CHICO - APP IN PROCESS

Male l 12 years old | 9 lbs | Chihuahua l Social guy l People + treats over everything l Affectionate, Cuddly, & Loyal l Fostered in Hamilton

Meet Chico – the Steve Buscemi-eyed sweetheart! Chico may be a senior, but he’s full of love, charm, and curiosity. He settled into foster care quickly and is well-socialized. While he’s not into toys or playtime, he coexists peacefully with other dogs, especially senior or calm ones. He would do just fine with a cat too.

This tiny guy lives for human company. He’s happiest when snuggled up next to someone and will follow you around like a shadow. He does struggle with separation anxiety, particularly if crated or left alone, so a home with someone around most of the time (or patient adopters willing to work through this) would be ideal. Crating at night or during long absences may lead to loud protest crying.

Chico loves walks both short and long and regular strolls have helped strengthen his back legs. He occasionally holds up his back left leg due to muscle atrophy (not in pain). Despite some stiffness, he remains mobile, happy, and eager to explore the world one sniff at a time.

He’s polite on leash, though selective about which dogs he wants to greet. Around people, however, he shines—he’s been calm and friendly even in crowds and busy areas, happily soaking up attention from respectful kids and adults alike.

Chico has three teeth (perf for an adorb smile), and a bit of age-related cloudiness in his eyes (lenticular sclerosis), which doesn’t affect his vision much. Regular vet visits will help keep an eye on any changes.

Fun fact: Chico forages for strawberries on his fosters property like a big looking for truffles. Hide your strawberries if you don’t want to share!

His perfect home? One filled with love, patience, and someone he can nap beside. Whether it's a retired person, a work-from-home household, or a quiet family, if you've got a spot on the couch and a soft blanket, Chico’s ready to move in. Chico is affectionate, cuddly and loyal. He's a great companion. With a person or family that can provide walks, soft beds, liver treats, ice cream (special note from his foster haha), and attention he'll be your one.

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.

LANDONIS

Male | 4.5 months old | 21 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Limited exposure to dogs | Not cat tested | Good with kids ~5+ | From Cayman Islands | Fostered in Maple

With a name like LANDONIS, you’d expect a bit of charm—and this sleek adventurer delivers! Like a certain suave space pilot you may have heard of (Hey, Star Wars fans), LANDONIS has big charisma, a love of excitement, and a loyal streak that makes him unforgettable.

This handsome Caribbean pup has settled beautifully into life in the suburbs. He’s playful, goofy, and affectionate in his own cool-dog way. He’s crate trained, sleeps through the night, and is nearly house trained—just still figuring out how to ask politely when nature calls!

LANDONIS thrives on routine, long walks, fetch, and hanging out wherever his humans are. He’s doing well learning commands like “wait” and “cross,” and he’s picking things up quickly—especially when treats are involved. He’s great with people, including kids, though he can get a bit too excited sometimes, with the occasional jump or playful nip. A calm, structured environment helps him settle and shine.

He’d love a home with a backyard (or plenty of access to the great outdoors) with people who are around often or eager to include him in their everyday adventures. He might enjoy a dog buddy and definitely needs an outlet for his energy and curiosity.

LANDONIS is equal parts fun and sweet, with just enough rogue to keep life interesting. If you’re looking for a loyal co-pilot who’s ready to explore the galaxy—or at least your local park—he might be your perfect match. 

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 | ~3 months old | 15 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Has met some children | Hasn’t met dogs or cats | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Smart

Just as beloved as your favourite chocolatey treat, meet TOOTSIE ROLL. Smart, curious, and friendly, TOOTSIE ROLL over here could very well be a triple threat. She’s got a hint of a fun attitude, talking back to her foster family as she becomes more comfortable in their care… and that’s just how she rolls!

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, 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 shows interest in dogs, though has yet to meet them. We think it’s just a matter of time before she becomes pals with other scruffs in the neighbourhood.

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 three months old, she’s got a lot of puppy energy, though we think her energy level will remain high as she grows.

If we’re talking training, TOOTSIE ROLL is comfortable using her crate at night. What about during the day? It may take some time for her to settle during the day since she really just wants to hang out with her people, but she’ll get the hang of it. Another thing to make note of is that as a pup, she can be nippy. With that in mind, it would be best for her to stick with interacting with older kids for now as she continues to learn.

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.

