PUFFER

Female | 16 weeks old | 14 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Lives with dogs and kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Manitoba | Arriving on October 25 | Looking for an adopter

Meet Puffer! This sweet little husky mix pup has a heart as big as her fluffy paws. Puffer is currently being fostered in Winnipeg and ready to find a forever home of her own!

Puffer’s story began in Northern Manitoba, where she was found all alone in St. Theresa Point First Nation. Luckily, a community member spotted her and brought her to safety and now she’s thriving in a loving foster home in Winnipeg. She currently lives with another adult dog and children, and her foster family says she gets along wonderfully with everyone she meets.

True to her husky roots, Puffer is curious, smart, and full of potential. She’s working hard on all things puppy, like basic commands, appropriate chewing, and potty training (she’s doing well, but still has a few accidents, as any young pup will). She has a great appetite, a solid sleep schedule, and a gentle, affectionate personality.

Puffer is arriving in Toronto on Saturday, October 25, and we're looking for an adopter who can welcome her home that day and pick her up at Pearson Airport.

She would love a home that’s ready to continue guiding her through puppyhood with patience, structure, and lots of love. If you’re looking for a sweet, social, and resilient pup to grow up by your side, Puffer might just be your perfect match. Apply to adopt today!

DEENA

Female | 14 weeks old | 12 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Lives with dogs | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Manitoba | Arriving on October 25 | Looking for an adopter

Say hello to Deena, a beautiful pup full of love and a spirit that’s already proven to be incredibly strong.

Deena is from Cross Lake First Nation in Northern Manitoba, where she was found with wounds on her back and neck, likely from a dog bite. Thankfully, a kind community member took her in and gave her a safe place to stay until she could be flown to Winnipeg. Since then, Deena has been living in a loving foster home where she’s thriving alongside another dog she adores playing with.

Her foster describes her as very sweet, social, and affectionate. She's friendly with people and other dogs and has a gentle nature despite her rough start. Deena's wounds have healed, and she’s now focused on being a playful, curious puppy, learning basic commands, figuring out what’s okay to chew (and what’s not!), and working on her potty training.

Deena will be arriving in Toronto on Saturday, October 25, and she’s hoping to be greeted by her new family right at Pearson Airport that day.

If you’re looking for a loyal companion with a resilient heart and playful puppy energy, Deena might just be the perfect addition to your life. Apply to adopt and give this sweet girl the furever home she deserves!

ANGEL

Female | 8 years old | Enjoys meeting kids | Medium-low energy | Curious meeting dogs | Coexists with a cat | From Ontario | Fostered in Whitby | Friendly & outgoing | Loves affection

Friendly and outgoing since day one in foster care, ANGEL is busy becoming even more comfortable with a new routine in a new town. You’ll find her love for affection to be adorable, and her easy-going nature makes for great companionship.

ANGEL has a medium-low energy level, and you’ll find that she’s always happy to go for a walk. We think you’ll be impressed by her leash skills… we sure are! When not out and about, she’s a fan of engaging in food enrichment (ex., Kongs with peanut butter). In the evenings, ANGEL likes to lounge with her humans, and, yes, she makes a great cuddle buddy. 

Working through some separation anxiety when her people aren’t home, she’s doing well with a family that’s home more often than not right now. Her foster parent works from home, and ANGEL is happiest snoozing by them, occasionally asking for pets. She’s working on this, regardless!

What’s one thing ANGEL loves?! Meeting dog-savvy kids in the neighbourhood for extra pets throughout the day, of course! When it comes to interactions with dogs, she’s curious enough to let calm scruffs sniff her hello. What’s worked well has been meeting them first on leash and then in the backyard for a longer interaction.

Keen to bring this affectionate scruff into your life? Apply to adopt!

MANNY

Male | 3.5 months old | 16 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Previously lived with a cat | Enjoys living with a dog | Hasn’t met kids | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Playful & affectionate

Meet pup MANNY! He’ll keep you on your toes, much like any other pup, and he’s excited to do just that. He’s full of beans and likes to spend his time chasing after squirrels, playing tug with a toy rope, and nibbling on his human fingers and toes. 

In SOS care, MANNY is really starting to show off his fun personality. Timid at first, he’s now the life of the party and would love to be your adventure buddy. He’s certainly got the energy for it! 

