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.

Original bio:

Hunter appears to be a purebred Lab,

He is 5 years old and is house trained and obedience trained. He loves water. His previous owners loved him but had to give him up when they lost their home.

He is an amazing dog that we absolutely adore! He is very gentle; he eats politely and gets along well with other dogs. He is a very tall lab and can rest his head on our kitchen table, he reminds us of Clifford especially when he follows our dogs around. He has been known to pull food off the counters at night if left unattended although he would never be so bold when his humans are present.

Hunter needs to be placed in a situation with other dogs, as he has separation anxiety if he is the only dog. His original home contained at least one other dog and he is perfectly content left in the yard with our two dogs. He's great with kids, loves to be around people and play fetch. He loves to take a run or a walk with the family and rides well in a car.

Please contact Susie at susie.rivera@gmail.com if you have any questions about Hunter. Please be sure you have first completed and application on our website.

Original bio:

Meet Bosco

Bosco is a wonderful purebred chocolate lab looking for his forever family. He is handsome and is big and tall and in perfect physical condition at 83 lbs. We think is about 6 years old because he has a little white on his muzzle but he acts like a much younger dog. Bosco somehow ended up a shelter without a collar on and with a terrible ear infection. We went to the shelter the day after he arrived to meet him and we thought for sure that his family would come for him right away because he is such a good boy. But no one came for him and he badly needed to get to a vet and have his ears fixed up, so now he is the newest Fetching Companion!

Bosco is very friendly and good with other dogs. He's also cat-tested and seems to be good with them. He is well behaved and knows basic commands like sit and down and walks well on a leash for such a big boy. Bosco loves to play fetch and is quite an athlete. He will need a family that can give him daily exercise and lots of love. Bosco is a very sweet and affectionate boy who won over everyone at the vet's office with kisses and asking for belly rubs. While he is good with children, he is a big dog and might be able to knock a toddler over, so he would do best in a home with children that are used to a big dog or who are school age. Bosco is such a happy boy that he even agreed to pose for his photo shoot in the rain and he thought it was lots of fun!

Original bio:

Meet Bosco

Bosco is a wonderful purebred chocolate lab looking for his forever family. He is handsome and is big and tall and in perfect physical condition at 83 lbs. We think is about 6 years old because he has a little white on his muzzle but he acts like a much younger dog. Bosco somehow ended up a shelter without a collar on and with a terrible ear infection. We went to the shelter the day after he arrived to meet him and we thought for sure that his family would come for him right away because he is such a good boy. But no one came for him and he badly needed to get to a vet and have his ears fixed up, so now he is the newest Fetching Companion!

Bosco is very friendly and good with other dogs. He's also cat-tested and seems to be good with them. He is well behaved and knows basic commands like sit and down and walks well on a leash for such a big boy. Bosco loves to play fetch and is quite an athlete. He will need a family that can give him daily exercise and lots of love. Bosco is a very sweet and affectionate boy who won over everyone at the vet's office with kisses and asking for belly rubs. While he is good with children, he is a big dog and might be able to knock a toddler over, so he would do best in a home with children that are used to a big dog or who are school age. Bosco is such a happy boy that he even agreed to pose for his photo shoot in the rain and he thought it was lots of fun!

Original bio:

Sheila is a bouncy, beautiful, 67 lb yellow female, about 14-15 months old. She has an excellent temperament, but she's far from shy and retiring, so she needs an active, Lab-savvy family to keep up with her. She's gently mouthy, esp. when excited during play, so we don't recommend her for families having small children. She has some training, which will have to be reinforced in her new home, as she is a counter surfer and she chews up dog toys, including some that are designed for big chewers. An active girl, she needs to get plenty of exercise, such as running or playing fetch. She also enjoys lying down near her humans, but don't expect her to stay there if there's something to explore.

Sheila gets along quite well with the other dogs in her foster home, including some seniors, and respects the boundaries the other dogs establish. We don't know how she'd be with cats.

Original bio:

Lucky Licorice ("Lucky" for short) is a very lucky boy indeed. He was rescued from an over-crowded shelter and is so happy to be out of doggy jail that he can barely contain his excitement! His beautiful, thick tail hasn't stopped wagging since he arrived. Lucky is a cuddly, exuberant and loving middle-aged black male lab. He is very handsome and appears to be purebred or very nearly so. He has jet black, shiny fur, with a few white sugar sprinkles on his face, chest and paws. The shelter guessed his age at 8, but after a bubble bath and his showing off his stuff at the dog park, he could be 5 or 6 years old.

Lucky would love to meet his new family and shower them with love! His foster mom reports that he is fully house trained, is adept at using a doggy door, and has great indoor manners. He's a perfect gentleman with his foster sister Betty, and is happy to let her be the boss. He's great on and off leash and he gets along with well with other dogs. However, he chases cats now and again, so he'd be best in a home without cats. He has a moderate energy level and enjoys his daily walks and trips to the dog park but he is also content to hang out around the house. He is gentle and sweet with children and would a great addition to any family.

Original bio:

Rose is a very sweet young yellow female who was found wandering the streets of Gardena. No one claimed her, so we had her spayed and vaccinated, and she's available for adoption. Rose is housetrained and well behaved, with one exception- she loves humans' shoes. She carries them around, and eventually chews them. She's a smart girl who quickly learned how to use a dog door, and she enjoys the company of humans and other dogs. We don't know how she would be with cats. She's a prize who will go quickly!

Original bio:

Cubby Bear is an adorable "English" type purebred chocolate lab who had a very rough life before coming into rescue. He was badly neglected by his prior owners who kept him in a tiny cement pen and he was found wandering and eating out of a trash can in the middle of the night. Cubby had a large and uncomfortable growth on his eye that required immediate medical attention and he was suffering from itchy skin caused by by flea dermatitis. Thanks to donations from caring friends, the growth on his eye was successfully removed and it turned out to be benign and harmless. Cubby received a clean bill of health from the vet and has had recent blood work ad a thorough exam. We are not sure of his age but we think that he is around 8 although our vet noted that he has the teeth of a much younger dog. His skin and coat have also had a miraculous recovery and he has turned out to be a gorgeous boy!

