PUMPKIN

Female | 10 months old | 60 pounds | Medium energy | Loves playing with dogs | Enjoys meeting kids | Previously lived with a cat | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet, smart & energetic

Sugar, spice, and everything nice — it’s PUMPKIN, the sweetie-pie SOS scruff! This energetic gal finds joy hanging out with her fave humans. The more pets, scritches, belly rubs, snuggles and all affection she can get, the better! 

PUMPKIN came into SOS care in August and recently tried a home that wasn’t the right fit. So she’s settling in with her new foster family that includes a fur-brother of almost the same age — it’s a romp, and they play so well together. 

PUMPKIN would do great with a scruff sibling, or on her own as well, as long as she’s receiving love from her family she’s as happy as a clam. While she may be energetic, with the right exercise and enrichment she’ll happily chill out in her crate while her humans are working or otherwise busy, and would do well with a 9-5er. 

While still young, she does have some puppy tendencies, such as playfully pawing for attention and sometimes showing off her husky vocal cords. She can pull on the leash as well, but with kibble and redirection she’ll easily slow down to sniff and enjoy her walk. 

An eager learner, food-motivated and light on her paws, this gal would be a great candidate for cani-cross or agility and loves her training routines. She’s come a long way since entering SOS care!

If you’re looking for a smart, fun girl, who’s as sweet as pumpkin pie, apply today! 

MIKAELA

Female | 8 years old | 42 pounds | Low energy | Curious meeting dogs | No cats please, shows prey drive | Limited exposure to kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & gentle

Meet MIKAELA. This gal is as affectionate as they come and, with that in mind, will be asking for all the belly rubs and ear scratches you have to offer her! While playing isn’t her thing, socializing is, and when not busy with that, one of her preferred pastimes is alternating between napping spots.

Flexible in terms of her living environment, the one constant that MIKAELA requires (and enjoys!) is lots of naps. After the sun has gone down in the evening, she likes to stay all comfy-cozy in the warmth that the indoors offer. During her daytime walks, however, she’s all tail wags. 

Her foster family has been taking her for a few nice walks a day, and she’s been building up more stamina for them each time they go. MIKAELA finds joy in taking her time and sniffing all the smells. While she knows not to chase squirrels, it is still a love of hers, and sometimes the temptation can be too much! Note: She does show a prey drive, which means it’s best if she goes to a home with no cats.

With repetition, MIKAELA has been starting to understand the concept of boundaries, and overall, training is going well. House trained and sleeping through the night, MIKAELA is happy to chill on her own if you need to run some errands, using her crate during such time.

This scruff shows a calm interest in new people, though she’s still shy, and allowing her to approach in her own time has worked best. She has met one child in her current environment and was both calm and gentle when they approached her. With time and patience, MIKAELA becomes more comfortable with meeting larger dogs, and generally speaking, is curious when meeting other dogs.

We’d love for you to meet her! Apply to adopt.

KUMQUAT

Male | 3.5 months old | 20 pounds & growing | Medium energy | Good second dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Fostered in Aurora | Playful & rambunctious

KUMQUAT. A sunshiney, three-and-a-half-month-old pup, with a zesty little personality that rather perfectly reflects his name.

All playful puppy energy, KUMQUAT is the kind of scruff whose social nature would lend well to having a canine companion in the home. KUMQUAT’S curiosity often has him following his human companions around, if only to check out what it is that they’re doing. With other dogs, his intrigue is more present when passing dogs on walks.

The structured days that his foster family has laid out for him are what enable him to show off his best self. This scruff is smart, and he picks things up quickly. Case in point: both house training and, more recently, crate training have been going well. 

KUMQUAT has been enjoying playing indoors, especially since it’s been chilly out lately. One of his favourite toys to chew on is his Kong, which his foster family lovingly fills with treats. It’s the best! Outside, KUMQUAT has been getting the hang of leash walking. Every once in a while, he can pull a little when excited, but even when he does, he’s receptive to corrections.

Think you might like to bring this sunshiney pup home? Apply to adopt!

