Original bio:

Brady is a gentle boy who loves to chase a ball but is polite enough to let our resident dog be the one to pick it up, even if he gets to it first. He is on the cusp of his puppy stage and a bit gangly. He has not learned to give kisses but will stand quietly next to you to be petted and scratched. When he’s ready for bed, he will place his head in your lap for some serious stroking then fall asleep on you. It seems he wasn’t taken out much in his former life because he does not walk well on a leash or like car rides yet, but with much love, patience and nurturing, he can be taught the joys of a good walk and the feel of the wind on his face. Sudden moves make him a little skittish. He doesn’t come readily when offered a treat but when he does, will take it very gently from your hand. It doesn’t appear that he was enrolled in Socialization with Other Dogs 101 but he is a quick learner once he gets over his initial shyness. He did not even know how to use the stairs, but now goes up and down like he owns the place!

Like all young labs, Brady enjoys a good chew - a ball of yarn, a house slipper, a stray sock so he will need lots of toys and activity to keep him occupied. He practices the fine art of garbology when no one’s looking or he’s left on his own. Just like a toddler, when it gets quiet, start looking!

Brady has a submissive personality and would do very well with another dog. He loves to run and play and has energy to burn but not quite as much as a young puppy. If left alone, make sure your shoes are out of reach. The perfect home for him would be a big yard where he could stretch his long legs, another young dog to play with and lots of loving hands to pet him. Add LOTS OF CHEW TOYS and you will have one happy dog! Brady is a handsome lab mix with some shepherd thrown in. He is about 2 years old, weighs approximately 60 lbs, is neutered, up to date on all his shots and is microchipped.

Original bio:

Meet Paddington, our big ol' teddy bear! He is as sweet and as cuddly as a teddy bear can be. He just loves to give kisses and snuggle. He is great with other dogs, kids of all ages, and even kitties. he loves car rides as well. Paddington (PaddyBear) just loves everyone and everyone loves him. He is the perfect example of what we love about Labrador Retrievers. He was rescued from the shelter on his last day just before St Patrick's Day. We are so lucky to have him with us. He is about 8 years old and is a big boy. He needs to lose a few pounds but he moves well and seems very happy.

He had a couple of lumps that we had removed, and he's been a new dog ever since! He feels better, gets around better and looks fabulous. The lumps were tumors, but they were removed with clean margins, so he's tumor-free and his prognosis is excellent. We all LOVE this dog! He is really very special and deserves a wonderful home where he will be spoiled with lots of love. We can assure you he will return the love.

Original bio:

Brody is a gorgeous, eager-to-please, yellow male Labrador Retriever, 5 years old. (We previously listed him as 2 years old, based on his behavior, but our vet thinks 5.) His eyes are almost green and his fur is strawberry blond. He's a handsome boy with a nice personality-- sweet, loving, and intelligent. And he always wants to please his person. He wasn't an indoor dog, yet he was completely housebroken in no time at all. Brody is crate trained and sleeps through the night without a peep. He knows basic commands, and is reasonably good on leash with a pinch collar. He's microchipped, neutered, on flea preventative and up to date on all vaccines.

One of his favorite activities is to charge through the surf to swim out and retrieve his tennis ball. He is definitely a water dog and a good sailor-- he settles down nicely for a boat ride. He loves all people and dogs. He is gentle and respectful of todders and enjoys little children. He likes nothing more than to parade around with his ball in his mouth wiggling with delight with so much love and happiness to share.

Brody, like any Lab, needs a good amount of low-impact exercise, like a couple of good walks per day or a good swim. He had a ruptured knee tendon, which has been repaired surgically and is fully healed, but he shouldn't be asked to do high-impact activities like Frisbee-catching or sustained running for long distances. He would be fine with or without another friendly dog, but does not do well with cats, ducks, or other small animals.

He has allergies which are controlled with an inexpensive medication, prednisone. A side effect of this medication is heightened appetite, and that appetite runs to swallowing soft stuffed dog toys, so these must be kept strictly away from him. Rubber toys and hard chew toys, like Nylabones, are fine.