Cubby has everything you could ask for in a lab: sweet disposition, good looks, loyalty, and a sense of humor! Despite his prior neglect he loves everything and everyone and is a bit of a clown, which is why we dressed him up as one for the doggy halloween parade. He is great with children and other dogs big and makes friends wherever he goes. Cubby is a mellow boy and although he loves his walks and trips to the dog park, he is more of a couch potato. We don't think that Cubby was given quality food or much exercise before and we have him on a diet and are happy to report that he has already lost over 5 lbs. He does need to stay on his diet until he has lost the rest of his extra weight and will go to his new home with his diet dog food and his skin supplements. Cubby is house trained and has wonderful manners and would make a perfect family dog. We have promised him a home where he will be treated as a member of the family and most of all, we have promised him love!

Original bio:

Here is Luke! We (I say loosely) decided to name him Luke as we already have our own Bo in tribute to the good old Duke Boys of Hazard County. He weighs 95 lbs and is a gorgeous purebred chocolate.

He is a very sweet boy, super anxious to intermingle with people and can be a bit pushy with his head but just wants to cuddle. He is very gentle with his mouth, takes treats delicately. He has almost no leash training but has been on walk/runs in two days and we are determined to teach him. After the first block he practically heels. He has no sit/stay training but as he is eager to please. I am sure he will pick it up. Likes both of our other dogs and is careful with our 6 year olds.

Definitely needs to go to a home where family is committed to training. The shelter said he was about 5, but his behavior looks more like a 3 year old. Luke has lots of energy and is very active.

Original bio:

Betty is a sweet girl and would love to be your baby!

Betty was so frightened at the shelter they said she was "unfriendly". This could not be further from the truth, as she is a total lover girl. She is one of the most gentle and loving dogs I have ever fostered. She our mixed girl - half of her is either dudley yellow Lab or pale Golden Retriever, the other half is Husky. She has the build and fluffy tail of the Husky, and is pale, creamy yellow with a dudley nose and light brown eyes and cute, floppy ears. - she is beautiful! Betty knows basic commands and is very capable of learning and eager to please. She will sit and then sit up and gently put her paws on you - so adorable! The vet agrees that she is probably about 4 years old. Her teeth are a bit worn, but we think that is due to chewing from being tied up or confined. She acts very young. Betty was cheated earlier in her life - she is a wonderful dog who did not get the love, attention and training she is so deserving of.

If you have no other pets, Betty is the easiest dog ever. She is sweet and loving and will for sure light up your life. She hardly ever barks. She is super gentle with all people.

Betty was never taught to play well with others. In the month she has been with me she has learned to co-exist peacefully with my cats. As I suspected, she is not cat aggressive. She loves to play chase and my year old kitten can start quite a ruckus with her. I would recommend her to cats that are dog savvy and calm. My big tom cats do great with her. She will chase a cat that runs, but has no malicious intent, she LOVES to chase! She also loves her toys.

Betty is mediocre with other dogs. I do not believe she is inherently aggressive. Once again, I think no one ever taught her how to behave. She would probably do fine with a mellow dog who is not dominant. She takes correction. She is night and day from when she first came from the shelter. She will continue to improve in a loving, stable home.

Betty is healthy but came to us very emaciated. She needs to gain about 20 lbs and the vet has deferred her spay until she gains weight. She will go home UTD on her shots and she has a microchip. She should weigh 55 - 60 lbs when she is up to her full weight.

Original bio:

Juneau is a stunning "English" yellow Labrador whose light fur approaches white. He is a sweet, mellow guy who is a great companion dog. Juneau weighs about 100 lbs and we have put him on a diet as he is rather chubby. We think he will slim down quickly, just like his foster brother Cubby has, with some high quality food and daily exercise. Juneau is a very happy, huggable, easy going guy. He walks nicely on a leash for such a big guy and has had some training and knows to "sit", "down" and "shake" when asked. He is also house trained.

Juneau is fully vaccinated, micro-chipped and neutered. He is between 4 and 6 years old.

Original bio:

The quarterback fades back, makes one pump fake, then another, finally unleashing a long bomb. As the ball slices through the air in a graceful arc, the receiver races downfield without a defender in sight. With exquisite timing, he makes a full speed over-the-shoulder catch with his mouth. Touchdown! Wait-- with his mouth?

Rafael (call him Rafa) is a handsome, sleek, trim 1 to 2 year old who tips the scales at around 60 pounds. If there were a ball-fetching hall of fame, he would be in it. He fetches balls enthusiastically and tirelessly. He brings them back, stopping and then dropping the ball a few feet from the thrower. He then punts it with his nose so that it rolls right up to the throwers toes. His teeth show the premature wear seen in dogs who've been allowed to use tennis balls as chew toys. This wear can be arrested by simply putting the tennis ball away when a fetch session ends or by using rubber balls. We chose hollow rubber balls, in which he punches holes to make them easier to carry.

Fortunately, fetching isn't the all-consuming passion for Rafa it is for some dogs. He absolutely adores human attention and loves to play with his foster brother and sister dogs. He has very little training, but is house-trained and knows "sit." He pulls strongly on leash, which we're working on. For now, a pinch collar is necessary for leash walks.

Rafa has a tendency to greet people by jumping on them and is a confirmed kitchen counter surfer, so he is in definite need of further training. But once Rafa's new family puts him through an obedience class, he'll be an even more wonderful guy to have around than he is now.

Original bio:

King is a sweet boy, 1-1/2 to 2 years old (we think he is closer to 1-1/2). He's a long lanky guy, weighing about 76 lbs. He still has that puppylike gawkiness to him, like someone who hasn't gotten used to how big he is.

He loves attention, but isn't demanding about it. He is housetrained, but hasn't really learned any commands yet - we are working on that. He is easily startled by loud noises, to which he responds by moving away from the source. He enjoys walks outside and relaxing indoors.

