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Winston - Portuguese Podengo Mix

From a volunteer at TAS West, a profile of Winston:



My Name is Winston! I have been here at TAS-West since December. I am a 1 year old, neutered, Portuguese Podengo. I bet you're wondering what that is, well, let me tell you. The Portuguese Podengo is a breed from the Azores, and originally we were used for hunting. What's really unique about me is I am a Hound that follows both my eyes and nose. That means I'm really smart! The staff here at the shelter say I am about 10kg/22lbs. I think I am a perfect size, not too big and not too small. I won't grow much more; maybe just fill out a tiny bit. If you are thinking I'm too cute to pass up, remember I am by nature and instinct a hunter. So when something catches my attention I will probably bark! I'm really young though, so you should be able to train me to not do that or channel my energy into a dog sport!

Along with training, I'm going to need someone who can teach me the rules and etiquette for housebreaking. I'm going to need an owner who is patient, calm and persistent so I can learn properly. I would do best in a family with an active lifestyle, but I don't think letting me run off leash is a good idea as I am very fast and will likely follow my nose! There is a lady that has come to visit me 3 times since I got here, she even took my picture for me. She always tells me how handsome I am and what a good boy I am. I'm a really happy guy, I love giving kisses and dance around when I get excited. A few people have come to check me out, but I'm still here waiting for my perfect match. All I want to do is share all this love I have inside with a family to love me forever! I can't wait for you to meet me, I'm at Toronto Animal Services - West... See you soon!

The best way to check on the adoption status of Winston (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call (416) 338-6271 for the Toronto Animal Services West shelter. If Winston is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because he's been adopted already.

Sunday, January 26, 2014 · 6 comments

Ty - Boxer Mastiff mix

I think it's the Mastiff in Ty that mellows him out. The Boxer in him wants to bounce. The Mastiff in him wants to saunter. The Boxer in him wants to play tag. The Mastiff in him wants to lean up against you and get ear scratches.





The best way to check on the adoption status of this dog (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call 416 338 6668 for the Toronto Animal Services South shelter. If the dog is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because it's been adopted already.

Saturday, January 25, 2014 · 2 comments

Pepsi King - Bernese Mountain Dog Labrador mix

I have no idea how a dog gets a name like Pepsi King but I hope whoever adopts him keeps the name, even if only as a nickname, because someone somewhere knows there's a story behind it. Pepsi King is a Bernese Lab cross which means he's friendly x 2.





The best way to check on the adoption status of this dog (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call 416 338 6668 for the Toronto Animal Services South shelter. If the dog is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because it's been adopted already.

Friday, January 24, 2014 · 5 comments

Blanco - Labrador Retriever

Blanco is a big boy but he carries himself well and walks through the snow and across the ice with ease. I'm rather fascinated by his big bear paws. I imagine him to be the kind of dog a kid could grow up with, be best friends with, never forget.





The best way to check on the adoption status of this dog (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call 416 338 6668 for the Toronto Animal Services South shelter. If the dog is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because it's been adopted already.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 · 1 comment

Update on Moogly

Update on Moogly from Jan of the IFAW:

I finally went over to visit Moogly and he’s in heaven. The people LOVE him and he just loves the dane in the picture who is his ‘cousin’. They both loved each other immediately and romp in the tennis courts offleash with big smiles on their faces. Moogly lives in the main house on the property with a bulldog and standard poodle, while Hamlet, the second dane (in the pic), lives on the property but in another house. They see each other daily. Moogly loves everyone (except the cat) and all dogs. His people say he just fits and they can’t imagine a more wonderful personality.

He’s put on some weight with some more to go but now that he’s settled and content, he looks almost perfect. That look they have in their eye when they are unsure is all gone. He’s in heaven!



Thursday, January 9, 2014 · 2 comments

Zeus - American Bulldog

Zeus came into TAS South a couple of weeks ago and has since been transferred to the Toronto Humane Society for their adoption program (I was told he needed some work on his heeling skills and THS would be able to help with that) but I thought I'd post up his photos here anyway cuz he's such a striking dog. I'm not sure when he'll be listed on the THS adoption page but you can check out their other dogs here as well Zeus' original dog housemate, Izzle.




