Mattie's Place
159 Fallingbrook Road M1N2V2 Toronto, ON, Canada

[AS WE PIVOT ONE MORE TIME ....] I am grateful ... to our adopters, fosters and Retail For Rescue and pet food bank volunteers. You all are unwavering and I'm so thankful to have you on our Mattie's Place team.... When we discussed what to do with our Retail For Rescue store, with the curbside shopping back in place, our volunteers didn't even miss a beat and everyone was on board to go curbside vs. closing our doors again. Because we have so many 1 off items, it's difficult to shop curbside, but we're going to give it our best go. Caroline and I, with a last minute scramble, got printing and taping everything in store to our windows, to assist with curbside shopping. We remained closed most of last year, and if we have to close again, we'll have to close for good, as we can't stay in a Covid limbo state. We rely on this store to support our rescue medical cases and our pet food bank. So, we're giving curbside a go and we'll see how it works for our customers. We're open each Wednesday - Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 Nothing in the store is over $20 and typically sells for at least 50% off retail, often much more. All items are brand new or excellent used condition and kindly donated to Mattie's Place, so it's a 100% profit for us. Stop by for a hello. Tomorrow and Saturday the weather is supposed to be beautiful for some curbside shopping!!!

[IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE A POODLE] 8 feral mini poodles joined Mattie's Place March 5th from an Ontario shelter. Love and compassion conquers all, and through the determination of our fosters, these pups are learning to trust and co-exist.... Mia and her family have fostered for Mattie's Place for quite some time and have also previously adopted from us. Mia and her foster boy, Oreo, are inseperable and the absolute best of friends. So, of course, an adoption had to happen. Happy life Oreo and Mia. I can't wait to hear about all the adventures you two have together.

[A HAPPY ENDING ...] March 5, Mattie's Place welcomed 8 feral poodles from an Ontario shelter. Their fosters have been working hard to teach them how to "dog" with support from our rescue trainer, Progressive K9. ... It's been a journey of love and compassion and I'm so appreciative to each of our fosters for their dedication to their pups. The 1st of the 8 is adopted, by foster Mom, Rebeca. Rebeca has been a longtime foster Mom to Mattie's Place and now an official adopter. Congratulations Kylo on finding the happiest of endings with your amazing Mom.

[DOUBLE TROUBLE] 7 month old Fenix (center dog in picture) joined Mattie's Place last month after finding himself in his 2nd home that found managing this husky puppy was more work than they could handle. We were happy to welcome this boy and help him find a perfectly matched home that understands the ups and downs of owning a husky breed. ... We received so many applications, and the choice was difficult, but the perfect match was with this husky experienced family, that currently has an older husky they've had since a pup, that can help Fenix learn and grown from her. Thank you Tamara and family for fostering. You did awesome taking this boy on, as a 1st time foster. Happy life Fenix. You're home now, forever.

[WITH THANKS ..] ... to so many Mattie's Place adopters that reached out with updates on your dogs, little pressies and kind words of thanks for helping you become pet Moms (and Dad's) Thank you also to Jen and Eric, longtime Mattie's Place fosters, and new foster parents to Bear, who flew in this afternoon from Manitoba, for your kindness today. ... I do truly love each and every dog and cat we welcome to our rescue and forever feel an attachment to them for a lifetime.

[MY MOTHER'S DAY] There's only one thing in life that can take me away from my kids and granddaughter on Mother's Day, and that's a pet in need. We flew Bear in today from Manitoba. ... He's about 9 years old and we've had him under vet care in Manitoba for about 6 weeks, just to get him healthy enough to fly. He has chronic ear infections, eye infections, skin infection and is heartworm positive. From years of malnourishment, he's also got quite bad muscle mass. He has been in foster care with Amanda and family in Manitoba and they've done an incredible job, not only helping this boy trust humans but getting him back on track with his health. He has a long way to go, but he's off to a great start. Thank you PAWSitive Pack Rescue for always being such awesome rescue partners. With gratitude to Bill in Manitoba for always being an incredible driver and never saying no to airport runs. Today, we are incredibly thankful we could help save this senior boys life. We can't wait to watch him get better and better, with each passing week. Welcome Bear. You are so loved. You greeted us off your flight with tail wags and cuddles and immediately stole our hearts. We've got you sweet boy.

