Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

After some trials and errors, I believe my new blog home is starting to run smoothly. Whew! If you haven’t already signed up, and wish to get an email notice and link to my new post each week, just enter your email address in the “Follow Blog via Email” at the right.

After last week’s feature of our older dogs available, I was happy to see that three seniors were adopted: Candice, Beach Party, and Amber. We’re hoping the rest will find new homes very soon. Also, great news on the Pugs. The bonded pair, Jackson and Lily, went home together! Here are all of the Blog Dogs adopted since my last post.

I got to meet Candice’s new family when they came to pick her up after her graduation from Jr. Trainer’s Camp last Thursday. They were a very happy new family!

Chatter

Sunday’s was a great play group, as usual. It’s especially gratifying to watch the big dogs getting the opportunity to stretch their legs and race around the perimeter of the big yard to their hearts’ content. And it’s nice to know that they appreciate the WHS staff’s efforts to give them a safe and enriching place to live while they wait for their new families to find them.

And, of course, there are always those who like to play practical jokes that they think are funny. Good thing the staff and volunteers have a sense of humor!

Then there are the more philosophical deep thinkers.

I’m a senior, so I know stuff!

One of the dogs I wanted to spend some quality time with on Sunday afternoon was Daphne, one of our seniors, at eleven years old. She is a Border Collie/American Cattle Dog mix. When she first came to WHS the week before, she was extremely nervous and scared. I’m happy to report that she is doing a lot better now, though she doesn’t understand why she is at the shelter. Sarah and I invited her to have lunch with us and she enjoyed the attention. A little later we took her outside to sit in the yard awhile and visit. She will make a wonderful, quiet companion.

Daphne knows several commands including “shake.”

I love her sweet face.

Today I saw her out walking with volunteer Michael and snapped this shot. She was really enjoying being outside with her new buddy.

Need a partner for adventures? That’s ME!

The first time I saw Cookie, I had to smile. She was so cute sitting in her kennel barely containing her excitement that she might be going outside. This three-year-old Beagle/Retriever mix is such a joy to be around. The Beagle part wants to follow her nose and the Retriever wants to play. She would love to go to training classes where she could learn neat thngs. She’d make a terrific exercise partner, too. Here she is with Sunday volunteers Jessica and Grace.

Yep, another senior. Uncomplicated, that’s me.

You know the expression, what you see is what you get? Well, this is Rebel a twelve-year-old Boxer mix. He’s about as easy-going as can be. He likes to amble around the walking track and sit in the shade and watch the world go by. He did fine in play group, but doesn’t enter into the youngster games. If you read my posts regularly, you know that he is volunteer Sarah’s current favorite. He seems to be getting stressed in the shelter environment, not surprising for an elder statesman. And his hearing is questionable. He needs a retirement home where he can enjoy a quiet, undemanding life.

The Brothers

In the middle of the afternoon on Sunday, two new California dogs arrived at WHS. They immediately won the heart of everyone who met them, both because of their mini-hippo look and their heart-wrenching story.

Elvis (left) and Sato (pronounced Saw-toe) are three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They were rescued from a California pound shortly before they were scheduled to be euthanized. They had spent their entire lives inside a crate and when they were rescued, could barely walk. They are slowly getting better, but will need time, patience, and attention to recover. They are house-trained, great with all people, including kids, and small dogs. The boys are deeply bonded and must be adopted together. While they have every reason to distrust people, they do not. They look up at you with hope and love to lean against you. Diane, Sarah, and I spent a long time with these wonderful dogs out on the lawn. The pictures speak for themselves.

Of course, I had to spend some time with them today, as well. I was happy to see that they seem to be walking a little better. Below are some shots of this sweet duo from this afternoon. Here they are with Sandy.

The boys are telling volunteer Michael goodbye as he was leaving after his shift.

They enjoy sharing treats.

Here they are ready for a nap in their kennel after their walk.

I realize I’m not a dog…

No, no, this isn’t a mistake and you are not imagining that you are seeing a cat’s picture. Every once in awhile, one of our WHS cats deeply touches a volunteer’s heart and they ask me to help to try to get them a home. Such is the case with Callie Lilly (Callie for short) and volunteer Sarah. Callie is seven years old and has been at WHS for five months. Understandably, she is getting depressed. Callie is FIV+, which means she has Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus, a virus that affects a cat’s immune system. This cat-only disease cannot be spread to humans or other kinds of animals, and cats with this condition usually lead long and healthy lives without any symptoms. However, they do need to be only-cats in the home and need to live indoors. Callie thinks this is fine, as she doesn’t care for other cats, anyway, and enjoys being inside. She is shy at first meeting and doesn’t come to the front of her kennel, but if you take her out, she enjoys petting and brushing. She has been waiting a very long time for a quiet home and person of her own. Here she is with Sarah on Sunday. We hope she’ll be found by the right person very soon so she can finally have a real home.

