Home

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.

Maya Angelou

Venus.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Abused. and yet she hopes.

Perhaps one of the most astonishing charactertiscs about dogs are their endless ability to believe.  To come back from loss and betrayal, to find it in their great big hearts to believe yet again that THIS time, THIS time, the boundless faith and loyalty that lies at their soul will, THIS time, be recipricoated. Be appreciated. Be LOVED.

This 7 year old shepherd cross is understandably hesitant to trust yet trust she does - given time and patience she has shown that despite the hurt she has experienced over her life, you can see in her big dark eyes the ability and the will to love again. A favourite of the Toronto Humane Society dogwalkers, many of whom have known her (sadly) through her several other times at the THS, with the people she trusts, Venus blossoms.

Although a shepherd/lab x, Venus is all german shepherd in personality. Intensely loyal, incredibly committed and loving, shepherds are not kissy face clown labs, nor wiggling "love me" golden retrievers. They are intelligent, strong-willed and profoundly loving.  The right owner, with patience and understanding, would have in this beautiful dog a lifetime companion whose sweet personality would blossom once she internalized that THIS time was for keeps. She simply needs to believe that everything she offers would be embraced and repricrocated.  Venus desperately wants a leader and a guardian.

Because she grew up in unstable, insecure circumstances, Venus is sometimes a bit anxious around some strangers and dogs. She has worked hard to achieve confidence, having attended outside training classes with one of the THS volunteers, as well as receiving ongoing help from THS staff.  As a bonus, to help her settle and thrive in her new environment, Venus' new guardian will get free training/support for as long as needed from THS K9 department.


Venus is a healthy, young-at heart girl with many years ahead of her. She is energetic, playful and with the right person, so eager to please and to do well.

Dear Venus deserves a chance at a home of her own. Though well-loved at the Toronto Humane Society, well-cared for and cherished, she needs and deserves that someone special who will recognize and embrace the wonderful dog she is.

Where thou art, that is home.

Emily Dickinson

You can find Venus here.