King gets along with all the dogs in our house, although he will try to mount a dog that will let him. If the other dog complains, he will stop trying. We don't know how he would be with cats, but we suspect he would be curious but wary.

We think he would fit nicely into most households and be a very happy camper.

Original Bio:

A trim, eager, alert-looking yellow Labby girl sits by my side. I try to ignore her so I can get some email out of the way. It isn't working. I feel her eyes boring holes in the side of my skull. "Okay girl, what is it?" She immediately starts talking to me audibly in some doggy dialect I haven't mastered. Hmm... "How about a treat, girl?" Bingo. Silly human finally gets it. Dog gets treat so richly deserved.

She came to us named Roxy; had we not known that, we might have dubbed her Molly Brown, after the unsinkable gal who survived the Titanic disaster in style. Since the death of her owner two years ago, her family paid her scant attention. In spite of spending those years tethered day and night outdoors or in a garage, she's as bouncy and happy as can be. This girl has a supremely resilient, irrepressible personality. A lesser dog would no doubt bear psychological and behavioral baggage.

It's almost impossible to believe her official age of 9 years. She just doesn't look it; for one, she doesn't have the sclerotic changes in her eyes that occur at 7 years. My guess is that she's about 6, but we'll have to stick with 9, since that's what we've been told.

We've also been told that she gets along with cats, dogs, adult humans and children. She certainly gets along with us and our dogs. She's submissive with humans, but has a slightly dominant streak toward dogs. She will pull dominance moves on dogs-- mounting, for example. When our dogs have had enough of that, they correct her and the behavior stops dead. We haven't tested her with cats or children.

Roxy looks every inch the purebred. She's at the low end of the breed standard weightwise, tipping the scales at slightly under 60 pounds.

To my great surprise, she remembers her housetraining after 2 years of living outdoors. Almost every foster dog has an indoor accident or two early on. She's not had one. Zero, zip. Moreover, she knows "sit," "down," and "shake." She walks reasonably well on lead, but right now a prong collar and a little corrective "pop" on the lead once in a while are required to remind her who's in charge of the walk.

Original bio:

Misty is a very pretty, petite, yellow Lab princess who moves like a doe. She prefers to be indoors and seated on the furniture if you are not opposed to such things. She would love to sleep on your bed with you. She is good with other dogs and oblivious to kitties. She is not normally a barker, though she will bark with joy when she gets excited. She romps like a deer when she is being silly. She is gentle with treats and dines with her doggy companions with no problems. I have not been successful in getting her to fetch, she is too refined for such games! She is possessive with her chew bones and will let other critters know that the princess is chewing her bone and should not be disturbed. She'll be happy to give it to her human, though.

We don't know exactly how old Misty is, but we guess she's somewhere between 6 and 10 years old, though she acts like a dog closer to 6 than 10. She has a few benign fatty lipomas, very common in adult Labs. They pose no health concern.

Because of her smaller size and demeanor, Misty is suitable for condo or apartment life and would be great if you love Labs but don't want a hundred pound moose. She was given a clean bill of health by the vet and is spayed and up to date on her shots.

Original bio:

My name is Shadow and I am quite the handsome guy with my shiny, shiny coat, white teeth, and loving eyes. My long time family had to move to North Carolina without me and I am looking for a new family to love.

I love to swim, chase the Frisbee, and hang out with people. I do well with kids and love affection. I stay close to home, show no indication of tendencies to dig, chew, or trying to get out of the yard, and I have been through obedience training.

I get along great with other dogs but have been known to chase a cat. I am a purebred, neutered, enthusiastic, 8 year-old, and have no known physical issues.

Original bio:

Jet is a purebred black lab puppy who was born January 29, 2009. He’s very happy and handsome, has a gorgeous face and soft coat, and is quite the kisser. He’s a strong swimmer, and would love to have a new home with a pool or trips to a lake or beach. He loves the water, and would make a great dock jumping dog.

He has had some training with very little reinforcement. He is very responsive, treat-motivated, and extremely bright. He needs a devoted owner who will provide guidance and adequate exercise, as well as daily training sessions to enable him to grow into the stellar companion that he has the potential to be.

If you think you might like this handsome lad to be part of your family, please submit an online adoption application and drop a line to info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Original bio:

Buster2 is a delightful yellow male, approx. 3-5 years old (shelter said 3, vet said 4-5) and average size for a male Lab. He is good with people, playful with other dogs and oblivious to cats. He fits into a family environment very well. He isn't a fetcher, but he does have a little training.

Original bio:

Prancer is a lively middle aged (8?) handsome chocolate boy who has brought an abundance of joy to his foster family (Mary and dog Betty) and his human and canine pals in the Santa Barbara area. He came into foster care already and obviously well-trained and well-loved. Uses the doggy door, has never lifted his leg in the house, adores human, child and canine companionship and seems uninterested in cats--I did a double take once when Prancer was out in the yard and a cat stared him down and ran away, and Prancer stood statue-like! Prancer's ideal home would be one in which people were home frequently (though he does well when left alone for a few hours), and children or other dogs were around to play. He loves his walks, though is of an age where he doesn't require any intense exercising, and a trip to the park or two brief walks keep him satisfied.

Prancer has a clean bill of health--several lipomas were confirmed to be "fatty", and chest xrays and blood tests were clear.

Original bio:

Polly is a beautiful purebred chocolate lab girl . She is 3 1/2 years old and is a typical happy lab who is eager to please. Polly came into rescue because she has a fungal infection in her nose and her owners did not want to pay for vet treatment so they took her to a county animal shelter and left her there. She has been "rescued" and is now in a foster home receiving lots of love and treatment for her nose infection. Polly loves people and is a very attentive and affectionate girl. She is a "velcro" dog and likes to follow her foster parents around the house just in case they need her help with anything. Polly is a perfectly proportioned lab and has a cute square head, stunning hazel eyes and a nice, thick tail. She is medium sized and currently weighs about 75 lbs but she should lose about 5 to 10 lbs to be in ideal shape. We think she will shape up quickly with more regular exercise and good quality food.

