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.

TOOTSIE ROLL

Female | 4 months old | 19 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 - APP IN PROCESS

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 | 35 pounds | Medium energy | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Apartment Living l Goofy & playful

Meet WILEY. This guy has adjusted to Toronto well, and is just fine with apartment living. He even has some days where he stays home alone while his foster momma is at work. At only 35lbs, he's also a smaller friend and doesn't need much space.

Wiley enjoys going for walks, time to play (toys included please), and, ofc, time to nap. Oh, and throw in some cuddles, and he’ll be the happiest guy around. Wiley is adjustable with his living situation, and currently is being fostered by a solo foster mom who has a hybrid work/life schedule. Initially, Wiley can be a velcro dog but after a few months of building a relationship, routine & expectations, Wiley can be found snoozing while alone. When home with his foster mom, he at times will follow you around but with encouragement he will go find toys to play with. He will take each one out of his toy basket until he finds the perfect one.. for that day of course.. he's got to change it up.

He’s also a big fan of time outside, and we think he’d make a great adventure buddy alongside his future adopters. Wiley can be vocal when passing dogs, particularly in close proximity. But with his mid size and his desire to please, he can be redirected quite easily. His foster mom will show you at the M&G!

Overall, this scruff is a great walker who stays by his human’s side. Working on controlled interactions has been helpful, and WILEY has done well at pack walks, showing more curiosity with those dogs. More structured socializing will be helpful.

WILEY enjoys attention from people and is happy to sit while accepting pets from humans big and small. We still think living with older kids, at least for now, would be best, as he can get excited and jumpy. Have a lot of visitors? 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. Movie anyone?

Keen to adopt this goofy guy? Apply today.

Wiley 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. 

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 | Needs proper intros to cats | No kids please | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet with goofball tendencies | Loves stuffies & snuggles

He thrives with structure, a balanced training approach, and has completed Obedience Level 1 with K9 Academy. This is TUBA, a scruff who loves to learn. Oh, and, yes, he responds well to food motivation. 

The best way to start your day? Greeting TUBA. He’s eager for affection, plays with his foster sister dog, and looooves his breakfast - especially as enrichment. After a short walk, TUBA is content to rest with time to go outside and engage in structured play like tug and fetch. Working on calm, confident walking, TUBA benefits from training tools to set him up for success on leash. His foster says his walks have become a lot more relaxed. We’re impressed! What are evenings like? Another short walk, dinner, cuddles, and playtime. 

Similar to mornings, there’s no better way to end the work day than TUBA zooming toward you. For real, though, his whole body will wiggle in excitement. While TUBA can be left alone in his crate for the day, he’s still highly affectionate and a big-time cuddler. It takes him time to warm up to new people, and his adopters must advocate for his boundaries, especially around those unfamiliar with his cues. Once he knows you’re in his corner, he’ll lean in for all the belly rubs.

TUBA would do best in a moderately quiet home experienced with large-breed dogs. Know that busy or confined shared spaces can be overwhelming for him, and any interactions with cats will need to be supervised. TUBA is generally indifferent to dogs, but has built a solid friendship with his foster’s resident dog. Their relationship is based on mutual respect, similar energy levels, and slow, thoughtful introductions!

Interested in giving this big-hearted boy the loving home he deserves? Apply today.

TUBA is currently in Toronto and available for informal meet & greets with his foster to see if it's a good fit. Email adoption@saveourscruff.org to set that up, and don’t forget to tell us a little about yourself and why you think Tuba’s the one 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.