BELLY

Female | 6 years old | ~30 pounds | Medium energy | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Lives with a dog and coexists well | From Ontario | Fostered in Toronto | Super sweet, smart & curious

So this is BELLY. 6 years old and looking for her home, this girl is affectionate, curious, and quite the smarty-pants. Her adopter will get to look forward to her undivided attention and the companionship that will no doubt develop in short order. BELLY is the kind of scruff who gets attached to those who shower her in love, which is exactly the kind of loving home we aim to find for her!

With her chill, relaxed disposition, BELLY finds happiness in spending most of her free time napping in her crate. When she does have a burst of energy, you’ll know it because her playful side will come out, as evidenced by her zoomies. Her current foster family has found that she enjoys playing with small toys and that she’s highly treat-motivated. In fact, a treat is usually what redirects her back to her walk when she’s in super sniffer mode, adventuring in the great outdoors.

Inside the home, BELLY shows off her curiosity by checking out all the things that are happening around the house. She’s had an easy time learning boundaries and is working on less jumping, which she does when she’s excited, typically before or after a walk.

While she hasn’t met kids in her current foster home, we do think she’d be a good family dog with dog-savvy kids. With dogs, she’s generally indifferent, though still respectful when meeting them and sometimes even sniffs hello back. It’s the polite thing to do, really!

Ready to adopt? Apply today.

BELLY will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

HUEY

Male | 1.5 years old | 34 pounds | Medium energy | Good with kids | Good second dog | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet & rambunctious

Meet HUEY! This curious, bouncy little guy is here to find his best friend(s)! HUEY is a distemper survivor, which means he has a subtle twitch on his jaw, though he’s now fully healed. He’s the kind of pup who looks at you like he’s got a secret quest lined up, which is fitting, since he’s named after Hueycoatl, the fiery dragon boss from RuneScape. Don’t worry, though, this scruff’s missions are more about stealing hearts (and maybe some couch space) than fighting dragons.

Crate trained, great in an apartment, and besties with his SOS alum foster sister, HUEY is adjusting incredibly to city life. He'd be happy to continue living in the hustle and bustle or enjoy the green space of the suburbs.

HUEY has met kids of several ages (including a newborn!) and enjoyed their company. You just have to keep an eye on him around their snacks and toys. His foster is happy to chat strategy if you are up for the challenge! Adult-only home? That's his current situation, and he loves the attention he gets! At the end of the day, it’s all about setting boundaries and remaining consistent.

HUEY’s down for whatever the day brings. Early morning hikes? Sure. Lazy sleep-ins? Also yes. Busy workdays? No problem, he’s cool hanging in his crate for a work day. He is a young dog, and he thrives on 6-10km of walks or runs a day and enjoys playing with toys or his foster sister to get out the extra energy. We see glimpses of a calm dog and think he'll chill out as he gets older.

If you’re looking for a companion who’s smart, loyal, a little cheeky, and always up for the next adventure, HUEY’s your guy. He may share a name with a RuneScape boss, but he’s really just out here conquering hearts, one cuddle at a time.

HUEY will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

CHUCK

Male | 10.5 months | 39 pounds | Medium-high energy | Hasn’t met cats, likely ok with them | Hasn’t met kids | Good second dog | From Mexico | Fostered in Pickering | Loving, affectionate & quirky

Meet CHUCK! In two words, CHUCK is loving and loyal, and that barely scratches the surface. His heart is bigger than his head (and that’s saying something!), and he wears it proudly on his paw. He’s the kind of dog who believes belly rubs are a birthright, not a privilege. Walk past him without paying the tummy toll? Not on his watch.

CHUCK adores his foster humans and his three-legged foster brother, whom he showers with affection, play bows, and the occasional slobbery kiss. While he loves the comfort and safety of his foster home, new people and environments can still make him a bit unsure. With time, patience, and reassurance, he’s learning that the world isn’t such a scary place after all.

He’s a loving pup still perfecting the art of not jumping for joy every five minutes. He’s working hard on his manners and is a quick study, especially when treats are involved. Even broccoli. Even brussels sprouts.

CHUCK’s ideal home is calm and kind. He’s not into chaos or loud city noise and prefers cozy cuddles, peaceful walks, and people who let him blossom at his own pace. He would thrive with a confident canine buddy to show him the ropes and keep the playtime coming.

