Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
There was a great article in Tuesday’s Statesman Journal (front page!) about Willamette Humane Society partnering with S.T.A.R.T. (Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team) in saving dogs from high-kill shelters in California. If you didn’t see it, you can read it here:
From S.T.A.R.T.’s website:”Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that started in May 2011 to address the issues of overpopulation by providing transports for animals from Southern California shelters to Pacific Northwest rescue groups. The nonprofit also raises funds to facilitate free spay/neuter services.”
If you read my blog regularly, you have seen many S.T.A.R.T dogs in my posts. This week is no exception. We feel so proud to be part of a network that saves dogs’ lives and gives them new and happy futures.
Speaking of happy futures, here are the Blog Dogs who were adopted in the last week.
While I am always excited about each adoption of one of the Blog Dogs, it is especially thrilling when the adoptee has been waiting at the shelter for a long time. Such was the case with Spartan, Alma, and Dee Dee. I was lucky enough to be at WHS when Dee Dee’s new family found her. It turns out Dee Dee’s new sister, Pebbles, was celebrating her first birthday on Sunday, and her gift from her family was a sister! The two dogs hit it off perfectly and I was thrilled to get to wish Dee Dee a wonderful new life!
Some Sunday play groups are especially fun and last week’s was one of them, with the new S.T.A.R.T. dogs having their first taste of WHS by romping in the big yards. It was such fun to watch them play. We had about 30 dogs spread out between the yards and everyone had a blast. Here is the chatter I overheard from some of them.
It was Dee Dee’s last play group before being adopted, and she thought she should give some instruction to youngster Rockstar.
Mary (featured S.T.A.R.T. dog in the article) turned out to be a water-loving dog!
Maybe Mary had never seen water coming out of a hose before?
The ramp, again this week, was a big attraction. Littlefoot (also in his last play group before his adoption) decided he needed to explain the rules to a newbie.
One last photo from play group…this is Volunteer Manager BJ, in the second yard with the “less rambunctious” dogs. They, too, enjoyed a new ramp built by the Girl Scouts. See the one under BJ’s legs? That’s Norman, the S.T.A.R.T. dog who was found hog-tied in a California field. When he arrived at WHS, he was nervous, but it didn’t take him long to relax and have a wonderful time playing. We’re so happy that he is safe with us while he waits for a family to adopt him.
I may not be a youngster, but I know stuff!
One of the first dogs I met on Sunday was Gus, an eleven-year-old Dachshund mix who is in the shelter because of the health of his owner. He is a gentle older fellow who still enjoys a brisk walk, but who also likes settling into a long nap. For Dachshund-loving folks, Gus could be your perfect match!
Here he is today with volunteer Kathy. I can’t wait to hear he has a new forever home.
Are you looking for a Greyhound? A Collie? I’m the best of both!
This is one of the happiest young dogs I’ve seen in a long time. Need a jogging/running partner? Meet Koda, a nine-month-old Greyhound/Collie mix who has a lot of playful energy. Needless to say, Koda loves to RUN, so he’ll need a home where he is able to stretch his long legs. He’s very well-behaved for a youngster. He walks well on leash and took my treats gently. He already knows some commands, and would do well in one of our WHS training classes. Here he is Sunday with Sherrie just after he arrived at the shelter. This guy has such a great smile!
I’ve just moved here from California. Are you my new Oregon family?
Hannah is another one of our S.T.A.R.T. dogs. She is a one-year-old Great Dane/Pit Bull Terrier mix who settled into life in Oregon very quickly. She loved play group and got along with everybody. She especially loves people. Here she was Sunday with volunteer Jamie. I got that quizzical head tilt when I was trying to get her to smile by making high-pitched chirps. She thought I was quite odd.
I caught this shot as Jamie reached down to pat her. She will make a great family dog!
My name is Mary. I think I’m famous now!
Remember Mary from the Chatter section as well as the front page of the Statesman Journal? Here she is posing for her WHS profile shot. She is a four-year-old American Bull Dog mix who LOVES to play fetch. Looking for someone to recover thrown tennis balls? Mary is your girl! I just love her face!
Emelynn’s Pick of the Week!
Little Reggie is still at WHS waiting for a family to call his own. He is a two-year-old Chihuahua mix who has no idea he is a small dog. He really believes he is a big guy. He walks well on leash and enjoys being with people. He also has quite a sense of humor and laughs at his own jokes.
Emelynn took him home for an overnight respite last week and shot this photo of Reggie with her dog, Tad. She reports that Reggie got along fine with their dogs and is a real people dog, happily soaking up all of the attention they showered on him.
I’m a little older, but don’t think for a minute I don’t have spunk!