JUDITH

Female | ~1.5 years old | 25 pounds | Medium energy | Lives with another dog | Hasn’t met kids | No cats please, shows prey drive | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Playful & curious | A real sweetheart

Are you ready to fall head over paws? Meet Judith! 

Picture this: walking through your door and being met with eyes full of love, happy hops, tail wags, and gentle kisses. Oh, and zoomies of pure joy—that’s life with JUDITH. Just about 1.5 years old, she’s full of playful energy, affection for her humans, and she’s so ready to become your best friend forever.

Here’s what we know about JUDITH: she’s curious, smart, and affectionate. Having recently moved from Mexico to Canada, JUDITH is busy learning what it means to feel safe and loved in a new living environment. Sudden movements and loud noises can make her pause, though with a little patience, she becomes more comfortable. You’ll soon see that she’s slowly but surely blossoming into the sweet, silly girl she is. In her foster’s care, she’s been building confidence, which is something we love to see!

Toys, puzzle games, and tug-of-war are some of this scruff’s favourite activities. Once playtime is over, she’s happy to curl up nearby and be close to her people. While she might take some time to warm up to people initially, she really does have a deep desire to connect. She’s also got a fun, goofy streak and a strong desire to explore! Oh, and yes, she also continues to work on leash training.

She thrives with another calm, confident dog who can show her the ropes and share in the fun. Her ideal home would be just as calm, with adults or older kids who can offer guidance, their time to play, and the chance for adventure. Know that she’s curious but cautious when meeting new dogs and prefers to meet them at her own pace.

Overall, having a consistent routine in place with JUDITH is key, as it helps create predictability throughout her day. If you're looking for a dog who’ll make you laugh and quietly steal your socks—JUDITH is ready to meet you. Ready for your next great love story? Apply to adopt JUDITH.

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.

WILEY

Male | 4 years old | 38 pounds | Medium energy | Comfortable with kids | Working through dog reactivity | No cats please, shows prey drive | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Goofy & playful

Meet WILEY. Possibly the sweetest, goofiest scruff you’ll meet. And there are a lot of scruffs out there! Lots of walks, time to play, and, ofc, time to nap are the keys to his heart. Oh, and throw in some cuddles, and he’ll be the happiest guy around. 

WILEY currently lives in a condo in Toronto and, with support from his foster family, has been becoming more independent. They’ve noticed that his love for toys is impressive, and no matter how many he has, he makes time to play with each! He’s also a big fan of time outside, and we think he’d make a great adventure buddy alongside his future adopters. Being adaptable is what has us thinking that WILEY would do well in most environments. As long as you’re committed to his training, he’s sure to show off his best self.

Overall, this scruff is a great walker who stays by his human’s side. With that in mind, it’s his anxiousness that can sometimes lead to him becoming reactive when passing other dogs on walks. Usually, this is the case if they get too close for comfort or if they bark. Working on controlled interactions has been helpful, and WILEY recently did great attending a trail pack walk, showing more curiosity with those dogs. Big strides indeed!

WILEY enjoys attention from kids and is happy to sit while accepting pets from them. We still think living with older kids, at least for now, would be best, as he can get excited and jumpy. Have more visitors, well, visiting? He’s content in his crate even with new people around and also happy to go up to them looking for affection. After a busy day of walks, exploring, and playing, WILEY is more than happy to chillax with you. Now, here’s the thing: he might want to kick back on the couch with you, but he’s learning to stay on his bed using the command “place.” He’ll get there!

Keen to adopt this goofy guy? Knew it! Apply today.

KAJETA

Female | 5 years old | 38 pounds | Medium energy | Does well living with 2 kids | No cats please, strong prey drive | Needs slow intros to dogs | From Mexico | Fostered in Mississauga | Intelligent & affectionate with her humans | Gentle & patient

KAJETA. A girl who loves her walks and her people (once they gain her trust!). This is an easygoing gal who will make a great family dog in a home that can provide the physical and mental stimulation she needs. No matter your daily routine, she’s sure to adjust quickly and find her stride as part of a new family, and that’s something we can’t wait to see!

From Mexico, KAJETA currently lives with her foster family, including 2 older kids. Living with kids has been enjoyable for her; she’s loving and gentle towards her humans and is comfortable in their presence. She’s likely to get along just as well with those who are younger. Belly rubs are a must! While she enjoys the presence of her trusted humans (and will be the happiest door greeter when you get home), meeting new people in the home can put her on alert. This just means she’ll need some extra time to get used to those she doesn’t yet know. 