This scruff has already mastered sit, shake paw, lie down, and yes, he even pees on command. He’s eager to learn, eager to love, and eager to make his humans proud. If you’re patient, active, and ready to fall for a dog who’ll love you endlessly (and maybe demand a belly rub or two thousand), CHUCK just might be your guy. Apply to adopt.

FAYZE

Female | ~4 months old | 19 pounds & growing! | Medium energy | Lives with kids and a dog | Good second dog | Hasn’t met cats | Fostered in Burlington | Playful, smart & snuggly

Meet FAYZE. She’s a real gem of a pup with a love for snuggling anyone, anytime. If you like a good puppy snuggle, well, you’re in the right place!

This four-month-old pup currently lives with a two-year-old dog and dog-savvy kids. She might be young, but she’s already a social butterfly, and with them, FAYZE is all tail wags and play, play, play. She can be nippy with those puppy teeth of hers, but with adult supervision, her interactions with kids are all very positive. She also tends to be a little shadow with her foster fam’s resident dog, and you can often find her initiating play and snuggling any chance they get. 

We said she was social, so it makes sense that she enjoys being around people more often than not. Don’t get it twisted, though; when it’s time for her to use her crate, it doesn’t take long at all to settle, and she uses that space as her place to curl up for a good nap.

Steadily improving on her basic commands, FAYZE is a big fan of her training sessions. She’s eager to please, so that, combined with her smarts, means she’s a quick learner! She almost effortlessly mastered stairs and is now practicing leash walking in the backyard. What does she get up to when she’s not busy with all the above? Fetch and playing with her chew toys, of course.

FAYZE is curious and always excited to meet new people. We can only imagine her excitement to meet you, her potential adopter. Apply today!

FAYZE will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

MELI

Female | 3 years old | 28 pounds | Medium energy | Previously lived with dogs | Hasn’t met cats or kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Friendly & affectionate

Meet MELI. Three years old, and this rescue scruff from Mexico is now living in Toronto and looking for her new best friend, AKA her forever family! To share some words from her foster family, “MELI has been such a joy to have in our lives. She has grown so confident in such a short amount of time…there is no doubt in my mind she will be the best friend you have ever had.”

Life with MELI lately has involved three walks a day with time to rest in between, as well as training sessions sprinkled throughout the day. She quickly adapted to house training and easily settles in her crate at night. Her fosters have found that MELI is doing really well with basic training, and while teaching her individual commands is a slow and steady process, she is now doing well with sit, come, down… and more!

While she previously lived with other dogs, MELI is working on how she approaches dogs in her new environment. You may notice that she tends to pull towards them in excitement, wanting to play with all potential friends. She’s also busy working on leash training (know that she shows some prey drive towards squirrels), and we love to hear that her foster fam is celebrating each of her wins!

MELI is a sweetheart who loves her cuddles and pets. She happily settles at her human’s feet, and, when she’s feeling adventurous, her curiosity has her exploring all smells while out on walks. She’s learning to play with toys and, we’ll have you know, is an expert at dog yoga—her stretches are impressive! Apply to adopt!

ANGEL

Female | 8 years old | 65lbs | Enjoys meeting kids | Medium-low energy | Curious meeting dogs | Coexists with a cat | From Ontario | Fostered in Whitby | Friendly & outgoing | Loves affection

Friendly and outgoing since day one in foster care, ANGEL is busy becoming even more comfortable with a new routine in a new town. You’ll find her love for affection to be adorable, and her easy-going nature makes for great companionship.

ANGEL has a medium-low energy level, and you’ll find that she’s always happy to go for a walk. We think you’ll be impressed by her leash skills… we sure are! When not out and about, she’s a fan of engaging in food enrichment (ex., Kongs with peanut butter). In the evenings, ANGEL likes to lounge with her humans, and, yes, she makes a great cuddle buddy. 

Working through some separation anxiety when her people aren’t home, she’s doing well with a family that’s home more often than not right now. Her foster parent works from home, and ANGEL is happiest snoozing by them, occasionally asking for pets. She’s working on this, regardless!

