Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

First, some very happy news about one of our long-termers!

 

 

There was a wonderful adoption last week! Champ, who has been waiting since January to find his perfect fit of a family, found them! Staff sent me this picture of them going home.

 

They stopped into WHS on Monday and reported that he’s doing great! Marianne snapped this picture for me. How we love happy endings for our long-termers!

 

 

 

What a great time we had playing with shelter dogs on Sunday! After taking pictures of the new arrivals, we settled in with three dogs who have been waiting a long time for their perfect match of a family.

 

We’re both looking for quiet retirement homes where we’ll be loved. How about yours?

Jazz and Zinger are ten-year-old Miniature Pinschers. Jazz is almost seven pounds and Zinger is only five. On Sunday afternoon, Marianne, Ayla, and I fell totally in love with them both. Although they came from the same home, they are not bonded and can be adopted separately. We took them into Mary’s Place, one at a time, for some quality attention and pictures. They have not had a very social life. When their person died, they and two other Min Pins came to us. Because they have not been exposed to much of the world, they are shy at first meeting and neither is totally house-trained. They will need patient and understanding families.

When Jazz came into Mary’s Place, she paced, seeming nervous and uneasy. She has a cataract on her left eye, and we aren’t sure how much she can see out of it. She acted a bit aloof, not wanting to be touched. But after about a half an hour, suddenly she relaxed and became a totally different dog.

 

 

She solicited our attention and pets. She loved my cheese bits. She wanted to crawl into Marianne’s lap where she promptly fell asleep, nestled in her arms. This sweet senior will be such a wonderful companion for someone who is looking for a quiet, affectionate little dog. All she needs is a little time to settle and trust.

 

When it was time to take her back to her kennel, she didn’t want to go and stayed leaning against Marianne. Jazz will bond quickly with her new family.

 

 

Next it was Zinger’s turn in Mary’s Place. He also came in feeling uneasy.

 

But Ayla and Marianne took it slow, giving him time to trust, and it paid off!

 

 

 

Both of these little dogs deserve retirement homes where they feel safe and loved. They will never be up for big adventures, but they will be wonderful companions for some lucky adopters willing to take a senior home.

 

 

 

This is my second time here at the shelter. I’m hoping my next home will be forever!

Terry is a three-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He first came to WHS as a stray in September of 2018. He was adopted the following October, but his family’s life changed, and they could no longer take care of him. So he is back with us to find another home. Terry is up for any adventure, in this case, dress-up!

 

Terry LOVES people. He’s not so crazy about other dogs. In fact, he is dog-selective and would be happy to be an only pet.

Terry is not the right dog for everybody. He is a big boy who has not gotten the rewards-based training he should have, and so pulls when going for walks. At 75 pounds, he can pull hard. He is working on this and trying to do better. The fact that he loves cheese bits will help in training him. Terry can also be possessive of his toys. Because of this he will need to go home with dog-savvy people and older kids.

Terry enjoys hanging out in Mary’s Place with his fans like Marianne and Caroline.

 

He also LOVES to play fetch outside. So I decided you needed to see this happy boy in action. Here he is.

 

Terry hopes that the perfect person will see his movie and realize they just discovered their new best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

Every now and then a dog arrives at WHS who is a huge teddybear. Winston is such a dog. He is a 95-pound American Bulldog mix. Here he is with Ayla. The boy has a gigantic head!

 

 

 

 

Archie is a one-year-old Staffordshire Terrier mix, here with Megan.

 

 

 

Teddy is still waiting for his perfect family fit. He is an eleven-month-old Akita mix, here with Kaylee and Angie.

 

 

 

 

Cybil, an eight-year-old Shepherd mix, is still waiting for her retirement forever home, here with Layla.

 

 

 

 

 

Winston was such a hoot during his photo shoot on Sunday! He kept us all laughing during the entire time! He seemed to enjoy to clown for my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

There are two very special updates this week. One is from a recent adoption and one is from quite some time ago. Both were dogs who waited a long time for their perfect families and both dogs found them.

