Hope is lying in the window of Kennel Cafe beside her friend Khao who seems to be getting all the attention. They're both up for adoption but Khao is a snowy white dog with the demeanor of a shy fawn. Hope, on the other hand, is all about greeting people and licking hands and exploring the store. Different personalities garner different responses and today, Khao gets most of the attention. By the end of the afternoon, there are two applications handed in for Khao and none for Hope.
Both dogs are far away from where they were born. Khao is from Thailand via Soi Dog and a private sponsor who brought her here to Toronto. Hope is from Serbia via Free Fly, a Serbian rescue organization which tries to place dogs outside of Serbia, and here in Toronto she is being fostered by Connect-a-Pet.
None of this matters to the dogs, of course. There is sunlight beaming through the window. There are snacks. There are friendly hands. They've both adjusted well to a new place where people are no longer the enemy.
I ask Liisa, who is with Connect-a-Pet, if I can take some photos of Hope. We go outside, around a corner, to get away a bit from the bustle of Roncevalles. Hope is curious outside but also a little wary. Maybe the noise and crowds remind her of where she came from. I bring out the snacks and the squeaky toy and she starts to focus on those things and then she is fine. By the end of the photo shoot, which lasts maybe fifteen minutes, Hope is shivering from the cold and seems glad to be scooped up back into Liisa's arms.
"She needs a turtleneck," Liisa says.
If you're interested in adopting Hope and buying her a turtleneck, here is her info from Connect-a-Pet:
10 months old, 17 lbs, jack / heeler cross.
She is spayed, vaccinated and has had bloodwork done and is in good health.
She walks fine on leash but can pull at times. She is initially timid of larger dogs but will be fine if introduced properly and slowly. She's great with smaller dogs.
She likes older children who won't chase her and enjoys cuddling with everyone she meets.
She has lived with dogs in her foster home and enjoys playing with them. She would be fine living with another dog or being the only one. She ignores cats.
She can be skittish and should be monitored with open doors. Recall is not perfected yet so should be kept on leash.
She isn't a '"barker" and is fine left alone and is crate trained.
Loves attention and cuddling. She's a very affectionate little gal and treat/food motivated so will do well with positive reinforcement training.
You can email Connect-a-Pet at contactconnectapet@gmail.com for any additional inquiries on Hope.
What a beautiful girl. She does know how to pose for the camera. Her eyes will get to the right person/family wanting to adopt her. Her lovely eyes just melt my heart she's one in a million a definite beauty indeed.