If seeing that smile everyday is just what you needed to brighten your world, then head over to the Santa Maria shelter and ask about adopting Nikita.

This little gem has been waiting patiently for her family to come find her. Don't keep her waiting any longer. Head over to the Santa Maria shelter and adopt her.

Could this guy be any cuter? He is waiting for his best friend to come find him. Get over there this weekend and scoop him up before he's gone.

Thank you Shawndell Malcolm and Chuck Madson for the amazing pumpkin delivery. Our Piggies are in hog heaven.

UPDATE: SHE HAS BEEN FOUND. Los Osos, CA: please keep your eyes open for this lost dog. Very shy so do not attempt to chase or approach. Just alert owners to time and locations of sighting and if you can follow at a distance until owners arrive.

How many of you can relate to kids leaving home and saying they'll write but they never really do? Well, as dog moms and dads we also love hearing from our adopted pups when they leave our care. We were thrilled to get two letters in the last couple of weeks from a couple of our adopted dogs, and they were such great letters that we had to share them. Click on each dog's photo to read their letter.

Known by other dogs as “Shiva the Diva”, this 5 yr old really just wants her human all to herself. She enjoys playing with a few doggie friends she met at the sanctuary but this diva can get snarky if a dog steps out of line. She is happy and wiggly when her favorite people come around and is up for whatever you want to do, but is totally fine with doing nothing other than just enjoying each other’s company. She likes to snuggle, she likes to be sang to and she loves a good doggie massage. She is good with kids. Cats and little dogs are not her favorite things so she should probably not share a home with them. She is ready to be your bestie and hopes you are ready to be hers. Shiva is spayed, current on shots and housebroken. She is a big girl and probably weighs about 80lbs.

Behind her shy, shrinking violet exterior, Red is a bouncy, happy puppy-like dog just bursting with love and playfulness. She is pretty cautious when meeting new people, entering new places or experiencing new things. But if you give her a little patient and loving guidance she comes around quickly. She LOVES to play with other dogs and has a disarming way about her that tends to make other dogs love her too. She is a petite girl, with a small frame – the perfect size for someone who wants a “not too big” big dog. We think Red is a little gem and some family is going to be very lucky to take her home. Red is about 1.5 yrs old, spayed and about 45 lbs.

If you speak dog then Klifford has alot of stories to tell. He spent most of his 6 years as companion to a homeless person. Living on the streets taught him a thing or two and we are certain that’s what he’s howling about when he has an audience. Since coming to the sanctuary, he has enjoyed a easier lifestyle. Playing ball, meeting new doggie friends, long naps in the sun and just passing the time with a giant Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. This ruggedly handsome, street smart and charismatic canine has won over humans and dogs alike. Though he pretends like he is an independent, “doesn’t need anyone” kind of guy, deep down he is a big baby and really doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life alone. By the way, when we said big – we really meant huge. Klifford weighs about 100lbs and is about as graceful as a freight train. He’d love to find a special person to love and protect, to take walks with, share a steak with . . . (he made us type that last part). If Klifford the big, not red, dog sounds like the 4 legged friend you have been looking for email us and let’s talk. Or just cut to the chase and fill out our adoption application for Klifford. He appreciates someone who knows what they want and takes care of business.

We would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who made our Howl-O-Ween Bake Sale such a big success. We raised roughly $700 to help feed and care for our rescued dogs! Thank you Bea Rains, KC Ochoa, Meagan Roush, Pari Saberi Goetz, Amy Black, Amy, Will, Ruby and Sailor Bellomy, Lisa Lovitz, Laurie McHale, Jean Marie Driskel, Happy Cow (Rachel Pecorari), Jeanne Kendall, Hannah Larsh and Melanie Winters for baking, working and/or quilting for our bake sale. And thanks to everyone to came and purchased treats to support us. Hope you or your pups enjoyed them!

Handsome Butters is the dog that every other dog loves to play with in the play yard. He’s playful but not too rough. However as much as he enjoys playing with other dogs, there is nothing Butters loves more than attention and affection from his favorite human. Sit still long enough and Butters will curl up next you for a pleasant nap while you read, work, watch TV or just daydream the day away. Butters bonds to his people quickly and deeply, but is weary of strangers and will need his human to take the lead in introducing him to strangers in a way that lets him feel comfortable. Everyone that meets Butters falls in love with this sensitive, silly boy. If you need a best friend or another family member to make you smile and be by your side through good days and bad, Butters might be the pup for you. Butters is about 3 yrs old, neutered, current on his shots and microchipped. Did we mention that he keeps his room very tidy and is housebroken?

Diesel & Shadow are the perfect pair of couch potatoes! Their ideal day is to wake up, take a nap on the couch, have breakfast, snooze in the morning sun, chase a ball for a few minutes, have a second nap, lounge around the house, get ready for dinner with a pre-dinner siesta, eat dinner and spend the rest of the day on the couch before bed time. Diesel likes to go for walks, but Shadow’s only interest (and her one trick) is to roll over for belly rubs. They are very bonded and need to stay together. They should be only dogs. Diesel does well with doggie buddies but Shadow does not, and as a pair they cannot be with other dogs. They are spayed/neutered and about 75 lbs of love.