Desert Labrador Retriever Rescue — Local services in Black Canyon City

We went to this organization with high hopes, and were left absolutely crushed after being wrongfully and illogically excluded from any further hopes of getting a dog through them. If you do choose them, be aware they may crush your hopes in the end.

The application process was smooth. We sent in pictures of every square inch of the front and back yards, including that there are stones rather than grass (our previous dog, a Lab we owned from a puppy, had no issues adjusting from grass to the stones). We were approved and the virtual interview went well also. In the interview we noted that it was myself and my son in the house at the moment, and that we had owned two Labs previously over the years, raised from puppies.

A few weeks later we met Bear. He was a wonderful guy, very playful and happy, wonderful to walk—a winner. His carer seemed somewhat less enthusiastic and excited to leave. The following day she told us that she didn’t feel Bear was a good fit for us because 1) there was no female presence in the house, and 2) there was no grass in the yard. Concerning the grass: she knew this well beforehand, and she herself has Astroturf that Bear had no issues with. Also, in the time Bear spent in our yard, he was fine; he even urinated at both ends of the yard, marking his territory.

Over the next several weeks, we stopped getting the Dog-A-Log. We inquired once about it and the organization sent that day’s Log in an email; after that, still nothing. We inquired further whether something had gone wrong…and that’s when we were told that we would no longer be allowed to see dogs at DLRR. We were told two reasons: the stones in the back yard (again, we had submitted photos), and that we wouldn’t be home enough for a dog to feel comfortable. I am retired, and my son is currently staying with me, so the most time any dog would be without a human around would be an hour or two a day, sometimes. And again, this information was known beforehand.

The way DLRR has treated us has left us heartbroken. It made us feel as if we had done something wrong, though we never lied or did anything untoward. Looking at other reviews on this page, we also know their answer to this—if they do answer—will be that “they do what is best for the dog.” That is admirable, but is also untrue, because clearly they change their minds about what is best based on random and...

Review of Desert Labrador Retriever Rescue (DLRR) Reviewed by: Colton Shranko Date of Application: July 5, 2025 Review Date: July 8, 2025

I submitted an adoption application to DLRR on July 5, 2025, with the intention of providing a loving home to a rescued Labrador and having it professionally evaluated for potential service-dog work. Their response, however, was an outright denial—citing a blanket policy against placing any dog into service, therapy, or emotional–support roles.

Unjust Policy: DLRR refuses to consider individual temperament assessments by certified trainers. Every dog and home is unique, yet they preemptively disqualify applicants based solely on our interest in service training.

Mission Mismatch: A rescue organization should prioritize finding the best match for each dog. By banning all service-dog potential evaluations, they limit opportunities for both dogs and adopters.

Missed Opportunity: Had the Labrador not qualified as a service animal, it would have become a cherished family pet. DLRR’s zero-tolerance policy ignores this outcome entirely.

I was told my $15 application fee would be refunded within 14 days—an action they’re contractually obliged to take, not a courtesy. Overall, DLRR’s inflexible stance and failure to respect professional judgment make them a poor choice for anyone seeking a fair, case-by-case...

I am very sad about this letter I received in the mail. I was kicked out after showing interest in adopting a pup. First time around I inquired about a dog and last minute I told them that our bathroom was going to be renovated after water damage and I felt like it wasn’t fair to have people coming in and out. We had an emergency plumbing situation.. Second time we were going to meet a dog named Chloe and my son and husband ended up sick with the flu so we felt like it wasn’t a good time to bring a new dog in. I am very disappointed in this letter and wish them the best. We are a good family and they lost out on finding a good home. Our 4 year old son was very sad about Chloe, this letter was the cherry on top. We weren’t even given the chance to reschedule a time to meet the pup. Just treated like we were nothing and they moved on to the next family. Luckily we have a sweet lab of our own. Sad that they make it this hard to adopt our. Please adopt...