Featured Adoptable Dog: Max

When meeting Max, most people have to fight their urge to take him home and cuddle him all day. I myself was wondering if he'd just escaped from Build-a-Bear. He's been in the TAGS program since February. His current family had to make a hard decision to surrender him. They wanted the best for him, as they realized that they won't be able to take care of him anymore, due to unexpected family troubles.

Max sees a potential "petting assistant" in every person who approaches him. He will lick your hand, wag his tail and melt your heart. Not necessarily in that order! And after each petting session, he expects a cookie. You can't blame him—if you are good at something, you should never do it for free. And he is mighty good at being your teddy bear that came to life!

Max's Hobbies

He likes to chew on ropes or sticks and is used to roaming free in a big backyard. His favourite treats are apples and carrots. 

Tricks

He knows how to "sit" and "wait," and he'll do these with extra eagerness if you have a treat at hand.

Walks

He walks well on a leash. He's a medium- to high-energy dog, so the more you can exercise with him, the better he will feel. 

Friends

He gets excited when meeting new dogs, and he gets along with all of them, thanks to his calm and friendly nature. Max is always trying to win cats' hearts, but they don't appreciate his efforts at playing. Max is also very good with children. 

Overall, he is a laid-back dog who will be happiest if you give him some belly rubs, treats and a nice walk outside. In exchange, he will always be there for you to cheer you up just by being cute and fluffy!

That's the spot!

He was falling asleep from all the rubbings!

If you think Max may be the dog for you, don't hesitate to fill out an adoption application form so that you can meet him at our dog park! More details about him can be found on our website.

Featured Adoptable Dog: Spike

Spike arrived at TAGS in September from a Sudbury pound. Despite the fact that he spent his first few years without a family, he's looking positively into his future and hasn't given up on finding his home.

He's very friendly with anyone who stops for a minute to give him a pat or a belly rub. Do you happen to have a bone as well? You'll be his all-time favourite person!

Spike's Hobbies

Chewing on bones can keep him occupied for hours but as he's a high-energy dog, he'll love a good run in the dog park the most. He will personally make sure that you're safe from the local gang of squirrels.

Tricks

He knows all his basic commands like sit and stay and will shake a paw if you slip him some treats. He'd make it big in the corporate world, don't you think?

Walks

Spike is an enthusiastic walker, so using a Gentle Leader is best. He always gets excited before his walks because he loves meeting new dogs and people! As a 21st-century dog, he is even comfortable using a treadmill.

Friends

He is great with other dogs, although his enthusiasm can turn into bossiness if the other dog is not responding to his play requests. He lives with a couple of cats in his foster home, and he finds them quite funny. His dream is to play with them freely one day. But cats will be cats, and they are playing hard to get.

He's good with children, too, but since he sometimes doesn't realize how big he is, he could accidentally bump into them, so we suggest a child-free home for him. 

Overall, he's a loyal and loving guy who listens well and learns fast. His foster mom recommends for him a home with preferably another young and active dog. He has a lot of energy to work off, so if you love to spend your free time in the outdoors, he would be the perfect companion for you!

If you think Spike may be the dog for you, don't hesitate to fill out an adoption application form so that you can meet him at our dog park!

Check out more photos of Spike on Pinterest or watch a video of him on YouTube (below)!

TAGS Dogs at PetSmart Oshawa

We love to showcase our dogs around the community at various outreach events so that people can find out more about us and maybe even find a new family member.

You may already know that we can be found in the Whitby PetSmart every weekend, but did you also know that we've started setting up shop in the Oshawa location as well? Every Saturday from 12:00-4:00 p.m., we are there to share information about our adoptable dogs, the adoption process and volunteer opportunities.

Yesterday, Shelly, Sam and Jennifer were the volunteers on duty, and Balin and Rocky were there with tails wagging to meet and greet visitors.

Rocky and Shelly pose at the TAGS booth.

Rocky's eager to play. Balin watches from the background. 

Balin sits pretty, eagerly waiting for a treat. 

See you again next weekend!

Featured Adoptable Dog: Dixie

Dixie is up for adoption!

Dixie is a beautiful 1.5-year-old Labrador retriever mix. She came into The Animal Guardian Society's care a year ago from a Kentucky pound when she was only a puppy. 

Her arrival to Canada was adventurous! We laugh at this story now, but it wasn't so hilarious when it happened. She has always been a shy girl who doesn't trust people right away. Her travel from the States must have been frightening for her, because when the volunteers arrived at the dog park with her, she ran away the minute she found out that her collar was not tight enough! If you've been to our dog park, you probably know that there is a huge, open field behind it. That's where she ran, and she wouldn't come out to the calls of our volunteers (her having a new name made it even harder!). It was late at night and everybody was afraid that she would meet coyotes out there and get attacked. 

Dixie with former TAGS dog, Dusty.

For three days, we couldn't catch her, but our TAGS volunteers always made sure she had enough food and water by the fence. The other reason she stayed close to the area was Bart, another TAGS dog, who she made friends with. Our volunteers decided to put food out for Dixie that was "enhanced" with some Gravol, in the hope of making her drowsy enough to finally be caught. It was a great plan, except that Bart somehow managed to reach it and eat the whole thing by himself. He passed out right away! Eventually, an animal trap and a whole chicken was used to catch Dixie, and ever since, she's been safe and sound at her foster home!

