Cavapoo puppies and dogs in Palo Alto, California

* To be considered for a meet/adoption, please read the full biography to see whether they may be a good fit for your home, then submit an online application at www.dpsrescue.org.* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, October 3rd from 12PM – 3PM (unless adopted prior to the event).  3910 Middlefield Road All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption fee: $700   Zephyr: A Little Breeze, a Big Personality Zephyr is a 4 month old, approximately 10 lb pup with a silky soft coat, a love of belly rubs, and a wonderfully dramatic way of chasing toys. Before she runs after a ball—or toward you when you call—she rears up and pounces like a tiny cat. DPS rescued Zephyr from a hoarding situation along with 19 other dogs. They had never left the yard, walked on a leash, or lived inside a house. Learning “how to dog” has been a big adjustment for these sweet pups, and watching them come out of their shells has been one of the most rewarding parts of fostering them. Getting to Know Zephyr When Zephyr first arrived, she was frightened of everything and barely moved. Her fosters joked that they weren’t even sure she had a tail. Day by day, she grew braver. Now she gets the zoomies in the backyard, shakes her stuffed toys, and chases balls with that signature little pounce. Zephyr has also discovered how lovely it is to be loved. She seeks out a seat beside her foster, asks for scratches and belly rubs, and sleeps in bed with the family. She may need a little time to trust someone new, but once she does, her sweet, playful personality is a joy to know. Life at Home Zephyr wakes around 6:30 a.m., heads outside to potty, and comes in for breakfast. Her fosters report that she is housetrained and settles comfortably loose in the house when they go out. She has been sweet when meeting several large neighborhood dogs. With a new foster dog in the home, she has shown that she’d prefer not to share her favorite person’s attention, though the two get along. Her coat sheds a little despite feeling wonderfully silky. She still has her baby teeth and sometimes chews when excited, so she’ll need appropriate puppy toys. Her foster has also noticed that crunchy food seems difficult for her to eat. Leash walks are new and still a little scary, but she’s getting braver with practice. Zephyr's foster family has fostered many dogs of all shapes and sizes and they say this is the closest they've come to foster-failing because she is truly a gem! Zephyr is a very special girl - and if you're patient enough to give her time to warm up, you'll see the magic that is life with Zephyr. Her Kind of Home Zephyr would love a family that gives her time to build trust and a yard where she can run and play. Young children may feel overwhelming to her right now. In return for a little patience, her people will get to see the best transformation: a once frightened puppy bounding toward them, ready for a game, a belly rub, and a place beside them at bedtime. September 29, 2026, 2:23 pm

* To be considered for a meet/adoption, please read the full biography to see whether they may be a good fit for your home, then submit an online application at www.dpsrescue.org.* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, October 3rd from 12PM – 3PM (unless adopted prior to the event).  3910 Middlefield Road All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption fee: $750 Meet Atlas! Your Future Best Friend Is a Diamond in the Ruff! Somewhere between a shy little puppy learning to trust and a goofy little lovebug handing out kisses like they’re going out of style, there’s an extraordinary dog waiting to steal someone’s heart. Meet Atlas, a 5-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Beagle mix who is just beginning to discover how wonderful life can be. And trust us, this boy has SO much love waiting to happen! Atlas may take a minute to warm up when meeting new people, but give him a little patience and a chance to feel safe, and watch that shy puppy turn into your very own shadow. Once you’re his person, you’re HIS PERSON. Bathroom trip? He’s curious. Folding laundry? He’s supervising. Sitting on the couch? Congratulations, you have a snuggle buddy. And when you walk through the door after being gone? Prepare for a full-body greeting and enough kisses to make you wonder if he’s part puppy, part washing machine. This boy LOVES his people! And the puppy antics? Oh, Atlas has those covered, too. He’s a curious little explorer who believes the world is full of fascinating smells, mysterious objects, and toys that desperately need investigating. He’s also still figuring out where all four of his legs are, earning him the affectionate title of baby giraffe in his foster home. Occasionally, those long legs forget how to coordinate, resulting in an unexpected stumble or a collision with a human leg. His heart is huge. His spatial awareness is still a work in progress. Atlas also has a serious playful side! He enjoys toys, exploring the yard, sniffing out new adventures, and hanging out with his canine friends. In fact, he’s absolutely AMAZING with other dogs. He loves having canine companionship and would be thrilled to have a confident, friendly dog around to show him the ropes and join in the fun. He respects corrections from other dogs, too, even when his enthusiasm gets the better of him and he forgets that not everyone wants a puppy in their personal space 24/7. He could also thrive as your one-and-only, soaking up all the attention and affection for himself. One of our favorite Atlas stories involves a walk, a leash, and a puppy who apparently decided his foster family wasn't moving fast enough. While everyone was getting ready to head out, Atlas grabbed the leash attached to his foster sibling and started pulling the other dog along. Then he looked up proudly, leash in mouth, as if to announce, “HELLO? I HAVE PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO SNIFF. LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!” He’s still learning leash manners, but he’s already got the enthusiasm part down! Atlas is making lovely progress with his house manners, too. He’s doing very well with potty training, sleeps peacefully in his own bed beside his foster family at night, and has learned to settle in his exercise pen when his people leave. He enjoys his daily neighborhood walks and trips to the park, although loud cars and barking dogs can sometimes make him a little nervous. He’ll need continued practice with leash skills, confidence building, puppy boundaries, and appropriate chewing. Luckily, he’s smart, responds well to redirection, and is eager to learn. Now, here's the part of Atlas's story that makes him even more special. Atlas came from a hoarding situation with more than 30 dogs. In a world that was crowded and offered very little opportunity to experience life the way a puppy should, Atlas didn't get the same head start many dogs take for granted. He's now learning that people can be kind, homes can be safe, beds can be soft, and love doesn't have to be something you compete for. He's still figuring it all out. Sometimes he needs a moment to feel comfortable. Sometimes the world is a little overwhelming. And sometimes he forgets that his feet are attached to his body. But every day, Atlas is showing us what happens when a puppy gets the chance he deserves. He doesn't need someone to make him perfect. He needs someone who sees the wonderful dog he's becoming. We picture Atlas with a person or family who understands that the best relationships are sometimes the ones you build slowly. Someone who will celebrate the first time he confidently explores somewhere new, laugh at his ridiculous puppy antics, help him work through the things that make him nervous, and feel that little burst of pride when he chooses to come to them for comfort. Someone who understands that earning the trust of a shy dog is a privilege, and that the bond you build together can be something truly extraordinary. An experienced dog owner who enjoys training, exploring, playing, and helping a young dog grow would be wonderful for Atlas. A friendly canine sibling could help him blossom even further, but what matters most is a home willing to give him patience, structure, affection, and the time he needs to flourish. Because here's the thing about dogs like Atlas: sometimes, the dog who needs a little help finding his confidence is the very dog who changes your life. Maybe Atlas will be the reason you take that evening walk you would have skipped. Maybe he'll make you laugh on a day when nothing else seems to go right. Maybe you'll become his safe place, and somewhere along the way, without either of you even realizing it, he'll become yours, too. One day, you'll look at this goofy, affectionate boy sprawled beside you on the couch, completely comfortable in his own skin, and remember when he was the shy puppy who needed a little extra time. And you'll know that you were part of the reason he learned how wonderful life could be. Atlas is a diamond in the rough, a lover boy in the making, and a puppy with an entire lifetime of love ahead of him. He's not looking for a perfect family. He's looking for his family: the people who will see his potential, believe in him, and give him the chance to become everything he's meant to be. Could that be you? Because Atlas has spent enough time waiting for his happily-ever-after. It's time for his very own person to find him.        September 29, 2026, 2:23 pm

