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.
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. 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.
This is Star!
Sharing the very handsome Star on behalf of the excellent team at Kahu Animal Hospital here in Toronto.
Star is a loveable guy who has never met a couch he didn't like!
Star is a local, Canadian rescue and a stunningly handsome, goofy goofball. From his foster fam: Star is a Dogo Argentino. At just 3 years old, ~ 95 lbs, he’s a very loving boy. Kahu took in Star after his owners rescued him from an unhealthy environment but realized they were not in a good position to look after him. He arrived with some skin and tail issues, as well as being very thin and with some lack of socialization. Kahu’s staff – including Kahu’s dog-trainer partner – worked diligently with Star to bring him back to good health and get him used to walking on a leash in various social environments. He has learned to love playing with other dogs, although he is still nervous around intact male dogs. Star would be best in a home without children and cats – but could fit well in a home with another dog; a meet and greet with any resident dog is required. His current fosters walk him in downtown Toronto with its variety of sights and smells. This handsome dude would do well in an urban environment or a suburban one.
Please share Star if you can and if you are interested, please reach out, thank you