Let’s get this outta the way: I was dumped at a high-kill shelter in Texas ‘cause I wasn’t eating. Turns out, I had pneumonia — hello, maybe ask me if I’m okay before ghostin’ me like that? Anyway, NorthStar swooped in like the heroes they are, got me fixed up, and now I’m living my best Golden Girl life. Sure, my liver needs a little help — I’m on meds and a low-fat diet, but listen, you hit 15 and tell me you don’t have a pill organizer. I’ve earned my bumps, my quirks, and the right to bark at any hyper dogs who need to simmer down. Respect your elders, kids.

Cats? Meh. They’re cool. I don’t bother ‘em. Dogs? I’ll chill with ‘em, as long as they’re not doing laps around the living room. Humans? That’s my jam. You got a lap? I’m in it. You leaving the room? I’m behind you like a loyal little shadow that doesn’t trip you. I’m clingy in a low-key, ride-or-die kind of way.

I’m house-trained, I strut on short walks, and I ride shotgun like a pro. You wanna hit the drive-thru or pick up groceries? I’ll be your tiny co-pilot. I may be in Texas now, but say the word and I’ll be in Jersey faster than you can say “Taylor Ham.” If you’re lookin’ for a loyal, low-maintenance lady who just wants to love and be loved (and maybe steal your blanket), fill out that application at www.northstarpets.org and ask for Zulu TX. Let’s grow old together — I’ve got the old part covered, you bring the snacks.

Ash is a 4 year-old Belgian Malinois mix weighing 65 pounds who is smart as well as loving. She sits nicely whenever the possibility of a treat comes around and also sits and waits for her meals to be served. She has even taught herself to go to the door when she has to go out. Don’t worry, if you’re not around to see it, she’ll give you a verbal warning. Ash is housebroken and kennel trained, although she prefers a treat or two when entering her kennel.

Ash is super sweet and affectionate, quick to bond with her human and is a master cuddler and leaner. She is very curious and will want to follow you everywhere you go and watch everything you do. She is a bit of a nervous nelly when it comes to meeting new people and, in true Malinois fashion, she tends to be vocal about her fear. She needs a human who will be understanding and patient with her when it comes to introducing visitors and new friends. Dog introductions should be conducted slowly as well.

Ash takes a few days to warm up to her new environment but once she does, her personality shines through. She can run all day in the yard with her furry foster siblings or crash just about anywhere when it’s time to wind down. She loves any and all kinds of toys and will throw them around all by herself. She is an awesome puppy that would bring heaps of love and energy to anyone willing to adopt her.

After being rescued from a Texas shelter, NorthStar discovered that Ash has a severe congenital deformity that will lead to congestive heart failure. She will need to be monitored closely for any symptoms (exercise intolerance, coughing, shortness of breath). She is currently on medication for her condition and seeking the care of a cardiologist is recommended. Doctors told us that Ash's longevity would be affected, predicting that she might only reach her 5th birthday. But Ash has continued to thrive and at the age of almost-4-years-old, she is still going strong.  Ash is looking for a very special adopter who will love this sweet girl and give her the care she needs for the rest of her life, however long that might be.

If Ash's story has touched your heart and you would like to give this girl a loving home, please fill out an application at www.northstarpets.org & be sure to ask for ASH TX. Ash has been spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccines. The adoption fee for this sweet girl is $425.

If you’re looking for a sweet, gentle, easy-going dog who loves everyone, then stop reading this bio. The dog I’m going to tell you about has none of those redeeming qualities. You most likely will have zero desire to adopt this dog.

You’re still reading? Suit yourself. Chente was surrendered to the Newark shelter, and honestly, while we rescue peeps usually negatively judge people who give up their dogs, in this case, it’s understandable. We hope Chente’s former owners are okay and are not too traumatized. See, Chente is an extremely unpleasant dog. He enjoys biting when you even think about doing something he doesn’t approve of, which, if you ask him, is most of the time.

Don’t try to pick him up, don’t try to get him off your couch or bed, don’t try to take a toy away, and definitely don’t try to cut his nails. He will bite you. He has no qualms about biting you and absolutely enjoys putting us humans in our places. Chente believes that we subordinates should automatically know that everything belongs to him. Everything. 

Oh, so you don’t think this sounds too terrible? Allow me to elaborate. While Chente does get along with other dogs, when they get all excited and happy, he becomes even more evil and contentious towards us humans. Rather than absorb, accept, and reciprocate his fellow species’ positivity and enthusiasm, Chente rejects it and turns it into hostility and savageness. He will bite you. He won’t bite the other dogs. Just you. 