[WE ARE OPEN 12:00 - 6:00 TODAY FOR LAST MINUTE MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GIVING] *** $45 *** $45 *** $45 *** $45 *** $45 *** $45 *** $45 *** Do you know a Mom that is passionate about rescue dogs? These gift boxes are branded to Mattie's Place and 100% of all proceeds supporting our rescue and weekly pet food bank.... Beautifully boxed and ready for gift giving: bath salt (scent may vary) handmade natural soap (scent may vary) soap dish headache balm 159 Fallingbrook Road, Toronto

[STORM UPDATE #4] Today Storm was in to see Dr. Singh at Balmy Beach Pet Hospital for her laser therapy and refill of her pain medications. She will continue to receive this treatment over the next 6 weeks. She's doing awesome!...Continue reading

[LOOK WHO FINALLY GOT SPRUNG!] Rocco headed home to his foster Mom this afternoon and is off to a great start. It's been a whirlwind week for him, but he is absolutely on his way to leaving all his pain and hurt behind. ... If you need to get caught up on his story, you can find it here: www.facebook.com/MattiesPlaceToronto/posts/3954956924544193 He is settling in really well with his foster Mom and we believe he's going to be a terrific little guy once he figures his new life out and is healed from the inside, out. With gratitude to the always generous, Ms. M as well as Laura Miller for contributions that covered Rocco's hospital stay and surgeries. I'm truly grateful. We'll update more on little dude in the coming days. Thanks everyone for your compassion and well wishes for Rocco and his Mom, who we are still working with as well.

[WELL NOW ....] We welcomed Reagan last weekend, from Manitoba. She's a great little dog, and we were happy to have her join our rescue. Her foster family fell in love and want to adopt. Perfect. Just need to get all her vetting completed. ... She is scheduled for a spay on Friday, but she had other plans. Puppy plans. As I type, she is giving birth, on her foster Mom's couch . Surprisingly, she carried it well, as none of us suspected it. We actually thought she was going into heat, as her lady bits did swell up a bit, but she certainly didn't have a pregnancy belly. We're so thankful this girl is here, safe and warm, in a home full of love and compassion for Reagan. There's currently an extreme cold warning in Manitoba and it's hitting temperatures of -35 and she was at risk, of giving birth outdoors. We will keep you posted on how many babies she welcomes. Any guesses? 1st time Mama. Young dog (maybe 1 year old).

[SUNDAY, FUNDAY, & ALSO A GO HOME DAY!] Jaxx joined us from an Ontario Animal Services agency, after he bit a child. His family no longer wanted to keep him, given the circumstance. He was transferred into our care, and we were able to get his medical care up to date and send him into foster care where he could be behaviourally evaluated.... Jaxx over-all is a great little dog, though he absolutely has his "I'm a jerk and you're going to know about it" moments. Not uncommon traits to what we believe his breeds to be: Tibetan Spaniel or Pekingese/Pug mashup. So, we set out to find an experienced adopter that could manage his personality and work with his bite history. After MANY applications received, we found the people we were looking for, for Jaxx, and today, he went home and is already settling in nicely. Thank you Jen and Aiden for once again fostering a challenging pup. We appreciate the compassion you offer these at times difficult dogs as you prepare them for their forever family. Be the good boy we know you can be Jaxx. We're all cheering you on!

[LAZY SUNDAY'S] We have a meet and greet this morning with one of our rescue dogs and some applicant telephone interviews for some others, but my dog Destiny is setting the tone for what our afternoon is going to look like. #lazysunday What is your dog planning to do today?

