nicole, Foster Advocate & Manager

Nicole is the Foster Manager for Save Our Scruff.  She works with the Foster Counsellors to help find temporary homes for dogs arriving in our care, helps with any difficult situation that may arise while the dogs are in foster care and also in whatever way is needed to help them be successful in finding their forever home.  

Nicole has a background in training and education, with humans, so it comes as no surprise that she places a huge focus on the importance of education when it comes to working with dogs too.  She has owned three dogs and fostered five and she will still attend every training session she can as there is so much to learn about dog behaviour and your relationship with a dog.  She has never left a session without learning something new.  At SOS, Nicole is passionate about bringing the community together for training sessions as well as chatting with fosters one-on-one when they need some extra help.  She loves when people are equally as passionate about learning and look to soak up as much info as they can on their own from other sources, as SOS sessions are just the starting point.

Being a part of Spay and Neuter Campaigns as well as visiting rescue locations in Dominican and Mexico has really given Nicole an appreciation for understanding a dog’s needs as well as the dedication and kindness of some pretty amazing humans all around the world.

If you are one of those amazing humans and are fostering a dog right now, reach out to your Foster Counsellor directly with any questions or concerns.  If you are not signed up to be a foster yet but have some fostering questions, feel free to email me.

Jessica, Team Lead

Started with SOS: Spring 2019 (as a Foster Parent)
Favourite SOS things: DOGS (duh). But also the events, the hilariously, well-thought out dog bios, the community, alumni, all SOS volunteers, my first foster dog, and their IG feed.
Favourite Non-SOS things: Crossfit, coffee, Greys Anatomy, baking, cottaging, board games (I'm very competitive), and soaking up the summer sunshine! 

KATIE, Team Lead & Foster Coordinator

Started with SOS: 2016
Fave SOS things: My foster fail Belle , this amazing team (!!!), being able to help new fosters through the foster process, the updates from fosters, watching the dogs come out of their shells, foster fails
Fave Non-SOS things: my foster fail Belle, wine on the back deck, travelling (only two continents left!), being on horseback

Alex, Scruff Admin

Started with SOS: 2016
Fave SOS things: All of the cute Dogs!!! Working with such a amazing, and dedicated team towards one common goal.
Fave Non-SOS things: Spending time with Family and Friends, Sports, Music, Movies, Travelling, Pizza, and Liverpool FC.

paige, Scruff Counsellor

Started with SOS: 2018! 
Fave SOS things: all the dogs I mean do you see how cute they are?! 
Fave Non-SOS things: always dogs so... hanging with my dogs, friends, adventures (with dogs)

KATIE, Scruff Counsellor

Started with SOS: 2015 as a Foster 
Fave SOS things: Recognizing SOS alumni out and about in Toronto and seeing them thrive, shamelessly Instagram stalking my 14 previous fosters, the superstar volunteers that have turned SOS into a beautiful community, the on-going education and growth that allows SOS to help so many dogs! 
Fave Non-SOS things: singing, vegan activism, hot yoga, all of the coffee, tropical plants, weird Youtube videos about aliens

Lauren, Scruff Counsellor

Started with SOS: December 2018 as a foster mama to Memphis.
Fave SOS things: Getting to hang out with awesome dogs and watching them grow, progress, and finding them the perfect forever homes. We have such a supportive team and I'm really grateful for that as well.
Fave non SOS things: Being outside, cooking, drinking beer, playing games with friends and going to music festivals.

Amanda, scruff counsellor

Started with SOS: 2018 
Fave SOS things: seeing my pups come out of their shell, first tail wags and first kisses!
Fave Non-SOS things: drinks, technology, video games, managing Toronto Drinking Club, and yelling "OMG look at that cute dog!" at every dog.

Courtney, scruff counsellor

Started with SOS: 2019
Fave SOS things: The positivity and community of fosters, adopters and pups learning and growing together!
Fave Non-SOS things: Thrifting/upcycling vintage clothes and furniture, exploring Toronto's many dog parks (Woodbine beach is currently my fav), and being a plant mom.