Just as important as exercise is, MANNY will need ongoing training and mental stimulation throughout the day. He’s a quick learner, and he likes to show off his smarts with his knowledge of sit and shake a paw. What’s he working on now? House training and not chewing things he shouldn’t! His teething means he’s a bit of a baby shark at the moment! 

MANNY is highly food-motivated, which is great for training purposes, yet it also means it’s important that boundaries are implemented around mealtime. He’s still learning and will get the hang of commands in no time. We’re impressed with how well he’s done with crate training, which he uses as his place to relax and catch some Zzz’s after a big day of play.

This pup previously enjoyed living with many animals, like cats and dogs, and even a potbelly pig! He’s a fan of dogs of all sizes, and while he does chase cats, he really just wants to play. He gets along well with his foster’s resident dog and understands how to be gentle and when it’s time to find another activity. Think MANNY might be the one for you? APPLY to adopt!

DUCKY

Female | 5.5 years old | 32 pounds | Medium energy | Limited exposure to kids | Has met dogs | Hasn’t met cats | From Jamaica | Fostered in Toronto | Shy & sweet & can be goofy | Building confidence

Meet our gal DUCKY. Shy at first, deep down she’s full of beans, showing off her goofiest side once she’s truly comfortable with her people. Once you win her over, she’s for sure gonna love all the butt scratches you can give her. They’re her fav.

Her sweet little personality is gonna shine in a home in which her adopter(s) are committed to helping her build confidence. She needs slow introductions to people, after which time she’ll go up to them for a sniff. Getting more and more comfortable in foster care by the day, she’s feeling more settled, as evidenced by how she’s opened up. When you first bring DUCKY into your life and home, you’ll likely experience her shyness at first, but as you give her some time, she’ll grow into her most comfortable self. She can be nervous at first, and it’s important that her adopters are patient with her during that transition period.

Life with DUCKY typically involves zoomies before meals and always an eagerness to see her people after they get up in the mornings or return home from work. She enjoys relaxing inside after she’s gone for a walk, and in these moments, you might just catch her catching some Zzz’s. She loves her walks and equally loves her crate, which is often where you can find her napping.

While she’s yet to have interactions with kids in her current home, DUCKY would likely be fine living with or meeting dog-savvy kiddos who can respect her boundaries. Having gone on group walks with other dogs, DUCKY shows some interest and always appreciates meeting new scruffs slowly and on her own terms. That pretty much goes for any and all interactions.

What’s one thing you should keep in mind? That she will try to counter surf when you’re not looking. She’s food-motivated!

Think she might be the one for you, and that you might be the one for her? Apply to adopt!

NOW

Male | 1.5 years old | 61 pounds | Medium energy | Has met kids and teens | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Loyal 

He’s got the best swooshy tail wags, and his happy-go-lucky personality is infectious. It’s delightful, to say the least, and his happy little snorts are, in fact, the best. This is NOW.

Already having come out of his shell in SOS care, NOW is off to the races! As he works on getting comfier and cozier, he’s been exploring a little more of his foster family’s home. That said, he still prefers spending time in his crate as his safe space. When there’s a sound that catches him off guard, that’s where he dashes off to. 

We love how much he loves seeing his people first thing in the morning, and the confidence he’s gained over the last little while is great to see. He’s SO proud of himself for how he’s mastered the deck stairs in their backyard, and he takes a lot of pleasure in bounding up them.

We’re pretty certain NOW is going to love walks as his confidence continues to increase, and he’s already walking very well on a leash. His bum wiggles out on these walks might just be your new favourite thing! Inside the home, NOW is very chill and enjoys playing with his toys. He hasn’t yet figured out how to show off his playful side with his foster family’s resident dog, and, honestly, he really just wants his people’s love all to himself! He’d be a great solo dog.

He’s shy with younger kids, and on the whole, needs some time to warm up to people. With those he learns to trust, he’s a fiercely loyal dog, and if you’re looking for a quiet canine companion who loves to love his people, well, you’re in the right place. Apply to adopt!

ACORN - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 3.5 months old | 10 pounds & growing! | Medium energy | Gentle with kids | Playful with dogs | Hasn’t met cats | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Independent & curious

It’s ACORN! He’s playful and curious and a big fan of naps. Oh, and at just a few months old, you’d best believe he’s also a chewer!

