Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

As fall approaches, we dog volunteers are looking forward to crisp temperatures and even some refreshing rain. It’s been a long, hot summer and I, for one, can’t wait for the cooler weather. The dogs don’t seem to mind what kind of weather it is, though, as long as they can spend time with people. As you’ll see in the videos in this week’s post, our shelter dogs crave human interaction and what a joy they are to us who get to spend time with them and then see them go to new loving homes.

I’m young, happy, vivacious, and very handsome! I can’t wait to go home!

Lincoln has been waiting for his forever family since late August. This stunning boy is a one-year-old action-packed mixed-breed dog who is looking for an active family to love. Lincoln will need one with older children 13 and up, as his enthusiasm for just about anything can be a bit overwhelming for small children. He can be picky about his dog friends, but would love to go home with a social, active, and tolerant female. He’s been learning lots with our Training and Behavior Team who have been working on impulse control skills with him. This boy is very smart and had made great strides in his training. He enjoys practicing agility stunts and playing learning games since it means he gets lots of treats, which he loves. Here he is with Jolene.

On Sunday we took him into Mary’s Place for some playtime. He enjoyed himself thoroughly. Watch!

When I arrived at the shelter this afternoon, I found Jolene and Lincoln hanging out under a tree. She said he’d been such a good boy today!

 

 

 

 

I’m playful and I love people! What else could you want?!

Viloa is a delightful four-year-old American Staffordshire/Bull Terrier mix. She was adopted from WHS in 2015, but came back to us when her family could no longer keep her. Viola LOVES people and cheese. Because of her size, she will need to go home to a family with kids 13 and older. She also needs to be the only pet. But what a fun-loving companion she will be! She knows basic commands, is house-trained, and is so smart! And did I mention she loves cheese? Here she was with Kelsey when she first arrived back at WHS.

Last week Marianne and I took her into Mary’s Place to see if she would play. Play? Did we really need to ask? She was a hoot! We’re hoping she’ll find her new family very soon!

 

 

 

 

How about adopting a senior?

When older dogs appear in the shelter, they instantly are loved and given extra attention. Such is the case with two seniors currently waiting for forever retirement homes. Older dogs are the perfect fit for many families. The destructive puppy chewing is long past, they have been house-trained for years, they no longer need hours of active play or miles of running. Instead, they enjoy long naps, short strolls around the neighborhood, and cuddling with their people in the evenings. Of course, the downside is that their time with their families is shorter than with a young dog; but the joy and unconditional love they give their family far outweigh the shorter length of time with them.

“The need for senior dog adoption is great. What makes each of the circumstances creating this need even more saddening is the fact that, despite the wonderful attributes of older dogs and all the best efforts of most shelters, these dogs are frequently overlooked in favor of puppies and younger animals. The ageism that causes seniors to be passed over is a prejudice without merit, as oftentimes it’s the older dog that is best suited for a happy household and a lasting marriage of dog and family. With an older dog, what you see is what you get. There are no surprises. Their physical size is established so there are no mysteries about whether they’ll exceed the weight limit for your apartment, and by and large, their temperament and personality are also fully developed. In other words, they’ve become what and who they are going to be.” ~Jennifer Kachnic (https://positively.com/contributors/the-benefits-of-adopting-a-senior-dog/)

“I can’t think of anything more rewarding than making the last years of a dog’s life the best that they can be.” ~Anonymous

LuLu Ann

LuLu Ann is a ten-year-old (?) mixed breed senior girl. She was found as a stray, and so we know nothing about her past. But LuLu is a happy girl! She may be a senior, but she has a lot of zest and at 40 pounds, she is a great size for a family with children eight or older. She is house-trained and knows basic commands. She was a bit shy when we first met her, but she warmed up as soon as we spent a little time with her. Here she is with Marianne on Sunday.

We took her into Mary’s Place for some play time and we had so much fun! She can be a very goofy girl! LuLu Ann will be such a terrific family member!

 

Here was LuLu Ann today hanging out with us in Mary’s Place again.

 

 

 

 

Amelia

I first met Amelia when she arrived at WHS in late August and I loved her from that moment. Amelia is about twelve years old. She was found as a stray, so we don’t know her history, but we know she must have been loved since she is extremely affectionate and gentle. Amelia has the usual older-dog issues including a few fatty lumps, some arthritis, and she doesn’t hear well. But Amelia doesn’t let any of these issues get her down. She is playful, jumped easily up on the couch in Mary’s Place, and was fine with handling. In fact, she is such a love, she is rated PG 5+. Amelia is house-trained, knows basic commands, is easy to walk, and gets along with other dogs. These are the first pictures I took of her.

Amelia went to playgroup on Sunday morning and here’s what lead Jessi wrote about her: “SO AMAZING and sweet dog.  Mingled with group.  Loved attention from handlers more.” For a family looking for a sweet, calm, and loving new member, Amelia may be the perfect fit. We took sweet Amelia into Mary’s Place Sunday afternoon and oh what a delightful time we had! And if you think an old dog doesn’t play tug anymore, think again!

 

Amelia had a fantastic time once again in Mary’s Place today. She was even more playful than on Sunday. This girl has a lot of energy in her still!

 

 

 

 

Alice is still waiting for her forever home. She is a one-year-old Terrier mix who is full of fun. Here she is with Marianne and me.

 

And here she is today with Jonna. Alice is sporting a cone after being spayed. Doesn’t bother her a bit.

 

 

This happy boy is Leo, a two-year-old lab mix, hanging out in the ISO yard with Marianne because he has a cold. What a cutie!

 

 

 

Frankie the Fantastic (Frankie for short!) is also sporting a cone after being neutered. Here he was today with Sandra.

 

 

 

Meet newbie Romo, a three-year-old American Bulldog mix. Jolene had him out in a yard and he immediately jumped into the pool! What a character!

 

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