[2ND CHANCES ...] Stanley originally arrived to Canada via another rescue. He was adopted by a woman, but she was an inexperienced dog owner and Stanley is a lot of dog with some fairly big behaviour issues. Though the love was there between adopter and dog, it wasn't enough to help him be his best, and Stanley and his adopter struggled.... Stanley also had some outstanding medical that needed attention, that the previous rescue refused to complete, despite being noted as a must in his medical file. In the best interest of Stanley, and to ensure he received his medical care and found a home he was best suited too, he was surrendered to Mattie's Place. We had his medical completed and worked to find an experienced dog owner that was familiar with the challenges Stanley offers. Today, we're happy to say, Stanley is in his forever home. His new Mom & Dad are very familiar with Stanley's needs and ready to work with him to overcome. They bring the experience and knowledge Stanley requires to be the greatest version of himself. When you get past the tough exterior, Stanley is a really sweet boy that just needed to find people who best understood him. Happy life little guy. You are officially home.

[THANK YOU!] Thank you to SO many of you that stopped by today for our nail trim clinic. Wooo Hoo ... that was a whirlwind, wasn't it?... Gratitude to each of you for your patience with the wait times and for following COVID protocols so perfectly. Team Monarch Vet Tech Services ... thanks again for giving up part of your Saturday, every single month, to help us fundraise. We sure kept you hopping today!!! Caroline, as always, your dedication to Mattie's Place is so appreciated. You did a great job managing the masses today. We were able to raise $1,085 today from our nail trim clinic!! Awesome!! We were also thankful to receive a $300 contribution from Laura Miller to assist Rocco as well as a $4,500 contribution from our always amazing anonymous friend, to also help Rocco for any current or future medical needs. Rocco is going to have to stay another couple nights admitted, but will be heading home into foster care on Monday. It was an off the chart day today, with so many people generously helping to save the lives of the pets that enter our care. We can't do it without you, and we extend our never-ending thanks to each and every single one of you!

[OH - MY - GOSH .... ITS A GOLDEN DOODLE .... MEET MS. LUCY] ADOPTION FEE: $400 Lucy is cute as all get out, but isn't receiving any applications. C'mon now. She's perfect as can be! ... She's with our friends at Adopt A Mutt Dog Rescue: Thunder Bay and they sure could use some help networking her. FROM HER RESCUE: Lucy is a 5.5 year old golden doodle. She does not shed and her ideal weight is around 30 pounds. Lucy has an amazing temperament and will be a great companion for someone. Lucy loves everyone she meets. She is social and confident. She is extremely obedient around the house and knows tricks and cues such as spin/twist, sit pretty, go lay down and stay. Anytime she finds herself under foot, a simple Lucy - go find a bed will suffice. Lucy also loves other animals. She is dog social and cat social. She particularly likes puppies and dogs that will wrestle with her. She has never shown an ounce of insecurity or aggression towards other animals. Lucy is easy going and fairly quiet around the house. She will alert bark from time to time but knows the cue 'quiet' means to stop. She can be left either in a playpen or loose and does not get into trouble when unattended. You may have noticed Lucy has wheels. This makes Lucy extra special but in the grand scheme of things, she doesn't take up any more time than a normal dog. Lucy had a spinal stroke during a routine surgery when she was 6 months. She had her back left leg removed as the muscles were so tight it was hindering her movement. Lucy is extremely mobile around the house and only uses her wheels when going for walks. When in her wheels, she loves to fly up and down the trail and is excellent off leash. Lucy can easily do over 5km on easy terrain. Lucy does have some special potty considerations as she doesn't have control of her bladder or bowels. However, with a consistent routine, she seldom messes. If she is up and about around the house, we do use panties but they are rarely soiled. During these more active times, we express her every 4 hours or so. When she is quiet in her pen such as overnight or during a work day, she stays dry for over 8 hours. Her body works based on routine so if a consistent routine is achieved for expressing, it will wait in between potty sessions. We can easily coordinate transport to Southern Ontario. Lucy is fully vaccinated, spayed and microchipped. She also had a wellness panel and complete urinalysis in Nov 2020 that showed her to be in perfect health. She is heartworm and lyme negative. LEARN MORE: www.muttsbay.com

