California Miniature
Schnauzer Rescue
—Dogs Available In Southern Cal.

—In the Metropolitan Los Angeles area

—In the Antelope Valley area

—In Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County or San Diego County

—In Kern County

PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL US ABOUT A DOG WITHOUT FIRST SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION. We will not respond to your email if we have not received an application from you.

We do not adopt dogs or puppies for use as service or emotional support animals.

The adoption application form for dogs in southern California (unless otherwise stated for a particular dog) is at www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html.


Dogs In the Metropolitan Los Angeles Area

Rescue Miniature Schnauzers Ficino and Dante

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Ficino Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Dante

Ficino (left) and Dante (right) are two senior male Miniature Schnauzers who have spent their lives as cherished companions and are deeply bonded. They need a new home because their former owner passed away. They are looking to be adopted together into a loving home that will give them the comfort, care, and companionship they deserve.

Like many older dogs, Ficino and Dante do best in a calm, adult household and would thrive in a quieter home without young children.

Ficino is a gentle, sweet 14-year-old Miniature Schnauzer who has spent his life as a deeply loved companion. He is a true homebody—happiest when he's close to his people, relaxing in bed, or watching a movie with his family. Ficino thrives on routine. He enjoys three meals a day, short outdoor walks, and potty breaks every few hours. He is calm, low-maintenance, and asks for very little beyond love and a comfortable place to rest.

Ficino is managed for a seizure disorder and heart disease, both well-controlled with daily medication. He is current on all vaccinations, dental care, and veterinary exams. His seizure disorder is well controlled on Levetiracetam (Keppra). His last seizure was in February 2026. Before that had been seizure-free for more than five years. His heart disease is a degenerative mitral valve disease. He is stable on a twice daily dose of Pimobendan (Vetmedin). Ficino has a history of bladder stones, but is being maintained on prescription urinary diet. He also has mild chronic anemia, which is stable, with no serious cause identified. He also has a small benign skin cyst on his tail, which occasionally causes mild bleeding.

Ficino is current on all vaccinations, dental care, and wellness exams.

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Dante

Dante is a spirited, nearly 10-year-old Miniature Schnauzer with a big personality and an even bigger heart. He is eager to please, loves to cuddle, and is happiest when he is with his people. A little guidance goes a long way with Dante. He is a genuinely good boy who just needs some light direction to shine.

Dante follows a steady daily routine with breakfast, dinner, and outdoor walks. He would thrive with an adopter who enjoys an active lifestyle. He has energy to burn and would love a home that can match his enthusiasm.

Dante is managed for degenerative mitral valve disease. He is stable on Pimobendan (Vetmedin) and Enalapril daily. He has had for bladder stones, but they are well-controlled with prescription urinary diet. Dante also has mildly elevated liver enzymes, which are stable, and have been monitored with routine bloodwork. Lastly, Dante has benign fatty masses (lipomas) for which no treatment needed. He is current on all veterinary care including dental cleanings.

Dante is looking for a loving, engaged home where he can be close to his family, stay active, and continue to be the good, sweet boy he's always been.

Ficino and Dante are being boarded in Malibu. If you’d like to give Ficino and Dante a loving home, please complete a CMSR adoption application at http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html. Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@schnauzers.us with any questions about Ficino and Dante.

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Dior

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Dior Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Dior

Dior is a 5 year old Miniature Schnauzer with a great personality. Sadly, Dior suffered a spinal injury and is no longer able to walk on his own. However, he has a cart and knows how to use it, so he is mobile with that assistance. Dior is able to pee and poop on his own and wears a diaper in case of accidents.

Dior needs a new home because his family is no longer able to care for him as their grandmother now needs full time care.

Dior is a happy, energetic little guy with lots of life in him. He loves people, kids, and other dogs.

Dior is in good health, apart from his disability. He has not been neutered yet.

Here are links to videos of Dior scooting around in his cart and playing with other dogs in his home: https://youtube.com/shorts/R3eIgWeR3DM?feature=share and https://youtube.com/shorts/CvaJAkudX9Y?feature=share

Dior is living in Burbank. If you’d like to give Dior a loving home, please contact Kim Johnson, slimjohnson11@hotmail.com, 805-208-9037, with any questions about Dior. Kim is acting an intermediary for Dior's family because they do not speak English.

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Turbo

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Turbo Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Turbo

Turbo was rescued from the Los Angeles West Valley shelter with a fractured pelvis and taken directly to ASEC surgery center, where he underwent a femoral head osteotomy. He has since made a full recovery and is doing great.

At about 2 years old and 12 pounds, Turbo is a quiet, sweet boy who is affectionate with people he knows and gets along well with other dogs. He can be a bit cautious with strangers and is easily startled by quick movements, so he would likely do best in a calm household without very young children.

