BELLE

Female | 1.5 years old | 20-25 pounds | Medium energy  | Good with dogs | Cat-tested | Not kid-tested | From Dominican | Fostered in Port Dover | Sweet, loving and timid | Foster-to-adopt option available

Belle is a 1.5-year-old pup, who is ready to find her forever home just in time for the holidays! Petite and perfectly sized for cuddles on the couch or adventures outdoors, Belle is sure to melt your heart. We are looking for someone to adopt or foster-to-adopt this sweet girl.

Belle’s journey has brought her from Dominican to Ontario, where she’s blossoming in her foster home. Shy but curious, Belle is opening up more each day. She’s a bit nervous around new people, sometimes giving a quiet growl to say, “I need a moment,” but with patience and kindness, she becomes all sweetness and tail wags.

She gets along wonderfully with her foster siblings—three dogs just her size—and enjoys playful romps in the yard. At the sanctuary, she coexisted peacefully with cats, so feline friends might be an option too. While she hasn’t been tested with children, her foster believes she could do well with older kids who respect her boundaries and understand her gentle, timid nature.

Belle is still working on a few things: she can be nervous around cars on walks, hesitant with basement stairs, and may submissively pee when she’s feeling unsure. Patience and positive reinforcement will help her continue building confidence as she settles into her forever home.

Belle’s ideal day includes short walks, backyard playtime, and lots of snuggles with her humans. She’d love a quiet home with a playmate or a family dedicated to keeping her busy with toys and activities.

If you’re looking for a gentle, loving companion who will reward your patience with endless loyalty, Belle might just be your perfect match. Let’s make this Christmas the start of her happily ever after!

BELLE will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come and meet BELLE to say hi! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for BELLE until after the event.

TUCA

Female | 2 years old | 12 pounds | Medium energy | Good with dogs | Not cat tested | Dog Savvy kids age 12+ | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto |Shy & Sweet

Meet Tuca, a sweet, gentle soul building her confidence in downtown Toronto! Initially timid with her foster, she has blossomed into a loving, affectionate dog who enjoys cuddling up with her humans and watching a good show. Tuca is happiest when she's by your side, whether it's lounging on the couch for some quiet downtime or enjoying a relaxing cuddle session. That doesn’t mean she can’t chill at home while you’re at work though—she’s totally cool with being a solo snuggle bug (hey 9-5'ers!).

Tuca loves her daily walks and has picked up leash manners quickly, though she can forget them in busy, noisy environments. Loud streetcars and large vehicles can startle her, but with a confident handler, she’s learning to feel more secure on her walks. Tuca is house trained and has settled comfortably into her crate, where she sleeps peacefully at night.

Tuca is a calm and easygoing little pal and is a stellar co-pilot during car rides—relaxed and content in the car. While she is still adjusting to meeting new people and dogs, she’s a quick learner and enjoys spending time with other laid-back dogs, especially smaller pups. Slow introductions are key to winning her heart!

There's one thing Tuca will need some support on- since she loves her humans so much and is nervous around new situations, Tuca has been mildly protective of her foster. An adopter will need to work on building her confidence through structure, boundaries and strong leadership. 

Tuca would be a perfect fit for a home with a couple or individual who can offer her love, patience, and a predictable routine. If you’re looking for a loyal, affectionate companion who’ll shower you with cuddles and kisses, and you’re ready to help her build her confidence, Tuca might be the perfect match!

TUCA will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come and meet TUCA to say hi! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for TUCA until after the event.

LARA

LARA | Female | 2 years | 40 pounds | Medium energy | Great with kids | Cat-friendly | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate and fun-loving | Strong prey drive

Meet LARA, the sweet and spirited pup who brings joy wherever she goes! With her gentle hugs, wagging tail, and curious nature, this affectionate girl is ready to be your new best friend. LARA is wonderful with kids, coexists peacefully with cats, and loves being part of the family.

LARA’s ideal day includes long walks, backyard playtime, and plenty of love from her humans. She thrives in an active home that balances outdoor adventures with cozy indoor time. Bonus points if you have another dog for her to play with—LARA is respectful and submissive, making her a fantastic second dog. While her curiosity sometimes gets the best of her—squirrels are a major distraction—she’s eager to learn and improve with consistent guidance.

Inside, LARA is a cuddle bug who loves her crate for napping but also enjoys exploring her environment. Counter-surfing and jumping are part of her playful personality, so she’ll need a patient adopter to help set boundaries. House training is a work in progress, as she sometimes gets too excited outdoors to focus on potty breaks, but she’s making strides and will shine with a consistent routine.