See a pattern here? But wait, there’s more! 

If you are a loner and don’t have friends or family, maybe you have a slight chance of making Chente semi-content. If you do have friends and family and are unwise enough to have them come through your door in Chente’s presence, well then, that’s on you. Congratulations, you are now the aforementioned loner since those friends and family will never come to your home again after inevitably being bitten by Chente.

If you aren’t scared off yet, I guess I should mention some positives. Yep, there are a few. Chente is housetrained and crate trained and can definitely live harmoniously with other dogs. He likes riding in the car. He’s also only about 20 lbs and kind of cute and fluffy, but don’t tell him that or he will probably bite you.

In case I haven’t made myself completely clear, Chente absolutely cannot live with kids, ever, and even living with most adults is highly questionable. His current fosters are at his mercy. 

There you have it. That’s Chente. The good, the bad, the even more bad, and the very, very ugly. In the extremely unlikely event that you think you may be able to give Chente the life he demands and deserves, please fill out an application, and be sure to mention him by name…Chente NJ!

Cousin Brucie's foster mom tells us that this mild-mannered boy is actually very playful! He is 12 years old and weighs 126 pounds. Brucie gets along with all the people, dogs and cats in his foster home. He can be possessive of his food and treats so he should be fed separately and not allowed near the kitchen. Because of this, we feel he should be adopted into an adults-only home. Brucie is quite social as he likes to hang out with the people in his NJ foster home. He's a polite boy who won't go through a door first, he needs a human or dog to lead the way for him.

Brucie loves being touched -- a gentle head rub or combing makes his eyes fall shut. He seems skeptical of bathtime but as soon as the bubbles and hands start massaging his body, he melts into a puddle. Afterwards he rips around the yard like only a dog fresh out of a bath can do. Zoomies!

Brucie may be more than 10 years old, but this boy does very well for his age and size. Brucie leashes very well, can take stairs and actually trots around a lot. He is a handsome Shepherd/Great Pyrenees mix who came into the shelter in Texas with some skin issues which are now being treated. He's a very sweet boy who is now looking for a forever/retirement home! 

Brucie is neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines. The adoption fee for this sweet guy is $250.

If you'd like to meet this sweet boy, please fill out an application at www.northstarpets.org and be sure to ask for him by name, COUSIN BRUCIE TX!

Glynis is a lovely lady who's about 7 years old.  She's excited and friendly when meeting new people and dogs both large and small.  She recently had a sleepover party at a house with a cat and did very well.  Glynis is super affectionate and her happy place is wherever you are, preferably curled up next to you or sitting in your lap.  At only 12 pounds, she's the perfect size for a lap dog!  Glynis is house trained, leash trained and prefers short walks over longer ones.  She is a spunky, free spirit so she prefers to spend her evenings and alone time outside of a crate.  All in all, Glynis is a low drama sweetheart!

Like many dogs from Texas, Glynis has tested positive for heartworm - her first treatment is on 4/8 under her foster mom's watchful eye. She also has luxated patellas on her back legs, but it does not affect her ability to go up or down stairs and she shows no discomfort. She does have some calcium deposits on her right cornea which are no problem at this point.

If you're interested in meeting Glynis, please complete an adoption application at www.northstarpets.org and be sure to ask for her by name - GLYNIS TX!

Meet Ivanhoe (Google it), Ivan for short, who came to NorthStar in 2022 all the way from Kentucky! Ivanhoe was adopted and has lived a good life. Unfortunately, his adopter, who has medical issues, can no longer give him the life he deserves so he is back with NorthStar. Ivanhoe is currently about 13 years old, is up to date on vaccinations and is neutered. He is a very sweet, short-legged, easy going Beagle. 

Ivan loves to be pet - his favorite thing is slow scratches under his chin. When his eyes look into yours, it melts your heart. His eyes are saying LOVE ME. He likes to cuddle on the couch with his person during the day. 

Ivanhoe really is a sweet boy and just wants to find his forever family so he can be loved and love them back! 

If you're interested in meeting this sweet boy, please fill out an adoption application at www.northstarpets.org and be sure to ask for him by name, IVANHOE KY! This boy's adoption fee is only $250 and he's worth every penny of it!

McCaffery, a 75-pound Great Pyrenees mix, is in need of a new home due to circumstances beyond his control. Having never experienced home life prior to arriving in New Jersey in 2021, McCaffery quickly adapted to domestic life and acquired essential skills.

McCaffery is house-trained, gets along with other dogs, and dog-savvy cats. He is also crate trained and has been around children, although older respectful children would be best Ideally, he would love a quiet household. He has been through a lot and is seeking his forever home.