Lots of time for play and naps is what a day with ACORN typically looks like. ACORN likes to spend his free time exploring and napping after walks with his people. He’s got an independent side to him that has him enjoying the occasional alone time, where he occupies himself with his toys. Don’t get us wrong, though; he’s big on meeting and spending quality time with quality people, too! In such scenarios, he shows off his uber-friendly side, showing his excitement. FYI, he might jump, and he certainly will lick everyone he meets. Most people are equally big fans of him and his energy!

While ACORN has met a limited number of children, he has been content to play gently with them. Oh, and dogs? He previously lived with dogs with whom he had fun playing. This leads us to think he’d do well living with another friend of the scruff variety to look up to.

Still busy learning all the things, ACORN does well with taking direction from his people when on leash. He’s still learning to be his most confident self when outside, and having humans by his side continuing to advocate for him and show him the ropes is what’s going to set him up for success. Interested in ACORN? Apply to adopt!

PIPPY - app in process

Female | 3.5 months old | 17 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Lives with kids | Hasn’t met cats | Friendly with dogs | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Playful & curious

She’s your typical pup: very sweet, a l’il mouthy, and very playful; some might even say boisterous! This is PIPPY!

Are you an active and outdoorsy household? If you said yes, we can’t think of anything more perfect for PIPPY! Playing fetch is one of her fav activities, though she’d also never say no to a round of tug. Think you can keep up?!

PIPPY loves a play session with or without kids. She actually lives with two kids right now and has lots of fun interacting with them. She’s less nippy in those moments and understands the need to be gentle with them. It’s when she gets overly excited that the nipping comes out, though she’s definitely working on this. This pup would likely love living with an equally energetic dog or even having dog pals in the neighbourhood to play and socialize with. She’s outgoing and friendly with all!

After a busy day of walks and play, PIPPY uses her crate to settle for a bit of quiet time, which has worked well for her to catch up on her naps. If we’re talking training, she’s really gotten the hang of this whole house training thing. She’ll make her way to her foster fam’s back door to let her humans know she’d like to go outside. Of course, she’ll continue to learn more in her new home and is looking for a family that’s just as committed to her training as she is.

Apply to adopt!

SMARTIE - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 8.5 months old | 41 pounds | Medium energy | Playful with dogs | Best with dog-savvy kids | Previously lived with a cat | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Super smart & always up for adventure | Affectionate

When was the last time you indulged your sweet tooth? SMARTIE over here is looking for an adoptive home. Might you be that? 

Described by her foster fam as super smart, you could say that SMARTIE is, well, a smarty-pants! Implementing boundaries with SMARTIE has gone smoothly, and she’s always ready to take on the challenge of a good puzzle mat. 

Every day with this SMARTIE is a moment of colourful fun! For instance, she loves to chase after a ball and play with throw toys. She’s also the kind of scruff that has the energy for and an interest in all hikes and embraces new walking routes easily. Her energy also shows up in her high prey drive… if something moves, she’ll likely chase it (think: squirrels or birds).

Affectionate with her people, you should know that she’s always down for a cuddle! SMARTIE loves her belly rubs and ear scratches, and even though she’s not, she does think she’s a lap dog! Sometimes when meeting males, SMARTIE can be hesitant, and you’ll likely notice this more often at night or when people are moving quickly towards her. She’s curious when meeting kids, often giving them a sniff hello. SMARTIE will likely do best with dog-savvy kids since she can get mouthy when excited and wants to play.

Like we just said, this scruff is playful! This is very much true with other dogs, and she’s working hard at greeting them calmly while on leash with her foster by her side. Right now, on-leash interactions have involved some jumping from SMARTIE, though implementing leash walking strategies has been helping her improve.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to indulge? Apply to adopt SMARTIE today!

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!

PUMPKIN - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 8.5 months old | 37 pounds | Medium energy | Loves playing with dogs | Enjoys meeting kids | Previously lived with a cat | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet, smart & energetic

Love it or hate it, pumpkin spice season is here, and with it so is PUMPKIN, the SOS scruff! But we know you’re gonna love her, especially once you learn a thing or two about her. She’s an energetic gal who finds a lot of joy hanging out with her humans. Basically, the more pats and general affection she can get (from adults or kids), the better!