Joey

Joey was one of our all-time favorite dogs and we worried about him ever getting adopted. He arrived from Hawaii in November. He was adopted in January, but returned after a few weeks because he was not fully house-trained. We worried about who would have the patience to help Joey. Then in April, they came.

 

 

I was thrilled when I got this email last week.

“We adopted Joey on April 7th. He has been a lot of fun in the two weeks that we have added him to our household. Our daughter, Anna, loves to take him out in the yard to play. Joey is also enjoying getting to know our neighborhood through morning and evening walks. He likes playing with toys, but also loves a good tummy rub!

Joey and our two cats are getting adjusted to each other. One of the cats can be around him pretty much anytime, while the other is still a bit of a “fraidy cat.” Joey likes to lie around and take it easy as well, lying on the floor when we are watching TV, or sitting under the desk when I am working on the computer. Our backyard is fenced in and we have an enclosed courtyard in front, so Joey has multiple chances to be outside in a safe setting.

Other than some issues with marking behavior (peeing in the house – which we are working on!), Joey is a sweet dog, and we love him very much. We think he loves us too!”

 

 

 

Echo: A Very Special Story

Echo first arrived at WHS in 2005. She was found as a stray at the beginning of January and brought to the shelter. She was adopted later that month. Then in March of 2012, Echo was surrendered when her family said they didn’t have enough time for her anymore. That is when volunteer Sarah and I first met her and fell in love. This is what I wrote about her in my March 21, 2012 post:

Another new arrival to the shelter is Echo, an extremely shy yet charming girl who is seven years old. She is so overwhelmed at the shelter, she does not present well in her kennel. At first she would not accept any treats and had her tail tucked under her. But later in our shift, Emelynn, Sarah and I took her into the training room, spread down a blanket and just let her hang out with us. She gradually relaxed, untucked her tail and munched on some hot dog bits. She is a very sweet girl who is waiting for a patient, loving family to make her feel safe and secure.

 

 

Echo waited and waited for her perfect family and I kept writing about her. On April 4th, I wrote:

Sarah arrived from a respite with Echo. Echo is so frightened and stressed in her kennel. Sarah happily reported that once away from the shelter, Echo is a totally different dog. Her tail and ears came up and there was a spring in her step. Returning this afternoon, Echo was very sad. Because of her insecurities, Echo does not present well in her kennel. We hope that an understanding person will see what a sweet and loving dog is underneath the nervous exterior and take her home where she will blossom. Echo is an eight-year-old American Bulldog mix.

Because Echo was so sad at the shelter, Sarah took her home to foster.

Finally, on April 22, 2012, Echo found her forever family. Here’s what I wrote about it:

On Sunday, volunteer Sarah brought her foster dog, Echo, to WHS as usual, and she helped me take pictures of new shelter dogs. During the afternoon, a couple saw Echo and fell in love. They went home to get their Lab (a WHS alumnus) for a dog-to-dog meet. The play date went well and Echo finally has a forever home! The most touching moment was when shy Echo offered her paw to her new person. I was so happy I caught the moment with my camera. The bonding has begun! 

 

 

Over the years, Echo and her family have sent me updates. But this week’s is extra special.

“Hi Martha, 

As you know Echo turned 15 the 11th of this month. We decided to have a low-key celebration at home with her canine siblings. She is doing good for her age, but she no longer can go on long walks and she gets crabby often. The past 7 years with her have been so wonderful, she taught me that adopting a senior dog is such a rewarding experience and it makes it so much easier to get used to them being a part of your family. At the end of November we lost Cloud (her best friend, he was close to being 14) and since then she seems a bit lost and sleeps a lot more. She adores Xander (another one of my foster failures from WHS) and tolerates the rest.

Today we had her “party” and I wanted to share a couple of pictures with you. She didn’t care to play with her new toys but she did enjoy her cake (dog friendly) and once she was done it was time for her nap. That’s all for now, thanks so much for always remembering her and asking me to update you.”

 

Happy Birthday, sweet Echo.

 

And that’s it for this week!

