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Best Place to Find a Labradoodle Rescue in New York

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Do you have your heart set on adopting a Labradoodle, but don’t know where to start your search? Well, if you live in the New York Metropolitan area we are here to help you find a Labradoodle rescue to call your own.

The first thing you need to know is that it takes time and patience to find a Labradoodle rescue in the New York area. There are still many people in this area who want to adopt these adorable pups.

This makes finding one difficult. That is unless you know where to look. This is where this post and our previous experiences comes in.

We spent over 6 months looking for a mini Labradoodle or mini Goldendoodle to join our family. While it was a long journey, with a more than a few ups and downs, in the end we did adopt a doodle. You can see her picture in the side bar.

During that time, we learned the best places to look and also places to avoid. So please join us as we show you the best places we found to look for a Labradoodle Rescue in the New York area.

Plus, what we learned about being selected to adopt by a rescue organization.

Labradoodle Rescue: Best Places to Look in New York - Title pic - Pic of a red and white Labradoodle.

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

Before you start looking for a Labradoodle to adopt make sure you know what you’re getting into. While the Labradoodle is a great choice for a canine companion, they are also high energy dogs that need to be around people most of the time. 

They are neither content to lie around the house all day nor be alone for long stretches of time. When they are young, they need a lot of outside playtime and daily walks. Even as they age they will still stay fairly active.

In addition to their exercise needs, they may need professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. This is dependent on their fur type. Labradoodles with straight hair will be easier to maintain, but they will shed more and will not be hypoallergenic.

Labradoodles with a wavy or curly coat will shed less, but are prone to matting. To prevent matting, you will need to brush and comb a Labradoodle’s fur every couple of days. They also require regular haircuts, since their fur will continue to grow.

This need for regular grooming can be expensive. Large doodles can cost over $100 to be professionally groomed. When you consider they will need to be groomed every one and a half months, the total grooming costs could be as high as $600 to $1,000 annually. That’s on top of food, vet bills, and general pet supplies.

You also need to be prepared for life with a rescue dog.  Sometimes rescue dogs come from difficult lives or have special needs. They may need special care and guidance to help them live a normal life. 

Best Place to Find a Labradoodle Rescue in New York - Black Labradoodle running

Tips for Finding and Getting a Labradoodle Rescue

There are many people who choose to adopt, rather than buy a dog. This is wonderful news for all the dogs in need of a home. But, when you are looking to adopt a popular breed, you will find that rescue organizations will have many more people looking to adopt then they have dogs. Below we have listed out some of the ways you can increase your chance of being picked.

8 tips to increase your chance of being selected for a rescue

  • Be open to the color, fur type, age and gender, your future rescue may be. Very specific preferences will limit your ability to be matched with a dog. It may also be viewed as a negative to a rescue. Most rescues are interested in finding the best home for a dog, not in meeting the adopter’s desires.
  • Read the adoption policies and make sure you understand the process. Then follow it. Don’t give them a reason to move on to the next applicant.
  • Review the rescue’s requirements. Make sure you meet the requirements before sending in an application. Many rescues have strict requirement for fencing and age limits.
  • Be prepared. If the rescue requires personal references or one from your veterinarian, let the person know that they may receive a call before you fill out the application.
  • Complete the application in its entirety. Don’t leave out information.
  • Be patient. Unlike breeders who breed on a schedule, rescue dogs don’t become available based on a schedule. Sometimes there will be an influx of dogs but most of the time you will need to wait for one. Also, there may be a line of potential adopters already looking for the same dog breed. If they have already been approved you will need to wait for your turn to adopt.
  • Keep looking. When we found our doodle, I was checking the various websites and Facebook groups daily to see what new rescues were available.
  • Be open to other options. After waiting a long time to find a doodle, we decided on one that was neither a Labradoodle or Goldendoodle, but she is hypoallergenic which was the most important requirement for us.
Best Place to Find a Labradoodle Rescue in New York - Brown Labradoodle in park
Chocolate Labradoodle

Where are the best places to find a Labradoodle to adopt in New York?

The best places to find a Labradoodle rescue in New York is at a rescue group that specializes in re-homing and rescuing Labradoodles or doodles in general.

National Labradoodle rescue groups like IDOG, work directly with a dog’s owners to find a safe and loving home for their dog. They have years of experience in caring for and finding homes for doodle type dogs. Over the years these national organizations have placed thousands of dogs in new homes.

Because of this, many people who need to re-home their dog prefer to work with a doodle specific rescue, rather than release their dog to shelter or lesser known rescue. This is what makes doodle specific rescue groups the best places to find a Labradoodle.

Disclosure: We do not endorse any of the groups or websites listed in this post. Please make sure you do your research.

Labradoodle puppy

National Labradoodle Rescue

The first two recuse groups on our list have headquarters outside of New York, but use a network of local volunteers to help Labradoodles in need near New York.

1. IDOG Rescue

IDOG Rescue is a 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 a Labradoodle is available for adoption. This allows the group to get the dogs out of the shelter environment and into a foster home quickly.

IDOG also works directly with individuals that are unable to keep their dogs and need help with re-homing their dog.

The best way to see available dogs at IDOG is to follow their Facebook page. They list available and upcoming dogs there, as well as updates on adopted dogs.

Since they are a national organization they list all of their dogs that are available on the same page. To find a dog that is available in your area, look for “NY” or “NJ” Or “CT” after a dog’s name in the IDOG’s Facebook post.

