Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

There was a special event at Willamette Humane Society on August 18-19 called “Clear the Shelter.” It was sponsored by Subaru of America, VCA Salem Animal Hospital, and ASPCA. Their support allowed the shelter to waive the adoption fee on cats and reduce the adoption fee on dogs. As a result, 104 cats and 25 dogs were adopted during the two-day event. With 25 dogs no longer waiting for their new people, you can imagine the kennels were pretty empty. But fear not! A new dog transport from a sister shelter in Texas arrived a few days ago. Our transfers come from overcrowded shelters and give very adoptable dogs a better chance at finding their forever homes in Oregon. And find them, they have. Many of the latest newbies are already snuggling into their new families. Two of them still waiting are Ranger and Todd, who will be in Quick Looks a bit later in this post.

As successful as the Clear the Shelter Event was, not all of our dogs found their perfect fit of a home. And so this post is going to feature some long-termers whom I have written about in previous posts. These are dogs who are looking for specific types of families. With the right person and home setting, each of these dogs will blossom into a devoted best friend. We just need to find that person.

 

My name is Carly and the folks here love me. Could you?

Carly is a four-year-old Retriever mix. She has been waiting for her “just right” family since May 3. She has been adopted twice, but neither was the right fit for this girl. Carly is wonderful with people and most dogs, though she seems to prefer calmer dogs who are not rough and rowdy. Because she can be picky at times, she will need to meet any potential dog siblings. Carly is house-trained and loves treats (especially cheese) and loves to learn new skills. She will need a feline-free home (cats are too much fun to chase) and a fenced yard, five feet or higher. Carly would not be a good apartment dog. She needs a family with older teenage kids, as she can be quite exuberant. Since she can become anxious if there is a lot of activity outside the house, a quiet, more rural area would be ideal for this sweet girl. She wants nothing more than to be around her peeps. On Sunday we took her into Mary’s Place and she was ecstatic being with so many of her fans. Carly LOVES stuffed toys and to our amazement, she does not rip them apart. She tosses them, rolls with them, runs with them, and cuddles with them. She is such a delight to watch.

 

 

Carly can settle down and just chill with her peeps, too. Here she is with Linda, Marianne, Jenna and Caroline.

 

Carly learns new skills quickly!

 

Carly spent several days at volunteer Susan’s house and was a perfect house guest. Here is her movie, in case you missed it in a previous post.

 

We’re hoping just the right family will finally realize what a wonderful girl Carly is. She’s been waiting a long time for them.

 

 

 

 

I’m still here waiting for you. Will you be coming soon?

Brinx arrived at WHS in mid-July, a very timid, nervous boy, but he is gradually improving and we see great potential for this beautiful dog to gain the confidence he needs in the right home. He is a five-year-old mixed breed and about sixty pounds. Brinx is house-trained and walks well on leash. He has a good history with older children and would be good for ages about ten and up. He will need to meet any dog sibling he might have. Because of his timidity, he is one of our Behavior and Training Team dogs, so he is getting extra time with skilled staff and volunteers to help build his confidence. He may never be a dog for grand adventures and needs a quiet home where he will feel safe. Marianne and I like to take him into Mary’s Place to encourage him to relax. Brinx is especially nervous around men and tries to avoid interacting with them. Volunteer Francis, who really likes Brinx, is spending time with him to try to help him overcome his fear. Here he is in Mary’s Place as we try to show him that life doesn’t have to be scary. Fingers and paws crossed that the perfect person will fall in love with Brinx and take him home.

 

 

If you know me, you know I take a ton of pictures, hoping to get a few great shots. Every now and then something like this happens…

 

 

 

 

I have some challenges, but look at this face! Does your heart melt?

Neptune is a one-year-old American Staffordshire/Bull Terrier mix. He came to us as a stray, so we don’t know his history, but quickly figured out he is deaf and VERY active. This boy loves to play with both humans and other dogs, is treat-motivated, and a quick learner. He arrived on February 5 and has been waiting for his perfect match of a person ever since. Not surprisingly, since he cannot hear, he has a few challenges. For example, he is startled by sudden movement, an issue on which the Training Team and he have been working. This youngster has grown both in size and muscle during his time at the shelter.

 

Neptune is such a clown. He loves his time in Mary’s Place.

 

 

Our Behavior and Training manager, Chelsea, is one of Neptune’s biggest fans. Here are some pictures she sent from a play session they had recently. Such a happy boy!

 

Chelsea says this about a very special dog:

“If anyone is looking for an endearing, silly, busy dog, Neptune is your guy. He loves plushies and tug, and his cute snorts and grunts will keep you laughing while you play together. When you’re done playing, enjoy listening to him snore!

We recently found out that he ADORES men. We’ve never seen him happier than when he climbed onto a man’s lap to smother him in kisses. Don’t worry, he can be affectionate, playful, and engaged with women as well. This guy is also very social with dogs; if he goes home with a dog, that dog should be all about chase and wrestling games and be very tolerant of youngsters and all of their antics.

