Last Minute Dog Rescue

10/04/2025

URGENT URGENT URGENT

This beauty is Prince, and he is in urgent need of a new home! He is currently in Pickerington, Ohio, just outside Columbus, and can be transported nearly anywhere on the continent.

Prince moved into his foster home last summer and it wasn't long before they asked to adopt him. They fell head-over-heels in love with him -- no surprise, as he has a wonderful, loving nature, is very eager to please, loves to engage and learn, and takes in life with the enthusiasm of a child discovering the magic of springtime after what seemed like an endless winter.

Prince was originally rescued from a shelter where he was about to be euthanized -- not because he displayed any bad behaviour, but simply because he'd been at the shelter for 30 days. He'd been picked up as a stray when someone found him tied to a pole. Even in the terrible, terrifying environment of the shelter, full of the noise and fear and bad smells of literally hundreds of other panicking dogs, Prince was sweet and friendly with the shelter staff, eagerly wagging his tail whenever anyone gave him a few seconds of attention. 🥺

Fast forward to now: Prince's current family includes several very small children, and another is due in 2 weeks. The parents have come to realize that Prince just doesn't seem to trust little kids. He nipped one of them without provocation (at least that anyone can identify) and seems to want to go after her again. Understandably, his adopters can't keep him in their home when they bring home their newborn.

WE HAVE 2 WEEKS TO FIND PRINCE A SAFE AND LOVING FOSTER OR FOREVER HOME WITHOUT LITTLE KIDS.

He's about 2.5 years old, and kind of tiny for a dog that looks like a rottweiler! He only weighs 52 pounds and to our knowledge, is in perfect health. Neutered of course, and up to date on vaccines. He's an absolutely awesome dog with adults. His people are gutted about rehoming him and are having a hard time composing a profile for him that truly does him justice! He's got all the traits most people want in a dog, as long as they don't also have little kids in their home. Still very young, he has pretty high energy and loves to play play play, especially tug-of-war and fetch, though the ultimate for him is a girl dog playmate -- he's not super reliable with other males so it's best to stick with females. However, he's not a puppy anymore, and settles down beautifully to cuddle on the couch. He's a professional cuddler! He's also got great house manners, being perfectly house-broken and crate-trained. He walks pretty well on the leash, and is fabulous in the car! He absolutely LOVES car rides.

We haven't gotten his profile and photos up on our website yet, but you can still go there to fill out an application: lastminutedogrescue.com.

And as always, please please please share this post, to help get the most exposure we can for this amazing boy in dire need!

06/04/2025

George's owner moved back to the UK before he was able to find George a new home. Now he's in boarding near Grimsby until April 23, when he has an appointment to be admitted to a shelter. 😞

His dog walker, Danielle, is a friend of the rescue and asked us to help save him, but we can't do anything for him without a dedicated foster.

He'll be 2 years old in July. We think he's a shepherd-rottie? mix? and this is what Danielle says about him:

George is a little shy and skittish around new people, but treats help a lot for him to warm up. He loves affection, and seems deprived of it. Once warmed up he will ask for attention and affection. He loves chin scritches and ear pets. He loves balls and will play with his ball all day if given the chance. He's pretty good on leash but does pull a little bit, especially when he sees a squirrel or bunny. We introduced him to the lady's cat that was going to take him. He didn't seem to care really about the cat, but on walks he has a very high prey drive, so I would proceed with caution regarding cats. George is a very sweet boy, anybody would be lucky to have him, he just needs somebody that has patience and some time to work with him being shy. He seems very insecure with himself as I don't think his owner socialized him as much as he should have outside of the home. He is house trained so he doesn't have accidents, and he uses his crate as his safe space.

His previous owner says he's never lived with kids but has been in their vicinity and seemed fine. He's never lived with another dog, either, but has played with lots at dog parks and has always been fine.

Danielle has access to George at the kennel, and is continuing to work on him with leash training. If anybody is interested in meeting him, she can pick him up for meet and greets.

He will be at Clovelly Kennels until April 23rd. After that date he will be going to the Niagara Humane Society. Please help us keep this deserving doggo out of the shelter!

Please share!!!

06/04/2025

Kenji went to the beach!

After our panic last week over Kenji's deteriorating state of mind as he languishes in boarding, waiting for a chance for his own home 😞, we were able to assemble a team of wonderful volunteers to take him out daily for walks and adventures and socializing. He's been doing AMAZING!!!

So far we've been finding that he's not nearly as reactive and uptight as he used to be, and our descriptions of his behaviour are no longer accurate. The work of the kennel staff has been making a real difference and he's gained a lot of confidence!

He was happy to go out with women he had just met, and was interested in some geese he saw on his walk, but he didn't get triggered or upset. We're going to be introducing him to some men next, and will start walking him with other dogs soon.

