Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Activity at the shelter has settled down some since last weekend’s Full Hearts, Empty Kennels event, but that’s not to say it hasn’t been busy. There were sixteen dog adoptions, some of them were puppies from their foster homes, and some were brand new to the shelter. There were three Blog Dogs who went to their new homes.

You’ll notice that Eartha is among the adoptions again. Her family was heartbroken when the landlord changed his rules and they had to bring Eartha back to the shelter. They wrote: “Please make sure she chooses her new family like she chose us.” Well, the very next day, Eartha did! She chose a family with two older boys with whom she fell instantly in love. There will be an update at the end of this post!

 

I’m not a real fan of swimming, but I sure liked the attention and the ride!

Our swim dog this week was Mellow, a one-year-old Retriever mix. First, I must tell you that whoever named him must have done it in jest. Mellow is anything but mellow! This youngster is energetic and can’t wait to find his new home with an active family where he can romp, jog, run, and play with his people. We also discovered that Mellow has never been around water before and was not a huge fan, as it turned out. But he was a good sport. Here are some pictures from his adventure to Bailey’s Journey! First, here he was spending some time with Jolene last Wednesday. He walks very well on leash and has become a real favorite among volunteers.

And here was Friday’s swim adventure.

 

 

 

So although Mellow did not actually enjoy swimming, he did get an outing and the exercise was excellent for this very active boy.

 

 

 

I’m in a foster home, but you can still meet me and adopt me!

When Pepper, a five-year-old Lab mix, arrived at WHS, she was in poor shape. She had lost almost all of her hair from a case of mange. She was immediately started on medication and special baths. It wasn’t long before new hair started sprouting and she started looking and feeling better. Her personality started to shine, too.

Here she was with Marianne before she went to her foster home.

In her foster home she has blossomed. Here’s what her foster mom says about her:

“Pepper is a wonderful, loving dog who needs to be with a loving family with kids to keep up with her. She loves to play fetch and will play for as long as you are willing to throw the ball.  Sometimes when she returns with the ball in her mouth, she will even drop it into your waiting hands.  If you’re not paying attention, she will nudge the ball towards you to remind you that you need to throw it again. When you are done playing, she will allow you to wipe her feet before you let her back inside.  She also loves to play tug with a rope toy and she will bring her balls or other toys to you when she wants to play. Pepper is really very smart and affectionate and wiggles her entire body with joy when you pet and praise her. She loves it!  She will also try to be a lap dog when she wants more affection. Pepper is house-trained, but you will need to watch her for signals that she gives when she is ready to go out.“

Pepper grew up with cats and gets along with other dogs. She does fine when left alone and does not bark much. There is a very lucky family out there who will adopt this special girl. Here are some pictures from her foster home.

 

 

 

I’m very loved at WHS and I can even say my name!

Roo is a six-year-old Coonhound. This sweet girl is one of the quietest hounds we’ve ever met! She is gentle, shy, and affectionate. She loves to be with people. And when she is excited, she will say her name, “ROO–ROO.” Roo was found as a stray, so we don’t know her history with cats or other dogs, and because she is shy, older kids would be best for her. She would need to meet any dogs she would be living with. We laughed out loud as we watched her make a nest out of her bedding in her kennel and then plop down in the middle of it. This wonderful, calm dog will fit easily into a loving home. We’re hoping she’ll find that forever home very soon! Take a look at Roo with two of her other fans, Linda and Marianne.

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been here a long time. I hope my forever family finds me soon!

Hank is a three-year-old Lab mix who arrived at WHS from Hawaii on January 19th. Hank was adopted once, but had too much energy for the adopter and was returned. Hank is stressed at the shelter. He started chewing on his tail and as a result, it had to be docked. He now has a very cute little nubbin of a tail that wags when he’s excited. Hank would love a home with older kids (13+) and a family who will work on positive training with him. His manners need work and he’d really benefit from and enjoy some of the training classes at WHS. Hank is worth the effort his family will need to make with him. He’s been waiting a long time for a real home. We hope he doesn’t have to wait much longer. Here he is with Marianne.

  Today we took Hank into the Real Room and had a wonderful time with him. The hair around his nubbin of a tail has to grow back, but otherwise he’s looking great! Here he is with some of his fans, Caroline, Marianne, and Jolene. While he has a ton of energy, he can settle and enjoys hanging out.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m new here and everything seems strange and so I’m nervous. I can’t wait to find a new home!

