Georgia Animal Rescue & Defence, Inc

Blessed Mom (BlessedMom)

2024-03

This is our 3rd time returning to adopt at GARD Rescue! Joy is fantastic and everyone we have come in contact with is so sweet and caring.The first time was in 2010, then back in 2021 and this time, we are travelling from Boston to Georgia to bring at least 1, hopefully 2, back home!

Lynn Mazzie

2024-02

We have adopted 2 different times from this rescue. We adopted our Shih Tzu, Maggie Mae who was a Puppymill Mama, 2 years ago from them. We just adopted our Golden Retriever, Daisy Mae also a Puppymill Mama, from them a week ago. Both of them are beautiful babies who had been terribly abused by the Puppymill owners. Maggie had Heartworm and skin problems and Daisy has been mentally abused. Daisy is afraid of "all" people cowers and runs away. We knew when we adopted Maggie that she would need intense medical care and love. Before we adopted Daisy, I visited her a few times at Gard to get her used to seeing me before we took her home. We knew it would take alot of time, patience and love to gain her trust. Daisy's main caretaker at Gard was a compassionate kind person. She had worked with Daisy every day of Daisy's stay at the rescue and cried when we took her home. We are so happy with our babies and would adopt from them again.

jill raleigh

2023-12

This is the absolute best Rescue facility I've ever seen. The love and compassion Joy Bohannon has for these animals is amazing. She truly has dedicated herself to this place. The animals are taken to the vet once they arrive. They are spade and neutered. They are micro chipped and groomed. Any medication they need is given to them . They are screened for heartworms and other types of illnesses. She has a wide variety of animals here from pigs to chickens and ducks , dogs , puppies, and many more. This is a non profit organization so if you would like to donate contact Joy Bohannon anything is appreciated. Have a blessed day!

Tanya Norris

2019-05

As a pet owner and knowing that adoptions are for a life time. I was very hesitant and cautious when considering adoption again. I didn't plan on going home with new fur baby when I walked into Pet Smart, However; life has a funny way of deciding otherwise. The animals looked like they were very well taken care of and eager to go to a new home. The GARD team was on hand to ask any questions I had and made it really easy to adopt. the process was really smooth. Winston was seen at the vet and was healthy for a 12 week old mix breed. The only concern we had is his paperwork says many breeds from Lab to border collie mix. I understand it's hard to determine specific breeds in rescues but we didn't know where to start. I wish we had more information regarding where he was rescued? How? when? does he have siblings?...ect

Matthew Michel

2021-05

Let me just start it by saying that Kim is the most honest person i have talked to about adopting a puppy ! She not only makes sure that you’re a perfect fit for the puppy, but she makes sure you will have everything you need to start your new life with the pup! Kim knew my wife and i were interested in adopting a puppy and after talking to many scammers on fb she found us the right puppy and we now added our third pup to the pack and we couldn’t be happier ! He is the sweetest boy ever! If you ever are looking for a dog, rescue with Kim !!!They have been very responsive and helpful through this whole process..

Valerie Campagnac

2021-05

Those conditions break my heart! My poodle comes from that rescue but I picked her up at a Petsmart in Pooler on Nov 8, 2020. My baby was supposed to be 3 or 4 years old and heart worm positive but turned out to be around 10, according to my vet, and also have other infections. When I picked her up, she was the only dirty filthy dog. She was so sad, timid but yet so gentle that no matter what, I had to get her out of there. She tested positive for heart worm on 8/13/2020 but they waited until 2 days before I picked her up to start the treatment which was 3 months later!!!! For the past month and a half we have been treating her, pampering her, loving her and she is slowly blossoming. We cannot imagine life without her but we are very angry at the situation she was in. No animal deserve this! NOTE PICTURE TAKEN ON DAY OF ADOPTION AFTER 2 BATHS! How can this be allowed!

Amanda Bridges

2021-05

It’s amazing what someone can find out about someone on a simple google search. Please be advised, read all pictures below. Do your research before going though this “rescue” group. There is a deep dark history with the owner, it may not come as a surprise to many. But do yourself and your family a favor and go to a reputable rescue group. This owner needs to be shut down.Public record at its finest.This owner was placed on a do not adopt list, found guilty of many animal related crimes, and fined several times in NJ. Her company is mentioned several times in the reports below.