We're still looking for the right spot for our sweet golden boy. He's still stuck in the kennel. He still needs a quiet home without a lot of guests, and where he'll have plenty of space and time for slow introductions to other dogs. We still haven't had a chance to see what he's like around kids or cats. A fenced yard where he can chase his ball would be dreamy.

Please share Kenji's posts to help us find him the perfect foster or forever home! He's SO READY TO GO HOME!

Lastminutedogrescue.com

30/03/2025

URGENT

Kenji is in crisis. He is breaking down in the kennel and is suffering. He cannot stay there any longer but we have nowhere for him to go. He is in Saint Catharines.

These are the worst posts! We're sitting here bawling and begging for someone to help us save this dog's life, but it needs to be an appropriate place for him, we can't put him just anywhere! We've had 3 offers for him but none are a good fit. He can't live with a toddler. He can't live with cats. He can't be crated all day. He needs patience and commitment.

[edited here:
I’m sorry i wrote that before about putting him down — it’s all just so awful, can't pretend it's not. I had a moment of heartbreaking futility, after we just got another report about how he's breaking down in boarding. We just don’t know what to do for him without a home, but we won't give up!]

He can be in a home with other dogs, he just needs some time and space before he feels safe around them. He can go for walks in a suburban neighbourhood, he just needs to wear his muzzle, which he doesn't mind, so he doesn't scare anyone if he throws a tantrum on the sidewalk. Again, he has never bitten anyone, and we have no reason to think he wants to -- his problem is NOT aggression, it's fear and insecurity. He's just scared of the unknown and wants to protect himself.

He is smart, highly food-motivated and LOVES to learn, so he's very easy to train. He loves to socialize with his friends. He's also very playful and as affectionate as anyone can be. He just wants to play with his ball and be snuggled. 😞

Please, please share widely and with everyone you know! We're in hail-Mary territory here with this baby! We'll move heaven and earth to make something happen for him!

PLEASE PLEASE HELP 😩

24/03/2025

Kenji is highly food-motivated, which makes training easy! This kind of activity does a lot more than just teach a dog how to sit and stay, especially for insecure dogs like Kenji. Obedience exercises are all good things! They give a dog mental stimulation: instead of just laying around, Kenji is engaged and having fun. They build trust between the dog and the handler: Kenji is learning that he's in the safe hands of a person in control, so he doesn't need to protect her and instead he can relax, knowing she will protect him. They build a dog's self-confidence: being set up to succeed and receive rewards for accomplishing goals makes Kenji feel good about himself, so he's happy and proud. And of course these games give Kenji a healthy, positive foundation for basic obedience, exercising discipline and control, and focusing on the person holding his leash, so that he does what he's told because he wants the payout of all those good feelings, not because he's afraid of getting in trouble if he doesn't. There's no pretending taking Kenji in won't be a pretty big project, but we also have no doubt that it would be a very worthy one, and deeply rewarding! Being insecure is a huge source of Kenji's challenges out in the world, so building up his confidence, in both himself and in the people around him, is key to helping him develop into the well-balanced domestic companion we know he can be. We're desperate to find a loving, patient home for Kenji, and will do whatever we can on our end to help make that happen so please reach out to let us know if you'd like to talk about it and explore possibilities! And if you live in the St Catharines area, you could help Kenji so, so much with socializing and training exercises like this, giving him stuff to do and helping to keep him calm and happy in his kennel. Please drop us a line or even better, go to@our website to complete an application! Lastminutedogrescue.com

23/03/2025

Pepper and her first foster had a wonderful little reunion on her way to get spayed 🥰

This young dog has shown herself to be a very well-behaved, bright and affectionate little lovebug! She's in a foster home in Pickering and will make a wonderful companion for another friendly dog, male or female. She's supposedly a bulldog/Aussie mix, about 7-8 months old and weighs only about 40 pounds.

Please share so we can find the perfect home for this gem!

Lastminutedogrescue.com

10/03/2025

Just look at these pictures of Kenji! That melting look of blind adoration is the real deal. This fiercely loving dog has an absolutely giant heart, with enough love in it to drench all his friends for the rest of his life. Once you're friends with Kenji, you're friends forever.

He's not even picky about who he likes! He made friends with everyone he's gotten to know since we met him. It's just that before he gets there with a new person, that person is, of course, a stranger...and strangers can be terrifying!

We don't want to know why Kenji is so scared of strangers. He's terrified of unknown people in general, but men more than women. He LOVES to socialize, he just needs lots of time for a slow introduction, so he has the chance to suss out for himself that he's not under threat. It's incredible to watch as his defenses wash away and he turns back into the sweet, playful goofball that he is.

