About Newf Friends

Newf Friends Newfoundland Dog Rescue is a volunteer run, foster home based rescue group for Newfoundland Dogs in need in Ontario, Canada.
We place Newfs into carefully screened homes in Ontario and surrounding provinces and states.
Established in 2008.

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Twitter @NewfFriends

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for general information about our program and our adoption policies and procedures.



Friday, May 28, 2010

Adopter Update - Finnegan

Hi Sandra:
A few photos to let you and Newf Friends know how Finn is settling in. He is great around the house and has had obedience training (sit, stay, wait - needs work with come, leave it and drop it). He helps with all my housework. Yesterday I was able to have a bath without supervision.

At first, my Berner girl was intimidated by him but as you can see she has become much braver. I also do not allow him to put his head over her shoulders. We have been calling him in when he gets too strong with her.


We have also been working on calming exercises. We go to the beach each morning. At first he would just sit in the water. I do not think he had ever been at the beach before. I threw a stick out into the lake and he would go only until his feet lost touch with the bottom. I threw it again and he swam out to it - what a proud boy he was. Now he runs into the water has a swim and then comes on shore to play with us and Shannon. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Since we have a shaded back yard and central air in the house there have been no issues with heat. He is a loving and charming in boy. Someone in his past life loved him very much. He has stolen our hearts.


Docker the Newf makes a TV appearance

Handsome Docker, pictured above at the 2009 Newfoundland Dog Club of Canada's National Specialty, made an appearance on the Early Show this morning along with his owner Donna, a Newf lover and rescue supporter.

The segment featured several Giant Breed dogs, and was made in anticipation of the upcoming release of Marmaduke, the movie. Hopefully through offering eduction about the reality of owning a giant breed dog there will be less people spontaneously adopting a Dane without researching if the breed is a good match for their family.

The video can be seen by clicking this link.

Great job Docker and Donna!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Adopter Update - Sam gets a Cart

Well despite Sam’s much less than stellar performances at beginner draft classes, he has become the proud owner of his own cart. I am fortunate to have a very a accomplished craftsman for a neighbour, who loves a challenge and is so good to me & my dog. He built this cart from verbal descriptions and bits and pieces I could find on the internet.

No-one who was at the draft classes would have recognized him tonight. Despite Sam’s extremely bad and embarrassing behaviour at or beginner draft classes.......like ending up in the pond, charging at other dogs while all harnessed up, he suddenly seemed to remember some of the things we learned at class when we hitched him up tonight. Hopefully he has gotten over his latent teenage rebellion!!!!!!

Sam’s new cart!!!!!

Ash handles, butternut box and wheelchair wheels!

Beginning the fitting with Brian, my good neighbour and master craftsman who made the cart.

(Yes Sam had a splash in the pond before we hooked him up :)

Still fitting!!!!

Sam – “What are you doing to me now?”

Standing patiently.

Ooh, I’m so handsome & lovable when I behave!!!!

First trial with the cart – now we can install the brakes on the shafts after observing the whole picture & fit.

Adopter Update - Sam's First Earth Day

Every year at work we do a big clean-up on Earth Day. This year Sam joined in with the 54 humans to do his part with the litter pick up

Well, I picked and he carried!


Working Hard!

A well deserved drink from the shuttle girls!

A proud & happy boy!


He's proud & HAPPY

........because.......a good friend was driving by and saw him hard at work, wearing the backpack which her Newfs used to wear, stopped to take a picture of him.............and when he realized it was HIS Susan....bolted through the green slime covered ditch, (fortunately ripping the belt loop on my jeans that he was tethered to) and raced up the hillside and sat obediently in front of her.


So good, so bad, so stinky!!!! But he did put his 2 hours in, amused the crew and got a lot of lovin' from so many people.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

HART Bancroft Times Ad - May 20

click image to see large size

HART (the all-breed rescue we operate under) runs an educational ad each week in the local paper. This week's ad is about Working Dogs.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Update - May 12, 2010

We are still accepting applications for Finnegan's adoption, and are currently screening potential homes. This big love bug is a goofy, fun-loving fella who will make a great addition to an active family.

Newf Friends foster volunteers are also still caring for a variety of other dogs for our parent group HART. Adorable puppies are still available. See our "Available Dogs" link!

Sophie and Tasha Update
2 months after Sophie and Tasha were found clinging to life with severe head trauma, the golden sisters continue to make progress in their HART/Newf Friends foster home.

