Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

I’m going to begin this post with two feel-good, happy-ending stories. Both have to do with dogs who were adopted last Sunday.

Lost for 48 hours and 50 miles!

Sadie Mae is a large, happy girl. Here is her picture from when Marianne and I met her after her arrival at WHS in October. She was adopted once, but had to be returned due to her person’s health.

On Sunday we were all thrilled when Sadie was adopted again. But she bolted just after arriving at her new home, never even getting into the house. For 48 hours, she ran and ran a total of about 50 miles, never letting anyone get close to her, even though she was seen by the many people searching for her. Knowing she was out in the rain during the night broke our hearts. The incredibly amazing Lost and Found Pets of Salem crew along with WHS folks spent hours and hours trying to track her movements. Then suddenly she appeared back on the porch of her new home! But she ran again, escaped a trap, and finally landed in a neighbor’s yard where she couldn’t escape. Once she realized she was safe, she acted like it had been no big deal, and started happily playing. Marianne may be giving her “Make Better Life Choices” speech to this silly dog! 

Here she is back home, wondering what all the fuss was about.

 

 

 

Falling in love from afar

I’ve been writing a WHS shelter dog blog for ten years and it still gives me such a lift when I find out that it has helped one of our shelter dogs find their perfect home. Such was the case last week. If you saw my last post, you read about Carmella, a five-year-old stray who stole my heart the moment I met her. I took this picture of her with Jenna and Caitlin and it was this shot that captured the attention of her new mom.

A couple of days after posting, I received an email from a lady in a town about fifty miles away from Salem. She had been reading my blog for some time, in search of a new pal for her other two dogs. The picture above prompted her to find out more about this sweetheart. After several back-and-forth correspondences, she picked up her dogs after school (she’s a teacher) and brought them to WHS for a dog meet. The meet went fine and they arranged for her husband and son to come back on Saturday, meet Carmella, and if everyone liked each other, take her home. I couldn’t resist meeting them at the shelter for some pictures. I may have overdone it with taking pictures (although no one at the shelter would be surprised!). I’ve been promised many updates and pictures, which have already begun, as you’ll see.

Update! I think it’s very safe to say that Carmella is settling in very well!

 

 

 

 

Looking for the perfect retirement companion? Check me out!

If you are a long-time reader of my posts, you know that I always fall for senior dogs who arrive at our shelter. And so on Sunday I fell for Josie, a Schipperke mix (we think). She was found wandering as a stray and is about eleven years old. She is an extremely sweet old gal, but is very stressed being in the kennel environment. We’re hoping she won’t have to wait long for her retirement home. Because of her age and her sensitivity to touch, she would do best in a quiet home with older (13+) kids. She is house-trained and walks very easily on leash. She won’t be any trouble, as she is happy with short walks and then hanging out with people. She enjoyed being outside and liked my cheese bits. Her eyes are a bit cloudy and she has the usual old-dog lumps. But what a delightful girl she is! Marianne and I both instantly fell in love with her.

 

 

 

 

Big? Me? I think of myself as a puppy!

Kirk is a newbie at the shelter and as Caroline brought him to me for pictures on Sunday, she said, “This is a five-year-old puppy!” and she was right. Kirk is an 80-pound German Shepherd mix who loves to play fetch and will sometimes drop the ball for you when returning it. He walks well on leash and loved my cheese bits. He knows sit and stay and will be a breeze to teach other skills, since he is very treat-motivated. He did well in playgroup and even helped manage some other dogs’ behaviors. Kirk is a high-energy boy and will need an active family and lots of exercise. He’s rated for kids 10 and older. He really is a handsome boy!

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for someone to throw a ball for? Pick ME!

Some family is going to be mighty lucky when they adopt Mari. She is a two-year-old Pointer mix. Her history is wonderful. She has always gotten along very well with other dogs, and in our playgroup she did great with every dog she met. She has not lived with cats, but was fine at a friend’s house who had cats. She loves kids and has lived with small children and is rated for kids eight and older. Mari is house-trained as well as crate-trained. Her former family describes her as “energetic, sweet and cuddly.” Her favorite thing to play in the world is fetch which she will play as long as you will throw the ball, which I saw on Sunday. Mari has been a little overwhelmed at the shelter and loud noises seem to scare her. She will need a family who will give her time to feel safe and secure in her new home. But oh, what a delightful new family member she will be! She just got over a cold and is now in the regular kennels, but was in the ISO kennels when I took these pictures with Francis on Sunday. I spent some time with them and she clearly was feeling fine. I watched her race after the tennis ball over and over again. This dog is one special girl!

She tried to figure out what I wanted her to do, so promptly lay down.

 

 

 

 

Of course Marianne and I spent time with Hunter on Sunday. He loves his GFB (Giant Fluff Ball) so much. Hunter is a two-year-old mixed-breed boy.

Hunter also enjoyed spending time with Francis outside.

 

 

 

Hoagie is a a three-year-old Retriever mix, here with Christine.

 

 

 

Ruby is a one-year-old Retriever mix who is a wonderful girl, here with Jenna and Caitlin.

 

 

 

 

 

Jester/Seamus

I met Jester’s new peeps when they were visiting him, waiting for him to be neutered so they could take him home. They promised me updates and I was thrilled when I got one a couple days later. Turns out Seamus has three new siblings: two cats and a house chicken! Yep, you read that right, a house chicken. And everyone is getting along just great! So happy for this boy!