It's impossible to overstate how badly this darling needs a home of his own! He's had a couple brief spurts of home comforts, and he did fantastic! And oh man was he ever in heaven. He misses it so badly and just wants another chance to sleep on a soft bed, leaning against a caring friend for the reassurance of safety he so badly needs. He's SO READY. When Kenji's scared of someone, he does everything he can to make sure that person doesn't come any closer, like thrash around at the end of his leash, hollering and gnashing his teeth in every direction. He's not at all aggressive, he's just begging for the stranger to STAY BACK! He's never bitten anyone, but he is 65 pounds, so he needs strong, calm and competent management, as well as emotional support, to get through these moments safely. We hope over time he may even get to the point where he's internalized feelings of safety enough that he no longer reacts to the presence of a stranger.

He needs a quiet home, hopefully in a quiet area, with a patient, confident and compassionate handler. He also needs a fenced-in yard where he can safely play with his ball and get the zoomies. He can live with other dogs with the right temperament, as long as he gets plenty of time and space to get to know them.

Because Kenji needs several meetings with someone before he'd be ok to go home with them, placing him has been especially challenging. We need to find a unicorn -- not just someone with the skills, experience and willingness to work with him through a considerable period of adjustment to his new home, but also someone able to spend a few hours with him over 2-3 days at his kennel in St Catharines, where he's been living since the end of October 2023. 😞 If you don't live nearby but think you can and want to be the angel we're looking for, we'll cover the cost of accommodations. We're eager to talk to anyone who'd like more info, and are definitely open to discussing whatever kinds of plans necessary to make it work.

We really love this guy. We see the love and hope and kindness in his eyes and want to rip our hearts out with anguish that we haven't been able to get him into the home he deserves. Please help Kenji by sharing this post and keeping your eyes and ears out for someone who might be exactly what he needs, and vice versa. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Check out the comments for videos of Kenji!

24/02/2025

UPDATE: We have found Bodhi a wonderful new home where he’ll be a beloved and permanent member of the family! Thanks to everyone who reached out! 🥰

🆘🆘🆘 URGENT 🆘🆘🆘

This is Bodhi, an 8 month old cane corso/husky mix, 45 pounds, un-neutered.

Bodhi's owner lost her home and was forced to take shelter at a facility that won't allow her to bring him along, so she was trying to give him away. A rescuer friend of ours intervened and took him back to her own house for safety.

It's not a good fit and she absolutely cannot keep him. He's a sweetheart but her household isn't suitable for him at all and she's losing her mind. He's friendly with other dogs, cats and kids -- a playful and energetic puppy, who needs another dog of his size and energy to play and run around with. He doesn't seem to have had a lot of experiences yet because he's scared of a lot of things, though he loves getting attention from people. The company of another dog instantly puts him at ease. He will need some training!

This is an urgent situation so please share widely with your network so we can get this youngster into an appropriate environment as soon as possible!

Currently in Saint Catharine.

24/02/2025

Adorable little Missy was an absolute rockstar this weekend at the Outdoor Adventure Show! She made best friends with everyone she met, from tiny toddlers to big guys in uniforms! This sweetie shines in the spotlight and radiates love and joy. She showed no signs of concern being surrounded by dozens of strangers with random hands reaching in to give her head scritches. Missy weighs around 42 pounds and looks more like a Boston Terrier mix than anything else. She's in a foster home in St Catharine, where she lives with a little boy whom she adores and gets to meet lots of dog pals on her walks, which makes her very happy.

Missy is available for adoption, and we can't wait to see her join a family with kids and plenty of opportunities to play with other dogs.

Lastminutedogrescue.com

13/02/2025

Even puppy Pepper enjoyed a lazy snow day today! Hope you did too! If you'd like to have a softie like Pepper to snuggle with on your own couch, please go to our website to fill out an adoption application! Lastminutedogrescue.com

06/02/2025

Penny loves to play and is dog friendly! Her favourite things to do is go on adventures and explore. She would make the PERFECT little hiking buddy this summer🐾

Visit our website to learn more about Penny and see more photos of her adorable face at www.lastminutedogrescue.com

She may make an appearance at the Outdoor Adventure Show at the International Centre over the weekend of February 21-23 if you'd like to meet her in person. She would love to join your family❤️

28/01/2025

Introducing Pepper!

Our newest intake, an owner-surrender from Hamilton, is an absolutely darling 6 month old Aussie-Bull Terrier combo named Pepper. She's currently around 35 pounds, but we think she's still got a bunch of growing to do!

We've only known Pepper for a few days, so we'll be updating her profile a lot over the next few weeks! So far she's been fantastic, and we think we have a winning little pup here.

She seems to be a perfect blend of her 2 dominant breeds: super affectionate, goofy, and playful like a Bull Terrier, and very smart, with a high drive to learn and be challenged, like an Aussie. We're expecting her to be a dog who's going to thrive with an active lifestyle and a strong leader who's happy to provide the consistent training exercises that will keep her mentally and physically fulfilled.