What’s one thing ANGEL loves?! Meeting dog-savvy kids in the neighbourhood for extra pets throughout the day, of course! When it comes to interactions with dogs, she’s curious enough to let calm scruffs sniff her hello. What’s worked well has been meeting them first on leash and then in the backyard for a longer interaction.

Keen to bring this affectionate scruff into your life? Apply to adopt!

ANGEL will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 1pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

DUCKY

Female | 5.5 years old | 32 pounds | Medium energy | Limited exposure to kids | Has met dogs | Hasn’t met cats | From Jamaica | Fostered in Toronto | Shy & sweet & can be goofy | Building confidence

Meet our gal DUCKY. Shy at first, deep down she’s full of beans, showing off her goofiest side once she’s truly comfortable with her people. Once you win her over, she’s for sure gonna love all the butt scratches you can give her. They’re her fav.

Her sweet little personality is gonna shine in a home in which her adopter(s) are committed to helping her build confidence. She needs slow introductions to people, after which time she’ll go up to them for a sniff. Getting more and more comfortable in foster care by the day, she’s feeling more settled, as evidenced by how she’s opened up. When you first bring DUCKY into your life and home, you’ll likely experience her shyness at first, but as you give her some time, she’ll grow into her most comfortable self. She can be nervous at first, and it’s important that her adopters are patient with her during that transition period.

Life with DUCKY typically involves zoomies before meals and always an eagerness to see her people after they get up in the mornings or return home from work. She enjoys relaxing inside after she’s gone for a walk, and in these moments, you might just catch her catching some Zzz’s. She loves her walks and equally loves her crate, which is often where you can find her napping.

While she’s yet to have interactions with kids in her current home, DUCKY would likely be fine living with or meeting dog-savvy kiddos who can respect her boundaries. Having gone on group walks with other dogs, DUCKY shows some interest and always appreciates meeting new scruffs slowly and on her own terms. That pretty much goes for any and all interactions.

What’s one thing you should keep in mind? That she will try to counter surf when you’re not looking. She’s food-motivated!

Think she might be the one for you, and that you might be the one for her? Apply to adopt!

NOW

Male | 1.5 years old | 61 pounds | Medium energy | Has met kids and teens | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Loyal 

He’s got the best swooshy tail wags, and his happy-go-lucky personality is infectious. It’s delightful, to say the least, and his happy little snorts are, in fact, the best. This is NOW.

Already having come out of his shell in SOS care, NOW is off to the races! As he works on getting comfier and cozier, he’s been exploring a little more of his foster family’s home. That said, he still prefers spending time in his crate as his safe space. When there’s a sound that catches him off guard, that’s where he dashes off to. 

We love how much he loves seeing his people first thing in the morning, and the confidence he’s gained over the last little while is great to see. He’s SO proud of himself for how he’s mastered the deck stairs in their backyard, and he takes a lot of pleasure in bounding up them.

We’re pretty certain NOW is going to love walks as his confidence continues to increase, and he’s already walking very well on a leash. His bum wiggles out on these walks might just be your new favourite thing! Inside the home, NOW is very chill and enjoys playing with his toys. He hasn’t yet figured out how to show off his playful side with his foster family’s resident dog, and, honestly, he really just wants his people’s love all to himself! He’d be a great solo dog.

He’s shy with younger kids, and on the whole, needs some time to warm up to people. With those he learns to trust, he’s a fiercely loyal dog, and if you’re looking for a quiet canine companion who loves to love his people, well, you’re in the right place. Apply to adopt!

SINPA

Male | 8 years old | 56 pounds | Medium energy | Coexists with a dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Brantford | Loves affection | Tripawd

Meet SINPA. 8 years old and looking for his furever, SINPA is the kind of scruff that loves affection from his humans and would spend every morning cuddling you if he could. Sound like the perfect match? We think so, yes!

He’s a tripawd (AKA tripod), meaning he’s got 3 out of the 4 legs that dogs typically have. Does this stop him from enjoying all the things he loves most in this world? Definitely not. With his medium energy level, SINPA has been getting the hang of leashed walks in particular and has already improved since being in foster care. 

Learning what his new routine looks like in Canada, SINPA over here has been decompressing while taking in his new surroundings and all the new sounds that come with that. His preferred activities include naps and sniffing all the best smells while out in the yard and during walks. What might he like in the future? We’re thinking scent games!