While she’s not the strongest puller, her adopter will need to work on recall and distractions during walks. She’s been known to chew through leashes if not closely monitored, so durable gear and attentive handling will be important for her safety and success on walks.

If you’re looking for a playful, affectionate dog who will bring endless love and laughter into your home, LARA is ready to meet you. She’s the perfect mix of fun and cuddly—an ideal companion for an active, loving family!

LARA will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come and meet LARA to say hi! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for LARA until after the event.

ROBBY

Male | 5.5 years old | 26 pounds | Medium energy | Best as a solo dog for now | Hasn’t met cats | Limited exposure to kids, shows curiosity | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & curious | 1-eyed wonder

This cuddle bug is ROBBY. He’s a one-eyed wonder, who, after recent surgery, is learning how to navigate the world with one eye. He has a sweet desire to be around his trusted humans and, for those looking for a loving cuddly canine companion, he could be your one!

ROBBY’s favourite things include snuggles, long walks in the morning, cuddles, sniffing all the neighborhood smells, and snuggles (did we say that already?!). We really love that, through time and patience, ROBBY has progressed from preferring to stay in the apartment to loving his walks, as evident in his major tail wag! It’s pretty cute. He’s also curious in nature, and loves to people watch, so this is another fun pastime for him.

ROBBY is continuously working on his training, and is progressing with crating in particular. He may plant himself on a walk to try to extend it and so, naturally, is also working on leash training. Keeping a routine has worked well for ROBBY and his foster, and we definitely recommend this going forward.

We recommend ROBBY go to a home with no other dogs due to him still re-learning to interact with them after having had surgery. Typically, he ranges from uninterested to slightly uncomfortable, which tells us he still needs to work on slow introductions, though that’s not to say he can’t or won’t make good friends with them in the future.

So! What do you think? If you think you might be a good fit for ROBBY, apply to adopt! He might just give you a big ole tail wag too!

PERICON

Male | 5 years old | 33 pounds | Medium-low energy | Interested when meeting other dogs | Hasn’t met cats | Has met some kids, shy at first | From Mexico | Fostered in Hamilton | Cuddle bug | Loves his walks

Presenting PERICON! This scruffy, snuggly cuddle bug is officially on the adoption market! PERICON is a 5-year-old mixed breed pooch who came from Mexico to make a new home for himself here in Canada. 

Things that make PERICON his fine self include giving out lots of kisses on the daily, spending time with his people so that he can maximize snuggles, and taking part in training… because treats are usually on the line, and he happens to be food driven! Tippy taps will follow when he’s particularly jazzed about these morsels of goodness! 

In other news, PERICON has been slowly working on learning commands, which is something you can expect him to continue in a new environment! He’s also done well with structured crate time and 2–3 walks per day. The latter is where he gets to sniff all the things there are to sniff! We also want to emphasize the former as he does well in his crate and would be perfectly happy in a home with a 9-5er.

PERICON’s quiet and gentle presence gives a good indication that he could do well with younger humans who can approach him with a slow introduction. He respects people’s boundaries and asks they do the same! While he’s curious of his surroundings he’s also working on building his confidence, so know that slow and ongoing exposure to new places and people is key. Otherwise, we wouldn’t say this scruff is super playful, so a home with a calm dog, if any, would be best for him.

PERICON will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come say hi to PERICON, he’ll be excited to meet you! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for PERICON until after the event.

ARYA

Female | 8 months | 30 pounds & growing | Puppy energy | Coexists with family dog & cats | Could exist with dog-savvy kids | From Manitoba | Fostered in Hamilton | Shy, gentle, curious & playful | Nervous around people

ARYA is a sweet, gentle girl who’s ready to find her best friend forever. She will always look to her human or fur friend for guidance on what toy is best, where to go or what to do next. Although she can also play chase with new friends, or have fun with a toy all on her own. She’s still got a medium "sidekick" energy — picture the Romy to your Michelle, or Grace to your Frankie!

She may take a little extra time when it comes to meeting a human friend, but going slow with some treats and belly/chin scratches will win her over in no time. She doesn't bark at noises or passers-by, only when she plays (though she will sometimes chirp for her meals!), and is super curious to meet other dogs, sniffing and wagging her tail. ARYA’s also very curious about her two family cats, one grumpy, one shy, but both she just desperately wants to be friends with.

