Wow!  Meet Larry.  He is a stunning jet black Lab. His coat glistens in the sun and he has beautiful copper brown eyes. He is brand new to Fetching Companions, but it’s already easy to see he is a happy Labby boy.  We think he is a medium energy guy and could chill with his family after a nice walk or hike.  He’s tall and lean.   We think he is about 70 pounds.  Larry is only a year and 10 months old so he may fill in a bit.  He has a beautiful face and head.  He seems extremely sweet despite his not so sweet prior life.

One of our volunteers noticed Larry about a year ago or so ago at the local shelter.  Since he was an highly adoptable Lab puppy, we stood aside and hoped he would find a great family.  He was adopted and left in his backyard all by himself.  He escaped this lonely life four times until he found himself back at the local shelter. This adorable puppy was immediately adopted again.  Once more, he found himself with a family who would not give him the time and love he so wanted, and once again back to the shelter he went.  Our volunteer could not stand his continued plight so we took him quickly.  Welcome to the good life young boy! That life is far in your past.

Larry is with Kim at The Trained Canine so we can teach him to be an indoor dog.  We will crate train him, teach him to walk nicely on lead and give him a lot of affection. There’s no doubt this boy is sweet and lovable. He cuddled with our volunteer all the way to meet Kim.   He calmly and gently sat in the back seat awaiting this new life.  We LOVE Larry and so will you.

He is neutered, up to date on his vaccines and micro-chipped. 

We will learn more about this beautiful boy in short order, so do check back as we determine the best family for him. Larry will find a home quickly once he is available for adoption.  If you can give Larry a loving home and fit what he is looking for, then please do hurry and complete an online adoption application and ask to meet Larry at http://fetchingcompanions.org

Original bio:

Guinevere is a gorgeous 72 pound yellow female lab, about 6 years old. She was in severe need of slimming when we got her (she weighed around 85 pounds)., so we put her on a diet and now she looks stunning.

Guinny is a busy girl, although she does fine when crated in an extra large crate for a few hours at a time. When she was out with MacDougal, a younger foster boy (since adopted), she let him know she was the boss. In a nice way, of course. She doesn't play fetch, but she will chase a squeaky ball. Mostly, she likes to steal other dog's toys (hers aren't as interesting for some reason) and carry them around for a while.

An interesting side note--she absolutely adores little dogs. We think she must have had one as a companion in her former home.

She's spent some time at a training boot camp, so she knows "sit," "down" and heels beautifully on lead. She also gained dog-to-dog social skills that she was formerly a little lacking in.

We hasten to add that Guinny LOVES tummy rubs. Give her one and she'll be your pal forever.

Original bio:

Wilbert is a cutie with a delightful temperament. He came to us from the shelter with a bad case of flea dermatitis. The shelter had given him medication to kill the fleas, but his coat was dull and sparse. It was badly sunbleached on the front half (where he didn't lose his hair due to the dermatitis) and the back half plus tail was missing an awful lot of hair.

With appropriate treatment and a high quality diet, his coat has been fully restored to a beautiful deep, glistening chocolate.

We've got him at an ideal weight of about 67 lbs, brought him up to date on vaccinations and have done some minor but necessary dental work; so he's good to go for adoption by some lucky family.

Wilbert is around 6 to 8 years old. Given his youthful bounciness, we think he's closer to 6 than 8.

He loves to fetch and to get loving attention. In particular, he heartily enjoys playing with various squeaky toys, tossing them in the air and running around with them. He also loves being chased around the yard by his foster sister Guinevere while he squeaks a toy.

He will occasionally jump on a person, but it is easy to get him "off". Although his former owners indicated that he should be an only pet, we have not found that to be the case, although we haven't tried him with cats or small dogs. We think he would be a good fit for an active family.

Original bio:

Sweet Maya is a beautiful black female purebred Labrador.  Sweet, sweet, sweet is all we can say.  Maya is a little shy and has an easy going spirit.  She has the perfect Labrador temperament and is a low energy girl.  She does get playful with other dogs and wags her tail constantly.  We think Maya is about 8 years old. She weighs about 75 pounds.  Her coat is beautiful, full and shiny. She has a beautiful head and gorgeous eyes. Maya is good with everyone; big and small.  She loves dogs and we think she would be fine with cats.

Maya lost her home with her buddy, Fino.  Four year old Fino found his home when he was adopted from the shelter.  We knew Maya was a gem so we ran over and grabbed her.  She was lonely and sad at the shelter when Fino left.  After all they had been best buds for four years.

Maya is looking for a special home.  She is such a sweet, sensitive girl who has so much love to give.  She is the perfect companion Lab.  She would enjoy walks or just an evening stroll with her people.  Most of all, Maya wants love again.  She knew love with Fino.  As I petted her head, I could see the despair in her eyes.  I told Maya that even though I’m not Fino; that I and her new family would give her the love she needs and wants.  I promised Maya that she would find love and happiness again.

Maya is crate trained.  She’s spayed, micro-chipped and up to date on her vaccines.  Some gracious sponsors insisted she had a wellness exam so that we did. We did a complete wellness blood panel and she even had her teeth cleaned.  She’s the bright picture of health.

This black jewel will capture your heart strings.  She certainly has grabbed ours.

Original bio:

Archimedes is a very special boy.  He is a beautiful black Lab mix.  He has a stunning blocky head and sweet loving brown eyes.  Archimedes is a young Lad at only 1-1/2 years old.  He weighs about 70 pounds and will probably continue to fill in just a bit.  His paws and head give us a good idea that he has not finished growing yet.

We received a call from a person Riverside County letting us know this boy was found curled up in a ball and very frightened.  His people had dropped him in a yard where he attempted to leave and got caught between electric fences.  Archimedes was emaciated and dehydrated when he was found.  We knew he needed help.  One of our volunteers drove 2 hours in each direction to bring Archimedes to our rescue.  He spent time with Dr Slaton at Westlake Village Animal Hospital, where he slowly opened up and began to act like a happy Lab.  He received his medical care and has an excellent bill of health.  He is neutered, vaccinated and up to date on his vaccines.  Archimedes is also micro-chipped.

This boy is as sweet as they come.  He is gentle, sensitive and extremely loving.  His energy level is low, yet he does love to play.  He gets along with other dogs and loves their companionship. He and his foster sister Angel play nonstop.  They love to exchange wet, slobbery Lab kisses.  All of us are smitten with this gentle yet playful soul.

Archimedes is learning not to pull on lead; he’ll do fine shortly.    He’s a fast learner and corrects very well.   He’s a great family dog!  He will be fine with children of all ages.  He did pass his kitty test, but once he saw a kitty hiss and swat at him, he was frightened and barked.  It would probably be best if his new family did not have kitties. 

Most important would be a loving family who will include Archimedes on family outings.  He prefers to be indoors when they are. This is a must as he is not a loner and will not enjoy being outdoors without his people.  One of his favorite activities is keeping an eye on his foster mom in the kitchen.  You never can tell, she might need some help with the food!  In the evening he watches TV and curls of with his foster family.  He gently puts his head on the nearest lap. 

Original bio:

Lolli is way cuter than any dog has a right to be.  She's a youthful  1-2 years old and weighs in at a svelte 50-55 pounds.   She’s goofy and fun loving, smiling constantly with a big Labby grin--her happy antics are infectious.  

Her manners still need some fine-tuning, so Kim at The Trained Canine is teaching her the basics of polite behavior; however, whoever adopts her should reinforce and continue her training.

She is very affectionate and dispenses kisses with abandon.  She’ll be a wonderful family companion.  We suspect she’ll be fine with cats, though we haven’t tested her yet.   She is good with children and adults, though in her exuberance she could playfully knock over small children, so children 8 years or older would be best.  She corrects very well and is doing very well in her training program.

This girl’s soulful brown eyes would melt any heart, but at the same time, her constant smile underlines her innate happiness.

Lolli appears to be in excellent health, is spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccines.

Original bio:

Sandie is a sweet and well mannered girl. She is a beautiful honey colored purebred labrador with hazel eyes. The vet estimates that she is 4-6 years young and in good health. Sandie is on the chubby side and we have her on a diet because she need to lose about 10 lbs. We think she will slim down quickly with a good diet and daily walks.

Sandie is being fostered in a home with very young children and appears to be great with people and dogs of all ages and sizes. She has not been tested with cats yet. Her foster mom thinks that she would do well in almost any home where she can be a loved member of the family. She has great house manners and is past puppy shenanigans but does like to chew her squeaky toys and carry around her "antler" chew.

She is well behaved and knows basic obedience commands like: sit, down, stay and come. She is house trained and will let you know when she needs to go out. Sandie's favorite pastime is just to hang out with her foster family. She walks well on the leash and enjoys going on walks and outings in the car.

Sandie is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccination.

Original bio:

Meet Riley. He is a 4 year old neutered male who is good with dogs both big and small. Great with people, both big and small (his former owners had very small children), good with cats and is an overall happy guy. Riley walks well on leash and passes other dogs nicely. He knows not to jump up on people and takes treats very gently. He looooves to play fetch. He will play fetch for as long as you want and then some. He also loves to swim and enjoys visiting the dog beach. His former owners lost their home and were forced to give Riley up. Thankfully, they reached out to rescue and not the shelter. This boy is an absolute gem and will make a lucky family very happy.

Original bio:

Bebe is a large, gorgeous black male who was found as a stray in a warehouse in August. The vet estimates his age as no more than 2 years old. He has a clean bill of health, and he has been neutered and vaccinated to keep him that way. He is crate trained, and quiet most of the time, but he is young, so he does like to run around to use up some excess energy. He is fine with the other dogs and cats at his foster home, although he can be a bit of a brat with the old dogs once in a while. His foster mom calls him a dreamboat. She says he is very attractive.

Original bio:

Lindsey is a real sweetheart! Found as a stray in Inglewood, she was given food and water for 2 weeks by a resident who wanted to help her but couldn't take her in. Once Lindsey realized she had someone to depend on, she spent most of her time on the front porch where she was fed. We picked her up as soon as we were informed of the dog's situation. She wasn't left to fend for herself on the street for very long, because she needs to lose at least 10 lbs - she is now on a diet. She has been given the vaccinations and care she needs. This dog is an absolute sweetheart and deserves a home where she will get the love she craves.

Our current guess is that Lindsey is about 8 years old, and the vet agrees. Whoever is allowed to adopt this girl will be rewarded with an adorable loving companion.

Original bio:

Oliver is a gorgeous near white pure bred Lab.  He has a touch of yellow on his ears and muzzle and beautiful harvest gold eyes.  He’s a young lad at about 2 years old.  Oliver is a tall, lean athletic boy and weighs about 70 pounds.  He’s a happy-go-lucky guy and has a smile on his face at all times.  He’s playful and acts like a puppy.  Oliver had a rough start to life.  As just a baby he was purchased by an elderly couple who soon couldn’t handle an active Lab.  It seems he was then put in his backyard where he lived the first 1-1/2 years of his life.  He received no training and no socialization during this time.  He was turned in to the shelter where he was in grave danger.  We knew we needed to help this boy.  Oliver went straight into training with Kim from The Trained Canine to learn all he had missed out on.  Kim asked for time with Oliver and we gave it to her, after all, this beautiful and young Lab is so worth it.

Oliver is ready for a loving home.  He would probably do best as your only canine companion as he wants all this new found love attention for himself.  Oliver has that sweet and loving temperament that we all love about our Labs.  He is good with kids, but not little ones as he may playfully knock them down. He’s a young boy who will need daily exercise and may even enjoy going for a jog.  He does settle down in the evening and relaxes by your feet.  He is crate trained and behaves nicely in the house. He knows basic obedience now and has been socialized with other dogs.  He does get a little excited and barks when he meets a new dog.   He is learning to play fetch and especially loves to carry his food bowl with him.  Sadly, we think his food bowl may have been his only toy at his previous home.  Soon he’ll realize there are lots of fun toys and balls to play with and his food bowl will simply be a food bowl again.

