Tall and tan, young and lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking... and she usually has a toy in her mouth! Ipanema is blessed with a great playful personality. She is fun, vigorous, proud and high-spirited. One of her greatest pleasures is carrying around a stuffed toy for everyone to see. Being a social butterfly suggests she would do better living with a family that was home most of the day or could take her to work. She loves the outdoors, but lacks finesse around other dogs and should avoid dog parks. Long walks and hikes are much better ideas. Anything you do together will make her happy, particularly if it includes prancing around with a toy. This sweet angel has amazing potential and only needs your guidance to fulfill her dreams.

Young Rowdy is ready for a warm, loving home to call his own. He is a happy little fellow, full of energy, who enjoys having a good time. If you offer him a little food he might do the Hokie Pokie and turn himself around. Start addressing his reactive nature around other dogs by introducing games like “find it” to help him redirect his focus. His intentions around other dogs are honorable, they just need refining. Channel his enthusiasm by enrolling him in a "Family Dog 1" class and then on to agility. Teaching him new tricks and going for long walks twice a day will only enrich your relationship. We guarantee Rowdy will put a little pizzazz in your day.

Candy is a sweet, adorable youngster who jumps for joy whenever she is around people. Her enthusiasm is contagious! She spent much of her life outside and now wants to make sure her new forever home has a cozy warm bed inside just for her. Candy is ready for any active first time family looking for an energetic companion. Her canine greeting skills could use some fine tuning; however, with the proper introductions, she could make a great second dog. Because she is so spunky we think older kids (10+) would be best. With a little guidance, structure and love, this cupcake has all the makings of a great lifelong companion.

Chewy is loaded with personality. He is quirky and fun and just waiting for the next adventure. He is also athletic and would do well in most any canine sport. Training him will be easy and fun as he is quite motivated by yummy treats. Keep an eye on him, though, as he is always looking for an opportunity to escape into the great outdoors. Teach him tricks and games to engage his active mind. A training class would be great to teach him manners and strengthen your bond with him. He enjoys playing with other dogs but can be a bit overwhelming, despite his small size. If you are looking for a little dog to amuse you and make you smile everyday, take Chewy out let him work his charm on you.

Roxy is adorable - cute and cuddly, full of life and love. She is very food motivated and loves training. She wants to be an only dog so she will get the attention and training she craves. Roxie is afraid of other dogs and barks when she sees them - however, she has had an amazingly good response to counter conditioning (talk with our Behavior Staff) when there are other dogs in her vicinity. Learning that she does not have to deal with them is a great relief to her; in fact, Roxy has gone on some of our 'Sunday hikes' with other adoption dogs and done very well. All in all, Roxy has the right stuff to be a super star with an experienced family who can continue to work with her. It is impossible not to love this girl.

Daphne is a gorgeous young dog looking to find her way in the world. She loves people and loves to play, but can get worried in new environments. She LOVES squeaky toys and will bring them back to you again and again to keep the fun going. Daphne also likes other dogs and after a proper greeting, she wants to play, play, PLAY! Her play style might be a little overwhelming so dog parks should NOT be on the agenda. Daphne spent several weeks at San Quentin as part of our Pen Pals of San Quentin Program where she worked on her obedience training and even earned her Canine Good Citizen certificate! Daphne is a great, charming dog -  come meet her and you'll find out why!

Sweet little Nina originally came from a puppy mill situation in 2008. Dogs that come from puppy mills miss out on crucial socialization and training so they need a little extra help, and darling Nina is no exception. She is a very shy girl, but if you go slowly and give her time, she will crawl into your lap for a snuggle. She gets very nervous in new environments, so you'll want to help her feel safe. She had some trouble with house training, which is no surprise for a puppy mill dog. Please talk with our staff about how to help Nina with this. She recently spent time in a foster home where she was a perfect guest. She got along great with their resident dog and loved going on long walks. She is a sweet, loving girl who wants to find a quiet, adult-only home where her people are home most of the time. Meet Nina, read her foster notes, and see what all the fuss is about!

Little Tutti’s world has been turned upside down. She wants to feel safe and secure to bring balance back into her life and begin to love someone again. Her new home be adults only as she is very shy and nervous about being picked up and handled. Living in a quieter, tranquil environment would allow her to relax. She doesn't seem to know much about toys right now, but gently encouraging both mental and physical exercise is a great way to bond with your new canine friend. Eventually she may prove to be quite the athlete and want to sign up for more training. Once you've earned Tutti’s trust and love, you will have a great little friend to share all the new and wonderful things in your life.

