Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

It’s been quite an exciting week! The second annual WillaMutt Strut was held on Saturday and was a great success. I took lots of pictures and made a video. More on that later in this post.

There were some wonderful adoptions including these Blog Dogs. Take special note of the last picture.

Axel’s Time, Finally!

Yep, that’s our boy Axel in the last shot! It’s a great story and I’ve really been looking forward to sharing it with my readers. It all started last Sunday when a volunteer came up to me with a lady who had asked if she could see Axel. She had seen him on the website. She had looked at three other dogs and was about to leave when she decided to ask about him. After spending some time with him, she said she would talk to her husband. I gave her my card and told her she’d find a gazillion pictures of Axel on my blog. On Monday afternoon staff member Kim called me saying that the lady was bringing her husband and son’s Boxer to meet Axel and asked if I or Linda could be there, since we had talked with her the day before. Linda and I met them at the shelter. We brought Axel out and took the dogs out to the big yard. They did GREAT! In fact they played more than we had ever seen Axel play with another dog. We spent about an hour talking and watching the dogs. The rest is history! Chaz will be Axel’s buddy during the day, but Axel will have his people to himself at night. Here’s the story in pictures. (I had my camera just in case!)

I bought Axel a Nylabone as a going-away present and Monday evening I got this picture from his new family.

Axel has been on my posts since May. I’m so happy that he finally has a family of his own.

WillaMutt Strut 2013!

The second annual WillaMutt Strut was held at Riverfront Park on Saturday, August 3. It was a huge success and great fun. I took lots of pictures and made a movie of the exciting morning.

There were two WHS adoptable dogs at the Strut. Miss Charlie is an eight-year-old Australian Shepherd mix. What a cutie!

Gus is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. He’s a gentle, happy boy.

Chatter

Sunday play group was pretty warm and both the dogs and people spent quite a bit of time in the shade. But there was still lots of chatter.

Axel and Scooter (a six-month-old Pit Bull Terrier puppy) enjoyed playing together, but Axel didn’t want to get overtired.

Scooter and Mia thought they could pull one over on the people.

This reminded me of when I was a fifth-grade teacher on recess duty!

Scooter and Mia didn’t mind the heat!

Toast, however, decided it was too hot to romp.

It gets a little crowded in the shade!

I may only have three legs, but I can run like the wind!

This cute little character is Lucy, an eleven-month-old Terrier mix. Lucy came to us as a stray after being hit by a car and had to have her back leg amputated. But if you think that stops this little bundle of energy for a minute, think again. She raced around play group on Sunday with her four-legged friends without a second’s pause. Here she was on Sunday with volunteers Susan and Madelyn.

Here she was today with volunteer Cindy. What a delightful little girl!

I’ve been pretty stressed, but today I got a massage!

Pony, a seven-year-old Hound Pointer mix, has been at the shelter since June and the guy has become a little depressed. Here he is with Emelynn this afternoon. One of our volunteers decided he needed a massage and contacted WHS’ own Sara, who happens to be an Animal Massage Practitioner, with her own business called Pawsitive Kneads.

Here is Pony feeling totally relaxed and happy as Sara works on him. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that the volunteer is arranging for him to have another one next week!

I’m a wonderful dog, everyone says so! How about adopting me?

I love this picture of Mia and volunteer Steve. Mia is a one-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who loves everybody. She had a great time in play group, where she and Scooter romped happily. She has lived with small children and other dogs. She will make a great new best friend to some lucky person.

We’re a bonded pair, but if you can’t take us both, we understand.

Chocolate and Muneca are eight and seven years old, respectively. Chocolate is a Chihuahua mix and Muneca is a Havanese mix. They came to the shelter together and would like to go home together, but they understand if they cannot. Today Kathy and Cindy spent time with them and found them to be gentle and calm little dogs. We’re hoping they can stay together.

Gilbert here, still hanging out at my foster’s house, still waiting for my forever home.

I miss seeing Gilbert at the shelter each week, but know that he is much happier in his foster home away from the stress of the kennels. But we don’t want people to forget about him when they don’t see him at WHS. Here is the latest report from his foster mom, Jolene.