[CHARLIE'S FRIEND BUDDY] Another little guy that joined us from the same shelter as Charlie, is Buddy. Buddy is a 13 year old senior guy that is absolutely set in his ways. Have an extended finger if you give him a look he doesn't like, or move in a way he thinks is unacceptable, and you risk losing that finger.... Even worse, was that this little 8 pound Chihuahua had the biggest teeth I ever did see. Not only were they big, but they were black .. and rotten ... and oozing infection ... and he knew how to draw his lips back, and trust me, you couldn't look away. If that mouth was coming at you, Pennywise from "It" would flash through your mind, and it would make a grown man cower. BUT ... today was his dental day and all his top teeth had to be removed. Oddly, his bottom teeth were in pretty good condition and just needed a cleaning, so he's still got a bit of "scare" left in him to ensure you respect the Chihuahua! Buddy also has early kidney disease, but beyond that he's a healthy boy and we're sure has some good years of terrorizing people ahead of him. With thanks to his awesome foster Rebeca, for loving this guy, through all his good and bad, and being brave enough to let this little one sleep with you, because he demands it. Watch for Buddy's profile on our website in the coming days. You know you want him! www.mattiesplace.ca/adopt

[ASSISTANCE NEEDED] We're asking for your help to offset some rising medical costs for 14 Mattie's Place dogs and 1 cat. We have some recent critical cases that come with a high cost, that include some dogs with horrifically rotten mouths that will require most if not all their teeth removed, as dental disease, especially as severe as these dogs have, compromises organ function and is an incredibly painful condition to live with. We also have a few cases that will require an... MRI or CT Scan and an ortho consult at TVEH as the specialists of choice for critical care for our rescue. Everyone that makes a contribution, will be given an opportunity to take home 1 of 3 "This Shirt Saves Dogs" Mattie's Place t-shirts, as shown on our foster, Angela [style & colour could vary] HOW TO CONTRIBUTE: Paypal pool: https://paypal.me/pools/c/8tKHmjwTFG E-transfer: [email protected] In-person [cheque, debit, credit]- 159 Fallingbrook Road, Scarborough / Thursday & Friday 3:00 - 7:00 / Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 7:00 Over the phone (credit card) - 416.551.7005 Thursday & Friday 3:00 - 7:00 / Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 7:00 THE PETS WE'RE FUNDRAISING FOR: PomPom - ongoing chemo for oral cancer (began August 25) at TVEH Chanelle - ongoing treatment for Pancytopeniais Piglet - full mouth extraction & potential kidney disease (completed Oct 24) Pooh Bear - skin scrapings potential Pyoderma (completed Oct 25) Candy - full mouth dental extraction & fact finding on lameness of all 4 paws Feline Boyd- skeletal - MRI and fact finding potential tetanus Little Girl - full mouth dental extraction (completed Oct 22) Lucci - full mouth dental extraction (completed Oct 22) Paco - heartworm treatment (begins Oct 29) Molly - lumpectomy Bella - full mouth dental extraction, lumpectomy Gaspard - full mouth dental extraction Miley - partial paralysis/seizures - MRI, full mouth dental extraction, masses Puppy - full mouth dental extraction & cherry eye repair Nitro - received TPLO surgery October 9, 2020 WITH GRATITUDE TO THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTED UPDATED TOTAL RAISED: $2,696 Sean Welsh Suzanne Costa Nancy Pike Lois Starr Krissy Deutsche Crystal Deisting Shannon Price Kylie Miller Michelle Hamilton Eric Hughes Marilyn Meyer Anonymous at Mattie's Place Helen Garnett Lucinda Lehtinen James Duncan Suzan Sitki / Wash Your Paws Penny Tait Tracy Cook Anna Matthews Coral Cusack Karen Hirst Dyna Anker Ester Heikkila Patricia Staples Wendy Ridding Carma Soap Co. Angela MacMaster Sam Gallagher .. thinking of Chanelle Eduardo Izeppe Spring Berriman *Most shown above have also required basic vetting; spays/neuters, vaccines, defleaing, deworming, ear/eye infections etc. which is is not noted as this is expected rescue costs.

