Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest - RAGOM

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Celebrating 40+ Golden Years! Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest (RAGOM) has rescued and rehomed more than 10,000 Golden Retrievers & Golden mixes since 1985.

Territory includes: MN, IA, ND, SD & WI. RAGOM began as Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota in 1985, with one homeless Golden Retriever in a shelter whose time was up. Hank & Jane Nygaard took her in, had her spayed and vaccinated, and found her a loving forever family. After that, there was always another dog who needed a home. Countless volunteers and generous donors have stepped up through the years with the energy, selflessness, love, and funds to rescue and rehome more than 9,000 Golden Retrievers and Golden Retriever mixes. In 2017, RAGOM adopted a new name—Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest—to reflect our dedication to expand our rescue efforts from our original home state of Minnesota to include Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and western Wisconsin.

10/14/2026

Red Rover didn’t come to us the usual way. He came through our partners at Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC), and last week he and foster volunteer Emily brought that story to Minnesota Live on KSTP-TV Channel 5. (He may now be expecting a dressing room. Negotiations are ongoing. 🐾)

October is Adopt-A-Dog Month, and it was a wonderful opportunity to share how RAGOM is making a difference for dogs and the people who love them.

Rescue and rehoming will always be at the heart of what we do. But sometimes the best way to help a dog is to make sure they never need rescuing in the first place.

Through our partnership with 360 Communities, we're helping stock their food pantry with dog food so families facing difficult times can keep their beloved dogs right where they belong. Because keeping a dog with the family who loves them is a happy ending, too.

Thank you to Minnesota Live, and the whole KSTP team for giving us space to share more than just the rescue story, and to MACC and 360 Communities for the work they do every day.

Ready to meet your next best friend? Adoptable dogs are waiting: https://ragom.org/adoptable-dogs/

10/10/2026

When a dog is surrendered or rescued, everything they know is suddenly gone. Their home, their people, their routine. Then a car pulls up, someone kneels down, says hello, and opens the door.

That person is one of RAGOM’s volunteer transport drivers. Very often, they're the first kind face a dog meets on the way to a new life.

When Moose rode four hours from Minneapolis to Fargo, a volunteer drove. When our dogs came home from the Missouri auction, volunteers drove every mile. That first car ride links the old life to the new one, and someone chose to spend their afternoon making it happen.

You might think the only way you could help RAGOM is by adopting or fostering. But driving a RAGOM rescue is the first step in every new dog's journey.

We particularly need drivers across southwestern Minnesota, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin.

You should know: RAGOM doesn’t reimburse gas, though your mileage may be tax-deductible. We’d recommend checking this with your tax preparer.

Learn more about the responsibilities of a transport driver: https://ragom.org/volunteer/transport/

10/09/2026

Doodle lovers, have we got a couple of dogs for you! 👀

Doodles come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, and we have the pleasure of getting to know quite a few of them at RAGOM.

Big, small, curly, wavy, fluffy, and just about every color imaginable. Depending on their genetics, doodles can look (and act!) very different from one another. And like many Goldens and Golden mixes, they can be smart, eager to learn, and deeply devoted to their families.

One thing you can count on: those gorgeous coats need regular grooming to keep them healthy and free of mats.

And right now, we have two very special doodles looking for their families: Poppy and Denali! Poppy is a lovely doodle with plenty of charm, while Denali is an exuberant young girl who is discovering just how much fun life can be. Each has their own personality, needs, and quirks, and they're both waiting for the right families to discover what makes them special.

Could one of them be yours?

Learn more about these doodles with oodles of love to give: https://ragom.org/adoptable-dogs/

10/08/2026

Something new is coming from RAGOM - and Minnesota Live is getting the first look.

Tune in to KSTP-TV Channel 5 this Friday, October 9th, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with hosts Chris Egert and Megan Newquist to find out what we've been working on. 🐾

10/04/2026

Ever thought your dog might be a bit… clingy? 🤭

Sorry, pups, but some of you have well and truly earned the title of 'Velcro dog'- and Goldens and Golden mixes are among the biggest offenders.