The girls were found separately within a short time of each other on March 13, on a country road in Apsley. Sophie, who was found first was taken to Apsley Veterinary Clinic with critical injuries. She was not expected to survive what was initially thought to be injuries sustained from being hit by a car. Later that day, upon further examination and treatment her vet determined that her injuries were not consistent with being hit by a car, but rather with having been struck over the head. A short while after Sophie was found, her sister Tasha was found, also barely alive. She too suffered from head injuries that were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

Based on the injuries the girls sustained, their vet has determined that both girls likely received a violent blow to the top of the heads. Both girls suffered injuries only to the top of their heads -- Sophie on the right side, Tasha on her left side. Dogs that have been struck by a vehicle suffer injuries to a larger portion of their body than just an isolated spot on their head. Based on the location of the injuries and the type of injuries their vet has reported to the OPP, the OSPCA and to HART that the injuries that the girls have are consistent with having been beat over the head. Based on these findings this case is being investigated as an animal cruelty case.

Their injuries and road to recovery:

Both girls have made tremendous progress in the 2 months following their injuries. They have received treatments for their injuries multiple times a day for the last 8 weeks, and their vet has come to their foster location frequently to assess and make further treatment recommendations.

8 weeks after the incident, the inflammation in Sophie's head has reduced and a large dent where she was struck is permanently bashed into her skull. Sophie, who was the more severely injured, had multiple skull fractures all around her eye. Her eye was out of the socket when she was found, and remained that way for several days. She has permanently lost vision in her eye, but with extensive medical treatment the eye itself has not needed to be removed. Sophie has also suffered a ruptured eardrum from the blow to her head. As her brain swelled, she suffered extensive bleeding from her nose for days and she became anemic from blood loss. She was unable to use her tongue or her jaw for several days. She has permanent brain damage from the blow and the subsequent swelling. Sophie's gait has been affected and she has some impairment due to her injuries.

In foster care Sophie's progress has been steady, and as her strength returned, she began the long road to good health, and building muscle mass. Sophie, who 8 weeks ago was not expected to survive, is now happily running and playing with the other dogs in her foster home.

Tasha was struck on the left side of her head, and although her injuries were not as severe as Sophie's, she too suffered permanent damage to her eye and had extensive swelling and brain trauma. She was hospitalized for 6 days receiving extensive veterinary care before being moved into foster care. Like Sophie, she was at risk of losing her eye, but fortunately she has also been spared and her eye can be kept. Tasha was affected greatly by her injuries and her progress has been slower than her sister's. Supplements have been given to try to boost her immune system and help her heal. In addition to her injuries, Tasha also suffers from osteoarthritis which was diagnosed a few weeks ago. Her x-rays show moderate degeneration of her joints, and she is undergoing a regimen of exercise, proper diet, supplements and pain meds to try to address this.

On May 3rd Sophie and Tasha both underwent spay surgery. Given their age and body condition it was expected that they would require 4 weeks to recover from their surgery. We are happy to report that the girls are both ahead of schedule in their recovery and will be able to resume full activity at the 2 weeks mark.

The sisters, litter-mates who will be 8 years old this summer, have lived their entire lives together, and in sanctuary care with HART they will remain together. They have settled into their foster home and are happy to be members of their foster pack.

The Criminal Investigation:

In the days that followed the girls' injuries, their original owner was located and the story of what happened to the girls started to come together. Being careful not to impede the ongoing criminal investigation, HART has refrained from making public any information about this case or the suspects involved. We have presented only basic facts, and called on the public to come forward to the OPP or CrimeStoppers with any information they have regarding this case, to facilitate the police's investigation.

Information has been spotty and inconsistent, but tips continue to come in. Although we believe we know who was involved in this crime, there is a lack of concrete information and the criminal investigation is still ongoing. We still do not know exactly what happened that day -- but someone does. Our hope is that someone will come forward with the information needed to find justice for the girls, and to help prevent future violent acts in our community.

What can you do?


We are asking the public to please come forward if you have information about what happened to Sophie and Tasha. Tips can be called into CrimeStoppers 1-800-222-TIPS or the OPP. We are confident that with the public's assistance, the police will be able to get to the bottom of this crime. Someone knows what happened....please, come forward.

Speak out against cruelty to animals, and help give a voice to defenseless victims in our community. Spread the word that violent crimes against animals are being committed in our small community and that we all have to work together to put an end to it. Turning a blind eye does nothing to stop cruelty. If you witness cruel or violent actions directed towards animals, please report it to the police. Violence against animals is a criminal offense. Studies have shown that there is a strong link between violence to animals and directed towards people. Take action, and speak out against all forms of violence in your community.

Volunteer for HART/Newf Friends. We are always in need of volunteers to help in a number of capacities -- from fund-raising to fostering. Contact us and get involved!

Donations to help cover the cost of care for Sophie and Tasha are needed. HART is a registered charity, and a tax receipt will be issued for your kind donation. You can make donations online at www.hartanimalrelief.ca or cheques payable to HART can be sent to HART PO Box 1713 Bancroft, ON K0L 1C0