Oliver needs a loving family who would never just throw him in the back yard again.  He would love to be included on family activities and go on family vacations.  He would benefit with follow up training to what he has learned while at FCRR.  He’s the kind of guy who needs time and patience, time to be with a loving family that will treat him like he’s part of the family. 

Oliver is micro-chipped, up to date on his vaccinations and neutered.

Original bio:

My name is Leyla. My foster family says I am approximately 2 years old and as sweet as they come. I am pretty mellow and easy going for a dog my age, and I love all people and dogs. I'll take all the hugs and kisses I can get.

I know basic commands like come, sit, stay, shake paw and lay down. I am not food or toy aggressive and I take treats in a lady-like fashion. I am good in the house and have had no accidents. I gain confidence quickly and try to please. I have finally figured out the dog door - I just tailgated my foster brothers. If you don't have a doggy door, I will go to door and whine to let you know I need go out. I can hold it all night if I need to.

I have not been crated, so my foster parents do not know how I am in one. I tend to get excited and jump on you when you first come home, but I'm learning that I should be a good girl and sit and wait to be petted. I do not jump on furniture but if you invite me I am more than happy to get up on the couch with you. I love water – just bring me the hose.

I am very social and good with all dogs, big and small. Don't know if I like cats yet - my foster parents are going to put me face-to-face with one so they can see if I do. I would be great with a family – kids, etc., but since I still tend to try and jump on people, children should at least be 7 years of age. I think once I learn not to jump up, I can be good with children a little younger. My foster family says I have been an easy foster and will be missed, but everyone feels that I deserve a home and family of my own.

Original bio:

Phoebe is as sweet as Labs come! Phoebe is a purebred English Lab.  Her loving personality will melt anyone’s heart in an instant.  We think she is about 8 to 9 years old and has the appropriate amount of gray on her sweet face, yet has the blackest, softest, shiniest coat.  In her early years, she was probably one of “those Labs” who had boundless, wild energy.  But now, Phoebe is at that perfect, mellow, senior Lab age.  The age all Lab owners wait for!  Phoebe is up to date on her shots, and is spayed and microchipped.  She is a little chunky monkey and weighs 75 pounds.  The vet thought she should weigh in at about 65 pounds.   

She is a happy-go-lucky Labby girl!  She loves giving kisses and we love getting them!  Phoebe is gentle and will fit perfectly into a family with other dogs her age and/or energy level.  She's also good with cats. We think she will do fine with children, but not little kids that will be rough with her so we think children 10 and older. She is happy and content being in the same room where you are, or just being part of a loving household.   Phoebe loves people and she is looking for a forever home where she will not be left alone.  

Phoebe sits, stays, lies down and has beautiful, respectful and polite manners.   She is getting the message that it’s “OK “ to come and relax in the living room with her Foster family or even to come lay on her own dog bed. This girl has deep gratitude and love for anyone who shows her the same. 

She’s curious and friendly with other dogs,  yet is not into rough playing or chasing.

When at the park or the beach, she loves to walk and run with her two Foster family’s sibling. She comes when called and wants to know where you are.  She loves the waves at the beach and being on the sand.  On leash, she’s a little excited at first, but is comfortable with a loose leash in minutes.  She, like all seniors, gets winded going up hills, so we go slow and take rests.  With good nutrition, supplements and lots of love we are seeing changes rapidly.  Phoebe took off in a full speed run this morning with foster brother Cody. 

She is patient when getting rinsed off or bathed and thinks getting toweled off is the greatest thing on the planet!  Well, almost as much as car rides.  Phoebe loves to put her head and body (we’re always careful to not roll windows down too much) out the window.  She loves the way the wind blows in her face and the way her ears flop up and down.  This girl is always smiling!!! 

She will thrive in the right household where she is around her forever people.  With good food, supplements, her soft bed, companionship and lots of love.  She is getting her senior tune up at DAWG which includes a wellness blood panel and teeth cleaning. 

Meet Mr. Bojangles.  “Bo” is a purebred yellow and white Labrador. This sweet boy found himself at the shelter waiting and waiting for his people.  We rushed in to get him.  We knew he was a sensitive boy and needed to be with people. He’s a Lab through and through—he’s happy, fun and just loves people.  He loves his ball and playing fetch.  Bo loves the water and is an avid swimmer.  He’s a perfect companion for beach trips and family outings.  He is social and friendly with everyone he meets.  He is wonderful with all dogs, big and small. He even did well with his cat test.  He loves children!  He is house trained and behaves nicely in the house.

To Bo, life is all fun and games, so if ball playing in the house is a no-go then he will need to be shown that.  He is a big guy so he would need to be managed that he doesn’t knock over a little one. He loves to be petted and rolls over for belly rubs.

We think he is about 5 years old and weighs in at a chunky 79 pounds. He’s lost a few pounds since he’s been with us.  We think a perfect weight would be about 74-75 pounds. His eyes are a beautiful harvest gold and he has a peanut butter color nose. He has a smile that will make you laugh.

He is beautiful and appears to be in perfect health, but we had a benign fatty tumor on his chin removed and gave him a dental cleaning to make him even more beautiful.

Bojangles gets very excited when he meets new people. Once he gets to know you, he settles down nicely.  We think he will always be one of those goofy and playful Labs though.  He pulls a bit on his lead and jumps in excitement.  He spent a week with our trainer and has really shown improvement. Bo is a very quick learner and want to please his people.  He also plays tug-o-war with his leash so we are working with him on his leash manners. He sure has that fun, happy and lovable temperament that we love about our Labs. 

Best hurry and complete an online application at http://fetchingcompanions.org.  He is sure to go quickly.

Original bio:

Shasta is such a pretty little lady.  She’s a yellow and white Lab mix.  We think she is about 8 years old and weighs about 55 pounds-- a perfect size for many families.  

Her saga began when we received an urgent call from a Santa Barbara Shelter letting us know she was there.  She was extremely underweight , nervous and very shy when we met her. It was clear she was confused and scared.  She just would not eat.  She needed help badly. We asked Kim at The Trained Canine to work with her.  In no time, this little lady had begun to relax. She just needed structure and love. 

Shasta is very sweet and has wonderful house manners.  She is crate trained and walks beautifully on a leash.  This girl has a lot of spunk, but will settle in nicely for an evening of reading or watching TV.  She enjoys her daily strolls too.  She knows basic obedience and is crate trained.  She now enjoys two square meals a day.  It was so nice to see her eating and gaining weight.  Her favorite time to relax is when Kim is working in her office. There is nothing like having a nice easy girlfriend to just to hang out with. Shasta is polite and respectful and loves her people.  We’ve discovered she is a lap dog. She’s also good with dogs, but would be just fine as your only canine companion. We’ve found she really doesn’t care for pushy dogs. She likes to take life in slow and easy. She is good with children, but may not be patient with toddlers who poke at her.

Shasta is looking for a home where she is a companion dog. She loves to be loved and returns that love in abundance. She will stick close by her people. She would do best in a relaxed atmosphere, being a little uncomfortable with chaotic situations.

She is microchipped, spayed and up to date on her shots.  We have grown to just adore her. 

Original bio:

Here are two beautiful bonded half-sisters, Wally (black) and Princess (yellow). They had the same mom but different dads. They are both around 5 or 6 years old. They are inseparable--always touching and cuddling. Princess is the bossy one, and just a touch protective of her personal space. She started out lacking canine social skills, but has gotten a crash course in getting along in her foster home and is now quite good.

Wally is the quiet one, she never barks and backs out of the way of anyone. She is quite the lover. Actually, they both are but her mellowness is therapeutic. Princess is a typical Lab, easily stirred and wants to be active. Both depend on each other. I could only dream of having such love between dogs with my two.

This is a pair of beauties to die for-- they're going to make their adopter very happy.

Original bio:

Meet Bruce, who had the misfortune of winding up in a shelter when his family lost their home.  It is clear that he was well cared for.  He misses his family. 

He is a beautiful jet black Labby Boy.  His coat glistens in the sun light and he has beautiful copper eyes.  Bruce is 2-1/2 years old and is a total sweet heart. He is very sensitive and gentle.  He’s a big boy weighing in at 79 pounds which is a perfect weight for him.

He whines a little at the loss of his family, but he’s nonetheless settled down in his foster home. He rides nicely in the car and has had some obedience training--he knows sit and down. His leash manners need some fine-tuning. His previous owners said that Bruce is good with dogs and children, and that seems to be true. 

The owner also stated that Bruce is good with cats; however, but we haven’t yet put that to the test.  We’ll know more about his house manners in short order, but he appears to be house trained as well.

Bruce is neutered, micro-chipped and up to date on his vaccines.

Original bio:

Meet Mr. Bojangles.  “Bo” is a purebred yellow and white Labrador. This sweet boy found himself at the shelter waiting and waiting for his people.  We rushed in to get him.  We knew he was a sensitive boy and needed to be with people. He’s a Lab through and through—he’s happy, fun and just loves people.  He loves his ball and playing fetch.  Bo loves the water and is an avid swimmer.  He’s a perfect companion for beach trips and family outings.  He is social and friendly with everyone he meets.  He is wonderful with all dogs, big and small. He even did well with his cat test.  He loves children!  He is house trained and behaves nicely in the house.

To Bo, life is all fun and games, so if ball playing in the house is a no-go then he will need to be shown that.  He is a big guy so he would need to be managed that he doesn’t knock over a little one. He loves to be petted and rolls over for belly rubs.

We think he is about 5 years old and weighs in at a chunky 79 pounds. He’s lost a few pounds since he’s been with us.  We think a perfect weight would be about 74-75 pounds. His eyes are a beautiful harvest gold and he has a peanut butter color nose. He has a smile that will make you laugh.

He is beautiful and appears to be in perfect health, but we had a benign fatty tumor on his chin removed and gave him a dental cleaning to make him even more beautiful.

Bojangles gets very excited when he meets new people. Once he gets to know you, he settles down nicely.  We think he will always be one of those goofy and playful Labs though.  He pulls a bit on his lead and jumps in excitement.  He spent a week with our trainer and has really shown improvement. Bo is a very quick learner and want to please his people.  He also plays tug-o-war with his leash so we are working with him on his leash manners. He sure has that fun, happy and lovable temperament that we love about our Labs. 

Original bio:

If you want a really fun dog, one who'll do your bidding in a flash, 3 year old Camper is your boy. Just look at his video if you're not convinced.

He's a high-energy love who's been trained to the nines. The lucky family who gets him will reap the benefits of the intensive traing he's had at the hands of his trainer Kim at The Trained Canine. He'd be a terrific search and resue dog, but a dog older than 2 years is rejected out of hand by search and rescue organizations. Their loss can be your gain. What are the attributes of such a dog? Here you go--

• -Mental and physical sharpness.
• -Athletic in body and condition.
• -Very high stamina.
• -Human oriented.
• -High motivation.
• -Laser-like focus on the job or game at hand.

He has it all and will, for example, fetch until your arm gives up, but still loves a nice hug now and then.

Camper is neutered, up to date on vaccines, obedience trained, crate trained, and ready to go.

He's a dog who needs the mental stimulation and physical exercise he'll get from an experienced, motivated and active owner. He'll do well at absolutely any canine sport, whether that be fetch, dock jumping, agility, flyball, swimming, or running. But when his busy day is done, he loves hanging out with his family.