They may be 50lbs of fluff, but they'll still barrel towards you the second you walk through the door, plop themselves on your feet, follow you from room to room… and yes, insist on joining you in the bathroom. 🚽

It's just their loyal, loving nature, but who's going to tell them we already have shadows? 😂

10/03/2026

Take a look at our new RAGOM merch ready for orders!

For longtime supporters, proud adopters, dedicated volunteers, and the littlest members of the RAGOM family—there’s something for everyone! 💛

➡️ Kids’ sizes range from 2T - YL
➡️ Adults’ sizes from Small - 3XL

Head to our online shop to order yours today: https://shop.ragom.org/

10/02/2026

Our RAGOM rescues are always working on improving their training, manners, and confidence. 🏅

If your dog had a report card, what would it say?

Would they be written up for snoring too loud, stealing treats from the counter, or chewing on the TV remote? 🤭

Or would they be considered a good boy or girl for not pulling on the leash, mastering a trick, or for giving the best cuddles? 🥰

Let us know in the comments!

10/01/2026

Did you know historically black dogs in rescues struggled to find homes more than any other colored dog?

For years, animal welfare organizations have raised awareness about “Black Dog Syndrome”—the belief that black dogs can be overlooked by adopters because of misconceptions, stereotypes, or even the challenges of capturing their features in photographs. Research on the extent of this phenomenon is mixed, but one thing isn’t: every dog deserves the chance to be seen for who they are.

At RAGOM, we believe all dogs deserve to find their forever home and on , celebrate the beautiful black dogs who have found their families—and cross our fingers and paws for those still waiting for theirs. 🐾💛

We welcome this change in public perception!

09/25/2026

Moose is no longer on the loose! 🐾

From displaced and challenging pup to well-mannered and loved member of the family, Moose has been on quite a journey. Despite a rocky start, his resilient spirit to find a home never faltered.

"Shelly (his foster) said somehow Moose is resilient enough to still be an extremely happy-go-lucky dog, and right then I knew we at least had to meet him." - Jennifer, Moose's adopter

Though he arrived with a few bad manners, his new family quickly learned he just loved being around people. After months of moving through multiple foster and adoptive homes, Moose has now successfully settled into his new life with his two sisters, Olivia (RAGOM alum) and Molly. ❤️

"We've now had Moose for over 8 months, which is the longest he's ever been in one house – which makes my heart so happy... Moose is literally the funniest dog I have ever met. There is never a dull moment. It's been quite a ride adding Moose to our family, but I could talk about him for hours and tell endless stories." - Jennifer

We cannot help dogs like Moose without our incomparable volunteers and fosters. The time and energy they spend rehabilitating and caring for these dogs is the reason they can find forever homes and more dogs can be rescued. If you'd like to join our volunteer community or learn more about fostering, visit https://ragom.org/

09/23/2026

14 Goldens’ lives are about to change, but they need your help.

This weekend, RAGOM volunteers are traveling to Missouri to bid and hopefully return home with dogs from commercial breeding facilities.

🐾14 dogs who have likely never felt grass under their paws.
🐾14 dogs who deserve a second chance at life.
🐾14 dogs who deserve to know what it means to be loved.

Commercial breeding dogs quickly deplete our finances. In addition to the costs of rescuing and transporting the dogs, they usually require more medical care than other dogs we receive, straining our budget. But they deserve a second chance.

But we must do all we can to rescue and protect as many dogs as we can.

We cannot rescue them without your help. Please donate today to help us bring home as many dogs as we can: https://bit.ly/4Avu7ok

If you cannot donate, please share this post with your friends and family to help raise awareness and donations.

If we can rescue them, their lives will change forever. Thank you. ❤️

Address

5800 Baker Road, Ste 120
Minnetonka, MN
55345

Telephone

+16123890490

Website

http://www.ragom.org/, https://linktr.ee/retrieveagolden

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