10/06/2026
Update: Knox is still looking for his new home! We prefer someone closer to western NY so you can do a meet and greet! 🐾💕
Sometimes life happens and we have to make unexpected and difficult decisions.
This handsome boy is Knox. He needs a new home with an active family and a fenced in yard. He gets along with other adult dogs (after a proper introduction) but not so good with cats. He is 5 years old. His parents are Willow and Zeus.
What he needs:
-a loving home with a family experienced with dogs. Does well with kids
-a fenced-in yard
- opportunities for lots of exercise
- no small animals in the house, such as a cat
He is located in Western NY. Please read his current owner's writing below. If you feel you can offer him a great home, please contact me and we can talk. If I agree, I will put you in touch with his owner. Knox is not free but is not the price of a new puppy. Please don't contact me unless you really think you are the right person. He needs a new home soon.
From his current owner:
It breaks my heart to write this, but I am unfortunately in a position where I need to find a new home for my five-year-old dark golden retriever, Knox.
This is not a decision I am making lightly. I love him very much, but at this point in my life, I simply do not have the space and accommodations to give him the life he deserves. My hope is to find him a home where he can truly thrive.
Knox is a very loving, affectionate, and high-energy dog. He absolutely loves people and has been wonderful with children of all ages—both little ones and older kids. One of his sweetest qualities is how intuitive and affectionate he can be. He seems to know when someone is having a difficult time and will often come over, lay his head on their chest, and stay close to them.
He has done well with adult dogs he has been around. I do want to be completely transparent, however, that there was one incident involving a dog under a year old where Knox became defensive and aggressive. Because of that, I believe he would be best suited to a home with an experienced owner who is comfortable managing dog interactions and introducing animals appropriately.
He has never attacked a cat, but he does have a strong prey/chase instinct and will aggressively chase my mother's cats when given the opportunity. For that reason, I would strongly prefer a home without cats or other small animals.
Knox is also a very energetic dog who needs space, exercise, and structure. He currently lives in the city of Batavia, and the environment is not ideal for him. He tends to bark at people and things passing by the house, and if he gets the opportunity to slip through an exterior door, he will take off because he thinks it's a game. He has chased passing vehicles and can be difficult to catch once he is loose. Interestingly, if I pull up in my SUV and open the back hatch, he will usually happily jump right in.
Because of his energy level and these behaviors, I am specifically looking for a home with a large, securely fenced yard, preferably outside of a busy township or city. A large property, acreage, or farm would be ideal. Most importantly, I want him somewhere he can safely run, play, get plenty of exercise, and have room to be the dog he was meant to be.
Knox does have some naughty behaviors, and I fully recognize that some of them are likely the result of my not providing him with the training and structure he needed. I take responsibility for that. I don't believe he is a bad dog—I believe he is a good dog who needs the right environment, patience, consistency, and someone willing to continue working with him.
This is incredibly difficult for me, but I am trying to make the decision that gives Knox the best chance at the happy, active life he deserves.
