescue groups generally have the dog vet checked before re-homing which adds to the cost. Either way the adoption fees should be lower than the cost of a Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder.

We wish you the best of luck in finding your Goldendoodle Rescue