Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

I’m going to open my post a little differently this week. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will remember the two-week period a couple of months ago when all of the shelter dogs had to be put in quarantine because of exposure to canine flu. Happily, none of the dogs became seriously ill, thanks to the extreme care of staff and volunteers. However, being confined to their kennels for two weeks could have been extremely mentally and emotionally trying for all of the dogs. Enter the Kennel Buddy Project! Spearheaded by our very own volunteer extraordinaire, Barb Cash, this program assigned volunteers to spend time with each dog inside their kennel at least once a day and more times if possible. The volunteers petted, brushed, talked to, gave treats to, and worked on manners and training with their dogs. The goal was to relieve stress and show the dogs that their kennels were good places even if they couldn’t go outside. The hope was that the dogs would not deteriorate too much during the quarantine. That was the hope…the fact was that not only did the dogs not deteriorate, they actually improved in their mental and emotional states due to the individual kennel attention! Because of this discovery, the Kennel Buddy Program is being introduced as a new regular volunteer job. That brings us to my new video. It’s a promotion of this program. The video was a team effort by Jay Lavitre, Sara Masser (Jay is on piano and Sara is the singer), Thunder, Sarah Steele, Molly, and Matthew White. It was great fun to make!

Several great Blog Dogs were adopted during the past week. Here they are.

Chatter

Play group had its usual conversations and romps. Here is what I overheard Sunday.

Gunner may be six years old, but he raced around the yard like a pup! Seven-year-old Amanda Mae was “A-Maezed.”

Will, a young fostered dog, loved running with Gunner.

Then there was Henri, a new puppy belonging to one of our play group volunteers. He so wanted Gunner to play with him, but he kept asking him in a clumsy, puppy way, and Gunner was not impressed.

I love the look on Gunner’s face!

Harley’s afternoon of respite fun!

Sunday afternoon was busy at WHS. While Sarah helped me take pictures of new arrivals, Harley, the recent winner of the WHS Young Paw Award, was taking some of the dogs on respites around town. The day before, Harley had sent me these pictures of an outing with Molly, a one-year-old American Bulldog (and a star in the Kennel Buddy video).

 

This is what Harley wrote about their outing:

“When we went to pick up Molly out of the kennels for an afternoon respite, she grabbed our hearts and wrapped us around her paws! We started the time together going to a school track. She walked pretty well, but saw some people jogging and started to pull some so we ended up jogging, too. We then ended up walking at a cemetery. She wanted to smell the smells and drink the water from the hose connectors. She then got to ride in the car with us to do errands. She just slept most of the time in the car, tired from running her energy off. When we returned to the shelter, we gave her a rawhide and she went straight to her bed and chewed it. She would do really well with a home that’s active and has time to raise this cute amazing pup! We had the best day with her!”

On Sunday, first on Harley’s list was Romeo, a nine-year-old Lab/Boxer mix who has been at the shelter since early March. He has become a senior favorite of both staff and volunteers, including me. I snapped these shots just as they were leaving.

Here is what Harley said about their adventure:

“Today we took Romeo to Riverfront Park. There were lots of families and kids, and Romeo loved to watch them and smell all the smells. We walked all through the park, stopping and talking to multiple families who were curious about pet adoptions at WHS. After the park, we continued downtown and Romeo was perfect and wonderful for the whole trip. An hour into the walk he got tired so we headed back to WHS. Time today spent with Romeo benefited both him and us!”

Harley’s next dog of the day was Amanda Mae, a seven-year-old Collie mix. Here they were as they headed out.

As you can see, Amanda Mae was very grateful to Harley for taking her on an adventure!

Harley sent me the following report on their time together:

“We took Amanda to a track to do some walking today. She very much followed her own walking ways. Amanda would walk side to side on the track, pretty amusing to watch. She decided our adventures in the circle were done and took us around the neighborhood enjoying all the time and smells. After our walk we took a trip to Dutch Brothers coffee shop, and I’m pretty sure Amanda enjoyed it since she got a special treat, also. All together it was a beautiful trip and even though the sun never actually came out, it sure did in our hearts!”