CINDY - APP IN PROCESS

Female | ~1 year old | 50 pounds | Lives with a dog | Cautious yet curious meeting dogs | Has met kids | Has met a few cats, coexists well | Good family dog | Sweet as pie, silly & shy | From Mexico | Fostered in Peterborough

Just as sweet as she is silly, CINDY is a sunshine-loving pup who adores playing tag, exploring the outdoors, and lounging on the couch.

CINDY took her sweet time getting comfy-cozy in her foster home, and with the help of her foster family’s resident dog, she’s really come out of her shell. With another scruff to look up to, CINDY has gained confidence in navigating her new environment. She spent the first week exploring a little more of her foster’s home every day, and once she felt confident enough to step onto the sidewalk, she’s never looked back! Now, she loves her outdoor adventures! CINDY is still learning that cars and new noises aren’t so scary, but she responds beautifully to gentle encouragement from her humans.

It’s true—CINDY can be cautious when meeting new people. That said, she’s all tail wags and happy feet once she gets comfortable. While it takes her some time to get to this point, it’s so worth it when she does finally greet them with excitement. CINDY has been introduced to young humans and, after a little time to warm up, interacts gently. She enjoys their company when given space to approach at her own pace.

CINDY finds so much joy in running through parks and getting her paws wet in the river. When she’s her happiest self, she expresses this through butt wiggles. Whether she’s at the beach or on the trails, she really loves it all (rain or shine, too!). Oh, and she’s especially fond of getting her zoomies out in her foster family’s yard.

Out on walks, CINDY typically passes other dogs politely with a quick sniff, and as her confidence grows, she’s starting to show more excitement about meeting new furry friends (sometimes with a few happy barks). She’s curious about squirrels, so a little redirection helps there. She’s a quick learner, and while she might be gentle taking treats, she’s also a big chewer—so don’t say we didn’t warn you!

CINDY’s gentle heart, playful spirit, and growing confidence make her a wonderful companion for a family ready to give her patience, love, and plenty of adventure.

Ready to meet this sweet, silly scruff? Apply to adopt!

CHUCK - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 10.5 months | 39 pounds | Medium-high energy | Hasn’t met cats, likely ok with them | Hasn’t met kids | Good second dog | From Mexico | Fostered in Pickering | Loving, affectionate & quirky

Meet CHUCK! In two words, CHUCK is loving and loyal, and that barely scratches the surface. His heart is bigger than his head (and that’s saying something!), and he wears it proudly on his paw. He’s the kind of dog who believes belly rubs are a birthright, not a privilege. Walk past him without paying the tummy toll? Not on his watch.

CHUCK adores his foster humans and his three-legged foster brother, whom he showers with affection, play bows, and the occasional slobbery kiss. While he loves the comfort and safety of his foster home, new people and environments can still make him a bit unsure. With time, patience, and reassurance, he’s learning that the world isn’t such a scary place after all.

He’s a loving pup still perfecting the art of not jumping for joy every five minutes. He’s working hard on his manners and is a quick study, especially when treats are involved. Even broccoli. Even brussels sprouts.

CHUCK’s ideal home is calm and kind. He’s not into chaos or loud city noise and prefers cozy cuddles, peaceful walks, and people who let him blossom at his own pace. He would thrive with a confident canine buddy to show him the ropes and keep the playtime coming.

This scruff has already mastered sit, shake paw, lie down, and yes, he even pees on command. He’s eager to learn, eager to love, and eager to make his humans proud. If you’re patient, active, and ready to fall for a dog who’ll love you endlessly (and maybe demand a belly rub or two thousand), CHUCK just might be your guy. Apply to adopt.

MELI - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 3 years old | 28 pounds | Medium energy | Previously lived with dogs | Hasn’t met cats or kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Friendly & affectionate

Meet MELI. Three years old, and this rescue scruff from Mexico is now living in Toronto and looking for her new best friend, AKA her forever family! To share some words from her foster family, “MELI has been such a joy to have in our lives. She has grown so confident in such a short amount of time…there is no doubt in my mind she will be the best friend you have ever had.”

