Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Drum roll, please! Since my last post, there have been twenty-four dogs adopted from Willamette Humane Society! Here are the Blog Dogs who were among those adoptions.

If you read last week’s post, you know that Whizzard arrived at WHS from an overcrowded California shelter through WHS’ partnership with ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). He is an incredibly sweet eleven-year-old Chow-Chow mix. After arriving at WHS, it was discovered that this gentle soul is in the beginning stages of renal failure. Whizzard needed a quiet and loving “hospice” home to spend his last weeks or months. One of WHS’ volunteers, Melita Vanderbeck, stepped up and took Whizzard home. He has settled in comfortably with Melita’s other two dogs and the sparkle in his eye shows how contented he is in his forever home. Whizzard’s medical costs for his needed special food will be over $200 a month for the months he has left. We have set up a GoFundMe account to help Melita with his expenses. If you’d like to donate, here is the site: http://www.gofundme.com/ovo40g

Here are Melita and Whizzard as they headed home from WHS.

Here he is at home feeling very content.

Chatter

I spent my time during Sunday’s playgroup on the small-dog side and heard lots of conversation. The most talkative canine was Teddy who seemed to be everywhere at once!

Teddy really wanted Clooney to race with him and thought a play bow would do the trick. It didn’t.

Then he decided to hang out with Daisy, who didn’t want to play with anyone.

I discovered that even in mid-conversation he would come when called.

And while he may be small, he has a big personality!

Meanwhile, it was obvious that newbie Ben had never seen someone like Mason before.

Daisy made it very clear that she didn’t care to socialize with other canines.

 

 

 

I’m looking for a special home!

Belle is a two-year-old Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix. She was found as a stray. Here was this beauty with Caroline when she first arrived at WHS in January. She was a goofy, loving girl with a few quirks.

We started calling her Velcro Girl!

Belle became very stressed in the kennel environment and so was placed with an experienced foster home. She is now ready for her forever home. Here is what her foster mom says about her:
“Belle is a true beauty. Her soft fur and soulful eyes are a perfect match for her loving personality. Belle needs a person who enjoys cuddling as much as she does!
Belle is 18 months old, possibly a Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix. She likes other dogs, gets along well with cats, ignores chickens and is house-trained. She enjoys walks but will need a yard with secure fences as she is likely to wander.
Belle is loving and affectionate with people she knows, but she is shy with strangers and can take a while to warm up to new people. She is reluctant to enter unfamiliar buildings and spooks at loud or sudden noises. She will need a patient person to help her learn that the world is not out to kill her. Belle was found as a stray so we don’t know her background, however, she is deathly afraid of sticks and such stick-like things as fishing poles, brooms, etc., which can’t be a good sign. She also can feel the need to defend her food at times and her new people will need to be willing to work with her on that issue. For this reason she is not recommended for a house with children. Belle is in foster care where she is working on basic obedience skills. For more information, contact foster@whs4pets.org.”

Here are some recent pictures from her foster home. We’re hoping that just the right person will find our Belle and give her the home she longs for.

 

 

 

My foster mom says she’s never had a bigger cuddler than I am!

Meet Willie, a one-year-old Bulldog/American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He may not look it, but he is one giant marshmallow who loves to cuddle with people! Here he was at the shelter.

Shelter life was hard for Willie and he, too, went to a foster home. Here’s what his foster mom writes about him (in his own words, what a smart boy!)

“Hi there! I’m Willie. I know I look like a tough guy, but I am the biggest sweetie around and I love to cuddle and get belly rubs.  I am extremely affectionate, eager to please and outgoing and really enjoy all people–especially kids. I have been in foster care for a while learning basic manners. I would love to continue my training with you!  I am house-trained, crate-trained and I’m learning basic commands. I enjoy riding in the car and do well on car trips. Due to my size and zest for life I should probably not go home with very small children because I could accidentally knock them down and I’m learning not to jump on people (it’s hard because I’m so excited to meet everyone!) I currently live with an eight and 10-year-old. I also live with two other dogs and three cats. I should meet your doggies before we decide if it’s a good fit for me to live with them, but I do well with most dogs. As far as cats I’m pretty respectful but if they run I think chasing is fun so you’d need to keep an eye on me.  I’m medium energy — moderate exercise would be great — I also make a good jogging buddy! I have not had the best start to life but I love lying around snuggling with people on the couch and I’m hoping that that is what I can look forward to with you! With some more training I promise to be a wonderful addition to your family! For more information, contact foster@whs4pets.org.”

So let’s get this sweet boy adopted soon! Here are some pictures from his foster home. That’s Silas (formerly Spanky), another WHS alum.

 

 

 

 

What’s better than one Doxie? Well, that’s easy…TWO!

Volunteers Laslo and Daniel spent time with the doxie duo Mason (brown) and Sonnie (black). They are Miniature Dachshund mixes. They both weigh in at ten pounds. Mason is ten years old and Sonnie is nine years old. Mason is missing some teeth, so his tongue tends to hang out of his mouth, but don’t worry, he’s used to it. Even though they are seniors, they love their walks and still have springs in their steps. They are both a bit shy at first meeting, but quickly warm up. All you Doxie lovers out there…can you find a home for these two??

Volunteer Krystal, our WHS “Doxie Person,” took these two home for a respite. (No, she can’t adopt them as she already has four dogs.) But they are having a fun two days hanging out with her crew. She says they get along with everyone and are adorable.

Sure wish they could all relax! 🙂

 

 

 

I’m a senior, too, looking forward to a happy retirement with YOU!

