ATLANTA, Georgia — UPDATE: A third group of dogs has been rescued from Turkey by Adopt A Golden Atlanta.
Thirty rescued Golden Retrievers were on board Saturday evening when they arrived at the Cargolux warehouse.
The majority of the dogs will be staying in foster homes in Atlanta and the others will go to Adopt A Golden Birmingham.
The dogs will be ready for adoption in about two weeks.
A second group of dogs has been rescued from Turkey by Adopt A Golden Atlanta.
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Lauren Genkinger, who founded the rescue agency, says the dogs were living on the streets of Istanbul and in the surrounding forest but will make great house pets.
“They really, truly are what we call 'Velcro dogs' because they don’t want to be abandoned anymore. So when we bring them over, they want to stick by you,” said Genkinger.
Golden Retrievers were considered a status symbol in Istanbul a few years ago, but now many are being abandoned. Turkey doesn’t have the resources to care for the animals.
“They don’t euthanize dogs like we do here in the (United) States. They spay and neuter them, they give them rabies shots and if they don’t have room for them in the shelter, then they put them out on the streets,” Genkinger said.
The Golden Retrievers will stay with foster families until they are ready for adoption in two weeks.
Go to Adopt A Golden Atlanta's website to donate or apply to adopt a dog.