Sweet Paws Dog Rescue Inc

11/01/2026

Meet Owen.
Surrendered by the only family he’s ever known.

The reason?
He growls — get this — when he’s forcibly pushed off furniture and shoved outside.

Would you react if the same was done to you? I absolutely would.

We were told Owen “bites.” And here’s the thing about surrender notes: if rescues refused every dog labelled bite or aggressive, you already know where many of those dogs would end up… and it wouldn’t be somewhere safe.

We keep an open mind. Always.

We’ve welcomed many dogs into care with identical notes. We talk things through with our incredible foster carers, assess the situation honestly, and when we can — we say yes.

Yes to a safe place.
Yes to assessment, not assumptions.
Yes to understanding behaviour instead of condemning it.

Because growling isn’t aggression — it’s communication.
It’s a dog saying, “I’m scared. I’m uncomfortable. Please don’t do that.”

For some dogs, it’s the only voice they have.

Owen is just 4 years old. A young boy with so much life ahead of him. With the right home, his future won’t be shaped by fear or force — it will be shaped by kindness, respect, and security. Our job now is to truly learn who Owen is, and what he needs to feel safe in a family.

A huge thank you to foster mum Claire for saying YES.
Taking in a dog labelled an “unknown biter” isn’t easy — and yet Owen has been nothing short of wonderful. Even after a rough start with vomiting and diarrhoea (sorry Claire!), and even after the dreaded vet thermometer went where thermometers go… he didn’t react at all.

Best. Boy. 💙

We’re so happy to welcome Owen to SPDR, and we hope you’ll follow his journey as he begins this new chapter.

⸻

Surrender Notes (for transparency):
Owen is a 4-year-old Mini Schnauzer who has lived in a family home since around 3 months of age.

He was surrendered for “aggression” — growling when picked up while asleep, forcibly removed from furniture, or pushed outdoors. He has bitten adults under these exact circumstances only.

In a home where interactions are respectful and appropriate, this behaviour is unlikely to be an issue.

Owen appears to have been loved, but many of his needs were not fully met, and he did not always feel safe. He has been fine with groomers, and our vets completed his assessment with no concerns.

In care, Owen has been timid and wary but warms with a slow, gentle approach.
He knows a few cues (in Mandarin!), is uncertain around other dogs, and is still learning how to navigate those interactions.

———

And now — he finally gets the chance to learn what safety really feels like 🩵

** NOT READY FOR ADOPTION **

09/01/2026

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who made last weekends Bunnings sausage sizzle such a success 🌭❤️

To our amazing BBQ crew — Sean, Bren, Robyn, Janine, Carole, Luke, Camille and Den — thank you for giving up your time, bringing the laughs, and working nonstop to raise much-needed funds. We couldn’t do this without you legends.

Huge thanks to our generous suppliers for keeping us well stocked with top-quality goodies:
🥖 Lindens Fresh Mornington
🥐 Bakers Delight Bentons Square

We’re also incredibly grateful to our sponsors at Toyota Berwick — your support means the world to us and to the dogs in our care.

And of course, a big thank you once again to our wonderful hosts at Bunnings Mornington for always supporting our cause and welcoming us so warmly.

Every sausage sold helps us continue the work we do, and we’re so thankful for this incredible community behind us 🐾💙

08/01/2026

From spending most of her life in a crate, to finding her way into rescue, receiving the medical care she so desperately needed, and finally reaching her forever home — Bella’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

She has found a family where she is truly free, cherished, and included, with her best interests always at heart. We couldn’t be happier for her and wish Bella and her new family a lifetime of love, happiness, and beautiful memories together.

A heartfelt thank you to her foster parents, Giulia and Bill, for the incredible care, patience, and love they gave Bella, and for showing her the life she always deserved 💕

06/01/2026

George has arrived 🩵

George has had his initial vet check, his dental is booked for next week, and aside from that he has a clean bill of health.

We’re hoping to get him groomed in the coming days (firmly on my to-do list today!).

