Maltese puppies and dogs in Hugo, Minnesota

History: Little Tom is a handsome little fella who arrived to rescue recently and immediately warmed our hearts. He is officially ready to start his journey in finding his forever home and hopes to find them soon! A Note from the Foster: Little Tom is a bundle of energy who loves to run and play with his toys, tossing them on the floor and wrestling with them. He is officially ready to start his journey in finding his forever home and hopes to find them soon! He likes to play Alpha dog to my more passive female, but I do not have concerns of it being an issue with more confident dog friends, He loves being the center of attention and would do well as the only dog in the home. He would thrive in a home where his people are home a lot as he gets a bit anxious if left for long periods of time. Little Tom enjoys sitting in my lap or by my side to be snuggled and nap. At night, he prefers sleeping on the sofa or in my bed. Little Tom likes to have his voice heard and would not do well in a home with shared walls. I continue to work with him on barking and think that will improve as his confidence also improves. He is doing well with house training using puppy pads since his neuter surgery. He will need to work on going potty outside as his next step to being fully house trained. Little Tom enjoys going out on the deck to watch the animals in the back yard. He also loves to get his zoomies out by running around the house and chasing his tail. He’s cautious around new people, but warms up quickly when approached respectfully. Little Tom does well traveling in a car. He needs more practice learning to walk on a leash, and as the weather improves I am confident he will learn quickly. I have loved having him in my home as he is a very sweet little guy who loves being with his caretaker.

History and a Note from the Foster: Meet Phyllis! She's a sophisticated little lady who came up from a shelter in TX wearing her most beautiful pearl necklace. She's a 12-yr-old maltipoo, who is mostly blind and hard of hearing. I do believe she can see shadows/light, and she can hear when I clap. She's confident, though, and adapts well to new surroundings. Phyllis has been living with 2 small senior resident dogs and a foster cat. She's also spent time with my furnephew, who is a very large, senior australian shepherd mix. She gets along well with everyone. She's earned the nickname Goldilocks, because she loves sleeping in all of the dog beds, and doesn't hesitate to make herself comfy in someone's kennel/bed. When Phyllis came to rescue, she had some health issues we needed to address, so she started in our Mighty Mutt program. She had a golf ball-sized lipoma removed from her chest, a dental with several extractions, and had an echocardiogram to diagnose her grade 2/3 heart murmur. She's on low dose of one med twice a day, and has started preferring canned food to kibble. She has super soft fur, and needs to be groomed every couple months to keep her looking her best. When the weather is nice, Phyllis enjoys going out for "a saunter and a sniff". She doesn't walk far, just down a few houses to the corner and few more down the next block, but she loves her sniffs along the way. She especially enjoys catching up on all the neighborhood happenings at the street sign on the corner. In the winter, she's content to go outside long enough to do her business and then come back in where it's warm. She does have accidents now and then, but often will hit a potty pad instead of the hard flooring. Phyllis has enjoyed many field trips and melts hearts wherever she goes. During the summer and fall, she went to my nieces' ball and soccer games. She's also gone to visit my parents at their senior living place. She's given her best cuddles to my dad, happy to sit/lay next to him on the couch. Given her size and vision/hearing difficulties, I do think Phyllis would be most comfortable in a quiet home. She would do well with other furry companions or by herself. Phyllis is a darling little honey who brings joy and love to those around her.

History: Louie is a handsome boy who needed help from a local impound where he was found with terrible matting all over his body. He desperately needed a grooming and almost full shave down. Despite this, he is often all smiles and hoping to find his forever home soon!

History: Fynn is a super sweet boy who arrived to rescue in desperate need of a second chance. He is such a handsome and striking boy who is ready to meet his forever home soon! A Note from the Foster: Fynn is adjusting to life with a family. He walks well on a leash, but walks are short due to stamina. He loves playing with the resident dog. He would do best in a home with another dog to show him the ropes. A home with shared walls would not be recommended because he can be very vocal. Potty training is coming along. He wears a belly band for marking issues. He sleeps all night in his kennel without a peep. He is working on being in the kennel during the day and when the family leaves the house. He gets very attached to one person and will be by your side always. He is looking forward to joining a family and living his best life!

History: Violet is a sweet lady who has been through a lot and is learning to be trusting of her changing environment. She absolutely loves a soft bed, takes comfort in being able to see her people and she shows no hesitation with my husband helping her for potty times or feeding. She does very well with our 3 small resident dogs, though she does not interact or play with them we fully believe she's learning a lot from them. She previously lived with cats, and reportedly did well with them. Violet is very gentle in her movements, and hasn't made a peep since arriving, outside of some very cute yawns. Violet does well on a routine potty schedule, and also uses potty pads well. Violet sleeps well in her kennel at night, she loves to be in a bed during the daytime hours. Violet is shy, and can be slow to come out of her shell. She truly is a very easy companion, and we feel she would do best in a calm environment. She may be ok with children, but likely older or no children would make her feel the most safe and secure. She really enjoys treats, and peanut butter is an easy go-to for her medication. Speaking of her medication, we have a medical notes from the veterinary care team: Violet was found to have abnormal liver values and started on Denosyl. She will have an abdominal ultrasound performed on 12/8 to learn more about her condition. Potential adopters have three options: Choose not to move forward with adoption process. FTA - foster until adoption is finalized (usually until we complete diagnostics and/or any corrective procedures. Note: decision making still done by rescue. Adopt - Take over daily care & medical care. Note: decision making done by adopter. Violet is a wonderful pup, we've really enjoyed having her in our home and would love nothing more than to see her flourish in a loving forever home.