If you're interested in meeting him, please submit an adoption application at www.northstarpets.org and mention his name.

Ms. Lady is a gorgeous Great Pyrenees mix who is super sweet, friendly with people and dogs and who would probably would be fine with cats because of her easy-going disposition. She is crate trained and housetrained but could use more leash training - she is rarely leashed as she has a big beautiful backyard to run around in her foster home in Texas! She is very low maintenance, low to medium energy,  and is in a foster home with 30 other dogs - she had that easy going, typical Pyr personality.

Lady is about 4 years old and weighs 68 pounds. She is already fully vetted and she's healthy, heartworm negative, has no tick borne diseases and is on monthly preventatives, etc.  

Lady is just happy to be in a home where someone is treating her well and she does not have to worry about where her next meal is coming from. She came into a Texas shelter with another Pyr mix (possibly her brother) - both were owner surrendered because the owners were letting them run loose and they did not want to pay the fine. The brother went to a local Austin rescue and Lady is now with NorthStar.

If you've always wanted to have a Great Pyrenees in your family, just fill out an application at www.northstarpets.org and ask to meet this sweet and gentle gal! The adoption fee for Ms. Lady will be $425.

If you are looking for a sweet, well-behaved, fun-loving boy then Oodle just might be your guy. When Oodle came to NJ he was a little underweight. He is now thriving at 17 lbs and is as handsome as ever!

Oodle is house trained, crate trained, super smart, a great eater and loves to be with his people. He knows simple commands like sit & stay. He is a pleasure to walk as long as no other dogs are around as he tends to be a bit leash reactive. Oodle LOVES to play fetch but also enjoys his daily naps. He’s an easy-going boy with a lot of personality.

Oodle is great company and will stay close to your side. His sweet temperament makes him extremely lovable! He is currently being fostered in a home with no pets or kids but was originally fostered in TX with other dogs and cats. Oodle occasionally will need an anti-inflammatory medication as he has some arthritis in his back right.

Two fun facts about Oodle - 1 - Windshield wipers makes him bark. 2 - Because he is missing a few front teeth, his tongue tends to hang out especially while he’s sleeping ~ so cute!

If you are interested in meeting Oodle, please complete an adoption application and be sure to ask for Oodle TX. His adoption fee is $250.

Pea is a 12-year-old Chihuahua who lived with her owner who lived alone. Sadly, Pea's owner went into an assisted living facility. Pea lived in a very rural area that had no animal shelter and no rescue groups. The neighbors didn't want Pea. They suggested shooting her, since she had nowhere to go. The owner's housekeeper reached out to us, and we didn't hesitate to help. 

Pea weighs 7 pounds. She is housetrained and is a true lap dog. Despite her age, she has a lot of pep in her step. She does have luxating patella in both knees, but surgery was not recommended at this time since she's very mobile and not in pain. She also has some lipomas, but the vet said they're benign and very common in older dogs.

We took Pea to a fundraising event recently, and she enjoyed being held by kids and adults. Foster mom says that Pea acclimated quickly to her foster home and has been somewhat indifferent to the other dogs so far but she does perk up around dogs who are about her size. She is super friendly and pleasant. She just wants to be with you - definitely a Velcro girl who nudges your hand for pets. She hasn’t barked yet even when the other dogs bark. So far so good, she’s a pleasure and so stinking cute!

My name is Raina - I'm 18 pounds of pure chaotic energy wrapped in cuteness, and I'm ready to turn your life upside down (in the best way possible). I'm a one-year-old Terrier mix with a big personality - think German Shepherd trapped in a tiny body. I live for playtime, snuggles, and my favorite guilty pleasure, binge-watching "Real Housewives of New Jersey." (Don't judge me.)

Toys? Love 'em. Balls? Obsessed. I can entertain myself for hours - but fair warning, if you leave your socks, shoes or shirt laying around, I will turn them into my next chew project. What can I say? I have a flair for fashion!

I'm pretty good with the whole housetraining thing but I do best when I've got a solid routine. I get along great with other dogs - big or small - and would love a furry sibling to run around with. I am crate-trained like a champ, but walking on a leash? Eh, still working on it. That's why a fenced-in yard is kind of a must for me. Gotta zoom!

Oh - and I'm a proud distemper survivor. I've got this cute little twitch as a badge of honor. Makes me extra special, don't ya think?

So if you're looking for a goofy, loving, high-speed cuddle missile with a ton of personality, I'm your girl. Head over to http://www.northstarpets.org, fill out an adoption application, and make sure you ask for me by name - RAINA TX!