CAPUCHINA

Female | 6 years old | 39 pounds | Medium energy | Working through dog reactivity | Not cat-tested, shows prey drive | Good with kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Playful & affectionate

Looking for a scruff with personality? Playful and affectionate, CAPUCHINA is here to steal your heart! This 6-year-old fluffball is a certified pro at striking zen yoga moves, collecting belly rubs, and making her humans feel like the center of the universe. She absolutely LOVES people of all ages, and is always excited to make new human friends—expect lots of tail wags and happy greetings! This gal is also cool with a changing schedule. How do we know? Her foster fam goes into the office a couple of days a week and also works from home.

CAPUCHINA is a dream inside the home—fully house-trained, respectful of your space, and a big fan of her crate (it’s her cozy little retreat!). She’s not overly vocal and thrives on routine, enjoying a calm, structured home where she can relax and just be her sweet self. Sure, she’s a working breed, but inside the home, she shows off her calm demeanour. She’s got energy when it’s time for fun (who knew chasing stuffed animals on a rope wasn't just for cats!), but also loves a good nap and food puzzle for breakfast and dinner—balance is key, after all!

CAPUCHINA is currently working through her dog reactivity. She absolutely loves her walks, and has shown improvement with general reactivity and the time being reactive has gone down, but still needs to work through head-on dog encounters. It’s important her adopter is committed to working with her on confidence, patience, clear guidance and consistency. That said, know that she’s progressing in these areas and is happy to interact with them after meeting and in closer proximity versus seeing from a distance.

If you’re dog-savvy and ready to help CAPUCHINA be the best version of herself, she will reward you with endless love, hilarious quirks, and unwavering devotion. 

Ready to welcome this perfect home companion into your life? Apply now—CAPUCHINA can’t wait to meet 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!

SIX & SEVEN

From Mexico | 2 & 1 year old, respectively | 17 & 11 pounds, respectively | Low energy | Living with a toddler and another dog, respectful of both | Haven’t met cats | Fostered in Oshawa | Gentle, curious & learning to open up

*Bonded Pair*

You’re so not ready for this mom-and-daughter dynamic duo!! Looking for their forever home TOGETHER as a bonded pair, SIX and SEVEN are a low-maintenance duo with an impressive amount of love to share.

Of the two, SIX is the more curious scruff. She’s a confident and loving mom who likes to explore and would cuddle you all day if she could. Once you gain her trust, of course, as she’s cautious at first! Looking to her mom for guidance, SEVEN is a gentle soul who’s a little more reserved, tending to act as her mom’s shadow, though she’s just as loyal and loving as a companion. 

Thriving in a peaceful, consistent environment, these scruffs would do best with owners who are patient and ready to give them the time they need to build trust. It takes some time, but gosh, is it worth it! They both love spending time outdoors, taking quiet walks, and lounging around the house. Sunbathing is another favourite activity of theirs.

These girls have done well meeting other dogs and relaxed, dog-savvy children and have yet to meet cats. They respond well to boundaries, and their bond with one another and with their foster family’s toddler has been so sweet for them to watch grow. These two continue to learn what leash walking is all about, and SEVEN needs some extra support in getting used to her harness. All in all, they’re making great strides! 

Looking for a calm, affectionate duo to bring into your life? Look no further. They’re a pair that are sure to be your BFFs for life.

The adoption fee for this bonded pair is equivalent to the amount SOS has paid for their time in foster care ($1300 as of May 22). If you feel like you are a fit for adoption and find this fee to be a barrier, please reach out and connect with us.

NUTELLA

Female | 4.5 months old | 20 pounds | Medium energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met cats or kids | Fostered in East Gwillimbury | Playful & easy going

So this is NUTELLA. One part spunk, one part sugar, and 100% ready to steal your heart (and probably your spot on the couch, too).

Feisty and playful, this scruff is a 20-pound bundle of curiosity and cuddles. Once a scrappy pup, she's grown into a confident little adventurer with a personality to match. She’s house-trained, sleeps soundly in her crate, and already knows how to sit and lie down. She's working on “wait” and “stay,” but hey, patience is overrated when you're this excited to greet your humans! What do mornings look like with NUTELLA? Prepare for kisses, paw taps, and an enthusiastic welcome committee. Returning home? Same treatment. She believes every re-entry is cause for celebration—and she’s not wrong.