BACKYARD BREEDERS: Please be diligent in who and where you're meeting people. Agreeing to meet some random stranger(s), to make a fast buck, at the costs of a dog's life can put you in frightening situations. And perhaps follow some protocols that will eliminate putting you and your puppies at risk if you're going to sell/flip puppies for profit.... 1) adoption applications 2) telephone interviews 3) veterinary reference checks 4) virtual home visits 5) identification or proof of who you're dealing with 6) contracts

[Victory for Ontario animal access to justice | Victoria Shroff]] "....... Now in Ontario, access to justice for animals just got a boost. In a press release dated Nov. 16, 2020, Sylvia Jones, solicitor general of Ontario, announced that the Ontario government has put together an advisory table to improve animal welfare throughout the province. A coalition of veterinarians, law enforcement officials, animal protection and animal advocates are taking aim at developing new reg...ulations to accompany the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, (Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 13) aptly shortened to PAWS, which came into force in January 2020. ......" READ THE ARTICLE FOR MORE DETAILS: www.thelawyersdaily.ca//victory-for-ontario-animal-access-

[IT WAS A DAY OF WELCOMES!] Today we welcomed 4 new pups to the Mattie's Place family; Reed, Roxy, Felix and Cello. Reed is a Jack Russell Terrier and Cattle Dog mix . 3 years old and about 30 pounds, he's a small medium size dog that is really unsure of life around him. He's suspicious of everyone and everything, but it doesn't take him long to warm up and call you friend. Thank you City of Hamilton Animal Services for trusting him in our care, and Critter Cabs: Animal... Rescue Transports for getting him to us bright and early this morning. Roxy joined us from a Canadian shelter. She's a sweet old girl that bit her owner, which likely landed her in the shelter. We know nothing about her, but so far she's super affectionate and kind. We'll share more on her as we learn more. Felix is a rumbunctious 9 month old stunningly handsome boy that is everything puppy and nothing training! He was too much for his family, so he found himself in a Canadian shelter. He is super kind though and with some basic puppy training is going to be an amazing boy for a lucky family. Cello is a 4 year old naughty boy, which is likely what landed him in a Canadian shelter. He's super awesome and loving, but will guard his bed, food, toys and can be quite a jerk. He's lucky he's only about 10 pounds, which makes this all much more manageable. That's okay Cello, we like to be challenged and your life is worth saving. Thank you to No Paw Left Behind for letting us know Cello needed our help. With gratitude to One Last Chance Rescue for letting us know Felix and Roxy needed a soft space to land and Freedom Drivers Animal Rescue Transport for transporting Cello, Roxy and Felix to us today. Lots of people involved in saving these 4 lives, and tonight we're grateful to know such awesome people and organizations and all the volunteers that make all the dog saving magic happen! Tonight we have 4 beauties pulled from Canadian shelters, that are snuggled up in the comfort of their foster homes. We have so many Canadian dogs that need our help. Please consider a Canadian dog when adopting, and don't forget to check your local shelter. So many are over-flowing with dogs and many dogs are losing their lives because they have nowhere to go and shelter overpopulation means euthanasia in many circumstances.

[UPDATE ON CHARLIE] Charlie did AMAZING!! What a trooper! 15 years old and had a really difficult surgery, but he's resting comfortably at home with his foster family now. I walked into his recovery room, to find his vet tech, cuddling him and helping him to feel safe, post operative. I snapped a quick photo. Such compassionate care.... His dental took almost 3 hours as his teeth were so bad. The medical term for his teeth issue, beyond the rot, was also Ankylosis, meaning, the root of a tooth was permanently bonded to his jaw bone. The teeth no longer had the protective periodontal ligament around it and in turn was fused as 1 piece to the jaw. The surgery was very complex and time consuming, as there had to be so much care that the jaw wasn't broken, with the removal of his severely rotten teeth. Dr. Singh, of Balmy Beach Pet Hospital, did an incredible job today!! She powered through a difficult surgery, and we're so grateful to her and her team. As it turns out, Charlie also isn't diabetic and doesn't have Cushing disease, but he does have advanced kidney disease, so we have him on a prescription food to help him with that. His ears are cleaned, flushed and medicated, and low and behold, he can hear very loud sounds, so, though he is very hard of hearing, likely from his ear infections not being treated for so long, he does now have some hearing. Charlie will still need to get through the next 72 hours before he's comfortably out of the woods, but as each hour passes, we are closer and closer to him healing and getting on with his amazing life, however long that will be. He is on a lot of medication to keep him super comfortable and get him healed up quickly. He should be feeling like a new dog beginning as soon as tomorrow. In conversation with his foster today, Lori, Charlie will be staying in her care, as a palliative foster with Mattie's Place. We're grateful to Lori and Charlie seems happy and already settled in her home so it seems like the right thing for him. We will update everyone this weekend on how Charlie is making out. Thanks everyone for your positive thoughts for this special boy. We believe it makes a difference.