Marilyn

2021-05

I have known Joy Bohannon since 2011, when I adopted my beloved dog Cinnamon. She and her group are the most caring and compassionate group of people. They put care and treatment of their animals first, working tirelessly to find homes for all their animals. Although I am in New Jersey, I will always adopt from GARD.

Jackie Johnson

2021-05

We adopted a little fluff ball from GARD 8 years ago. Bailey is a happy member of our family and experience was great! We love to visit the rescue dogs at the adoption events and the volunteers are always so patient with my children who just want to give all of the animals love. Everyone who works at GARD is volunteering their time due to their love of animals and it is amazing how dedicated they are to finding the right home. Don’t let a few jaded people turn you away from this fantastic rescue and these deserving animals. I hope we aren’t ready to adopt again for many more years but when we are, we will adopt from GARD.

Lynn Parker

2023-05

Puppies are great but if you're planning on adopting anything other than a puppy, double check their health/teeth/age/heartworm status. We were misinformed & now paying A LOT to get our rescued pup healthy. Nothing GAARD told us (per their vet) was accurate.

Amanda F

2021-05

We adopted a sweet puppy named Tucker from GARD last December. We saw him on their Facebook page and fell in love! That evening we emailed the organization, filled out the application and heard back almost immediately. They asked us to come to the adoption event to meet Tucker, but were honest with us that we were not the only ones who had inquired about him. He was a very desirable dog considering her was only about 6 months old and was a spaniel lab mix. We went to their adoption event the next day and we’re fortunate enough to be chosen as Tucker’s new family! The adoption fee was very reasonable (much more affordable than purchasing a puppy from a breeder) and the whole experience was very positive. The volunteers were so friendly and informative and knew who we were as soon as we had mentioned that we had emailed them the evening before. The dogs all appeared to be well taken care of as their crates were clean and well managed.Overall, awesome experience. I highly recommend this organization to any who’s looking for a new fur baby!

Karla Herrington

2021-05

Loved working with GARD when we adopted our newest family member. Amy took the time to continuously communicate and update me on our Chief-before we had even met. We are still in touch today and they love receiving updates even years later-shows how much they actually care! They truly care about the best interest for these pups, as a rescue should do, all while doing it only as volunteers. They put in the time and effort to ensure that the dogs are placed with the best possible family and home.

Rich Bollig

2021-05

We had a 13 year old German shepherd named Stewey that we moved here with us from Colorado. He had hip and back issues and we had to put him down. My husband and i decided a year later our home was too quiet and we began looking for another dog. We found a German shepherd male and put in an application. When we went to meet him at the adoption event we spoke to the volunteers and he was not a good fit for us, he had severe detachment issues and couldn't be alone more than a couple hours. Since we both work full time we knew that wouldn't work. A few days later one of the volunteers called me and told me they had a female that needed a home with a family that knew the breed. We went to meet Nova (now Remi) and she was sweet and beautiful. They didn't know much of her history as she had been found abandoned on a construction site.When we got her home we washed her and as we were switching out her harness she got loose. She ran thru our neighborhood for 4 days. I was terrified, I was so worried about her. The volunteers from GARD looked night and day, they were out in the woods with us looking for her. It was a terribly hard 4 days but they arranged for us to get a large cage from a rescue in Swainsboro and we were able to catch her. These volunteers LOVE these animals. Remi is adjusting to her home...two years later. We believe she may have escaped a hoarding situation before being found at the construction site. There is no way for them to know the history or the needs of each animal they rescue. But our experience has been that they take the time to make sure that if you are placed with a pet it will be good for you and the animal.We adore Remi. She is my baby girl. She has over come some major fear and anxiety but is bright, loyal and loving. We have sent others to GARD to find their fur family. Thank you Joy, Amy, Michelle and the countless others that helped make Rems part of our family

Teresa Petty

2023-11

We got our 2 puppies Thea and Tess from Gard. This organization is wonderful ❤️ love our sweet furbabies.

Jennifer Mincey

2021-05

I have adopted both of my dogs from GARD and I cannot recommend them enough. Yes, their application process is lengthy - as it should be. They have committed to rescuing these animals and ensuring they are placed in the best home possible for continued safety and love. The people who work and volunteer there are there for the animals well-being, and that is evident in everything they do. I cannot thank them enough for their helpfulness in answering my questions and their encouragement when I felt overwhelmed by a new pet - they gave given me my two best boys, and they'll help you find your best friend, too.