NUTELLA has big aspirations—literally. She loves a good view and will happily scale the furniture to get the best perch. Working on boundaries? Absolutely. Her leash manners are coming along nicely, especially when walking with her neighbourhood pup pals. She greets them with joyful leaps, but she can be reactive when passing strange dogs on solo strolls. It's more “stranger danger” than anything, and some reassurance from her trusted human helps her regain her cool. She may need a warm-up lap before walking side-by-side with a new canine friend, but after a few minutes, she’s golden.

She’s extremely food motivated, which makes training a breeze if you bring your A-game in consistency and snack distribution. Her ideal home will love her zest for life, playful energy, and love of endless games with her foster dog sister. Cats? She’s curious but respectful—especially if the cat lays down the law.

In short, NUTELLA is sweet, smart, sassy, and oh-so-ready to find her forever home. Apply to adopt!

WILLOW - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 3.5 months old | 9 pounds & growing | Puppy energy | Brief interactions with dogs | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Fostered in Richmond Hill | A curious & quick learner

WILLOW. In European folklore, people believed knocking on the trunk of a willow tree would bring good luck, hence the phrase “knock on wood.” We’re here to share that WILLOW, a newly adoptable pup, might just be your very own good luck charm. Well, if you invite her into your life, of course.

Love, wonder, and whimsy tied together, WILLOW also happens to be brave in her boldness. Having adapted quickly to a new home environment, her hesitancy towards the outdoors quickly vanished, being replaced with a feeling of excitement for checking out new places and spaces. She’s driven, this one, and, eager to please her humans, she eagerly works through training. Being food-motivated as she is, treats are a big bonus for her after a job well done.

The key to her heart is belly rubs, and her puppy energy will leave you breathless. Long story short, WILLOW is a driven young scruff who, at the end of the day, is looking for an active family that is keen to bring a loyal companion into their home. WILLOW enjoys going for both walks and hikes, and, as active as she is, it’s also important for her to have a structured lifestyle in which she also practices crate training and regular downtime. This pup prefers interacting with smaller dogs and shows a more reserved side with larger dogs. She’s also yet to meet cats and kids, and interactions will need to be supervised.

They say that fortune favours the brave. Are you bold and brave enough to bring an energetic pup into your life? There’s house training and leash training. There’s structure and boundaries. And gosh, there’s a whole lot of work. On the other side of the coin, it’s adventure and companionship. It’s belly rubs and affection. 

What do you say, ready to meet your good luck charm? You’d better knock on wood… and apply to adopt!

POPPY

Female | 6 years old | 38 pounds | Medium energy | Limited exposure to cats | Hasn’t met kids | Dog selective | Sweet and affectionate with trusted humans | Best in an adult-only home | From Dominican Republic | Fostered in Bracebridge | Best in quiet areas

🎵 GUESS WHO’S BACK? BACK AGAIN. POPPY’S BACK, TELL A FRIEND! 🎵

POPPY is a 6-year-old sight hound mix with the most soulful eyes and a heart full of love. Originally rescued from the Dominican Republic, POPPY has been living in Canada since 2019 and has made great strides on her journey from scared stray to sweet companion.

Indoors, POPPY is the picture of comfort and calm. She loves napping in sunny spots, giving excited greetings when you come home, and charming her humans into endless belly rubs and butt scratches. She’s quiet, well-mannered, and happiest when she’s close to her people.

Outside, POPPY is learning to feel safe. She can be anxious and alert to unfamiliar sounds or movements, but she’s an incredible leash-walker, sticking close to your side and following your lead with gentle guidance. On trail walks with a long line, POPPY comes alive—these outings give her a sense of freedom AND confidence. One of her favorite outdoor activities? Digging! POPPY loves to dig, so a family that can give her opportunities to indulge this natural behavior would be a big bonus.

In addition to her sweet personality, POPPY is incredibly agile and athletic. With the right guidance, she has the potential to be an amazing agility partner. Her intelligence and athleticism could really shine in structured, engaging activities like agility training or scent work.

POPPY thrives with calm structure and strong, confident leadership. She needs someone who understands that building trust takes time, patience and hard work. With dogs, POPPY can be selective; while she’s had dog friends in the past, slow, thoughtful introductions and ongoing supervision are essential. With familiar dog pals, POPPY enjoys playful interactions—but her play style can be quite vocal and pushy, which might be misinterpreted to the untrained eye. A knowledgeable handler will be able to recognize her intent and set clear boundaries when needed. She is also accustomed to using training tools in situations where she could become reactive, helping her and her human feel secure and supported.

