Where To Find Us This Weekend

Every weekend TAGS sets up a booth in Whitby PetSmart on Saturday and Sunday from 12-4p.m. We can also be found at various Pet Valu locations across Whitby and Oshawa on Saturdays.

We use this opportunity to talk to visitors about the dogs TAGS has up for adoption, the adoption process, and areas where we could use some more volunteers. However, no matter how interesting the volunteer on duty might be, the main draw is, of course, the animals we have there with us.

This weekend we have quite the line up!

See you there! 

Wordless Wednesday: You've Cat To Be Kitten Me!

For the first time in a long time, TAGS has kittens up for adoption! 

<>      <>      <> 

This is a blog hop.

Don't forget to check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

September Adoptions!

I present to thee...the September Six! These six pets all found homes this month and we couldn't be happier for them.

Please click on the image to view a larger version. 

Some Facts about the September Six

• Bella came to TAGS as a stray back in January. Despite being from the streets, Bella lived up to her name and recently earned the title of Best Looking TAGS Dog.
• Alara was recently crowned Prom Queen during the TAGS awards, and rightly so! This feline gets along with her feline and canine subjects, but she always makes sure they know who is the boss! Alara is a very chatty cat who loves attention - but on her terms, of course.
• Weston came to TAGS from a local pound where he was only known as a number. However, he did not allow his time there to affect his fantastic spirit: Weston's former foster family used to call him "50 pounds of love," and everyone who meets him knows why!
• Gunnar is one of those mysterious unlucky-turned-lucky cases. For some reason, despite being well-behaved and adorable, Gunnar couldn't find a home when he lived in the United States and was having a bad time of it in the shelter there. Yet, when he came up to Canada, he was adopted in no time! Perhaps he just wanted to be Canadian.
• George is an energetic Cocker Spaniel who had to find a new home when his owner couldn't care for him anymore. Not surprisingly, this cute fellow was not up for adoption long before someone scooped him up!
• Suzy Q has already had a lifetime of misadventures and we are so happy that she can finally settle down and enjoy being a dog! As a puppy, her owner passed away, leaving Suzy Q a stray. Then, she got pregnant, went to a pound, and had a litter of 5 puppies! By the time all of that was said and done, Suzy Q had become a worrisome dog and carried that nervousness with her wherever she went. Thanks to her dedicated and patient foster parents, she improved enough to find a home, one where she can continue to build her trust towards humans. (If you'd like to read more about Suzy's story, click here.)

TAGS Awards: Part 3

In Part 1, we revealed the winners of awards such as Prom King and Prom Queen. Then, we showcased the adoptable pets who stand out for having interesting and unique qualities, such as Best Bark or Best Eyes, in Part 2.

Today we present the third and final category of awards.

Most Likely To...

<>      <>     <>

To find out more about any of these adoptable pets, click on their picture above for a direct link to their online bio. If and when you are ready to adopt, please submit an adoption application! 

Wordless Wednesday: Foster Home Needed!

Cali's foster mom moved away, so this purr machine
 needs a new foster home to live in while she waits to be adopted.

Check out our website if interested and please spread the word!

<>     <>     <>

This is a blog hop.
Check out the other participating blogs by clicking on the image below.

TAGS Awards: Part 1

Unbeknownst to the volunteers at TAGS, the adoptable pets had a party recently where they passed out yearbook-style awards to each other!

While I’m not 100 per cent sure why they would do this, I suspect it’s because every dog who is adopted through TAGS participates in a behaviour training class, and graduation day is very exciting for everyone involved. Perhaps the adoptable pets feel a bit left out and decided to throw themselves a party. Now that I know I wasn’t invited, I too feel a bit left out, but I digress… Luckily, I discovered their master list of winners and thought it would be fun to share with you! 

Below are the "Title" awards from that night. Be sure to check the blog again next Friday to find out who won for Best Bark, Best Coat, and more! 

Presenting...the TAGS Prom King & Queen! 

And the awards for Class Clown, Teacher's Pet, and Most Improved go to....

Click here for more about the
Puppy Room at Durham College and UOIT.

For more of Josie's story, read our post about Puppy Mill Dogs.

<>      <>      <> 

To find out more about one of these fantastic adoptable pets, click on their picture above! Or, if you already know you're ready to adopt, visit our website to submit an adoption application.   

April Adoptions!

This month, six dogs and two cats found new homes! We are so excited for them to be joining their new families! 

Please click on the image to view a larger version. 

Dawson is a three-year-old shepherd/husky cross who loves to play and be active, but he also loves to cuddle—he's basically the whole package, which is why we are not surprised that his foster family fell in love and decided to make him a permanent member of the family.

Wyatt is an Australian cattle dog/blue heeler mix. Wyatt was found as a stray and will not get much bigger than he is now, and currently he weighs about 25 pounds. Wyatt is very affectionate and is known to cuddle up to humans and other dogs. He was not up for adoption for that long, which wasn't surprising. Everyone who meets Wyatt instantly becomes a fan!

Justice and Thornton were featured in our "Cats of TAGS" post a couple of months ago, and we are excited to announce that this mother-and-son pairing have been adopted together. Justice is a beautiful tabby who was rescued by TAGS after being found under the Oshawa Court House. She gave birth to a litter of kittens not long after that, and all but Thornton found homes. Now, these two are inseparable and love to cuddle and play.

June Bug (nicknamed Joobie) is an energetic, fun-loving Shetland sheepdog/beagle mix. She loves other dogs and is very smart, so she's already learned a lot since TAGS first rescued her. She's quick to give kisses and always has her tail wagging, so when her new family met her, they just knew she was the one they were looking for all along.

