GUMBY

Male | 1.5 years old | ~75 pounds | Medium energy | Good solo dog (for now) | Best with older, dog-savvy kids | Coexists with a cat | From Hamilton | Fostered in East Gwillimbury | Affectionate, happy-go-lucky and a bit of a smarty-pants

He might not be a blocky green humanoid made of clay, but he very well could be your canine companion. This right here is GUMBY.

With his medium energy level, GUMBY is a social and energetic young scruff, who will thrive in a home where guidance and, of course, a little adventure is more common than not. Wherever he goes, you’ll find that he enjoys making new human friends, which is always something that has him doing his seriously cute full body wiggles. Just you wait and see!

His foster family has found that consistency helps settle him into a routine. Sure, he’s energetic, but while he knows how to play hard, he enjoys resting just as much and can entertain himself when needed. His current living environment is on a farm and he totally loves it. He enjoys being off leash when he can while keeping an eye on the different animals. In general, giving him time for movement followed by rest works well. He’s accustomed to playtime throughout the day, time for obedience training, and structured walks. GUMBY is a good listener, which enables him to easily pick up verbal commands and, we’ll have you know, that his place cot happens to be his safe space. 

GUMBY is a great walker on leash. What’s he working on? His interactions when meeting new dogs. GUMBY lives with other dogs and plays well with the younger female scruff and coexists with the others. He can take a bit of time to warm up to new furry friends and while he’s been showing more curiosity towards them lately, he’d likely be happiest as a solo dog. When it comes to adult humans, this scruff loves to cuddle. That said, don’t get it twisted - he’s not clingy!

Think you might like to bring this happy-go-lucky guy into your life? Apply to adopt!

BERNADETTE

Female | 8 years old | 50 pounds | Lower energy | Likes dogs | Hasn't met kids or cats | From Hamilton | Fostered in Brantford | Sweet senior looking for stability

BERNADETTE (aka BERNIE!) was dropped off at the shelter as a stray with injuries. After exhibiting signs of stress in that environment, she was then transferred into foster care and we are happy to report that BERNADETTE is now thriving! Described by her fosters as calm, fluffy and a follower, this sweet 8 year old scruff is as gentle as they come, with a dash of typical Husky personality!

BERNADETTE is the whole package! Doggie basics - she has them mastered!  Potty trained, basic commands and walking calmly on a leash are not a problem for this girl! She enjoys socializing and would do well in a calm household with teenagers or older children that match her energy level. She also enjoys other dogs and would likely do well with another adult doggie sibling (bonus points if it’s a husky - a girl can dream, after all!).

Being a seasoned pup, BERNADETTE is a lady who knows what she wants! On walks, she is quick to put on the brakes if she sees her outing is venturing into marathon status. She is also very vocal (cue the husky howl!) when put in her crate, and shows signs of stress once the crate door is closed or she feels confined. Mental stimulation and ongoing training have helped to ease her stress, so her future owners would need to be committed to continuing this training. And while BERNADETTE is a husky, a lone wolf she is not! She loves her people, keeping a keen eye on what is happening in her foster home, and happily snoozing once everyone is together. A family that is home more often than not would be ideal.

Would your home jive with BERNADETTE’s peaceful personality? Apply to adopt today!

Please note: Adoption fees for senior scruffs are sometimes reduced depending on age, breed and health! BERNADETTE’s adoption fees are $550.

BLUE

Male | 5 years old | ~110 pounds | Medium energy | Best as a solo dog | Has met older, dog-savvy kids | No cats, please! | From Hamilton | Fostered in Kitchener | Intelligent & independent

“Yo, listen up here's a story, about a little guy, that lives in a blue world…”

It’s BLUE’s world, and we’re just living in it! BLUE can be best described as sweet, saucy, and a little bit bossy. Unlike the song suggests, he certainly ain’t a little guy and he’s got the personality to match. As a husky mix, he’s a medium size breed though also happens to be carrying some extra weight. Regular walks, proper nutrition, an overall active lifestyle… all of this will continue to benefit him on his weight loss journey.

“And all day and all night, and everything he sees is just blue, like him inside and outside...”

Let’s talk about inside the home. BLUE is housetrained and when it’s time to kick back and relax, he loves to lean into affection from his humans. He happens to be a big fan of butt scratches. Now onto outside the home, then. BLUE walks nicely on leash. He’s working on his socialization skills, especially when it comes to building confidence around other dogs. He currently lives with dogs in his foster’s care and has shown he can be more defensive when faced with direct interactions inside the home. Slow interactions and continuing to work with him on resource guarding will help. Training is also a way for BLUE to strengthen his bond with his adopters. 