Life with MELI lately has involved three walks a day with time to rest in between, as well as training sessions sprinkled throughout the day. She quickly adapted to house training and easily settles in her crate at night. Her fosters have found that MELI is doing really well with basic training, and while teaching her individual commands is a slow and steady process, she is now doing well with sit, come, down… and more!

While she previously lived with other dogs, MELI is working on how she approaches dogs in her new environment. You may notice that she tends to pull towards them in excitement, wanting to play with all potential friends. She’s also busy working on leash training (know that she shows some prey drive towards squirrels), and we love to hear that her foster fam is celebrating each of her wins!

MELI is a sweetheart who loves her cuddles and pets. She happily settles at her human’s feet, and, when she’s feeling adventurous, her curiosity has her exploring all smells while out on walks. She’s learning to play with toys and, we’ll have you know, is an expert at dog yoga—her stretches are impressive! Apply to adopt!

SINPA

Male | 8 years old | 56 pounds | Medium energy | Coexists with a dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Brantford | Loves affection | Tripawd

Meet SINPA. 8 years old and looking for his furever, SINPA is the kind of scruff that loves affection from his humans and would spend every morning cuddling you if he could. Sound like the perfect match? We think so, yes!

He’s a tripawd (AKA tripod), meaning he’s got 3 out of the 4 legs that dogs typically have. Does this stop him from enjoying all the things he loves most in this world? Definitely not. With his medium energy level, SINPA has been getting the hang of leashed walks in particular and has already improved since being in foster care. 

Learning what his new routine looks like in Canada, SINPA over here has been decompressing while taking in his new surroundings and all the new sounds that come with that. His preferred activities include naps and sniffing all the best smells while out in the yard and during walks. What might he like in the future? We’re thinking scent games!

SINPA is learning to grow more comfortable living with his scruff brother, and when meeting other dogs, he’s often shy at first. In the same vein, he’s working on gaining more confidence while out on walks. The confidence he has built so far has given him more energy to pay attention to commands, which is major! 

He’s slowly but surely coming out of his shell. What’s going to really set him up for success is having a confident handler by his side who enforces structured routine on the daily in a leadership role. With some more recent guarding behaviours popping up, implementing boundaries will continue to be necessary, and obedience training will also be in his future!

If you think SINPA might be the scruff for you, we’d love for you to apply to adopt!

VIDHIRA - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 1.5 years old | 33 pounds | Medium energy | Coexists with dogs well | Coexists well with kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & sweet | Goofball

Playful and affectionate, you could say VIDHIRA is the sweetest goofball out there. Sure, she can be a little shy here and there, but for the most part, she’s a confident gal who’s got a lot of love to share.

She’s still got some fun puppy energy, and this gal likes to expend that with a good game of fetch and a couple of walks per day. She’ll happily take part in food puzzles to exercise that brain of hers. Is she food-motivated? Definitely. She’s also happy to entertain herself with toys and puts herself to bed in her crate in the evening. While VIDHIRA may get distracted by squirrels, she’s otherwise very good at leash walking.

With slow and steady intros to dogs while on leash, VIDHIRA is fine meeting new furry friends and shows an interest in playing with them. Inside the home, she has previously displayed some resource guarding with another dog. Now, while she hasn’t yet met cats, we do know that she is highly curious about small animals, so just make sure to monitor any interactions with them.

VIDHIRA is likely to do well in a relatively active home. She also may do well living with older, dog-savvy kids as she continues to learn not to be mouthy while playing. As of right now, she’s met children at the park as well as in other scenarios and coexists well with them.

Interested in VIDHIRA? Apply to adopt! She’ll soon be requesting all the cuddles from you!

LURA

Female | 8 years old | 44 pounds | Medium energy | Needs slow, proper intros to dogs | Best with dog-savvy kids | No cats please, high prey drive | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Excitable, curious & intelligent

She’s just a gal who loves her walks and chasing squirrels… and being with her humans, of course! Meet LURA. Highly affectionate, LURA enjoys being around her people and uses every chance she gets for pats and snuggles. On the flip side, she can be independent, easily entertaining herself with toys. The confidence she’s gained lately has encouraged her to come out of her shell, progressing from reserved and shy to playful and independent. Such progress!

