Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Happy May! It’s been a long, rainy winter with lots of indoor photo shoots, so I’m looking forward to being able to take pictures of our shelter dogs outside in warm, spring sunshine. It started on Sunday when we took long-termer Paddy out in the big yard for some fun.

I’ve been here quite a while, but I’m sure my new peeps will find me soon. In the meantime, let’s PLAY!

Paddy is a two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix who has been patiently waiting for his forever family since February. Paddy is an exuberant, happy, and very smart young dog looking for an active family with teenagers who might like a jogging or hiking partner during the day and a buddy to relax with in the evening. Paddy is eager to please and to learn new skills. He knows the basics like sit and down already. He wants me to tell you that he loves tummy rubs after a game of fetch and his favorite snack is cheese. Paddy is social with many dogs, but would need to meet any potential canine sibling to make sure their play styles match. Sunday had turned into such a beautiful early spring day that Marianne, Caroline, and I decided to spend some quality time with this terrific boy.

While Paddy LOVES to play fetch, it isn’t quit the version of the game you might expect. He seems to need a little practice on actually bringing the ball back, as you’ll see below.

 

And then sometimes a guy just needs to chill by himself for a while.

 

He’s is a very handsome fellow.

 

Paddy is such a delight. We’re hoping he won’t have to wait much longer for his perfect family fit. We had a great time hanging out with him.

This afternoon Paddy got to go on an adventure! Marianne sent this report moments ago:

“Paddy went on respite with Caroline and me today. It was pretty hot, so we kept our outside time short. We went to Cascade Gateway Park where we walked around the pond and then got off the path and walked down to the river. Paddy absolutely loved being outside—he’s quite a nature boy, and he enjoyed watching the geese. He put his feet in the water and just had a good time being away from the shelter. He met some people and was very polite—everyone thought he was very handsome. After the park, we hopped in the car and headed to Lowe’s where once again Paddy was well-behaved and polite. We saw a couple of dogs and Paddy wanted to meet them but was easily redirected. He loves flowers and helped pick out a plant. He also found some outdoor furniture he wanted, but it was out of my price range. He has great taste! I can’t say enough good things about this sweet dog. He rides well in the car and walks great on leash. He is fun and we adore him. He was tired when we got back to the shelter, and I have no doubt that he took a nap.”

 

 

 

Everyone says I’m just about perfect. Not sure what that means, but it sounds good!

When I arrived at the shelter on Sunday, Marianne and Caitlin were waiting for me in the Ed Hall and could barely contain their excitement about a newbie named Browser, a two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. Browser came to us from a shelter in California where he wasn’t adopted. This sweetheart is gentle, happy, and full of life. He’d love to take some of the WHS classes to learn more skills, since he’s a very quick learner. He loves cheese (followed me all around the room once he had a taste), so will be easy to train. He adores people and will do great with a family with children ten and older. This boy is a keeper and some family will be very lucky to adopt him!

 

 

 

I have two best friends here at the shelter (I’m quite popular). We love to romp!

Sometimes all a shy dog needs is another dog who shows them that the world isn’t as scary as it seems. And sometimes a very active dog needs a rough and rowdy buddy who will help burn off excess energy playing chase. Angus is the perfect boy for both kinds of dogs.

Angus is a a one-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix who is looking for fun adventures. Because he can be mouthy in his excitement about life, the Behavior Training Team is helping him work on his manners and he is showing great improvement. Because of his high energy, he’d like to go home with an experienced owner and older (13+) kids. Angus is a terrific helper dog in playgroups as well as play dates. Here he is on one such date with one of his best friends, Ariel.

Ariel is a ten-month-old American Staffordshire/Bull Terrier mix. She wants to be your friend, but is a little nervous around new people and takes some time to relax. She will do best in a quiet home with an active person. What a wonderful friend she will be! She’s been waiting for her perfect person fit since early February.

Angus’ other best friend is shy Audrey, a three-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix who is another California transfer. This sweet girl is very nervous in new situations and will need a patient and understanding owner who will give her the time she needs to gain confidence about the world. Here she is with Jolene. Notice she isn’t smiling and seems worried about my camera.

Later in the afternoon, Jolene and Rosie, members of the Behavior and Training Team, spent some quality time outside walking with Angus and Audrey to help her in confidence-building. I was amazed at the difference in her demeanor alongside her buddy. I was even more amazed when I read the playgroup notes saying that she happily played tug with Angus, though she seems to be more comfortable around smaller dogs. Look at how much happier she looks near her friend. I think she has a real crush on Angus!

So nice to see her relaxed!Angus was pretty relaxed, too.

 

 

Meet newbie Zarian, a five-year-old Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua mix, on Sunday with Caroline.

 

 

Here is cute and very active Ivan, a one-year-old Terrier mix, here with Caitlin. He had trouble holding still for a nanosecond for a picture.

 

 

Gracie spent some time on Sunday with newbie Peeko, a ten-year-old Bichon Frise mix. What a cutie!

 

 

You’ll remember our sweet senior boy, Buzz, from last week. Here he is with Jenna, one of his many fans. What a teriffic dog!

 

 

Our sweet boy, Jazz, a six-year-old Dachshund mix, may be nearly blind, but that doesn’t stop this boy from enjoying life by following his nose! Here he is with Jolene.

 

 

This little character is Dixie, a ten-year-old terrier mix, here with Patty. Dixie may be a senior, but you’d never know it!

 

 

Our senior boy, Spike, is still at the shelter. Here he was on Sunday with Jasmine. Spike is a ten-year-old Rat Terrier mix and has many, many fans as he waits for someone to adopt him as a hospice dog due to heart failure. We’re hoping a person who loves seniors, no matter how long they have left, will scoop him up.

 

 

Lemon/Amber

It all started in January of 2014 when a purebred Redbone Coonhound was found as a stray and brought to the shelter. Two of my devoted Wednesday afternoon dog walkers were Steve and Joan, who immediately fell in love with this beautiful girl named Lemon. But just when they were on the verge of adopting her, Lemon was adopted by someone else. Seven days later, Lemon was back with a list of “issues” including separation anxiety. Here are some shots of Joan and Lemon at WHS soon after her return.

After some serious thinking, Steve and Joan decided that issues or not, Lemon needed a home with them. So on February 13, Lemon changed her name to Amber and left for her forever home. Sadly, Joan and Steve had to give up volunteering a couple of years ago. So I was thrilled today when Joan sent this picture of Amber.

“Amber and I were out walking this morning when I noticed the first wild irises. Amber thought she should get in the picture….or….in my treat pocket.”

I asked Joan for an update, and here it is:

“Amber is our funny, slightly challenging and well-loved Redbone Coonhound. We adopted her a little over three years ago. She lives for routine, following her nose and keeping Steve and me in sight. Her favorite activity is food….. her meals at 7:30 and 5:30 on the nose! (We hear about it when we are late.) As hounds go, we are lucky! She is noisy and loves to follow her nose, but she always stays close and comes (for food, of course) when we have her off leash. We adore her and are so glad that we adopted a shelter dog!”

With that happy update, 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