 

All of the dogs I have featured today, along with other terrific dogs waiting to be adopted, can be found at Willamette Humane Society. Here is the link to the adoptable-dog page:

https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

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 am thrilled to report that Benny, Ziggy, and Little Joe, the three little dogs with “issues” whom I featured last week, have all been adopted! They are settling into their new homes and getting to know their new families.

 

 

 

 

That brings me to this week. Here are three wonderful dogs just waiting for you!

 

 

 

They say I am a diamond in the rough. I know that means I’m a great dog! 

Buggs is a stunning two-year-old Lab mix who weighs in at almost 90 pounds. He has been waiting for just the right family since March 16. I hadn’t spent much time with him, and so when Marianne suggested we bring him into Mary’s Place so we could feature him in this week’s post, I thought it was a great idea. It was.

 

Are you looking for a young, big, happy, enthusiastic dog who is ready for any adventure you might have in mind? Hiking? Water sports? Beach trips? Hours of playing fetch? Do you enjoy positive rewards-based training which is great fun for both you and your dog? Do you like an affectionate dog who will settle in the evening with his Kong and his peeps? Buggs just might be the dog for you.

Buggs is a “work in progress.” He needs to practice walking politely on leash and not to jump on people. He knows the cue to “sit” and will happily flop down for bits of cheese, which he loves. 

Buggs’ kennel presentation is not good. People walk right past him, thinking he is too much dog, too loud and too rowdy. But they don’t get to know the real Buggs.

We took Buggs into a yard today and then were in stitches as he crammed two tennis balls into his mouth, then tried for a third! He loves to play fetch and will drop one ball for you to throw while keeping a second one tucked in his mouth for good measure.

 

Note the TWO balls in his mouth!

 

Look carefully where his eyes are focused. 🙂

 

Buggs is picky about his dog friends and will never be a dog-park dog. Because of his enthusiasm, he is listed for children about 13 and older. But given the right family with the time and love to help him learn better manners, Buggs will blossom into a wonderful companion.

After our game of fetch, we took Buggs into Mary’s Place where he happily settled, chewing on a Kong and relaxing with us. He also loved getting petted by Linda.

 

 

We put some cheese bits in his Kong and he was a very happy boy.

 

 

Then it was time to go back to his kennel. Buggs is a diamond in the rough just waiting for the right family. Is it yours?

 

News Flash! Just got this from Marianne right before publishing time!

“It was a beautiful day, and I don’t believe anyone has ever taken Buggs on any kind of outing since he’s been at WHS. Ayla and I decided it was time. Buggs is a typical two-year-old lab—energetic, playful, and affectionate. I had no idea how such an exuberant boy would behave in the car, but he surprised both of us. He rode quietly in the backseat and was very curious about what was going on outside of the car. When we reached a stoplight, he did bark, almost as if to say, “Can we keep moving please?” We went to Bentley’s and got him a Pup Shake. The Baristas absolutely loved him, and why wouldn’t they? He loved the shake; and since he was such a good boy, we took him into Mary’s place before putting him back in his kennel. He is an amazing dog, and any family would be lucky to have him as a companion.”

 

 

 

 

I’ve always been an outdoor dog. I really would like to be indoors with my family now.

Roxie is a one-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. She arrived at WHS mid-March with ear infections that needed to be treated before she could be available for adoption. She was very nervous and shy at first which was not surprising since her ears hurt. But now, after treatment, Roxie is ready to go to her forever home. Her adopters will need to finish the meds she is on and follow up with their vet. This sweet and loving girl has been an outdoor-only dog, so will need a little time and patience in house-training. She is a fast learner, however, and we’re sure she’ll catch on very quickly.

 

 

Though shy at first meeting, it doesn’t take Roxie long to warm up to a person, then try to crawl into their lap. She has not been around children, so she is rated for older kids who will be understanding of her initial timidity. She walks well on leash and knows several commands. With positive rewards-based training, she will learn even more. She has been a bit picky about her friends in our playgroups, so will need to meet any other dog she will be living with.