Zoey Herrington

2021-05

We finally felt it was time to get a new dog after our family’s first Pomeranian had passed away 3 years prior. When we found GARD, I knew we had to adopt through them! They were very responsive to emails and professional throughout the entire process! I cannot recommend adopting through GARD enough. It is so obvious how much they care for these dogs and want to give them a second chance at life. I am so grateful to the volunteers at GARD for giving me the chance to love my Pomeranian Millie!

Heather Tomlinson

2022-05

We have adopted two dogs from this shelter over a 5 year span. After adopting the second dog, we will NEVER support this rescue again. Our sweet puppy was not rechecked or treated for hookworms for at least 2 months prior to adoption. When we took him in for his checkup, not only did they find an enormous amount of hookworms, but he also had an infected abscess from an untreated skin infection. We are on treatment #3 for hookworms to no avail. That tells you how horrible his infection was at the time of adoption. Not only are we constantly paying for fecal checks and antibiotics every 2 weeks, we also had to have his abscess drained and treated. After reaching out to GARD after the first vet visit the response was “We do not adopt out unhealthy animals. Also, his fees were reduced because he is a black dog.” Clearly you do adopt out unhealthy animals. I can only imagine if he would’ve went to a home that didn’t have the ability to treat numerous infections. You’d think at the least they would call and check on him.

Lisa Capotosta

2021-05

I had resisted adoption for a number of years that is until GARD sent Jack - now named Dexter. He is such a loving and beautiful American Bulldog with such great personality. He reminded me so much of my 2 English Bulldogs that I had years ago in his markings, his face and his personality. GARD took such great care of him and truly loves all of the animals that they rescue. They are helping so many dogs and in turn people with the work do. This is a wonderful organization and a rescue that loves each and every animal that comes through. They are a great group to adopt through.

Laura Baird

2022-05

I recently adopted a sweet little beagle who I named Clementine.She has been a wonderful addition to my crew. The representatives from GARD seemed very devoted to the pets placed for adoption. They were open about any issues the pets may have had and were genuinely concerned for the animal's well being.

Cindy Venturelli

2021-05

I am 2 time adopter from GARD. I don’t really understand the negative reviews some are giving this rescue. I think people just don’t understand the work that goes into being a rescue. Yes applications take awhile to process when your running on volunteers that all work jobs have families and pets of their own to care for, so if you are willing to have patience to give a life time to a rescue pet then you need to have patience in the process. Secondly rescues do their best to give ever bit info they can on a pet but yes sometimes they get sick or have worms or parasites but that is common in puppies and dogs that have been strays or living in awful conditions. You can purchase a purebred and still get same issues. With that being said here is my experience. My first dog i adopted one 2006 his name was domino he was a year old when i adopted him, everything GARD had told me was absolutely honest and transparent. We had domino until this past february he passed away at age 15. We just recently adopted a 3 month old lab puppy from GARD and he is healthy happy and just the perfect fit for our family. I highly recommend GARD but just be patient in the process and be thankful there are people like them working tirelessly for countless hours rescuing and caring for abused sick and unwanted animals. If you are looking for Instant approval or the perfect picture of health dog then I don’t suggest adopting any dog from any rescue. Rescue adoption is a process and the ultimate goal is for a pet to have a life long home that is cared for at all cost and GARD does it’s very best at making that happen. Thank you GARD for all you do and just know this family forever has your back and supports you and your volunteersCindy venturelli

Kelley Neidlinger

2022-05

We’ve tried to adopt from GARD several times. We currently own 2 female rescue dogs (small under 10lbs) who are both fixed and live a great life. We have 2 young boys, a one acre fenced in lot, an income of 100k+ a year, and we STILL were not good enough for bark. So we went somewhere else and adopted a sweet Belgian malinios. I ran into Joy at the vet and she complimented my dog and how well behaved my 3 year old son was with him. She had the AUDACITY to say we should put in application to rescue from GARD next time we want a dog. I told her we had, for 3 separate dogs, but since we were “young parents (26 and 29 at the time) with young children (3 and 1.5) we could not take care of a dog” she then says to me “yes. Some people just don’t make the cut.” I told her if she would’ve followed up with ANY of my references, my vet (whom she also uses), or did a home check she would’ve known that our dogs have the BEST lives.