Wednesday, January 8, 2014 · 2 comments

Nate and Sara - Malamutes


Sunday I went out to TAS West along with another volunteer, Rachael, to meet Malamute Nate and Malamute/Husky(?) Sara and spend some time with them, take some videos and photos of them. They've been at TAS West since November when they were found tied to a tree in a park and left abandoned there. TAS-W is hoping to adopt the two of them out together as they are a bonded pair.

Nate

Sara

Rachael can tell you the rest.

Sarah and Nate: Sounds like a romantic comedy but these bonded Malamutes are way more entertaining than Katherine Heigl and Mcdream-what's-his-face. If only their future was as predictable as a rom-com.  These two beauties have been at TAS West since mid-November now. As a couple, they're having some difficulty finding a home for two.

I grab Sara and Nate from their cages and head out for a walk and for some photos. A few love nips and some serious tail wagging later, we get to the door. I open it to a flurry of snow and slush; these two couldn't be happier. I feel their relief as they give way to each other. Tumbling and toppling over one another they make me envious that I will never experience the delirious passion for snow a Malamute feels. It's oddly encouraging as I battle the flu. Their excitement is infectious and I temporarily forget the growing numbness of my limbs - a feat considering I spend the winter in double jogging pants (yes, that is exactly what it sounds like). Joy is a Malamute and their best friend wrestling and kissing in the blustery heights of January. These gentle giants could make a winter lover out of even the grouchiest seasonal hermit.



Nate's cage presentation is pretty excellent:


So is Sara's although as soon as she sees my camera, she's fascinated/not too sure about it. BTW, never stick your face into an unknown dog's face unless you're an expert at getting your face licked like Rachael:


Bonded pair:


Interacting with Sara:


Interacting with Nate:


Walking both Nate and Sara. Yes, when they want to pull, they pull but for the most part, they're pretty good considering their size. Just a little training will go a long way with these guys.


More walking:


The best way to check on the adoption status of Nate and Sara (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call (416) 338-6271 for the Toronto Animal Services West shelter. If they are no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because they've been adopted already.

Monday, January 6, 2014 · 5 comments

Update on Charlie

Here's the first update for 2014. From Charlie's owners:

Happy Holidays!! Here are a few pics of Charlie! He is so sweet, smart and such a cuddler! He has easily become a part of our family and we love him soooooo much!!!! He loves to go for runs, chew on his rope and pose for pics! LOL! Thank you for bringing him into our lives : )





Friday, January 3, 2014 · 2 comments

Stella - Labrador Retriever mix

Stella first comes across as being a little hyper but after a few minutes of excited walking, she settles and we proceed at a steadier pace. Her excitement is understandable. She loves the outdoors and to only have access to it for a few minutes every day must be hard for a dog.

Given the distractions of being outside, I'm surprised by how attentive she still is towards me. I suspect she'll be a quick study once she gets into a decent home with someone who cares about such things.





Stella has been transferred to a foster home through TEAM Dog Rescue. He is available for adoption and you can get more info by contacting TEAM via their Facebook page.

Thursday, January 2, 2014 · 1 comment

Unpublished in 2013

Each day I tend to only post one adoptable dog at a time. I like to give each post space, some time to circulate, maybe pique someone's interest. This means sometimes a dog waiting in adoption may get adopted before I get around to publishing its photos. Over the course of the year, this happens quite a few times so today I thought I'd put up some of those.

All of these dogs have been adopted already.

Unnamed Weimaraner

Cassie - Pomeranian

Tara - German Shepherd mix

Cindy Lou - Collie mix

Molly - Chinese Crested

Paddington - Pug

Panda - Pomeranian

Biz - Cocker Spaniel


Happy New Year and here's to a successful 2014 for animal adoptions at Toronto Animal Services South.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 · (No comments)

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A request

The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.

The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.

Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.

So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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