Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

My favorite picture of the week is this one of Conner. I think he wanted to play rather than pose for pictures. What do you think? More on this terrific boy later.

We had some wonderful dog adoptions this week, twenty-two in all! Here are the Blog dogs who went home.

I want to write a note about one special adopted boy. Dolce had been waiting for his perfect peeps for a long, long time. During his shelter stay, he became a favorite of many of us because of his goofy personality and his wide grin. Then on Saturday, a couple came to visit him. Volunteer Marianne was at the shelter when the three met and she said it was so obvious that it was love at first sight for all concerned. Can you tell?

It was soon a done deal. The girls stocked up on everything Dolce would need in his new abode. Then they headed home to make their house dog-ready for the pick-up on Sunday.

I was hoping to be at the shelter when Dolce went home, but I had to leave before he did. However, Dolce hung out with Marianne until his forever peeps arrived to take him home. How we love happy beginnings! (And I’ve been promised updates!)

 

 

Hiking? Running? Outdoor adventures? I’m IN!

This big, beautiful, bundle of energy is Conner, a Husky/Retriever mix who is about two years old. Weighing in at 68 pounds, Conner is strong and eager for excitement. He is looking for an active person (no surprise there!) who will spend time both in training and challenging activities. Conner is a stray, so we don’t know his history, but he does know several commands like sit and down and something that he does in between (see last picture). He’s a happy boy, took my treats politely, and enjoyed Diane’s and my attention. He looks a lot like a retriever until you see his Husky tail curl. This boy will make someone who likes spending time outside with a best friend a wonderful companion.

 

 

 

My name is Bubbles. I am a little older, so I already know stuff!

Bubbles is an eight-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. She loves people and is eager to spend time with you playing or just hanging out. She has a great history with older kids and is house-trained. Bubbles would prefer to be an only pet in your home. She thinks that would be perfect because that way you can give her all your attention! Bubbles can’t wait to be part of a family again. Here she is with Laslo, one of her fans on Sunday.

 

 

 

I’m a little shy and nervous here but I really want to be someone’s best friend. Maybe it could be YOU!

When I first met Rex, a one-year-old Norwegian/Shepherd mix, he had just arrived at the shelter and he seemed very uneasy. He had traveled from California via our S.T.A.R.T. partnership, coming from an overcrowded shelter, hoping to start a new life with an Oregon family. This week, Rex seems to be getting used to the shelter environment, though he still is a little timid. He loves to play fetch and will run after a tennis ball as long as you will throw it. He is a very smart student and would excel in our WHS training classes where he would learn new skills and the manners needed to be a success with his human family. Rex is sensitive to being over-handled, so his new person will need to be understanding and patient in showing Rex that he is safe. Volunteer Diane spent some quiet time with this sweet boy and found him to be eager for her gentle handling. Rex will make some lucky family a wonderful, loyal friend.

 

 

 

I’m ready for my new family right now! When are you coming to take me home?

Bella is a seven-year-old Pointer mix who is an amazingly nice dog. She is older, so no more puppy issues. She is house-trained, loves kids, and she has no problem being left in the house while the family works, as long as she has a comfy bed to snooze on. She knows several commands like sit, down, stay and shake. She even has lived respectfully with cats! Bella’s one request is that she be the only dog in the family, and don’t even think about a dog park! She doesn’t like to admit it, but Bella needs to lose a few pounds. That being the case, volunteer Jolene took her to swim class last week and later wrote, “Bella had a great time at swim class! She is such a good girl; her tail wags all the time. I really like her.” Bella is simply a terrific dog who will be the perfect fit for a one-dog family. Here she was with Laslo on Sunday.

Here are Jolene and Bella this afternoon shortly before they were going to head out to another swim class.

 

 

 

Jade: “We’re still here…and Mya is wondering why you haven’t come and taken us home yet?”

Everyone has fallen in love with these two sisters, Jade (left) and Mya. If you are a regular reader of my posts, you know the girls are a bonded pair who need to go home together. They are five-year-old Pit Bull Terriers and are as playful and fun as two dogs can possibly be. Watching them frolic in a pool or race around a yard together is a joy. And as I wrote last week, while adopting two dogs might seem a bit daunting at first, these two characters will happily entertain each other and you as long as you like, then curl up at your feet for the evening. Here they were after an outing with Laslo and Daniel.

I stopped at their kennel to tell them goodbye on Sunday, promising to spend more time with them on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Yes, I’ve been here before. The volunteers loved me then, too.

Oso is back at the shelter after a two-year absence. He came to us in December of 2013 as a S.T.A.R.T. dog from California. After a month he was adopted, but last week he turned up at Marion County Dog Control. Oso is a three-year-old Chow Chow mix. He is house-trained and scored very well on his behavior assessment. He is a big boy at 72 pounds. Here is how http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/chow-chow describes a Chow’s personality and it seems to fit Oso pretty well. “Chow combines the nobility of a lion, the drollness of a panda, the appeal of a teddy bear, the grace and independence of a cat, and the loyalty and devotion of a dog. He’s also dignified and aloof.” Here Oso is with Diane and Marianne.