At home, LURA has been busy learning new commands. Now and again, she might test a boundary. It’s important you reinforce them in such situations, as she thrives on structure, which is what rules provide. She’s a fast learner, and lately, LURA has also been improving on her leash walking skills and is always anticipating her next walk. Working through leash reactivity towards dogs and humans passing by, LURA has been receptive to her foster, who redirects her attention (typically towards treats!). Know that advocating for her space will continue to be necessary, though she’s made great progress. She coexists well with dogs after a slow introduction, though she’d likely do best as a solo dog in the home.

This gal loves to explore, which she does by checking out new walking routes and sniffing all the smells that she comes across in the neighbourhood. With her prey drive, you’ll likely find she’s interested in going after a squirrel or rabbit when outside, making it necessary to redirect her attention back to you while on a walk. She also happens to be a fan of tug (though her people have to play with her to get her really engaged), food puzzles, and structured downtime at the end of the day. Speaking of downtime - she is, in fact, very chill in the home.

LURA enjoys using her crate as her personal space for downtime and often uses it all on her own, doing well with a 9-5 schedule. On the whole, she’s well-suited to quieter home environments and would do just fine living with humans who work 9-5.

Keen to adopt? Apply today!

This dog is sponsored by PetSmart! This means their adoption process includes a visit to PetSmart’s Mississauga Lakeshore location to finalize the adoption. Adopters will receive an exclusive PetSmart adoption kit with $300 worth of coupons and special offers! Plus, adopting through PetSmart Charities helps support rewards and grants that benefit pets in need.

LURA will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). Come meet her and see if she might be the right fit for you! Note: This event is only open to SOS adoptables. If you have your own scruff, we ask that you please leave them at home!

NANDO - PENDING ADOPTION

Male | 10 years old | 22 pounds | Low energy | Has previously met dogs | Good solo dog | Has met older kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Curious & sweet

He’s legendary. He’s got heart. He’s NANDO. Bringing the heat, or, rather, the affection when you need it most, NANDO is as loyal as they come. Some even consider him a Velcro dog :) You’ll soon find that all this scruff wants is to be with his people, which, in our books, is the best kind of soul-soothing comfort out there. Feel free to give him ALL the tummy rubs. 

NANDO is big on Netflix and napping, but, while he may be a senior, he’s got a sweet puppy-like energy to him with some goofball tendencies. Some of his fav pastimes include using his nose to sniff all the smells and playing hide and seek during a midday burst of energy. Then, of course, it’s back to his nap schedule.

Being a little shy in new situations, it’s your confident, calm guidance that will have him catching on quickly to what he needs to learn in your care! While he warms up to people fairly quickly giving kisses right off the bat, it can take him more time to get comfortable with males. With you advocating for him, he’ll quickly learn to trust you’re setting him up for success. He’s likely to do well in a calm, quiet home where his people are home more often than not.

Just like the first bite of that perfectly grilled peri-peri chicken, this scruff will add a burst of joy to your everyday life. Apply to adopt NANDO today. It’s a wing-wing situation after all!

Copy of BELLA

BELLA

Female | 6.5 years | 60lbs Hound mix | Low energy

About me

Needs proper intros | Good second dog | Good exposure to dogs and children | Not cat tested | Currently training with a prong collar

A Day in the Life

I love going for walks with my hooman, we go for 3 walks a day for 1 hour each. While my hooman is at work, I relax and nap in my crate. I love it!

Fun Facts

I am from mexico, I love hanging out with kids, and cats kinda make me a little too excited.

Skills & Qualities

Cuddling

Leash Walking

Crate Training

Copy of BELLA 2

BELLA

Female | 6.5 years | 60lbs Hound mix | Low energy

About me

Needs proper intros | Good second dog | Good exposure to dogs and children | Not cat tested | Currently training with a prong collar

A Day in the Life

I love going for walks with my hooman, we go for 3 walks a day for 1 hour each. While my hooman is at work, I relax and nap in my crate. I love it!

Fun Facts

I am from mexico, I love hanging out with kids, and cats kinda make me a little too excited.

Skills & Qualities

Cuddling

Leash Walking

Crate Training