cage-free & friendly dog adoption center

Welcome Millie! Found on the streets of Lakewood in November she was taken in to the shelter while the Citizens Committee for the Lakewood Animal Shelter (CCLAS) took the lead for her transfer into a temporary foster home while securing the appropriate rescue to take her in and place her when ready. After spending some time in a loving foster home in their network our organization secured a foster home for Millie to land and stay in securing her placement through Secondand Mutts. Millie is a young dog estimated to be 8 months old when she was initially picked up off the streets. She has a natural (and crooked) tail which for the breed is unusual given their tails are normally clipped after birth.

Millie has come a long way in a short period of time thanks to the care she has received from her foster providers. Overall she has been observed as being shy and timid with a touch of fear at first which is improving with her building confidence socializing with other dogs and meeting many humans. Millie has exhibited resource guarding of her food which is a typical behavior seen with dogs who are stay as they fend for themselves. We are working through this unwanted behavior by coaching with puzzle slow feeders, raised food and water bowls keeping them off the ground reducing her ability to houver and hand feeding techniques. She is improving however due to this behavior at this time she is not eligible for placement in a home with young children. However, if her behavior impoves and this is no longer a concern or risk we will make considerations accordingly. Millie is up to date on her vaccines, she is taking monthly flea and heartworm preventatives, she is spayed and microchipped. 

Millie is currently living in an urban environment enjoying leashed walks in the city, visits to The Mutt Hutt for continued and necessary socialization with dogs, occassional dog park visits and car rides! She is crate trained enjoying sleeping through the night in her crate for comfort, house trained (although accidents do happen during a pup or dogs transition into any new home), learning basic commands like a Champ and she is eager to please. 

Funding has been secured through generous donation to The Extra Mile fund and contributions through CCLAS to secure private training lessons for Millie through a selected local trainer which will be a requirement for the selected new owners chosen for her future placement. 

Those interested in adopting Millie are encouraged to complete the online adoption application to begin the process. Our volunteer adoption coordinators and team will review each application carefully in the hopes of finding the best matched home for her needs and a long life to come. At this time we are not conducting meet and greets without receiving and screening received applications. 

Typically our dogs stay in a foster home where we can learn as much about them as possible to assist with our efforts for making the best match with a new home. The adjustment period for every dog is different while they are transitioning into a foster home as well as a forever home. Our foster providers send us their foster reports and the information received is updated on our website throughout the dogs time with us.

Our Foster Provider Program is an integral part of our mission to Respect the Dog. Without fosters, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We are always actively screening individuals and families to provide our dogs with a safe, structured, foster home to give each dog the time, love and respect they deserve while they are in search of landing their forever home. For more information click here.

Foster Provider Dog Report

Millie is one of the tougher of the young pups we have fostered over the years. While she’s very loving and playful, she also needs more work on food guarding, leash behavior, and jumping. She is a little hesitant around some men but she has been meeting more male humans while socializing at The Mutt Hutt and seems to adore the men she has met in our family and our male house guests. She has also shown improvement in a short period of time during encounters with “strangers” while on walks.

Millie, like most dogs, excels with postive reinforcement training. sShe is very treat-motivated. Great with “Sit” and “Down,” okay with “Stay,” and needs to improve on “Leave it.” Millie, being a puppy, tends to be a bit mischievous. If she wants to play, she will find something you HAVE to chase her for so we are working on the “come” command with treats involved. She really just wants interaction and belly rubs, so she requires a lot of patience. I’ve noticed she’s a big fan of tougher toys, and gets bored with stuffed ones quite easily (especially after disemboweling them.) Huge fan of cardboard boxes, bottles, and tug-of-war. While she’s crate-trained, I believe she will continue to need positive reinforcement for not going to the bathroom inside. She’ll pace, then stop, then pace again.

Millie is eating and being fed 2 cups per meal by hand, and she still gets a bit nippy with me. I’ve just recently started holding the slow-feed bowl she eats out of, so she snaps less if I move it away from her. She also can’t have too much water in her dish, otherwise she throws up, but ice cubes help her slow down with that. She’s a big jumper when she knows it’s meal time, but will sit and lie down when you ask her to. These issues will be the primary focus when she starts training with her new owners. 

Millie is learning the ins and outs of walking on a leash. She tends to pull a lot, but is very good about sitting at crosswalks. She’s very curious about her environment, so expect to pause for sniffing often, just be careful that she’s not picking anything up. She’s very friendly to anyone who wants to pet her, and has shown a lot of love, although a bit of pushing, to small children.

If you have patience, time and the ability to properly exercise Millie she would certainly make a great best friend. She’s unpracticed, but she’s smart and has taken well to crate-training. She’s exceptionally sweet, goofy, and smart, and is truly a kind-hearted dog who is eager to please and will need someone who has the experience and willingness to set her up for success. 

