Adoptable Dogs

Meet our dogs

Scroll down to see who’s here. New dogs are posted online as soon as they’re ready for adoption, and we update the gallery the moment they go home.

Not ready to adopt? Click below to support our current dogs.

Adoption Process

Meridian Canine Rescue is regularly updating our operations in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information about our current adoption process, click here.

Check out the goofy, lovable, smart, sassy, cuddly, and mischievous dogs we have available for adoption at MCR. Click on the photo of each dog to read his or her bio and see more photos.

Butterbean & Ricky

By now, you’ve probably already heard about our dynamic duo. Butterbean and Ricky were transferred to MCR from two of our partner shelters in May and July, respectively. Butterbean was incredibly, heartbreakingly fearful when he arrived. And it wasn’t until Ricky cartwheeled onto the scene that BB was able to cope with the world around him. The boys are a bonded pair that must to be adopted together.

Now, the pair are loving sweethearts with a mischievous streak, think of the Sourpatch Kids commercial…..sour and then sweet! We’re thrilled that BB isn’t scared of everything all the time and that Ricky is so smart that he picks up new cues in a nanosecond, but staying one step ahead of these two is a big job. We’re looking for a family who can keep up with the boys’ plans for the future.

Ricky is 2 years of age, and Butterbean is about 3 years old. The boys have met other dogs and behaved fairly well. They’ve also made friends with teenagers. We don’t recommend a home with small children, and small animals are still a big question mark. Based on what we learned about the boys while they were in a home environment, we think they’ll do best with adults who have flexible schedules and the ability to provide physical and mental activities. Exercise, training, and enrichment will have to be part of the boys’ daily schedules.

One more note: Butterbean and Ricky are charismatic, charming kleptomaniacs. They have no qualms about stealing your gloves and sprinting off through snow and rain in a “fun” game of keep away. Patience and a really good sense of humor will be essential if you bring these boys into your life. They’ll keep you on your toes in the best way possible and reward your dedication with face kisses, love-gut punches, and cuddles. Seeing them learn and grow has warmed our hearts from the beginning, and we can’t wait to find someone who will love (and tolerate) their quirks just like we do.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our adoption processes have changed. Please click here for the most current information about adopting a dog from MCR. If you are interested in adopting this dog, please click here to submit an adoption inquiry.

Ellie

Ellie’s goal in life is to be your best friend! She has the sweetest, gentlest heart and loves everyone though she can be shy the first few minutes of meeting you. We hope the most amazing family snags her up. Until then, we are loving on her.

Ellie is a bit of a clown and makes up her own games for everyone’s entertainment; there is no limit to her creativity. You can’t help but laugh when she pushes the ball underneath the couch or hides it behind a pillow just so she can make a game of trying to get it out again, well, or get you to fetch it for her when she can’t reach it after all. Ellie loves going for walks and if you leash her up and she gets tired of waiting for you to get out the door she can pick up the handle and walk herself… isn’t that nifty? She also loves toys, playing fetch, searching for a ball we hide for her, and using her athletic abilities for jumping, climbing etc. Being a lively girl she will definitely need daily exercise but she is actually gentle when playing and settles down well. She takes treats gently out of your hand and loves belly rubs. She is generally well mannered and doesn’t even take food off the coffee table she could easily reach.

You probably guessed already but Ellie is super smart and has a blast learning and doing new things and going new places. We think an active family is best for her, maybe one with older kids to play with and plenty of activities to engage her mind and body. She can be a bit of an escape artist, so she would need a fenced in backyard, or be monitored while she is outside.

Ellie is good with older kids (preferably ones that are over 8). She would prefer to be the only dog in the home and she is not a candidate for the dog park.

She is house-trained and crate trained. She can be uncomfortable in the car the first few times you take her but once she trusts you she loves going for rides.

Ellie is 6 years old.

Pepper

Before Hercules was, well, Hercules, he was an awkward, slightly scrawny guy who didn’t know how to control his own strength. But with dedication and some help from Phil, Herc matures into the hero we all know and love.

Can you be Phil for a big, strong dog who needs more training and time to be his best self? Pepper is our Herc — lovable and heroic but not always aware of his size and strength. He’s a 5 year old pup who’s been through a lot of change, and we’re looking for a constant companion to coach him through the rest of his life.

Our big guy hasn’t had the most consistent, easy time lately. He was underweight and physically unwell for a big chunk of this year, but he’s feeling so much better these days. He currently weighs about 120 lbs and needs to gain more weight. He’s neutered, microchipped, and current on vaccinations.

As we’ve gotten to know him, we’ve realized how responsive Pepper is to his friends and how much he loves to spend time with his person. Pepper is incredibly intelligent (and handsome, of course). He’s eager to learn new skills and to practice his cues in exchange for some delicious snacks, particularly string cheese. Pepper’s ideal family is one that can provide him with lots of activities to satisfy all of his instinctual needs and plenty of adventures to keep his brain and body busy. He is not a lazy, low-key kind of dog — this guy has energy to spare and wants to be on the move.

Pepper loves to run and play — and, more than anything else, CHASE ALL THE SQUIRRELS. And sometimes bunnies. We need to find a strong handler who can manage his exuberant desire to chase and who can give him space to prance and pounce. A home with no other animals and no children would be best. A big, secure yard would be great, but Pepper would also thrive with an active, outdoorsy lifestyle.

Pepper would love to have adult humans in his life who have the time to rub his belly, play games, take him for car rides, train, and exercise. He’s a hard-working boy with so much potential. Will you be his Phil?

Willard

Are you looking for a Robin to your Batman? Someone ready to heed the call for any mission on the horizon, who will not rest as long as there is an adventure to be had?! Are you a fan of dogs that love exercise, structure, work, and games? If this sounds like someone you’ve been looking for, you may not need to look any further…

This incredibly handsome, intelligent boy is Willard, and he is looking for his forever home. Willard is a very active, smart, blue-collar type of guy who would thrive in an environment that can keep his brain and body busy. An ideal home for Willard will be one that can provide him with activities that satisfy all of his instinctual needs and has experience with highly driven herding dogs.

Willard is a country boy at heart so he’d love a big space to play in and to not be bothered by the hectic city life. Because of his strong instinctual need to herd objects or people in motion, we do not recommend a home with other pets or children.

Willard would love to have hoomans of his own who will interact with him daily, cuddle with him, and give him plenty of enrichment to keep his mind busy and his body active (and keep him out of trouble from boredom). As we’ve mentioned before, Willard is pretty much a genius. He’s a hard-working boy and he is so smart, eager to learn, and full of potential. This boy also loves to learn and can master tricks in a blink of an eye!

Willard is ready for a long-term commitment and is hoping to find someone looking for the same. He is very affectionate, playful, goofy, athletic, loyal, and ready to find a home and family to call his own.

Choose adoption

Why choose adoption? Because you believe that every life is worth saving. Join us as we strive to achieve statewide no-kill status. Adopt your next family member today.

No Kill Idaho 2025

Stop by to learn more

Meet our adoptable dogs during our open hours. Please note that some dogs stay in foster homes, so check out their bios to see if you need to schedule an appointment.

Open hours

By appointment only
effective 3/16/20

We are here

501 E Scenery Ln, Ste 100
Meridian, ID 83642
208-794-0944
adopt@meridianrescue.org