AGN was formed in 1998 and obtained its 501(c)(3) status in 2000. We operate a large region covering Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Northern Alabama. AGN saves almost 200 dogs per year. Most dogs we take into the rescue are pulled from municipal animal control shelters or are surrendered by their owners. Our rescued dogs are fostered in the private residences of our volunteers, which enables us to evaluate each dog and identify the optimal family and home environment, thus increasing the likelihood of permanent placement.? Our adoption applicants are screened through an adoption application, vet reference check, phone interview and a home visit. Our adoption policies ensure that dogs we place do not contribute to the over-population of unwanted dogs. We spay/neuter every dog before it is placed in its forever home. Our dogs are fully vetted, microchipped and given an AGN identification tag. We will take any dog back into the rescue that doesn’t work out, no matter how long the adopted family has had the dog.? AGN operates solely on donations and adoption fees. We maintain a strict budget and 100% of all donations are reserved for veterinary care for our rescues. Our volunteers are passionate about the cause. They routinely spend personal funds to cover incidental expenses such as mileage, dog food, maintenance medications, paper supplies, etc. that are needed in the rescue process in order to reserve the limited funds to pay our veterinary bills. The Golden Retriever is routinely in AKC’s top five ranking of the most popular dogs in America. Consequently, Goldens and Golden mixes represent a disproportionate number of purebred homeless dogs. AGN works tirelessly for those unwanted Goldens and Golden mixes in need.