Thirty-six Golden Retrievers are getting a fresh start after being rescued off the streets of Istanbul, Turkey.
An American living there noticed the dogs (considered the third most popular dog breed in the United States) roaming as strays and contacted a Golden Retriever rescue in the United States.
“Ten years ago, Golden Retrievers were seen as a status symbol dog in Turkey. Then a few years later everybody had them, and therefore the status was no longer there. They started abandoning them in the streets of Turkey,” explains Lauren Genkinger, the founder and head of Adopt a Golden Atlanta.
The gentle nature of Goldens meant they did not fare well on the tough streets of Instanbul, where tens of thousands of feral dogs roam. The stark situation has aged many of the rescues.
“A couple we brought over, they were living on the streets and they’re two years of age. They look about eight,” says Genkinger.
Move on to the next page for the amazing story of how Genkinger arranged for the largest known rescue of Golden Retrievers internationally, ever!
Pamela Gibson
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20 boys and 16 girls unbelievable.
Tanja Hobart
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So sad that these sweet Furbabies had such hard life, but so happy they were rescued…
Kathleen Dalberg Meade
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Great
Ryan Rummler
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Shari Hill, watch the video
Nicole Lacosegliaz
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Phillip Sankey
Heather Doran-Veevers
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Why are there so many Goldens to rescue in Turkey…..?
Elena Arena
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Thank god
Sean Quinn
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Old story, Adopt a Golden Atlanta has rescued 249 Golden Retrievers from Turkey since May 2015.
Joyce Whitaker
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I wish I could take them all.
Lori Lubin
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Allison Lubin Besant
Mychael Singson
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Renna Singson
Sharon Burgher-Kelly
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We have a beautiful Golden Lab. They are the most loving dogs. I hope these dogs all get homes.
Roland Cosgrove
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THANK YOU FOR RESCURING THEM
Margaret Reid
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Great effort. These will be the luckiest dogs in the world. So sad about the other stray dogs in Turkey
Emile Gouin
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There’s a lot of dog lovers in the world somebody will help them and give a good home for myself I’m to old to take care of a dog properly.