The worth of a dog

The original price for this "Golden" pup was $2000 at one of Toronto's few remaining don't give a shit pet stores that still sells puppies.

At a few weeks old, it got reduced to $1500.

It's final sale price was $126.

The sales tactic at this particular store is to tell anyone who will listen that if the pup doesn't sell at this point, it will likely be euthanized. Who knows if this is true or not.

So, this pup was sold on a Saturday.

Two days later, on Monday the pup was dropped off, along with its original bill of sales, at Toronto Animal Services South, owners saying something about getting in over their heads.


One day soon, this pup will hopefully find itself in a home which values it more than mere merchandise or an impulse buy and in that home it will be priceless.

For adoption information on this "Golden Retriever" (more likely Yellow Lab - thanks Jo Anne) pup and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Friday review, Feb. 26

Mirko's puppy mill cage buddy was adopted almost immediately after arriving at Toronto Animal Services South so let's hope Mirko finds himself home soon as well.

Mirko, puppy mill survivor

This guy is one of two brown Labradors that came in. The other one, Simba, the more rambunctious one, is already adopted, again pretty well as soon as he hit the adoption room. I'm pretty sure this guy will be gone pronto.

Super nice brown Labrador

When Bill first came into TAS South from a puppy mill with his two Golden Retriever siblings, he was the shyest of the three, staying flattened out at the back of his kennel, not daring to look up. Now, three weeks later, he's eager to meet people and loves going outside though of course he's still adjusting to life outside of a cage. Bentley, Bill's brother is also still awaiting adoption at TAS but the third sibling has already been homed.

Bill, one of three siblings from puppy mill

Simba, already adopted

This skinny guy has one of those irresistible faces that several people cooing over him. One of those people took him home.

GSD mix, already adopted

This sad faced, gentle Mastiff will be available for adoption as soon as he gets snipped.

Mastiff found as stray

For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Update on Cocasse

From Cocasse' owner who's also one of the great volunteer dog walkers at Toronto Animal Services South:

Here are two photos of Cocasse that I especially like.



The close up shot of his face is him giving me a sweet look before he lays down for a nap on my feet. He loves to sleep on my feet which is very welcome during these chilly nights.

I'm so glad Cocasse decided to own me on our walk together at TAS two months ago :). I wasn't planning on adopting a dog, or at least not yet, but there was just something about him. Before I left TAS that afternoon I had to go back and get some more slobbery kisses from Cocasse. I spent the entire evening talking myself in and out of adopting him and the first thing I did the next morning was call TAS to let them know that I wanted to adopt him.

He is such a sweet, well behaved boy who is great with children and other dogs. While he is still timid, afraid of men, loud noises outside and cars we are working on this daily and he has come a long way. He was on the thin side when I first brought him home, this was everyone's first comment when they met him, but he has since gained a good 10 pounds and looks beautiful today.

Adopting Cocasse was one of the best things I have ever done and we love each other very much.

Toronto Animal Services Friday review, Nov. 27

Here's Rudy, the fourth Doberman pup sibling, all brave now and looking for belly rubs.


Kipper is a knock you down friendly, young Doberman Pinscher. He needs some training but only because he's got too much luvin to give.


Golden Retriever, Cocasse, already adopted by one of TAS' volunteer dog walkers.


Fan Fan, a serious little fellow has got stuff to do.


Way too skinny for a Labrador. He spent most of his time outside, nose to the ground trying to eat anything that resembled food.


Yes, Shao the sock dog, is as smart as he looks.


And last but not least, a German Shepherd pup who's got ants in his pants and smart as a whip.


More on Fan Fan here.

For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Toronto Animal Services Friday Review, Nov. 13

These three are some really nice dogs. They came in with the load from Montreal a few days ago and while some of their pals will be available at the Petsmart Adopt-a-thon this weekend, these guys, because they're not yet speutered will have to wait a bit.

They're all untrained, as the majority of abandoned dogs tend to be, but they're in good spirits and friendly and not too frenetic.

Whiskey

Yet unnamed Golden Retriever

Kodiak, Chow Chow X

For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.

Still waiting for the strike to end

From caacQ:

Tazz. Australian Shepherd mix. Female weighs about 40 lbs, possibly in heat, injured back leg(walks with a bit of a limp) very frightened, terrified of going indoors, most likely was abused very very submissive. Maybe 1-2 years old.



Unnamed Chow Chow. 7 years old, surrendered male neutered. Very nice, obedient and house trained. He is a big suck, other dogs attack him and he says nothing.


These are just two of the dogs who could have been pulled from Montreal pounds/shelters and transferred to Toronto Animal Services for rescue by now if the city strike weren't still dragging on. Every day the two sides keep arguing brings these dogs a day closer to being euthanized.

Last week that's where I thought they were headed but with news that the strike might be over any day now, there's hope.

Still, I have to wonder, in the last 5 weeks, how many dogs could we have saved who are now gone?

Here are a couple of others.

Everest. Golden mix. Male, intact, very friendly, great with other dogs, listens very well, doesn't bark much, clean in cage. Bad ear infection possibly ear mites since the Surolan hasn't been working to treat it. Possibly 2-4 years old.



Tobby. Lab. Male, intact, surrendered, good with cats, dogs and small children. He is VERY obedient, house trained. He is a great dog and has been with us over a month now. He is about 5 years old ... was surrendered because he looses fur!



Update: Oops. Stop reading the news for a couple of hours and miss everything. Looks like a tentative deal has been made with both unions. Ratification vote on Wednesday. Back to work right after that hopefully. I don't see why there would need to be any ramp up time at TAS.

If all goes well, maybe we'll see a load of rescue dogs come in by the end of the weekend.

Stray people

Tag

Smokey

Rat

Unnamed Retriever

Pet Expo - part 1

I went to the All About Pets Show at the International Centre in Toronto this past weekend. I got there mid afternoon on Friday and most of the dogs that were being showcased were already exhausted from the hundreds of hands fondling them. They were awfully good sports about it all even when confronted with out of control toddlers or obnoxious adults - that would be me - asking their very knowledgeable breeders too many questions which they were all more than happy to answer.

The place was packed. I don't have the attendance numbers to compare with last year but even now with our disastrous economy, people were willing to shell out $12 a ticket to go wander around a bunch of dogs and cats and lizards and birds. I know we've got a huge pet owner population Toronto, but still, seeing so many all gathered together was kind of surprising. All ages, ethnicities, rich and poor, from pocket pet to giant breed aficionados, all geeking out on pets.

About a dozen rescues/shelters were there, including Toronto Animal Services, and I hope they had an impact on the people in the crowd. Some of their booths, though, maybe because they didn't all have dogs with them, got lost in the hustle and bustle of the crowds and I thought wouldn't it be great to have a show dedicated to just shelter animals?

Anyone got a convention center we could borrow?

Snorgasborg

Just in:

Max - always smiling

Liz - sis to Goldie

Goldie - sis to Liz

Dug - two handfuls of cotton candy

Unnamed Pointer - velvety puppy fur

Joe - your best friend

Daily dog: unnamed Golden Retriever