Original bio:

Jasper is a great dog. Whoever adopts him will be very lucky. He is very sweet and mellow and loves to give kisses. He's about 7 years old and weighs about 74 pounds.

He's new to us and we need to get to know him better before we can do a more detailed bio. He's got kennel cough (a doggie cold) right now. He'll be available once he's recovered and has been neutered.

He is great with other dogs, big and small - loves to play with his foster cocker brother - adores children.

Original bio:

It’s a little hard now to remember that this beautiful eight year old girl was an emaciated shadow of her current self when we rescued her.  Angel’s black coat glistens now, her striking copper eyes captivate and her appearance has the heartiness that stems from good health. And a wellness exam confirms that we aren’t just imagining the latter.

Her weight is close to ideal, at about 65 pounds, she has been spayed and she’s up to date on her vaccinations. We’ve had her teeth cleaned and minor dental work done, so she’s ready to go.

She’s had some training, so she walks well on leash and knows basic commands, like “sit” and “down.”

Angel is a very sweet girl and adores her humans; she loves to hang out with them at any time of day, but especially in the evening, when she gets a chance to get close and cop a few cuddles. She also does well with other dogs; her relations with her foster brothers and sisters go smoothly, though she’s a bit of a bossy girl.

Some of her favorite activities (besides cuddling) are nice long walks, car rides (she loves the way the wind flaps her ears) and playing with humans or dogs.

Angel is the perfect happy-go-lucky companion who would do well in any home, especially one in which she gets at least some human attention during the day.

Camo, a big, fun-loving four-year-old guy, came to us with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. He is young enough and athletic enough that surgical repair was the most sensible option. So we had it done and now he’s on the mend. He’ll be as good as new in a few weeks.

He's "big-boned," at about 85 to 90 pounds. As he heals and the knee feels better, it's getting harder and harder to keep him quiet so he'll heal quicker. He's just got a lot of "play" in him that wants to get out.

The big galoot gets along fine with both people and other dogs.

Original bio:

Meet Bowie, a happy and wiggly boy who is about 2-3 years old. He has a beautiful yellow coat and he's a nice medium size, weighingabout 65 pounds.

Bowie was found as a stray and came from a high kill shelter in Los Angeles.

He is currently in boarding with Walk N Roll Pet Sitting in Redonod Beach. He really enjoys playing with toys and is an excellent retriever. He is potty trained.

He can pull on-lead just a little bit - with just a little more training he will be great in no time! However, any Lab can knock a toddler down, so children over age 5 would be best.

This handome boy is a lovely and sweet companion and will bring much joy to the family fortunate enough to adopt him.

Original bio:

Marley is a stunningly beautiful purebred Lab.  He has a luxuriant yellow/ white coat and deep brown eyes that will melt your heart. He’s a pretty buff and short-coupled guy, weighing in at 70 pounds of lean muscle.  Did we mention how handsome he is? He’s 5 years old (we originally listed him at 3).  He is neutered, micro-chipped and up to date on his vaccines.

In his previous life, he was an outdoor-only dog with little human or canine companionship. Through no fault of his own, he found himself at a shelter and in need of rescue. We rushed in to help this sweet, neglected boy. He was very shy at first with his trainer, Kim of The Trained Canine.  He’s come out of his shell and has proven to be a very sweet and mellow boy.  He is very calm and loves people. Kim calls him Mr. Chill and he’s now her favorite boy in training--a pleasure to be around.

He didn’t know what toys or balls were, nor did he did know human love and attention, but he’s learning quickly. He wags and wags when he sees his trainer. He gives Kim the famous Lab lean to let her know he trusts her and loves her.

He became excited when his training sessions included fun games such as tug-o-war and fetch. He’s still learning what it’s like to be a companion dog, to play ball, receive ear scratches, human attention and just to be loved.

Marley has been with his trainer a few weeks now and has learned crate training, walking on a lead, “sit” and “down.” He likes his crate and does well in it.

He enjoys his people most and would be happiest as your only canine companion.  He is probably too active for smaller children who could get knocked over.

This boy will pluck your heart strings when you meet him. He is now available for adoption. We are looking for a loving, calm home to match him with.

Original bio:

Smokey is a handsome, gentle, fun-loving black male labrador, approximately five years old. He is an American "field" lab, as indicated by his lean, tall, stature- he carries his 92+ pounds quite well.. Smokey gets along with all the dogs he meets, and his foster sister is a six year old female lab who likes to be in charge-- and Smokey is fine with that. We have not seen him around cats.

Smokey is completely housebroken, uses a doggy door, and is content and well behaved when left alone during the day. He loves to play, and go on walks (a leash was new to him, we think he previously ran free on a ranch, and he is a quick learner. When Smokey landed at the shelter in San Luis Obispo, his leg was injured and seemed to have been longstanding and untreated- he was such a volunteer favorite, that the shelter group had surgery performed so that his leg-- while not quite that of a one- year old-- is well healed and does not slow him down.

He loves all people-- men, women, adults, children, and enjoys riding in the car. Everyone who comes into contact with Smokey remarks how good looking and sweet he is. Smokey so deserves his forever home, preferably where he can receive a moderate amount of exercise, a little play time and mostly, lots of love and kisses on his forehead.

Original bio:

Meet our new bundle of joy, Trevor, who found himself as a stray and wound up at a shelter.  He waited and waited for his people to come, but they never showed up.  Trevor is about 6-7 months old and most likely an unwanted holiday gift.  He is neutered, up to date on his shots and micro-chipped. He weighs about 50-55 pounds.  Trevor is a whole lot fun! He is nearly pure white with a little splash of yellow on his face and ears.  His eyes are a beautiful harvest gold and his nose is that cute peanut butter color.

Trevor has that typical happy-go-lucky personality and sweet temperament that we all love about our Labs.  He is energetic and needs basic obedience training.  We’ve enrolled him in basic obedience and confidence building with Kim at The Trained Canine in Ventura County. This boy will need an active family.  He would love to be with children who are a little older or bigger as he could knock little ones over in his excitement.

Once placed, Trevor needs follow up to his training.  He will also need a patient family who can devote time for him and make him a priority while he develops into a fine young man.  This is all a must as we want Trevor to be a well behaved and well socialized Lab. He is going to grow up to be an absolutely gorgeous boy!

Original bio:

Meet Winter!  She’s a beautiful female black Lab mix.  We'd be hard pressed to say she’s a mix, if we didn't happen to know she has just a tad of Border Collie in her.  She is 1 ½ years old and weighs about 50 pounds.  She is micro-chipped, spayed and up to date on her vaccines.

Winter’s previous owner lovingly surrendered her to one of our volunteers.  Working long hours, she knew the dog deserved a new home.  She is the sweetest, prettiest Labby girl.  She loves her new play mates, foster sisters Bella and Fetching girl Maggie.  Foster dad Greg took the girls for a nice long walk and ball playing as soon as Winter arrived.  All this attention and activity is new for Winter, and wow, did she have fun!

Though we’ve had her only a short time, it’s easy to see she has that loving Lab temperament and happy-go-lucky personality! She is house trained and behaves nicely in the house.  We think she is good with all dogs and people. We’ve enrolled her in basic obedience classes with Kim at The Trained Canine.  She will be crate trained and learn that jumping on you is not proper manners, even though she’s a cutie pie.  Winter is very smart, we think that little bit of Border Collie only makes her smarter.  She wants to please her people and is a total love bug.

Original bio:

Hi, my name is Chance, and I'm a handsome 4 year old, male, black Labrador Retriever. I was rescued from the shelter where my previous owners left me, by the nice people at Fetching Companions Retriever Rescue. They tell me I look like a purebred.

I am a very good boy, if I say so myself. I'm pretty mellow and I have good manners, but I do tend to get a little excited at times. My foster parents have been so good to me! They sent me to live with my trainer Kim, owner of The Trained Canine Dog Training. She really understands what I am all about, and she's teaching me that life truly is a "bowl of cherries."

I'm looking for my "forever" home with a person or people that can help me continue to learn to live a stress free life. Maybe we can take yoga classes together? My trainer has also worked with me on some agility equipment, and I think I’m pretty good at it. I'm kind of shy around other dogs, so I avoid them. I would be the happiest in a home where I am the only dog. (Secretly, I just want all of the attention for myself.) I'm neutered and I have had all of my vaccinations. I'm told I'm a nice compact size, weighing in at about 60 lbs. Oh, and by the way, I have a stunning coat! I've been told it looks like black velvet!

Original bio:

Meet Adak!  He’s a cuddly, loving polar bear.  Adak is a purebred, pale yellow Lab with the cutest face you’ll ever see.  He has beautiful soulful brown eyes, and his smile could light the world. He’s a happy-go-lucky boy.  He’s about 10 years old, up to date on his shots, micro-chipped and neutered. Adak just had a complete blood panel and is very healthy.  He’s a puppy at heart and has that cute baby face!   He is so sweet, kind and gentle. Adak weighs about 78 pounds which is a nice lean weight for him.  His foster mom calls him her gentle giant.  

He loves to go on walks and walks great on a leash.  He is house trained and is an easy going guy.  Adak loves his people and will do best in a home where he is not left alone for long.  He also loves to be loved and petted.  He especially loves ear scratches. He moans and groans when you love on him.  Adak gives sweet, tender kisses.  He’s good with dogs and his foster mom thinks he’d be good with cats too.  Adak LOVES children!  He is a big kid himself! When kids come over for a BBQ and swimming, we’ll find Adak hanging with the kids.  Adak took swimming lessons and he really loved it.  He’s quite a swimmer now.  Adak loves to lounge around with his people and other dogs.  He also loves to go for car rides.  He is such a sweet, easy going guy.  He has some arthritis and a knee that acts up once in a while. He does great with his supplements and meds.  Adak acts much younger than he is.

We suspect Adak will be a little shy in his new home, but with lots of love and kisses he’ll warm up quickly.  Adak is a sensitive, loyal and sweet boy.  He broke our hearts as he waited at our front door for his people to come and get him. He waited three long weeks.   His people turned him in to the shelter so we knew no one was coming for him.  He deserves so much better than that. Adak needs and deserves a family to call his own; a forever home where his people will be home and include Adak on family outings. A family who won’t turn their backs on him like his first family did.  The perfect home is one with children or grandchildren who visit frequently.  Adak does love dogs, but would do fine as the only canine companion.

Original bio:

Meet Willy Wonka!  Willy is an adorable chocolate male Lab puppy.  His green eyes are electrifying. We think he is about 3 months old.  He has been a really good little boy so far, fun loving and very happy!   He enjoys walking beside his person at all times, until he suddenly conks out, as puppies do.  He otherwise has enough energy to wear out his foster mom – thank goodness for co-fosters!  We’re taking him in shifts, because puppies are a lot of work.

Tomorrow is a field trip to the vet.  We think he weighs about 25 pounds, but the vet’s visit will confirm this.  Willy needs to finish his vaccines as well as neutering. 

This pup was found in an agricultural area, scared and alone.  At first, we were mortified that someone had lost their beloved adorable puppy and couldn’t find him.  But then as we looked closer, we noticed his collar was very tight and had begun to dig into his coat.  He wagged and smiled as his foster mom took it off. His coat is dry and a little flaky; we see this all too often, but that will be set right with proper nutrition and grooming.  No matter-- he remains a happy, lovable Lab!!

Original bio:

Meet Ellie! She's a near-white, pale yellow purebred female Lab, and what a pretty girl she is! She is 4 years old, up-to-date on her shots, micro-chipped and spayed. Ellie is a little chunky at 75-78 pounds. We think a perfect weight would be around 65-68 pounds. She is tall and will look and feel better when she's a little leaner.

