Feeling Lonely? Consider Adopting One of These Southern California Dogs
If you’re looking for adventure, unconditional love, and loyal companionship — you already have so much in common with these adorable, adoptable pups.
by Nisha Gopalan, | May 19, 2025
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Southpaw Rescue
It can be infamously challenging to forge reliable friendships in a sprawling, bustling metropolis like Southern California. And that’s why so many pet parents kick their doldrums to the curb by adopting dogs who are just as invested in companionship and snuggles as they are.
Organizations such as Southpaw Rescue in Forest Falls, California, are devoted to pairing you up with the right pup. They’ve gone to great lengths to train their dogs, place them in loving foster families, and ensure your lifestyles align like true buddies. Curious about what your future bestie might look like? Below, we’ve highlighted merely four of the rescue’s many exceptional dogs.
Southpaw Rescue/ Winnie
Winnie
All about Winnie: Who’s salt-and-pepper, snuggly, and down to nap at any given moment of the day? Meet Winnie, the type of easygoing, exploding-with-love pup that first-time pet parents dream about.
Despite her young age (but because of her eager-to-please personality), she is crate-trained and quickly learning to entertain herself when she’s alone. However, if you’re an active type of person, rest assured, Winnie is also a social creature who’s happy to sacrifice shut-eye for funtime, especially when it involves dogs and kids.
Winnie has already mastered housetraining and is now figuring out how to ask to go outside. And when she is outdoors, this endlessly enthusiastic puppy has been working on reeling in the leash-pulling — a work in progress that’s a great bonding exercise for any new pet parent.
Traits: A heart-melting Terrier–American Staffordshire Terrier mix, Winnie may look like an old soul thanks to her adorable whiskers, but she’s just a year-old baby weighing in at 40 pounds. (You can expect this gray-blue--silver-black beauty to grow up to 60 pounds.) Her rescue has taken incredible care of this well-adjusted pup, who comes with all her shots and is spayed.
How to meet Winnie: If you live in the Southern California area, go to Winnie’s adoption page to learn more about her. If by chance she’s already found her forever home, don’t bum out. Feast your eyes on more perfectly adorable pups at Southpaw Rescue’s page.
Southpaw Rescue/ Hermsworth
Hemsworth
All about Hemsworth: You think dogs like to play fetch? Hemsworth lives to play fetch — giddily retrieving balls, sticks, and anything you can hurl through the air. It’s a great way to bond with this smart herding breed, while burning off some of that famous Cattle Dog energy.
To that end, Hemsworth will be at his best when raised by active pet parents, because he craves plenty of outdoor time, including hikes and dog-park runs. Devoted and well-mannered, this pup is more into people than dogs, but will get along with fellow canines — in addition to cats and kids. In particular, he will flourish in pet-free households, just as long as his humans devote enough attention to him by giving him activities, tasks, and puzzles.
Despite (or perhaps because of) previously spending three months in a pound, Hemsworth possesses a true zest for life that’s immediately infectious.
Traits: If you’ve got a soft spot for a classic Australian Cattle Dog, three-year-old Hemsworth is your boy. This medium-sized dog comes with a gingery coat that’s an earthy, artful mix of red, gold, orange, and chestnut. The rescue has already neutered him and given Hemsworth his shots, giving his future pet parent a head start.
How to meet Hemsworth: Visit his profile to meet, and possibly adopt, Hemsworth. If he’s taken or not the right fit, Southpaw Rescue’s page has many more pups searching for pet parents just like you.
Southpaw Rescue/ Riley
Riley
All about Riley: If you’re a helicopter-ish pet parent who loves an overachieving pup, feast your eyes on Riley, who ticks all the boxes. He’s trainable, athletic, and adores his humans.
Both rescue staff and foster parents have been dazzled by Riley’s ability to walk on a leash like a pro, while swiftly picking up on a whole assortment of cues (such as “Place,” “Focus,” “Wait,” “Come,” and "Leave it"). With a structured environment and consistent training from an experienced pet parent, Riley is a genuine people pleaser who can probably master anything. To keep this momentum going, Southpaw Rescue’s trainer will treat you both — did someone say “treat”? — to a one-on-one session.
The ideal forever family for Riley will likewise keep him physically active with hikes and doggy playdates. To balance the fun, Riley needs a calm home life, where he’s happy to chill in his crate or get in as much petting as possible from his humans. (This includes kids.) Because he can be tentative around new people, a steady stream of visitors is a great way to continue socializing Riley, who is the definition of a “good boy.”
Traits: Riley is a maximum-handsome Australian Kelpie–German Shepherd Dog mix who’s all black and tan and yellow and fawn. At five years and three months of age, he’s fully grown into his medium-size, 50-pound frame. The rescue has already made it easier for you by neutering him and giving him all the essential shots.
How to meet Riley: If you’re an experienced pet parent, start by visiting his adoption page. In the chance, Riley has been adopted (and really, who wouldn’t want to adopt him?), be sure to acquaint yourself with the several other canine champs over at Southpaw Rescue.
Southpaw Rescue/ Hannah
Hannah
All about Hannah: You’d never know this from her goofy and charming demeanor, but Hannah was found as a stray. That’s probably why this wee one — she’s just 13 months old — takes nothing for granted, like doting on humans and romping around with fellow canines. (She’s even good with cats and kids.) In fact, this happy girl is a true pack animal who shines in a household with another dog and a pet parent who works from home.
Because she’s not the sort of dog who’d thrive in a backyard all day, Hannah would be great in either a house or an apartment — just as long as she’s not alone. Consider her your loyal sidekick: Although she may get carsick on longer trips, she’s always up for a local excursion to get coffee or run errands with you.
Hannah is looking for a pet parent with some patience. She may come off as a little shy, but will show off her silly-and-sweet charm as she begins to warm up to you.
Traits: A cute, fluffy mix of a Border Collie and Shetland Sheepdog, Hannah has a coat boasting a graceful mix of colors: black, tan, yellow, and fawn. She’s easy to welcome into your life thanks to the fact that she’s a petite girl — at one year, one month of age, she’s only a little more than 20 pounds — and is already spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped.
How to meet Hannah: To adopt this lovely little pup, head over to her profile. (Note: You must be located in Southern California, due to her motion sickness making transport too traumatic for her.) If you don’t see Hannah there, she may be adopted. Fear not, there are plenty of other pups waiting to meet you at Southpaw Rescue’s page.
Nisha Gopalan
Nisha Gopalan has been a writer/editor for The New York Times, New York magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and NYLON magazines. She currently resides in Los Angeles.