Sponsored by Thersa Naus -to celebrate the most incredible (almost) 5 years with my soul dog Bubba who passed in January 2026. There will never be another like him. Thank you for all the love you give at Save Me Rescue

Hello, my name is Fortress but foster mom calls me Tessa because she says Fortress is such a mouthful and not very feminine. I am looking forward to meeting you and getting my own family. I am a bichon frize and about 10 pounds. I am about 4 years old (DOB February 5, 2022). I have a fair amount of energy but I can also settle. I am spayed, up-to-date on vaccinations and microchipped.

I have a sweet, playful nature and sometimes I snuggle with my human. Foster mom thinks I will snuggle more once I get to know you. I entertained her friends one night while she was on Zoom. I couldn’t keep my eyes open but I so wanted to be involved. I like to curl up on a soft chair. While I haven’t met any children, foster mom thinks I would be fine with respectful children. I like to chew on a bone and have played with a toy.

Foster mom says house training is a work in progress. Now that foster mom lets me out in the secure yard with her dogs, I have been going outside more. She hasn’t figured out my signal to go outside so I have had some accidents in the house. I like a car ride but I haven’t really figured out this thing called a leash and going for a walk. I have conquered stairs.

Foster mom has two small dogs and several cats. I am comfortable with them but really haven’t interacted with them much. When they bark at people going by, I have to see what they are talking about and I have joined them in the barking. One of foster mom’s cats head butted me. I didn’t know what she wanted and just ignored her. I met foster mom’s friend’s large dogs and was okay with them.

Sometimes, I stay in a separate room while foster mom is out and sometimes foster mom leaves me loose in the house with her dogs. I sometimes bark when foster mom comes home and I will bark to get back in the house so apartment living likely isn’t the best place for me. At night, I will sleep on the floor beside your bed but I would rather be on the big bed with you. Sometimes. I like to play outside so if you have a fenced yard, that would be great.

The ideal home for me could have another dog and even a cat but I would be okay as an only pet. If you have a fenced yard that would be a bonus. If you want a lap dog, I will sometimes join you. If you have respectful children, I would be okay with that.

I hope to meet you soon.

For more information, you may contact Cathy (foster parent) at cathyatsaveme@gmail.com

**Adoptions within the province of Ontario only