Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

First of all, I can’t take total credit for this week’s post. I must admit that I have had the assistance of an expert resource. I’m spending my last evening with Spencer. Tomorrow I take him back to the shelter to be adopted by his new family. So as I write this post, I have given Spencer complete editorial control. And there you have it, full disclosure. I’m really going to miss this little guy!

 

Once again, a busy week at Willamette Humane Society, with fourteen dog adoptions! Here are the Blog Dogs who were among them. And yes, happily, Fred and Barney went home together.

 

Zoey, the Swim Dog (again)!

It was my turn to take a dog swimming at Bailey’s Journey last Friday, and again it was Zoey. We’re hoping the water exercise will help her arthritis in the back legs. Though she doesn’t really enjoy going into the water, she is fine once she’s swimming. Zoey is an Australian Cattle Dog mix and has been waiting for a new family since July 15th. She hasn’t gotten discouraged, she just continues to patiently wait for her perfect fit of a person to find her. Zoey is older and needs to be with adults and not small children. She is house-trained and would not be much trouble to have around, as she’d enjoy short walks, then relaxing with her peeps. She has become a staff and volunteer favorite for her calm, sweet nature. But don’t be fooled, she can show some spunk, too. We’re hoping Zoey’s wait won’t be much longer.

Always ready for an adventure, Zoey was excited to get into my car.

  And just so you know that this old gal still has some spunk, here is a video that volunteer Marla took of her last week in playgroup. Look at this sweetheart having fun. And yes, she can still romp!

 

 

 

 

Looking for a guy eager for adventure? Pick ME!

Meet Chap, a one-year-old Border Collie. If you know much about Border Collies, you know that they have a ton of energy and need a job. Do you need something herded? Those sheep over there? How about the bag of apples you just dropped? Chap hasn’t had a job recently because he’s been at another shelter where he was not adopted. He’s moved to Salem in search of a family to herd, er, love. He’s a bit embarrassed about his weight. Since he hasn’t had a job for a while, he has gained a few pesky pounds. But he’ll shed those as soon as he’s back to work. No sheep? No problem. Chap would love to try some agility, flyball, or Frisbee! This boy is eagerly waiting for a family with older kids who are willing to spend some time with him using positive training techniques. He’s looking forward to meeting his perfect family fit. Here he was on Sunday with Diane and new walker Jenna.

I guess I should have known better than to mention the sensitive weight issue.

 

 

 

I’ve been here a long while, but I’m not wasting time, I’m learning new stuff!

Juicy is an eight-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix who has been at WHS since June 26th. I’ve written about her several times. Juicy is looking for a family with older kids who will continue to help her learn how to live in a home, since she has mostly been an outdoor dog her whole life. Oh, how she will try to do everything right! On Sunday, volunteers Linda and her granddaughter, Harmony, were spending some quality time working with Juicy. They were excited to show me their latest trick — “Paws Up” where Juicy puts her front paws on the bench and catches tossed treats. They also practiced “leave it” which is soooo hard! They had a great time together.

Now to review “sit,” “down,” and the really challenging “leave it.”

After all that hard work, time for a real snack? Maybe not.

Finally, time for a parting group shot.

And then this happened. Juicy is getting better at a lot of things…singing on key is not one of them.

This is one of my favorite pictures of this good girl.

 

 

 

I was here quite a while ago and now I’m back. I’m hoping for a forever home this time.

In May of 2014, I wrote this about a new arrival: “I wish Rodeo could tell us his story. He is a seven-year-old Shepherd mix who was adopted from WHS in 2006. He was picked up as a stray in March and his family cannot be located. We’re hoping that a new family will adopt him soon. He is a good boy, loves to go for walks and hang out with a person. He’d make a great jogging or running partner, and a good friend.” It turned out that Rodeo had to wait a long time for a new person. Finally in July, he was adopted. But recently his owner died and Rodeo came back to us. He had developed a thyroid condition resulting in missing hair and weight loss. But after treatment, he is looking and feeling remarkably better. We’re hoping he won’t have to wait long this time for his forever retirement home. At ten years old, he needs a quiet home with just adults or with older children. Here he was visiting with volunteer Randy on Sunday.

 

 

 

I’m looking for a person who wants a quiet lap warmer. Do you need me?

Marianne and I met Stuart for the first time on Sunday. We were both smitten. This twelve-year-old Miniature Schnauzer has the usual old-age issues, but is ten pounds of opinions. Here’s what he likes: blankets and pillows, laps, quiet, sleeping in bed next to his person, cuddles, playing gently with his peeps. Here’s what he does not like: loud noises, rain, sudden movement, new places, being brushed, nail trims. Stuart is crate-trained and house-trained. For someone needing a best friend whose greatest wish is to be sitting on your lap, then Stuart may be the boy for you. Marianne and I are hoping that Stuart’s new person will find him very quickly. He misses sitting in a lap.

 

 

Here are some other shelter dogs waiting for their forever homes…

All of the following dogs are waiting for you at Willamette Humane Society. If one of them touches your heart, please come and meet them soon. Shelter hours are Mon./Thurs./Fri. 12:00 – 7:00 pm and Sat./Sun. 12:00 – 6:00 pm.

 

Danny is a thirteen-year-old Poodle mix who loved his cuddle time with Francis last week.

Then he got a haircut and enjoyed cuddle time today with Kim.

 

This is Apache, a three-year-old Boxer mix, with new volunteer Jenna.

 

Daniel’s Pick of the Week: Ginger, a seven-year-old Kelpie mix.

 

This is Beans, a three-year-old Lab/German Shepherd mix, here with Jolene.

 

This is Maxeen, an eleven-year-old Lab mix, here with Marianne. Maxeen is currently in a foster home.

 

This is Liberty, a one-year-old Lab mix, here with Christine.

 

This is Lady, a one-year-old Retriever/Beagle mix, here with Francis.

 

A true story

I’m going to close this post with a story that has nothing to do with shelter dogs, but is simply too amazing not to share. My husband, John, is FB friends with a former Natrona County Schools colleague in Wyoming, Mike Flicek. This week Mike posted this experience he recently had. I asked permission from Mike to share it and he agreed.

“My brother, James Flicek, and I were on the highway in the Sierra Madre mountains in Wyoming today and a herd of sheep was in our South/East-bound lane. We slowed to about 15 mph and moved to the passing lane. To the right of the sheep, in our left lane, was a Great Pyrenees dog, watching us closely (apparently approving of our slow approach). There were four Great Pyrenees in all. As we rounded the mountain curve, there was a car approaching at about the speed limit. One of 2 Great Pyrenees at the back of the herd walked slowly onto the highway on a path to be right in front of this approaching car. The car slowed and the Great Pyrenees kept moving toward a place right in front of the moving car. The car slowed to a stop, not wanting to run over this beautiful dog. As the car stopped, the dog walked in front of it and tapped its bumper with its nose. The dog then turned toward the far median of the highway to return to its original position. The car started increasing speed and the dog turned and tapped the bumper a second time. Now the car proceeded slowly to where the herd of sheep awaited just around the corner.
How would a dog learn to behave in the manner of a highway flag person to slow a car going the speed limit? I have no idea. This dog slowed a car that was rounding a curve where the left lane was filled with the sheep it was charged with protecting!!! Really? … I’m honored to have witnessed this event and supremely impressed by the intelligence of this animal!!!”

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.