Apart from walks, one of her fav pastimes is playing with her toys. Inside the home, she’s quite chill and enjoys curling up to relax while you’re otherwise occupied. This intelligent, well-behaved scruff is, of course, still working on training, though we’d like to humble-brag about how well crate-trained she is! KAJETA uses that space when she wants some alone time during the day and even puts herself to bed there at night. Ever the patient scruff, she’ll also respectfully wait for her food at mealtimes. Her manners in this area are next level!

KAJETA has a strong prey drive towards squirrels and rabbits, which can involve being vocal and pulling. Regaining her attention is key! Practice and patience will go a long way. KAJETA enjoys making new friends and is happy to meet dogs her size and smaller. Meeting larger dogs outside on walks can give her pause, though slow introductions will help her warm up to them in time.
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.

TUBA

Male | 5 years old | 88 pounds | Low energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met cats | No kids please | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet with goofball tendencies | Loves stuffies & snuggles

It’s time to face the music. Meet TUBA. With a name like that, you’d best believe he’s got the personality to match! Fast to make friends, this scruff is perhaps best described as a gentle giant. He might be big (and definitely strong!), but he’s also the first to lean in for pets, roll over for a belly rub (he LOVES a snuggle), and essentially become your BFF and all that jazz.

So, he’s confident, smart, a little playful, and, like we said, strong. TUBA does his best work using training tools on walks. In his foster’s opinion, it’s made a world of difference, and he now walks in a relaxed manner by his human. He’s a smart pooch and is currently working on place. He’s already got sit, down, and wait down pat! Of course, while you might want to play it by ear, we recommend finding a balanced training program to learn right alongside TUBA. A helpful hint in the meantime: TUBA responds well to his humans, especially when food is on the line!

Ideally, TUBA would find a home with experience taking care of larger dogs. A home that’s also a moderately quiet area would also be great as TUBA continues progressing with training. Know that while he’s improving in this area, TUBA can be vocal in his crate when left alone, though. We do love that he’s become more comfortable with relaxing in it when he decides to.

Typically indifferent to other dogs, this scruff can show some interest in them now and then. Case in point: TUBA and his foster’s resident dog have become BFFs. Their similar temperaments, interest in play, and ability to respect each other’s boundaries have all strengthened their friendship. TUBA’s happy-go-lucky personality shines through in his interactions with people—he truly enjoys making new friends! That said, he can take a minute to warm up to new faces and really appreciates it when people respect his boundaries as he gets comfortable. With all that in mind, this scruff has also shown some prey drive, in particular when animals dart across his line of vision. So? Interactions with cats will need to be supervised. 

Keen to adopt TUBA? That’s music to our ears! Apply today.

Tuba is currently in Toronto and is available for informal meet & greets with his foster to see if it's a good fit. Email adoption@saveourscruff.org to set that up, but tell us a little about yourself and why he's a match for you. 

VANNA

Female | 3 years old | 33 pounds | Medium energy | Has dog friends | Good with dog-savvy cats | Good with respectful kids (6+ years) | From Mexico | Fostered in Sharon, ON | Looking for an adopter

Meet VANNA! She enjoys walks or hikes, hanging with her peeps, playing with a flirt pole (Google it! So fun), and of course chill time. VANNA has spent time building skills and she’s now a master with leashed walks, crate-trained and while initially nervous, has built some great social skills.

VANNA currently lives in a rural setting, but could be fine in a different set-up. She likes exploring time, but inside she’s quiet and chill. With proper exercise, she can be left alone during a workday if needed.

Her foster says: “She’s been an angel honestly. She’s so dang sweet. And she’s so funny, her facial expressions never cease to make me laugh.”

As mentioned, VANNA and her handler have worked on social skills since they’ve been together since January. She’s been great with dogs and is now super curious and a little investigator when it comes to meeting new people. Her foster, who also helped with some training for a few weeks, will pass off all info to set her up for success in her new home. VANNA is also available for informal meet and greets if you want to meet her before applying, to see if she’s a good fit. Send us some info about yourself, and why you’re interested in her to adoption@saveourscruff.org. 

She also has a strong prey drive outdoors, but recently interacted with a few dog-savvy cats and did really well! She would do best in a home with adults or kids over the age of 6. VANNA does need support with guidance in new settings and with new people/animals, so something to think about as you’d need to commit to ongoing guidance. 

If you're looking for a loyal, sweet, and intelligent companion, VANNA is ready to meet you! Apply today or email us to set up a meeting first.