Original bio:

Moe is just about the greatest dog around. He was a stray, picked up in San Bernardino, and no one came to claim him. He was much loved and trained by someone. He is very affectionate, loves to cuddle and give little kisses. He is obedient, walks extremely well on a leash, has great house manners and is housebroken. He seems to know to "go" when he takes walks. It has taken a few days, but he's getting comfortable with doing his duty in the back yard now. He is not a counter-surfer, does not grab food (yours or his) from your hand and takes treats gently. He loves kids, people and dogs. We don't know about cats, but does like to go after rabbits if they are around. He will listen when corrected. I can't say enough about this wonderful boy - he is about 8 years old and in good health. Has a few inconsequential lumps that have been checked out by the vet, who aspirated them and found them to be benign fatty lumps (pretty normal for Labs his age). He's just a bit stiff when he first wakes up (but aren't we all), but limbers up quickly. Loves to take walks. Loves to play with stuffed squeaky toys - entertainments himself. This dog is a real find.

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Original bio:

Shaughnessy apparently lost an argument with a car, so he's on the mend with a foreleg fracture. The cast will probably be taken off around the end of March or the beginning of April and if all is well, he'll be made available shortly afterwards.

He's a beautiful young boy, about 12 to 14 months old, and looks every bit the purebred. He's an active, playful guy and would love to roughhouse and run. More's the pity, since he must be kept quiet until his leg is healed. Fortunately, he tolerates being pent up in a 4x4 exercise pen well, though he somehow managed to break his first cast even so.

Shaughnessy is a diamond in the rough and needs training, just as any Lab his age would. He has a sweet, but unruly, personality and seems well-socialized to humans and dogs alike. This boy would make a wonderful, cheerful addition to any family with the will and time to devote to training him.

Send an email to info@fetchingcompanions.org or leave a message at 888-412-3382 if you'd like to know more about this dog.

Original bio:

Panther is a lively 5 month yellow male. Although he is purebred, he doesn’t come with papers, but you won’t care once you meet this affectionate fellow! He came to us underweight but he’s been filling out quite nicely. Still, we think he’ll be on the small side when fully grown, judging from the size of his paws. Panther had a minor case of parvovirus, but he has recovered completely, and you would never know he was sick for a few days. His foster brother and sisters are very happy he has become a normal lab puppy.

Panther loves to be with people, so we think he’d be best with someone who is home most the time. He loves to be noticed and tends to get underfoot from following you so closely. He gets along with big dogs but being a pup, he could stand to learn some manners. If you let him, he will snuggle on top of you and before you know it, you won’t be able to move lest you disturb his sleep.

Original bio:

Oscar is a stunning purebred labrador who is 2-1/2 years old with a tail that never stops wagging. Oscar has all of the qualities we love in labs; he is: happy, funny, playful, goofy, loyal, affectionate, and totally adorable. His foster daddy describes him as a diamond in the rough seeking the right family to love and train him to become the ultimate lab. Oscar was turned into a shelter along with his sister when his family moved, an all too common story these days. His sister was adopted and we took Oscar into rescue. Initially, he was scared to come into the house, and he suffered from a long-standing flea infestation resulting in a flea allergy and very itchy skin. With the help of some medicated baths, good food and some skin supplements, his coat is now shiny and soft.

Oscar loves other dogs of all sizes and would probably do well in a home with another dog to play with. At first, he was very interested in the kitty at his foster home but they quickly became great friends and now play together all of the time. Oscar is potty trained but is still perfecting his house manners. Since arriving at his foster home, he has learned "come", "sit" and "down" and is working on "stay". He has a moderate energy level for a dog his size and is not hyper, but like all labs, requires daily exercise. He is still working on his leash skills and he pulls when he sees other dogs. Oscar needs a lab savvy family that can commit to his training and help him become a fabulous companion for years to come. No softies please!

