I have a Golden Retriever named Baby.
She was a rescue. My husband and I, when we moved into our house together, decided we should get a dog. We were going to hit the shelter, but (sad to say it was a family member who did this) I knew that Baby had been more or less abandoned, and the person taking care of her was leaving her locked in a sun room all day and not letting her out or playing with her. She was very neglected to the point that she was matted terribly and her nails were ridiculously long.
She was 20 pounds over weight and depressed when we got her. It took nearly 6 months to coax her into playing, and then we got slammed when her tests came back heart worm positive. (The first test she had when we got her spayed were negative, but the larvae may not have been mature enough to show up in the test yet.) So she has been an expensive rescue, but she is very loyal and very obedient.
Personally, I wouldn't have gone with this breed, but she NEEDED us, and that was more important than her breed. I am glad we have her. She also likes to chase squirrels and guard my veggies.