Squirrely is a 12-year-old hound mix. This lady's life has changed a lot in a short period of time, so we are very happy for her that she has found a new home and that things will settle down for her. Squirrely lived with the same family for a long time, but she and her sister, Sarah, found themselves at the pound when their family lost their home and could no longer take care of them. Both of these seniors were confused and scared, but then they were rescued by TAGS and put into the foster system. Unfortunately, Sarah had a massive cancerous tumour and the tough decision was made to euthanize her. Squirrely has been a trooper throughout all of it and remains healthy, with clear eyes and a spring in her step. We are so happy that she has been adopted into a great home with a family who will love her for the rest of her days.

Violet is a one-year-old border collie mix. Violet is a beautiful and gentle dog who loves to play. She's even happy to play on her own if another dog isn't around. She loves to run and spend time outside, and loves belly rubs! Violet just joined the TAGS program at the end of March, and she's already been adopted. We love when this happens!

Raggs is a 10-year-old cairn terrier mix who is pretty energetic for his age and loves to snuggle. He gets along with dogs, cats and kids and has a lot of love to give to everyone! This adorable guy had a family he loved very much, but they took him to the pound with the explanation that he was getting too old for them. We are very happy that this sweet guy has been given the second chance he deserves!

-----------

Congratulations to all the dogs and cats who were adopted in April! We are so excited for all our furry friends and their new families! Personally, I am especially happy for our senior dogs, Squirrely and Raggs, as it can be difficult for seniors to find homes. If you are interested in adopting a senior but aren't sure what to expect, you can read about one of our volunteer's personal experiences. 

February Adoptions!

Wow! For a short month, February sure was busy! 

We are so excited to announce that seven dogs and two cats formerly in the TAGS program have now found their fur-ever homes!

(Please click on the image to see a larger version.)

In the spirit of rescue, and perhaps because some of us still have a bit of leftover Valentine's Day sap hanging around, I would like to say this: 

Thank you to everyone who helped these animals find homes. While each and every TAGS volunteer is passionate about saving lives, we couldn't possibly be so successful without the help of people like you, our readers. By sharing our Facebook photos, re-tweeting our pictures, and spreading the word in general that we have so many fantastic animals available for adoption, you are truly helping to make a difference. 

"You can't change the world by saving one animal, 

but you can change the world for that animal." 

- unknown

Wordless Wednesday...Making New Friends

(Photo credit goes to Sawyer's foster mom, Courtney)

Sawyer is eager to make friends with the resident feline at his foster home, 

but it's hard to know if his adorable face works on cats the way it works on us. 

This is a blog hop! 




Click on the image to see the other participating websites. 

The Cats of TAGS!

Happy Monday! Or should that say Meow Monday?

Cat ladies—and gentlemen—this post is for you. Today we are featuring the cats of TAGS! They come in different shapes, sizes, colours and genders, but they do have a few things in common: all of these furry felines are litter-trained, spayed/neutered, have up-to-date vaccinations and are available for adoption through TAGS. 

(Click on the image to view a larger version.)

Alara is an eight-year-old female who uses her voice to get what she wants: whether she's hungry, thirsty, or just wants attention, her meows and chirps get the point across. She loves to sleep in boxes but loves getting treats even more! This silky soft feline has lived with many dogs during her time in foster care and doesn't seem to mind them one bit (she does make sure they know who is the boss, though!). Alara's foster mom loves her for her independence and her persistence and the way she makes her feel special by climbing into her lap for cuddles. 

Cali is new to the TAGS program, so we are still learning more about her. What we do know is that this four-year-old calico loves attention and would be happy being pet all day long! She currently lives with a couple of dogs, and if they approach her nicely, she takes no issue with them: she was even caught snuggling with one of them! Cali's foster mom describes her as a "gentle soul who loves attention and purrs up a storm if you so much as look at her."

Justice is a beautiful tabby who is approximately five years old. She was found under the Oshawa Court House. Shortly after being rescued by TAGS, she gave birth to a litter of kittens. All but one were adopted, and she and her remaining kitten (Thornton) are both available for adoption through TAGS. Justice is a small cat who is very friendly and would make a great addition to any home! 

Little One is a black, short-haired female who is just over a year old. Little One was surrendered to TAGS with her sister, Monkey, because their owners were unable to give them the care and attention they need. Her silky black coat makes her irresistible; you can't help but want to pet her! Little One and her sister, Monkey, are quite bonded to one another. They both love to play and cuddle. 

Monkey is a tortoiseshell who, as you can tell from the photo above, is not very photogenic. Don't let the picture fool you, though! This one-year-old female has kind eyes and a silky coat of brown, tan, orange and black. Like her sister, Little One, Monkey is playful and cuddly.

Archie is our youngest TAGS cat. This male tabby is about six months old, so he is spunky, curious and very loving. His foster mom says he loves to give her lots of kisses, and he gets along with her other cats. Archie was found cornered by some dogs who were taunting him, but he has since learned to trust the dogs he lives with and gets along with them just fine! Archie can't wait to join your family—we promise his curious personality will never cease to amuse you! 

Thornton is a black and white male who is approximately four years old. As mentioned above, he is Justice's last remaining kitten, and as such, he loves to snuggle with his mama. Thornton is more timid than his mom and is nervous around dogs.

- - - - - 

Did you know? 

The process  for adopting a cat is similar to that for adopting a dog, but there are a few differences: 

1. The adoption fee is $100 instead of $345.
2. The meet-and-greet and the home visit steps are usually combined.
3. We skip the eight-week follow-up workshop.

Put in an application to adopt a cat today!