Pepper is in St Catharine for a few more days before she's heading to her foster home in Pickering. She's available to be adopted throughout southern and central Ontario!

We're still working on her profile write-up but that shouldn't stop you from sending in an application to adopt her! Please go to our website, lastminutedogrescue.com.

26/01/2025

Update on the little dog with the giant hernia!

We're several days post-op and finally feel confident that we're out of the woods!

The surgeon guesses Bailey had that hernia her entire life. Her large and small intestines, her bladder and part of her uterus were all in there, making it a very dangerous procedure to put everything back into her abdominal cavity where they belong. During the surgery, the doctor had to carefully separate organs that had adhered together, and then for several days afterwards we had to worry about the impact of having all those body parts squished together into a much smaller space than they'd been occupying since she was a baby.

We're thrilled to be on the other side of this crisis for wee Bailey, and now comes the fun part of watching her discover what life feels like without that insanely huge mass getting in the way of walking and playing like a normal little doggy. Every day she gets brighter and happier and more excited to run around and explore and live the beautiful life meant for her!

We've been really grateful for the donations people have sent so far -- we're now up to $3625 covered on a $5280 invoice. That leaves us still begging for help to make up the additional $1655 needed. We're trying our best to be able to help people who are begging to surrender their dogs, but there's just no way we can meet their needs without support from all of you guys!

We can receive donations 3 different ways:
etransfer to [email protected]
PayPal to [email protected]
or use this link to pay by credit card: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLYH7BW3P3NEP/checkout/ZNJE6BB2A44BAALY4I4NTTCY

PLEASE HELP! EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!
AND PLEASE SHARE!
THANK YOU! 🥰

11/01/2025

UPDATE: Bailey's surgery date arrived and even though we didn't meet our fundraising goal, we weren't about to let this baby suffer a minute longer. She's all fixed up now and has been healing beautifully! But now we're in debt and won't be able to help more owner-surrenders or shelter dogs until we replenish our account. :-(

We have a deficit of $1655 and are counting on support from you all to be able to continue rescuing dogs in crisis!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE THIS LITTLE DOG'S LIFE.

Last week we were asked to help find a babysitter for a woman's yorkie mixes while she figured out a new living situation. She told us the dogs each had a lump on their bellies, but we were shocked when they arrived and we saw that the "lump" on the female virtually doubled the size of her abdomen. Just look at the photos! 😧

Bailey, who is only around 8 years old, is in dire condition and needs surgery as soon as possible to save her life. She has an absolutely gigantic hernia that was never treated, now clogged with her intestines and partially digested food and f***l matter. As you can imagine, her basic bodily functions are impacted and she has a hard time walking and going to the bathroom. She just wants to run and play, but she can hardly move. She won't survive like this much longer.

She has now been surrendered to the rescue so we can hopefully raise the money needed to fix her, as she is otherwise healthy and deserves to live. She couldn't be sweeter, and should have many happy years ahead of her!

We have a surgery scheduled for Feb 6 but her condition is quite critical so we hope to get her in sooner. We'll have to pay this invoice on the day of the procedure so we need to have the funds before. We can't save her without your help.

etransfer: [email protected]
if you're American and would like to help, please send via PayPal, also [email protected].

PLEASE DONATE, EVERY DOLLAR HELPS!

AND PLEASE SHARE!

06/01/2025

! PLEASE VOTE FOR SMOOCH!

He’s currently in 2ND PLACE!!!! 😃

VOTE AND SHARE!

Smoochie's name describes it all! He is a bundle of love and one look at his face and you gotta smooch him. He is a comedic handsome boy!

05/01/2025

UPDATE: Benjamin and Bailey have been offered a spot on the couch with a lovely family for as long as they need it. Thank you so much to everyone who reached out!

We were contacted early this morning by a woman in a panic, who has just lost her home and the only safe place she has to stay won't let her bring along her little dogs, Benjamin and Bailey. She is begging for help to find a babysitter for them while she gets back on her feet. She has a job.

They're a bonded pair of yorkie mixes, middle-aged, and very sweet and friendly with people, other dogs and cats. The boy is fixed but the girl is not. They're calm but also love to play with their toys. Benjamin likes ropes, and Bailey prefers squeakers. She also really likes to be carried on walks. They're not used to being crated, and don't need to be as long as there's no underwear laying around on the floor, which they will try to eat. 😆

They're in Hamilton, and their owner is counting on getting them back as soon as she can, so we're not taking these dogs into rescue, we're just helping her find a babysitter at this point. She figures she'll be able to find a new place in a few months at most, and she'll continue to provide their food and medical care for them if they need it. We'll be here for them if she's unable to take them back.

Can anyone open their home to these 2 little cutie pies for a few months?