We’d like to sincerely thank everyone who reached out after our Facebook post offering to foster George — we truly appreciate the support. Based on the information provided at surrender, we made the decision to place George in a foster home with a female carer and no other dogs, as we were advised this was what he needed.

However… as those of us “in the know” are very aware, surrender stories are not always entirely clear — and George is already proving to be quite different to the dog we were expecting.

George was surrendered due to toileting inside the house, with the male owner expressing frustration and little tolerance. So far, George hasn’t shown any signs of attempting to toilet indoors. Of course, it’s early days and we’ll continue to monitor, but the contrast is notable.

We were also told George needed to be an only dog due to anxiety — yet it’s since been discovered that he previously cohabitated happily with another dog. Again, something we’ll carefully assess as we go.

George is currently being slowly weaned off a sedative anxiety medication that was part of his routine. For now, he’ll remain on a lower-dose medication while he continues to settle into his new environment.

What we do know for sure is this:
George is a sweet little guy who has already attached himself to foster mum Cheryl, who is doing an incredible job helping him feel safe, secure, and reassured — and showing him he won’t be told off.

From what we understand of “surrender George” compared to the George we met yesterday, we’re feeling incredibly hopeful. This beautiful boy may simply need a gentle home — possibly with a calm little companion — to truly thrive.

Having already lived in four homes, and now foster care, our goal is to move George into his forever home as soon as he has recovered from his dental procedure.
That will be home number six — and the last one 🤍

🚫 Please note: No applications or enquiries at this stage.

Welcome to SPDR, George — we can’t wait to see you shine 💫

03/01/2026

This week Mollie has a very special meet and greet — a moment that carries so much hope for a little dog who has already been through more than her fair share.

From uncertainty and neglect to safety, care and kindness through rescue, Mollie has come such a long way.

We’re quietly holding our breath that this could be the beginning of her forever chapter. And if her Santa buddy is there beside her, we know she’ll feel that extra reassurance and love she’s learned she can finally trust ♥️

03/01/2026

A big thank you to our Bunnings BBQ team last week ⬇️

Sean, Richard, Janine, Bren, Carolynne, Carole and Den! — your time and effort helped support our rescue dogs, and we’re so grateful.

Our BBQ wouldn’t have been the same without our brilliant supporters 🔥

Massive thanks to Lindens Fresh Mornington Bakers Delight Bentons Square, our sponsor All Washed Out and our long-time supporters and hosts Bunnings Mornington — absolute legends!

Missed us last week? No worries — we’re back tomorrow!
No excuses… grab a snag, add a cold drink, support our rescue dogs and come say hi 🌭🐶

📍 Bunnings Mornington
🏠 1100 Nepean Highway, Mornington VIC 3931
⏰ 9am – 4pm

02/01/2026

Foster update on Missy 💕

Missy discovered a new toy today and has decided it’s coming everywhere with her — it’s officially her emotional support pizza 🍕

She’s such a little doll with the sweetest nature and has settled into foster care beautifully. Watching her confidence grow and seeing her enjoy the simple joys is just lovely.

She really is an absolute sweetheart and a joy to have in care 🌼

01/01/2026

You could say Mr Duke has stolen a few hearts around here… and honestly, he knows it 😌

Now it’s Duke’s moment to shine, because this handsome young-ish gent is officially ready for his forever home!

Duke is affectionate, playful, and full of charm — but he has one very important request: he must be the only dog in the house: Non-negotiable. Life is simply better when you have all the attention to yourself!

He’s done waiting. He’s ready to belong. And he’s hoping his people are out there scrolling right now 💛🐾

https://sweetpawsdogrescue.com.au/adoptions-form/

** Mornington Peninsula VIC

Microchip No: 953010001280501

Petsource No: RE241803

Meet the gorgeous Duke, an absolute star in the canine world. Duke is now ready for a new chapter filled with love and companionship. He's incredibly affectionate and adores cuddles, always seeking...