She is still a timid dog, so you'll need some time to get close to her, but once she warms up, you'll see what a lovable dog she is.

Dixie's Hobbies

Dixie is not the biggest fan of the ball but likes to run after it if another dog is chasing it. She is social and active with other dogs. If the pack is up to something mischievous, count Dixie in!

Dixie trivia: She has extra dew claws on her rear legs!

Also, she would never miss an opportunity to show the local squirrels who is boss!

Tricks

She knows how to sit and stay and come when called. She is crate-trained as well. Dixie is an easily trainable dog, despite not being food driven. When she wants your attention, she will put her paw on your knee.

Walks

The gentle leader is the best choice for Dixie's daily walks so that she won't escape the collar like the furry little Houdini she was on her first day. She needs her walks at least twice a day, but spending some time at the dog park will tire her out the most.

Friends

She is very friendly with every dog she meets. Due to her good-natured personality, other dogs like her right away, too. She also gets along with cats. 

Dixie is very social—here with her foster sister.

  

If you think you'd like Dixie, don't hesitate to fill out an adoption application form so that you can meet her at our dog park!

When she meets a new dog, she likes to sniff from behind first. 

Like Dixie on Facebook!

Featured Volunteer: Nancy, the Amazing Foster Mom

Nancy has been a great addition to the TAGS foster team. Her very first foster dog was a husky mix who needed special treatment for a medical condition. But thanks to Nancy's great attendance and big heart, even this special dog found her forever home within a couple of months.

How long have you been volunteering?

I have been volunteering since July 2012. I love what I do, and it's so rewarding for me.

What made you decide to become a foster parent?

Busted! Starr and the cat do get along

There are so many reasons I volunteer. Most of all, it is very rewarding to see a dog go to its fur-ever home. I also love animals, and they love you back unconditionally. They are such a joy to have around, to play with, walk with and to love. There are so many animals out there that need homes that I thought this was a way in which I can give back to the community and not see so many animals put to sleep due to lack of room and no home to go to. 

What's the best and the worst things about being a foster mom?

The best part about being a foster parent is having a dog come into my home, not really knowing their background, and giving them the best life that they can have—by showing them how to learn new things and experience what it is truly like to be a dog. You ask if there is a worst part about being a foster parent, but there really isn't anything bad about it—just when the dog is being adopted, it's hard to see them go, but knowing that they are going to their fur-ever home makes it all worthwhile and definitely puts a smile on my face and makes me very happy.

When you have to, how do you choose a new name for your foster dog?

When a dog comes into my care, and I have to choose a name, I wait a few days before choosing one. I wait to see what type of personality they have. I look at how they interact and if they love attention, how they act with other animals in our household. Then I choose a name. I try to fit the personality with the name. 

How do you usually solve any differences that come up between your foster dog and your own pets?

When it comes to solving differences between my foster and the pets we have, I talk to some of the volunteers who also foster or to Kathy (founder of TAGS), and overall the advice they give works. If I still am having a bit of an issue between the animals, I try to teach them on my own or bring them to classes that TAGS offers. I don't treat my pets any different than my foster dog(s).

How did you deal with having to say goodbye to your first foster dog?

My first foster was Sasha, who has medical needs. It was very difficult to see her go to her new family. She was amazing, beautiful, and such a down-to-earth dog. The day before the adoption, I spent a lot of time with her, playing with her, walking with her outside and, yes, even talking to her. I told her she had to be a good girl and make me proud, which she has done. I gave her a lot of hugs and kisses and made her feel very special (something I do with all my fosters). The next day was the adoption, and I gave her a kiss and a big hug and passed her over to the family that was giving her a fur-ever home. It was a little difficult for me, for Sasha was my first foster and dealing with her medical condition, I had become very attached to her. But knowing that the family was going to give her a wonderful, loving home and lots of attention, I knew that this was the right family for her.

 Do you have any funny or cute stories about being a foster?

3 foster dogs - Harley, Starr and Layla

A really cute story that happened recently with my foster Starr was when I was sitting down for breakfast. Starr is normally at my feet waiting for a piece of toast even though she has already been outside and had her breakfast. Well, after about 10 minutes, I noticed she wasn't sitting and waiting for her toast. I decided to go look around the house for her to see if she was up to anything with the cats. I walked into my bedroom, and there she was asleep under the covers with her head on the pillow. I have never seen anything so cute as this, and she totally melted my heart. Starr probably stayed in bed till about 10, when I had to get her up finally to make my bed.  I just thought this was the cutest thing ever and had to take a picture.

Now, that you have been a foster mom for a while, what would your advice be to new foster parents (or to people who are considering fostering)?

My advice to anyone who is considering being a foster parent  or just recently became one is that not all animals are alike or are the perfect dog. Some will have medical issues, behaviour issues or training issues and may require a lot of attention. The dogs are not perfect, and sometimes the road for them may be a little long, but with patience, guidance, time and a lot of love, these dogs will overcome whatever issue they are dealing with. This is one of the most rewarding experiences I have had, and I definitely love what I do.