Don't be confused by the name, Oscar is not a grouch, he is the happiest dog around who loves people and is very affectionate and attentive. Due to his size and adolescent temperament, he is probably not suited for a home with small children that he could accidentally knock over. Like many rescued labs, Oscar is somewhat concerned that his people will leave him again and prefers to be with his foster family at all times so that he can keep an eye on them, and he would prefer not to be home alone all day without a companion. Oscar is up to date on his vaccinations and is micro-chipped and neutered.

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Original bio:

Shadow is a pretty black female lab, about 5 years old. When we first rescued her from the Carson shelter and Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue rescued her "sister" Chelsea, both dogs turned out to be on the verge of coming down with kennel cough, the doggy version of a human cold. Now Shadow is much better, with just a slight cough remaining. She has turned out to be a sweet dog who loves people and wants to play with other dogs but still needs to learn to learn how. She is a good fetcher and has some training. She misses her "sister", so the two rescue groups had a get together for the two dogs.

Original bio:

Dallas is a 4 month old male Chocolate Lab. He is a very loving, affectionate little man and loves attention! From what we can tell he is partially crate trained. We tell him to go to bed, and goes into his crate. He sleeps all night and never whines or cries. He has learned to use the doggie door and knows that he needs to go outside for his “business.” He is great around other dogs, but would recommend a female He is also great with children. He can be a bit rambunctious at times, but it’s because he craves the attention! Dallas would do well with a family where someone can be with him all the time. We are starting to teach him to obey while on the leash, and teach him normal commands like “sit” and “no.” He has a lot of potential. Dallas is a sweet little man and any family that adopts him will be very lucky.

Original bio:

Please meet Blue! He is an amazing 5 month old yellow pup. He is super sweet and eager to please. He had pneumonia but is now fully recovered. He is full of energy and the epitome of happy guy waiting patiently for his new family.

Blue is living with a 3 year old foster brother of about 100 lbs. They play great together and Blue never gives up playing. He is learning leash manners but gets so excited he likes to run, than walk then skip then lope. He is very funny to watch as prances and runs in glee when played with! He is very sweet with children but needs to learn manners. He thinks all toys are his! Blue will need to be in a house where someone is home most of the day. He is still very young and has lots of energy.

Original bio:

Hi, I’m Bart! I am so happy to be out of the shelter – I was there over a month! My old family put me in the night box without so much as a “by your leave.” I don’t know what I did that was so bad; I’m still just a silly puppy. I’m only about 1-½ years old.

The people at the shelter were nice and they were careful not to let me get adopted by people who might not understand what a 1-½ year old lab puppy is all about. Someone referred to me as a “wild man” and that’s when they called the rescue lady.

She came out and played with me and saw that with the right handling, I’m really a pretty amazing boy. I have a lot of energy, but after I run around for 15-20 minutes, I’m ready for a break. I *love* to play with plush toys and I will amuse myself for quite a long time with those. I like to retrieve things too.

The lady figured out that I knew “sit” and when I figured out she had a pocket full of treats, I would run over to her and sit without being asked, and voilà! She’d give me a little tidbit. I’m also learning that “off” means I can’t sit on the pretty furniture, and “leave it” means she will throw the toy for me if I let go of it. I know where to go potty too.

Today I got a bath and it felt really good. I liked everything from getting a massage to getting toweled off. I was really good and stood very still and I remembered to give the lady little kisses – it’s always good to let your humans know they are appreciated. She got a lot of dead hair out of me and now I’m soft and smell like flowers.

She has a couple other labs and we all really like each other. They are boys too and like to play pretty hard. There are some cats and I like them. They are less sure of me, but one of them has already made it clear that she thinks I’m A-O-K!

Original bio:

What an irresistible cutie this pup is! He's fun and smart and loves to play with humans and dogs alike.

Lucas is a 7 month old who just wants a hug, and no one who's met him can resist giving him a few. He looks very Labby in most respects, but we think he's a mix. We're guessing he's a Lab/Boston Bull Terrier mix. He's got beautifully glossy black fur, with the tiniest little white spot on his chest.