This is Cowboy, a nine-year-old Border Collie mix who is one of the most gentle, calm dogs I’ve met. But don’t let that make you think he doesn’t have energy. Although a little hefty (exercise would be great!) Cowboy loves to chase tennis balls and return them to you. He also had a great time in play group where he enjoyed racing around the yard, trying to monitor the action. He will be a great family addition!
Here he was today with volunteer Marla.
My name is Norman. I’d like to start a new life in Oregon with you!
Remember Norman, the S.T.A.R.T. dog from the newspaper article? He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who is one of the most affectionate, happy dogs I’ve met in a long time! Not only did he have a wonderful time in play group where he got along with everyone, but afterward he eagerly posed for my camera. It was almost as if he knew if he took some good photos, he’d get adopted sooner. Norman is simply a terrific dog.
Yep, I’m still here…still…here.
Tido, a seven-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, is still waiting for his forever family. He has been here for almost a month. I try to spend some time with him each day that I’m at the shelter. He doesn’t seem to be getting too stressed. He still loves to go out to one of the yards and play fetch (his MOST favorite game) and still enjoys sitting and talking under a tree. Last Sunday I saw a lady talking to him in his kennel and he was listening so attentively. I told her about him and she seemed interested, but then moved away and eventually left. I’m so hoping the right person will see Tido and take him home! Today I took him out into the big yard and played fetch with him for almost a half hour. Only toward the end did he show any sign of getting tired. Here is a series of pictures I took of him playing. We had a great time!
This is the “Will you throw the ball for me?” look. He puts the ball down, then scoots away backwards, always keeping his eyes on your face to see when you will throw it.
We decided to try out the ramp.
Nothing like a quick dip in the pool between games! (Note the ball is still in his mouth!)
Finally it’s time for a little relaxation under a tree.
I don’t smile much, but I’m a great dog!
One of my current favorite dogs is Gia, a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who has been at WHS since September 2. She is another S.T.A.R.T. dog from California and is still waiting for her perfect match. She was adopted once, but the other dog in the family pestered her nonstop, so for Gia’s sake, she was returned. She’s a happy, rambunctious player with dogs, but is gentle with people. She enjoyed time with Marla today. I’m hoping she finds her forever family soon.
I’m little, and I always look worried, but really I’m not!
I happened to see Kathy out with three-year-old Gumbo, a Pug/Beagle mix. I have never been successful at getting Gumbo to look happy. This concerned look is it. But that doesn’t mean that he’s serious all the time. He enjoys a slow walk (too fast and he walks behind you) and hanging out under a tree with you. Gumbo was found as a stray, so we don’t know his history, but he’s a gentle little guy.
I’m a big dog in a little body.
Traci and Emelynn spent some time with Carissa, a one-year-old Terrier mix. Carissa is quite shy at first, but will warm up with time. Traci and Emelynn took her out to the big yard and practiced some “agility” with her and she seemed to enjoy it. She would do best in a calm, adult home. She is a cute little girl.
We’re the new S.T.A.R.T. dogs straight from California!
Several new California dogs arrived at WHS this afternoon. Sarah and I took them out for pictures and a little get-to-know-you time. They all seem like great dogs. Though we don’t know them well yet, I thought I’d introduce three of them to you tonight.
This is Jolson, a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. Does he look like he’s enjoying his first afternoon in Oregon?
This is Cookie, a one-year-old Lab/Pit Bull Terrier mix. She was feeling a little overwhelmed by her new surroundings. She is a gentle soul. I’m anxious to see her in a few days after she is more relaxed, unless she gets adopted before then!
This is Angel, a one-year-old happy-go-lucky youngster with a ton of energy. She will be looking for an active family who likes adventures!
Whew! Lots of dogs today! It was a great afternoon and I’m hoping for many adoptions to report next week!
Update
I was so happy to get another update from Echo’s family last week! If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you may remember my writing about Echo when she first arrived at WHS as a shy, frightened girl. She was so nervous that she would stay at the back of her kennel, too scared to greet potential adopters. As the days passed, Echo became more and more anxious and depressed. Thankfully, volunteer Sarah, who had fallen in love with her, decided to foster Echo and took her home. Echo’s true affectionate and sweet personality blossomed under Sarah’s care and she eventually was discovered by a wonderful family who were looking for just such a delightful girl. Now Echo is living a very happy life. Here is the latest update from her owner.
“Martha and Sarah, last weekend we took the dogs to the river and to our surprise we found out that Echo loves fetching sticks from the water. She had a blast! Cloud on the other hand hates the water, as soon as it got past his paws he was running out and barking at Echo because she wouldn’t get out of the water.”
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Also, 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.
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Great blog, Mart! Hope lots of people find their new family dog!