Thank you for your interest in adopting a fostered dog from FCRR. We most commonly have Labrador Retrievers available for adoption. They are, after all, our specialty, and are the most popular and therefore the most numerous purebred dog in America. We will very rarely have Golden Retrievers ore Flat Coat Retrievers. We also have nice mixed breed dogs with very "Labbie" temperaments much of the time.

The Labs we place are most frequently male and black. The next most frequent color is yellow, followed by chocolate. The most sought-after combination is a yellow female. You may have a long wait if that's what you want. Color differences are esthetic in nature only; color conveys no significant difference regarding health or behavior.

We very seldom have puppies. Most of our dogs will be at least a year old, but they're more usually between two and six years old. Retrievers tend to exhibit very active puppy-like behavior until the age of at least two or three years. They can therefore be a big challenge to manage for adopters having less familiarity with retrieving breeds. Older and, hence, more mellow dogs are frequently a much better choice for many people. The adage that older dogs are harder to train is a myth. Further, with modern veterinary care, many Retrievers may live to ripe old ages of fourteen years and sometimes more.

Each of our fostered dogs will have generally spent at least a week in a foster home, and will have been examined by a veterinarian if we have any question about its condition, so we'll have some idea of the health and temperament of each. However, we're neither veterinarians nor behaviorists, so we cannot guarantee either soundness or temperament. As a new owner, you should handle your adoptee cautiously until you're comfortable with the dog's behavior and health. In any case, the dog should never be left alone and unsupervised with children.

Unless special circumstances merit an exception, all our dogs are spayed or neutered and up-to-date on normal vaccinations, DHLPP and rabies at a minimum.

Here is our fee schedule:

Estimated Dog Age
You pay this*
Under 1 year
$400
1-3 years
$300
4-7 years
$250
8 years and up
$125

*To calculate what to claim as a charitable donation on your
income tax return, subtract $50 from the amount shown.

Without exception, we must conduct an inspection of your home to verify that it's ready for a big dog. We also want to interview you and your family to fully and accurately understand your needs, desires, and concerns. .

There is no obligation on your part to accept any dog we refer to you. If you don't think we've suggested the right dog for you, you're free to tell us so; we'll continue to suggest other dogs we think are suitable for you.

We may also refer you to shelter dogs, courtesy-listed dogs, or owner-listed dogs we believe would be a good fit for your family. If you should decide to adopt one, there is no fee from us. However, you would be responsible for any costs or fees the shelter or owner asks for. As we depend on public generosity to provide the funds vital to our continued operation, we do encourage you to make a donation.

Should you have any questions, please send us an email at the address below or leave a message on the listed voicemail mail phone line

To proceed to our online adoption form, click the button below.


UPDATE:  Currently we're at a very reduced level of operation and at the moment have only one foster dog. It's unlikely we'll have new fosters in the short term, so you may wish to apply to another rescue. Independent Labrador Rescue and Southern California Labrador Rescue are two very good ones.

If you nevertheless wish to apply to us, we'll keep your application on file and notify you when and if a dog matching your desires comes into foster.