“I'm blue, da ba dee da ba di, da ba dee da ba di…”

Life with BLUE is a fun one. You’ll both be learning lots every day. For instance, you learn his quirks, one being that he’s not a fan of having his paws touched. This is all fine and well, and just requires some extra patience when being groomed or going to the vet. Oh, and BLUE’s gorgeous thick double coat will require routine brushing to keep his coat looking spiffy. 

Apply to adopt BLUE.

MINNOW

Female | 2 years old | 25 pounds | Medium-high energy | Has met kids & dogs | No cats | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Playful, Shy, Happy

Meet MINNOW! She is one sweet (and opinionated) lady. MINNOW would thrive in a home willing to give her time and patience to earn her trust. Once you're in her inner circle (which she will admit, might take a few days), MINNOW will reward you with unlimited cuddles and a constantly wagging tail.

MINNOW enjoys a few hot girl walks a day, so she would be best suited to an active family who also loves getting outside. A securely fenced yard where she can roam, run and sniff freely would also be a wonderful bonus. MINNOW prefers her walks in the morning to help her settle throughout the day and keep any boredom-induced mischief at bay. MINNOW is a true people pleaser and will stick by your side through thick and thin once she's comfortable.

A few things you should know about this scruff: MINNOW prefers a confined area over a crate and will be quite outspoken about this! Fortunately, she can be trusted to have no accidents in the home. When meeting new humans or dogs, MINNOW also prefers a slow, low-pressure introduction. She likes to take the lead very cautiously when it comes to meeting new people or playing with new dogs. That being said, with thoughtful introductions, she would love a dog sibling (or an older human sibling!) to hang out and play with every day. Lastly, bathtime isn’t her favourite, so she will need help getting accustomed to maintaining her hygiene with lots of positive reinforcement (and a few treats, of course).

MINNOW is a shy lady, but with a bit of patience and reassurance, she is taking on new experiences like a rockstar! She loves car rides, hanging out with her foster family, endless sniffaris and watching the world go by! If you are willing to let MINNOW move at her own pace, she’ll repay your patience with loyalty and love.

Apply to adopt! 

MOSEY

Male | 7 months old | 30 pounds | High/puppy energy | Loves dogs | Hasn't met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Boisterous puppy who loves life!

Meet MOSEY! Don’t let his name fool you - this bouncy boy from Mexico is filled to the brim with energy, and mosey around he does not! He’s too busy discovering all the new places his long legs can take him. MOSEY is looking for an active family that can match his energy levels and zest for life.

MOSEY approaches each day fearlessly, with a big dose of goofiness in each step. Being a puppy, every situation is a chance to learn a new lesson. His unmatched excitement for food and sharp mind makes training a breeze, and he has already learned his basic commands (paw, anyone?).

Being a young pup, MOSEY thrives when given structure and a clear daily routine.  Adequate physical and mental stimulation, combined with scheduled crate time is the perfect combination to allow his fun-loving personality to shine!.

MOSEY loves people and dogs and often jumps up in excitement, so he would do best in a household with older, respectful children, and would benefit from having a big doggie sibling to show him the ropes.

Speaking of ideal homes, MOSEY’s dream home would have a backyard where he can burn off his puppy energy (a scruff can dream!). However, when his needs are met, he would also do very well in an apartment setting.  Early on, MOSEY experienced some uncertainty when left home alone, but his fosters have been working with him on building his confidence, and he has come leaps and bounds!

Overall, MOSEY is a very devoted dog! Big feelings mean big love, and this little scruff has lots of love to give.  If you are patient, consistent and committed to ongoing training, you will be rewarded with a lifelong companion. 

Apply to adopt!

TAMAR

Female | 8 months old | 36 pounds (and growing!) | Has met kids & dogs | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate, Smart and Curious

Meet TAMAR! If there's one thing to know about TAMAR, it’s that her affection spreads far and wide, extending to just about everyone she meets, human or canine!

TAMAR is curious and always up for an adventure! TAMAR loves showing off her silly side (zoomies, anyone?), but recognizes when she has played too roughly (we love an emotionally aware queen 👑)! At home, she’s perfectly content to curl up, snooze, or work away at a favourite chew while her humans do their own thing!