Lucas had an unlucky start in life, having been turned out on the streets by his owner to fend for himself, because that owner couldn't or wouldn't pay for medical treatment after he was hit by a car. Lucas suffered no broken bones, but sustained nerve damage in his left forelimb severe enough that he had no feeling or motor control below the elbow. In consequence, the only reasonable option was to amputate the leg. He is doing extremely well without the it. "Tripod" dogs normally do very well, particularly when they lose the limb early in life, as Lucas has. Lucas can run, jump, play, and roughhouse just like any four-legged dog.

We needed financial help to support the cost of his surgery, and a generous public has largely covered it.

To help us save other dogs suffering major medical misfortunes in the future, a donation in any amount will help immeasurably. We're an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so all contributions are fully tax-deductible. If you do want to help, you can use your credit card to do so securely by clicking the online donation button on our homepage, or by mailing a personal check to the address at the bottom of this page.

Original bio:

My name is Hayden and I am a young gorgeous white purebred Labrador, about 3 years old.

I am looking for a home with a family that will spend lots of time with me. I am extremely shy but a very gentle boy. If I can get away with it I like to keep to myself because of my shyness… so it is important to me that my owner is home a lot of the day so that I will be able to get out of my shyness and blossom into a happy lab.

I walk perfectly on a leash. I never pull and I have to be on your left side. I get along with other dogs but prefer to get to know them a little first. I love walks and riding in a car… I prefer to play with toys when no one is looking… I like squeaky toys a lot but will wait to play with them till you leave.. I am a very quiet dog and I don’t get in anyone’s way… I would love to find a family that can spend a lot of time with me so that I can learn to play when you are around too, so that you can see how good I am at getting the toys to squeak and how fun I think they are…

I am housebroken and very easy… Sometimes you wont even know that I am there…

I prefer to get a brother or sister Labrador as I love to play with my friends…

Original bio:

Here is a beautiful 2 to 3 year old young male named Romeo. We call him Romeo because he has amazing gold eyes that melt the heart of everyone he meets. He is a large strong male and he weighs about 80 lbs. He is super gentle with children and takes treats sweetly. He is just learning to sit and stay so he responds best when treats are involved. He is completely potty trained but loves to counter surf so he needs to learn additional house manners. The boy is very loving and desires lots of attention from his human companion; he likes to lean against your leg. He spends his days sleeping in my office and would love nothing more to curl up at his human's feet. If given too much time alone he will make himself quite comfortable on the furniture. He sleeps on a dog bed next to my bed and will stay quiet until I am ready to start my day.

Romeo has had some issues with separation anxiety and will need to be placed in a home with another dog. He will dig and try to escape If he is left too long. We are working on this issue but he will need additional training to learn to be calm when left alone.

He is just learning to walk on a leash and will need someone strong enough to guide him. Once he get used to being on a leash he calms down quite a bit and is happy to stroll anywhere.

Romeo will need someone able to handle a large strong dog that has just begun his obedience training. He is suited for children but does not understand the difference between his toys and theirs, who could blame this heartbreaker.

Original bio:

Diamond is a very sweet, beautiful girl who is a wonderful companion dog. She’s not real big on chasing the ball, but loves to cuddle and hang out with you. She also likes car rides and walks, and is always ready to go. This little gem is on the small side at about 41 pounds and is very light on her feet!

Diamond is about 2 years old and is in good health. She is house trained and good on leash, though we don’t think she’s had much formal training. She will do best in a loving, quiet home as she is on the shy side.

Original bio:

Bogey is a gorgeous 3 year old purebred labrador who was rescued just as he was about to be euthanized for having kennel cough (the canine equivalent of the common cold).

He is a beautiful cream colored, big boy who weighs about 75 pounds now, although his ideal weight is around 80 pounds. He has had a rough life so far as his microchip indicates that he was stolen from his original owners when he was a pup and then sadly he ended up in an LA shelter and when he was traced back to them, they didn't want him back...

