A shipment of gold arrived at Denver International Airport on June 6 from Istanbul, Turkey -- Golden Retrievers that is.

Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (GRRR), a rescue group dedicated to rescuing Golden Retrievers located in Arvada, rescued 18 Goldens from Istanbul, Turkey. This is the second group of Goldens the group has rescued from Turkey.

Golden Retrievers were seen as a status symbol in Turkey, but the country has become over populated with the dogs. Owners let the dogs run wild once they get "tired" of them.

Istanbul has about 32 shelters, one shelter houses about 4,000 dogs with 20 dogs per kennel.

GRRR says most of the dogs were rescued in the forests of Istanbul, and arrived with bite marks, scabs and other health issues. They say all health problems are treatable and will receive health treatment at the shelter.

Of the 18 Goldens rescued, 15 are still looking for homes.

GRRR couldn't save these dogs without the donations from others. Each dogs costs about $2,000 to $2,300 to ship to Colorado.

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