SINPA is learning to grow more comfortable living with his scruff brother, and when meeting other dogs, he’s often shy at first. In the same vein, he’s working on gaining more confidence while out on walks. The confidence he has built so far has given him more energy to pay attention to commands, which is major! 

He’s slowly but surely coming out of his shell. What’s going to really set him up for success is having a confident handler by his side who enforces structured routine on the daily in a leadership role. With some more recent guarding behaviours popping up, implementing boundaries will continue to be necessary, and obedience training will also be in his future!

If you think SINPA might be the scruff for you, we’d love for you to apply to adopt!

SINPA will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 12pm - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

ROCKY

Male | 8 years old | 12 pounds | Low energy | Has met young kids | Enjoys meeting dogs & people | No cats, please! | From Ontario | Fostered in Peterborough | Sweet & gentle | Not apartment-suitable

Sweet. Chill. Gentle. Those three little words sum up ROCKY over here to a tee. As his foster family’s first-ever (!!!) experience fostering an SOS scruff, life with ROCKY has been equal parts challenging and rewarding. Learning new things every day has been a given, and on the whole, they’ve found this scruff to be loving and friendly. Basically, he’s not one to shy away from new pals, especially when affection is on the line!

An early riser, ROCKY likes to get up and at ‘em and enjoys a leisurely stroll first thing in the AM. As an eight-year-old scruff, he likes spending his time napping and snoring, training, and hanging out outside. You should see his happy dance when he hears the word “outside!” Oh, and he loves receiving pets from humans. Talking about humans, ROCKY is pretty great when it comes to greeting people. He’s even enjoyed a shorter interaction with young children, remaining calm even when the kids were pretty excited to catch sight of him. We get it; he’s a stunner!

ROCKY has made great strides with his separation anxiety and now settles more quickly in his crate with only some initial barking. With barking in mind, we don't think apartment-living is best suited for Rocky. Establishing boundaries with him is key, and he’s been busy practicing crate training for this reason. We’re happy to report he now regularly naps there throughout the day. Learning to become more independent and comfortable when his people leave the home is a big step for him. When it comes down to it, ROCKY does get a little bit of FOMO and, generally speaking, would like to be included in your plans when possible. Your leisurely plans, that is, not so much hikes or runs of any kind!

If you guessed that ROCKY is looking for a quiet and less active home, you’d be right. Having another calm, chill dog in the home could work well for ROCKY, too. He’s always happy to stop and say hello to dogs while out on walks before carrying on. This particular scruff isn’t too interested in play (or toys for that matter!), so living with a dog that has a similar energy level as him would be ideal.

Think you’d like to bring this scruff home sweet home? Apply to adopt!

VIDHIRA

Female | 1.5 years old | 33 pounds | Medium energy | Coexists with dogs well | Limited interactions with kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & sweet | Goofball

Playful and affectionate, you could say VIDHIRA is the sweetest goofball out there. Sure, she can be a little shy here and there, but for the most part, she’s a confident gal who’s got a lot of love to share.

She’s still got some fun puppy energy, and this gal likes to expend that with a good game of fetch and a couple of walks per day. She’ll happily take part in food puzzles to exercise that brain of hers. Is she food-motivated? Definitely. She’s also happy to entertain herself with toys and puts herself to bed in her crate in the evening. While VIDHIRA may get distracted by squirrels, she’s otherwise very good at leash walking.

With slow and steady intros to dogs while on leash, VIDHIRA is fine meeting new furry friends and shows an interest in playing with them. Inside the home, she has previously displayed some resource guarding with another dog. Now, while she hasn’t yet met cats, we do know that she is highly curious about small animals, so just make sure to monitor any interactions with them.

VIDHIRA is likely to do well in a relatively active home. She also may do well living with older, dog-savvy kids as she continues to learn not to be mouthy while playing. As of right now, she’s only met children at the park, so getting used to having more kids interact with her is the next best step.

Interested in VIDHIRA? Apply to adopt! She’ll soon be requesting all the cuddles from you!

VIDHIRA will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

PRIETA

Female | 7.5 years old | 46 pounds | Medium-low energy | Lives with a cat | Has met dogs & kids | Fostered in Toronto | From Mexico | Building confidence | Gentle & affectionate

Sweet as can be, we’d love to formally introduce you to PRIETA. In her foster’s exact words, “She is one of my favourite foster dogs so far. She is SO sweet.” If that’s the kind of gal you’re looking to bring into your life, then we think you’ve found the one!