He hass recovered nicely from the kennel cough and is loving all of the attention he is getting in his foster home. He chose a little stuffed lamb from the toy chest and carries it around everywhere he goes. He is very friendly and playful and gets along with all dogs and people. He is curious about the cat but not overly so. He is very affectionate and attentive and has completely won over his foster family with his sweet and somewhat goofy temperament.

Bogey has a moderate energy level for a dog his age and he settles nicely when it is not playtime. He is house trained, walks well on a leash and knows basic obedience commands. Bogey is current on his vaccinations and micro-chipped.

Original bio:

Chandler is a loveable 7 year old yellow male Lab. He is extremely sweet, and is good with everyone, including kids, cats and dogs.

There's a story behind the silly-looking neck skirt. He had a thyroid tumor that was surgically removed, and the skirt prevents him from scratching the almost-healed incision. The tumor was well-encapsulated and was taken out with good margins. We also xrayed his chest to make sure nothing was going on elsewhere. There wasn't, so his prognosis is quite good.

We use the tan Gentle Leader harness seen in the photo, to avoid putting pressure on his incision. As it turns out, he must have been trained with one, because he walks and heels very nicely when it's on him.

We've also had to keep him crated and quiet to avoid stressing the incision. This had the benefit that he's now crate-trained. In fact, he thinks his crate is a pretty neat place to be.

While he was under for the surgery, we had some dental problems corrected and a couple of benign fatty lipomas removed, so all his problems are behind him now and he's ready to go.

Please contact carolyn@fetchingcompanions.org if you're interested in this big old teddy bear.

This is Gypsy. She is a 2 year old, 72-pound, apparently purebred Labrador. She’s what we call “field-bred” and typifies the body type by being longer in build. She looks very typical of the hunting/field lines we see coming out of the Central Coast area. Gypsy exemplifies the wonderful temperament of Labs. She is extremely friendly, loving, and very agreeable with other dogs *and* kitties! In fact, she LOVES cats and our cats love her!

Gypsy was turned into the shelter by her owner for some, unknown and unstated reason. It looks like she may have tried to escape because of some wounds she has. We took her to the vet just to be sure that they were healing properly, and they confirmed that all is A-O-K. Oh, and she has 1 slightly crossed eye, which makes her so, so, so cute.

Everyone at the clinic loved Gypsy’s sweet personality; she was a complete hit!

Gypsy appears to be house trained, and she slept quietly in our room last night. She has some training and will sit quickly for treats, knows down and shake. She’s OK on leash but will need some work. She is very people-focused and not interested in darting out doors or gates, or leaping out of the car before you are ready.

Gypsy has been spayed and micro-chipped. She is current on her vaccinations and appears to be in excellent health.

Original bio:

Meet Ginger!

Ginger is an adorable 3-1/2 year old purebred Labrador. She is a beautiful "fox red" Lab with golden and caramel coloring and expressive chocolate eyes. She ended up in a county shelter somehow and the microchip in her traced back to a puppy mill breeder in the midwest but the chip had never been registered and sadly, no one came to claim her. Fortunately for her, we rescued her and she is now receiving the attention and love she deserves. She is a sweetheart and loves to give and receive affection as much as possible. She is spayed, current on her vaccinations, micro-chipped and ready to meet her new family.

Ginger is a perfectly pint-sized Labrador at about 50 pounds. She is learning how to fetch and play with toys at her foster home but her favorite activity is to be right next to her people. She would do best in a home where she has a constant doggie or human companion. She is somewhat unsure and anxious in new situations so she will need a family that is patient and would probably do best in a home without small children. She is fine with cats and loves to play with other dogs of all sizes and is a very friendly girl with just a touch of spice.

Ginger knows "come", "sit" and "down" and is generally calm and obedient but needs a refresher on basic training. She really wants to please and is responding well already! She does not pull on the leash but does sniff and zig zag a little, so she will need some work on leash skills. She is house trained and is not at all destructive or hyper. She would be fine with moderate daily exercise such as walking or hiking, or more!