Ellie is brand new to Fetching Companions. She is so happy we came for her! She enjoyed romping around her foster mom’s back yard. She especially enjoyed chasing the lizards. Ellie knows “sit,” but not “down.” She comes when called. So far she has not pulled on her leash. We think she may enjoy swimming, since she was intrigued with the swimming pool and it was all the foster mom could do was to keep her out. After all, Ellie had just had a much needed bath.

Ellie was turned in by her owners to the animal shelter who stated they’re moving to a smaller place. She is a very nice girl that we're scratching our heads as to why they would not want her. Her previous owners said she is house trained, good with children and good with dogs. She met Fetching boy Danny, and she did really well with him, even when Danny jumped at her to play!

Original bio:

Call me Long & Lean

I am a tall, blonde, handsome young man looking for my perfect match. I enjoy long walks in the moonlight, tasty kibble, and romps in the park. I’m outgoing, athletic, I love the outdoors, and I have a real zest for life.

My Perfect Match: Someone looking for a long term relationship, who is affectionate, active, and who loves to play.

My Ideal First Date: I’d love to get to know you over a bowl of water and a biscuit.

Stats:

─ Name: Danny
─ Age: 1-1/2
─ Hair: Yellow
─ Ethnicity: Labrador Retriever
─ Education: Basic Obedience
─ Children: Ok
─ Drinks: Water
─ Vaccines: Yes
─ Neutered: Soon
─ Other Dogs: Yes
─ Cats: Probably
─ Housebroken: Yes

I am currently enrolled in a program at the Trained Canine Dog Training School where I am learning some basic obedience and self control. I would love to continue my education with my perfect match, and I’m hoping to figure out how to play that game called “fetch.”

Original bio:

Meet Rhett!  He's a stunningly gorgeous pale yellow, near white male Labrador.  He is a classic star!  He has a large block head, beautiful brown eyes and is just a lovable Teddy Bear!  He is about 5 or 6 years old, neutered, micro chipped and up to date on his vaccines.  Rhett is a larger Lab weighing in at 95-98 pounds.  He could stand to lose 5 pounds or so.  He is very gentle, a gentle giant you may say.  Rhett was turned in to the shelter by his people who said they did not have time for him.  Well Rhett, we have time for you, and we will look hard and long for a loving, deserving family for this very special boy.  He is brand new to our rescue so we are getting to know him better.  His previous people said he is good with other dogs and children and all has proven to be true.  He’s an easy going, happy-go-lucky Labby boy.  We are ALL in love with him.

This special boy was not allowed indoors before he came to FCRR, so we needed to coax him in where he belongs, with his people.  He is happily enjoying the good life!  He now has a warm, soft bed and time with his foster family.  He loves to play with his foster sisters, Bella and Maggie.  His sisters are teaching him fetch.  We think Rhett has not played fetch before.  He enjoys just hanging and is enjoying lots of love, kisses, and attention.  Rhett loves his foster dad Greg very much.  He also loves Greg’s two daughters.  We think Rhett would be fine with cats too. Rhett rides well in the car and enjoys car rides. He walks excellent on a leash and listens very well.  He is gentle, respectful and a pure joy to have part of our rescue.

We are looking for a special family for this special boy.  Rhett would love to have children to play with.  He would also love to be with a family where mom or dad is not away all day.  Rhett is an indoor dog now and this is a must.  We are working with him on potty training.  We think he will catch on really quickly where he does his business.   Foster sisters Bella and Maggie are showing him the ropes.

Rhett wants to be included on family outings such as sports events, picnics, family vacations, and beach time.  He loves movie night at home too!  Oh by the way, Rhett loves water!  If you have a swimming pool, guaranteed he’ll be in it!  If not, take Rhett to the beach and watch him play in the waves.

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Original bio:

Here's a likely young lad. MacDougal by name. He's of the yellow Lab clan, but his coat is a rare fox red variant. We think he's all Lab, but there's an outside chance he's a Lab/Golden Retriever mix (which is, by the way, a great mix). Whatever his lineage, he's about the sweetest guy you'd ever want to meet.

We've had him checked by our vet and his health is excellent. She thinks he could be as young as 1-1/2 years, but the shelter said 3. MacDougal is mighty lean and just a bit shy, but we'll set both straight in short order. He gets along nicely with other dogs and is absolutely smitten with his new toy duck. He's had at least a little training, as he knows the "sit" command, and he takes treats gently.

As a bonus, Mac displayed only a passing interest in a cat held up to him. What a great dog!

Original bio:

Meet Troy!  What a joy this little boy is.  He is a pure bred English Labby boy.  Troy is about 10 months old.  He is neutered, up to date on his vaccines and micro-chipped.  He weighs about 45-50 pounds.  Troy has a beautiful jet black coat and the beautiful copper colored eyes. Labs do not get much cuter than this.

Troy is well behaved and medium to low energy for a pup his age.  He knows basic commands and is house trained.  Troy also walks great on a leash. This boy loves his toys and playtime with his foster sister, Angel.  We just need to train him to pick up his toys when he is finished.  Troy is very smart and wants to please his people.  He is very affectionate and loves to cuddle.  He loves to cuddle up with his foster mom and dad in the evening for movie night.  Afterwards this sweet, gentle boy yawns and put himself to bed in his crate.  He loves the softness of his bed and seems to know something special has happened to him.  He is so appreciative of this new life FCRR has given him.

We keep waiting for the puppy demon to surface, but we are beginning to think that day will never come.  So far this boy has been the perfect house guest.

Original bio:

Meet Poppy, a true California Girl!  She’s a near-white pale yellow Labby girl; she’s brand new to Fetching Companions, but it’s clear to see that she is super sweet and lovable!  We think Poppy is about a year old and she weighs about 60-65 pounds.  She is spayed, up to date on her vaccines and microchipped.

Poppy is a happy-go-lucky girl and has the sweetest smile!  We just adore her.  She will need an active family who enjoys walking, hiking and we think Poppy would love a running partner. She’s a nice girl who would benefit from basic obedience training.  She will spend a couple of days with Kim from The Trained Canine so we will have a better idea of the perfect family for her.

Original bio:

Meet Toby. Toby is a very handsome Labrador mix.  He has a super soft beautiful black coat and loving brown eyes.  He has a white blaze mark on his chest.  He is about one and half years old and weighs about 50 lbs. He is neutered and up to date on his shots and micro-chipped.

In the few weeks he’s been with us, he’s charmed everyone he met. He is such a sweetheart, nice to people dogs alike. He came to us as a stray, undernourished and shy; he didn’t even know the basics such as ball playing and fetching and his tail was between his legs much of the time.  Even so, it’s clear that Toby is a lovable boy through and through.  He loves to cuddle and is glued to his foster family.  He just loves his people.

Within a few short weeks Toby knows how to be an indoor dog (and he loves that).  He knows “sit,” “wait,” “shake, ” “down” and more. He always comes back happily when we call for him. He even knows what "go pottie" means. Outdoors, of course!

Being extremely smart, he learned all of this very quickly.  As a bonus, he’s not much of a barker. 

He not only gets along well with  dog, he was really good with the cat he met too. 

We have been to the dog park with him and he had no problems socializing with the other dogs and was running around just looking beautiful. Other dog owners were commenting him how nice and charming he is. Me, I was just a VERY proud foster mama watching him… he really has come out of his shell with his tail held high always wiggling of happiness.

Despite his young age, he is a very calm and gentle dog. He is just a happy boy and is very loyal.

He lives together with his foster mom’s 14 year old poodle, Teddy, and has learned a lot from him. When he did not know what "lay down" meant, he watched Teddy and soon he got the hang of it and now he lays down with no problem.

Toby is looking for a gentle loving family just like his foster family.  One who will include him on fun activities such as picnics, beach outings and the children’s sporting events.  He rides wonderfully in car.

Toby has it all, the looks, kindness, gentleness AND he is smart too, what more can you ask for? 

Original bio:

Samantha, a gorgeous black female, is a happy girl who loves to run around and squeak her toys. She is 3 years old and a very active girl. We have her AKC papers as well as her vaccination, microchip and spay information. She was a bit overweight when we got her, but now she is nicely trim at about 65 lbs. She does enjoy lying down near her humans or on the grass in the shade after a run and in the evening, and she sleeps soundly through the night. She gets along with most dogs in the house, but she enjoys squeaking her toys more than playing with the other dogs. She doesn't like dominant females, however. She will play fetch, dropping the ball or other toy near the human (but not usually right at your feet).

Samantha is housetrained, and has some additional training, but she needs a brush up, esp. in leash walking. We don't know how she would be with cats or other small animals. We think she would be fine with children.

When we first got Samantha from the shelter, she was very stressed, but she has gotten calmer in her foster home. She is not a couch potato, though - she will need plenty of exercise, followed by some cuddles and a short rest.

I

Original bio:

Hi, my name is Dale! I am a three year old, male black lab who is looking for his forever home!

I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about, but my rescuers say that I am one of the most handsome boys they've ever laid eyes upon! Of course it helps that I've had a total make-over.

When Fetching Companions rescued me from the shelter, I was in complete disarray. I was emaciated, my fur was thin and balding, and I was full of fleas. My teeth were in terrible shape, worn down and pointy from chewing at my fur. In addition to my physical appearance, my manners weren't so hot either. Having spent my short three years growing up on a ranch and living in the great outdoors, I didn't get the opportunity to develop any social skills or to learn proper manners.

Those days have since passed and I am the new and improved Dale. I have a great physique if I do say so myself. I weigh approximately 70 lbs, my fur is thick and shiny, and my teeth look great! I've also been neutered, micro-chipped, and I am current on all of my vaccinations. The very best part is that I was able to go to school! I have developed some great obedience and social skills, I am crate trained, and I've even learned to play fetch (some say that's a natural talent for a dog like me, but I beg to differ!) I am being fostered by my trainer Kim, and she says I'm what they call an "energetic" dog. I would do best with an active family who will make the time to follow up on my education and who will also make sure I get the proper amount of exercise and mental stimulation to keep me at my best.

Because I have such a vibrant personality, it's best that all the kids in my forever home are over age 10. My social skills have improved greatly, however I'm still nervous around certain dogs so I prefer to be an "only" dog. As for cats, I think the way they flip their tails around demanding attention is unnatural and I don't care to share my forever home with one.

I love to go camping and I'm very comfortable around motorcycles and racetracks.

Now I see what all the fuss is about!.

Original bio:

Meet Dahlia!  She is the prettiest little Lab mix.  She's about a year and a half old, micro-chipped, spayed and up to date on her shots.  She is a petite little girl and weighs in at about 50-53 pounds.  Her expressive eyes are a lovely chestnut brown. She has a beautiful black coat accented with a couple of white marks. She has the sweet, loyal temperament of a Labby girl.  Her foster mom says that she is very smart and listens to correction well.  She is a calm little girl for her age.  She loves to play ball, wrestle with her foster four legged friends and hang with her foster family.  Car rides are one of Dahlia’s most favorite activities!  She loves the way the wind blows in her face and flops her ears up and down.  Dahlia is a girl’s girl, but loves her foster dad and brother too.  She is good with children and loves to play with them. She would do best in a home with children old enough to understand that dogs don’t like their eyes poked.   She also loves the companionship of other dogs and plays nicely.  She would do best in a home without cats.  She likes to chase them too much.

Dahlia knows basic commands very well and is house trained. Her foster mom is working with Dahlia on "stay" and other fun tricks and games.  She walks great on a leash.  Her foster mom takes Dahlia running and she really enjoys that too.  She loves to sleep with her foster parents.  They think it’s funny when she gets under the covers for extra snuggling.  She is a little bit shy, but warms up quickly.  This little girl has come a long way since she came to stay at her foster home.  She was a little scared at first.  Dahlia had puppies about 4 months ago.  She and the puppies found themselves at the shelter.  The nice people at FCRR were there for Dahlia as she watched all her puppies go to new homes.  It was easy to tell that she felt lonely and sad.    

