Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
The top o’ the week to ya! Since this is the St. Patrick’s Day post, you can imagine the excitement at the shelter when I arrived with my props! Okay, maybe there were more sighs and “Oh, brother, not again!” mutterings than cheers from both dogs and volunteers. But that didn’t curb my enthusiasm! Some blog participants were more eager than others. Take Lillith, for example. Talk about a good sport!
More on Lillith later. First, we had 15 happy dog adoptions during the last week. Here are the adopted Blog Dogs.
I have to mention a couple of the adopted dogs who were such troopers when posing for me on Sunday. Here is Zoe with Diane.
Chatter
The weather was absolutely perfect for dog romping on Sunday morning. There was happy chatter everywhere.
Little Cypress felt quite regal as she sat in Ali’s lap on the platform.
Polly wanted no part of my plan.
Meanwhile in the Rough-and-Rowdy yard, WonderEars spent some time with Sherrie.
Just call me O’Lillith this week! And come and adopt me!
Lillith was her usual happy self on Sunday, though she seems to be more stressed lately from being at the shelter so long. She is a two-year-old American Staffordshire mix. She is well-loved at WHS and has been waiting for just the right family for a long time. Lillith is a high-energy girl and will need a family who will be able to give her plenty of exercise and activities. She’ll make a great hiking or jogging partner. She’d love to attend WHS classes to keep her mind engaged. After I had finished will all of the new dog pictures on Sunday afternoon, Caroline and I hung out with Lillith under a tree for quite a while. She loved it.
I’m new here. I think I’m going to like Oregon for my last home.
Two Saturdays ago, volunteer Randy and I drove to PDX for a very special reason. WHS is teaming up with ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to help dogs in overcrowded shelters in the Los Angeles area find forever homes in Oregon. The first two transports were scheduled for the afternoon of February 28. While on the road, we got a call that the second plane had been delayed and wouldn’t arrive until evening. However, the first plane was in the air and on it was one dog named Whizzard. Two hours later we got to meet this special boy.
Here he is with Caroline the next day.
Whizzard is an incredibly sweet senior. He is looking for a quiet “hospice home” to spend his last days. He’s a Chow-Chow/Shepherd mix, eleven years old, house-trained, and a gentle soul. He won’t need a lot of exercise, just a short stroll, then he’ll be content to lie on a soft bed next to his peeps in the evening. WHS will even wave the $60 adoption fee if you purchase an Ortho Dog bed for him (we have them at the shelter for sale). He’s not in discomfort and is a happy boy but we are hoping his last days can be spent in a quiet home setting with no kids and no active dogs. Whizzard has won the hearts of everyone who has met him.
Here he was today.
I’m ready for adventures with you! Let’s start tomorrow!
Meet Oden, a one-year-old American Bull Dog mix who is one giant puppy! Alexis really enjoyed her time with him and both she and Oden were great sports when I asked them to pose with props. Oden weighs in at 78 pounds, so will not be for the faint of heart! He’s one big, goofy, happy juvenile who can’t wait to meet his new family. He’ll need someone willing to make the commitment to teach and the time to give him the exercise and mental stimulation he needs. He is a perfect candidate for our WHS training classes. Since he is highly motivated by both treats and toys, he will thrive in a positive training environment. This joyful dog will be so worth the effort!
Caroline and I took Oden out for some playtime this afternoon. He absolutely LOVED the new tug ball he found in the yard. The pictures say it all. He was such a good boy in dropping it to let me throw it for him time after time. He is such a wonderful dog!
I’m very popular here at the shelter even WITH the hat!
Pip has become a favorite of many of us at the shelter. He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. He LOVES romping with his friends in playgroups as well as hanging out with people. He is both a very active, eager boy as well as a cuddler who loves to have his belly scratched. Because of his size and exuberance, he’ll need to be with older, sturdy kids. He’d do very well in an active family. Here he is on Sunday looking very dapper with Laslo.
Later on in the afternoon, Marianne spent some time with him.
After awhile, Pip had had enough of my silliness.
Please concentrate on the front part of my body!
This is Moses, a five-year-old Chow-Chow mix who is just about the most gentle dog ever! He came to us from another shelter, so we don’t know his history. He scored wonderfully on his behavior assessment. He is a little embarrassed about his back. His skin is flaky, so he’s getting medicated baths. It might just be a terrible haircut! Whatever caused the hair loss, it doesn’t bother Moses a bit. He’s a very happy, friendly boy who would love to be part of your family. He’s easy going and would only need some daily exercise and time snoozing next to his people in the evening. He was so cooperative in dressing up for me! I love how his expressions match Natalie’s.
You’re actually going to POST this picture of us?!