Meanwhile, back at WHS…

While Harley and some lucky shelter dogs were out on their adventures, Sarah and I were getting acquainted with some new arrivals. First was Penny, a one-year-old Vizsla mix. Penny is a very active, hard-playing young lady who has a ton of energy and loves to romp. She will need a very secure yard, as she likes to go on adventures by herself. She has lived with cats happily and older children and is house trained. Here’s some of what dogbreedinfo.com says about her breed:

The Vizsla is expressive, gentle and loving. Keen and trainable to a high degree, it needs daily mental stimulation. It needs a patient, calm hand. Reliable with children, loving to play for hours. Without extensive daily exercise these dogs may be too energetic and excitable for very young toddlers, but are excellent for energetic kids.

Sarah and I both enjoyed Penny’s eager and playful personality and hope she finds a new family (with a secure fence) very soon!

I’m Coby and I’m handsome, don’t you think?!

Coby, a three-year-old Alaskan Husky mix, arrived at the shelter Sunday afternoon and volunteer Luke was the first one to take him out for a walk. Coby is a smart, gentle, and beautiful boy who walks well on leash, takes treats gently and loves to be with people. As a Husky, he will need a lot of exercise. He’ll make a fantastic running or jogging partner. He does have a high prey drive, so should not live with cats or birds.

The name is Chipper and I’m looking for a person to love.

This is six-year-old Chipper, a Miniature Dachshund. Like most Dachshunds, he is an independent fellow, but he also loves to be in your lap and cuddle. He is very active and enjoys long walks. I’m not sure how much he enjoyed play group on Sunday; he seems to like people more than other dogs, and was happy when I took him back to his kennel. He is a comical little guy and will make a good new family addition.

Looking for an uncomplicated dog? That would be ME!

Little Oreo is a ten-year-old Shih Tzu/Maltese mix. She is about as easy-going as a dog can be. She walks well on leash, loves to hang out with people, and is gentle and calm. She had fun in play group and was polite with everyone. She will make a wonderful companion to some lucky person!

I may be older but I’m wiser!

Kyra’s kennel is easy to walk by. She is a senior girl with some old-lady bumps and lumps on her body. Kyra is a nine-year-old Australian Shepherd mix. But if you take a moment to meet this gentle and sweet girl, you will fall in love. She is still active and eager. She has lived with cats and small children. She is house trained and affectionate. Here she was on Sunday during play group with Sarah. Kyra deserves to spend her senior years with a loving family. I hope one will find her soon.

Today Sarah spent some quality time with Kyra after she took Kyra to show a tour group of young children how great shelter dogs are. The pictures need no captions.

I don’t understand why I haven’t been adopted yet.

Thunder is still waiting for his new family. He was such a star in my Kennel Buddy video! He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who is so ready to begin a new life filled with love and adventure. He is a playful, active guy who already knows some commands and is treat-motivated. He’s been on “short walks” only lately because of a healing foot and will be so excited when he is able to romp like the other dogs again. I’m hoping a family will soon realize what a great new member Thunder will be! Today I wore a great Pit Bull T-shirt that Richard, another walker and friend, gave me recently. I needed a Pit Bull Terrier to pose with me and Thunder was more than happy to do so. He is such a good boy!

Another Pit Bull Terrier Jokester!

As so often happens, it seems to me, we have yet another Pit Bull Terrier mix who loves to tell jokes and thinks she’s hysterical. This is newbie Cali, who is a year old. She walks well on leash, took my treats politely, and is a happy, well-mannered young girl. Debbie really enjoyed spending time with her this afternoon.

Looking for an easy-going best friend? Meet Kody.

I met Kody for the first time this afternoon and immediately liked him. He is a five-year-old Brussels Griffon/Jack Russell Terrier mix. Never heard of a Brussels Griffon? Well, the American Kennel Club says this about the breed: “The affectionate, charming and curious personality of the Brussels Griffon makes it a good companion dog. However, this breed is not typical of the “pampered pet” stereotype of Toy breeds. Their active indoor lifestyle and small size makes them ideal for apartment life, but they still need to be taken for daily walks.”

Kody walks well on leash and is a gentle little guy. Sarah, too, fell for his perky, glass-is-half-full attitude about life. I did take quite a few pictures of him, as he was posing so cutely. After awhile, he had had enough.

Shelter Friends

At the end of the afternoon shift, I happened to find several walkers visiting in the yard while hanging out with Oreo and Chipper. It reminded me of another reason I enjoy volunteering at WHS. I’ve made some good friends who share my passion for helping shelter dogs. Here are Bethany, Kathy, Debbie, Joan and Steve.

