No Malteses listed on LocalPetFinder right now
That just means none are on the site at the moment, not that the breed is unavailable. New listings arrive from rescues and local owners all the time. Be first in line, or help one find a home.
Have a dog to rehome?
Rehoming a Maltese in Peterborough?
List your dog free. Local adopters browsing Peterborough see owner listings first: no shelter, no fees, you choose the home.
List your pet free →Takes 3 minutes. You stay in control of who adopts.
Not seeing one yet?
Get notified when a Maltese is listed in Peterborough
We'll email you the moment a Maltese is listed in Peterborough on LocalPetFinder, from a rescue or an owner rehoming.
One email when there's a match. Unsubscribe anytime.
For rescues & shelters
Are you a Peterborough-area rescue? List your adoptable dogs free.
Free shelter account: your dogs appear here and across LocalPetFinder, with analytics and adoption applications included.
Malteses in Peterborough, right now
We aren't tracking any adoptable Malteses in or near Peterborough at the moment. Listings update regularly as Ontario rescues take in new dogs, and a Maltese in Peterborough typically gets adopted within days of being posted. Browse the full Ontario dogs list to see Malteses in other Ontario cities, or save this page and check back soon.
Adopting a Maltese in Ontario
Maltese are uncommon in Ontario rescue intake — most are rehomed privately through breeder and toy-dog networks, so when one is listed at the Toronto Humane Society, City of Toronto Animal Services, or the Ottawa Humane Society, applications close within days. Set up an alert and apply within 24 to 48 hours of a dog appearing. Maltese crosses (Maltipoo, Malshi, Morkie) appear more often than purebreds and are worth considering if the goal is a small family-friendly toy rather than a show-line purebred specifically.
The Maltese that do reach Ontario rescue tend to be seniors surrendered when an owner has died or moved into care, or 4 to 8 year old adults surrendered for dental and cardiac costs the family could not absorb. Senior Maltese are often the easiest, most rewarding adoptions — small, settled, and used to a quiet home.
Mitral valve disease — the breed-defining cardiac risk
Maltese are heavily predisposed to mitral valve disease (MVD), the same cardiac condition that defines Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Onset typically begins in late middle age. A senior rescue Maltese should have recent cardiac auscultation noted in the intake file. Daily MVD management once diagnosed includes medication (pimobendan, ACE inhibitors), weight management, and regular cardiologist follow-up. GTA cardiac referrals usually go to VCA Canada or the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph; Ottawa cases often refer to OVC for complex echocardiograms.
Lifetime cardiac care for a Maltese with MVD can run $2,000 to $4,000 in medication and monitoring over the disease course. Pet insurance taken out before any heart murmur is documented is strongly recommended for the breed. Ask the rescue specifically about any heart murmur grade noted at intake, and whether the dog has had a recent cardiac ultrasound.
Tiny white-coated dogs in a GTA winter
Maltese are 4 to 7 pounds with a single long silky coat. Cold-vulnerable in Toronto and Ottawa winter. An insulated coat and booties are realistic from December through February, and many GTA Maltese owners use indoor potty pads through the deepest cold rather than fight short outdoor sessions. The white coat shows every speck of Toronto street salt and slush — daily face and paw wipes are routine through winter. The long flowing coat usually gets kept in a short "puppy cut" at professional grooming every 4 to 6 weeks at $45 to $75 per visit in the GTA. Dental disease is severe — most need professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months. Hypoglycaemia in puppies under six months is the main puppy-stage emergency.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable dog across the province on Dog Adoption Ontario.
The rescues that most often list Malteses across Ontario are Toronto Humane Society, City of Toronto Animal Services, and Ottawa Humane Society. For breed-specific background, the Canadian Kennel Club is a useful reference.
Maltese Adoption FAQ — Peterborough
How many Malteses are available for adoption in Peterborough?
As of August 2026, there are no Malteses listed in Peterborough rescue on LocalPetFinder right now — Malteses are among the rarer dogs in local rescue. Inventory turns over quickly, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to catch one, or consider an adoptable Maltese mix.
Where can I adopt a Maltese near me in Ontario?
Maltese are uncommon in Ontario rescue and most are placed privately. The Toronto Humane Society, City of Toronto Animal Services, and the Ottawa Humane Society see them occasionally. Set up an alert and apply within 24 to 48 hours of a dog appearing. A flexible adopter open to a senior Maltese or a cross (Maltipoo, Malshi, Morkie) will find a match faster than one waiting for a young purebred.
How serious is mitral valve disease in Maltese?
It is the breed-defining cardiac concern. Maltese are heavily predisposed to MVD with typical onset in late middle age. Lifetime medication and monitoring can run $2,000 to $4,000 over the disease course at GTA or OVC Guelph cardiology. Ask the rescue specifically about any heart murmur grade noted at intake. Pet insurance taken out before any murmur is documented is strongly recommended for the breed.
Are Maltese cold-tolerant in Toronto winters?
No. The single thin coat and 4 to 7 pound body size make them among the most cold-vulnerable breeds in Ontario. An insulated coat and booties are realistic from December through February in Toronto and Ottawa, and many GTA Maltese owners use indoor potty pads through the deepest cold rather than fight short outdoor sessions.
What does a Maltese adoption fee include in Ontario?
Ontario adoption fees generally run about $400 to $700 for a Maltese, covering spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, and microchip. Dental and cardiac condition at intake are the most important things to ask about specifically. Professional dental cleaning every 12 to 18 months at $800 to $1,500 in the GTA, plus potential lifetime MVD medication, are realistic ongoing costs.
Are these Malteses for sale in Peterborough?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Maltese here comes from a Peterborough-area rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically a few hundred dollars and already include spay or neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000+ to buy a Maltese from a breeder. If you searched "maltese for sale Peterborough," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Maltese in Peterborough, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Maltese breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000+ and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Maltese costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap "for sale" ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on meeting the parents, seeing where the litter was raised, and getting vet records. For most Peterborough families, adopting a rescue Maltese is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.