Original Bio:

Willow is approximately 4 years old. We believe she is a breeder-bred, purebred Lab due to the fact that her front dewclaws are removed. She’s spayed, current on vaccinations and micro-chipped.

Willow is in great shape and must have been loved by her previous owner. She was found as a stray in an RV park and never claimed at the shelter. Her coat is beautiful and is a lighter yellow color. She is about 63 pounds. Willow is perfectly house trained and lets you know when she needs to go out for a potty break. She has been sleeping in a crate at night.

Willow has lots of training, but as typical of a dog who has gone through a major life-change, she needs brushing-up on some basics like her leash walking. She’s not a dog who runs off though, and after just a few days with us, we offer her a couple off-leash privileges like going from the house to the car.

She knows sit, down, shake, will potty on command, comes when called and is a bit rusty on “stay.” She gets along w/her foster brother dogs, but she does not like to share toys or have another dog drink from the water dish at the same time. She’s a dog who would do fine without other-dog company since she’s so focused on people. She’s also doing well w/our cats being friendly indoors, but chasing when they run – something our dogs do as well. Our cats have accepted Willow and allow her to sniff and give kisses.

Willow is a very active girl and will do best with regular exercise. She loves to retrieve tennis balls, so even a couple rounds of fetch during the day would do the trick. Indoors, she likes to follow us around and will settle down where we are working. She does enjoy sitting on the sofa w/us for TV viewing and cuddling, and we admit to allowing it because we feel sorry for any dog who comes from the shelter.

Louie The Lab

Louie is a handsome 1 to 2 year old male labrador with a shiny jet black coat that was rescued just in the nick of time from a Los Angeles shelter. He appears to be purebred and has had his dew claws removed. He is an average size lab who is underweight right now at at 65 pounds and his ideal weight is around 70 to 75 pounds. His foster family is feeding him lots of good food and has nursed him back to good health after he left the shelter with a cold. His favorite thing in the whole world is to have is ears rubbed but he will settle for any attention he can get. It appears that he was an outside only dog that never received much human attention or guidance.

Louie is very affectionate, attentive, loves to give kisses and receives pets in return. He loves all of the doggie toys at his foster home and likes to carry them around and stockpile them on his bed almost as if he has never had a toy of his own. He is a young boy who loves to play and he needs daily exercise and a family who will continue his training although he knows some basic commands. He is not at all aggressive and loves to play with other dogs of all sizes. He loves to be with people as much as possible and would probably do best in a home where he is not alone all day, or has a doggie companion to keep him company.

Original bio:

Here's a lively sweetheart whose first name is Samantha, but she lacks a last name. That's where you come in!

Samantha is a delightful 2-3 year old yellow female Labrador with a field-bred build (slim body and long legs). Her coloring is the kind that results from breeding a chocolate with a yellow Lab - she has the skin coloring and, other than her yellow coat, the features of a chocolate Lab. She has strikingly pretty amber-green eyes rimmed in pink instead of black, and a pink nose instead of a black one! She is petite at just 54 pounds and is the perfect size for someone wanting a smaller female.

This little sweetie is happy and spirited and adores playtime with other friendly dogs. Samantha loves everyone she meets and likes to jump up on people to say hello, although we have made some progress training her out of this. She has had no obedience training and has a lot to learn. Because Samantha is spunky and a jumper she should not go to a home with children under age 9 unless they are comfortable with the jumping and the family is committed to continuing her training. Samantha has not been tested with cats-- we assume she will chase them.

She has a lot of energy to expend and requires a good amount of exercise, so she'd do best with an active family. She would love to be a jogging or walking partner! She is a very sweet young girl, but needs at least a modicum of obedience training so that she can be a welcome family member for years to come. We will work with her adopter to ensure she gets that training, as we want her her new family to be happy with her and she with them.

Samantha will do best in a home where she will not be alone for long days, without human or canine companionship.