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website. Thank you for stopping by to see me!  Please fill out an application to set up  a private meeting.  I know you want to meet me! Come to the Underdog Headquarters (3345 Dakota Ave, St. Louis Park, 55416) on February, 22nd from 12:00-1:00 pm. Please email inquiries@underdogrescuemn.com for questions regarding the dogs. Tallahassee is a 9.5&#226&#128&#145pound Maltese senior with a soft spirit, a shy heart, and the sweetest presence you could ever hope for in a companion. She’s around 9–10 years old and has some medical needs, but she is full of love, calm energy, and quiet companionship. She is incredibly gentle and wonderfully quiet — truly a dream dog for anyone with shared walls or a peaceful home. She never barks for attention, food, or visitors. Instead, she prefers to quietly observe the world around her, taking her time to warm up before offering her trust. Once she feels safe, she loves being in the same room as her person, napping nearby, and soaking up the comfort of simply being close. Tallahassee is doing beautifully with potty training on a schedule. She uses a potty pad on the deck when it’s too cold and keeps her kennel clean when left alone. She now sleeps with her foster mom and loves the routine and security of being close at night. She enjoys slow walks, sunshine, and finding excuses to stay outside just a little longer. Indoors, she has claimed a sunny spot on the sofa as her personal throne. She doesn’t explore much, preferring cozy rest over wandering. She loves being brushed — as long as you avoid her face — and will gently hide her head if grooming gets too close to her sensitive areas. Tallahassee is wonderful with other dogs and never barks or shows aggression. She may get nervous if another dog rushes up too quickly, and she can be scared in new situations, sometimes trying to slip away until she feels safe again. She’s also currently afraid of car rides. She has several medical needs: a heart murmur requiring twice&#226&#128&#145daily medication, severe dental disease, and a hernia. Because of her heart condition, she cannot undergo anesthesia, so her dental and surgical needs cannot be addressed. She will require ongoing care, gentle handling, and a home committed to her comfort and well&#226&#128&#145being. Tallahassee doesn’t play with toys, but she loves soft treats, warm naps, and being near her person. She is the sweetest little lap companion who will sit with you for hours, offering quiet affection and a peaceful presence. If you’re looking for a gentle, loving senior who wants nothing more than a calm home, a soft bed, and someone to adore, Tallahassee is ready to be your devoted little shadow. Please note that some of our dogs are obtained from shelters, surrendered to our care, or released from breeders. Each animal's bio is based on our experience of the animal within our care, an educated guess based on physical characteristics, temperament and information shared. Each dog receives basic grooming when coming into rescue, but for some dogs they have not received grooming attention until recently and grooming may be required shortly after adoption. This will be at the adopter’s expense, so we encourage you to research the breed and be prepared for grooming expenses. Underdog cannot guarantee hypoallergenic or non-shedding qualities of any dogs in our rescue. Some of the animals come from situations where they are lacking experience in a home and confidence in humans. In turn, they require another companion dog and/or a fenced in yard in their forever home in order for them to feel safe. If you are interested in a particular dog whose bio states those needs and do not currently have them, please understand that your home might not be the right fit. Please use the filter on our Adoptable Dogs page to find the perfect match for your home.   ***Be sure to check your spam/junk folder as sometimes our emails end up there*** Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.If you have other questions about me you can email Underdog Rescue at <inquiries@underdogrescuemn.com> ADOPTION EVENTS:      Adoption events are updated at the top of each dogs animals' as their foster home signs up. Check back for updates on which events they will be attending. If an event is not listed within their bio above, the animal is not planning to attend.  Please understand that all of our pets are in volunteer foster homes and sometimes "life" happens and the foster family cannot make it to their scheduled adoption event. If you are traveling from a far distance to meet a specific animal, please understand we cannot guarantee event attendance. We recommend filling out an application and we will set up a private appointment. Private appointments are only scheduled after an application is submitted and approved. ADOPTION PROCEDURE: The first step in our process is to complete an online adoption application on our website: http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/adoptionprocess/   Note: In most circumstances Underdog Rescue will only adopt within 60 miles of Minneapolis, MN.  All of our foster animals can be seen by appointment with an approved adoption application. Contact us at http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/contact-us/ if you have further questions. FOSTER CARE: All of our animals are fostered in individual homes or doggie daycare facilities. While they are in our care, they are part of our families and given lots of love. We work on training, crate-training and socialization prior to adoption, but each bio is written by the foster as they see them, in their home. Each animal's behavior is evaluated and we have a sense of its temperament and personality, but it cannot be guaranteed. We look for adopters who will give each animal the wonderful life and permanent home that he or she deserves in time and with patience.  If you have an interest and ability to be a foster home, please visit our website  www.underdogrescuemn.com/foster-applications  and fill out a foster application. NUTRITION: Nutrition is vital to the rehabilitation and life-long health of our pets.  All of our foster animals are fed a premium diet such as NutriSource, Canidae, Orijen, Nature's Variety, Fromm, Pure Vita, Stella and Chewy's, Primal, or balanced raw diet.  All adopters are required to continue providing premium diets for the life of the animal. YOU CAN HELP: Not able to foster or adopt right now? Please consider sponsoring an Underdog. Your donation will help us buy dog food and pay for medical costs. Visit this link  www.underdogrescuemn.com/donate   to donate.  (Please note: A Paypal account is not necessary to use Paypal. When you get to the Paypal page, just use the link to the left of their login to make your donation via Paypal without an account.) February 20, 2026, 9:42 am