Paws Across the Water

30/06/2025

30/06/2025

‼️FIREWORKS - SCARY FOR ANIMALS AND SOME PEOPLE ‼️

Please keep your fur family safe. Some suggestions:

🐾 Walk your dog by midafternoon, with a leash to the collar and another leash to the harness
🐾 P*e breaks in the fenced yard, with the leash on
🐾 Garden gates and exit doors need to be locked/secured
🐾 Make sure your dog is wearing ID, microchip information is up-to-date, and wearing a Tractive or other tracking device (battery charged)
🐾 Find a quiet place in the house where the dog feels safe. Close the drapes, put soothing music or a quiet TV show on and hang out together for the evening.
🐾 If you have to go out please make sure your dog is in a secure place where it will feel as safe as possible.
🐾 DEFINITELY...do not take your dogs to the fireworks display.

Fireworks can happen at unpredictable times, so please play it extra safe for the next few days.

29/06/2025

🥰 AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 🥰

CYRUS | 1 year old | 45 pounds | Neutered and healthy | Toronto

Cyrus loves people and dogs. He's up for playtime anytime, and will happily run and play wrestle with dogs of any size. We don't suggest cats in the home with him, as we aren't sure that he'll understand that they don't necessarily want to play or be chased.

Just one year old, Cyrus is still very much a puppy in his behaviour, and he will need to continue on with his training. He's best suited to a quiet home that will continue to give him the structure and guidance to help him be the best adult dog that he can be. He's learned so much in his foster home, where he's living with other dogs. He has the sweetest temperament and is a cuddle bug.

Cyrus is used to going to doggy daycare (which he loves) and going out on leash walks. He'd be fine as the only dog in the home but would love a balanced and playful dog companion. A fenced yard is ideal.

At present Cyrus is not comfortable living with younger children, so an active adult only home will suit him best.

Apply at the link to bring Cyrus home:

https://form.jotform.com/pawsacrossthewater/adoption-application

27/06/2025

FROM NOW ON ALL OF OUR DOGS WILL BE LISTED AS DOODLES 😉

Saw the reel below and realized we had to address something.

Much as we believe that every adopter should be well matched to the dog they adopt, it can be so frustrating when people consider a dog largely based on their preconceived ideas of the listed breed mix (which is our best guess anyway). While there might have been that Shepherd, Rottweiler, Vizsla, Golden, Labrador, etc. that the person knew that behaved exactly as the description on the breed website says, our dogs are mixed breed dogs and aspects and combos of the different breeds can result in them being very different from that dog the person is visualizing when applying for the dog with breeds in mind.

We wish we didn't need to list the breed mix, but unfortunately the adoption sites require it in order for a dog to be posted. Just like people, there is a range of behaviour in dogs, and as we said, our dogs are usually mixed breed dogs that sometimes have several breeds in their genealogy so they can be very different (and even more wonderful) than what you are imagining.

Please read the adoption bios carefully, and you will find out more about the dog and his/her temperament, likes and dislikes and the type of home that will suit him/her best. Then apply for the dog(s) that you feel will fit your home context and lifestyle. It's the match that counts!

We love every breed/breed mix, and will work our hardest to find the best suited home for every dog in our care. We just get so sad when some dogs are overlooked due to what people perceive they will be like based on breed, without knowing the dog at all. Or people apply for a dog that is not a good match for them or their home, based on factors such as the dog's looks or listed breeds.

This reel made us smile (but also feel sad) as we know the story behind it. Time to change the story!

25/06/2025

This has been happening over the last week, so we remind people again....

Extreme heat warnings have been issued this week. We want to remind everyone to please not leave your pets in the car on hot days. Even with the windows down, even for short periods of time, irreparable brain damage or even death can occur if a pet is left in a hot car.

If you see an animal left in a vehicle on a hot day, please call 1-833-9ANIMAL or the police.

23/06/2025

Safety first!

22/06/2025

Please remember that the asphalt and sidewalk get extremely hot in hot weather and can burn your dog's paws. Please feel them with your hand before you set out.

Dogs can die of heatstroke. Just a reminder of that too.

🐾 Heat Alert for Our Furry Friends 🐾
It’s going to be dangerously hot this week, and our pets feel the heat even more than we do! ☀️ We’re sharing this helpful infographic from Petplan that shows how rising temperatures can seriously impact our four-legged family members.

💧 Keep fresh water available at all times
🚫 Avoid walks or exercise during peak daytime heat
🌳 Stick to shady areas and cooler times of day to be outdoors
🚗 Skip unnecessary car rides and never leave pets in parked vehicles, even for a few minutes.

Let’s keep tails wagging safely! 🐶🐱 Stay cool and look out for each other

20/06/2025

More good advice. People inadvertently cause issues between dogs by not handling the introductions well. And please do not put your hand out for a new dog to sniff it, or pet a new dog's head (as a hand coming from above can be seen to be threatening.)

There is a way to build acceptance.
It starts outside of the home.
Two bits to this....and both of those areas can go very wrong.

Introducing a new dog into your own home.👈
Maybe you have just adopted and have concerns already because of other dogs that have entered your home.
It is a big deal for dogs and many won't take kindly to another dog just waltzing in, especially if they have never met them before.

Some have criticised these tried and true methods....that is ok.
You do you.
However, these are approaches that have worked, they are safe and they are not based on "individual highly social dogs" but looking at a much bigger picture.

Meeting a dog out and about?👈
Different again.
Try the 3 second "rule".
The meet and retreat is a great way to encourage everyone (dogs and humans alike) to read what is happening.

Do dogs "need" to meet all other dogs when out and about?
No.
They don't.
If you have a highly social dog....that may be difficult to hear.
You likely don't have the same challenges as others.
Your dog can easily socialise and read signals.
Others need a helping hand.

If you do struggle with helping your dog meet others....try this.
It also give dogs confidence.

Everyone can benefit from those little "I can do this" moments.

17/06/2025

🥰 AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 🥰

PEPPER | 2 years old | 66 lb | Toronto area

What an incredible and great looking dog! We have so many good things to say about Pepper it's hard to know where to start. He is a GEM.

He's calm to the point of being described as "zen." He's quiet, walks well on leash and doesn't pull and just wants to be around. He's friendly with everyone he meets and loves people.

Pepper loves getting out for his 3 walks a day and would enjoy a fenced yard to run around. He's medium energy but being a younger dog does need activity outlets. Pepper loves other dogs. On walks he'll stop and look at dogs, giving a little whine as he wants to go and play. While he hasn't been cat tested he may well be good with cats too.

His fosters describe him as follows: "Pepper is so easy and will match our energy. If we are sleeping, he sleeps with us; if we want to play, he is happy to play, and when we are working, he lounges nearby.

He is super cuddly and loves to be pet and cuddled. He will roll onto his back for tummy scratches and paw at you to keep going if you stop. He listens very well and will immediately listens when told "no". He is great in the house by himself

He is fully house trained and has had no accidents in the house." He is not destructive when left alone, and will wait just inside the door for your return.

This incredible dog is sure to draw many applications, so don't delay if you're interested in him! Apply at:
https://form.jotform.com/pawsacrossthewater/adoption-application

13/06/2025

Heartworm season is here! This is your reminder to give your first dose of prevention if you have not done so already.
Heartworm prevention is a one a month treatment from June to November when the weather is warm and the mosquitoes are out!
If you do not have your prevention yet it is not too late! Please call us to discuss the best options for your pet.