POPPY is a quiet, loving companion who will thrive in a calm, adult-only home where she feels safe. If you’re someone who appreciates a deep connection and has the patience to help a gentle dog blossom, POPPY just might be your perfect match!

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.

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.

KORI

Female | 2 years old | 45 Pounds | Medium Energy | Good Exposure with other dogs | Dog savvy cats or no cats, please! | No kids | From Mexico | Living in Sharon, Ontario | Hypoallergenic Diet (suspected food allergy) | Affectionate, playful and smart

Kori is a spunky, intelligent, and fun natured gal looking for her family. Since arriving in October, Kori has blossomed into a playful, affectionate companion. She’s eager to please, making her an excellent fit for an adopter who can continue her growth. She's a mixed breed, is 2 years old & weighs 45lbs. 

Personality: Kori is independent and smart, with a fun-loving spirit. She loves her daily walks, playtime with tug toys, and bonding with her humans. While she was initially shy, she’s become more confident with bonded people, and her affectionate nature shines through. She’s an eager learner and loves challenges. Kori can be both cautious and bousterious with new people but is learning to engage in a calm, respectful manner.

Ideal Day: Kori thrives on a structured routine. A walk in the morning, followed by play + skill learning exercises, makes her a happy girl ready for some relaxation. She’s perfectly content to chill in her crate or relax while you’re busy but loves to be involved with you when you’re free. A few play sessions and enrichment activities keep her mentally engaged and content for fun rewards.

Other Pets: Kori enjoys the company of other dogs, especially playful and confident ones. She loves to play chase and wrestle, but she respects boundaries well. Kori has a strong prey drive and will chase small animals, so her ideal home would have a dog-savvy cat or no cats at all. She’s also very responsive on walks, redirecting well when needed.

Skills: With guidance Kori is good with housetraining & crate-training, and walks well on leash. She knows basic commands and is learning more each day. She’s still a bit nervous around strangers but improves with positive interactions & instructions that will be handed down by her handler. Kori would thrive with continued  learning and structure in her forever home.

Ideal Home: Kori would do best in a quieter, adult-only home with an experienced adopter. A family with another playful dog would be ideal. If you’re ready for a fun, intelligent companion, Kori could be the one! 

Fun Fact: Kori is always game for a good tug-of-war session or a fun game of chase!

She is currently in Sharon, ON and is available for informal meet & greets with her handler 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 she's a match for you. 

Or put in an application below 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.

DUKE

Male | ~3 Years Old | 58 Pounds | Medium Energy | Coexists well with other dogs | No cats, please! | Did well meeting dog-savvy kids | From Mexico | Living in Erin, Ontario | Affectionate and loves to be with his people

Everyone, meet DUKE. DUKE, meet everyone. At just about 3 years old, DUKE is an affectionate mixed-breed pooch who loves to love his people. You guessed it - he’s up for the task of being an excellent companion if you’re up to the task of learning all there is to learn about him. This includes learning how he communicates with his body language and is something his current trainer would be happy to help coach you on!

In a way, DUKE is a simple scruff. He loves playing with his ball and participating in a round of fetch. He also likes to sleep and eat. Lol. In other ways, he’s more complex and would do well in a home that is looking forward to implementing instruction from his trainers.

As DUKE is currently being fostered by his trainer, he gets to spend afternoons hiking with a pack of dogs. It’s pretty fun for him! With a medium energy level, DUKE requires an hour of exercise a day, think: a nice long walk and time to play outside. It doesn’t have to be a hike!

In this environment, DUKE has been able to progress with his interactions among other dogs. Of course, his new fam will need to continue advocating for him on a daily basis! As we mention the importance of advocating for him, we should also say that DUKE has a high prey drive and will do best, and needs to go to a home with no cats. Can he live with children though? He sure can! Supervision is, of course, necessary but provided he trusts his leader(s), he will do well interacting with respectful kiddos. DUKE could also live with a 9-5er provided he gets a bathroom break midday. Something to consider!

Otherwise, we can share that time to practice the command place and even having some crate time is important to ensure he’s comfortable in his own space. That said, when inside the home he does like to hang out with his people - so leave time for both!

Anyway, we can’t wait for you to meet him. DUKE is available for informal meetups with his trainer at Paws and Sniff. If you’re interested but not quite ready to put in the application, send us an email stating you’d like to set up a meet and greet and give us some insights into why you’re thinking you’re a good fit for him! Please email adoption@saveourscruff.org to set this up. Please note, DUKE’s current location is Erin, Ontario.

Apply to adopt DUKE 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.