Marianne spent some time with this sweetheart soon after she arrived at WHS.

A few other factoids about Roxie from her previous family include that she loves tummy rubs but hates baths, and she solicits attention from anyone she meets. We’re hoping Roxie will very soon be basking in the comforts of a new home with her forever family. She is a gem.

 

 

 

 

 

Got a skateboard? Got kids? Got cats? Now you just need ME!

Every once in a while, a dog arrives at WHS who is just about perfect. Yep, meet Sammi Sue. Sammi is a six-year-old Lab mix. She has been an outside farm dog her whole life and is now ready to be an indoor best friend. From the moment we met Sammi, we were all smitten. The first thing you notice about Sammi is her smile—she is ALWAYS smiling! Life is just that good!

 

 

The second thing you notice is her sense of humor. This girl is a hoot. I thought I’d get a quick shot of Sammi and Haylee on the bench…not so fast.

 

After all the joking around, she posed just right.

 

Sammi is rated PG, meaning she LOVES kids! In fact, in her previous home she would pull them around on a skateboard just for fun! And cats? What’s not to like? Sammi got along great with all the farm cats as well as other dogs. Since Sammi has been an outdoor dog her entire life, she will need a little time and understanding to learn what house-training is all about. So there you have it. Sammi is just about a perfect family addition. We have a feeling some lucky folks will snap her up very soon. Until then, we’ll have a great time hanging out with her.

 

 

 

Fetty is a five-year-old mixed breed boy who is learning how to be brave. He came to us from Alabama after the terrible tornadoes hit his home town. He’s looking for an understanding and patient family. He is one of our Training Team dogs, so if you are interested in meeting him, fill out an application here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/adoption-process/adoption-application/         They will contact you for an appointment. Here Fetty is with Marianne.

 

Marianne sent me the picture below from Monday. It seems Fetty is glad to see some spring flowers!

 

 

 

Teddy Bear is an eleven-month-old Akita mix. He has lived with other dogs and done well. He will need lots of exercise, being the big youngster that he is. Caroline fell in love with him.

 

 

 

 

Cyblil is an eight-year-old Shepherd mix who just came back to the shelter after some time in a foster home. She has quite the fan club, including Megan, Ayla, and Marianne.

 

 

 

Lolly is a seven-year-old Chihuahua mix. She has a large hernia and will have surgery before she goes home. She is currently in a foster home, so if you are interested in meeting her, fill out this application: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/adoption-process/adoption-application/ and someone will contact you. Here she is with Marianne.

 

 

 

 

Not surprisingly, Sammi Sue is the subject in this week’s outtakes. She kept us laughing the whole time we had her in Mary’s Place. I just sat back and watched.

 

 

 

 

Peppi

I don’t usually spend much time with puppies who arrive at the shelter. It’s not because I don’t LOVE to spend time with puppies, but because they are adopted very quickly and don’t need my help to feature them. Such was the case with little Peppi. Here is a picture I took shortly before he went home. I used it to announce his adoption.

 

 

I was thrilled when I his new family commented on the picture last week. I asked if they would send me an update and they were delighted to do so.

“We have had Peppi for almost three months now and he is so loved! We aren’t quite sure how we ever lived without this little lovebug! He is all love, fun and snuggles. He’s learned to come, sit, down, shake, high five and speak! He’s just the best little buddy ever! He absolutely loves to ‘go-go’ in the car, especially when we are heading to one of our favorite local pet-friendly spots where he can steal one of our French fries. Here you go with some pictures! The first one is the evening he was adopted and he was so very happy to be home and snuggled right in. They are in chronological order after that with the last being over Spring Break. We had to rent a vacation home that gave him room to run his heart out in a fenced yard. He is a blast! We feel so incredibly lucky to have found him and still can’t believe he’s ours.”

 

On that very happy note, that’s it for this week!

 

All of the dogs I have featured today, along with other terrific dogs waiting to be adopted, can be found at Willamette Humane Society. Here is the link to the adoptable-dog page:

https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

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