Polly is well trained and knows how to walk nicely on a leash and is crate and house trained; she also knows "sit", "down" and "stay". She plays well with other dogs and is also good with cats and children. Polly likes to play ball and frisbee at the beach and is well behaved both on and off leash. She has lived most of her life in a garage and has some concern about being left alone and she prefers to be inside with her foster parents and would probably do best in a home where someone is home most of the day. Polly is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccinations. She will be available for adoption after she is through with the medications for her nose infection.

Original bio:

Chippie is a 6-8 year old boy with impeccable housemanners. He's one of those dogs who really make rescuing worthwhile. He is so darned excited to be out of the shelter and loved again that he really doesn't want his humans to leave.

We're in the process of teaching him that barking doesn't bring people home, and he's learning quickly. It's safe to assume that Chippie hasn't been on a leash much, nor outside his home or yard. He grows anxious when outside of his foster space, but seeing him adjust to it in just a few days shows just how much he wants to please. He really sticks close on walks, but is getting more confident day by day. That desire to stick close probably means he'll be a great off-leash boy.

Original bio:

Gracie May is the ultimate Fetching Companion!

Gracie May is a beautiful, purebred 4 to 5 year old labrador girl. She has a lustrous black coat and a typical happy lab temperament. Her tail is always wagging and she sleeps on her doggie bed all night without a peep. Gracie has good house manners and is potty trained. She is a very smart girl and she knows to "sit" and "down" and is learning new commands every day.

Gracie does not appear to have missed many meals and should probably lose a couple of pounds to be at her ideal weight. We do not think losing weight will be a problem, as this girl loves to play fetch and run! Gracie pulls on the leash at first because she is so excited to get outside and play, but we have tried a prong collar on her and this seems to really help. She is very good off-leash and loves to go to the beach and the dog park to play ball.

Gracie gets along well with other dogs and has a very friendly personality. She ignored the cats that she met, so we think she would do fine in a home with cats. She is mellow in the house and she has a higher energy level when it is playtime and she is outside. We think she would do well in a home with children over the age of 7 and/or children that are comfortable with large dogs.

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

Original bio:

If you are looking for an easy, low-maintenance Lab, Allie is your girl.

Allie was turned-in to Animal Control by a good Samaritan who found her wandering in a very remote canyon area. She had injuries that appeared to be from barbed wire, now healing nicely and she had obviously had a recent encounter with a skunk. Having had this dog a few days, my guess is she was trying to make friends with the striped creature.

Allie is about 2.5 years old. She’s underweight, but appears healthy otherwise. She’s still intact but has a spay appointment on 03.10.09, and will be available for adoption after her recovery.

Allie is a light yellow color. Right now she weighs 50#s but should be in the upper 50’s at the very minimum. She’s suffered from flea infestation at some point as evidenced by her worn down incisors.

She has the most stellar temperament. She’s happy, quiet, agreeable with dogs and cats, house trained, sleeps quietly on her dog bed at night, walks well on a leash and is learning obedience basics. I can’t say enough about what an amazing temperament she has in light of what was clearly not a great start at life.

We would love for Allie to be in a home where she will have lots of attention and company. She would do well with another dog and also with cats. She’s been around small children and is very gentle with them. This dog doesn’t have a mean bone in her.

Original bio:

Mallory is a beautiful 1 year old purebred, spayed, black Lab. She's everything we love about labs - happy, silly, wiggly and just darling.

She lives with a 135 pound Mastiff breed dog & a 6 pound Terrier mix dog, and they all get along beautifully. The family also has a horse and a cat, so she's been exposed to both. Mallory has been around children (family has a 2 year old & a 6 year old) and is very good with them.

She does have an exuberant Lab personality and does not have much training at this point, so children should be prepared for an occasional burst of puppy energy. Mallory does know "sit" and she will wait to eat her dinner until she's told "OK." She's house trained, but spends most of her days outdoors - thus the reason for her owners looking for a new home for her, they feel they cannot offer her enough of the attention she craves. And due to her lack of exercise, the poor girl is about 7 pounds overweight.

Mallory is crate trained, and one really nice trait is that she comes when called. Her new family should be committed to enrolling in an obedience class shortly after adopting her.

Original bio:

Her name is Skye, but she's anything but blue. This bouncy little pixie will charm your socks off. She's on the small side, about 55 pounds, and very playful and active. She appears to be purebred. Common for her age, she is an active girl, so she should go to a home where her humans will provide her with plenty of exercise. She can be run on grass and dirt surfaces, but her bone growth plates haven't closed yet, so running on hard surfaces should be avoided.

She's about 10 months old, and acts that age. She doesn't seem to have a lot of training, but is anxious to please, so she should be very trainable, once she gets over the excitement of being in a new home. She's an adolescent, and thus has "selective hearing"; she'll be more attentive as she gets a little older. She had a couple of accidents in our home when she was kept crated for too long, but that's all. She's definitely a chewer (though she's not damaged anything of value), so she should always have good chew toys, like Nylabones, nearby at all times.

She is good with other dogs, although a bit too active for some senior dogs. She is mouthy at times, so she should not be placed with small children unless they are dog-savvy, and her humans will need to be consistent in correcting unwanted behavior - ignoring her works well for most such behaviors, but redirection is required for some, such as chewing.

Skye's had two sets of her basic vaccinations a month apart, plus her rabies vaccination, so she won't need them for a year, and she has a microchip. If you'd like to know more about her and have submitted an online application, please contact us at info@fetchingcompanions.org.

Original bio:

Magnum2 is a beautiful purebred chocolate, 1-1/2 year old male, about 70 lbs. who was turned in to us by his owners because he didn’t always get along with the second family dog.

As a puppy, he was purchased and transported from a breeder in Missouri. When left alone outside, he becomes a barker. For this reason, if he is an only dog, he would be best with owners who are home nearly all the time. We have found that he can get along with certain dogs, usually those with a genial or submissive personality (he has bonded with, and takes his naps near his foster sister, the yellow lab in the picture). When you do leave the house, he is fine outside with another dog for company. However, once you come home, better let him in because he is most comfortable being in close proximity to his owner. He is the sort of companion content to follow you from room to room and will plop down by your feet as you go about your business.