As you can see, Thor was a bit taken aback when I answered, “Yes.” But in the end he was happy to do anything that might help him find his forever home. Thor has been waiting for his new family since January 31st. He is a one-year-old Australian Cattle Dog/Pit Bull Terrier mix. Because he is still a young boy, he has lots of energy so will need a family able to give him the exercise and the time that he needs. He’d love to attend WHS training classes so he could polish his manners (he’s working on polite leash-walking at the moment.) He is eager, happy, and excited to get the chance to learn to be the best dog he can be. Here he was with Daniel on Sunday.
We’re in this together, Tim.
Two more good sports on Sunday were volunteer Tim and newbie Rocky Balboa. Rocky is a one-year-old Boxer mix who is a very enthusiastic young boy. He scored very well on his behavior assessment. He loves to play chase and race around with other dogs. He also loved the cat in his former home, but the cat didn’t love him because he played too rough. Because of his energy, he should go to a home with older kids. He has been mostly an outdoor dog and so will need a little help in polishing his house-training. He’ll be a quick study, as he’s very treat-motivated. He’s a handsome young lad and I have a feeling he’ll find his new family soon!
I may be small, but I’m very cute!
This is Dewey, an eight-year-old Yorkshire Terrier/Miniature Poodle mix. Here he was on Sunday with Ian. Dewey is a little overwhelmed at the shelter and a lot of noise and confusion makes him nervous, so a quieter home would be perfect for him. He is house-trained and LOVES the attention of older men. He didn’t really enjoy playgroup on Sunday, he would rather hang out with people. We’re hoping he won’t have to be in the shelter for long.
Can you really resist this face? (Yes, Gracie’s face is cute, too!)
Cypress is such a pretty little girl! She’s a two-year-old Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix. She is quite uneasy at the shelter, but did seem to do okay in playgroup on Sunday. She was ready to go back to her kennel toward the end, though. She enjoys being in your lap more than anything else. She has been mostly an outdoor dog and is looking forward to being an INDOOR dog in her new home. She will need an understanding family to help her learn about house-training. She has a good history with children, dogs, and even cats. She and Gracie loved spending time together.
I’m a big, happy, goofy ball of energy just waiting for my perfect person!
One of Jolene’s favorite shelter dogs currently is Augustus, a one-year-old Lab/Golden Retriever mix. At seventy-five pounds, this boy is waiting for someone who can give him the attention he needs to improve his manners through positive training. Classes at WHS would be a joy for this eager youngster. Augustus has a huge heart and loves to spend time with people and other dogs in play. He had a wonderful time in this morning’s playgroup and was attentive to the human helpers and very cooperative. Since he is extremely treat-motivated, he’ll be a quick study and so much fun to watch learn. He will need a way to expend his happy energy daily and would thoroughly enjoy going on adventures like hiking or jogging. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to talk him into wearing any props today, but wear them he did! Hoping this big goof will soon be in a home of his own.
Looking for a dog with a great sense of humor? Look no more!
I met Rosco for the first time on Sunday after he was returned by his new adopter because it was quickly discovered that Rosco cannot live with cats. He absolutely does not like them. So, if you have a cat-free home, and are looking for a cuddly, smart, and eager boy, Rosco might be the right fit for your family. He is a gentle, two-year-old, fifty-nine pound Pit Bull Terrier. He is house-trained and already knows a number of commands, including sit, roll over, shake, and get in the car, to name a few. He is playful and listens well. Some catless family is going to be mighty lucky when they find this loveable boy. Here he was with Marianne on Sunday.
Chloe gets to go on an outing!
Chloe is a one-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who came to us from another shelter, so we don’t know much about her history. We found out Sunday that she loves playgroup and did well with other dogs. She is a bit shy at first meeting, but warms up quickly. Here she is with Marianne.
Yesterday Chloe got to visit Riverfront Park with Marianne and Audrey. She rode very well in the car but was overwhelmed when she saw strangers. She will need an understanding family who will help her realize that the world is not a scary place for her now.
Update
Remember Rocker? He was adopted on February 14th. He was a terrific little guy with lots of spunk and fun. Here he was at WHS.
And here is what his family wrote about his new life yesterday!
“Rocker is a great addition to our household. We are very grateful to Cassidy for going the extra mile for us to insure we were united with Rocker. Rocker’s new forever home is on the banks of the Little North Fork of the Santiam. He lives with our 4-year-old Pocket Beagle, Sadie. Sadie had been very depressed since last fall when she lost her lifelong companion, Boomer, another WHS pooch. Rocker has stepped right in, and Sadie and he are now best buds. They love to play and go for walks in the woods. So many smells, so little time. Rocker is adjusting very well and will be attending some classes at the shelter.”
What a great photo! On that happy note, that’s it for this week!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of the dogs at WHS!
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