Once you’ve earned her trust, she wants to be close to her human with lots of snuggles and ear scratches. But even more so, ARYA wants to be close to her best fur friend. She’s very dog social and would of course love to meet more dogs… but once she’s more comfortable & confident, more humans, too. ARYA would likely do well with a friendly dog sibling who can help boost her confidence and make her feel even more at ease.  

ARYA loves being outside, a classic Manitoba girlie, and is learning to adjust to her new routine. She’s smart as a button already learning sit, stay, come, and fetch and is even pretty good with her potty break commands! Plus, sleeps like the angel she is in her crate every night.

Think you’ve found your bestie? Apply to adopt ARYA below!

ARYA will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come say hi to ARYA, she’ll be excited to meet you! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for ARYA until after the event.

LOVE

Female | 1 year old | 29 pounds | Med-high energy | Good with dogs | Not cat-tested, high prey drive | Could be OK with older kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Etobicoke | Social & goofy

Meet LOVE, a big-hearted goofball from Mexico who's ready to bring joy, laughs, and a little bit of puppy chaos into her forever home! With her social butterfly spirit, LOVE makes friends everywhere she goes—dogs, people, you name it! She’s a bundle of affectionate energy, always up for an adventure, whether it's a jog, a long walk, or a play session. And once she's tuckered out, she’s the perfect snuggle buddy, happily curling up for some quality downtime with her humans.

Now, LOVE is still working on a few things, so her new family should be ready to keep guiding her. She’s got a strong prey drive and can't resist a good squirrel chase, so keeping her focused on walks (and off the treats she sometimes finds on the ground!) is a must. Crate training is also a work in progress; she’ll sometimes bark and whine when left alone, so she’ll thrive with someone who's home often and can help her continue building confidence when alone.

LOVE’s dream home is with an active family, couple, or individual with older kids or teens who can match her playful energy. She’d do best with a family that’s patient with her training needs, especially in reinforcing boundaries and tackling that love for snack-hunting during walks! A fellow playful pup would be a bonus, and though a backyard is great, she’ll be perfectly happy in a condo if she gets her daily exercise and enrichment.

If you’re looking for a sweet, goofy sidekick who’ll keep you laughing and loves big, LOVE might just be your perfect match!

LOVE will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come say hi to LOVE, she’d just LOVE to meet you! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for LOVE until after the event.

MERLIN

Male | 1 year old | 46 pounds | Low-med energy | Not dog, cat or kid tested | From Mexico | Fostered in Hamilton| Chill & affectionate

Meet MERLIN, the cuddly, almost 2-year-old pup who’ll steal your heart as soon as he flashes his charming puppy eyes! This affectionate guy loves to be by your side—think Paul Rudd level of chill and charm—but when you come home, get ready for a welcome like no other. MERLIN’s excitement is unmatched by any human, complete with tail wags and a beaming doggy smile!

MERLIN’s typical day? Plenty of naps, a couple of casual walks, and unlimited cuddle time! He’s got impressive leash manners and only a mild interest in squirrels and other small critters. While he might occasionally pull if a squirrel comes close, he’s generally easy to redirect and would make a lovely companion for someone looking for a relaxed, love-filled life.

Though not a fan of fetch, MERLIN loves chew toys and scent-based games that keep him entertained. He’s not super into being alone, so a home where his humans are around often would be ideal—he’s happiest napping nearby or keeping you company throughout the day. He might whine a bit at night when first crated but settles quickly, making him a pretty easy-going roommate.

MERLIN’s still building confidence with loud noises and big vehicles, so a quieter, calmer home environment would suit him best. He hasn’t had much experience with other dogs or children yet, but he’s friendly and could likely adjust well with a gentle introduction.

If you’re looking for a laid-back cuddle bug who’s as sweet as he is chill, MERLIN might just be your perfect match!

MERLIN will be attending our adoption event at Hamilton Pet Valu, on Nov 24th! The event is from 12-3pm at 1550 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON. Come say hi to MERLIN, he’d love to meet you! PLEASE NOTE: We will not be processing any applications for MERLIN until after the event.

COQUIS

Female | 3 years old | 23 pounds | Medium energy | Coexists with dog & cat | Potentially able to coexist with dog-savvy or older kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto, but anxious around noises | Sweet, silly & playful

If you saw our recent SOS Halloween post, one might describe COQUIS as Anxiety from Inside Out, but this girl is ready to be loved by a confident handler who could provide some expert guidance or someone open to working alongside a trainer. She’s also going to need a little help with her separation anxiety as she sometimes rattles the crate and is vocal when her foster family is out.