I may be small, but I’ve got character!

One of the first dogs I saw on a walk today was Collin, a six-year-old Toy Poodle mix. Volunteer April was spending some quality time with him and he enjoyed every minute. Since I first took pictures of this boy, he’s had a haircut and is looking a lot better! Collin gets a little nervous around new situations, so would do best in a quiet home with adults or older children. He’s a serious little fellow who is hoping to find his forever family soon.

I just got my cone off and I’m much happier!

Meet sweet Cassie Jones, a five-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. I met Cassie when she arrived at WHS several weeks ago and fell for her shy, quiet nature immediately. Here’s the picture I took of her then.

Cassie has had some bad experiences with dogs, so gets nervous around them. No dog park for this girl. She is looking for a quiet home with a family who will help build up her confidence. Now that her cone is off (she was spayed) she is a much happier girl. Here she was today with volunteer Daniel. She loves hot dog bits!

Yep, I’m a puppy! I’m going to be a great dog someday!

I don’t usually feature puppies on my blog, as my heart is tugged by the older, wiser dogs needing homes. However, I helped Krystal, this puppy’s foster mother, for a few days of puppy-sitting. So, of course, I fell hook, line, and sinker for Stewie and his siblings. Here he is today, ready to pose for his photo shoot. There is something about puppies that always makes me smile. I’m sure he’ll soon be snuggling with a new family of his own. He already knows “sit” and can’t wait to go to puppy class and learn more. He is two months old.

Grizzly and Teddy here!

Are these two little guys cute, or what!? Meet Grizzly and Teddy, two Shih Tzu mixes who came to WHS together. They do not have to be adopted together, but I’m sure would like to be. Today I watched them interact happily. Grizzly is five and Teddy is seven. They are friendly to everyone and have lived with children.

Yes, we’re back. Still hoping for a forever home together.

I was sad to see that Precious Love and Brandy‘s adoption did not work out and they are back with us at WHS. Today volunteer Dan and I took them out so they could spend some time together in the yard as well as go for a walk. They are both four-year-old Lab mixes. Fingers crossed that they will finally find a forever home just right for them.

Updates

As always, I love hearing updates about “our” dogs in their new homes. This week I heard from two. First, I was thrilled to know that Choji’s family fell in love with her while watching her in the play group movie.

Here’s what they wrote:

After seeing her run like crazy in the play-group video, we went to WHS to look into fostering, since we have a very large fenced yard, and a family of small crazy dogs that need someone to chase. I fell in love with this pic of Choji online (now Chola- thanks Beth Cooley) Anyways- one look at her, and my husband said, “We need to bring her home.” She will be great- what a playful ball of energy! And this one snuggles…like crazy…thank you for taking care of her for so long and loving her. She will be very loved here. ♥

Those of you who read my blog regularly, will remember how much I loved Hoggie and how he was my teaching buddy for several groups of kids who were visiting the shelter. You can imagine my excitement when I got this email about him. She sent several pictures, but this one is my favorite!

Hi Martha,
Sorry it has taken me this long to write you about Danner…
He is doing quite well! My whole family and I love him! He is definitely the center of attention in our household. 😉 I’m so glad I got to be the lucky one to give him his forever home! We are very happy together. He couldn’t be a sweeter dog. 🙂 Thanks to all of you for loving and taking such good care of him while he was at the shelter. He certainly deserves it and appreciates it, too, I’m sure. Lots of fun to be had with him! Thanks.

Reminder! August 4 is coming fast!

August 4th will be a big day for Willamette Humane Society. It will be the first ever WillaMutt Strut Fun Run & Walk! It will be held at Salem’s Riverfront Park.

Participants can choose from a non-competitive 5k run, 5k walk or 1.5K walk starting at the North Meadow of Riverfront Park in downtown Salem. The walk and run events will kick off at 8:30 am, with all activities finishing up at 12 pm. Dogs are welcome on all courses, but not required. The event includes doggy games and family-friendly activities, including a dog and owner look-alike contest and the crowning of the cutest mutt!

The cost is $25 per person and includes a t-shirt, snacks, participation in one of the three run/walk events and post-race activities. Walkers and runners are encouraged to gather their friends and family and form a “pack” (team). Participants can register one of three ways: 1) Online 2) by picking up a registration form at the shelter, the WHS Thrift Store, or Gallagher’s Fitness, or 3) on site the morning of the event, starting at 7 am. Prizes will be awarded to the top individual and team fundraisers. All proceeds from the event will help Willamette Humane Society provide food, shelter and medical care for homeless pets and match them with loving new families.

So come join us in the fun on August 4!

Also remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in meeting, try to make arrangements to get to the Willamette Humane Society soon. Some  dogs are adopted more quickly than you might think.

You can reach me at adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com. Also check out my WHS dog Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/adoptanoregondog for updates on this week’s dogs.