Sherryann Douglas

2021-05

As other reviewers have stated, they don’t respond at all. If your adoption policy is geared towards GA residents only, you should state so in the write-up for the pet. Don’t waste an applicant’s time and money for an application fee. Very disheartening to send emails and adoption applications thinking you have a chance... when more than likely you don’t.It’s very intriguing how the more popular breeds are listed for a longer period of time. I’m referring to several Schnauzers still listed as available for adoption. Potential adopters would have snatched them up very quickly. If they are receiving $10 per application, then it is money driven. Other reputable Rescues can complete an adoption in about a week... maybe two. Surprisingly, I read a response from the owner stating, “they have to pay their employees.” I thought they were a nonprofit using volunteers that have full-time jobs.Thankfully, the Rescue I used, limited the amount of applicants per pet, AND didn’t ask for an application fee. I plan to continue donating to them because their process is fair and justifiable. Why continue to accept multiple applications on one pet for an unspecified time? A bit odd, don’t you think?I’m thankful and blessed to have found a happy and healthy fur baby to adopt.

Liz Barbarevech

2021-05

I’ve been working with this group and manger for nearly 10 years and the work they do is incredible. I’ve adopted my own dog, Cappy, from them 6 years ago and he’s the best dog. The adoption process and application is thorough to ensure their animals go to the best home possible. I’ve been there when they’ve pulled mama dogs and their puppies from kill shelters, taken in dogs dumped on the road, etc. A lot of these dogs come from rough conditions, and GARD just wants to make sure their dogs go to the right home so they’re happy and safe the rest of their lives. I love this rescue and will always support the work they do. Love from NJ.

Lisa B

2021-05

I rescued an amazing dog from GARD. These people work so hard, everyday, to save so many! THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!!!!

Kim Janel

2021-05

GARD saves thousands upon thousands of precious lives. They offer the most comprehensive vetting of any rescue I’ve come across. They care so much about every animal. They always always put their dogs first and will take them back after any amount of time and in any condition, no questions asked. The support that they give their adopters even after adoption is exceptional. They provide antibiotics and medications for each dog that needs it, even after adoption. If a dog has heartworm positive, they offered to pay for the full treatment of the dog or they don’t adopt them out until the treatment is complete. The vet care they provide far exceeds the adoption fee they get per dog. I have two guard dogs myself, both were not very adaptable and God made the choice to pull them out of high kill shelters and save their lives regardless. They’re not a rescue that only takes fluffy puppies, they always take the mom and they always take every dog, no matter how bad their condition is they save every dog no matter what it costs. You won’t find a more caring person of animals then Joy Bohannon. Please keep in mind that when people are not approved to adopt, they leave nasty reviews because they’re angry. It’s important to remember this when reading reviews as this pertains to any business or establishment. If you’re considering adopting a dog, GARD is a wonderful and supportive place to adopt from.

Jennifer Trenkelbach

2021-05

My family adopted a dog from GARD about two years ago at a Petsmart Adoption Event. That day we weren't particularly looking for a dog, but a six month old german Shepard mix puppy caught our attention. The volunteers took care of us were polite and you could tell that they form relationships with the dogs at their shelter. We adopted our puppy Alina, now Sabine, for $350 dollars which a very reasonable price from a puppy that volunteers had to drive 8 hours to pick up in Daytona, Florida from a hoarding situation. It took several months for the shelter to treat mange and other medical conditions. You could tell that Sabine had a relationship with several of the volunteers because it was the only time she wagged her tail at the event. I would definitely adopt from GARD in the future.

Kathleen Sims

2022-05

We and friends have adopted happy, successful dogs. If you do what Joy does, you can't always respond in 2 seconds. Sometimes, you have to error on the side of a good fit for dogs and always 'customer service'. Dogs are not property to buy and sell. They are animals and potential best friends when there is a great fit. As far as I can see, Joy does incredible work in tough situations for pets where humans have not been shining. So, y'all put some grace on your requests. We did. We were greatly rewarded. We travel to work with her!!

Christopher Berinato

2021-05

Our family loves GARD! Joy and the staff are terrific! We have adopted two dogs from GARD in the past 5 years. One was a puppy that was born at the shelter. The other was requested to be rehomed by GARD when the owner passed away. Joy let us introduce the dogs and took time with us to make sure that the dog being rehomed would "fit" with our family. He has been a great addition. The volunteers, staff, and most of all, Joy, love animals and want them to well taken care of. We've adopted other animals in the past but this rescue really cares about the animals and making sure they find the best homes possible that are a permanent one. If you are looking for an animal, this is the best rescue to help you find your new family member!