Meet-Our-Mutts

We are not open to the public. Our dogs are typically in foster homes. and therefore we ask that you not to come to our facility to meet dogs unless you have an appointment made in advance to do so.

Come to any one of our events featured on our events calendar page which are also posted on our Facebook event page. Event times and locations are subject to change.

We schedule in-store ‘Meet-Our-Mutt’ events twice a month held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. The dogs are chaperoned to the event by volunteers and we typically have the arrangements for which dogs will be on site a few days prior to the event date.

To inquire about which dogs will be at an event send our volunteer in-store events coordinator an email in advance.

Private introductions with a volunteer or the dogs foster provider are arranged after we have received an adoption application.

The Adoption Application Process

Our dogs are not placed on a first-come, first-serve basis. We carefully review the applications we receive and place our dogs in the home that best matches what is needed for each dog individually.

We are a 100% volunteer operation and ask for your patience while our volunteers process and respond to applications.

Please research the breed or breed mix you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed.

Please continue reading to understand our adoption application screening process.

If you need additional information about your application or our adoption process please email us at adoption@secondhandmutts.org.

Ready to adopt? Click here to learn more about adopting a Secondhand Mutt.

Support our cause. Make a donation.

If you are interested in adopting any one of our dogs please fill out our online adoption application. Applications are responded to with an auto-response message indicating your application has been received. Please check your Spam folder as our mail sometimes does not make it into inboxes due to spam filters. We are a volunteer run operation and we ask for your patience while processing and responding to applications. Please notify your references when you list them on our application and give your listed veterinarian authorization to release your current or previous animals records to our volunteers. If you have never owned a pet before please research the breed you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed and list the name of the veterinarian you plan to use if you do adopt.

Because of the amount of time she has spent in limbo waiting for an adopter to fall in love and commit to her, some behavioral challenges have arisen as described above. We are committed to Pandora and will be providing training sessions for her new owner through funding from The Extra Mile program. With the funding and commitment from her future adopter, we will match her adopter with a local dog trainer that will set all parties up for success! 

The now former foster provider home she had been living in was an upstairs 2-bedroom home so she was relying on daily walks and social visits at The Mutt Hutt for exercise. She does well on the leash but could use some work with her new owner.  Socially speaking Pandora does dislay some confident characteristics including harassing behaviors towards other dogs during play. She has shown a history of resource guarding behaviors and will need supervision when transitioning into her new home. Due to the concerns with her behavior and high energy level we are unable to place her in a home with small children.

We will not accept applications indicating small children, cats or other small animals (chickens, rabbits, etc.) are living in the home.  

Husky’s need loads of stimulation and exercise therefore we are seeking a home with active adults to keep up with an exercise routine. In her former foster home, she was crated during the day when she first arrived but then earned her freedom and was monitored on camera throughout the day. Our foster provider was very good about working with her on basic commands, which she has taken to nicely and remains eager to learn.

Typically our dogs stay in a foster home where we can learn as much about them as possible to assist with our efforts for making the best match with a new home. The adjustment period for every dog is different while they are transitioning into a foster home as well as a forever home. Our foster providers send us their foster reports and the information received is updated on our website throughout the dogs time with us.

Our Foster Provider Program is an integral part of our mission to Respect the Dog. Without fosters, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We are always actively screening individuals and families to provide our dogs with a safe, structured, foster home to give each dog the time, love and respect they deserve while they are in search of landing their forever home. For more information click here.

Foster Provider Dog Report – June 2022 to August 2022

Pandora is special because she is the dog who loves you and she hasn’t even met you yet. She is loyal and loving to those who are loyal and loving to her. She is a husky mix, so she can be stubborn at times, but she can always be won over with lots of pets. That being said, positive reinforcement training is going well with her. She walks well without pulling, sits and waits patiently while you prepare her food, and comes when she is called. When I get home to see her, I insist on her laying all the way down because she is so excited to see me that she likes to jump up, but she is quickly learning that rolling onto her back is a much faster way to receive all the pets. 

For Pandora to thrive, she may need a fenced in yard to not only run in, but also explore unless her future owners are very active with plans to include her on lots of outdoor adventures, walks in the park and more. She is very curious and out of all of the walks and runs we have been on, she really shines and seems to prefer the freedom of a fenced in yard (when she visits extended family) to be herself in. Pandora would love to be in a home where she has her humans all to herself. 

If you think you can handle all of Pandora’s love and have a nice backyard oasis for her to play in, please consider meeting her. If her eyes and floppy ears don’t make you fall in love, her warm, loving personality surely will. 

Meet-Our-Mutts

We are not open to the public. Our dogs are typically in foster homes. and therefore we ask that you not to come to our facility to meet dogs unless you have an appointment made in advance to do so.

Come to any one of our events featured on our events calendar page which are also posted on our Facebook event page. Event times and locations are subject to change.