Neptune has a sensitive, cautious nature. Our training team been working on building his confidence and trust, as well as training life skills, since his arrival in February as a stray pup. He is looking for someone who is seriously committed to rewards-based training to continue to help him. Since he is deaf he has been learning visual cues. He is bright and food-motivated. He’s looking for an adult-only home. Since we discovered that Neptune seems most comfortable around adult men, a field trip to the Salem Fire Department seemed like just the thing to make this pup happy. Look at his smiles!”

 

We’re hoping this endearing, goofy boy will soon finally find his forever home.

 

 

 

 

Hoagie is still waiting for his perfect family fit. He is a three-year-old Retriever mix with some specific needs for his forever home. Here he is with one of his good friends, Francis, on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Ranger is a newbie transferred from Texas. He is a four-year-old Boxer mix here with Noah and Gracie.

 

 

 

Todd is another new Texas transfer and an instant favorite of Marianne’s. He is a three-year-old Retriever mix.

 

 

 

 

 

Cinch

Whenever we have a somewhat challenging dog who is not a good fit for many families, we worry. Will the right person come along and see the diamond in the rough? Will they be willing to deal with the dog’s quirks? Will adopters take him home only to return him after a few days? Or will he be relegated to the back yard because of his behavior? We worry about what kind of life he will have.

Cinch, a stray, arrived at WHS last December. He was a beautiful two-year-old American Blue Heeler  mix whose behavior was challenging to say the least. Cinch was LOUD. Here’s some of what I wrote in my January 10th post: “Another newbie I met on Sunday was Cinch. 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….Cinch isn’t the dog for everyone, but for the right person, he will be such a delightful character!” Weeks turned into a month and Cinch was not adopted.

 

 

Then on February 1 a couple came to meet Cinch after seeing his picture on the website. It was love at first Cinch! Here is the update:

“I had been wanting a dog for a while and had been checking in at shelters off and on. When I saw this little boy’s face I knew he was the one. I showed the photo to my husband and we went to meet him as soon as we could. He was a stray that had been at the humane society for a month. We were also warned about him being dog reactive. We are pretty secluded so we felt like a good fit. His story also melted my heart! I can’t believe how far he has come. He still can’t go to the dog park anytime soon, but he has some dog friends that he plays with. He is so cuddly and such a goofball. We go on hikes almost everyday and he now gets along with our cat, chickens and goats! He even helps put away the goats. I am so glad that we get to have this dog in our life! I can’t believe anyone could ever give him up!”

 

 

Cinch’s story happens over and over at WHS. Stories like his give us hope for Carly, Brinx and Neptune. Just like Cinch, they are waiting for just the right person who sees their diamond. I hope it won’t be long before I can post their own happy updates.

 

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,

First of all, yes, this is a blog about adoptable dogs at Willamette Humane Society, and there will be lots of dog pictures in this post. However, on Sunday I happened to walk past the Cat Suites and I had to stop. I’m not sure there is anything much cuter than a kitten pile, which is exactly what I happened upon! And now…on to the dogs!

 

 

Lady, a sweet, shy, senior Coonhound arrived from our sister shelter in Hawaii on July 31. I met her shortly afterward and both Marianne and I were touched by her gentle personality. She didn’t like my camera, but wanted to be friends.

 

I had planned to feature Lady in a post, but she was adopted quickly. However, she was not the right fit for the person and was returned. So I was going to feature her this week, when Marianne messaged me that a friend’s mother was interested in meeting Lady. Marianne introduced the two and it was love at first sight. Here is a going-home picture that Marianne sent. We are so happy this shy girl is in her forever home now.

 

 

I wouldn’t be the perfect fit for everyone, but maybe I would be for you?

Edgar is a ten-year-old, eleven-pound senior Chihuahua mix who is very shy at first meeting, but give this sweet boy some time and patience and his personality begins to shine. Edgar was found as a stray and we don’t know what kind of life he has had, but he’s hoping for a forever home where he can feel safe and secure. When Marianne and I first brought him into Mary’s Place, he wasn’t comfortable being touched, but he did tentatively take the cheese bits I offered him. We let him explore the room at his own pace while we sat and talked to him quietly. Soon he was approaching us for a cheese bit, then he began putting his paws up on us, then hopping up on the couch with the help of a footstool. What a difference some time and patience made in his comfort level! Edgar will need a quiet home with older, calm kids or only adults who will give him the space and understanding he needs to feel safe. We have no doubt he will become a wonderful companion for the right person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I know. Marianne and Martha say I need to work on my kennel presentation. I’ll try harder!

LouLou is a seven-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. She arrived at WHS with some medical issues that have now been taken care of and she’s ready to be adopted! LouLou is a doll and loves people. She has lived with other dogs and even a cat. She chased the cat at first, then learned to ignore it. Because of being a senior with a few senior issues like some weakness in her back legs, she’d do best with older, gentle kids. LouLou is house-trained and very good about asking to be let out. In so many ways, LouLou is a wonderful girl.