He is up to date on shots, is double microchipped, neutered, housetrained and can sit and shake but needs work on staying. He has a medium amount of energy, having passed the ebullient puppy stage. He does pull on the leash so he’ll need help on walks and his idea of fetch is "I’ll fetch and you chase me." He takes a while to warm to strangers but is good company and will make a great protector once he has bonded with his owner. He is excellent with children and not food aggressive. He prefers sleeping on the sofa or bed but if not, he’s just as happy on his own bed as long as it’s near you. You’ll have to keep an eye in the kitchen because if you’re not looking, he will go counter surfing..

Original bio:

Rio is a cute 2-year-old lab mix, about 40-45 lbs (maybe just a touch of Basset Hound in him?). He came from the shelter with a badly broken canine tooth and an infection, both of which have been treated. He still needs to complete his course of antibiotics, but he is doing great. He enjoys playing with the other dogs in our house, and he likes to relax on the dog bed behind me while I am using the computer. He will go into his crate willingly for a small treat (but he always checks first to make sure one is in there). He likes to squeak his vinyl ball, and he even chews on a nylabone on occasion. He does seem very interested in the squirrel that inhabits a tree outside our fence and the lizard who hangs out near our trash cans when it is warm, so he may have some prey drive when it comes to small critters. We haven't noticed that he is obsessed with them, though, so it is probably at least part curiosity. If you're looking for a cute lab on the small side, Rio may be just the ticket.

Original bio:

Duke is a gorgeous young (probably no more than 2 years old) black male who was found running loose in Long Beach in early to mid Sept. No one has claimed him, so he is looking for a new home where he will get the attention he desires. A typical young dog, he pulls on lead, but he does know "sit" and gives his paw. With a bit of additional training, he should do well. He has a sweet temperament, and is very friendly with people and other dogs, although he'd do best as an only dog, because of his dominant personality. His behavior with cats is unknown.

Original bio:

Meet Maggie Mae!

Maggie Mae is a gorgeous, purebred English type female yellow lab. She is around 4 years old and is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccinations. Maggie is a very playful and affectionate girl who gets along well with other dogs. She is a small, compact lab only 19" tall at her shoulders. She's a little plump right now, so we think she should lose a couple of pounds, but is otherwise absolutely perfect! She has just come into rescue and we will update her information with more details as we get to know her better.

Original bio:

Lenore is a pretty 1 year old yellow female who appears to be purebred of the field variety. She has a medium build, is on the skinny side and currently on a weight gain program. However, this girl has some muscles and is very toned, which is evident when you see her move. It’s these muscles that keep her agile and full of energy. Lenore is also a smart dog which will make her easy to train. She learned how to unlatch her kennel door and even escaped from a 5' foot kennel with a loosely fitted top. She tends to pull a little on the leash but otherwise walks as if she’s had some training. She hasn’t learned to let go of a ball after fetching it but she does love to run. She is very friendly, easy to handle and gets along fine with other dogs. She is house trained, microchipped and up to date on her shots. She is scheduled to be spayed in January, but can be made available soner with an additional spay deposit which is returned once proof of spaying is provided. She has not been tested with cats but would make an excellent addition to a household with other dogs.

Original bio:

Sparky is a good looking young (about 1-1/2 years old) dark golden yellow labrador of about 67 lbs. He has some training (knows sit and down) and has a nice, fairly submissive temperament. He is a master counter surfer, however, so he should not be allowed loose in an area where food is left out because he will get to it and eat it. Expect an update in a few days, once his fosterer gets a chance to write a more complete description of this boy.

Original bio:

No Mr. Nice Guy anymore? Not true, as long as Barney's around. He's a handsome black of about 7 years of age, with purebred appearance, except for a thin white racing stripe down his chest. Could he be a mix? Maybe, but he's got that wonderful Labby temperament, doggone it. He adores being at the side of a human, getting a head scratch, a chin scratch, a tummy rub, or heck-- any sort of attention at all.

Though he loves humans above all, he also loves to be with other dogs. He even tolerates the brash, bratty attentions of our 10-month old foster pup, who is all over him like... well, like ugly on a Hairless Chihuahua.

Like most Labs, Barns loves his "walkies" almost as much as food and attention. He doesn't hesitate to remind us that a walk would be a swell thing to do right now. We haven't taken him on long ones, but he's easily capable of a mile or two, and probably more.

He doesn't have a lot of training, but knows "sit," is housetrained, and is trustworthy enough to be loose in the house without supervision. He also understands dog doors. He pulls strongly on lead with a flat collar, but is reasonably manageable with a pinch collar. I expect the same would be true with a head-halter, like a Gentle Leader or a Halti, but we haven't tried either on him yet.

Original bio:

Blake is an amazingly gentle, happy and handsome 2 year old male Chocolate Lab, with a sprinkle of Springer Spaniel. His appearance is that of a purebred chocolate with a white bib on his chest; his coat is silky, shiny and thick. his temperment is kind, playful and he's done well around young children.

He enjoys playing with his foster sister Betty, and ran and got along well with all the other dogs at the dog park. Blake would do best at a home where he has another dog to play with, and with a family who can provide him the exercise a young lab needs.

He was turned in to a shelter by an owner who claimed to not have time for him.

Blake walks well on a leash, and knows basic commands. He's housetrained, can use a doggy door and enjoys riding in the car.

Original bio:

What can I say about Jasper! Jasper is a gorgeous six month old cream colored Labrador retriever. He is a purebred with a perfect Labrador mentality; he loves all humans and dogs. Jasper is the cutest sweetest ball of energy. He is learning house manners and potty training; he is still very young and sometimes gets too involved in play to remember to go outside to potty. He is also working on how to walk on a leash; he just lopes around discovering every new plant and smell. In fact he prefers to carry his leash in his mouth. He carries balls, chew toys and bones in his mouth at all times. If you give him more than one thing at a time you can see his little puppy brain working as hard as possible to figure out how to pick them all up. He is very sweet with my children but needs to learn not to jump or knock them over. He would not be good with children under 10.

