Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Dogs who have been at the shelter a long time earn their own special places in volunteers’ hearts, as I’m sure you would expect. When these dogs are finally adopted, we are over the moon with high hopes of a perfect family fit. However, sometimes the fit turns out not to be so perfect, and the dogs are returned to us. We welcome them back and wait with them, fingers and paws crossed, for their just-right family to eventually find them. Well, this week two such dogs were adopted again and while we can never be certain, we have high hopes that THIS time the matches are perfect.

Our senior boy, Buzz, went home to another new family on Monday. Having been an outdoor dog his entire eleven years, Buzz has found house-training a bit of a challenge. But what a gentle, loving dog he is. Wishing you the very best, Buzz!

Ledi is one of my all-time favorite dogs. She came to us first in May, 2016. She was very overweight, but considered herself a lap dog nonetheless. I made a movie of her when Marianne, Linda, and I took her swimming and posted it with her personality description on the WHS website as well as my blog. She was finally adopted in July, 2016. But this May Ledi came back to the shelter, still overweight and still a lap dog. Volunteer Linda, who had fallen in love with Ledi during her first stay at WHS, once again spent much time with her, as did several other fans. Once again I posted Ledi’s swim video. On Sunday a young girl named Destiny and her mother came to the shelter after watching Ledi’s movie. They thought she just might be the perfect new best friend for Destiny, a devoted animal lover and future WHS volunteer. I was thrilled that I was at the shelter when they arrived. Linda was equally thrilled that because she had decided to join Marianne and me for Blanket Time with shelter dogs, she was there, too, for the meet. The rest of the story is in the pictures.

Linda took Destiny and her mom for a walk with Ledi to give them some pointers.

Destiny gave Linda a hug to thank her for helping her get to know Ledi.

 

 

The weather was perfect on Sunday for some Blanket Time with Shelter Dogs.

I’m a good boy, everyone says so, maybe you could adopt me?

Arnold, or Arnie, as his friends call him, is a seven-year-old Boxer mix. He is looking for an active family with older kids and no cats. He promises to keep everyone entertained and he’d love to take some of the WHS training classes to fine-tune his skills. Arnie is a quick study and an affectionate goofball. He has won a loyal fan club. He’s going to make a family a wonderful new best friend. Here are some pictures from our Blanket Time with this sweet boy. Here he is with his number one fan, Marianne.

I love the sincerity in his face.

While I was taking pictures of him, I suddenly realized he had is paws on my leg. What an affectionate boy.

Here’s what Marianne says about Arnie: “Arnold was found as a stray and most likely did not have the best life until he ended up at WHS. In spite of that, he is a lovable, happy, glass-half-full kind of dog. His tail wags almost non-stop, he loves to play, walks wonderfully on leash, and takes treats very gently. He knows some basic commands, but the best thing about him is how affectionate he is. He would make a wonderful companion for a moderately active family. He is 7 years old but has energy left, and I’m sure he would love to do things like go to the coast or take some hikes. He is a very special dog.”

Marianne sent me this video of Arnold playing with a new toy.

 

Arnold has been waiting for a new family since April. We’re hoping he won’t have to wait much longer.

 

 

 

I’m new here, but I’ve made a lot of friends already. Could I be your best friend?

Roco is a four-year-old Retriever/American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He arrived at WHS as a California transfer, so we don’t know his history, but we do know that he is an amazingly sweet and gentle boy. In fact, he is rated PG +5, and will make a wonderful family dog for almost all ages. Roco is house-trained and loves to play. He would enjoy taking some WHS training classes with his new family to learn more skills. We thoroughly enjoyed our Blanket Time with Roco.

He liked telling jokes to Marianne.

And enjoyed listening to hers.

Roco wasn’t sure what to make of the Giant Fluff Ball.

 

 

 

 

I’m still here waiting for you to come and adopt me. Will you come soon?

Lady arrived at WHS in May. She is one of the gentlest, happiest, most affectionate dogs we’ve ever had. Lady is an eight-year-old Retriever mix who has been an outdoor dog her whole life. She really hopes to be an indoor dog now that she’s a bit older, but she’ll need a little patience and help in becoming house-trained. As smart and people-motivated as she is, it should be a snap. Lady needs to be the only pet, as she likes to chase cats and prefers to play with people rather than other dogs. Lady really will be a wonderful best friend for a family with children ten and older. Here she was having a great Blanket Time with Linda and Marianne on Sunday.

Linda started teaching her the “leave it” skill and Lady caught on so fast! Notice she’s looking at the treats, but waiting for Linda to give them to her. What a smart girl!

Linda emailed me this note on Monday: “I’ve only met/interacted with Lady when someone else was walking her. Just stopping and saying hi and giving a treat.  What a nice girl. Glad I got to have blanket time with her.”

I posted this video of her a few weeks ago, but it really shows her wonderful personality, so here it is again.

 

 

One of Caroline’s current favorites is Yoyo, a two-year-old German Shepherd mix.

 

 

This happy boy is Frankie, a three-year-old Chihuahua mix, here with Diane.

 

 

These two little characters are Hazel Nut and Simon. While they don’t have to be adopted together, wouldn’t it be nice if they were? They are Manchester Terrier mixes. Hazel Nut is one year old and Simon is two years old. Here they were on Sunday with Jenna and Diane.

  

 

 

Remi is a very active two-year-old Lab mix. He had a great time playing with Diane.

Marianne took this video of him swimming in a pool on Tuesday!

 

 

This is Yogi, a sweet and shy six-year-old Miniature Dachshund, here with Marianne.

 

 

This very serious but delightful two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix is Marla, here with Caroline.

 

 

Rosco and Francis had some quiet time on Sunday afternoon. Rosco is a four-year-old Shepherd mix. He’s our longest resident and is waiting for an experienced dog lover in search of a special boy.

 

 

Calvin is a wonderful four-year-old American Staffordshire/Bull Terrier mix, here with Ayla.

 

My husband and I are in the busy process of moving, so this will be my last post until we are settled in our new home. I’ll see you again on July 12th. 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