FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - A great nonprofit in the Sacramento Region is —you might say—bringing a lot of “gold” to the community. The organization is NORCAL Golden Retriever Rescue and their mission is to rescue and place adoptable Golden Retrievers into loving homes.

As the privileged pet owner of a 13-year-old rescue, this author was personally thrilled to take on this writing assignment to help bring visibility to the non-profit and to a local Golden lovers group doing good in the community.

The first thing to know about NORCAL Golden Retriever Rescue (NGRR) is they do not have a central facility for sheltering dogs. Instead, they rely on an extensive team of well-networked volunteers to help keep everything running smoothly.

NGRR services Northern California to the Lake Tahoe/Reno region and to Fresno and San Luis Obispo Counties. Skilled volunteers are always wanted to support the organization in a variety of roles—from hands-on operations to professional services.

Fostering is at the heart of this rescue where volunteers open up their homes to surrendered Goldens needing a safe temporary environment. Upon intake, dogs receive a veterinary exam, vaccinations, and are spayed and neutered if needed. NGRR covers all medical expenses while a dog is in foster care.

The non-profit relies on contributions and their online store (www.ngrr.org) to help defray costs.

For the love of the breed

Robin Gostovich is NGRR’s Outreach and Special Events Coordinator for the Sacramento and surrounding areas. “Some 400 dogs a year are given a second chance when they find NORCAL Golden Retriever Rescue,” she reports. “We’re always looking for compassionate dog lovers to help out.”

As a long-time owner of Goldens and a Fair Oaks resident, Robin got involved with the organization eight years ago when one of her daughters found a dog online. Their new dog, Simon, became the first of many Goldens the family adopted or fostered through NGRR.

Robin has fostered at least 20 dogs. “It’s not hard to give one up when you know it’s going to the right home. Yeah, you may cry when that time comes, but you do what’s best for the dog. It’s always about the dog!”

She is huge advocate for Goldens and for NGRR—two topics she loves to talk about. “I just want people to know about this amazing breed and what a great job NGRR does for their dogs.”

Robin and her husband, Mark, now have three Goldens at home: 12-year old Quincy, 10-year old Donne, and 6-year old Hero. Robin likes to say, “Goldens are like potato chips, you can’t have just one!”

A Group for Golden Lovers

Community outreach is an important part of what Robin does. “Everyone loves to meet our Goldens. The dogs open up so many doors leading to people and organizations who look to us for support.”

Robin is also the founder of a Northern California group called Norcal Golden Lovers Sac. “It’s through this group and partnerships that we’re able to give back to the community.”

The group hosts fundraisers and accepts donated pet supplies and food for two local non-profits: Growing Past Today and Jake’s Journey. They also donate dog food to the Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank.

Matt Rise owns LogOff Brewing in Rancho Cordova where Robin often hosts fundraisers and social events through Norcal Golden Lovers Sac. He enjoys supporting their activities by bringing visibility to their causes and has even placed a permanent doggy donation bin inside the brewery.

“At LogOff Brewing we love dogs! It’s satisfying to know how much community good has come out of our partnership with Robin and all the volunteer work she does on behalf of NGRR and Norcal Golden Lovers Sac.”

Matt is hosting Barks and Brews on March 26 from 2-6 p.m. “It’s a fun dog-themed event at the brewery benefitting Front Street Animal Shelter. Come meet the vendors and enjoy live music and food,” he says. “Norcal Golden Lovers Sac will be on-hand to accept donations of bagged dog food, leashes, and dog toys for the non-profits they support.”

Meetups and Playdates

Members of Norcal Golden Lovers Sac also team up for fun events, meetups, and playdates with their Goldens. Robin spearheads a local social Meetup site of 783 members to help spread good will in the community and have some fun, too! The meetups are open to all Golden Retriever owners.

“These dogs make great ambassadors. We are simply Golden lovers doing good in the community while enjoying our pups!”

Join ‘Norcal Golden Lovers Sac’ on Facebook and start connecting with other members.

Plus, join their Meetup site and view upcoming events: www.meetup.com/norcalgoldenloverssac/

If you’d like more information on Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue, please visit their website: www.NGRR.org.