PRIETA is busy building up confidence, in particular when faced with new situations. To support this, her foster will intentionally set out large items in the yard (think: golf clubs, camp chairs, etc.). Wary at first, PRIETA quickly becomes comfortable walking up to these items for a quick sniff. What does she do next? Continue with her zoomies and rolling, of course!

This scruff will shine in a calm, quiet environment. We can picture a forever home that looks similar to a spot in the suburbs… and with a backyard! Having a space like a yard where it’s private and controlled will help her gain confidence and build trust with a new family. Right now, she’s more comfortable going for walks early in the morning when it’s quiet, as opposed to busy streets midday. PRIETA is looking for a home that has experience with nervous dogs. If you’re ready and willing to work with a balanced trainer, that is what will help her grow.

PRIETA is only a moderately active gal. Some zoomies, scent work, and maybe a puzzle here and there are all she needs to be her happiest self right now. Oh, and she’s a big fan of chasing after a tennis ball… just don’t expect her to bring it back yet! What can we say… she’s not quite mastered the art of fetch. What has she mastered? Sleeping through the night in her crate. You won’t hear a peep.

Having met people inside and outside, she tends to be more nervous than not in these situations. What helps is getting on her level, allowing her to sniff you hello, and taking these interactions slowly, at her pace. She’ll do best with calm, dog-savvy kids and shows curiosity towards dogs, which leads us to believe she’d do well living with a confident dog in the home. She currently lives with a dog-savvy cat and would likely be fine to live with one in the future, with a proper introduction to set them up for success.

Ready to bring this confidence-building, affectionate scruff into your life? Apply to adopt.

PRIETA will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

LURA

Female | 8 years old | 44 pounds | Medium energy | Needs slow, proper intros to dogs | Best with dog-savvy kids | No cats please, high prey drive | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Excitable, curious & intelligent

She’s just a gal who loves her walks and chasing squirrels… and being with her humans, of course! Meet LURA. Highly affectionate, LURA enjoys being around her people and uses every chance she gets for pats and snuggles. On the flip side, she can be independent, easily entertaining herself with toys. The confidence she’s gained lately has encouraged her to come out of her shell, progressing from reserved and shy to playful and independent. Such progress!

At home, LURA has been busy learning new commands. Now and again, she might test a boundary. It’s important you reinforce them in such situations, as she thrives on structure, which is what rules provide. She’s a fast learner, and lately, LURA has also been improving on her leash walking skills and is always anticipating her next walk. Working through leash reactivity towards dogs and humans passing by, LURA has been receptive to her foster, who redirects her attention (typically towards treats!). Know that advocating for her space will continue to be necessary, though she’s made great progress. She coexists well with dogs after a slow introduction, though she’d likely do best as a solo dog in the home.

This gal loves to explore, which she does by checking out new walking routes and sniffing all the smells that she comes across in the neighbourhood. With her prey drive, you’ll likely find she’s interested in going after a squirrel or rabbit when outside, making it necessary to redirect her attention back to you while on a walk. She also happens to be a fan of tug (though her people have to play with her to get her really engaged), food puzzles, and structured downtime at the end of the day.

LURA enjoys using her crate as her personal space for downtime and often uses it all on her own. On the whole, she’s well-suited to quieter home environments and would do just fine living with humans who work 9-5.

Keen to adopt? Apply 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.

LURA will be a special guest at our upcoming adoption event on Saturday, October 25th from 11am - 2pm at Pet Valu in Hamilton (1550 Upper James St). 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!

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 & well behaved

KAJETA. A girl who loves her walks, routine, and her people (once introduced, she gets comfortable and 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! She enjoys the presence of her trusted humans and will be the happiest door greeter when you get home.

Apart from walks, some of her favourite things include playing with her toys and spending time in her foster family’s backyard, where she gets occasional zoomies. Inside the home, she’s quite chill and enjoys curling up to relax while you’re otherwise occupied. She understands boundaries.

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. Know that if she’s had a busy day with lots of human interaction, she’ll need some time to decompress after. 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, which can involve being vocal and trying to chase. 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 isn't really her thing, 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.