[WITH GRATITUDE ...] Thank you to our friends at Humane Society International - Canada, who inspire us daily with the amazing work they do around the world, saving so many lives. Today, HSI representative, Larysa, kindly stopped by Mattie's Place for a visit, along with her pup and assisted us with some much needed cat food for our weekly pet food bank, that serves 100's of pets per month.... We are appreciative of the great partnerships we have with so many like-minded organizations & people, that understand the need to assist pets and those they share their life with.

UPDATE ATTACHED: OCTOBER 29, 2020 [ City of Vaughan Animal Services / City of Vaughan ] You need to return this senior dog now. ... The end. Vaughan Animal Services / Phone: 905-832-2281 / Email: [email protected]

[CHARLIE CAPTURED SO MANY HEARTS] 15 year old Charlie joined us last week from an Ontario shelter. He landed in a shelter, when his owner passed away. Charlie is a happy boy and adjusting well to life at his foster home, but, he's got a lot happening medically. ...Continue reading

[FROM NEAR EUTHANASIA TO A HOME TO CALL HIS OWN] Archie, just a pup, not yet a year old, had some medical and behavioural issues when he was with his family. They reached out to every rescue and shelter they could find, right across the GTA and beyond, and no rescue or shelter would intake Archie. Not one.... His owner reached out to Mattie's Place and said that due to his behaviour and medical concerns, as well as some tragic personal family situations, they were going to have to euthanize Archie, as they couldn't carry on with him and had nowhere else to turn. They exhausted every surrender road they traveled. We agreed to intake Archie. He was an 8 month old pup. Surely we had to try and save his life. He went into board and train with Amber and Phil, and they worked their magic as they always do with our more challenging dogs. He saw our surgeons and we reviewed multiple opinions and chose the best medical path for Archie. Then we got focused on finding this beautiful boy a home to call his own, and the applications came in by the 100's. This is the family we chose, and no doubt, the family Archie chose as well. This often shy guy went right up to his new Mom and his human and canine brothers with tail-a-waggin' and tongue-a-kissin'. He ran. He played. He cuddled. He leaned. And he kissed. Then he ran. He played. He cuddled. He leaned. And he kissed some more. He was home. Happy life you dear, sweet pup. I'm so thankful we took a chance on you when nobody else would. Your life is all about living. Go live it good dog.

[YES PUP, YOU'RE HOME] 4 pound Oliver joined Mattie's Place after he bit his human sibling. His family made the hardest decision, but the right decision, to surrender him to a rescue, where he could find a more suitable home where he didn't pose a risk to kids. ... Thank you to his foster Mom, Kelsey, who didn't hesitate to take the little land into her home and love and care for him until his new family was found. Happy life sweet Oliver with this amazing couple that loved you before they even met you. To know you is most certainly to love you and you are loved by so many.

Lucci, who is currently in foster care with Mattie's Place, is skipping the tricks, but ready for the treats this weekend! Do you dress your pets up for Halloween? Costume found at The Dog Market

[RIP DORKY] In April, we welcomed Dorky to Mattie's Place. She had bitten a child and landed herself in a Canadian shelter, at risk of euthanasia, because of that bite history. Her foster Dad, Tamir, fell in love with her on meeting her, and the feeling was absolutely mutual. It was such a celebratory meeting, between these two strangers, like they already knew they were going to be family.... Tamir couldn't imagine life without his girl, and officially adopted her the following month. Shockingly, Dorky passed away in her sleep last night. Her Dad found her this morning, still curled up in bed, as though just having a peaceful deep sleep. Our hearts go out to Dorky and Tamir. This truly was a love affair between dog and human with an incredibly powerful bond. Run free sweet girl. You had a home and Dad to call your own. You were loved, so very much. We only wish you both had so many more years left together.

