Released Dogs

Hearts of Gold is dedicated to securing the ideal placement for every dog, regardless of the nature of that placement. If a dog is determined to be unsuitable behaviorally or medically for our program, we initially assess whether the dog might be a good fit for transfer to another organization, such as another service dog group, drug detection team, or search and rescue unit. Should transferring to another agency not align with the dog's needs, the dog will be released and offered for adoption as a family pet.

Typically, most dogs released by Hearts of Gold are between one and two years old, although younger puppies or older retired service dogs may become available in rare instances. Dogs may be released from the program due to various medical and/or behavioral reasons, including orthopedic issues, allergies, assertiveness, inappropriate vocalizations, anxiety, and more.