Joanne Lefson adopted Oscar from the local shelter in her hometown of Capetown, South Africa. He was one day away from euthanization. After a short period of falling in love with her new best friend, Joanne realized that there were way too many potential companions locked up in shelters around the globe.

To help make a difference in the lives of animals throughout the world, Joanne took it upon herself to sell her home and take Oscar on a $40,000 trip around the world to help bring attention to the plight of shelter pets. To the left, you can see Oscar at Machu Picchu.

During their trip, Joanne and Oscar fell in love with another pup in Romania, and their new friend Zara will soon join them at their permanent home in South Africa.

Tess is a ten-year old Siberian husky, samoyed, wolf , chow chow, and border collie mix –what a mix that is! She is a herder and tries to keep all her humans close together and in a group. Tess loves playing in the snow, barking at me to get out of the water when I’m swimming, running with her owner when he snowboards and mountain bikes, destroying squeaky toys, and occasionally sharing an ice cream cone or popsicle with her humans.

Little Tess lives in Vermont with Dean and is also kept company by Dean’s daughter, Phoebe.

As we’ve said before on Muttskis, we love all mutts and mixes, even if they happen to not be mixed at all. With that in mind, say hi to Duke, a lovable Akita adopted from the Midwest Akita Rescue Society by Connie.

Name: Bob
Age: 12 years
Mix: Jack Russell/Collie
Hobbies: Eating, playing, eating, going for walks, eating, sleeping, eating, getting rubs and tickles, eating, watching the world go by sitting on the windowsill, eating. Oh, and eating.
Owner: Liz in Newcastle, UK

Name: Cash
Age: 2 years
Mix: Australian Shepard/St. Bernard
Hobbies: Eviscerating toys, running, cuddling and going to “grandma and grandpa’s” house.

Names: Sophie and Picasso
Ages: 1 year old and 13 years old
Mixes: Totally unknown
Hobbies: Chewing, running, napping and maoing
Owner: Billie Hill

Name: Mr. Frodo
Age:  1 year
Mix: Schnauzer /beagle
Hobbies: Playing fetch, chewing on rawhide and redecorating the laundry room floor by way of pulling up the old linoleum floor and taking puppy training classes.
Owner: Michelle, Shreveport, L.A.

Name: Koozie
Age: 3
Mix: Shih tzu (the point of mutts is to not discriminate, and this means loving the pure ones too)
Hobbies: Playing, running and going on walks with his friend Ralphie.
Owner: Meg, Lincoln, Nebraska

Name: Tweek
Age: 2.5 years old
Mix: Boxer/American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
Hobbies: Swimming in the ocean, playing at the dog park, and climbing mountains.
Owner: Greer, Norwalk, CT

Name: Olivia
Age: 6 years old
Mix: Poodle/soft coated wheaton terrier
Hobbies: Being affectionate with people and taking joy rides in car.
Owner: M. Hernandez, Chicago, IL