This Week’s Featured Adoptable Dogs @ Willamette Humane Society by Martha Russell

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by adoptanoregondog in This Week's Featured WHS Dogs

Tags

animals, dogs, puppie, puppies, shelter dogs, willamette humane society

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

It’s been a dismal, rainy week in Salem, but that didn’t keep dog lovers from coming to the shelter and adopting their new best friends. We had several happy stories. Here are the Blog Dogs who found their new homes despite the rain.

Chatter

It was windy with showers off and on during play group but the dogs made the best of it. Rocky, a newbie, seemed to want to take charge.

Imagine my surprise when I suddenly heard Rocky and Kya break into song, singing one of my all-time favorites from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!

Gorgeous couldn’t hide her disgust when Rocky started drinking out of the pool.

Yep, I’m one of Sarah’s favorites!

Baxter, a ten-year-old Toy Poodle mix, enjoyed play group, but was happy to take a break from playing to sit in Sarah’s arms. This little man is looking for a home in which to retire with his new people. He still has a lot of spunk and love to give. He’s been at the shelter since August 16th. We’re hoping he’ll be going home soon!

I’m really a lap dog. Can you tell?

This is Marlin, a five-year-old Terrier mix, who also enjoys people time during play group. Here he is with Tayanita on Sunday. He is a very sweet little boy who loves treats and takes them gently. He’s going to be a great companion for some lucky person!

Thank you, Andrew and Tyler!

Andrew and Tyler have been volunteer dog walkers since they were in middle school. Now they have graduated from high school and are soon heading off to college. Last Sunday was their last walking day at the shelter. They will certainly be missed! We wanted to get a last picture of them with adoptable dogs. Here is Andrew (left) with Casper, an eight-year-old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix. Casper is a gentle boy who is a little shy when you first meet him. He has been in a foster home for awhile and loved to go jogging with his foster mom. He likes to be with his people and doesn’t like to be left alone, so a home where there are family members around a lot would make this guy happy. He really is a calm, sweet dog. Tyler chose to hang out with Romeo, a three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. Romeo is an energetic boy who had a great time in play group on Sunday. He walks well on leash but will need a yard where he will get enough exercise for his active lifestyle. I love his big head!

And here is Casper today with Tricia.

I REALLY want to be adopted soon!

This is Rocky, who decided he was the boss of play group on Sunday. He is a one-year-old English Bull Dog. In his youthful enthusiasm, he can be a little bossy with other dogs, so should meet any other dog he would be living with. He would love the training classes at WHS. He has a ton of energy, so will need a yard to burn it off. He’d make a great hiking partner. He has such a cute face!

I’m still waiting for my forever family. Could it be yours?

Sarah and I spent some quality time with Jersey on Sunday afternoon. Neither of us can figure out why she hasn’t been adopted yet. She is such a great girl! She loves people, knows sit, down, sit pretty and shake. She takes treats gently and walks well on leash. She would need to meet any dogs she might live with. She has many fans at the shelter who all hope she goes home soon! Jersey has been at WHS since July 26. She keeps an optimistic attitude as she waits for her forever family. Jersey is a three-year-old Bull Terrier mix. Let’s get this sweetheart adopted!

Are you ready for PUPPIES?

I don’t usually feature puppies since they get adopted so quickly. But these two, Wishbone and Grace, are so adorable, I had to share this picture of them with Sarah. Both pups already have holds on them, so will go to their new families once they are spayed and neutered. They were so cute to watch playing together, racing and tumbling over each other. They kept Sarah and me in stitches.

Need a jogging partner? How about a running buddy? Maybe someone to throw tennis balls for? YES! I’m IT! Let’s go home! Let’s PLAY!

This is Chip, a one-year-old Labrador Retriever mix who is looking for an ACTIVE family. He’s anxious to be someone’s new best friend. Chip will need some training (he’s only a year old, after all!) and WHS classes would be perfect for this happy boy. He is treat-motivated, so learning new things should be easy for him. He is looking forward to growing into a great family dog. Maybe yours? Here he is with Debbie today.

I may look quite serious, but really I like to have fun!