Fun fact: Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte has already been around since the end of August, and, funnily enough, that’s just about as long as this pup has been in SOS care, settling into her routine! Under her foster family’s direction, PUMPKIN has been learning lots, and they’ve learned through training that she’s highly food motivated.

Still young, PUMPKIN has still got some pup tendencies, such as nibbling on fingers and toes… shoes very much included! That’s something she’s been working on, as is leash training.

When it comes to things this scruff loves, PUMPKIN loves interacting with other dogs, and they have a great time playing with toys and running to their hearts’ content together. As active as she can be, it’s just as important for her to have dedicated downtime, which is usually in her crate. She’s energetic, for sure, but also happily chills out while her humans are working or otherwise busy.

Think you might just like to adopt this sweet, smart, and energetic gal? Apply today!

ANDROMEDA - app in process

Female | 3.5 months old | 17 pounds | Puppy energy | Limited interactions with dogs & kids | Hasn’t met cats | Fostered in Burlington | Plays hard & naps harder | A total foodie

She’s got that puppy energy we know and love, yet she loves her quiet time for naps. She’s got an adventurous side to her, yet she’s still building confidence. She’s motivated (by food!) and a quick learner, yet still has her puppy tendencies. Meet ANDROMEDA. 

Learning to be brave, we love that ANDROMEDA has been able to build independence over the past while in SOS care. Her days involve a mix of play, training, enrichment, and naps that recharge her growing self. She’s working on leash pressure during short walks around the block and is working with her foster fam on building a foundation, learning the basics of training. Supervision and structured downtime throughout the day have been (and will continue to be!) key.

This scruff sleeps well in her crate due to her foster’s consistency in enforcing a routine and boundaries (which can be so tricky with pups!). In her new home, we know that she’ll thrive once she learns what to expect from her humans, just like she’s learned in foster care.

ANDROMEDA has seen kids from a distance and shows initial calm curiosity. She’s a smart scruff and is sure to do well in a home with kids, though we think slightly older, at least for a little while, as she continues to learn her manners! She’s pretty playful, this one, and has met one other dog, showing excitement. Having another confident scruff in the home would be great to help show her the ropes.

What else can we tell you about her? Well, she sure does love sunbathing! Apply to adopt!

TAMALE - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 9 months old | 12 pounds | Medium energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Cuddle bug | Shy & working on building confidence

This is TAMALE! At 9 months old, she’s a small and shy yet relatively feisty young pup who’s working on gaining confidence. She loves a good cuddle sesh and is also a big fan of playing with toys half her size. You’ll soon find out that she’s interested in playing fetch, walking in calm neighbourhoods, and figuring out puzzles. One thing you should keep an eye out for? Your socks being stolen! She’s been known to abscond with them!

The kind of home in which TAMALE will grow into her best self is one that extends patience as she continues to learn. She’s a young scruff and is learning a lot every day. With that in mind, she’d thrive as part of a family that’s keen to really dive into her training. Having people who are home more often than not is also something that may benefit her as she continues to build confidence.

Let’s talk about TAMALE and training. If we could humble-brag really quickly, we’d love to share that she’s mastered the art of going down the stairs in her foster family’s home. She’s also shown that she responds well to boundaries that are consistently enforced and would likewise do well in a home where kids (older, if there are any) also respect her boundaries. TAMALE is working on house and crate training and will continue to do so in her new home.

TAMALE is currently living with another dog, and while she still needs the occasional correction, she’s happy to interact. Ready to adopt this sweet scruff? Apply today!

ROCKY

Male | 8 years old | 12 pounds | Low energy | Has met young kids | Enjoys meeting dogs & people | Hasn’t met cats | From Ontario | Fostered in Peterborough | Sweet & gentle | Not apartment-suitable

Sweet. Chill. Gentle. Those three little words sum up ROCKY over here to a tee. As his foster family’s first-ever (!!!) experience fostering an SOS scruff, life with ROCKY has been equal parts challenging and rewarding. Learning new things every day has been a given, and on the whole, they’ve found this scruff to be loving and friendly. Basically, he’s not one to shy away from new pals, especially when affection is on the line!

An early riser, ROCKY likes to get up and at ‘em and enjoys a leisurely stroll first thing in the AM. As an eight-year-old scruff, he likes spending his time napping and snoring, training, and hanging out outside. You should see his happy dance when he hears the word “outside!” Oh, and he loves receiving pets from humans. Talking about humans, ROCKY is pretty great when it comes to greeting people. He’s even enjoyed a shorter interaction with young children, remaining calm even when the kids were pretty excited to catch sight of him. We get it; he’s a stunner!

