Please meet our current adoptable dogs! All of our dogs are adult rescues.  Lenny is here and ready for adoption, Tiggy is also available. Please check back for more info on adoptable dogs and check out our Facebook and Instagram for updates on our dogs,  our rescue efforts, and local Colombian animal welfare initiatives, including spay and neuter campaigns, and feeding and caring for street animals. 

Canada has implemented a ban on the commercial import of dogs from over 100 countries, including Colombia. As a rescue organization Save a Friend falls under this ban --  of September 26, 2022, we are not be able bring dogs to from Colombia into our Canadian rescue which is a devastating blow for us as a responsible rescue and a registered not-for-profit organization.  If you are interested in direct adoption of dogs that are still in Colombia, you must be able to cover travel costs to Toronto, including the flight, crate, an international medical certificate and any duties to be paid on arrival.  These direct adoptions are suitable only for guardians/families with lots of dog experience and time to commit to the process.  We will also continue to fight this ban, along with the many, many other responsible rescues in Canada. 

We are always looking for volunteers travelling to Colombia and back that are willing to help. It's pretty simple: someone from the rescue will meet you at the airport in Colombia with the dog, and when you land, one of our Canadian volunteers will be there to pick up the dog. The rescue covers all costs and provides the necessary paperwork for customs that indicates you are volunteering for a registered NFP. It's a great way to help a dog in need without a long-term commitment -- cargo flights are very expensive -- this makes it easier and more affordable for Canadian families to adopt one of these amazing mutts! Please contact us if you'd like to know more about how you can help.

A SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING ADOPTION FEES: The average cost to spay/neuter, vaccinate, transport each dog to Toronto and foster locally is now around $1,700 per dog.  Since the onset of  COVID-19, we have been relying primarily on cargo flights to bring any out-of-country dogs into rescue here, these flights are very expensive, and as a result we have increased our adoption fees to cover additional costs.  The adoption fees we quote are the bare minimum we need to charge in order to continue our operations. We do our best to fund-raise the difference but as a small not-for-profit it’s not always possible. If you adopt from us and are happy with your adoption and are in a position to help we gratefully accept any additional amount you are able to provide so that we can continue helping more dogs find their forever homes.
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Meet Lenny!

**ADOPTION PENDING** This delightful terrier hails from Charlies Angels Costa Rica (@charlies.angels.costarica) and is the complete package of both looks and personality. At just about a year old and a leggy, 24lbs, he’s a medium-sized, terrier mix and sheds minimally. Lenny is whip smart, curious, playful, and with a touch of mischievous behavior. He came into rescue in Costa Rica after being found abandoned at the side of the road in a rural area and travelled to Toronto earlier this year. He's living in a foster home with several dogs and a cat and enjoys the company - he loves to play and has energy!


When Lenny was rescued, he had a severely injured eye that could not be saved. He had surgery to remove the eye in Costa Rica and then a subsequent surgery here in Canada to repair the damage. It’s completely healed now and does not hold him back at all! He loves to play, has participated in obedience training and is a happy and very friendly dog. He’s still an adolescent and he has that puppy thing going on but overall, he’s maturing into a medium-energy dog that will settle after adequate mental and physical exercise. Len craves A LOT of human attention and interaction, loves meeting new people and is very friendly and welcoming to visitors in his foster home.

Like a typical terrier, Lenny is inquisitive and if left outside alone he will look for any escape opportunity - less because he wants to flee and more because you can tell his brain is switched on and he's up for a challenge. He walks well on a leash and loves his walks! Lenny is house-trained and create trained. He suffers from separation anxiety and can be very vocal when left alone. He also tends to drool a lot when left alone which is not for everyone. His foster mom works out of the house 2-3 days a week and Lenny is crated for several house on those days, she has a camera on him. He barks excessively but does settle eventually and is improving steadily. Len is a stunning dog but will require a family who appreciates him beyond his scruffy good looks and puppy energy and is willing to work with him on the separation anxiety. He’d do best in house with a fenced yard and a family that wants to keep him engaged mentally -- exercise, structure and routine are best. Lenny has been tested with dogs, cats and kids and is fine with all of them. However, we’d prefer that he goes to a home without young kids as he’s a bit of a project and needs to be the focus in the family. He deserves it!

Lenny is neutered, microchipped, 4Dx negative, mostly housetrained (he still has the occasional accident) and crate trained. He has been assessed by a vet in both Costa Rica and Toronto and is in great health. He’s an amazing addition to the right home and we know he will enrich the lives of whomever he's around. His adoption fee is $850 and a portion of this fee will be used for our sterilization clinics to help pet overpopulation in Colombia and other areas abroad. If you think you'd be a good fit for Len, we'd love to hear from you.
*Please see above special note regarding adoption fees.

Meet Tiggy!

She was rescued from the street in the Yucatán state in Mexico about a year ago after being hit by a car. As a result of some very serious injuries, Tigs had both eyes removed. And it’s clear she had a rough life even before the accident, she’s had many litters of pups and when she was rescued, she was heartworm positive. The good news is she’s happy and healthy now, she’s adjusted to her new life and she’s here with us in Toronto searching for a forever family! It’s only good things ahead for Tiggy-Tigs.


Timid as first with new people and in new situations, once she warms up, she’s vivacious and silly and a joy to be around! Tiggy lives with other dogs and cats with no problems. Once she learns the layout of new places, she’ll bustle around with confidence. She’s nervous outside on a leash, so we’re working on that. She loves to putter in the garden and hang out there with the other dogs. She sleeps in her foster parents’ bed but will also sleep in a crate. She is crate-trained and house-trained and can be left alone for several house with no issues. Her foster mom leaves the radio on for her (she likes Jazz FM). She’s super snuggly and asks to be picked up to hang out on the couch when the family is watching TV. When she’s really happy, she does a little dance and lets out yips of joy. She also knows her basic commands and the all-important word “TREAT!”

Tiggy some sort of hound mix and is about 25.5 lbs. She looks a bit like a big dog that shrunk in the dryer. She’s spayed, microchipped, vaccinated and is 4Dx negative. She also had a dental recently. Tiggy had a slow-kill heartworm treatment upon her arrival in Canada and she is officially heartworm negative. She will need to stay on monthly heartworm preventative meds for the rest of her life.

Tigs is such a special girl, she seems so soft and timid but when you imagine all she’s been through, you realize just how resilient she really is. She’s looking for a special family that will give her lots of time and TLC, work with her on her leash skills and will be patient as she adapts to new surroundings again (this time for the LAST time!). She is a low-energy dog (she's not going to run a marathon with you!) but we’d love a house with a fenced yard so she can spend time in the garden. Other dogs or cats would be most welcome. Due to her special needs, we’re looking for a family without young children. Her adoption fee is $450 and a portion of this fee will be used for our sterilization clinics to help pet overpopulation in Colombia. If you think you'd be a good match for this lovely, little companion, we'd love to hear from you.
*Please see above special note regarding adoption fees.