Poncho arrived at the shelter after his person died and he isn’t used to the many activities of a shelter. He is looking for a quiet home without small children and wants to be the only pet. Poncho is a seven-year-old Boston Terrier mix and what a little gentleman he is! He loved my cheese bits and happily hopped up on the couch in the Real Room to snuggle. He’d be the perfect fit for a retired couple who wants an 18-pound, uncomplicated but spunky new friend. I don’t think Poncho will have to wait long. Here he was today with us outside with Kathy and then in the Real Room for some quiet time with Marianne and me.

 

 

 

 

This is Ruger, a two-year-old Retriever mix, here with Marianne.

 

 

This is Billy, a two-year-old Coonhound mix, here with Jolene. Billy will need a Coonhound-savvy person willing to give this active boy positive training.

 

 

Rosco, a four-year-old Shepherd mix, is still waiting for his perfect fit of a home with an experienced dog owner. Here he is with Francis, one of his favorite volunteers.

 

 

 

Eartha/Hera

As you know, Eartha was adopted the next day after her return. I was so thrilled and relieved to get these pictures from her new family already, and a promise of an update soon.

“We renamed her and gave her the name Hera. She’s getting lots of love this morning.”

 

 

Cecil

Cecil arrived at WHS a very shy and fearful little dog in November of 2014. Here he was when I met him at the shelter. He was a cutie!

He was adopted by two of our dog volunteers, Ayla and her mother. Here is her latest update.

“Ever since we adopted Cecil a little over 2 years ago, he has been the perfect fit for our family. It was love at first sight because as soon as he was let off leash in the visitation room, even though he was so shy, he came and hid under our legs and let us pet him. He was very shy at first, taking over a day to even make first eye contact. But he is doing amazingly now and after a lot of work on both of our parts, he has shown how wonderful he is. He is quiet for the most part, but as soon as we get home on days we have been out of the house for a bit, he runs to the door, lets out a big happy howl, and starts zooming all over the house dragging around his toys. His two favorite spots are on his chair by the window watching people go by, and with Grandma on the couch. He is also very smart and knows many commands including our favorite, “play the drums,” where he smacks a tiny bongo with his paw. He is also starting on tracking work and is doing great. He is having the time of his little life here and we are so glad to be part of it. He is the best thing that has ever happened to us!”

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

What an amazing week it has been! It started out normally, with several excellent dog adoptions. Then on Saturday and Sunday, in honor of Valentine’s Day, a number of sponsors donated enough funds so that ALL of our cats and dogs could be adopted with no adoption fee! It was called the Full Hearts, Empty Kennels Adoptions Event. The outpouring of love from so many families who wanted to find a new best friend was a site to behold. Here’s what it looked like when I arrived at 3:00 on Saturday.

By the end of the day, almost all of the dogs and cats available had been adopted! There were a few more adoptables on Sunday, and they went home very quickly. Here are the Blog Dogs who went home with their new families this last week!

While there were many, many wonderful first meetings with instant love, I was personally involved in two of them and took pictures so I could share their stories.

Eartha

As you know from last week’s post, Eartha was very special to Marianne and me. We so badly wanted her to have a wonderful home. I’m happy to be able to tell you that she does. We got to spend a lot of time with Eartha and her new family in the Real Room and it was clear from the beginning that not only did they choose her, but she chose them. Here are a few pictures from their first meeting.

Of course, I was so anxious to hear how the adjustment is going and was thrilled when I got this email today. Eartha is now Amisi (an Egyptian girl’s name meaning Flower).

“When I first heard about the free adoption I knew I wanted a dog. As I was online looking through the available adoptions I came across a face I fell instantly in love with. With her stocky build, beautiful brown eyes, and slightly droopy lips I knew I had to have her in my life. After waiting all week to finally meet her, she didn’t disappoint. As soon as she came through the door she let out a burst of energy. After that I knew she had found a home, my home, our home, her home. Since then she has shown such sweet loving tenderness. She’s always on my lap or at my side. She is the perfect piece to my puzzle and I will love her forever.

“I know it’s only been a couple days, but I have some lovely pictures of Amisi. I think she likes it at her new home. We just started to introduce the cat to her today and I was able to get my cat within three feet of her before he started to get nervous. We gave her treats every time she showed good behavior. She’s also learned her name already. She truly is a wonderful dog (and the biggest bed hog.)”