[WHY DOES OUR PET FOOD BANK MATTER?] The hardships faced by being economically disadvantaged can be devastating, and the pandemic has turned the lives of so many pet parents upside-down, pushing need up in the communities we supply. Pets bring joy to our lives and the human/animal bond is an incredibly mutually satisfying one. More people now recognize this during quarantine and isolation periods this year.... We've been helping pet parents since 2016 to feed their pets, under the No Hungry Pets Project that this year we've rolled under the Mattie's Place banner. Helping pet parents, help their pets that are in need, should be universally understood and accepted. We have served 1,000's and 1,000's of pets over the years, and continue to serve upwards of 100 pets each and every Friday, from 4:00 - 5:30 at Mattie's Place (159 Fallingbrook Road, Scarborough) During the winter months, we also supply many of our local human shelters with pet food and pet supplies to distribute to their most vulnerable pet parents and we are also in our 5th year of doing street outreach for pet parents and their humans during the winter months to ensure they have the supplies needed during the most difficult time. We are thankful to the many that share food and supplies to us, to assist in keeping this project going. Pet Valu [Bloor West Village] Pet Valu [High Park] Pet valu Shoppers World Pet Valu - Queen & Coxwell Kew Beach Veterinary Hospital Oshawa Animal Service Center Wendy & Dave Dixon that drop off kitty litter weekly People in our community that drop off individually Lisa Henderiks for a kind donation this week of 50 bags of dog food! We are in high demand of wet and dry cat food and litter, as we've seen our request numbers double for feline help in October and expect the trend to continue into November and December. We always welcome donations of leashes, collars, harnesses, coats, boots, crates, dog beds and general pet supplies in good to excellent used condition. If you have a donation, you can contact us at 416.551.7005

[I RESCUE DOGS] I fight for them. I dedicate my life to them. I rarely put myself first. I NEVER put them last. I always try to do right by them. I am optimistic, but also realistic. I am a positive person, who has been beaten down by the negativity of the rescue world. I am happy most days, but with a constant underlying sadness.... I have opened my heart to more dogs than I can count. I bring them into my life. I return the life that was taken from them. I have accepted the craziness of my world. I take the insanity in stride. I have given up any hope of having a normal life. I live each day, for the dogs. I wake up, prepared to save more. I go to sleep, thinking of those I couldn’t reach. I hate my phone, it NEVER stops ringing or going off. I answer or read an email or text for yet another plea for a dog that no one cares about, no one will help. I look into the eyes of the neglected. I feel their pain in my own heart. I hear their silent cries. I apologize for the awful things that have happened to them. I say I’m sorry for things I didn’t do. I say, I love you, because no one else in their life ever has. I try to talk sense into senseless people. I try to educate the ignorant. I fail at these attempts on a daily basis. I wish people understood we volunteer our time. I can’t save them all. I can’t even save most. I live each day knowing that, no matter how hard I try, it will never be enough. I know that even when I succeed, I fail. I know that for every one I save, there’s another I lose. I know that no matter how many I help, my work is never done. Even still, I save all that I can. I love more than I thought possible. I smile because they smile. I take-on their pain, so that they may have happiness. I allow my heart to hurt, so their’s can heal. I become the one who is wounded, so they may be restored. I know the cruelty that exists. I’ve seen the faces of abuse. I witness the senselessness of the world, and know that change is always just beyond my grasp. I ask for help, it rarely comes. I pray for hope, it rarely appears. I beg for mercy, it rarely arrives. I sometimes lose faith in humanity. Most days, I crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. Sometimes, I sob. I hurt so much, but I cry because they hurt more than I ever could. The helplessness drives me to say, I can’t Then, a rescue dog’s kiss says, You can So, I get out of bed. I brush off the despair. I vow to make a difference. I do make a difference. I never give up. I fight for change each day. I pray for relief from the pain, not for me, but for them. I rescue dogs. In turn, dogs rescue me. ~ author unknown