Dahlia is so grateful for this life!   She is quiet, respectful and just wants to please her people.  Her foster mom will cry when she finds her forever home.  They’ve become BFF’s.  Dahlia will probably be a little shy at first, but soon you too will see how sweet, gentle and calm this little girl is.  Dahlia is now available for adoption so please send a note to info@fetchingcompanions.org and ask for Dahlia.

Original bio:

Cocoa Puff's is a beautiful adult male, about 6 to 8 years old. He is super sweet with adults and kids, is house trained and does well when left alone...no barking, no chewing, no digging.

He seems very interested in chasing the cat when he sees her through the window but we're not sure yet what he would do if he got to her....He needs further testing before we can say he's cat-safe.

He's great on stairs-- no stiffness, no limping. He's a big strong boy but at the same time is quite gentle. He prances around the yard like a stallion. He has big paws like a bear.

This is a highly adoptable family dog. His coat is dry and bald in some spots from neglect, but a few weeks on good food, fish oil and Platinum Performance food supplement should set that right,-- his coat will no doubt wind up a rich, uniform, dark brown.

Origianl bio:

Meet Kirby.!

Kirby is a sweet black Lab who's somewhere between 3 and 7 years old (probably closer to 3 or 4), is great with all ages of kids, great with other dogs (small and large) but not so great with cats.

He loves to play and still does major puppy runs up and down the stairs at his foster parents house. He does better with women but is definitely getting used to being around his foster dad.

He may have come from an abusive enviornmen. His foster mom said that when he came into their home, he was uncomfortable giving and receiving kisses but now he loves them. He loves to be chased outside, walks really well on a leash,and is completely potty trained. He has good manners and has really learned to accept loving. He may need a little obedience training but that's about it. He just really needs lots of patience and more than anything else lots of loving!!!

Original bio:

Zoey suffered the tragic misfortune of losing her happy home and family to poor economic times. Her family was forced to move to housing that doesn't allow dogs. But being a fun girl and possessed of a fundamentally sunny temperament, she's bounced back from adversity and doesn't mope for a second. On the surrender form, her owner described her as "friendly, housetrained, calm, loveable and good with kids".

She's a senior at 8 years old, but doesn't act like it. In fact, she runs, romps and plays with the best of them. She's a robustly healthy girl, so she likely has a goodly number of years left to her. She maintains good relations with the 5 other dogs in her foster pack, but isn't good with cats or very small dogs.

She has the energy of a 5 year old, so a yard big enough to do some running would be good and regular walks or hikes would be better. She loves nothing better than human attention (forgetting food for the moment). She's housetrained, spayed and up to date on vaccines. She needs to lose a few pounds, but it's a lot easier to slim a dog than a human.

Please take this sweet girl into your family so she'll get the love and attention she so richly deserves. You'll be amply repaid in kind.

Original bio:

Bear is loving, gentle and eager to please. He is about 6 years old, and could be a mix, but looks pretty Labbie He is handsome, tall and leggy and weights about 65 pounds. He walks beautifully on leash, sits, stays, and lies down. Off leash he happily explores, has fun with other pups, and enthusiastically comes running back when called. He gets along beautifully with other dogs. He ignores those small dogs with attitude like they aren’t even there, yet wags and sniffs the friendly ones.

He’s gentle and curious around little kids and loves it when they pet him.

Bear, and the other family dog, a pug, were turned in to the shelter. The Pug was adopted right away. The vet gave Bear a clean bill of health, although he showed some signs of malnutrition. With good food, a soft bed, and lots of love, and exercise, his coat has greatly improved and he is noticeably happier and relaxed.

He doesn’t bark often, but does when he feels it’s important: if he hears a strange sound, or you aren’t getting his food to him in a timely manner, for example.

Indoor family Kitty’s? No problem! He’s curious at first, but uninterested after that. We’re not sure if he would chase after a running kitty. Horses? He’s not sure what to think about horses yet, and is best kept on leash ‘till they pass by.

Currently, Bear goes to the Tucker’s Grove dog park every day with his foster family and their 2 wonderful rescue dogs, Sprout and Cody. He isn’t into balls and toys, but loves to be social with people and their pups. When we first took him to the beach, he eagerly ran to the waves. When I called him, Bear decided to swim out to me, do two laps around me where I was treading water, then swam back to shore where my husband was waiting.

He is very mellow, affectionate and loves to cuddle and give kisses. He loves his bed, but being a true Lab, also likes to “help in the kitchen” by sprawling out on the kitchen floor, right where you are cooking or doing dishes. He’s very helpful in the office as well. Car rides, with the window down, are also a big treat for him.

Bear deserves a loving family who will be attentive to how social he loves being with people, and other dogs. With a nice soft dog bed, good food, exercise, and plenty of love, he will fit in perfectly as a new family member.

Original bio:

Lily is about 10 months old. She’s a white/yellow female Labrador.  She may be a mix, because her ears don’t lie completely flat against her head, but  she’s certainly Labbie in every other way.   She’s a gentle, kind and  loving little girl, and at about 50-55 pounds, she’s a nice size for many families.  She should stay close to that size based on her petite paws.  She is spayed and up to date on her vaccines.

She is new in a foster home with two young children and is doing great with them.   She is truly amazing; she is not mouthy like most puppies her age and is not a big jumper.  She takes corrections easily and listens really well.  All she wants is to please her foster family and be near them at all times.  She wants nothing more than to give her new foster family lots of kisses.   She loves to fetch and play and seems to really enjoy the water.

Lily will need a home where someone can spend a lot of time with her.  She is untrained so she will need training and guidance.  Her current foster family is working on potty training her.  She is quickly learning the rules.  Lily is also learning basic commands and learning her house manners.

Lily also likes to go on walks and walks well on a leash for such a young girl. She is still learning about all the new sounds around her and sometimes is unsure about new noises and will need a loving home.  She adapts quickly and will soon understand what you want from her. She is a special girl!

Lily will be available soon for adoption so stay tuned on her progress.  She’s sure to placed quickly.

Original bio:

Hi!  My name is Jack and my nickname is “21” because I am a true winner!  I’m a male black Labrador who is around 5 years old.  I only weigh 64 pounds but my foster mom and dad are giving me extra food and homemade chicken to get me to a good weight of 70-73 pounds.  My rescuer took me in even though I am in poor condition from neglect.  I had terrible fleas and I am so allergic to them. I’ve scratched off a lot of my hair and my tail doesn’t look as though it belongs to a beautiful Lab like me.

I’m VERY sweet and well behaved.  I know basic commands and I’m beginning to understand how to ask to go out for potties.  I stay right with my people at all times and I’m good with my 14 year old poodle foster brother Teddy, who keeps growling at me. I know Teddy likes me; he’s just trying to teach me the ropes. I appear to be bomb-proof. I’m just an easy going guy!  My owner turned me in to the shelter and stated that I’m good with children, cats, dogs and all people.  I’m brand new to Fetching Companions.   I am on the mend from years of neglect.  I’ve kept my happy go lucky spirit though and I am a Lab through and through.  My foster mom keeps saying “it will be one lucky family who will call me their family member.

Original bio:

Meet Harlow, yes as in Jean the Hollywood Beauty Queen, and her handsome soft BFF Kolby!

This devoted pair of wonderful dogs somehow lost their home and were in separate cages at the shelter. Luckily when our volunteer went to get Harlow she noticed this darling was dumped along with her long term companion, Kolby. Who could leave him behind just because he wasn't a Labrador?

When they were reunited upon being sprung, the pair hugged and kissed! They are very bonded--they love sharing a dog bed, walking side by side, cleaning each others faces and finishing each others sentences:)! Bonded pairs usually take a little longer to find their forever homes, as most people are looking for just one dog or one more to be a companion to the one they have.

Meanwhile, this super darling pair have been enjoying life, delighting their fosters with their sweet love story and capturing the AWWW's from the entire Santa Barbara community who meet them.

Harlow is an adorable medium sized yellow female with a slight mix of someone else, lending her a wee bit longer coat and a wee bit shorter ears. It adds to her charm, and she will sit and shake your hand when you tell her how fetching she is!

Kolby looks like a beautiful Dutch Shepherd Mix with his super soft coat and unique brindle markings. He is a sweet gentlemen who takes a soft backseat when people fawn all over his girl!

You've just got to meet these dogs in person to be swept away by their charm and ease! The video on the beach gives you a good idea of how calm and full of love they are, so be sure to click here after seeing their photos.

They are a healthy, middle aged, medium sized, devoted pair! At about 7-8 years old and 60-70 pounds they are the perfect pair who hope someone with a big heart and some action in their lives will offer them a forever home. They are gentle enough to be walked by some dog savvy 8 years old children, so if you have kids or grand kids this pair is what we call bombproof.

They enjoy the beach, lounging with people in the yard (in true Labby fashion, they want to be with you) or going in the car to dog parks, on outings, to friends houses and on errand runs.

One walk a day, high quality food, a joint supplement and and fish oil capsules will keep them feeling spry and luverly for years!

They are house trained, trustworthy inside the home, gentle treat takers, non jumpers, great with other dogs, kids and people...healthy or frail. They would THRIVE in just about any situation. They'd be wonderful companions for seniors or youngsters alike.

An extensive vet exam, including blood work, indicates they're in excellent health. They're up to date with their vaccinations, have had a teeth cleaning and were previously spayed and neutered.

Harlow and Kolby deserve the very best home filled with love and hearts as big as theirs! The kindness extended to them will come back a thousand fold.

Original bio:

Charlie Girl is nothing if not a charmer. She loves people and wants to be with them as much as possible. She is GREAT with cats and kids and other dogs. She is gentle, sweet and loving with every person and animal she meets. She is house trained and good on leash. She loves to give her paw and to have her belly rubbed. She also loves the beach and the ocean. We think Charlie is approximately 8 years old.

Though we're slimming her down nicely (she's lost 10 pounds), she could still lose a few more pounds. Her coat is gradually turning a rich, deep, shiny chocolate, after becoming dry and sun-bleached through the neglect she previously suffered. She's on the road to becomng a stunning example of a pure-bred chocolate lab.

She has been the perfect house guest and everyone who meets her just loves her.

The vet has given Charlie a clean bill of health. He says the few small fatty lumps she has are harmless, and that her excess weight will melt away with proper exercise and diet.

Currently, she just loves going on her daily two mile walks. She is a casual enthusiast in playing fetch, though is happiest just being with her people.

Charlie is a loving companion looking for a loving person.

Here's a link to a video of her walking on the beach...note that it was taken before she'd lost the 10 pounds mentioned above.

Original bio:

"C'mere, Lola!"

The pretty chocolate girl turns my way and gives me that open-mouth Labbie smile I know so well. She wags her tail, then her whole body, as ahe wiggles her way toward me, seeking cuddles. I oblige by giving her a good ear tousling, then she lays down and rolls over, presenting her tummy for a nice rub. I give her what she asked for, then say, "Where's the toy, Lola?"

She pops up, bounds to a nearby rope toy, and picks it up for me to admire.

"Nice toy, Lola!" Since I'm such an appreciative audience, she rewards me by giving it a good shake, prancing a few steps and then tossing it in the air. She repeats this a couple of times before returning to me for more rubs and scratches.

This beautiful girl is big, about 75 pounds, but doesn't have an ounce of fat. She appears to be purebred. Her fur is a rich, deep chocolate, with a sprinkling of grey on her muzzle. This isn't necessarily a sign of advanced age; even a number of young chocolates we've known have some greying like Lola's. We think she's around 6 or 7 years old.