Example: the Facebook post will state “Click here to learn more about Levi-NJ:” indicating that Levi is in a foster home in New Jersey.

2. Doodle Rescue Collective

While the Doodle Rescue Collective’s headquarter is in Warwick, RI, they offer rescue and re-homing services for Labradoodles, and every other kind of Doodle throughout the US.

The collective consists of over 800 registered volunteers throughout the USA and parts of Canada. Just like with IDOG, the Doodle Rescue Collective’s volunteers work with local shelters to place doodles in need of a safe home in foster homes until a permanent home can be found.

They also run a re-homing program for doodle owners who need to find a new home for their dog. They accept doodles into this program in most states meaning you may be able to find a doodle in-need near you through their website and Facebook page.

The Doodle Rescue Collective also provides general educational resources and support services to doodle owners through their website.

Black Labradoodle
Black Labradoodle

Regional Labradoodle Rescue

3. Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue

Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue Service Area: Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware (DE), Maryland (MD) & New Jersey (NJ).

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

DVGRR houses their rescues in a 50-kennel run facility called Golden Gateway, which is located just outside of Reading, PA. This is about a two-hour drive from Manhattan.

Once at the DVGRR facility, dogs are assessed and evaluated for general health and temperament. In addition to that, incoming dogs receive complete veterinary care at their on-site veterinarian clinic.

The DVGRR holds monthly meet and greets for approved adoptees to come meet with the dogs at their facility.

Since 1993, Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue has successfully placed over 5,000 dogs into new homes per their website.

Interested in home ideas for your future pup? Check out our newest post from Dogs at Home- Dog Room Ideas – The newest Trend in Dog Care

4. Carolina Poodle Rescue

Service Area; North South Carolina and surrounding areas

Carolina Poodle Rescue is a nonprofit rescue organization that specializes in Poodles, and Poodle mixes. They regularly have doodles looking for a new home on their website.

The Carolina Poodle Rescue also operates a kennel called Dreamweaver Farm. Dreamweaver Farm is used as an adoption center and also as a sanctuary for senior dogs and dogs with special needs.

In addition to the farm they also have volunteers located in many states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Texas, and Georgia. These volunteers help to rescue and foster dogs in their area.

Although Carolina Poodle Rescue is located outside of the New York Area, they regularly work with out-of-state adopters who are willing to travel to Dreamweaver Farm in upstate South Carolina.

They do not ship dogs and you must have an approved application before visiting the farm.

Cream colored Labradoodle

Still More Places to Find a Labradoodle Rescue in New York

In addition to breed specific rescue sites you can find Labradoodles at local shelters and non-breed specific rescues. Here are a few places you can look.

11. Petfinder.com – Petfinder.com allows you to sort by breed, including Labradoodle. You can even set up an alert to let you know when a new Labradoodle is listed. This is how we found our pup.

12. Adoptapet.com – Adopt-a-pet is another site that rescue groups use to let people know about available dogs. You will often find the same dogs on both sites.

13. Instagram.com – Has specific hashtags for Labradoodle rescues. You can follow these hashtags and see when new doodles are coming up for adoption. Hashtags:

  • #Labradoodlerescue
  • #Rescuelabradoodle
  • #doodlerescue

Please let us know if you find other hashtags for Labradoodle rescues.

14. Facebook – There are a few non-rescue specific Facebook groups that help spread the word about doodles in need of a home. Just be careful when dealing with unknown people on Facebook. It’s very important that you do your research before making any type of payment or agreeing to meet someone.

You can also search on “Labradoodle rescue in New York” or “Labradoodle re-home” to find additional Facebook groups that can help.

Muddy Labradoodle in grass.jpg

9 Reasons Why Labradoodles End Up in Shelters

  1. Owner dies or becomes sick and can no longer care for them
  1. Unrealistic expectations of the breed.  Both Labradors and Poodle are high energy dogs. Put them together and you also get a high energy dog.   
  1. Released from puppy mills when they became too old to sell.
  1. Health problems – Dog has special needs
  1. First time dog parent who doesn’t know how to properly train a dog.
  1. Don’t have the desired look.  I hate to say this one but it does happen. Not all Labradoodles come with the soft wavy hair. Some come with wiry hair or straight hair.  But you cannot tell until they are adults.
  1. They shed more than expected. Unless Labradoodles are genetically tested and then carefully breed their offspring may still shed.
  1. They are not hypoallergenic as claimed.  Although some Labradoodles can be allergy friendly that does not guarantee that they all are.
  1. The grooming cost and time. Curly and wavy haired Labradoodles need to be brushed and combed every day. They also need a haircut every 6 to 8 weeks on average.  This can easily cost over $800 a year depending on the size and location of the Labradoodle.     

Please take the time to research the breed before buying or adopting one.

What is included in the cost of adopting a Labradoodle rescue in New York?

Fees to adopt vary based on the rescue but most rescues cover basic check-ups and make sure the dogs are up to date with required vaccines.

To learn more about the cost of adoption and what’s included check out our post on How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog? Compare the to cost to buy a Labradoodle the fees for adoption are a bargain.

Looking for a name for your doodle?

We have some posts that will help you find the perfect name for your new friend

Happy Tails!

Wishing you all a happy ending by finding your prefect pup like we did. Let us know about your dog search experience.