I met Daisy on Sunday and immediately loved her. She is an eleven-year-old Miniature Schnauzer/Fox Terrier mix. She has a great history with cats and older kids. Small children make her too nervous. And she feels very strongly about being the only dog in the family. As we discovered in playgroup, she much preferred sitting with Caroline than mingling with other canines. She is a sweetheart and the shelter is overwhelming to her. Hoping her retirement family finds her soon. Here she was with Ian on Sunday.

I think she looks like a lamb.

 

 

 

I’ve been here a while. I’m still waiting for my next family. Is it yours?

Pip arrived at WHS on January 30th and is still hoping a new family will find him soon. He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix and what a fun boy he is! He has a lot of energy, so is hoping for an active family. He loves to play with other dogs. When I took him to playgroup on Sunday, he walked very nicely on leash. He is treat-motivated and loves to learn, so he’s a perfect candidate for WHS training classes. Fingers crossed that he’ll find a new home before next post! Here he is with Katie and Laslo.

 

 

 

Yep, I’m really this cute and I know stuff!

In my six years of taking pictures of shelter dogs, I have met a lot of Chihuahuas. And in my experience, very few of them sit when asked. Meet Stallone! When I met him a couple of Sundays ago, I asked him to sit, certain he would not. This is what he did!

I was immediately charmed. This eight-pound five-year-old cutie has a big personality. He loves to play with other dogs and has no idea he is a small one. He enjoys being with people, but does not like to be over-handled, so should not go to a home with children. I found him to be absolutely delightful. He is currently in a foster home, so if you are interested in meeting this handsome boy, contact foster@whs4pets.org. Here he was with Caroline before he left for his foster home.

 

 

 

I’ve got Marianne wrapped around my paw. Let’s see if you will be, too!

First a note about Marianne’s hair…it was VERY windy on Sunday. Enough said. 🙂 The adorable face next to her is newbie Juicy Fruit, an eight-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. Her ears remind me of the Flying Nun! Juice hates to admit it, but she is quite overweight at 70 pounds and really needs a family who will put her on a diet. She’ll need to lose about fifteen pounds. Because of her excess weight, she has some arthritis in her leg joints. Though she still runs and plays, she tires quickly. She is extremely friendly and good with other dogs, having lived with two before. She is very smart, knows several commands and would enjoy learning more. Marianne fell for her completely. We’re hoping Juicy Fruit won’t have to wait long for a new home with fewer treats!

 

 

 

I’m looking for a quiet retirement home with adults. With you?

Petey is a nine-year-old Chihuahua mix. He is house-trained and has lived with cats and dogs. He is now in his senior years and wants an adult home. He can be shy and nervous around new things and people, so needs a patient and understanding person who will give him time and space to adjust. When he feels safe, he is affectionate and relaxes. Here he is with staff member Cassidy, one of his biggest fans.

 

 

 

I’m new here. Came from California. I think I’m going to like Oregon!

This happy girl is Sweet Pea, a S.T.A.R.T. transported dog from an over-crowded shelter. At eight years old, she is a senior. She’s a seventy-four pound Pit Bull Terrier mix who, like Juicy Fruit, needs to lose some weight. We don’t know her history, but from her appearance, it looks like she hasn’t had an easy life. And yet, she is upbeat and happily looking forward. Jolene and I both hope her new Oregon forever family will find her very soon.

 

 

 

Emelynn’s Pick of the Week!

Emelynn had no trouble picking her favorite this afternoon. I needed pictures of newbie Bunny, a three-year-old Australian Cattle Dog/Terrier mix and Emelynn fell in love with her. Bunny is a very affectionate little dog. She came to WHS as a S.T.A.R.T. dog from a California shelter, so we don’t know her history, but what we do know is that she is a happy, friendly, playful girl who will make a wonderful new family member. Just look at these photos!

 

 

 

Update!

Ani/Tawny

I was thrilled when I got this extremely happy update from the couple who adopted sweet Ani, now Tawny. Here she was with Jolene when she was at WHS.

And here is the story of her amazing new life!

“I wanted to send a quick update to you guys regarding the pup we adopted on February 26th. 🙂 When we first met her, her name was Ani, but we decided to change it to Tawny to make her more of ‘our dog.’

I’ll start by saying first and foremost, Tawny is perfect. I’m totally baffled by her complete lack of bad qualities, and find her to be the most delightful dog I’ve ever been around. Upon adopting her, we were pretty unsure of how she was going to do around our cat and the other dogs in our busy downtown Seattle neighborhood. Since we brought her home three weeks ago, she has become best friends with Royal (our cat), and shows no anxiety toward the always-loud city environment.

She visits the urban dog park once a day, and has made friends with each dog she’s encountered. These dogs range from a baby French bulldog to a 120 pound male bluenose pit. She also has really enjoyed supporting her new sports teams, and has already acquired a Mariners & Sounders jersey.

Tawny was thrilled to find out about our lax attitude toward dogs on the furniture, and has taken up permanent residence on the couch when she’s home. Despite having 10+ toys to choose from, she could care less about a single one. All she ever wants to do is snuggle, which is 100% fine with her dad & me. 🙂

I am the happiest I’ve ever been, and sometimes can’t believe that she’s my dog. Your shelter changed our lives, and gave us the best friend we could possibly think of. She’s also the cutest dog I’ve ever seen in my life.

Thank you so much to Willamette Humane Society & the wonderful volunteers.”

  On that wonderful note, 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