She's extremely sweet, active and athletic. She gets on very well with all but one of our personal and foster dogs. That exception is the house grump, a male mix. For all that, she doesn't much like little dogs and we doubt she'd do well with cats.

We haven't yet tested her with kids, but would be very surprised if she were anything but fine with them.

To sum up, Lola is a real jewel.

Original bio:

Hi! My name is Oreo.  I’m a male black Lab with a white blaze dead center on my chest, so some people think I look like my name and others think I’m dressed for a formal occasion. My white spot makes folks wonder if I’m a purebred.  If I’m not,  I sure look like a Lab and especially act like a loveable Labbie boy. I’m about 5 years old and I weigh about 83 pounds. I’m currently on a diet to get to about 76-78 pounds.  I have beautiful copper eyes and a kind, gentle soul.  I walk nicely on a leash. 

My foster family calls me the gentle giant.  I have a happy-go-lucky spirit and love to play.  I have great energy, enough to keep a child entertained with ball playing and running, but I don’t go overboard.   I take treats very gently.  I also love to give sweet gentle kisses and hugs. I love to get kisses and hugs too.  If you ignore me, I’ll give you a bark to let you know I need more.   I love just hanging out too - I’m such a mellow guy!  I know basic commands and listen very well. I’m new to my foster home but it appears that I’m house trained.   I need a family with a kind, gentle spirit just like mine.  I want to be included on family outings such as sport games, beach outings and picnics.  I’m up for about anything.  I’ve been good with dogs I’ve met so far that are not constantly bothering me or sniffing me.  I’m neutered, up to date on my shots and micro chipped.  

Original bio:

Scarlett, so-named for her striking "fox red" coloring, is a petite 2 year old girl who weighs in at a little under 60 pounds. She looks to us like a Lab/Golden mix with a very Labbie temperament. She even apppears to be cat-compatible, showing no indication that she had more than a mild interest in the vet's cat.

Original bio:

Hi! My name is Chip.  I’m a super sweet chocolate Chip. I’m between 4 and 5 years old.  I weigh about 60 pounds but I need to continue gaining a little weight and should weight about 65 pounds.  I’m up to date on my shots, neutered and microchiped. I am about a sweet as they come.  I’ve been at doggie training to learn how to live in a home and what it’s like to be a companion dog.  Wow!  Who would have known humans could be so much fun.  My trainer smiles big every time my rescue discusses my progress with her.

 I was simply a mess when my rescue people came for me.  I was flea infested, fox tails in my ears, extremely underweight, dental needed because of all the wrong choices for chew toys, and crazed for human interaction and love.  I am just a lovable Lab and my rescue knew it.  Fetching gave me all I needed such as clean teeth and ears, proper nutrition, and my training.  Most of all, they gave me love.  Oh by the way, those darn biting fleas are gone – I’m allergic to them.

Fetching Companions rescued me even though it was clear I’d need a lot of training to live in a home and be a companion dog.  Kim Esler at The Trained Canine help me polish my manners.  Well, eight weeks later, I’m ready for my forever home now.  They tell me they will be picky because I deserve it.  My foster family said they will keep me until the perfect family comes along.

I’ve learned what toys and balls are.  I used rocks and chain link as my entertainment before I came to Fetching Companions Retriever Rescue.   What a wonderful world this is!!

I need a family who is active; I’m a medium to high energy boy.  I will need a high quality food with no grains and fish oil supplements. Remember I am allergic to fleas and leather collars.  I love children!   I have not been tested for cats.  I’d like to be your only canine companion but I do like dogs – I just don’t love them.  I love humans!  Lastly, it would be best if my new family sign up for a couple of training sessions so my trainer can teach you, the human, all that I’ve learned.

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Original bio:

Rue is a lovely 3 year old chocolate female lab who is near the low end of the lab standard. When she came in to rescue, she wasn't well socialized with other dogs, but she has done very well at her foster home, which has an older dog and an active pup. Her leash manners are being worked on, and she has improved a lot. She has been crate trained and enjoys going in it for a treat. She is now house-trained (we think she had been an outside dog before we got her). She is up to date in her vaccinations, and spayed and microchipped.

Rue is a very sweet and loving dog who is looking for a home where she will get the love she deserves. She is up to date in her vaccinations, and she is spayed and microchipped.

Original bio:

My name is Charlie Brown. I was so named because I was just so sad! Everyone thought my spirit was broken. Finally, everyone realized that I am a English Pointer, not a Foxhound or a Lab mix. I'm about 7 to 8 years old. It's taken me a while to understand what really happened to me. I know I got out of my yard and went to prison. I felt like I was dying and I guess I was.

But now I know someone thinks I'm special, because a Lab rescue and other knd folks helped me find the vet care I needed, even though I'm not a Lab. The nice people at DAWG told me I'm sweet, kind, and loving. I'd blush if I were human.

I'm over my problems now and I feel great!. I had some dental work and had some fatty lumps removed. I feel so well and look better too.

I've made a lot of new friends. Friends forever is what they tell me. I'm so thankful people didn't turn their backs on me. I've overheard folks talking...I wouldn't have gotten out of prison without help. It was the Lab Rescue or else...no one was coming for me.

Here's some photos of me. I'm so HAPPY and HEALTHY! Oh, by the way...they all just call me Charlie, because I'm not sad anymore.....

Original bio:

Shadow is a beautiful black purebred male, about 6 years old. He’s got a wide, handsome head typical of bench-bred, or “English” Labs.

He’s just come into foster, but already it’s abundantly clear that this is a loving, playful boy. He loves people and dogs alike, and is always ready to play ball.

It’s also clear that Shadow has never missed a meal, as he weighs in at over a hundred pounds. We’ve got him on a diet, headed for 70 to 75 pounds. If we haven’t got him there by the time he’s adopted, his adopter will find it easy to maintain the diet and get him to his ideal weight in short order.

Shadow gives every appearance of being hale and hearty, is neutered and up-to-date with his vaccinations.

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Original bio:

This young fella is a big, goofy, rollicking, happy-go-lucky 2 to 3 year old purebred. He's got a great Labby sense of humor, and is quite laid-back for his age. He gets along very well with dogs and humans alike. We haven't tested him with small children, but we'd be very surprised if he isn't fine with them as well. He's also untested with cats.

Casey is a big boy and just a tad overweight, at about 87 pounds; he should be slimmed down to about 80.

He's absolutely beautiful and has striking coloring, being the offspring of a chocolate/yellow breeding.

By golly does he ever love tummy rubs! It goes without saying that he readily accepts hugs and pets as well. He loves a good romp but is content to lie at your feet when you're not in a mood to play.

Casey is housetrained and knows "sit." He's also crate trained. He has a big appetite, but takes treats gently. He's been neutered , is up to date on vaccinations, and ready to go.

Original bio:

Sunny... She is the sweetest 4 year old female lab mix out there. She is looking for a real companion that she can spend lots of time with. Sunny is completely house & crate trained, she knows all basic commands (Come, Sit, Down, Stay), plus many extras (Fetch, Bring it To Me, Release/Out, In/Out (car), In/Out (house)). She walks on a leash like a pro, no pulling. She also loves going for rides in the car. Sunny is a medium-to-low energy dog, who likes to play, but for the rest of the day she is happy sleeping by your side.

She needs an owner who has a loving hand and will truly earn her trust… once you do, she is bonded to you for life.

Sunny does well with other dogs and she is great with all people. At first she may be stand offish with some dogs, but warms up to them quickly. In her first foster home, she was with a GSD pup and slept by her side. She is nicely protective of her home and her family, and gives a nice warning bark, but warms up extremely quickly to friendly people.

Original bio:

Hi!  My Name is Pippa, that’s right – I’m Royalty!   I even sport around a pink collar with rhinestones! I’m about 8 years young, and I’m a female black Lab mix.  I'm beautiful, but my photo is awful. My humans promise they'll post better ones. I’m the perfect size at about 50 pounds.   My coat is beautiful and shiny  - thanks to the fish oil my foster mom gives me.  Happy is my middle name – I always have a big smile on my face. I enjoy playing, walking or just hanging out with my people for love and affection.   I’m very, very loving and super sweet.  Everyone who meets me keeps saying how sweet I am.  I’m a little full of myself with other dogs, but I learn quickly from my people.  Just let me know the rules and I will obey.  I’m crate trained and  house trained.   

I love my people most and would do best in a home as their only canine companion.  I do like children but not the little tiny ones, who like to poke and pull my ears, but I like older kids fine.

Have you got a cat? I like to chase them!

I’m micro-chipped, up to date on my shots; I’ve had a complete senior blood panel and dental work that a girl my age would need.  My smile is very white now, minus a fang that I broke years ago.

I’m a little shy when I first meet people, but I warm up to them quickly. 

My foster mom gives me glucosamine to keep my joints healthy.  I can jump in cars like a two year old! I’m all set for my perfect forever family. Thank you DAWG Founders Fund and Fetching Companions for taking such good care of me!

Original bio:

Okay--darn it, it happened again--we let our emotions get the best of us again and rescued a pup who may not have any Lab at all in her... but she's so doggoned cute!

She's April by name, about 10 months old and on the small side, at around 35-40 lbs. Our wild guess is that she's a Vizsla/Whippet mix.

She's a dynamo and a real sweetheart who adores human attention and play. April is a tomboy when it comes to dog-on-dog play; always ready for rough-and-tumble shenanigans.

She knows "sit" and is housetrained, but could use more training.

We recommend she go to a home with another dog, because of her love of play. If there isn't another dog to keep her company, she'll want to be with her family.

She's crate trained, which is good, because she'll need to be crated if left in the house alone, just as any puppy her age would.

She's very good with adults and older children, but her abundance of enthusiasm may overwhelm very young children.

Original bio:

Hi! My Name is Teddy Bear. I’m about six years old, male Flat Coat Retriever Mix. The nice people at Fetching Companions rescued me from a shelter after my family lost their home.

I’m super soft and my coat is black and very shiny, I have a little white triangle on my chest. I have tender, loving brown eyes. I need to lose some weight because my family overfed me. It will be very important that you do not over feed me. I’m a cuddly, loveable Bear who loves to give lots and lots of kisses. I’m sensitive and very gentle when I take treats from your hand.

I love to walk but will need to learn my manners not to pull on my leash. I’m house trained and I’ve had no accidents at my foster home. I think my foster mom really appreciates that. My foster family is working with me on my manners because I just want to make my family happy! I’m enrolled in a couple of training classes to make me even more perfect!

I love dogs and love to play ball and fetch. My foster family does not have children but my original people said I was great with children of all ages. I was a little nervous when I got to my foster home and paced quite a bit but just be patient with me as I will settle in and begin to relax by your feet. I do like to lounge on the sofa and bed so if you don’t want me to do that just let me know and I will do my best to make you happy.

I am neutered and up to date on my shots. I also have a microchip. If you want a good family dog who is gentle, loving, cuddly and oh so sweet then I’m your Teddy Bear!.

Original bio:

It doesn't matter what you call it, cruelty or neglect--the result is the same. Pogo came with a collar imbedded into his neck. Clearly his owner had not replaced or loosened that collar in a very long time, and because Pogo was a growing boy (he's currently about 1 or 2 years old), the skin of his neck simply enveloped it and the collar literally became part of his skin. Surgery was required to remove it, as evidenced by the sutures in the second photo.

He's a nice size at 65 to 70 lean pounds. He gets along very nicely with his foster parents' dogs and will play with their young female for hours on end.