01/01/2026

** ADOPTION PENDING **

Happy New Year 🤍

As we step into a brand new year, we are hoping this year brings Candy the greatest gift of all… a family.

Sweet Candy is 16 years old. For far too long, her world was small and lonely — living outside in a ramshackle kennel, almost blind, arthritic, and enduring cold, silent nights on her own. It’s hard to imagine how much she endured, but somehow, she did.

Since coming into our care, Candy has shown us what true resilience looks like. She was desexed, had mammary lumps removed, and most of her rotten teeth extracted — and each time, this remarkable little girl bounced back with quiet strength and grace.

Her spirit never faltered.

Today marks the beginning of a new year for all of us.
But most of all, this is Candy’s new year.
Her fresh start.
Her chance to finally know warmth, comfort, and love.

We are searching for a very, very special family who will open their hearts and home to Candy in her twilight years — to celebrate everything she is, and everything she has survived. A soft bed, gentle hands, and the love she has always deserved.

If you believe you could be part of Candy’s new beginning, or if you can help us share her story, please reach out.

Let’s make this the year Candy comes home ✨🐾🤍

** Mornington Peninsula VIC

Microchip No: 981000300449302

Petsource No: RE241803

Meet Candy, the epitome of grace and resilience, proving that age is merely a number when it comes to finding joy in life. This enchanting senior dog has spent 16 years waiting for her moment to...

31/12/2025

** FOSTER CARER SORTED **

🚨 FOSTER CARER/FOSTER-TO-ADOPT URGENTLY NEEDED – PLEASE SHARE 🚨

We’ve received the following message directly from a shelter, and we are reaching out in the hope we can find a foster carer before this little guy has to enter a shelter environment.

Meet George – a 9.5-year-old Maltese boy.

George has been in his current home for approximately three years. He is described as a timid and anxious dog, who has struggled with toilet training and confidence since being in the home.

The family have been working with the shelter’s Good Pet Behaviour team, and while George’s prognosis is considered fair, unfortunately not all members of the household are prepared to continue the ongoing training and support George requires.

George is:
🐾 Desexed
🐾 Microchipped
🐾 Up to date with vaccinations
🐾 Currently on behaviour medication to help manage anxiety

The shelter suspects George may be a puppy farm survivor, which would explain many of the challenges he faces. Sadly, dogs like George often struggle greatly in a shelter setting.

We are urgently seeking a calm, patient foster carer — someone who understands fearful dogs, is willing to continue gentle training, and can provide George with stability while we work towards a long-term solution for him.

📍 We are based on the Mornington Peninsula, so ideally George’s foster carer would be located nearby to allow easy access to our vet clinics for ongoing medical and behavioural support.

If you can foster, or would like more information, please contact us as a matter of urgency.
Even sharing this post could help change George’s future.

Thank you for always standing up for the dogs who need us most 💙

https://sweetpawsdogrescue.com.au/foster/

27/12/2025

Duke had 8 teeth removed and a little surprise lump checked (samples sent off to see what’s up) – but don’t worry, he’s not letting any of that slow him down!

This happy guy is living his best life and loving every minute of it! ❤️

27/12/2025

🌭🔥 SIZZLE ALERT! 🔥🌭

This Sunday 28th December, we’ll be firing up the BBQ at Bunnings Mornington — and yes, it’s going to be a warm one, so come prepared to sweat for a good cause 😅☀️

📍 Where: Bunnings Mornington
1100 Nepean Highway, Mornington VIC 3931
⏰ When: 9am – 4pm

Come for:
✅ A perfectly snagged sausage
✅ An icy cold drink (you’ll want one!) 🧊
✅ That unmistakable Bunnings sizzle aroma you can smell from the car park
✅ The warm fuzzy feeling of knowing every dollar raised goes straight to our vet bills ❤️🐾

No snag too small, no onion too slippery — your support helps us keep our dogs healthy and cared for.
So grab breakfast, second breakfast, lunch… and maybe one more for hydration purposes 😉

See you at the sizzle! 🌭🔥☀️