Original bio:

‘Twas a few weeks before Christmas, and all through the shelter, dogs were jumping and barking, but one made hardly a whimper

Some lucky dogs had stockings hung by chimneys with care,
but this dog was alone, on a floor cold and bare

He dreamed of a family and a lovely dog bed
He had visions of good food and rawhide bones in his tired little head

His “family” was somewhere, he knew, without him
He wondered “what did I do to deserve this awful fate so grim?”

The little Lab named “Brownie” now “Tonka” was extremely sick,
He needed food, love and medicine and to get out of there quick!

His 3 kennel-mates were bossy and ate most of his food,
He lost a lot of weight and did not look good

When all of a sudden, there was internet chatter
We must save this Labrador, he really does matter!”

People rallied, made phone calls, offered donations and more,
If only this sweet little guy knew what we had in store!

He made a road trip to Santa Barbara in a Subaru sleigh,
People called “rescuers” had made sure he was safe

He went to nice warm, dry, and loving foster home
With other labs and kitties and chickens and goats

He went to the doggy doctor, got medicine and special food
To help with his kennel cough and poor eating attitude

He got special shampoo and spray to help his itchy coat
He had a bad flea infestation from a long time ago

And now he’s getting better, he’s putting on weight and feels good
Pretty soon he’ll be well enough to go get neutered

He is perfectly housetrained and likes other dogs,
He is dominant, not aggressive, and likes to be “boss”

He knows sit, shake and stay and loves to play with a ball
But it’s a devoted, loving family he’d like most of all

Do you want a loving companion? Can you commit to him for life?
If so, fill out our application, you can find it online

You must pass a home check, don’t worry, we’re nice,
It’s the best interest of our foster dogs that we have in mind


I’m getting exhausted, I can’t rhyme anymore, so I’ll tell you that Tonka is approximately 6 years old, and is not cat-compatible. He’s on the small side and at his ideal weight will be about 60 pounds.

Here’s handsome Buster!

Buster is an approximately 2 year old Lab who appears to be a purebred. His photos don’t do him justice – he’s about the most handsome black Lab I’ve seen in a long time! He’s a big boy but still needs to gain a few pounds. He has virtually no training but he has a beautiful temperament which should help him be a great family member while he’s learning the ropes. He’s highly food motivated which will help with training too, but it’s also a caution to be careful about weight gain in the future.

He walks very calmly on leash, so well in fact that he could easily walk next to a stroller or with someone who is not very strong. He’s not jumpy or mouthy at all and rides very well in the car. At the moment he’s not very interested in toys or retrieving, but he’s still settling in. He appears to be housetrained and sleeps in our room at night. I don’t think he’s met cats before, but he’s doing pretty well. He’s very curious and if he’s given access he’s very appropriate with them. In time he’ll be friends to kitties, but starting out he’ll need to be monitored because they are just so darn interesting!

I think all this attention is something kind of foreign to him. He is warming up hour by hour and becoming more animated. He’s very gentle and calm, and gets along well with our 2 male Labs. We’ll update his bio as we learn more about him.

Buster is being fostered in Los Olivos which is northern Santa Barbara County. If you’re interested in knowing more about Buster you can email his foster mom at heidi@fetchingcompanions.org and be sure to fill our application to adopt. You must have an approved home check in order to meet this nice boy.

Original bio:

Meet Doug Wilson. When you’ve been in a shelter as long as “Wilson” you get two names.

Wilson was rescued on his last day at the shelter. People probably passed him up because he looks elderly, but don’t let that white muzzle fool you – this is a spry little guy. He’s a Lab mix dog, but with what we don’t know. He’s small and around 45#s, hence the photo with the human person for scale, and yes, he likes to sit on your lap.

He’s fast, or more accurately, super fast! He always beats his foster brothers to the tennis ball. And Wilson loves to retrieve. Judging by the wear on his teeth, he has probably been carrying tennis balls in his mouth most of his life. He’s in amazing physical shape and has no restrictions. His terrific condition at his age, which we estimate to be about 8 years, is probably a result of his cross-breeding. This and the fact that he’s small, probably bodes well for his life expectancy too.