Old Friends

We have a number of older dogs waiting for their new homes in the shelter at the moment. Sarah recently gave me the book, Old Friends, authored by Mark J. Asher. As I read it, I was reminded over and over again of our shelter seniors. This paragraph says it all:

In the end I learned many things about older dogs. Although they may be a little slower and a little grayer, older dogs really are no different from younger dogs—they are still driven by new scents, tasty treats, and a need to love and be loved. What they lack in youthful “cuteness,” they make up for with soul and a distinguished appearance. What they lack in untamed exuberance, they make up for with stoicism and a gentle spirit.

Romeo ~ 9 years old

Tia ~ 14 years old

Oreo ~ 10 years old

Kyra ~ 9 years old

Amanda Mae ~ 7 years old

This will be my last post for awhile. I’ll be blogging again May 22. I know I’ll have many, many happy adoptions to report then!

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

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Tonight was the Willamette Humane Society’s 2013 Humaneitarian Award reception. It was a wonderful evening celebrating some amazing animal advocates in our community. Several of the nominees and winners of the awards, including the Volunteer of the Year, are friends of mine who do so much to help homeless shelter dogs and cats. More on this topic later on in this post!

We had lots of adoptions during the past week and many of them were Blog Dogs. Here they are.

Sunday play group was busy and action-packed part of the time, calm and quiet other times. Here’s what I overheard.

Surprisingly, little Phoenix seemed to be the leader of the big dogs on Sunday.

I am always amazed how dogs think that if they can’t see you, they are sure you can’t see them.

After a vigorous romp, Maggie let me snap this picture.

Romeo thoroughly enjoyed the morning, but stopped long enough to remind me he is still waiting.

I spent Sunday afternoon meeting new dogs with Sarah helping me take their profile pictures.

I may be an older girl, but you’d never believe it to see me play!

One dog whom Sarah and I both immediately loved is Tia, a fourteen-year-old Lab mix. Fourteen, you say? Well, neither Sarah nor I could believe it. Tia acts like a much younger dog who loves to run and play. She was very active in play group, and later, Sarah and I took her into the training room to hang out with us while we had lunch. She loves to play ball and drops it at your feet. She is affectionate and has lived with both children and other dogs. She is pretty much a perfect dog with great manners. I hope that her age does not discourage people from considering this terrific girl as a new family member.

My name is Kazoo and I’m told it’s a perfect fit for me!

Another newbie is Kazoo, a one-year-old Australian Shepherd mix. Kazoo is currently in a foster home and Karla, his foster mom, sent me the following update about him.

“Kazoo is a most appropriate name for this canine.  He has crystal blue eyes, a masquerade-like mask, a splash of merle coat, a festive ring tail, a party attitude and endless energy.

Kazoo rode politely in my car and he was ‘at home’ the minute he came into my home.  As one example, he took an offered black Kong (without stuffing) and entertained himself with it for an hour and a half!!!!  But changing from play to downtime didn’t and doesn’t blow his cool.  He has accepted crate confinement so calmly. 

This tail-wagging party animal respects furnishings and shows no habitual counter-surfing behavior. And when he’s about to make a rare crossing of household rules, he responds well to a hasty ‘HEY!’  He’s biddable (willing to do what is asked of him).  He’s smart.  He is affectionate without being overbearing.

While this stray was obviously shown the way inside a home by a kind former owner, his lack of socialization with the outer environment shows.  Like many dogs, he could walk more politely in a distracting environment. He will need some continued training in this area.

Medical/care handling procedures aren’t yet his strong suit either, but are improving.  I thought I’d see how he’d do with a Dremel (sand grinding tool for trimming nails).  What a joy it was to watch him transform, over some seven or eight sessions, from a dog who distrusted and tried to chase the tool away, to a dog who happily understood, ‘This isn’t going to kill me!  And by the way, I do like the steak treats!’

KAZOO!   What a delight he’s been for me!”

We’re hoping that Kazoo will be adopted soon!

I’m very anxious at the shelter. I’m hoping for a new family to love very soon!

