All dog rescue organizations are wonderful for the work they do. But are some better than others? If you live in Florida and are looking for a Labrador Retriever, then yes, one is better than all of the others. The organization is Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida (“LRRoF”).

LRRoF is a non-profit organization that has been placing Labradors in permanent homes since 2000, and in the last 19 years, has placed over 10,000 labs. Below are just a few of the reasons, I highly recommend them if you are looking to adopt a Labrador:

1. A dog is not just drop off somewhere and everyone hopes for the best. In order for someone to surrender a lab, the dog will have to meet the following standards:
   • The dog cannot be a mix, it must be a Labrador Retriever;
   • Be socialized and friendly;
   • Be up to date on vaccinations;
   • Be heartworm tested;
   • Not aggressive.
2. The surrendering process is lengthy, and most of the time there is a waitlist. When filling out the application to surrender that alone takes 20 – 25 minutes. Since the organization is run by volunteers, there is usually a five to seven-day wait for someone to respond to the application. You will need to have the following items:
   • Vet history records and receipts;
   • Images of your dog from different angles, recently taken;
   • A written description of your dog.
3. An in-home evaluation is required before any dog is accepted into the program.
4. There are surrendering fees that go toward the dog’s care while in the foster program.
5. When a dog is accepted, they spend six weeks with a foster family, so the adopting family knows exactly how the dog will behave.

Having adopted two labs from LRRoF, we had no surprises once our adoptees Drake and Hank were home.

Unfortunately, with the Labrador Retriever being the third most dog breed surrendered, LRRoF with their dedicated team volunteers are true heroes.