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Dogs For Adoption

 
Please meet our current adoptable dogs! All of our dogs are adult rescues.  Simba is still in Colombia; we are currently planning his transfer to our Canadian rescue. Lulu is a local surrender to Ontario and is now available! Gunny has just arrived and is settling into foster care. Please check back on other 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 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 accept local rescues and rescues from countries not impacted by the ban, including Mexico, as we have a particular interest in Latin America.  Please keep in mind that we are a very small organization, entirely volunteer and foster based. 

We are always looking for volunteers travelling to Colombia and Mexico that are willing to help. It's pretty simple: someone from the rescue will meet you at the airport 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 criollitos! 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 $1,650 per dog.  Since the pandemic, 
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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​Click HERE to download our
adoption application!


Meet Gunny AKA Gunhilde AKA the Joyous Goblin!

Gunny is a Xolo, also known as a Mexican Hairless Dog. She was rescued by one of our partner rescues in Mexico. When she was rescued, she was quite ill and in rough shape. With lots of love and TLC, Gunny regained her health and spirit. She has made her way to Canada to search for a forever family and a happily ever after.


At about 4 years old and 30 lbs, G is a medium-sized girl. Gunny gets along with other dogs and is very friendly with people. She has not been tested with cats or young kids. Dog-savvy kids 10+ will be fine for her. She’s a happy girl and very much a couch potato – snuggling is her #1 favourite thing to do. She is given to occasional bouts of the zoomies which last a few minutes and are lots of fun to watch. With the nicer weather, she’s recently become a fan of peekaboo on the deck with her foster mom. Gunny can be left alone for several hours with no issues and will rest quietly on her dog bed. With her expressive, bat-like ears, mini mohawk and gummy smile, she really is a joyful goblin.

As a hairless dog, Gunny needs to wear clothes most of the time. She has 2 fleece jumpers that she favours and that will go with her to her new family. However, give our Canadian climate, she’ll need a substantial wardrobe for winter – and not surprisingly, she is NOT a fan of cold weather. She is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and house trained. She’ll gently nibble your hand and then run to the back door when she needs to go to the bathroom. While in Mexico, Gunny was treated for TVT and anaplasmosis, she received a clean bill of health prior to arriving in Canada. Once here, she had 2 small and benign tumors removed as well. Gunny will be adopted with a Tractive GPS tracker and a one-year subscription.

Gunny’s is currently being fostered in Toronto and her adoption fee is 750.00 and she is available for adoption in the GTHA only. If you think you might be a match for Gunny the Joyful Goblin, we’d love to here from you.
*Please see above special note regarding adoption fees.


Sweet Simba!

**COMING SOON!!!** Simba is an adorable mini pin mix rescued as a stray. Weighing in at a might 5 kilos, Simba is about 3 years old and will be coming to Canada soon with a flight sponsor.


Simba gets along with dogs of all sizes and kids. He's not been tested with cats. Simba will be fostered, vetted and microchipped upon arrival. Stay tuned!

Simba's adoption fee will be $650.00 and a portion of this fee will be used for our sterilization clinics to help pet overpopulation in Colombia. He will be available for adoption in the GTHA. You can access the adoption form at the top of this page. If you think you’re the right fit, we'd love to hear from you!
*Please see above special note regarding adoption fees.

Lovely Lu!

Lulu is a Thai Ridgeback mix rescued as a stray when she was a puppy on the island of Koh Samui. Born in early 2020, she was rescued with her sister Roo and they both came to Canada from Thailand in 2021.


Athletic and intelligent, Lulu loves lots of physical and mental stimulation. She's food motivated, rewarding to work with! She would likely excel at agility or K9 sports. At just under 4 years old and 33 kilos, she is a medium-to-large size girl. Lulu is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and in good health. She is fully house trained.

Lu is is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and 4Dx negative. Nina is also fully house trained, and crate trained.

Lulu is incredibly sweet, smart and loves a total love bug! Her foster mom says: “She is honestly the biggest cuddler and just loves to be loved; she will ask for pets and comfort by putting her face into you and really just always wants to be on top of her person.” She is also inquisitive, active and smart, and true to her breed mix, she needs entertainment and physical activity, and if you don’t give it to her, she will find it on her own! She LOVES romping around her backyard, and is all legs and gangly, fawn-like energy!

Along with everything Lulu can offer to her adoptive family, she brings with her some challenges. Lulu is timid, and can be anxious around new people and in new surroundings. When meeting new people it's best to let her do so on her own terms, letting her approach first. Treats do help, and like many timid dogs, Lulu thrives on a regular daily routine. Lulu can also have difficulty relating to smaller dogs, engaging in aggressive and bullying behavior. She has been fine with larger dogs, but we are limiting Lulu to applicants where she will be the only dog in the home. When walking on a leash, Lulu is non-reactive and easy to control, but unsupervised play with smaller dogs is not recommended. Lu was adopted out in the summer of 2020 and was returned to our rescue in late 2024, when her family had a baby and Lu's behaviour became too much for her family to manage.

Like all Thai Ridgebacks, Lulu has a strong prey drive and is not recommended for households with cats or other small pets, and she is a bit too large and rambunctious for households with small children. Lulu's adoption fee is $450.00, and as always, a portion of this fee will be used for sterilization clinics to help the pet overpopulation crisis in Colombia.
*Please see above special note regarding adoption fees.


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  • Home
  • About us
    • Our team
  • Our story
  • Dogs for adoption
  • Happy tails
  • How to help
  • ADOPTION TIPS