We schedule in-store ‘Meet-Our-Mutt’ events twice a month held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. The dogs are chaperoned to the event by volunteers and we typically have the arrangements for which dogs will be on site a few days prior to the event date.

To inquire about which dogs will be at an event send our volunteer in-store events coordinator an email in advance.

Private introductions with a volunteer or the dogs foster provider are arranged after we have received an adoption application.

The Adoption Application Process

Our dogs are not placed on a first-come, first-serve basis. We carefully review the applications we receive and place our dogs in the home that best matches what is needed for each dog individually.

We are a 100% volunteer operation and ask for your patience while our volunteers process and respond to applications.

Please research the breed or breed mix you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed.

Please continue reading to understand our adoption application screening process.

If you need additional information about your application or our adoption process please email us at adoption@secondhandmutts.org.

Ready to adopt? Click here to learn more about adopting a Secondhand Mutt.

Support our cause. Make a donation.

If you are interested in adopting any one of our dogs please fill out our online adoption application. Applications are responded to with an auto-response message indicating your application has been received. Please check your Spam folder as our mail sometimes does not make it into inboxes due to spam filters. We are a volunteer run operation and we ask for your patience while processing and responding to applications. Please notify your references when you list them on our application and give your listed veterinarian authorization to release your current or previous animals records to our volunteers. If you have never owned a pet before please research the breed you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed and list the name of the veterinarian you plan to use if you do adopt.

Primrose is a 2 year old Doberman. She was picked up as a stray by Cleveland Animal Care and Control in June. After waiting to see if she had an owner who would come forward, Secondhand Mutts pulled her and she joined our program. Primrose moved right into a foster home where she has been adjusting well to her new environment.

Primrose gets along with other dogs, is fully crate trained and house trained. She loves playing with dog toys, going for walks and snuggling in her dog bed. Primrose is affectionate and enjoys spending time with people.

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

Please see the foster report below for more information about Primrose.

Typically our dogs stay in a foster home where we can learn as much about them as possible to assist with our efforts for making the best match with a new home. The adjustment period for every dog is different while they are transitioning into a foster home as well as a forever home. Our foster providers send us their foster reports and the information received is updated on our website throughout the dogs time with us.

Our Foster Provider Program is an integral part of our mission to Respect the Dog. Without fosters, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We are always actively screening individuals and families to provide our dogs with a safe, structured, foster home to give each dog the time, love and respect they deserve while they are in search of landing their forever home. For more information click here.

Foster Provider Dog Report

Primrose is great! She knows: sit, down, come, stay (for the most part), paw, and go in your house (crate). She is house broken, crate trained and she doesn’t counter surf for people food. She is great at getting a bath and very gentle taking treats too.

She does not get on the furniture but she loves snuggling up in a dog bed. Her favorite toys are tennis balls and bones. Primrose absolutely loves attention. She will lay her head on you and fling your arm up for pets and attention. She loves to give and get kisses! 

A few things Primrose could improve on; she pulls a bit on leash but nothing that a little patience and training work can’t fix. We have also noticed that at times she wants to be dominant with other dogs, especially dogs her size or smaller. She has not shown any aggression, just mounting behavior.

Overall she is a wonderful dog. Primrose is going to make her new owner(s) very happy!

Meet-Our-Mutts

We are not open to the public. Our dogs are typically in foster homes. and therefore we ask that you not to come to our facility to meet dogs unless you have an appointment made in advance to do so.

Come to any one of our events featured on our events calendar page which are also posted on our Facebook event page. Event times and locations are subject to change.

We schedule in-store ‘Meet-Our-Mutt’ events twice a month held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. The dogs are chaperoned to the event by volunteers and we typically have the arrangements for which dogs will be on site a few days prior to the event date.

To inquire about which dogs will be at an event send our volunteer in-store events coordinator an email in advance.

Private introductions with a volunteer or the dogs foster provider are arranged after we have received an adoption application.

The Adoption Application Process

Our dogs are not placed on a first-come, first-serve basis. We carefully review the applications we receive and place our dogs in the home that best matches what is needed for each dog individually.

We are a 100% volunteer operation and ask for your patience while our volunteers process and respond to applications.

Please research the breed or breed mix you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed.

Please continue reading to understand our adoption application screening process.

If you need additional information about your application or our adoption process please email us at adoption@secondhandmutts.org.

Ready to adopt? Click here to learn more about adopting a Secondhand Mutt.

Support our cause. Make a donation.

If you are interested in adopting any one of our dogs please fill out our online adoption application. Applications are responded to with an auto-response message indicating your application has been received. Please check your Spam folder as our mail sometimes does not make it into inboxes due to spam filters. We are a volunteer run operation and we ask for your patience while processing and responding to applications. Please notify your references when you list them on our application and give your listed veterinarian authorization to release your current or previous animals records to our volunteers. If you have never owned a pet before please research the breed you are interested in adopting to understand the needs of the breed and list the name of the veterinarian you plan to use if you do adopt.