ATLANTA — Over 100 golden retrievers have been rescued from Turkey and brought to Georgia by the group Adopt a Golden Atlanta.
Turkish rescuer Yasemin Baban said golden retrievers were fashionable gifts in the country, but when puppies grew into big, barking dogs, thousands of families set them loose.
“They would be abandoned with broken legs. This is terrible because they don’t want to pay the vet, or they feel like the toy is broken,” she said.
Baban helped round up the dogs from the streets and forests in Istanbul, and packed their crates for the long plane trip to Atlanta.
Adopt a Golden welcomed 29 new dogs at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Sunday night. They all have holiday names like Sugar Cookie, Elf and Frosty.
“They all have that sweet ‘golden retriever wagging, just want you to pet me’ personality. Even though they’ve been through rough times, part of their spirit is still intact,” Dr. Michele Davis said, as the dogs were waiting to be checked out for adoption.
Because most of the dogs arrive with few medical conditions, Adopt a Golden said it costs about the same or less than it does to rescue local strays.
So far the group has rescued a total of 124 dogs, and they said they are sure each one of the new dogs will find a permanent home.