“Gilbert, what can I say about Gilbert? 🙂  He is thankful, grateful, and full of life.  He was hit by a car and had major reconstructive shoulder surgery, but neither dampened his spirit!  He is happy, energetic, silly, and humorous.  Gilbert would do well in a family with kids five years and up. Meeting new, social, easy-going dogs one-on-one is in Gilbert’s best interest. After a meet-and-greet, he would like to play in a nice big yard.  After he has played for a while, he will take a walk and enjoy working on bettering his skills.  He knows sit, down, come, in, leave it, and his name.  He is also crate- and potty-trained.  After a day of playing with tennis balls, footballs, ropes and rawhides and working on his skills, he loves to sit at your feet and snuggle.  He likes to take naps with his foster family’s dogs as well as play with them.  He would make a wonderful family dog.  Just come and see him in action.” 

Anyone wanting to meet Gilbert can contact WHS and set up a date. Here he is playing with one of his foster siblings. (Gilbert is on the right.)

And here he is looking pretty handsome!

Yep, I like to play fetch like the BIG dogs!

This is Paddles, a one-year-old Chihuahua mix who thinks he’s a Lab. Paddles LOVES to play fetch with tennis balls. Today volunteer Joan showed me just how much he likes to play.

Here he is eagerly waiting for me to throw the ball.

He brings it back to you.

After a long game, he enjoys sitting and relaxing next to a person. He can’t wait to have his own family to play ball with!

Emelynn’s Pick of the Week!

As usual, when I asked Emelynn who was going to be her Pick of the Week, she didn’t hesitate in her choice, “I think I’ll choose Chula!” Chula is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who has been waiting at the shelter since July 12. She is currently a “cone dog” since she just got spayed. She is a playful, active girl who is treat-motivated, so it will be easy to continue her training. Chula seems always to have a smile, even with a cone.

Looking for a clown who will make you laugh? That would be ME!

Another “cone dog” today was Sammi, a ten-month-old Pit Bull Terrier pup. Sammi thinks life is one constant, joyful romp. Even having to wear a cone doesn’t bother her. She is eager to learn and her adoption package includes a class called “Check In and Chill Out,” a perfect one for this youngster. Today she kept Debbie in stitches.

On Sunday, she had the same effect on volunteer Sherrie.

Here’s how she looks without the dreaded cone. What a gal!

My name is Navajo. I’m looking for a new family. How about yours?

This is Navajo, a two-year-old Labrador Retriever. Joan fell in love with her this afternoon after spending some quality time with her out in a yard. Navajo walks well on leash, took my treats politely and as you can see, loves to snuggle with a person. For the many people who love Retrievers, Navajo could be your next new best friend.

Updates

Bonnie/Belle

I was so pleased when I got the following news and pictures of sweet Bonnie who was adopted a second time.

“I just adopted Bonnie and her new name is Belle. I took her down by the water and after a bit of encouragement she got in the water. She does awesome with other dogs, she made 4 new friends today! Love having her, she’s an amazing girl! :)”

Hickory/Macy

I never got the chance to meet Hickory, as she was adopted so quickly! But I was happy to get this update. You may remember Lulu from previous updates.

“Me and my mom were visiting the shelter after transporting some adoptable kittens to and from Petco. We happened to go into the small dog/puppy room and found Hickory. I instantly fell in love. She had just been spayed and was not liking having a cone around her head. I had someone open the kennel for me and I just sat on the ground petting her for awhile while my mom talked to staff about adopting her. The next morning me and my dog headed into Salem so she and Hickory could meet. They hit it off right away! Tails wagging and lots of puppy kisses. Hickory is now named Macy and is the perfect new addition to our family. She and our other adopted WHS dog are like little and big sisters and Macy is always following Lulu around. She is sleeping through the night with no potty accidents! Lulu will be a year old next month.”

Magic/Nala

I loved getting this news about Magic!

“My family was able to adopt Magic! We did rename her Nala. I so appreciate the concern the staff had when we introduced Nala to our four-year-old Chihuahua, Bubba. Once Bubba was able to say hello at her house, everything was OK. They are on the way to becoming napping buds. Nala wandered around the yard and enjoyed some playtime with our sons and Bubba. She is a fabulous little girl. I look forward to many years of having this little girl with our family. Funny thing is we still have not heard her bark!?! Maybe it’s broken? Thank you for the wonderful work all of you do there at WHS.”

Wow! So much good news about our dogs this week! As Jen Kaser, our Shelter Director says, “This is why we do what we do!”

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