Dorothy hopes to follow the yellow brick road to a forever home

If only she had a pair of ruby red slippers to click together three times! Dorothy is an adorable 5-year-old terrier mix at the Santa Cruz SPCA who has a one-of-a-kind personality that blends humor with affection all in one mellow and tiny ball of black wiry fur. She was found in an abandoned home along with two cats just as the food and water left behind ran out. It's hard to imagine someone leaving an animal behind in that manner, especially a dog as wonderful as Dorothy. However, we see this as her yellow brick road leading her to the loving and dedicated family she deserves.

 

It's quite easy to fall in love with this friendly little girl. Dorothy is a very relaxed soul with a wagging tail and prancing trot. She enjoys greeting new people and observing her surroundings, seemingly assessing situations. When things are hustling and bustling she is up and going, many times dragging a toy around or following volunteers silently hoping for a stroll around the block. When times are slow, she has no problem finding a lap or soft blanket to curl up on and pass the time. Dorothy is incredibly easy to have around, never causing problems and always bringing the cute factor into whatever room she enters.

 

Although she enjoys the company of all people, she seems to gravitate toward and spend more time with the gentler folk. She has integrated wonderfully with the other dogs and is very adept at setting her boundaries. She's not afraid to keep a pushy puppy in line. Dorothy is comfortable and patient when put in a crate and will whine when she needs to go potty. On a leash she is gentle and walks nicely, enjoying the sights and smells of the outdoors.

 

Dorothy is truly a tiny thing, weighting in at about 6 pounds, making her very portable and easy to tote around town. She's got the most expressive facial features with big soulful eyes. Her medium-length wiry coat behaves itself for the most part and although she's mostly black, it's the salt and pepper in her face that adds to her charm.

 

The perfect home for Dorothy would be with kind and gentle people looking for an easy-keeping and affectionate canine companion. She would make a great addition to a family with other mature and respectful dogs, but would also be perfectly fine as an only dog receiving all the attention. Most of all she's looking for someone with the brain to choose her, the courage to adopt her and the heart to love her!

Binky Deserves More Than a Backyard

Binky, a purebred Pomeranian puppy, was purchased from a breeder at 8 weeks old by a family who wanted him for their young children. He was the cutest and tiniest ball of fluff you ever did see -- but it only took a few months for him to grow to nearly adult size and just that long for the children to lose interest in the bigger version.

Once the kids stopped playing with him, Binky stopped getting exercised altogether, and because he was a normal bouncing puppy, he was relegated to live full-time in a small concrete backyard. Soon thereafter he was listed on Craigslist for free. A very caring woman saw his ad and, in fear he may end up in the wrong hands, went to get him. She decided to bring him to the Santa Cruz SPCA, where she knew potential adopters would be screened and he would have the best chance at finding the home he deserved.

 

Binky is now 4½ months old and is the most friendly, eager, outgoing bundle of joy! It doesn't appear that he's had much in the way of training, but this happy guy has a wonderful temperament which is a solid foundation to build on. His eyes light up when he sees people -- big or small -- and absolutely LOVES to play with other dogs. Once he's got his giggles out, he'll stretch out on the floor with both legs behind him or hop in your lap for some snuggles.

He'll need some help figuring out how a leash works and may need a reminder that all four feet need to stay on the ground, but give this guy a chance and you will be happy you did! Binky is going to bring a lot of fun and laughs into someone's life.

This little guy is pillow-soft and extremely beautiful. His coloring is rare -- red sable merle -- causing him to have a "freckle-faced" appearance. He's at the in-between stages of puppy fur and adult fur so he has a little of both. We expect his coat to become thicker and fuller as he matures. This breed is known for its grooming needs, particularly the brushing upkeep and shed control. As far as size goes, Binky is now about 8 pounds and should mature to between 10-12 pounds.

The perfect home for Binky would be an active one, possibly with children or another playful dog. Of course, this time around we want to see that the whole family loves him and that he will be a valued indoor member. He'll need daily exercise and play, as well as basic obedience training. Because he's still a puppy, your schedule is something you must consider as puppies his age shouldn't be left alone for more than four or five hours a day.

Come down to the SPCA and you'll go bonkers for Binky in just one bounce!