As a Labrador puppy he loves to chew, so he needs lots of appropriate toys and exercise daily.

Original bio:

Meet Teddy!

Teddy is a very happy purebred chocolate lab who is looking for a home where he can be a part of the family. We think he is around 7 years old with nice teeth and just a touch of grey. Teddy has great house manners and is completely potty trained and does not chew, dig or have any destructive behaviors whatsoever. He has a great personality and does not bark unless you ask him to "speak" or get him really excited when you are playing with him. Teddy is very responsive to training and is currently learning how to fetch the morning paper.

Teddy is a bit chubby right now and needs more muscle tone but this has already started to change. We think he was probably overfed and never exercised and we think he will trim down quickly with proper care. Teddy was taken to the shelter due to unfortunate circumstances with his owner and then had a rough time at the shelter where he was attacked by a very aggressive dog. He is thrilled to be out of the shelter and loves going to the dog park and the beach and meeting new dog and people friends.

He gets along great with all other dogs, cats and children. Teddy is well suited to be a family dog due to his easy going nature. He does not require intensive exercise but like all labs, he should have a daily walk and playtime. Teddy is up to date on his vaccinations, neutered and micro-chipped.

Original bio:

Trixie is about 2 - 3 years old, closer to 2 at a guess. She's a gorgeous girl, a little heavy by maybe 5 lbs. She has a really nice, thick, black, shiny coat, very white teeth, good ears, moves very well. She looks like a purebred lab of close to show dog quality.

Trixie has been great with her fosterer's two male dogs. On the way to her foster home, she rode like a dream in the crate, putting herself into it and sitting down promptly. It took about 2 hours to get to the foster home and she never made a peep. She knows sit, down and shake. So far she's been good in the house; she enjoys being curled up on the floor by a human's feet. She doesn't seem too interested in retrieving at this point, but she did engage in some friendly playing with the other dogs. She does pull a bit on leash.

Trixie appears to be fine with cats and lots of other critters, including pigs and goats. She has a nice energy level; not super active nor hyper. So far, she appears to be a good fit for most any kind of family, even relatively inexperienced.

Original bio:

Elsie is a sweet, easy going 11 year old female labrador who was rescued just in the nick of time from the shelter. Her prior owners apparently did not know a good thing when they had it and left her at the shelter after years of her loyalty because she was getting old! Elsie is a beautiful cream colored girl with the classic happy lab temperament. She would be thrilled to have a nice dog bed to lounge on and keep you company around the house. Elsie is great with all other dogs, cats and children. She is housetrained and well behaved. She walks well on the leash and enjoys short walks and the occasional trip to the park. Elsie is current on her vaccinations and has been examined by the vet and found to be in good health for her age. She has a few of those harmless fatty lumps that labs are prone to getting as they age and she has lost most of her hearing due to many untreated ear infections but none of that seems to dampen her spirits!

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Original bio:

Rufus is a purebred neutered male chocolate lab who is approximately 3 years old. He somehow ended up in a crowded shelter as a stray without a collar or any identification and we just cannot believe that his owners did not come for him! After weeks of keeping our eye on him, we took him into rescue. He loves to play fetch and is a happy and somewhat goofy boy. He is uninterested in cats and has been fostered in a home with 3 cats. He also is very friendly with other dogs. He is perfectly proportioned and weighs around 75 pounds.

Rufus is neutered, current on his vaccinations, and will be micro-chipped prior to adoption. He has has some training and he heels nicely on a leash and know the commands for "sit" and "down". Rufus is also house-trained and is responsive to verbal commands. Unfortunately he did contract a nasty case of kennel cough while he was in the shelter and is on antibiotics and is still recovering, so he is not available for adoption just yet.

Original bio:

Sweet Sammy is an adorable purebred black labrador girl who is 8 years young! Sammy came to us when an elderly man brought her into the shelter with tears in his eyes and said that his wife was dying of cancer and that he could no longer physically and emotionally care for both Sammy and his wife, we heard about her from volunteers at the shelter and we brought her into rescue. Sammy was overweight when she arrived and she still does need to lose some weight but she is doing great on her diet and exercise regime and everyone is remarking on how good she looks. Our best guess is that she was overfed and under exercised for some time in her prior home. We did take Sammy to the vet when she arrived and tested her thyroid to see if that is why she was overweight but her checkup came back normal and she is in great health. She has a lustrous black coat with just a hint of grey around her muzzle and a tail that never stops wagging.

Sammy makes friends wherever she goes! She is very popular at the dog park and she is great with dogs of all sizes and with cats. Children love Sammy and she loves them- she was a big hit at a recent birthday party as you can see from the photos... She is currently being fostered in a home with another labrador and a 4 year old girl and her foster mom reports that she is the most easy going dog she has ever met. Sweet Sammy deserves to be in a home where she can be a constant and loving family companion and she will need a family that can help her stick to her current diet and exercise program. Sammy is spayed, micro-chipped and current on her vaccinations and her AKC papers will be provided with her adoption.

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Original bio:

Snow is a very sweet 5 year old female who loves to be petted. She was adopted from the shelter but turned back in several months later due to an allergy in the family. She is most likely a purebred and of medium but compact build.

She is not well trained and will only sit on command. She is learning to walk properly on a leash but still tends to pull. What she does have in abundance is a calm disposition and a lovable personality, and your heart will melt when she sits at your feet and gazes at you with her big brown eyes.

She is very well mannered and won't jump, even when excited. Instead, she will grin at you and wag her tail like crazy in order to get her head scratched. She is shy and submissive and gets along well with her foster family's dog. Snow is not big on fetching but she will grab a toy every now and then.