Fortunately, his neck is completely healed and he shows no sign of emotional or psychological scarring. He acts like a normal, but untrained, adolescent. He's a little fearful of dogs he doesn't know, so he'll be at boot camp for a couple of weeks. We've no doubt his fears will be overcome and he'll be entirely ready for adoption then.

Original bio:

Sophie is a beautiful and sweet 9 month old purebred labrador. She is basically a super-sized puppy! Sophie came into rescue because her family had to move and took her to the shelter. Because of her size, she is not suited to a home with small children. Sophie is a typical energetic, young lab and she will need a family who will exercise her daily and continue her training. She is crate trained and has not had any accidents in her foster home. Sophie loves people and other dogs and is a friendly girl. We do not know how she is with cats or other small animals.

She is spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccinations.

Original bio:

Kobe is a handsome and peppy black Lab. He is about 5-years-old. He is very affectionate, smart, and eager to please. At his foster home, he has a foster sister, Kona, who he plays with and shares the love.

He came to us with a skin allergy which cleared up quickly. His diet now includes Fish Oil which gives him a healthy coat. From what little we know, his owner left him with roommates for some time and they took him to the shelter. He has not been exposed to cats, so we don’t know his reaction to them. Kobe is house trained, but has had some accidents when excited. He loves to walk, but tends to take you. He is going through training now to be a better walking partner. He does well with the commands of sit and down. He responds to stay, but doesn’t “stay” very long, but is learning. He is very mellow. Kobe is neutered and up-to-date on his shots.

When he came to his foster home, he wasn’t very interested in playing. We are now happy to report that he is fetching his ball! He is a love and a delight!

Original bio:

Meet Daisy, a fox red labrador approximately 3 yrs old. We are still getting to know her and will post more later, but so far her foster mom Mary reports that she is a very good girl, nice house manners, great car rider, knows basic commands, docile with people, loves to play ball and then sleep!

Original bio:

Ariel is an adorable, happy, petite yellow lab. She is great with other dogs, LOVES all people and is good with kitties. She is very playful and loves to go for walks. She is great on leash and does not pull at all. She would love to have a doggy playmate but would be fine without another dog if her people are willing to play with her a lot.

She loves attention and loves to be a part of everything. She has AKC with papers and parents from champion lines. She just turned 8 years young and has the spirit and energy of a much younger dog.

Ariel came to us in pretty bad shape. She had been neglected by her previous owners and she looked and felt awful. Even though she had been cast aside and neglected, her spirit and love for people still shined through. With some good food and a lot of tender loving care, she is now looking and feeling so much better. She originally had quite a bit of hair loss due to skin allergies but it is all growing back in now and she is looking so pretty. She will need to be on a special diet to help keep her allergies under control and she will need a very special loving person to keep a close eye on her so her skin allergies do not come back. She currently is getting a bath once a week with a special shampoo and taking fish oil to help with her coat.

Ariel is an amazing dog with such a wonderful spirit.

Original bio:

Dahlia (aka Dolly) is an absolutely darling, beautiful adult (around 5 years old) purebred lab who is filled with more positive energy than her foster mom has ever seen in a foster lab. What a delight!

Dolly came to us from the San Luis Obispo shelter. She'd obviously been bred a few times, But is now spayed.

She just loves life, and gets along perfectly with her foster sister Betty and every dog she's met at the dog park. She's completely housetrained and has impeccable house manners.

The vet gave her a clean bill of health, and described Dolly as "fantastic". She is happy and comfortable around children, and walks ok on leash and eagerly responds to simple commands. We dont know what she thinks of cats at this point..

Original bio:

This cute 5-year-old guy was turned in to the shelter with his brother for unknown reasons. He's gone through some wrenching changes, having first been abandoned and then separated from his brother.

That's an awful lot for a dog to overcome, so we haven't pushed things, allowing him to settle in and adjust to his foster home slowly.

Update:

Bobby has come out of his shell and is a happy boy now. We discovered that he was in a great deal of pain due to a pinched spinal nerve. We've had that corrected surgically, and now that the pain is gone, he's much more comfortable.

We've introduced him to our foster pack and he gets along with them quite well.

Original bio:

Armani is a big beautiful boy, 4 years of age. He was given up to us by his owner, who no longer had time for him. We think he's probably a mix, but a very Labby one.

He's a very sweet boy and learns quickly--despite having been an outside dog all his life, we had him housetrained in a couple of days. He also knows basic commands and has exquisite leash manners. He'll heel perfectly for miles with very little prompting.

He's probably never missed a meal in his life, so he was a bit obese when we got him, tipping the scales at 103 pounds. We've slimmed him down to 90 and while he looks good, he should still lose another 8 or 10 pounds.

He gets along well with female dogs and is now okay with males, but he probably should be the only male dog in his family.

While we had him at the vet, he nosed a cat and got a hiss and a paw swipe in thanks. He backed right off, so we think he may do well with felines that don't run from him..

We haven't tested him with kids. We think he'd be fine with them, but his size would probably make him overwhelming for young children.

Armani is neutered, up-to-date on vaccines and fit as a fiddle.

Original bio:

Bucky (also called Buck) is a sweet 7 year old yellow male Lab, neutered, microchipped and up to date in his vaccinations. His owner had to go to an assisted living facility, so he is looking for a new family to love. Bucky has a lot of training, including some hunt training. He is not bad on leash if walked with a head halter.

He is just a little overweight, but he should slim down quickly with a bit more exercise than he has been getting lately. He appears to be very healthy and shows no signs of orthopedic issues.

Bucky is good with kids and other dogs, and he used to play with the neighbor's cat; he even let a pet parrot sit on his back! He loves to play fetch, go on walks, and chew on his Nylabones. He is housetrained, and very sweet. Bucky looks like the perfect dog to us.

Hi! My name is Murphy and I am a 6 year old yellow Lab. I love people and other dogs and am really gentle with children too! I love to snuggle and be close to my people, but I am ok when left alone as well. Sometimes the kids in my foster home like to use me as a pillow and I don't mind that at all. They think I'm a big teddy bear.

I LOVE to play with toys and love to fetch. I am not so happy about sharing my toys with other dogs though. I usually ask for them back right away. I walk well on a leash and am house trained. There are no cats in the foster home I live in but I am quite interested in them when I see them on a walk.

I was turned into the shelter by my people because they lost their home and could not keep me. They were very sad to let me go and that was a hard day for me too. Some nice people from Lab rescue quickly came and got me out of there so I am happy about that.

Unfortunately my people fed me too much and didn't exercise me enough, so I'm overweight and out of shape. I will need a loving family who is committed to helping me get back in shape and this will be a long process.

Original bio:

Landis is a handsome "fox-red" Labrador, approximately 5-6 yrs old. He is a "gentle giant" approximately 90 pounds, in good shape, found in SLO County. He has acted like a perfect gentleman in his foster home, getting along well with his foster sister Betty, who quickly reminded him she is in charge, and he "listens" to her! He is housetrained, adept at using the doggy door, slept quietly through the night. Landis is a strong boy though not aggressive, and will require a decent amount of exercise and/or a big yard. Friendly with all people and dogs he has met. He was recently neutered, so he is still adjusting to not being "top dog" in that sense.......

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Original bio:

Steeler is a big, 16-month-old beautiful boy. He was originally adopted from the Long Beach SPCA facility, but was returned because the adopter's vet falsely diagnosed him with hip dysplasia. We've x-rayed his hips and there's absolutely no sign of dyplasia. He did limp a little, due to a fracture that has since healed. The limp is now almost gone.

We don't want to downplay the potential for hip dysplasia to develop in the future, because his weight was about 20 pounds too much, at 100 pounds, putting him at risk for the condition. Weight control and exercise are essential in avoiding the condition, so we've got him on a diet and a low-impact exercise regimen.

He's nearing his proper weight, and is an absolutely stunning example of a purebred Lab. And as long as he's at a healthy weight, is given decent exercise and inexpensive joint supplements, he should be free of hip problems for life.

Steeler is still quite puppy-like since he's a pretty young guy, so he's very frisky and loves to play with other dogs. We don't know how he is with cats. He's quite a love with humans and is going to make someone a wonderful lifelong companion.

His leash manners are absolutely stellar for such a young dog.

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Original bio:

Milo is a handsome 5 year old boy who has just been brought into foster. He hails from the Santa Barbara shelter, where he was attacked by another dog. He's fully recovered from his injuries and they don't seem to have done him any psychological harm.

He's still a little disoriented from the big changes in his life, going from home to shelter to foster home, accounting for that forlorn look in the photos. It'll take a few days before his personality brightens up and we get a good handle on his temperament. So far, all the signs are good. He's okay with human handling, gives up toys without a grumble, and doesn't seem to be food-possessive

He's a tall boy, and is just a bit underweight at about 70 pounds. That'll be corrected pretty quickly with good and abundant nutrition.

Milo is neutered, current on his vaccinations, and is micro-chipped.

Original bio:

Maddie is an adorable young purebred labrador. She is about 2 years old and is in great shape at 65lbs. She is potty trained and knows how to use a doggie door. Maddie knows basic obedience commands such as sit, down and shake. She is affectionate and loves people. She also gets along well with other dogs. We were told that she lived with young children so we assume that she is good with kids but we haven't tested this.

Maddie is an active dog who needs a home where she will get daily exercise. Her preference would be to play fetch as much as possible. Maddie prefers to be with people and is looking for a home where she can be an indoor dog who is with her family as much as possible. She has been sleeping on the bed in her foster home but would probably settle for a dog bed if necessary.

Maddie is spayed, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped.

Original bio:

Vanilla (also called 'Nilla) is a cute girl aged 16-17 months and weighing about 65 pounds. She obviously had a litter recently, hence the saggy tummy. That will tighten up nicely with time.

'Nilla is apparently one of those rare Labs who is cat-compatible right out of the box, and she gets along famously with all our foster dogs. She is a playful girl, but she isn't hyperactive. She loves to play with another young female lab in our house, and the two of them sometimes run around the yard together then come in the house and "play fight" on the floor. She really wants attention from her humans, so she needs a home where she will get the attention she needs. She does settle down in her crate at meal time and during the night.

Vanilla is spayed, current on her vaccinations, and is micro-chipped.

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Original bio:

Mollie is a sweet beautiful purebred chocolate lab, who was surrendered to a high-kill shelter in L.A. County by a family who'd run into tough financial times.

Mollie loves children, people, other dogs [not sure about cats yet] and is completely housetrained and well behaved in the house.

Mollie is supposedly 8 yrs old, however her energy level and behavior are that of a 4-5 yr old. She's going for a checkup at the vets soon but we presume her health is very good. She is spayed, microchipped and will be ready to go. She is in foster care in Santa Barbara.

Original bio:

Mabel is an incredibly gentle, friendly purebred yellow Lab who was found wandering on the beach in Santa Barbara. She is estimated to be 8-9 years old. Mabel became a favorite of shelter staff in her short time there, and we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to bring her into foster care.

She loves children and clearly lived at one time with a family, as her house manners and temperment are impeccable. She does beautifully on a leash, and enjoys a good walk or two per day- and when her foster mom is away at work during the day Mabel is content to hang out with her foster sister Betty.

She is great with other dogs, but would do best on a house without cats. Mabel was given a thorough vet exam and senior panel, and is in great health. She is current on her vaccinations, and is micro-chipped.

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Original bio:

I'll be honest--I'm a sentimental sap. I know, I know--I'm a Lab rescuer and this guy is a mixed breed. But heck, he's such a sweet guy I couldn't pass him up.

By way of background, I first learned of Sundance through the firestorm of internet attention he gained in the rescue community. He was widely proclaimed to be a wonderful service dog whose life was in peril. He was at a shelter and his time was up. Few rescuers can resist a saving a dog like that. I certainly couldn't.