ROCKY has made great strides with his separation anxiety and now settles more quickly in his crate with only some initial barking. With barking in mind, we don't think apartment-living is best suited for Rocky. Establishing boundaries with him is key, and he’s been busy practicing crate training for this reason. We’re happy to report he now regularly naps there throughout the day. Learning to become more independent and comfortable when his people leave the home is a big step for him. When it comes down to it, ROCKY does get a little bit of FOMO and, generally speaking, would like to be included in your plans when possible. Your leisurely plans, that is, not so much hikes or runs of any kind!

If you guessed that ROCKY is looking for a quiet and less active home, you’d be right. Having another calm, chill dog in the home could work well for ROCKY, too. He’s always happy to stop and say hello to dogs while out on walks before carrying on. This particular scruff isn’t too interested in play (or toys for that matter!), so living with a dog that has a similar energy level as him would be ideal.

Think you’d like to bring this scruff home sweet home? Apply to adopt!

VIDHIRA

Female | 1.5 years old | 33 pounds | Medium energy | Best as a solo dog | Limited interactions 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 shows an interest in playing with them when they approach. Inside the home, she has previously displayed some resource guarding with another dog, which tells us that VIDHIRA would do best as a solo dog in her adoptive home. 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 only met children at the park, so getting used to having more kids interact with her is the next best step.

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

PRIETA

Female | 7.5 years old | 46 pounds | Medium-low energy | Lives with a cat | Has met dogs & kids | Fostered in Toronto | From Mexico | Building confidence | Gentle & affectionate

Sweet as can be, we’d love to formally introduce you to PRIETA. In her foster’s exact words, “She is one of my favourite foster dogs so far. She is SO sweet.” If that’s the kind of gal you’re looking to bring into your life, then we think you’ve found the one!

PRIETA is busy building up confidence, in particular when faced with new situations. To support this, her foster will intentionally set out large items in the yard (think: golf clubs, camp chairs, etc.). Wary at first, PRIETA quickly becomes comfortable walking up to these items for a quick sniff. What does she do next? Continue with her zoomies and rolling, of course!

This scruff will shine in a calm, quiet environment. We can picture a forever home that looks similar to a spot in the suburbs… and with a backyard! Having a space like a yard where it’s private and controlled will help her gain confidence and build trust with a new family. Right now, she’s more comfortable going for walks early in the morning when it’s quiet, as opposed to busy streets midday. PRIETA is looking for a home that has experience with nervous dogs. If you’re ready and willing to work with a balanced trainer, that is what will help her grow.

PRIETA is only a moderately active gal. Some zoomies, scent work, and maybe a puzzle here and there are all she needs to be her happiest self right now. Oh, and she’s a big fan of chasing after a tennis ball… just don’t expect her to bring it back yet! What can we say… she’s not quite mastered the art of fetch. What has she mastered? Sleeping through the night in her crate. You won’t hear a peep.

Having met people inside and outside, she tends to be more nervous than not in these situations. What helps is getting on her level, allowing her to sniff you hello, and taking these interactions slowly, at her pace. She’ll do best with calm, dog-savvy kids and shows curiosity towards dogs, which leads us to believe she’d do well living with a confident dog in the home. She currently lives with a dog-savvy cat and would likely be fine to live with one in the future, with a proper introduction to set them up for success.

Ready to bring this confidence-building, affectionate scruff into your life? Apply to adopt.

ADAL - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 1 year old | 40 pounds | Medium energy | Good second dog | Hasn’t met cats | Friendly with kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Markham | Loyal & loves his humans | Building confidence

Meet ADAL! Fun and playful when feeling his most confident self, ADAL is in search of a loving home to call his own. He loves his people so much, and we think it’s important we find his furever fam so that he can be in his favourite place: right next to you! Some of his other fav things, in no particular order, include sunbathing, playing solo fetch (LOL), and playing with chew toys.

ADAL is naturally curious about all that he sees, so we know that with his adoptive family continuing to advocate for him, he’ll grow into his most confident scruff. ADAL was initially nervous about leaving his crate, and now enjoys exploring the house AND is happy to go up and down stairs. Oh, and want to know a fun fact about him? This scruff does well at settling and will sleep just about anywhere, he’s very good in his crate!