 

 

 

 

Missy

Missy was another one of our favorite girls. She had been adopted and returned when she showed some separation anxiety. We think she was used to being with her person all the time. She needed someone who would be patient and who could spend a lot of time with her. Meanwhile, Mark, who struggles with depression, saw her picture online, felt bad that someone had cropped her ears, and decided they needed each other. It was love at first sight for both. While Mark waited his turn to complete the adoption paperwork, Marianne and I hung out with him and Missy. And the best news is that Missy will be able to go to work with Mark.

The picture below shows Missy coming out after getting her collar fitted and ready to head home with Mark. I’m not sure who was more excited!

 

 

 

It was another extremely rainy day today, so my dedicated Wednesday afternoon walkers brought the new dogs into the Real Room for pictures after their wet outings. Here are some of our newbies who just arrived from California. Since I just met them today, I won’t be able to tell you much about them, but I wanted to show you a few of the delightful new dogs we have!

Meet Sheba, a one-year-old German Shepherd mix, here with Jolene.

 

 

This is Alana, a very sweet nine-year-old Boxer mix, here with Kim.

 

 

Meet Bruce, a very happy two-year-old Boxer mix, here with Jolene.

 

 

This is Pebbles, a very playful five-month-old Miniature Dachshund mix, here with Wen.

 

 

Duke is a one-year-old very handsome mixed breed, here with Jolene.

 

 

After taking all of the indoor pictures of new dogs, I wanted to get a few of Marianne’s current favorite, Niner, who because he has a cold, is in the ISO kennels. Niner is a one-year-old Bull Dog Mix. I found the two of them outside playing fetch. Niner had happily managed to get himself covered with mud, but what a happy boy!

 

 

We have THREE happy updates this week!

Buddy

Buddy came to us extremely shy and sensitive to handling. But he seemed to want human contact. Here he was at WHS. Buddy needed a patient, understanding family who would earn his trust. He found them.

Here’s the update from his new parents:

“My childhood dog was a lab, and my husband’s was a white Samoyed. On the drive home, my husband Cody said, “Don’t you think it’s funny how he kinda looks like our two beloved childhood pets fused together. He is perfect.” I have volunteered with shelters in the past, and I know how hard it is. Thank you for all of your love and compassion and sacrifice. I do plan on continuing to send pictures for you guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

And the next day: “We went back roads in the sunshine today. Cody stayed with him in the back. We went for a walk in downtown Portland, and when we got back we put him inside the cab on his bed in the backseat and he slept and cuddled in our arms on the way home.”

 

 

Bruce/Bernie

Bruce was one of our Oklahoma transfer youngsters. He came to Oregon hoping for a happy life with a new family and did he ever get one! Here he was at WHS just after he had arrived.

Here is what his new mom wrote about him:

“We have had Bernie, formerly Bruce, for a week now and the transition has been amazing. The boy loves his people! He is always by my side and even shares my pillow at night! I am happy to report that Bernie and the cat are adjusting well…we just had our first family nap the other day and he even let the cat knead his back. We start classes next week to get some help working on those tricky manners and look forward to him learning loose leash walking and down. Bernie is one of the dogs from Oklahoma and isn’t a huge fan of the wet Oregon weather. We took him to the river front yesterday and he LOVED the sunshine. Thank you to the ladies at WHS who spent so much time getting to know my husband and me and helping us find the perfect addition to our family.”

 

 

Orie/Nala

Orie also arrived from Oklahoma and at only four months old, was whisked away to her foster home before I met her. So I was thrilled when I got this update from her new family…which happened to also be her foster family!

“Nala is doing great! We feel so lucky to have such a good puppy. She already does great on a leash and in her crate. On walks, she prefers to carry her own leash (all gathered up in her mouth). She’ll chase a ball at the park until she wears herself out – then she quietly walks to the car and sits by the door to let us know she is ready to go home and rest. We are excited to take her hiking this summer! Thank you Willamette Humane Society! We were not planning on keeping her. We already had three dogs! She absolutely crawled into our hearts! It was almost magical how everything happened. Our other dogs are older and can sometimes be a bit cranky but they took right to her! They all are getting along and it’s like she was meant to be with us. This has been a super easy transition :)”

 

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