Will is an athlete in the making and is full of action, fun, and go, go, go. He leaps, twirls, jumps, plays with toys and gives kisses. Hiking buddy, ball buddy and whatever else fun you have to offer, would be great for his active mind. He is the perfect dog for an active household who will take him to classes, give him structure and did we mention lots of exercise?  Will does not know how to meet other dogs nicely so no dog parks. Discuss this with one of our Behavior Staff to find out how to make sure his interactions are appropriate. Because Will can get anxious when left alone, he needs a home where someone will be there most of the time. He will bring pure joy to his new family.

Rascal originally came from an over crowded shelter. Then he thought he had the best guardians ever, but alas they had to move across country. The good news is they gave him glowing review. Rascal just might be that perfect small dog you have been looking for. He is a great size, has lived with a respectful dog, a cat, birds, young children and a loving grandparent. Even though he is an active dog, exercise will not be a major issue; a couple of neighborhood walks each day will help keep him in shape. Did we mention he is house trained? Rascal wants to share his life with someone as nice as you. All he asks for is a little guidance, a warm place to call home and maybe a bedtime story or two.

Louie is a Miniature Dachshund who would benefit from the tried-and-true duo of diet and exercise. He is rather shy and does not like people looming over him. However, once he becomes more comfortable, he does allow himself to be picked up or a leash put on him. Patience is the key to help him gain confidence. Louie should be an only dog as he did have disagreements with the other dog in his previous home. Once he gets down to a healthy size his energy will return and he will enjoy life much more. Enroll him in a Small Dog I class, although he already walks well on the leash. This sweet little fellow would prefer a quiet household where he can enjoy himself as a favorite companion.

Even thought Spike looks like he is having a bad hair day, he has a sweet, gentle soul and endearing personality. He was found lost and disoriented in San Rafael but no one came to get him. He is comfortable meeting other dogs and his calm, easy-going demeanor might make him a great second dog. He does seem restless once he is inside; this anxious behavior might be due to some hearing loss. If this is the case his new family will need to be more vigilant and learn to get his attention through hand signals. Spike will enjoy his daily walks along with a little mental stimulation to keep his body and mind strong. With your patience and love this mellow fellow will bring you a life of joy and friendship.

Lisbeth is a lot of dog. She likes people and will jump up on them to show them how much. She pulls like a freight train on the leash and will need some training to learn to curb that habit – we recommend the use of a “Sense-ation Harness.” She is young and will need a lot of exercise, but she is probably not a great candidate for dog parks. Long walks and playing with toys and balls are much better ways to wear her out. An active guardian will be her best bet. If she isn't given some structure and training, she could become a bit overwhelming. But if you accept the responsibility of channeling some of her energy toward civil interactions, Lisbeth will be a very fun dog to have.

Lola is a young, sweet, gorgeous Pit Bull. She is affectionate and loves attention - and she adores fetch. While Lola loves people, she didn't seem to be particularly interested in other dogs. She ignored most of the dogs she met here, occasionally investigating and then going on to other interests. Her ideal home would be an active household with some prior breed experience. Because of her breed, her new adopters will need to take a class (with the fee refunded upon completion). Her daily routine should include a couple of tiring walks and a game or two of fetch. Give Lola the exercise and training she needs and you will have an outstanding canine companion.

Lilly had a rough turn but is now looking for a quiet home where she can be the light of someone's life. Strangers are not her thing. But once she gets to know you, you are never a stranger again. Lilly is comfortable with well mannered dogs, but prefers people above all. She loves to sit in your lap, be in your arms, and jump up on your back when you bend over! She would love to learn to walk on a leash so she can go on long walks with you. Because of her frail build and shy nature, Lilly needs to be with very mature, somewhat experienced handlers who can read her body language and allow her to overcome her shyness while feeling safe. This delightful little darling will steal your heart.

J.B. is a lithe, sleek zooming machine. However, like many of life's great personalities, he has a couple of quirks. Although he really likes to play with other dogs, he isn't fond of sharing highly prized things (think food) with them. Therefore, we recommend that he be either an "only dog" or in a multi-dog household with experienced owners. J.B. likes to play with dogs in wide open spaces where he can zoom away at need. He is less fond of being cornered by dogs or sharing his person's lap with other dogs. J.B. likes a little bit of personal space, so older kids would be best. However, a warm invitation to cuddle is accepted with alacrity. Enjoy every moment with this quirky little dog.

Apple is a terrific young dog, small but sturdy, and very bright. She is the perfect snuggle size and shape. She is fairly active and needs regular exercise, but two nice walks should suffice. Of course extra play times will be the best on those days that are too dreary for the rest of us. Apple is a real people dog and just adores her folks. Her breed mix is unknown - Jack Russell Terrier, Chihuahua, Cattle Dog, Dachshund? Your guess is as good as ours. If you are lucky and get to take Apple home with you, please remember that she loves to please you and would enjoy classes, maybe learning tricks, and then to go back to her quiet home, where she will be the Apple of your eye.