As I write this, he's sitting at my side with an imploring paw on my knee, asking for a cuddle. Contrary to his billing he really doesn't appear to have service dog training, but he's so nice and eager to please that I don't doubt that he provided assistance of some sort to someone in need. His shelter name was Lazy. It's a mystery why someone would hang that moniker on such a nice, active dog.

In stature, he's about the size of an average Lab male, at about 70 pounds. In appearance, he's not so Labby. His tail frequently arches forward over his spine, his ears aren't quite the right shape and don't lie completely flat, and he's rather reddish in color. That's not to say he isn't a terribly cute guy anyway.

Sundance gets along very well with his rescue family of 7 dogs. On leash, he's an absolute dream--the best heeler I've ever seen. I take him on 3 mile walks during which he heels perfectly, essentially every step of the way. He is friendly toward humans we meet, and expresses friendly interest in dogs we come across. He reacted a little timidly to a pair of ferociously-barking mini Schnauzers, breaking his heel position to hide behind my legs.

All in all, I'm extremely happy we rescued Sunny. He may not be a purebred Lab, but he's a real find and will make someone a wonderful companion.

Original bio:

Wooster is a stunning purebred, papered Labrador looking for his forever home. He is a very active and perfectly fit 10 year old boy with a wonderful disposition. His coat is almost white in color, like a perfectly toasted marshmallow. Wooster has great house manners and loves other dogs and people of all ages and sizes. all in all, he is a wonderful companion dog!

Wooster is neutered, current on his vaccinations.

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Original bio:

Rory is a handsome 2-year-old lad of medium size, with a beautiful head and a lean body. He no longer sports that cone collar in the photos, having recovered from his neutering, and is ready to go!

He has a sweet, submissive personality and loves to play with other dogs. We don't know about how well he gets along with cats. He didn't know what dog toys are for whe he arrived--we guess that he's never had any (but he's getting the idea now).

We think he was an outside-only dog, but has adjusted extremely well to indoor living. In fact, he hasn't had a single accident in the house.

Rory has good manners, but doesn't have a lot of training. He knows "sit," but little else. Obedience training will come easily to him if his adopters devote just a little time and patience to teaching him. Worthy to note, he is quite good on leash.

If a beautiful, sweet male is what you're after, you won't go wrong with this boy..

Original bio:

Tahoe, a stuningly beautiful purebred of about 3 years of age, came to us via a good samaritan who found him loose on the street. We've failed in our attempts to locate his owner, so we must now find a new home for him.

He's an active boy and loves to carry two or more toys around at a time. He gets along with other dogs, but hasn't grasped the concept of playing with them yet, so his owner didn't do a good job of socializing him. We don't know if he does well with cats.

He's a happy, well-adjusted dog and does well in the house. He did mark a couple of times, but that was the end of it-- he's housetrained.

Original bio:

Dodger is an adorable boy looking for his forever home! He is about 5 years old and has a beautiful honey colored coat. Dodger has lost 11 lbs since coming into rescue!  He is a svelte 77 lbs and now that he has slimmed down he has more energy and he loves to go to the dog park and romp and play with his friends. If you are looking for a cute, happy, friendly dog-- here he is!

Dodger has great house manners and is very mellow when he is at home. He is housebroken and knows basic obedience commands. Dodger is good with other dogs of all sizes and would love a canine companion and he also likes children and gives great hugs. He shows no symtoms of it and it certainly doesn't slow him down when he is having fun but but we have been told that he some hip arthritis. He can stay symptom-free for life if he's kept slim, given regular exercise and a daily joint supplement.  Dodger is a wonderful companion with lots of love to give!

Dodger is neutered, micro-chipped and up to date on his vaccinations.

Original bio:

Dakota is medium sized (65 pounds) but somehow has the air of a gentle giant. This unassuming boy is the ideal dog for just about any family. He gets along extremely well with humans and with all his foster mates, male and female. We haven't tested him with cats, but he could be fine with them, as he seems to have a pretty low prey drive.

He's about 5 years old, and though he's very Labbie in every important respect, he's probably a mix, having an off-center white chest blaze and some white toes. His tail has been shortened a few inches, probably because of some trauma to it, and if you look very closely, you'll see that the tip of one ear has likewise been shortened, no doubt for the same reason.

His temperament? In a word, wonderful. He loves attention and is extremely sweet. He's very athletic, chasing after and pretty much keeping up with our 1 year old high-energy girl Serena. He's not a ball fetcher or a Frisbee chaser (one of his few non-Lab traits), preferring instead to go on nice long walks with a human companion.

For a family wanting a calm, loving companion, for themselves and their dogs, Dakota just can't be beat.

Original bio:

Serena is zooming around the yard, trying to get our senior Labs interested in play. Dutchess runs with her her for a while, but after a few sorties, settles down to chewing the ball they were tussling over.

Darn, those old guys won't play, but wait! There's a human around here somewhere. Aha! She spies me sitting on the lawn and summarily plops herself in my lap for a little tummy rub/wrestling session. She mouths my hands as I gently pinch her, but she's not really all that mouthy for as young as she is. Tiring of that, she picks up a stuffed toy, bringing it to me to throw. She needs a little encouragement to let me take it, but chases it enthusiastically with each throw and brings it back all but one time.

She's a bit of a brat, but not bad at all for a one-year-old. She's also terribly cute, so it's easy to excuse her brashness. She looks and behaves every bit the purebred, but we'll never know for sure. Our fosters don't usually come with AKC papers. What we know for sure is that she's going to make her new family fall head-over-heels in love with her.

Original bio:

Jenny, a beautiful purebred girl, was reluctantly given up along with her brother Bodie, because their owner had to move into housing where dogs aren't allowed. She is 2-1/2 years old, spayed, in prime health and up to date on hei vaccinations.

Now that we've had Jenny and her brother for a short time, we've come to the conclusion that they will be better off placed separately. When together, they feed off each other's excitement and thus, as a pair, would be too much for most people to handle. When apart, they're each much calmer and easier to deal with.

Suffice to say that each is a lively, friendly dog and is excited to meet new people. Jenny is great with people (both adults and children), dogs and cats.

Original bio:

Bodie, a beautiful purebred boy, was reluctantly given up along with his sister Jenny, because their owner had to move into housing where dogs aren't allowed. He is 2-1/2 years old, neutered, in prime health and up to date on his vaccinations.

Now that we've had Bodie and his sister for a short time, we've come to the conclusion that they will be better off placed separately. When together, they feed off each other's excitement and would thus, as a pair, be too much for most people to handle. When apart, they're each much calmer and easier to deal with.

Suffice to say that each is a lively, friendly dog and is excited to meet new people. Bodie is great with people (both adults and children), dogs and cats.

Original bio:

Café is a beautiful purebred chocolate lab. We think this girl is about 2 years old but could be younger. Café gets along well with other dogs big and small and adores people of all ages. She loves to receive pets and give kisses in return. Café is very attentive and is a quick learner. She is housebroken, takes treats gently and knows basic obedience commands. She does not chew (except for squeaky toys) and has great house manners. She also loves to go on walks and play fetch. Café is spayed, micro-chipped and up to date on her vaccinations.

Original bio:

What a sweetie Shiloh is! He's a Lab mix with a Labbie temperament. He appears to be 2 to 3 years old, and his behavior is still a bit puppyish, but laid-back at the same time.

He's quite good on lead, knows "sit," and adores his toys and human attention. He takes treats gently. He mixes very well with our other dogs and has done fine on a couple of visits to the local pet store. He got a chance to see a cat at close range while at the vet and gave no sign of wanting to chase, so he may be okay with felines.

His appearance, behavior, and lack of rear dewclaws strongly suggest that the Labrador part of his gene mix is the dominant one. He is however on the low side of the Lab size range, at about 60 pounds.

Original bio:

Meet Kami!

Kami is an adorable purebred chocolate lab girl who is about 3 years old. She came into rescue after being hit by a car and abandoned by her family. Kami had a broken pelvis and a tear in her diaphragm (that we did not know about when we brought her into rescue). We came very close to losing this precious girl but our wonderful vets were able to save her and say that she is a "miracle dog". We have nursed her back to health and she is ready to find her forever home!

Kami is a sweet and affectionate dog that has all of the qualities that we love about labs! She has a wonderful, happy lab temperament. She is not dominant and gets along well with all other dogs. Kami is great with children and loves to be near them and shower them with kisses. She walks well on a leash and knows basic obedience commands such as: "sit", "down", "shake" and she tries very hard to "stay" when asked. She is mellow for her age but she does like to go on walks and trips to the dog park. Our vet tells us that she has made a wonderful recovery but she is probably not a candidate as a jogging partner and this news doesn't seem to bother her one bit!

Kami is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccinations. She is looking for a home ready to receive lots of love and kisses and in return she would like a cozy dog bed and some stuffed animals to carry around.

Original bio:

A large head thrusts up from under the dining room table and plants itself firmly on my chest. It's furry and chocolate-colored. It's Chance, the big ol' goofy love bug, trolling for a hug.

Chance is a tall, handsome, strapping lad, is around 1-1/2 to 2 years old, weighs in at about 75 pounds, and appears to be a purebred. Moreover, he's young and playful and always ready for the next play session, walk, or car ride.

He gets along very well with his foster brothers and sisters and loves to carouse for hours with Callie (nine years old, going on one). The pair love to play tug-o'-war, though Chance actually prefers for Callie to chase him. Despite his youth, he has excellent leash manners and will heel exquisitely for miles on end, needing only an occasional tiny leash-pop to keep him in position.

Although he established a reputation as a fence climber at the shelter, having scaled a 6-foot chain link fence, he's never challenged our 4-1/2 foot high wrought iron fence. Of course, a shelter is a dreadfully boring, stressful place; things around here are lots more interesting and fun.

He's the very picture of robust good health and appears to have absolutely no orthopedic issues. He's neutered, house-trained and up to date on vaccines.

Original bio:

Wrigley was so named because he is a wiggle-butt. He's a cute, very active young boy, about 1-1/2 to 2 years old and 66-67 lbs, who had an ACL injury to his right (rear) knee when we got him from the shelter. His injury was repaired by our vet on 12/30. He can now go on walks, even long ones, but he can't roughhouse or run for a while yet. The vet says 100% recovery will be attained inlate May.

Wrigley has a very nice temperament, but being a typical young lab, is full of himself, so he will need obedience training; we have not had time to do more than some basics. Wrigley gets along fine with our senior labs.

Original bio:

This is one good ol' boy, folks!

Tucker came to us from a shelter, so we don't know his history, but we do know he's a nice boy.

He appears to be somewhere between 3 and 5 years old and is possibly a Lab/Golden retriever mix. He's a bit overweight at 89 lbs. but with a careful diet and his favorite exercise of fetch, we think he’ll get to his ideal weight of 70 to 75 pounds in no time.

We think he used to be outside a lot because he's got a harmless granuloma on his left ear which is probably the result of fly strikes.

Tucker knows how to sit and lay down on command but needs more work in walking on a leash properly. He gets along with other dogs but hasn’t been tested with cats.

He is house trained and well behaved. He has an insatiable curiosity and wants to check everything out, especially anything behind a door - this includes the refrigerator door, any closet door and the shower door!

He adores attention, especially being petted and brushed.

He hasn't been taught to know that humans have the right-of-way in doorways: he tends to worm his way ahead of you through the door.

Tucker is neutered, up-to-date on his shots and is microchipped. He does have a chronic condition that's controlled with a very inexpensive medication that must be taken regularly for life. Beyond that, he has a marvelous temperament and, with just a little training, will make an absolutely ideal companion.