Hannah Fox

2018-05

I know this is a long comment, but I really don't want others to have the same experience I did.I recently adopted a puppy from GARD while at Petsmart. When I asked how much his adoption fee was, I was told $200. When we went to pay for him, they made us pay $300 to cover vaccine costs. I didn't argue, but that was the first sign I had made a mistake adopting from them.The first night, my newly adopted puppy was coughing badly. He barely slept and was lethargic all day. I immediately took him to a vet and he has kennel cough. GARD did not disclose this information and I had an extra vet expense that I was not expecting.Also while at the vet, I was informed that those vaccines that GARD gave him (and charged me $100 extra for) were given to him at too young of an age to be effective (assuming his estimated age is correct). I was informed it is actually illegal to give that young of a puppy a certain vaccine.I've tried calling and emailing GARD. I've given them 2 weeks to respond and have heard nothing. I've talked to other dog owners in the area and apparently adopting a sick dog from GARD is not that uncommon.

Laura Baty

2020-05

I applied to adopt a specific dog listed for adoption, the application was approved and we set a time to meet. We were driving 6 hours one way for this specific dog and possibly a second one based on personalities. They were unable to meet for 6 more days, I offered to pay the adoption fee as a non refundable deposit to be sure that she would be held for us. I checked in mid week to make sure we were still on, then again the night before when to my surprise I was told “I’m not sure if she is still available” so I asked if she could find out since it wasn’t worth the drive if that dog was unavailable for whatever the reason may be. Later that night I got a text message confirming that she was indeed still there and given the address and time. We left at 4 AM to arrive there by 11. Upon arrival we were rudely scolded for getting out of our vehicles due to the covid policy. I completely understand that, but calling to let them know you arrived and staying in your vehicle is something that we should have been told before hand. Once we were allowed to approach, the dog we came to see was not there. When we asked where she was we were told “these are the dogs who are here, if you don’t want them we have other people coming”. I asked to see our second pick and when she was handed to me she was absolutely saturated in urine and the stench coming off her was pitiful. I am very familiar with rescue and puppy mill dogs, but the condition this dog was in was absolutely unacceptable to be coming from a “rescue”. We asked why our first pick wasn’t there, was she already adopted, sick, un adoptable, some type of reason to justify the fact that we were feeling majorly scammed. Nobody could answer my question. I asked where she was, offered to go to the rescue/foster home/ wherever she was but was again rudely told that’s not a option. We ended up choosing 2 others, and were told on the phone that the adoption fee was $300 each though the lady processing the paperwork asked for $350 each. When I told her about the $300 fee she was completely nonchalant and said “ok I can do $300”. I’m no stranger to the rescue world, I know the vet care is well worth that price, but I also know they were charging more than they paid. I wouldn’t have a problem with that if they were in better condition. Their nails were still extremely long and curled into the paw pads, they had old, dried feces matted into their hair, were absolutely covered in fleas (some are to be expected but I’m talking about a complete infestation) and smelled like they had not had a single bath since leaving the breeder/puppy mill. My mom, the adopter really wasn’t impressed with the whole situation but knowing she would most likely turn to a breeder I begged her to take these dogs and not leave them in this condition. The shyness and fear of humans is perfectly normal for dogs from this background, so I don’t have a issue with that at all. We are working with them and they are making great progress in only a few days! What I have a major problem with is the attitude of the staff/volunteers, complete disregard for our time to drive that far to get a dog who wasn’t even brought, and one lady even saying “we had over 100 dogs, how far you drove is the last thing on my mind”. The vet papers showed they were spayed and asked to have sutures removed 7-10 days later. We adopted them 16 days after the spay and they both still had stitches. If getting them back to the vet was a problem, removing stitches is extremely easy. None of the adopters information was verified, she could have been a animal abuser and they simply turned the dogs over once they had the money. We immediately went inside and bought them Capstar for the flea infestation, and headed home to get them the help they needed. I personally feel like this “rescue” is overwhelmed with the numbers of animals they have, and that causes your quality and credibility to decline. The next day a family member inquired about our original choice, and was told she is a biter and too antisocial. Why couldn’t they just tell us that?