Cyrus lays in his kennel, tail thumping against steel bars.
The 2-year-old canine arrived at Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue in Elverta last July. He was rescued in China where he was bred for the dog meat trade.
When Cyrus arrived at the sanctuary, his knees faced outward. The limb deformity resulted from “two years in a cramped cage with no ability to stand,” Homeward Bound President Audrey Farrington says.
The rescue group takes in 25 to 30 golden retrievers from China and South Korea every year. Asian countries traffic all types of dogs, “but they like to breed goldens because they are so docile,” Farrington says.
Orthopedic issues, broken bones, malnutrition and dehydration are common. Most are kept in giant breeding facilities, then transported to live markets and dog meat festivals. “It’s horrendous. A horrible, horrible death,” Farrington says.
Rescuers “literally stop the trucks, bribe the drivers and take the dogs off the trucks,” she adds.
The work is expensive and challenging. Rescue personnel vet and vaccinate the canines. Government paperwork is arduous. Flights to the U.S. take up to 15 hours.
The nonprofit, Run 2 The Rescue, greets the canines at airport intake facilities, then organizes travel to their final destinations. Homeward Bound volunteers pick up dogs at SFO.
Cyrus had three surgeries at UC Davis. He is “now fully up on all four legs,” Farrington says, and recovering with his new family.
Humane World for Animals reports an estimated 30 million dogs and 10 million cats are trafficked and slaughtered annually for human consumption worldwide, including China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Northeast India. South Korea banned the dog meat industry beginning in 2027.
For the goldens who make it to Homeward Bound, “it’s a drop in the bucket, but for the dog that got saved it’s forever. It’s everything,” Farrington says.
Homeward Bound was founded in 2000 by Jody and Mike Jones. The sanctuary takes in 400 to 500 golden retrievers and golden mixes every year, many from animal shelters in the Central Valley, “which is known for large-scale breeding and dumping dogs,” Farrington says.
The sanctuary also accepts owner-surrendered and stray golden retrievers. “We find a way for every golden that needs us,” Farrington says.
Spanning 8 acres in Sutter County, Homeward Bound has 11 play yards, two parks, a senior yard, memorial garden, quarantine unit, “puppy palace,” training pavilion, therapy swimming pool and walking path surrounding the property.
The main building houses an adoption center, medical ward with a veterinary clinic, recovery unit, kennels, kitchen, laundry area, storage and grooming space.
More than 225 dog lovers make up the all-volunteer rescue group. They interview potential adopters, conduct placement visits, feed, walk and socialize the dogs, assess personalities and behaviors, help with landscaping and maintenance, and transport goldens from other shelters.
With a limit of 25 dogs on site, the sanctuary relies on a network of foster homes. “We have a robust foster program, which greatly increases our capacity so we can help more dogs,” says Farrington, who has fostered 86 puppies since joining Homeward Bound.
Adoptions are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, by appointment only, at the sanctuary. Home visits are conducted before adopters meet a dog. Dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped prior to adoption.
Individual donations and bequests help meet the $1 million annual budget. Last year, Homeward Bound saw a significant increase in breeding dogs who came with neglected health conditions. Medical expenses typically exceed $500,000 a year.
All the dogs have stories. “Stanely is South Korea boy,” Farrington says. Dave was a stray no one claimed. Ginger came in with a group from Oregon. Alex was pulled from the Yuba County animal shelter. Kato was surrendered when his owner didn’t get landlord approval for a dog. Joey was found lost in the Central Valley.
Although many of the goldens are purebreds, “We don’t care about AKC papers,” Farrington says. “We care about what they have in their heart.”
Homeward Bound’s spring fundraiser, Double the Gold Challenge, helps cover medical expenses. Every donation in May is matched. To donate, volunteer or adopt, visit homewardboundgoldens.org.
Cathryn Rakich can be reached at cathrynrakich@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