“Seamus is fitting in so wonderfully! He is so well-mannered and such a couch potato! He loves the cats and even gets along with our house chicken, Monster! He fills a void we didn’t even know we had. I can’t imagine life without him now.

He gets three walks a day and as many snuggles as he wants! And he is learning that the crate isn’t a bad place! He doesn’t cry at night anymore when we put him in it and he has learned to ring the bell when he has to go potty. He is even learning that walks are fun and not anything to be scared of!”

Meet Monster, the House Chicken! He’s real!

 

Personal Note

This will be my last post for a while. I’m having surgery next week and will continue my blog upon my recovery. I hope to be able to report many new adoptions!

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,

I want to start this post telling you about a special dog who has been waiting for her perfect fit of a family for a long time. It is my hope that with your help, Pookie will finally find her forever home.

I’ll love you forever with all my heart!

Pookie is a one-year-old Boxer mix who has been waiting to be adopted since last September. We don’t know what Pookie’s early life was like, but she clearly thought that the world was a scary place. She was afraid of many things and extremely shy in meeting new people, especially men. But we soon found that if only you spent a little time getting to know Pookie so that she learned to trust you, her love and devotion were boundless. Fast forward to the present time. Pookie has conquered so many of her anxieties with the help of her foster parents. This sweet, sensitive and playful youngster has come very far, as her latest foster dad reported in December: “Pookie has really relaxed and chilled out even more. She sleeps through the night (in rooms other than the one we’re in), chills out when we are gone. She likes to look at the window, hang out in the crate. She will just stand at the edge of the kitchen and watch us work with her head cocked, not begging.  She doesn’t mind sirens or loud music and leaves the toys alone when they are put away.  Pookie is very kind and gentle, but loves to play.” Pookie loves to play fetch, and would thoroughly enjoy living in a family with older kids who want a joyful, active best friend. After a rousing game, Pookie loves to cuddle with her peeps on the couch. Pookie will need to be the only pet in the family. She will also need one who will keep up her reward-based training and continuing building her confidence and trust, as she still has some anxieties to overcome. Pookie’s new family will need to give her some time to adjust to a new home before she is left alone. The Behavior and Training team (huge Pookie fans) will be able to help the family with tips for Pookie’s success. The reward for adopting Pookie will be enormous. You will never find a more loving, eager, devoted girl. Here are some of the many pictures I’ve taken of this very special dog.

Pookie has many, many fans, including Marianne.

 

Here Pookie is in action!

 

 

 

 

I’m new here, but I already have a lot of fans!

I met Carmella for the first time on Sunday and I couldn’t believe she was found as a stray and hadn’t been claimed. This sweetheart is the whole package! She is adorable, well-behaved, house-trained, knows several commands, is gentle in taking treats, and is rated for kids eight and older. She even walks very nicely on leash! Carmella is about five years old and is an American Staffordshire Terrier mix. I mean look at this face!

Yes, she has two different colored eyes. She is such a wiggly, happy-go-lucky gal. Some family is going to be mighty lucky to adopt her!

Her serious look is just as endearing as her smile!

Jenna and Caitlin instantly become her fans.

 

 

 

 

I’m still here waiting for you…will you be coming soon?

Hunter has become one of my and Marianne’s favorite dogs ever. He’s been getting stressed at the shelter and his kennel presentation isn’t the best anymore, but take him into Mary’s Place or outside to play and he becomes his old, happy self. Hunter is a two-year-old mixed breed boy who was found as a stray. He loves people and gets along with most other dogs. He has been waiting for his perfect family since early December. To sooth himself when feeling the stress of the kennels, he uses his Giant Fluff Ball as a pacifier. Hunter was adopted once, but the horses in his new home  didn’t like him, and a very sad family had to return him. Hunter will make some lucky people the perfect family dog.

On Sunday Marianne and I took him out for some play time with his favorite yellow duck.

 

 

 

 

I know I need work on my outdoor voice, but I’m great inside!

Another newbie I met on Sunday was Cinch, a two-year-old American Blue Heeler mix. As I watched him being taken out for his walk on Sunday, I sighed. He was so excited to see other dogs, he was barking up a storm. As typical of his breed, this boy needs a job to do! He will not be a couch potato, but what an athletic guy he is and what fun to train for someone who wants a challenge with huge rewards. Cinch also has a great sense of humor and is smart as a whip. After his (loud) walk, Glenna brought Cinch into Mary’s Place and what a different dog he became! Turns out he LOVES cheese and was happy to pose for my camera in a quiet, happy way. Cinch isn’t the dog for everyone, but for the right person, he will be such a delightful character!

 

 

 

 

There are still some of our long-term terrific dogs who remain patiently waiting for their new forever homes. We’re hoping they won’t have to wait much longer.

Ozzie is a one-year-old boy who has been at WHS since September, here with Jolene.

 

 

 

Gus is a three-year-old who has been at the shelter since November, here with Ayla.

 

 

 

Lincoln is a one-year-old who has been waiting since October for a new family. Here he is with Linda.

 

 

 

Ruger is seven and has been waiting for a new home since September. Here he is with Francis.

 

 

 

Serena is three and has been waiting for her new peeps since October. Here she is with Marianne.

 

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