You may remember Emma from last week’s post. She is a three-year-old American Staffordshire mix. She seems to look worried all the time, but she really isn’t. She actually is a happy girl. She needs to go to a home without small animals, however. She loves people and wants to learn new things, so the WHS class “Check In and Chill Out” is included in her adoption package. Kathy enjoyed some time with Emma this afternoon.

Emelynn’s Picks of the Week!

I know, more puppies! These two little characters are five-month-old purebred Shih Tzu pups. They are absolutely adorable. They already know how to sit on command. Their adoption packages come with the excellent “Surviving Puppyhood” class. I have a feeling they will be going to new homes very quickly! As you can see, Emelynn fell in love with Jovi (female) on the left and Cetera (male) on the right.

We just arrived from California! We’re OREGON dogs now!

Today some new S.T.A.R.T. rescued dogs arrived and will soon be available for adoption. Some of them don’t have names yet, but I wanted to give you a preview of these cuties.

Update: Justice!

As you saw in the adoption pictures at the beginning of this post, Justice was adopted last week. I was thrilled when I got this update from his new mom! I’m so happy that he has a family who loves him very much!

I am Justice’s new mom writing for Justice, giving you a report on what’s going on with him.

“As you know, all who came to visit me in the shelter saw me as a rather shy dude. Mom Sue and Dad Andy and my new sister Rachel did, too. I saw something sad in these three. Later I found out that I have a doggy sister named Sheba who had gotten sick on the 17th and the next day she went to heaven. Oh yes, I forgot to mention this big dude, my new doggy brother, who was waiting to come check me out. Boy is he big, his name is Boomer De Wayne. Now I am lying on a rather nice big doggy pillow right next to mom, telling her what to write. I get to sleep in this huge bed and while I am up there, I make sure and give mom plenty of licks. Dad was really sad as he missed Sheba, but she kind of let me know, in a way only dogs know, that if I laid my head on his lap and gave him a big kind of ‘I love you’ look, I would have a place in his heart and sure enough it worked. Now, I need to say I am slowly bonding with Boomer, he misses Sheba, too, but we played chase so all is cool. Can you let everyone know I am happy and I am at home where I get told all the time I am a precious thing. I am kind of believing this now. Well, that’s all for now. I will write again. Tell everyone I am happy.”

Me, Justice
Written by Mom, Sue

On this very happy note, I’ll close 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

This Week’s Featured Adoptable Dogs @ Willamette Humane Society by Martha Russell

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by adoptanoregondog in This Week's Featured WHS Dogs

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

dogs, pit bull terriers, shelter dogs, Wilamette Humane Society

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Last Saturday was the first annual Willamette Valley Hospice Walk-n-Wag. This fundraiser supported the Pet Peace of Mind program, helping hospice patients and their pets stay together through the end-of-life journey. Willamette Humane Society had an informational booth at the event and two of us dog-walkers brought shelter dogs to participate in the event. I took Khaki, an eleven-year-old Lab, and we had a wonderful time walking the trail at Minto Brown Island Park. She loved every second of it and there was a great turnout of people and their dogs. Khaki even got to pose for a professional photographer (Teri Jocobson). I took her back to WHS at noon. Then…yep, you see where this is going…she was ADOPTED! I fell in love with this sweet girl today and am thrilled that she now has a new home.

Bluto, a six-year-old Lhasa Apso mix, also came to the event and had his picture taken by Teri, also. Bluto has a hold on him, so I’m hoping he’ll soon be going home.

Bluto hung out with volunteer Kaliska at the WHS booth.

He is a true lap dog as you can see below. He fell asleep in Sarah’s arms.

There were some great adoptions the past week. Here are the blog dogs who went to their new homes.

I was especially excited about long-termer Jax finally finding his person. A staff member sent me this picture taken just before they headed home. That’s volunteer Bill on the left and Jax’s new owner on the right.

You’ve seen volunteer Linda’s foster dog, Will, in many play group pictures. Sunday was the day he officially joined her pack at home. (This is Will’s happy look!)

While I was taking pictures of new dogs on Sunday, I was able to snap two adoption photos. First was little Bounce with his person.

I was just about to take pictures of newbie, Clover, when this family decided to adopt her! Lucky Clover! (She’s the one on the left.)

