River is a total love bug, gentle and affectionate and loves to give slobbery kisses. She gets along with everyone and is a happy girl with a true gentle giant temperament, she is great with people, kids, dogs, cats, you name it--a dream! She has stolen the hearts of everyone she has met and she is going to make one special family very happy!

This stunning 4 year old purebred girl was turned over to us by her heartbroken owners who were unable to meet her health needs. River had torn the cruciate ligament in BOTH of her knees and has a luxating patella. She required multiple surgeries to correct the damage and several months of rehab. Working with an orthopaedic specialist to help River regain mobility and ensure she has an excellent quality of life, Newf Friends volunteers worked to return River to good health.



Thank you to all of our supporters who rallied to raise funds for River's care. "TEAM RIVER" really came through for River and we surpassed our fundraising goal and were able to move forward with saving River.

All said and done, River's care from treatment through rehabilitation took 8 months and Newf Friends spent just shy of $10,000 after generous discounts in services from all veterinarians who cared for her, discounts on medication and her rehabilitation.  If ever there was an example of why pet insurance is so very important for Newf owners, River is the girl. 
River, the morning of her first surgery....



River's first surgery was performed on September 22, 2011. It was a success. Details can be read here.

Her second surgery was performed on November 11, 2011. Within 24 hours she was already walking around and weight bearing on the newly repaired leg. Details about her second surgery can be read here.

All of us at Newf Friends once again extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kim Facey - Apsley Veterinary Services and Dr. Michael Faessen - Soft Tissue and Orthopaedic Small Animal Surgeon for their ongoing support of our work in rescue.  We'd also like to thank Dr. Stephanie Cote - March Road Veterinary Hospital for all of her assistance with River's follow-up rehabilitation.  And of course River's amazing foster parents Erica and Andrew who loved her, cared for her and nursed her back to health for 8 months -- you guys are simply the best!  See this note from Dr. Cote about River!


River's gait has improved dramatically and she is able to get around well now although she still has more healing to do, and most importantly needs to start building up muscle mass after so many months of bed rest. In foster care she continues to get physical therapy and acupuncture, and her adoptive family will be shown how to do basic exercises with her to help her continue to strengthen her legs.

Due to irreparable damage to her legs, River will always have some gait issues, and River's ideal home will be one with no stairs and non-slip floors. She could join a family with other dogs, but they must be respectful and not rough-house with her. She can live in a home with respectful children.
To be considered for adopting River, please complete our adoption application and return it to us. Our usual adoption donation of $500 will be reduced to $300 for River given that she will require daily medication (Metacam/gabapentin) for her life.

River is being fostered in the Ottawa area and her approved adoptive family will be required to pick her up in person.

They don't get much more adorable than this! Meet Otis, a lovable boy who is the epitome of what a Newf should be. A gorgeous boy with a massive, beautiful head and a calm, gentle temperament.


Otis loves attention and his foster mom reports that he chooses to be petted over eating his meals! He is wonderful with everyone he meets and is just happy to be around people.


Well mannered, Otis complies with requests immediately and has nice house manners. An all around great boy, he will make a wonderful, mellow companion for the right family.

He gets along well with other animals, including dogs, although is not impressed with pushy males. However, he follows direction so well that he is easily managed.


Otis will be 7 this fall, and is a large boy who is in good shape. He is currently suffering from allergies and we are working to get his skin/feet/ear issues resolved. Once his infections clear he will be neutered and will be ready for adoption.


To be considered for adopting Otis please complete an adoption application and return it to us.


Otis is being fostered in York Region and his adoptive family will be required to pick him up in person.

At the beginning of October 2010 a 4 year old female Landseer Newfoundland came into our rescue from Quebec. Her name was Mimi and she was approximately 50 lbs overweight, unspayed, skin issues, poor coat and infections in both ears. She was to be a long term foster as she needed to safely lose the weight before she could be spayed and adopted. She had a gorgeous personality so her foster parents were not concerned that she'd be with them for at least 6 months. They started her on a high quality, grain free diet and a regular exercise regime, slowly increasing her endurance and fitness level. Her starting weight was 167 lbs and it began to come off at a rate of 1-2 lbs/week. Below are her 'before' pictures taken in October 2010.





Fast forward to August 2011, 10 months later. Mimi is a completely different dog, almost unrecognizable from when she came to Newf Friends. Over the course of the Winter and Spring Mimi shed almost 50 lbs through regular daily exercise and a carefully monitored diet. She ate only her high quality dog food (Acana Pacifica to be exact) and received no treats except vegetables. She loves cucumbers, cabbage, celery and peppers!

A healthy 120 lbs!

Look at the shine on her coat!

Mimi loves to fetch her big ball

At the beginning she could not walk more than 5 minutes without stopping for a rest. She can now trot at a brisk pace for over an hour. She runs and plays with the other dogs and has learned to fetch her big ball. Her coat is glossy and full and her skin is in great shape. She is the picture of a healthy Newfoundland dog! She had lost the weight by the end of May but went into heat so her surgery was postponed a few months to give her hormones and blood vessels  time to get back to normal.

Here's Mimi playing with her brother ~ look at her go!!



Mimi was finally spayed on August 18th. She sailed through her laser spay surgery and woke up perky and not at all drowsy. Her vet (Kingsdale Animal Hospital) was amazed given her size and age (now 5). He attributed her speedy recovery to her great health and fitness level.

Throughout Mimi's transformation her foster parents knew they had a special girl on their hands and they decided they could not let her go. They adopted her! She has been a wonderful foster sister to many other Newfs and all breed dogs in need, always gentle, always kind. Losing the weight has added years to her life so she can continue to give back to other dogs in need for years to come.

Rescue dogs aren't always perfect but with time, patience, love and effort they can be the best dog you've ever owned. Please consider adopting a Newf in need.

There's been lots happening over the last little while.....

HI folks – Molly and I were swimming in the lake near my house on the weekend. Pictures of her extraordinary cuteness are attached. She has taken to sitting on (rather than under) a bush in my back yard. It is killing the plant but it makes for a beautiful picture!

After a visit to the groomer. Notice the pretty bows in her hair!

Dual drinkers!! Jazz at the bidet and her brother Benson takes the toilet. Ha!

Relaxing on the porch