He has good manners in the house and knows lots of commands. He’s a very cuddly guy and a great size for a small home, or for an older person to handle. He’s easy to walk, doesn’t want to bolt out the door or gate and is happy to curl up in a little ball where ever you are assuming your lap is not available. He’s been coming to work with us and is a great shop dog.

Wilson is learning about cats. At the shelter he completely ignored them, but in our home he is showing more curiosity. When the cats move, he wants to follow. If they move fast, he wants to chase, but we are having small victories with training him about appropriate behavior. If the cat hisses or swats at him, he runs the other direction, so we feel it’s a “moving thing” issue and that would be consistent with his love of retrieving – if it moves, he wants to retrieve it.

Wilson is a lot of dog in a nice, tidy little package.

Original bio:

The ten-month-old pup's pale yellow face smiles up at me from within his crate as his tail punctuates the moment with a steady thump! thump! thump! against plastic walls. It's time for his potty break, and he huddles against me for a hug as soon as I open the crate door. Hug done, he wiggles his entire body and then shoots out the open door.

As we walk together, I have to remind him what the business at hand is, because he's so keen on human attention.

I used to have to keep him on-leash, because he had a broken foreleg, and his activity was strictly limited. That was so his repair surgery wouldn't be undone. But now I can let him run, just like any other young boy.

This all started when Herk was was brought to Inland Valley Emergency Pet Clinic in Upland to be euthanized, because of the fractured humerus. The clinic convinced the owner to sign the dog over to them, then called a member of the Labrador Retriever Club of Southern California, who in turn called us. We picked him up, supervet Mike Smith at Country Hills in Torrance conducted the surgery and pinned and wired the broken humerus, and that brings us to the present.

His pin is out and he is 100% recovered from the fracture and ready to go. He does everything any young dog does, including wild roughhouse play with his foster mate, Samantha.

We think he's a mix, having ears that are set a little too high and a tail that curls a little too much, but he's very Labby in temperament, possessing an irrepressibly bright, friendly disposition, despite the pain and limited freedom he's had. He gets along fine with the dogs in his foster family, but has yet to be tested with kids and cats.

Original bio:

Hank the Tank!

Hank is a gorgeous purebred Labrador boy who is about 1 ½ years old. He is a big boy with stunning features and conformation. Although found as a stray, we know he is a purebred by his appearance and the fact that he’s had his front dewclaws removed.

Hank is very affectionate, attentive, loves to give kisses and receives pets in return. He is a young boy though, and he needs daily exercise and a family who will continue his training although he is completely housebroken and knows some basic commands. Hank is cat friendly and loves to play with other dogs. He is well behaved in the house and settles nicely at your feet when it is not playtime. He loves to be with people as much as possible and would probably do best in a home where he is not alone all day, or has a doggie companion to keep him company.

Hank loves everyone including children, but he is still learning grown-up dog behavior. He sometimes will jump up on people when excited, though this has improved a lot in a week, and he is a little “mouthy.” This combination of traits is typical in young labs, but to be a proper family member, it’s important to train him out of these behaviors properly.

Hank knows “sit” and “shake” and is learning the command “box” which means to go into his crate. He is not the kind of dog who is inclined to run off and comes when called, though he is still learning his name. Hank is up to date on his vaccinated, neutered, and micro-chipped. He is a wonderful boy who will be a loyal family companion for many years to come. Hank is being fostered in Santa Barbara County.

Original bio:

Mercedes is here! (We call her Sadie for short.)

This gorgeous English girl came in as a stray to Carson shelter with her brother. The owner could not afford to redeem both dogs, and alas, she is looking for a new home. Sadie is a sweet girl who loves her family and loves other dogs. She also loves her tennis ball. She is healthy and athletic and weighs in at about 62 pounds. This girl would love to have another canine buddy to snuggle with. She will warm your heart.