Turbo is in good health, neutered, microchipped, and current on all vaccinations.

Turbo is being fostered in La Cañada Flintridge. If you’d like to give Turbo a loving home, please complete a CMSR adoption application at http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html. Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@schnauzers.us with any questions about Turbo.

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Puppy Holly

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Puppy Holly Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Mix Puppy Holly

Holly was rescued from the Hesperia shelter along with her littermates, Henry and Honey. She is about a year old as of June 1, 2026, and weighs 25 pounds.

A sweet girl with a wonderful disposition, Holly is a bit shy with strangers at first but warms up beautifully. She loves the other dogs in her foster home and is devoted to the people she knows. While she hasn't been around children yet, we suspect she’d be great with kids who are gentle and old enough to know not to grab or startle her.

Holly is in good health, spayed, microchipped, and current on all vaccinations.

Holly is being fostered in La Cañada Flintridge. If you’d like to give Holly a loving home, please complete a CMSR adoption application at (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html). Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@schnauzers.us if you have any questions about Holly. (Henry and Honey have been adopted.)

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Sheldon

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Sheldon Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Sheldon

Sheldon is a light salt-and-pepper male Miniature Schnauzer, about 7 years old and a sturdy 27 pounds. He was rescued from the Riverside County shelter in San Jacinto.

A true people lover, Sheldon is friendly, housebroken, and quiet most of the time—and he never chews. His sociable nature really shines through: during a vet visit, he made the rounds of the entire waiting room, saying hello to every person and dog he could find.

Like all of us, Sheldon has a few quirks worth mentioning. He can be reactive with other dogs when on leash and does not do well around toddlers. He has not been around cats, so that's an open question.

Sheldon also comes with an interesting mystery. When he was rescued, he was a matted, smelly mess, and his coat had turned so wheaten that we wondered if he might be a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. After a good grooming, a beautiful silver coat emerged—but it gradually turned wheaten again as it grew out. Whether he’s a Schnauzer, a Wheaten, or something in between, one thing is certain: he doesn't shed.

Sheldon is in good health, neutered, microchipped, and current on all vaccinations. He recently had a dental cleaning, losing just one tooth, and his bloodwork came back looking great.

Sheldon is being fostered in La Cañada Flintridge. If you’d like to give Sheldon a loving home, please complete a CMSR adoption application (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html). Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@schnauzers.us if you have any questions about Sheldon.

Rescue Schnoodle Pinky

Photo of Rescue Schnoodle Pinky

Pinky is a 2 year old male Schnoodle. He needs a new home because the owner’s mother, who recently fell, is moved in with Pinky's owner. He is afraid Pinky will knock over his mother.

Pinky is friendly with people but can be slow to warm to strangers. Usually, he is fine about 10 minutes after meeting a new person. Pinky is not aggressive towards other dogs.

Pinky is in good health. He is neutered, microchipped, and current on vaccinations. His teeth are in good shape, but his veterinarian says he will need his teeth cleaned soon.

Pinky is living in Burbank. If you are interested in adopting him, please complete a CMSR adoption application (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html). Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@johnehoffman.us if you have any questions about Pinky.

Rescue Chihuahua Riker

Photo of Rescue Chihuahua Riker Photo of Rescue Chihuahua Riker

Riker is a super cute Chihuahua who has earned a special distinction: our resident Schnauzers, Lora and HuMei, have declared him an honorary Schnauzer.

Rescued from the Riverside Coachella shelter on March 25, 2022, Riker arrived with a broken pelvis and a luxated patella and went straight into surgery the following day. He has since made a full recovery.

At about a year old and a portable 7½ pounds, Riker is housebroken, friendly with people, and loves playing with other small dogs—as long as they’re not too rambunctious for him.

Riker is in good health, neutered, microchipped, and current on all vaccinations.

Riker is being fostered in La Cañada Flintridge. If you’d like to give Riker a loving home, please complete a CMSR adoption application (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html). Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@johnehoffman.us if you have any questions about Riker.

Dogs In the Antelope Valley

Rescue Giant Family of Giant Schnauzers (Mom and Eight Puppies—Mom and Two Puppies—1 M, 1 F— Still Available as of 7/1/2026)

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Puppy Luke Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Puppy Luke

Our friends, the Nagels at Smith Kennels in Palmdale, rescued a pair of Giant Schnauzers. Dad was placed some time ago. Mom, however, turned out to be pregnant (apparently unknown to the person surrendering the pair). She then gave birth to nine puppies—four boys and five girls. One of the boys has been adopted. So, as of December 6, 2025, the Nagels still have Mom, three boy puppies and five girl puppies waiting for new homes.

The puppies were born on August 23, 2025. The photos above are of the largest boy and the largest girl. The rest of the puppies look very similar.