Maggie is a seven-year-old German Short-Haired Pointer mix. She is loving and anxious to please. She has lived with small children and done very well with them. She is house-trained and hoping for a home where she can be an indoor best friend to the family. She does not, however, like cats and shouldn’t go to a home with them. In play group she enjoyed running around the yard with the other dogs, but then decided that lying in the grass for awhile was nice, too. She doesn’t like to be away from her people, so she will need a patient family to help her with her anxiety when left alone. She seemed to enjoy posing for my camera.

My name’s Amanda Mae and I need a new family! How about yours?

Amanda Mae arrived at the shelter on Sunday just as I was leaving. She is a seven-year-old Collie mix who has it all. She has lived with children and other dogs, she is a gentle player, is house-trained and loves to hang out inside with her family. Here she is with volunteer Linda who liked her immediately.

She is as gentle as she is beautiful!

Remember me?

In October of 2012, I took this picture of a new puppy at the shelter named Be There. She was a S.T.A.R.T. dog and was adopted quickly.

Last week she came back because her family couldn’t keep her any longer. Her name is now Luna and here she is today. Luna is now nine months old and is a Pit Bull Terrier mix. As you can see, she is a very happy girl. She is looking for an active family. She would be a great running or jogging partner. She is working on her leash-walking skills. She still is a puppy at heart and loves to play. She’ll make a wonderful adventure buddy!

Here she was today with volunteer Bethany.

Martha’s word for me is “stunning.”

Yep, that is what I said when I saw this dog. His name is Diesel and he is a four-year-old German Shepherd mix. He is nervous around new situations, but warms up quickly. He knows several commands and is treat-motivated. He does need work on his leash-walking skills, but he is smart and a quick learner. And, did I mention that he is stunning?

Here he is with Sarah on Sunday.

Have you been waiting for a “Ball Dog” to adopt? I’m it!

This is Gunner, a six-year-old Lab mix who is such a friendly and happy boy! Volunteer Steve discovered that Gunner LOVES to play fetch and drops the ball at your feet when returning it. He is cooperative and eager. He has lived with children and another dog. He took my hot dog bits gently. Some family will be very lucky to adopt this happy-go-lucky character!

I’m still here waiting for my perfect family to find me!

Thunder seemed happier today than last week, and friskier. Since he’s had to be on only short-leash walks since he was neutered, he’s got some pent-up energy that he can’t wait to burn off. The poor boy wants to run and play so badly! Volunteer Debbie told him that it won’t be long until he can romp, but like all dogs, Thunder lives in the moment. He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. I love his smile!

I’m still shy, but oh, so much better than I used to be!

The last dog I took out today was one of my favorites, Buddy. You may remember from last week that he is a one-year-old Newfoundland/Boxer mix who came to us extremely under-socialized. Today when I went to his kennel he was eagerly waiting at the door. However, when I opened it, he immediately turned around and went to the back. After a little coaxing, he came forward again and allowed me to put his leash on. Then he happily headed outside with me. This shy boy has come a long way from when he first arrived at WHS. He’ll need a patient and understanding owner, but what a joy he will be as he continues to gain confidence.

Willamette Humane Society’s 2013 Humaneitarian Award Reception

Tonight was a wonderful evening recognizing many contributions made in the name of animal welfare in our community. Several of the nominees are fellow volunteers and friends of mine, and I want to post their pictures here.

Krystal Kraig, Randy Mills, and Barb Cash. Randy is Volunteer of the Year!

Harley Amick and WHS Executive Director Joan Towers. Harley received the Young Paw Award.

Tracy Crandall received the Golden Paw Award.

It is an honor to volunteer with such fine and dedicated animal lovers.

Here are all of the 2013 nominees. An incredible group of people.

Update

Remember Daisy? When I posted her adoption news on my WHS Facebook page, her new owner sent this happy update!

“I’m Sophie’s new mama (we renamed her). We are in love! We’ve had no chewing, no digging & she is not obsessing over her food at all. She gets a short walk very early in the morning (4 am as I get up early for work) and a long one after I get home from work since she needs to lose some weight (as do I!). She sleeps all night on her bed next to ours and no accidents in the house so far. I was able to train her to come to her new name in 2 hours (with a treat incentive). We cannot wait to bring her in for training as she is so smart! Thank you for letting us pay it forward in the honor of our old dog Jake who we adopted 11 1/2 years ago from WHS & who passed away recently at the age of 13. She is such a delight. Will send you an update in about a month.”

That’s it for this week!

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