* To be considered for a meet/adoption, please read the full biography to see whether they may be a good fit for your home, then submit an online application at www.dpsrescue.org. * This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, October 3rd from 12PM – 3PM (unless adopted prior to the event).  3910 Middlefield Road All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption fee: $700 Sweet Baby Shelby: Learning How to Dog Shelby is a 4 month old, 8 lb CKC mix with long legs, a playful streak, and a talent for ending up in positions that make you wonder how she got there. DPS rescued Shelby from a hoarding situation along with 19 other dogs. They had never left the yard, walked on a leash, or lived inside a house. It was a big adjustment for all of them. These sweet dogs are learning “how to dog” one new experience at a time, and watching them come out of their shells has been hugely rewarding for their fosters. From Scared to Snuggly When Shelby arrived at her foster home, she was so frightened that she spent two or three days inside her transport crate. Her foster family gave her space, and she began to venture out. Once she discovered that pets felt good, her world opened up. Now she hops onto the couch to be near her people, asks to play, and happily accepts kisses and belly rubs. Being picked up still feels a little awkward to her, but she grows more comfortable as she learns to trust. Shelby is curious, goofy, and full of puppy energy. She loves toys and is beginning to learn fetch. She’ll race around the coffee table, bounce on and off the couch, and run laps in the backyard. When her batteries run out, she’s ready for a cuddly couch nap. She enjoys following her people sometimes, but she’s also content to explore on her own. A Day in Shelby’s Life Shelby starts her day around 6:15 a.m. with a backyard potty break and breakfast, which she eats in installments between bursts of play. She arrived skinny and is working on gaining weight, so her remaining kibble stays available in her exercise pen. When her fosters are out, she naps and plays in the pen. When someone is home, she gets to explore and spend time with the family. At night, she sleeps in their bedroom and usually stays asleep until morning. Shelby lives with two small dogs and would love for them to play with her more often. She respects them when they’ve had enough. A playful dog companion could be great fun for her, though she could also thrive with people who give her plenty of play, walks, and affection. She hasn’t yet met cats or children in her foster home. Because she had no early exposure to children, younger ones may be a bit much for her; older respectful pre-teens and teens should be fine.  Still Learning the Ropes Shelby is just beginning leash practice. She’s comfortable wearing a harness, though walking on leash is still new and a little nerve-racking. She’s also learning a potty routine: she goes in the backyard and uses a potty pad indoors, with the occasional puppy accident. Like any teething youngster, she’ll chew what she can reach, so toys and supervision are essential. Her foster describes her coat as likely low shedding, though it’s too early to say for certain. Shelby has come a long way from the puppy who was afraid to leave her crate. She’s ready for a patient family who will keep showing her the world, cheer on her progress, and save her a spot on the couch when playtime is over. Watching Shelby blossom and become a beloved family member is going to be an amazing experience. Will you let Shelby join your pack and wiggle her way into your heart? September 29, 2026, 2:23 pm