TAMAR could be comfortable in a variety of home settings (condos welcome!) with enough physical and mental stimulation. After some initial nervousness around loud and unpredictable noises, she’s becoming more confident every day. She has tackled subways, streetcars and cars… talk about a city girl! She is also quickly learning basic commands including sit, wait, and come, and settles easily in her crate while her foster mom goes to work. 

TAMAR has met kids of all ages but does best when they respect her space and let her approach first. TAMAR is a social girl, especially when other dogs reciprocate her energy, so we think she’d love a home with another playful scruff. Since she is very attentive to squirrels and birds, we anticipate that cats may not be the best fit! TAMAR is still learning the finer points of being a polite puppy, so she needs a home that can confidently redirect her attention and help her social butterfly personality shine!

TAMAR would love a family who can keep her curious mind and playful spirit busy while also appreciating her favourite part of the day: settling in for a good cuddle after all the adventures are done. Whether she’s exploring the world or curled up by your side, TAMAR is ready to be someone’s best friend. Apply to adopt!

CJAH

Male | 4 months old | 11 pounds (and growing!) | Puppy energy | Has met kids & dogs | Has not met cats | Fostered in Burlington | Curious, Rambunctious and a Quick Learner

Meet CJAH! This playful pup is looking for new “paw-rents” to guide his development and introduce him to the big, wide (and exciting) world out there!  Being a young pup, CJAH would thrive in a family that provides him structure, boundaries, and ongoing training. 

CJAH is a quick learner and very adaptable to new experiences. After a few days of positive associations with his crate, he now happily retreats to his den for naps throughout the day and overnight. He is also learning all about this new “potty” business, and while having an accident or two, is showing improvements every day. Leash training is also going well, and CJAH loves exploring at his own pace, and chasing the blowing leaves.

Now, did we mention that CJAH is a real foodie!? He’s quickly learning that being calm and sitting gets him waaaay more tasty treats than when he jumps up for attention. After an hour or two of play, he loves to settle down with a lick mat or chew. CJAH’s motto is, “work hard and play harder”, so his adopters will need to balance that puppy energy with downtime and rest, so he doesn’t get overtired and act out. 

He would do best in a family with older children, as he still exhibits puppy behaviour such as nipping, and can get mouthy when excited. CJAH has lived with dogs at his prior foster home and would likely do well in a household with other doggie friends. 

Overall, this little guy is brave and is happiest learning the ropes with trusted people by his side. Are you excited to steer this young scruff to being the bestest doggo he can be?

Apply to adopt!

BRUNO

Male | 10 years old | 66 pounds | Medium energy | Best as a solo dog for now and with dog-savvy kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & chill

Giving the loveliest chill senior scruff vibes, we’re pleased to introduce you to BRUNO. At ten years old, BRUNO is in his senior years with the cool, calm, and collected nature to show for it.

Right off the bat, we (and BRUNO!) would like his potential adopter(s) to know that BRUNO is busy enjoying life, even with early stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). This means his kidneys aren’t working as efficiently. This was diagnosed early, and with proper nutrition, vet checkups and monitoring, this lifelong condition can continue to be well-managed.

This scruff’s ideal day involves spending a good chunk of time with his humans. It might just be his favourite thing! Bonus points if they are eager to give him a nice head scratch. Of course, he’s learning boundaries and is working on his independence when his people are busy with work or other such activities.

A day in his life involves a few medium-sized walks throughout the day, about 30 minutes each. We love how confident a walker he is, though this confidence does result in some pulling here and there! He’s working on it. BRUNO and his foster family also work through short daily training sessions. Both recall and crate training are a work in progress.

In a future home, BRUNO is the kind of scruff who would likely be his most comfortable self as the only dog, at least for now. He’s shown some reactivity towards both small and large dogs when outside, which typically presents as whining and pacing. Having a confident leader by his side to help guide him in these scenarios will ensure he continues to progress in this area.

Friendly with adults, it’s likely BRUNO will walk right up to you for a sniff and some affection! When it comes to kids, he’s mostly indifferent, though he’s fine to have them approach him. 

Think he’s the one for you? Think you’re the one(s) for him? Apply to adopt!

BRUNO 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 this up!

Please note: Adoption fees for senior scruffs vary depending on age, breed, and health! A generous sponsor, Senior Paws Project, is helping make BRUNO’s adoption easier by covering up to $150/month toward eligible medical expenses for one year. The adopter can submit receipts for eligible medical expenses (or food) monthly or quarterly for reimbursement.