COQUIS is also very nervous outside, around loud noises, new things, places, people and sometimes new dogs. Slow introductions will help! But we recommend older or dog-savvy kids only as she can sometimes jump with excitement for her favourite humans. Hence her name which translates to a type of frog, ribbit. She’s a small gal, and she means well, but coming from Mexico to a big city has been an adjustment for her. Right now her fosters are keeping her walks short, but COQUIS would likely benefit from a quiet neighbourhood.

She is currently coexisting with a cat that she mostly ignores. Though the best news is that her foster sibling dog is helping her come out of her shell and slowly build her confidence on walks. She also loves to play, be around her humans and trusted pals. A little patience would go a long way with COQUIS, because she really just wants to cuddle!

Ready to show COQUIS that life's not so scary? Apply to adopt today!

ALFONSINA

Female | 1 year old | 35 pounds | Medium energy| Can be a second dog to a chill, confident companion | Coexists well with a cat | No kids, please | From Mexico | Fostered in Whitby | Independent & gentle | Nervous in new situations | Backyard Preferred

Calling all trail runners! Looking for your new hiking buddy, yet ready to earn her trust first? We found your girl!

This sweet 1-year-old pup is nervous in new areas, and around new people. But she LOVES going on leashed adventures through trails with her foster. Got a backyard? That’s her real happy place. She’ll happily share her backyard with dog friends, after slow introductions of course!

ALFONSINA could be compared to Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter — though she is a little awkward & has many fears (new places, new people, loud sounds and sudden movements), she is brave & overcomes them. She has come a long way from when she arrived! At first, she would stay in her crate (her safe space!). Over time, she’s started venturing out & has grown to enjoy companionship with her foster. Keep in mind this is because her foster has spent time developing a relationship built on trust.

ALFONSINA does best with humans who give her space and let her come to them. In time, she may just become your best friend, the key word here being time! She is looking for a handler who will help her work through her fears, but won’t coddle her. This means slow intros (especially in her home) & giving her space to learn on her own & grow her confidence. She is a BRAVE girl and needs someone who believes in her! She'll thank you with her signature "paw for pets" move.

Some areas where ALFONSINA has excelled? Crate training, leash manners, and coexisting with her feline foster sister. ALFONSINA would likely do best in a home with no children, due to her nervousness. While she can be a solo dog, we think she'd love a second dog to a chill & confident companion who can show her the world isn’t so scary after all.

Does ALFONSINA sound like the dog for you? Apply to adopt below!

ALFONSINA and her foster mom are also open to informal meet and greets in Whitby. If you are interested in meeting her to see if it’s a good fit, please email adoption@saveourscruff.org and tell us a bit about yourself.

POPPY

Female | 5 years old | 50 pounds | Medium energy | Currently lives with a dog | Has interacted with cats on leash | Hasn’t met kids | From Dominican Republic | Fostered in Kitchener | Sweet & affectionate with trusted humans | Looking for an adopter

Everyone, we’d love for you to meet adoptable POPPY. Belly rubs, butt scratches, and naps are her 3 favourite things to enjoy when hanging out with her best friends. Oh and sunbathing, so let’s make those her 4 favourite things. She’s a couch potato after a nice morning jaunt with her dog friends, who she’s become pals with after calm interactions. With that in mind, we think she would do well living with another scruff moving forward since that’s what she’s become accustomed to.

Looking for a home in a quiet, preferably rural environment, POPPY absolutely loves to frolic (AKA run like the wind) and would benefit from living somewhere where she could do just that -- adventures anyone? Green spaces, including trails, are some of her favourite areas to explore. She has some anxious energy, which shows up particularly in city environments, since she is fairly timid with loud noises. This is something you can expect to continue working with her, with our help! In terms of training, she’s working on building confidence and is consistently working on crate training, which is a work in progress. She’s a good walker, too!

POPPY is a great fit for anyone with experience or LOVE for Dominican dogs. She is pretty typical in temperament to most of our SOS rescues from this area (like Mascot Micke!). A 5-year-old dog is a great age that has maturity and still young spirit. We think she has some Whippet or Sight Hound in her, which also makes her a stunner. She warms up quickly and seems to enjoy time spent with her humans.

Think you and POPPY might be a match? Apply to adopt!