PIPPI

Female | 2 years old | 14 pounds | Medium energy | Good second dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Ontario | Fostered in Mississauga | Cautious, shy, & cuddly, with a touch of sweet zoomies

Meet PIPPI! Drawing more of a quiet strength from miss Longstocking, the self-proclaimed strongest girl in the world, scruff PIPPI is slowly coming out of her shell and courageously experiencing the world for the first time. 

When PIPPI arrived in foster care, her crate was her safe space and this cautious girl would often quickly retreat to keep an eye on everyone from a safe distance. Now PIPPI bravely explores her new home, and is warming up to her new foster family by even snuggling up to them. She’s also started to play with her toys, trying to figure out tug-a-war with her foster fur-sibling, and is also attempting to play for the first time with humans. PIPPI’s still shy around people, especially strangers, but with slow introductions once she feels safe she settles right in. 

While PIPPI is great to sleep in her crate at night and nap during the day, being left alone is still a challenge for her and she might whine and need support settling. Someone with a bit of flexibility to help PIPPI adapt to a new routine would be beneficial till she learns how to handle being on her own. PIPPI does love a good lick mat or puzzle, so keeping her entertained with enrichment activities would also help with a busier schedule. 

Starting to love her walk time, PIPPI is currently going out three times a day, though loud noises and sudden movements still scare her. PIPPI also doesn’t love the snow… she tolerates it, but she does love a good run around in the backyard. This golden girl is so full of sunshine that waking up, meal-times and walkies fill PIPPI with such joy that she’ll do sweet little zoomies all around the house multiple times a day and return to her foster parents to play. 

Ready to be the steady support this shy girl needs to shine? Apply to adopt PIPPI! 

PIPPI will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Sunday, March 1st from 12pm - 3pm at Aquanova Brewing Company in Hamilton (67 Frid St - Unit 13). Come meet her and see if she might be the right fit for you! Note: This event is only open to SOS adoptables. If you have your own scruff, we ask that you please leave them at home!

ROSE

Female | 1 year | 12 pounds | Low energy | Living with a kid, cat & dog | From Ontario | Fostered in Hamilton | Sweet, funny & adorable

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet 🌹 Meet ROSE! Formerly known as Star, this girl is stepping into a brand new chapter with a new name to match her sweetness. 

ROSE’s story may have started out more like a tragedy with no walks, human affection or any real chance to be a puppy, but with some gentle time to settle into foster care ROSE is showing off her comedic side. She’s initiating solo play with her stuffies and toys for the first time, getting into some light puppy mischief like sock and toilet paper roll thievery, but most of all, finding out she really LOVES love. 

While still shy around strangers, ROSE is opening up to her trusted circle for belly rubs, face massages, and all the cuddles. She even adores snuggling with her scruff sibling, who’s quite a bit bigger than her! She’s had limited interaction with the kitty she’s currently living with, but as long as her pals are respectful of her size they should make good friends. 

Princess treatment is a must for this girl, and ROSE is receiving support up & down stairs. Otherwise she’ll contently follow from room to room to keep you company and nap beside you should your hand just happen to feel like grazing her tummy. 

ROSE is also an angel in her crate, sleeping all night and on the days her foster family has to go into work, only whining softly if she needs a bathroom break and learning that entirely from scratch as well! She still has the odd accident, but she’s making good progress learning her new routine. Initially even afraid to come out of her crate and put on her leash, she now bravely makes it all the way around the block for her daily walks and she loves to explore the backyard.

Ready to give this blossoming adventurer the storybook home she deserves? Apply to adopt ROSE! 

ROSE will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Sunday, March 1st from 12pm - 3pm at Aquanova Brewing Company in Hamilton (67 Frid St - Unit 13). Come meet her and see if she might be the right fit for you! Note: This event is only open to SOS adoptables. If you have your own scruff, we ask that you please leave them at home!

CRYSTAL

Female | 3 years old | 37 pounds | Medium energy | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Limited exposure to dogs | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Shy, affectionate & sweet

Meet CRYSTAL 💫 This gem is a deeply affectionate, gentle soul who forms an incredibly strong bond with her person. CRYSTAL is happiest curled up beside you on the couch, soaking in cuddles, or quietly keeping you company throughout the day. Once she trusts you, her loving and devoted nature shines through in everything she does.

CRYSTAL thrives in a calm, quiet environment and has settled beautifully into her foster home routine. She sleeps soundly through the night, enjoys her daily walks, and loves a balance of activity and long, cozy naps. She has a playful side too, especially during her zoomie moments, and enjoys enrichment and one-on-one time with her human.

CRYSTAL can be shy and sensitive in new situations and is still building confidence when out in the world. She would do best with a patient adopter who understands that trust takes time and is willing to support her continued growth through gentle guidance and positive reinforcement. She feels most comfortable in a peaceful home and would be happiest as the only pet, without cats or small animals. A home without children, or with older, respectful, dog-savvy children, would be the best fit.

CRYSTAL doesn’t need a busy or highly active lifestyle to thrive - what she truly wants is a loving, consistent home where she can feel safe, secure, and deeply connected to her person. In return, CRYSTAL will give her adopter unwavering loyalty, endless affection, and a truly special bond.

Think you have what it takes to be this loving gem’s whole heart 🩵 Apply to adopt!