She is past the notorious chewing stage that labs are known for although she may chew on a shoe if you're not looking. However, she is easly corrected with a firm no. She hasn't learned to use the doggie door yet but is house trained and will sleep inside throughout the night without a peep. She is a good girl who is happiest around people and has developed a special attachment to the family member who feeds her.

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Original Bio:

Gus2 is a six year old, gorgeous, gentle purebred chocolate lab who was rescued within days of being taken to the shelter. The family he lived with were among the many who have hit hard times and were having to move from their ranch.

Gus was born and spent the first five years of his life at a kennel that specializes in training hunting dogs, and he was used as a "breeder". Prior to arriving at his foster home in Santa Barbara, Gus had never been an "inside dog". Well, he has taken to it like a champ---behaves well, has adjusted to sleeping with his foster dog sisters on the bed, and after one day he was "housetrained".

He's been around a variety of children and dogs and is gentle with everyone. He loves to hug and give kisses, has the typical tennis ball addiction and loves to fetch. He walks well on a leash, and is quite responsive to voice commands--"sit-no-good boy" etc. He has an OFA hip certification as "good", and is fully "papered" with AKC, DNA, pedigree, etc. All in all, Gus is a perfect specimen of a chocolate lab in every way and would love to be part of a family that will give him lots of hugs, pats on the head, and a moderate amount of exercise.

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Original Bio:

Hershey is a good looking 5 year old chocolate male who was turned into the shelter by his owner due to the owner's financial difficulties. There was a family who intended to adopt him because he is a sweetie, but the shelter turned them away due to a paperwork mixup. He seems fine with other dogs, including our old seniors, and doesn't try to mount them or otherwise bother them. He is tolerant of the young pup we are fostering, Skye, who jumps all over him, and doesn't correct her until her behavior has continued for some time - meanwhile, she steals Nylabones out of his mouth without reprisal, and Hershey really loves Nylabones.

Mostly, he is interested in getting attention from humans. He was good with a couple of children of different ages who met him. He will jump up to try to get in a human's lap, but we are working on that behavior. We think Herhsey is a real lover who will fit into almost any situation without a ripple..

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Original bio:

Miss Daisy is a happy little purebred yellow lab girl. She is a beautiful light yellow lab with caramel ears and expressive brown eyes, we have not weighed her yet but don't think she weighs more than 60 pounds and is in perfect shape as that size. Miss Daisy was taken to the shelter by her family who said they "didn't have time for a dog". The shelter said she is 4 years old (but we think she may be younger), spayed, up to date on her vaccinations and micro-chipped.

Miss Daisy gets long well with other dogs of all sizes and is a playful and bouncy girl. She has been around some school age children while at her foster home and seems quite comfortable with children and may have lived with children before. She probably would do best in a home without cats as she finds them very exciting. She has had some training and does know how to "come", "sit" and "down" when asked but pulls a little on the leash when she is excited.

Buddy is a gorgeous 1-1/2 year old purebred chocolate labrador. He is a big boy who is lean and muscular at 90 pounds. He enjoys playing with all of the dog toys at his foster home and getting lots of love. Buddy was a dog that was kept in a backyard before being left at a shelter and he loves being in the house and having a dog bed to sleep on. He deserves a forever home where he can get love and attention and be part of the family. He is very sweet natured and loves to give kisses!

Buddy did not appear to have any training when he first arrived from the shelter but since arriving in his foster home he has learned to "sit" and to "lie down" nicely. He loves to fetch and he has also learned how to swim and likes to go in the pool with people or even by himself and has figured out how to use the steps to get in and out. Buddy has a moderate energy level for a young lab. He is a happy and playful boy who wants to please and learns quickly and we feel that with a little guidance will be a wonderful companion for years to come.

Buddy is neutered, current on his vaccinations, and micro-chipped. He is currently being fostered in a home with other dogs and 2 cats. He is great with all other dogs and despite his size, he is not a dominant dog. At first, he was very interested in the kitties but he seems to be over this initial excitement. Buddy likes all people including children and has been great with the children that have visited our home and come to go swimming with him.

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Original bio:

Wow! What a spectacular sit! Most Labs have a slouchy "puppy sit," but not this guy. Remember how your mom continually told you to sit up straight? Darby's mom must have done a super job of nagging him in this respect.

Darby is a beautiful, sweet boy, about 1-1/2 to 2 years old. He's got a nice blocky Lab head and a long, tall, lean body. He tips the scales at 67 pounds, but should probably be kept at about 70 to 75 pounds. His conformation is quite good: he has that truly classic purebred appearance.

He has some training, as evidenced by extremely good behavior for his age. He's reasonably good on leash, but hasn't been trained to heel. He can pull strongly when excited, so a pinch collar or a Gentle Leader head halter is called for. He's been loose with our dogs a few times and it looks like he'll be fine with them, though he's more active than our senior dogs like. With other young dogs, he runs around and plays chase and tug-o-war enthusiastically. Since he was recently intact, he displays some mounting behavior, but that should abate over the next couple of months. His neuter incision is nearly healed (and it will have been 2 weeks on 7/4), so he is now available to an approved applicant looking for a stunning young labbie boy.

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Original bio:

Picadilly-- "Pic" or "dilly" is a sweet and loving, beautiful female purebred black lab. She is purported to be thirteen, but her demeanor and activity level are more like a 10 yr old. Pic has experienced a few major changes in her life--she was raised as a "breeder" dog. At age 8, when she was too old to keep making puppies, the breeder adopted her to an elderly man. Her new owner passed away recently and no one in the owner's family was willing to take Pic in and give her the retirement she so justly deserves. The only person who cared for her was the old gentleman's care taker. During her owner's decline, Pic spent several weeks boarded at the vet, where she enjoyed house privileges and got along with all creatures great and small, canine, feline and human.

She clearly has good breeding. She not only has AKC papers, she also has OFA, Wind-Morgan, and CERF certificates attesting to the health of her hips, elbows and eyes, respectively.