Chatter

Play group was the usual fun and frolic. I overheard some interesting exchanges.

Justice, a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier, seems to think of Leroy, a six-year-old Pit Bull Terrier, as an older brother and kept trying to engage him in play.

Marlin, a five-year-old Terrier mix, chose to spend most of his time on Kim’s lap rather than play with the other small dogs.

Meanwhile, in the rowdy yard, Ziggy, a one-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix who is still very much a puppy at heart, raced around the yard leaping on and off the platform.

No one ever did figure out what Playa (adopted that afternoon) found so hilarious.

Ziggy was so eager to tell Will what he’d overheard.

My name is Stilts. Come visit me and you’ll see why!

Stilts is an eight-month-old Terrier puppy with extremely long legs! He is such a playful, fun little guy but will need the usual puppy training. His adoption package includes the puppy classes he and his new family will need to help him grow into a great family dog. Here he is on Sunday with Diane and Andrew. He has a little cold at the moment, so is in the ISO kennels, but he’s still adoptable and will be well soon.

I’m young, eager, and a bundle of energy! Want to have adventures with me?

I fell in love with Ziggy almost as soon as I met him. He’s a one-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix puppy with the cutest of faces. He’s a very happy-go-lucky dog who ran non-stop in play group with every dog who would romp with him. He loves people and other dogs but in his youthful enthusiasm, he can be a bit overwhelming for kids. To help him learn impulse control, his adoption package includes the class “Check In and Chill Out.” Here he is with Sarah on Sunday.

Emelynn’s Pick of the Week!

What would YOU name this dog?

The “L” is for Leroy, a six-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who is a very mellow, gentle fellow. He had fun in play group, but was not as rowdy as Jazzy. And when Emelynn took him out today, he thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with her in the grass. He takes treats very politely, is affectionate (likes to give licks), and walks well on leash. He will make a wonderful family dog.

My name is Gorgeous and I am!

Gorgeous is still waiting for her forever family. She is a three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier who is becoming a long-termer. Volunteer Jolene spent time with her today working on Gorgeous’ leash-walking skills with her. Gorgeous may be a little rough around the edges, but she is so worth the effort to polish her skills. She has become a favorite of both staff and volunteers. She is hoping for a home of her own very soon.

I am looking for a quiet home. Maybe yours?

JoJo is a three-year-old Chihuahua mix who is quite shy and would do best in a calm adult home or one with older kids. She loved spending time with Emelynn and took my treats very gently. She likes to be held and would enjoy becoming a lap dog for her person. For the right family, JoJo will be the perfect little companion.

I sometimes look worried, but I’m really not.

The first time I met sweet Emma was on Sunday and, try as I might, I couldn’t get her to smile. She had a very worried look on her face. But today after playing in the big yard with Angie, she was relaxed and ready to pose for my camera. Emma is a three-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. She is such a gentle soul who took my treats carefully and politely. She walks well on leash and is affectionate. I hope potential adopters will look past her furrowed brow and see the heart inside this girl.

As Angie, Emma, and I walked back to the building, we stopped to say hi to the workmen laying the memorial garden bricks.

I’m a little shy, but I’ll warm up to a new family!

One of the last dogs I saw today was Justice with Kathy. Justice is quite shy around people at first meeting, but once he relaxes, he’s a joy to be around. He was very active in play group and happily romped around Leroy trying to get him to play chase. Justice is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix.

In Memoriam

Richard Retin

1947 – 2013

Richard started walking dogs in 2009 on my shift and we quickly became friends. Soon I was taking pictures of him with shelter dogs for my blog posts. Over the next four years, he put in 850 hours with shelter dogs.

Richard’s contagious grin next to any dog always made me smile. No one who knew Richard ever questioned his love for “his” dogs, especially Golden Retrievers. He used to say that since he couldn’t have a dog in his rented home, he got his “dog time” at WHS. More than once he only half-jokingly tried to talk me into adopting a Golden when one came to the shelter, telling me that he would pay for everything and all I had to do was house the dog for him.

I will miss Richard both as a loyal and dependable dog walker and as a very good friend. I will miss his dedication, his sense of humor, and his smile. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Richard over the years.