ESCARCHA - REVIEWING APPS

Female | 6 months old | ~37 pounds | Medium energy | Living with kids | Limited dog exposure | Not cat tested | From Mexico | Fostered near Hamilton | Shy, sweet & sensitive

Meet ESCARCHA, which translates to frost… or frosting. Given how sweet she is, we’re leaning towards frosting 🧁

Found on the streets with her litter before entering shelter life, ESCARCHA is now cozy in her foster home and learning the world can be a safe place. Her foster mom calls her an “old soul,” and it fits. She’s gentle, observant, and happiest near her person.

She’s especially close to her foster mom and ESCARCHA will lay at her feet or follow her around, and snuggle in for love. She’ll also wait, quietly, if she leaves the room. Men, loud noises, and even the leash are different story and ESCARCHA can be quite fearful of them, usually by retreating but sometimes with a bark. Given slow introductions, patience and time, ESCARCHA is becoming comfy around the 2 male kiddos at home, but foster dad and male neighbours are still very much a work in progress.

She’s a great crate sleeper, adores her backyard romps, and her potty training and leash skills are coming along amazingly. ESCARCHA is super smart, food-motivated, curious, and her puppy energy is really starting to shine through. After about 11 days of decompressing she initiated her first play time and started tossing a sock in the air. A small, but important milestone for this sweet, sensitive soul.

ESCARCHA doesn’t love long stretches alone and would do well with someone with a more flexible schedule who can help her get a hang of her routine and time to train. Her coat is also prone to tangles, so regular brushing, or even professional grooming, will likely be needed.

And despite being a Mexico gal, ESCARCHA is loving the snow - maybe it was supposed to be frost after all!

Think you’ve got the gentleness to match ESCARCHA and the patience to put on her snow booties? Apply to adopt today!

MILEY

Female | 1 year old | 75 pounds | Medium energy | Has met kids | Friendly with dogs and cats | From Ontario | Fostered in Erin | Affectionate, smart & goofy | Looking for a foster or adopter

Meet MILEY. At one year old, MILEY is a young and playful scruff looking for a forever home that’s just as loving as they are coachable! MILEY is likely to grow into a large guardian breed dog and, as such, needs a confident human looking to grow and learn alongside her with continued training.

Some of MILEY’s favourite things include playing outside, going for long walks (and hikes if you’re up for it!), and exploring nature to her heart’s content. She’s got a mild interest in small animals, but only ever gives them a half-hearted chase. After a day of play and outdoor time, you’ll find that MILEY does well with decompressing in her crate and is just as content practicing the place command. She’s well-trained, this scruff, and it’s that kind of structured day where she has time to practice skills that will have her progressing even more in a new home.

Before coming into SOS care, MILEY was living in a shelter environment, with few opportunities to work on her socialization skills and interactions with people. This led to a bite incident where this scruff acted defensively. Routine, patience, and structure, combined with gentle socialization and handling, will set her up for continued success going forward (just like it already has done!).

While MILEY doesn’t necessarily want strangers going up and petting her, she’s become more trusting and is affectionate and loving with those she trusts. Her interactions with people have progressed, and she’s recently started befriending kids during monitored interactions! While this scruff has yet to experience city living, we expect that with a little time and patience, she’d do just fine.

If you’re someone who’s looking forward to continuing this scruff’s training, then you might be the one for her! Apply to adopt or foster!

RENNIE

Male | 6 months old | 50 pounds | Medium energy | Good second dog | Previously met cats, playful | From Manitoba | Fostered in Toronto | Playful & goofy | Quick learner

Ready to meet your new partner in crime? His name is RENNIE! His eagerness to greet his humans each and every morning (and any other time he exits his crate) is so sweet to see. He also likes to show off his butt wiggles and big stretches! He’s got the biggest and best playful personality, and he’s 100% the kind of scruff that thrives with human companionship (and routine!). If you’re looking for one, he’d be your most loyal BFF.

RENNIE’s days are chock-full of learning, playing, and structured walks (during which he’s working on redirection when other dogs pass by as he gets excited). He’s a big fan of chase and tug. He’s super food-motivated, which makes training extra fun, especially when his kibble is on the line. If we could humble-brag super quick, we’d tell you that he’s a master at sit and stay… even if he may sometimes pretend not to hear you! He’s also accomplished stairs, and house training and crate training have equally been a breeze.

RENNIE is thriving with structured crate time throughout the day, where he’s learning to settle and become comfortable in his own company. Routine is everything. As this young pup continues to learn, we think that he’d love living in a home with a (possibly bigger) dog to show him the ropes. Cats? RENNIE has done well with previously meeting and living with cats. But all cat personalities are different and having space to work on integration would be great.

One thing we’ve learned about RENNIE is that he needs a solid transition period to set him up for success. He does best with a little time to settle in and learn the routine, and he thrives when he has clear structure in place. RENNIE has some great foundational skills and would love to keep practicing and building on them. Classes would be a wonderful way for him to connect with his new handler, and he’d love a home that is excited to continue his training and support his growth.

Keen to meet your new BFF? Apply to adopt RENNIE!

RENNIE will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Sunday, March 1st from 12pm - 3pm at Aquanova Brewing Company in Hamilton (67 Frid St - Unit 13). Come meet him and see if he might be the right fit for you! Note: This event is only open to SOS adoptables. If you have your own scruff, we ask that you please leave them at home!