Pic made her way to Santa Barbara via the "labrador railroad" and is enjoying life with her foster mom and foster sister (a lab mix named Betty). Pic gets along beautifully with small children, and people of all ages, and has adapted well to sharing space with Betty. She likes her food and needs to be kept on a diet. She eats a special food which agrees with her senior metabolism, and also gets normal supplements like glucosamine to help protect her joints, and fish oil to help her coats stay beautiful. Picadilly is in incredible physical shape for a dog of her age - her hearing and eyesight are not that of a 5 year old's, but are very good. Pic would love to spend her golden years in a home with someone who is home a good deal. She has minimal needs---a leash walk around the block, a soft place to hang out, some pats on the head, chasing a ball a little every day will suit her fine.

Original bio:

Holly is a dolly! If you have been looking for a classic little Lab, here she is! Holly is a dream of a 3-year old purebred white female labrador. Holly was taken to the shelter by her family because they were moving and we went to pick her up as soon as we heard about her because she is such a special girl. She is very happy and friendly and already seems right at home in her foster home with all of the other labs, cats and people. She gets along great with the other fosters Sammy and Buddy but we sense that she is really a people dog. She would love a home where she can get lots of love and some exercise too! Holly is a little plump right now and could use a diet and get a little more exercise to regain her girlish figure. She is a small to average sized girl and is what is referred to an an English Lab. She has moderate energy for a lab her age and would love daily walks or trips to the dog park.

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Tank is a a laid back, mellow yellow male. He came from the Burbank shelter, which indicated that he is 6 years old. He needs to go on a diet, not that those extra pounds slow him down a lot. He loved having a trip to the river, where he burrowed through the water like a tank (which is why we gave him that name).

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Original bio:

"Roo, roo, roo, roo!" Don't mind him-- that's just Clifford, gently rooing in his singularly identifiable voice because he's temporarily separated from me by a kiddie gate. Cliffie is a very large-framed boy of about 8 years of age. As you've no doubt already guessed, he wants to be with his humans. He's fine with dogs, too, being a gentle soul to the core, and allows our personal Labs, who are dwarfed by his height, to boss him around.

Size isn't his only unusual characteristic. He's one of those very rare yellows whose color verges on red-- "fox red," in Lab Club parlance.

Cliff has hip dysplasia, which our orthopedic vet, having examined and x-rayed the dog, believes can be managed without surgery, by keeping him on the lean side and giving him inexpensive joint supplements daily. His hips have some arthritis, so he's never going to be a Frisbee dog or a jogging companion, but he tolerates half-mile walks well, and he'll probably soon be okay with a mile at a time, perhaps more.

A word about hip dysplasia-- our ortho vet used to do about 2 hip operations per month, but with the advent of joint supplements, now does about 2 per year. A regime of trim weight, combined with regular low-impact exercise and a twice-daily Move Free tablet has made astonishing inroads on this once-dreaded condition.

Is Cliff a purebred? Could be. Is he a mix? Again, could be. He's extremely long and tall for a Lab, and has a pretty long face, but he looks 90%+ Lab to us. His weight, at about 90 pounds, isn't really huge, given his size XL frame (though he ought to slim down to 85 pounds). Is he a boon companion? You bet! He unleashes that big old tongue to give kisses as often as you'll let him, and receives hugs gladly. He loves to hang out at the feet of the nearest human and quietly play with a stuffed toy, chew a Nylabone, or just have a nice snooze.

He's a little unusual for a Lab in that he seems to have no impulse to chase other animals. He's fine with one fosterer's bunnies and pygmy goats, and we suspect he'd be fine with cats, though we haven't tested him with them.

Newt is ready for adoption. His neuter surgery has healed.

The shelter pegged his age at 5 years, but we think they based that on his sunburned and unkempt fur. He looks to us to be around 2 years old, and our vet thinks he could be slightly younger than that.

He's extremely well behaved for a 2-year-old. He's an extremely friendly and eager-to-please boy and has some training. He sits when asked and will return a tossed Frisbee and drop it at the tosser's feet. He also knows "down", "stay and "quiet."

He's absolutely fine with other dogs. He's still a pretty anxious boy, normal for a dog who's been out of stir for such a short time. His coat was in terrible shape due to neglect, but it's looking much better now after several Furminator sessions and a bath. His coat is now darker and glossier than the photos suggest, and will be beautiful after a couple of months of good nutrition. He's got a little dandruff, which we think comes from a simple flea allergy. The anti-flea medication we gave him should clear that up quickly if we're right

His appearance is purebred, though he has a very wide head, almost like some Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. He's alert and has a sunny temperament. When he gets enough attention to get excited, he jumps up and down, getting all four feet off the ground. However, he doesn't jump on humans.

Original bio:

Peanut is a 10 month old chocolate Lab pup. She is small, only 48 lbs. right now. I think when she is all grown up and filled out, she will weigh in the mid-50 pound range. She appears to be purebred, just not show-quality. The good news is she is perfect pet-quality!

Peanut is a perfect example of why we recommend (strongly!) against giving animals as gifts. Peanut was a gift to her old family and after 8 months of living in the backyard, she was taken to the shelter because the owners claimed they “couldn’t handle her.”

Now that she’s at our house and she’s allowed to be part of the family both indoors and out, she couldn’t be easier. She’s quiet, she has house-trained herself with no help from me, she doesn’t make a peep in her crate at night, she’s learned about kitties, she is learning how to sit, down & shake. She sticks right by my side on leash and she impresses me as a dog who will be a very good off-leash companion. She also gets along well with her 2 Lab foster brothers and is learning how to play with other dogs.

Peanut is still a puppy and part of the deal is that puppies have a lot of energy. She can get out her ya-hoos by a couple fun games of fetch in the backyard, or by being your running partner and then she’ll settle right down in the house. She loves Kongs with peanut butter inside, Nyla-bones, and basically anything that is a dog toy – trust me, she’s found every one that we own!

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Original bio:

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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Original bio:

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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Original bio:

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

Original bio:

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

Original bio:

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

Meet Ginger!

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

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

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

Original Bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Louie The Lab

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Here’s handsome Buster!

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

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

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

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

Original bio:

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

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

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

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

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

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