I can’t resist putting in one more picture of Oso taken in December of 2013 so you can see his sense of humor.

 

 

 

I’m hoping I’ll be going home soon!

Pal has been at WHS since early May. He has come so far from when he arrived as a nervous, aloof boy. He is a two-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. Pal has quite a large fan base of volunteers and staff who have enjoyed working with him to develop some needed skills. Pal is not a “needy” dog who will always be under foot. He is quite independent and while he enjoys being with his peeps, he is emotionally secure to be on his own. He is very treat-motivated and so he’s been fun to train. He is great with most other dogs and has become much more fond of people’s attention than he was at first. He spent some time with Francis on Sunday.

Even when Pal was getting over a cold in the ISO kennels a few weeks ago, he was still smiling. I took this picture when I was walking by the ISO yard and he ran over to greet me.

And here he is with his usual grin. He has a hold, so we’re hoping he’ll have his own forever home very soon.

 

 

 

I’m having a blast while I wait for my forever family to find me!

Shroeder (correct spelling) is a two-year-old Boxer mix who came to us as a stray. He is a very active, playful, happy boy who loves people and rough-and-rowdy play with other dogs. He will need to go to a home as an only pet. He does not care for cats and can be possessive of his food around another dog. He is working on his food issue while at WHS and will need to continue working when adopted. He scored very well on his behavior assessment and will be a wonderful dog for the right fit of a family. Here he was with Daniel on Sunday.

Volunteer Manager Kimmi sent me these pictures today of Shroeder having a play date with Kimmi’s dog, Vinny. They had so much fun!

This is what happens on a warm day after a race.

And this is what happens when you’re too tired to play standing up.

 

 

 

Emelynn’s Picks of the Week!

When I asked Emelynn who her pick was this week, she had two—Hunter and Tara. This bonded pair of Beagles are still waiting for just the right person to find them. It will have to be someone who is home most of the time and can supervise the duo when out in the yard. Hunter is an explorer, filled with wanderlust, and Tara follows him everywhere. Digging under a fence? No problem. But while they need to be watched, they are also very affectionate and love people. Tara is ten years old and Hunter is nine. The siblings have lived together their whole lives and need to stay together. They are happy, eager, friendly and active. They both would like to lose some weight, but walks around the neighborhood would do the trick. We’re hoping these two little characters won’t have to wait much longer for their forever home.

As you can see, the two love treats.

Finally! Both smiling at once!

 

 

 

I’m a playful, affectionate, and happy boy waiting for a playful, affectionate and happy person to love!

Sailor is a two-year-old Black Mouth Cur/Pit Bull Terrier mix. He has quite the outgoing personality and absolutely loves to play hard whether it’s a rousing game of fetch (he brings the ball back to you and drops it!), or romping with other dogs about his size. He listens well to instruction and is highly treat-motivated, so has the best qualities to be a star in our WHS training classes. After Marianne and he posed for me, she took him out in the big yard today, so I went out to join in the fun.

He was so excited when he saw me coming, he couldn’t wait to see what I wanted to play.

First we played fetch.

Then I explained to him that we were going to work on the skill “leave it.” He listened attentively to the rules.

Such a smart boy! In no time he was leaving the hot dog bit on my knee until I gave it to him.

It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to learn new skills and play fetch and sometimes you just need to chill out

Then we three headed back to the building. But on the way, we saw that Volunteer Manager Kimmi had her dog, Vinny, out in a yard and Sailor asked if he could join them.

Sailor decided he and Vinny are BFFs!

 

 

 

I just met Martha today but I knew she’d like me and I was right!

Daisy-Head Mayzie (Daisy for short) is a two-year-old Australian Cattle Dog/Pit Bull Terrier mix. Marianne brought her out to meet me and get her profile pictures taken and Daisy couldn’t have been more cooperative. She sat and smiled when asked and took my hot dog bits very politely. She walks well on leash, loves attention, but forget about playing fetch—she’s not interested. And she’ll sit by your side and listen to how your day is going. Daisy is a S.T.A.R.T. dog from California, so we don’t know her history, except we do know that she should not live with cats. Marianne and I were both smitten with this sweetie.

 

 

Updates!

Pip!

Remember Pip? He was a favorite of so many at WHS. Here he was when he was at the shelter joking around.

Here’s what his family has to say.

“Pip is doing awesome. He loves to play in water and play with our other two dogs.
He also has become a mom and dad dog. He is protective of his family. Loves to go for walks and playing with his tennis balls.”

So happy that our boy is having such a great life!

   

So Hun/Moose!

I was thrilled last week at the WillaMutt Strut to see So Hun who is now Moose. He is living a wonderful life with Lara and her family. He even was featured in the Statesman Journal’s Strut story!

Mary!

I was so happy, as always, to see Mary and her family at the Strut again this year.

And, of course, I had to get my picture with her!

Arlo!

Also at the Strut was my old friend Arlo and Carol, his wonderful mom. It is such a delight to see our former shelter dogs in loving forever homes!

 

 

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