Beamer, now known as Dexter, was adopted September 18th to a wonderful family in Barrie. This young dog came to us owner surrendered a few months ago, when his family couldn't care for him, after he began having cluster seizures last year. He has had some medical emergencies the past 2 weeks, one resulting in having to have his eye removed and tonight he's back in emergency care at O'Sullivan Animal Hospital in Barrie with lethargy.... We could really use your positive vibes for this boy, to get him back on track. His family and little canine brother love him so much and need him to come home.

[WE KEPT OUR VET BUSY TODAY!] We had a busy vetting day today with Boyd, Toffee, Miley and Candy. Thank you to our fosters for always making yourself available when we need to get dogs (and cats) to various appointments, and often last minute.... ^5 to Shannon Price, our awesome 2 time adopter and 1 time foster, for being an incredible volunteer driver today, maneuvering dogs to and fro. The dedication to Mattie's Place, that so many of you share, is so appreciated.

[PUPPY PUA IS A WILD ONE] Last night we flew in puppy Pua from Thunder Bay. Helping dogs like Pua is not possible without the help of air transport friends, Flights For Hope, that covered her ticket to fly. They are currently selling calendars, that helped with Pua's flight, so please consider picking one up from them. ... It also features Mattie's Place dog, Koda, a northern dog that required our assistance with surgical intervention. CALENDAR DETAILS: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2796464530604635&id=1876103102640787 Pua lived with a family, buy she is such a high energy puppy, they found she was too much for their household, especially with a 1 year old in the home. Pua was being given away on social media, which we never think is a great idea, especially unvetted, so we were put in touch and they agreed to work with our rescue. With massive thanks to Mike Bunn, who picked Pua up and agreed to foster. Found a crate for us to purchase to fly her and picked it up. And got her safely and securely to the airport on her flight. Mike, you're a rescue hero and we applaud you today. We couldn't have done this without you. Thank you so much! Pua is actually heading camping for the weekend with her foster family; hiking, canoeing, and a lot of outdoor adventures we think she's going to love! Welcome Puppy Pua. We're so happy to have you here with us. We look forward to watching you blossom into an amazing young dog.

[TODAY IS POMPOM'S SPECIAL DAY] 1 year ago today, this terrified, sick, angry little guy joined Mattie's Place from a Canadian high kill shelter. He was ready to be killed, as we took him from their euthanasia list. He stunk of infection that would clear a room and the shelter staff couldn't get near him. Transfer to a rescue or euthanize was the only options for him. ... PomPom's mouth was so rotten, his fur was matted with infection that sealed his mouth, literally, shut. He was hospitalized for 10 days on arrival, just to try and get him stable and prepared for a desperately needed dental, which is where his medical journey started. 1 year later, and many medical steps along the way, PomPom is undergoing chemo, that he started a few months ago, for oral cancer. We know he can beat it! He's small, but he's mighty. He has been on a medical journey since he arrived to us 365 days ago, but we feel the end is in sight. So much gratitude to Christina, who has been his foster for his Mattie's Place stay. This little guy has stolen our hearts. He has cost us a literal fortune, but he's worth every single penny.

[LUCCI & LITTLE GIRL] These siblings, just 5 years old, and only about 5 pounds, were surrendered to Mattie's Place last week for behavioural concerns. They are both the sweetest little lamb chops. ... Their issue was medical related. Having no vetting, left these littles with teeth, rotten to the core. And needing spays and neuters. The pain and discomfort, from having teeth in this condition, is enough to cause any pup to be cranky. It's so important to maintain your pets oral health. We want to shout out Dr. Sukhi who spent hours today on Little Girl and Lucci's dentals. It is a long, painstaking process for veterinarians to do near full mouth dental extractions on dogs. So we are grateful to Balmy Beach Pet Hospital for their dedication to our pets in need. Lucci & Little Girl are back with their fosters tonight, and now they continue the journey of healing, inside and out.