 

LouLou’s one behavior needing improvement is what we call “demand barking.” Sometime in her life she discovered that if she barked at someone, they would give her a treat. We are working on teaching her that it works exactly the opposite—barking gets you ignored, while polite sitting and waiting earns you treats. Because of her demand barking, she has horrible kennel presentation. Whenever a prospective adopter stops at her kennel, LouLou thinks she should bark for a treat. Needless to say, people keep on walking and don’t stop to get to know her. So on Sunday Marianne and I took LouLou into Mary’s Place to practice polite waiting. We were amazed at how quickly LouLou started to catch on. Just watch!

Arriving in Mary’s Place, LouLou happily “demands” a treat.

 

To LouLou’s utter amazement, we ignored her. As soon as she stopped barking, I gave her a cheese bit. When she started to bark again, we ignored her. And to OUR amazement, within minutes of the barking/ignoring/cheese-bit-when-quiet lesson, this began to happen.

 

 

LouLou is such a great girl and will be a wonderful family dog if they are just willing to give her a little time to continue to practice how to ask for treats nicely. We’re hoping someone will realize what a sweetheart she is very soon.

After our lesson, we just relaxed with LouLou. I take a ton of pictures every time I go to the shelter. Most of them are deleted and I keep the good ones. However, every once in awhile, I can’t resist. Neither Marianne nor I can remember why she was making this face!

 

 

LouLou is a very happy dog with high hopes.

 

 

 

 

I’m shy around people, but I really would like to learn to be brave.

Brinx arrived at WHS in mid-July, a very timid, nervous boy, but he is gradually improving and we see great potential for this beautiful dog to gain the confidence he needs in the right home. He is a five-year-old mixed breed and about sixty pounds. Brinx is house-trained and walks well on leash. He has a good history with children and would be good for ages about ten and up. He will need to meet any dog sibling he might have. Because of his timidity, he is one of our Behavior and Training Team dogs, so he is getting extra time with skilled staff and volunteers to help build his confidence. He may never be a dog for grand adventures and needs a quiet home where he will feel safe. Marianne and I like to take him into Mary’s Place to encourage him to relax.

 

 

Brinx is especially nervous around men and tries to avoid interacting with them. Volunteer Francis, who really likes Brinx, is spending time with him to try to help him overcome his fear. Here they were on Sunday relaxing out in the yard.

 

Brinx is a good boy waiting for just the right fit of a loving family.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not a young dog, but everyone here loves me. You will, too!

Every so often, we welcome a dog that I loved in years past back to the shelter. Such is the case with Jovi. I first met her in December, 2009 and wrote this about her in my blog post:

Regular readers of this blog will not be surprised to learn that I’m falling in love again. This is Jovi who is almost four years old. What drew me to her was her quiet manner. She was sitting at the front of her kennel when I arrived, hopeful, yet very shy. Jovi is a gentle soul who is looking for someone to love. She has polite manners and a great history with both other dogs and kids. She is the perfect family dog. Here she is with Brian.

 

When I first met Jovi, it was actually her second time at WHS. She had been found as a stray in 2006, adopted, then surrendered in 2009. Jovi was adopted again shortly after I wrote about her. Now, nine years later, she is back. At twelve years old, she is an old lady with stiff joints and a gray muzzle, but she is still the loving, happy girl that she was in 2009. Here she is with Marianne.

 

Jovi went to playgroup on Sunday morning and enjoyed mingling with the other gentle dogs. We then took her into Mary’s Place in the afternoon. She loved the attention and we loved spending time with her. She will need some serious dental work before she can be adopted. We are hoping that her perfect retirement family will decide they want to adopt her, then foster her until she has her dental procedure, at which point the adoption will be finalized. Jovi has a great history with kids, and is rated for gentle children five and older. She also gets along well with other dogs and even cats! She has started on some pain meds for her joints, so soon should feel less stiff. Jovi will not need long walks. Slow, short meanderings will be perfect for her age.

 

Jenna met Jovi for the first time on Sunday and was smitten just as we are.

 

Francis stopped in to say hi.

 

Jovi was happy to help us choose who the next dog would be in Mary’s Place.

 

 

We assured Jovi that there are adopters out there who want to adopt older dogs. We just have to find the perfect one for her. Oh yes, and she won’t be much trouble, and she will bring you much joy.

 

 

 

Maddie is a very happy, energetic one-year-old Shepherd mix. For someone wanting the joys of positive dog training, Maddie is your girl! Here she is with Marianne.

It just so happened that volunteer Megan stuffed some Kongs for the dogs and Maddie was so excited!

 

 

 

This is Bella, a five-year-old Terrier mix, with Christine.

 

 

 

Margot is a ten-month-old mixed breed girl who is full of energy! Here she is with Marianne.

 

 

This weekend will see a special event at WHS, a “Clear the Shelter Adoption Event.” Dogs will be adoptable at a reduced price. It’ll be a very busy weekend, and I won’t be trying to get new pictures. So I won’t write a blog post next week. See you on August 29th!

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