Mom and the puppies are in good health and up to date on vaccinations. The puppies will be placed with a contract requiring the adopter to have them spayed/neutered at the age the adopter’s vet believes to be appropriate and to provide the Nagels with copies of the spay/neuter certificates so that they will be in compliance with California law requiring that all rescued dogs be altered.

Mom and the puppies are being fostered in Palmdale. If you are interested in adopting one or more of them, please complete a CMSR adoption application (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html) BUT email the completed for to Darcel Foltin, djfoltin04@gmail.com, rather than to John Hoffman as instructed on the form. Contact Darcel Foltin at djfoltin04@gmail.com if you have any questions about the Giant puppies or their Mom.

Dogs In Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County or San Diego County

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Skrappy Sox

Photo of Rescue Schnauzer Skrappy Sox Photo of Rescue Schnauzer Skrappy Sox

Skrappy Sox is a purebred Miniature Schnauzer who was surrendered to us by his owner. He is about 6 years old and weighs about 23 lbs. He has natural ears and an undocked tail.

Skrappy Sox's former owner said he nipped one of her kids. He is generally friendly with people and gets along with other dogs. We haven't had him around cats or young kids.

Skrappy Sox appears to be in good health. He is neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccinations.

Skrappy Sox is now with A Home 4 Ever Rescue in Costa Mesa. If you are interested in adopting Skrappy Sox, please email Mark at ahome4ever@gmail.com or Erin at muellenbergerin@gmail.com.

This is a courtesy listing for A Home 4 Ever Rescue.

Dogs In Kern County

None right now.

Miniature Schnauzers from China:

We rescued 22 Miniature Schnauzers from China between March 2020 and the summer of 2021. All have been adopted.

In the summer of 2021, the Centers for Disease Control enacted a one year suspension on importing dogs from “high rabies risk” countries, including China. That edict, issued without an opportunity for public comment, was issued despite the fact that not one dog imported from China has arrived with rabies. Now that the suspension is over, the CDC is once again allowing dogs to be imported from China, albeit with expensive and unnecessary conditions. Among those are that the dogs must be titered before departure from the country of origin, and then must pass through a licensed U.S. facility at one of seven ports of entry to be re-examined and re-vaccinated. The facility that serves LAX is so expensive that many of the rescues are having their dogs from Asia shipped through JFK in New York because the inspection fee is considerably less there.

CMSR had six Schnauzers scheduled to arrive on November 15, 2022. Their flight was repeatedly delayed. However, the cost and difficulty of bringing them to California was overwhelming. As a result, we have arranged for them to go to our friends at Aberdeen Scottish Terrier Rescue in Seattle, which will place them in new homes along with dogs of other breeds they received off the same flight.

We apologize to those who were hoping to adopt one of the six Chinese dogs who we were expecting. Things just didn't work out. However, the important thing is that the dogs will be safe in new homes in the U.S. CMSR is doing its part by financing most of the cost of bringing the six from China and having them vetted before they go to new homes. All of that cost is being borne by one donor who is making gifts specifically for those six dogs. (All of CMSR's other donations are being used to rescue California dogs.)

Dogs Not Currently Available

Rescue Dog Smokey (may bite)—Not Currently Available

Photo of Rescue Dog Smokey Photo of Rescue Dog Smokey

Smokey is a black and gray terrier mix, who is about 2 years old. We rescued Smokey from the San Bernardino City shelter. He weighs about 13 lbs.

Smokey is a bit on the timid side, but is very affectionate once he gets to know you. He gets along with other dogs. We have not had him around cats or young children yet.

We think Smokey would likely be best in an adults-only home or one with teenagers.

Smokey appears to be in good health. He is neutered, microchipped and current on his DA2P vaccination. He will be up to date on his rabies vaccination before placement.

Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Obi—Not Currently Available

Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Obi Photo of Rescue Miniature Schnauzer Obi

Obi is an about 10 year old salt & pepper Miniature Schnauzer who weighs about 20 lbs.

We rescued Obi from the meat markets of Korea when he was about 3 and placed him with a family in Cypress. He needs a new home now because his adopter has to move out of state and cannot take Obi with her.

Obi is a very special companion. Obi has a wonderfully mild and gentle temperament. He is friendly with strangers after he gets to know them a bit. He is good with older children and has been around cats a bit when he was boarded with friends of his adopter. He is housebroken and knows how to use a dog door.

Obi is in good health. He is neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations. He had a dental done a few months ago and will likely need another a few months from now. Obi will come with food, toys, and other supplies.

Obi is living in Cypress in northern Orange County. If you are interested in adopting Obi, please complete a CMSR adoption application (http://www.schnauzers.us/adoptionformsouth.html). Contact John Hoffman at cmsr@schnauzers.us if you have any questions about Obi.

© California Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Inc., 2012–2026
Last Updated: July 1, 2026