Being curious, ADAL wants to meet new people. Setting him up for success is easily done if you let people know he prefers not to be patted right off the bat. He prefers slow greetings with people approaching him from the front. Friendly interactions with kids of all ages, we think he’d do well in a home with them.

ADAL currently lives with a dog and would likely make a great companion to another confident dog already living in your home. He coexists well with other scruffs! His foster family has also found that introducing ADAL to new dog pals while out on pack walks or in the neighbourhood makes him feel most comfortable. He’s been working on his loose leash walking and responds well to leash pressure.

ADAL is the kind of dog that will happily match your energy. He loves going for a run and being a couch potato equally. When it comes down to it, he just wants to be your BFF. So. Keen to adopt this curious, fun, and currently-building-confidence scruff? Apply today!

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.

LURA enjoys using her crate as her personal space for downtime and often uses it all on her own. 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.

MASCARITA - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 7 years old | 35 pounds | Medium energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met kids | Shows prey drive - would do best in a home without cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Loving & sweet | Big snuggle fan

Meet our newest adoptable, MASCARITA! Arguably the perfect combination of playful and chill, this scruff is looking for a moderately active family who maybe enjoys the occasional hike but also makes time for play and, most importantly, relaxation!

MASCARITA’s daily activities involve two walks. One of these is more structured, while the other is more open-ended, with time to stop and sniff all the smells. You’ll notice him zig-zagging at first, which is him expressing his excitement to be out and about, and while continued leash training will assist with this, he typically progresses with a nice loose leash walk after a few minutes. He’s easily redirected and, being as food-motivated as he is, we think he’d be a good fit for a first-time dog owner.

Having grown in confidence since being in his foster’s care, we expect he’ll continue to flourish in his furever home. This could look like him taking some time to warm up and show affection and becoming more playful (and snuggly!) once comfortable. When he’s his happiest self, he often rolls around on his back and will give out a few kisses to his humans.

Both neutral and friendly when it comes to interacting with other dogs, MASCARITA is fine living with another dog in the home. TBH, they mostly coexist (translation: they ignore each other!), but every once in a while engage in playful activity. Having previously enjoyed living and playing with a dog in Mexico, we think that once MASCARITA gets comfy, he’d be happy to live in a home as a second dog. Oh, and one other thing! MASCARITA is well crate trained, you’re not likely to hear him make much (or any!) noise.

MASCARITA has shown some prey drive, so we recommend slow introductions with cats if he’s to meet any. What else? His foster wants you to know that this scruff settles well in new spaces, easily chillaxes on car rides, and loves a yummy treat for a job well done.

So, what are you waiting for? Apply to adopt!

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.

TOOTSIE ROLL

Female | 5 months old | 34 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Has met children & dogs | No cats, please! Shows prey drive | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Smart, friendly & playful

Just as beloved as your favourite chocolatey treat, meet TOOTSIE ROLL. Smart, curious, and confident, TOOTSIE ROLL over here could very well be a triple threat.

A big fan of being close to her humans, this scruff is the opposite of a nervous nelly when interacting with new people. In fact, she’s curious and friendly (and would do fine living with kids), showing off just how much of a social butterfly she might become as she continues to come out of her shell. Out on walks, TOOTSIE ROLL is neutral when passing other dogs. She’s friendly, though keeping her attention is easily done, being as food and toy-motivated as she is.

If we could share one thing with you, it would be that TOOTSIE ROLL isn’t a couch potato type of dog. Heck no! She’d thrive in an active household where long walks, runs, and maybe even a hike are the norm. At just 5 months old, she’s got puppy energy that shows up in bursts, though we think her energy level will remain high as she grows.

TOOTSIE ROLL is looking for an adoptive home that has prior dog experience or has done their research (on puppies and huskies!) and is committed to her training. It’s equally as important for her to have structure in her life to teach her when it’s time to relax. She’s busy mastering basic obedience skills and will happily sit for a treat! TOOTSIE ROLL is house-trained, sleeps through the night, and is working on crate training. What could we humble-brag about? Her leash walking skills, which she’s doing particularly well with, even on busy streets.

Apply to adopt!

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.