Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

It’s been a much better week for dog adoptions. There were seventeen adoptions since last Wednesday! But as always, there are still a number of wonderful shelter dogs waiting for their forever families. In this post I’m going to tell you about three of them, all who have waited quite a while for their perfect family fit. Plus, Terry had another Excellent Adventure last week!

But before I start talking about our featured dogs of this week, I want to write a personal note of appreciation. I have the most amazing “team” of volunteers who help me each week. I could never produce this blog without them. They put up with my “barking” instructions like “Look at me and SMILE!” They are simply the BEST. Here they were on Sunday with a dog who is just about perfect, Winston. Top row: Caroline and Megan, bottom row: Marianne, Winston, Ayla.

 

 

I’m trying to learn to be brave. It’s hard sometimes, but my friends here are helping me.

I first wrote about Hawk in my May 8 post. But he is still waiting for just the right person to find him. Maybe that person will read today’s message. Hawk came to us all the way from Alabama. Because of the terrible storms in early spring, shelters there were in desperate need of space for displaced pets, so dogs already in the shelter were sent to other places. WHS took in nine of these dogs, and Hawk is one. He is a four-year-old mixed-breed boy. We know that Hawk did not have a very happy or social life in Alabama, as he arrived extremely apprehensive about almost everything. But gradually, over the past couple of months, Hawk has begun to trust those who have spent time with him and is slowly beginning to show his true happy personality.

Volunteer Linda wrote this about him: “Hawk is great Helper Dog. He and volunteer Jolene have assisted with leash-reactive dogs, Hawk being the easy-going, calm, let’s-just-go-for-a-walk guy. We have also paired him with the shy ones, where Hawk shares with them all the confidence he has learned. He’s been wonderful to work with.” Hawk will need a very special family with older children to continue to build his trust and confidence.

We decided that you needed more than pictures to see how far Hawk has come. He is learning that the world does not have to be a scary place, has relaxed enough to play, and has wonderful times romping with other shelter dogs. On Sunday we took him out to a play yard where we presented him with his very own GFB (Giant Fluff Ball). Here are the results. The ball didn’t stay clean for long!

 

 

 

But pictures were not enough. So here is Hawk in action.

 

Hawk is being shown by our training department. Please submit your adoption questionnaire and allow them to contact you for an appointment to meet him. You can fill out an application here: whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/adoption-process/adoption-application/

We are hoping that Hawk will find his happily-ever-after home very soon.

 

 

 

I’ve been waiting for a new family since April 14. I sure hope they find me soon.

Bruno is a five-year-old Dutch Shepherd mix. This is his second time at WHS, he was found as a stray in the summer of 2014 and transferred to us from another shelter. Here is what I wrote about him then.

Bruno is a one-year-old Dutch Shepherd mix who is extremely active and would love to take some training classes to polish his manners, which do need some polish! His youthful enthusiasm can be a tad overwhelming, but he has a good heart, an eager mind and will grow into a wonderful boy. He loves to learn, loves to play and loves everyone he meets. He’s a goofy, fun character.

Bruno was adopted quickly and we thought we’d never see him again. But circumstances change, and he came back to the shelter on April 14. He is still the same stunningly handsome boy.

Bruno will need to be the only pet in his home. He also will need a secure yard, as he has been known to try to go on adventures. He can be somewhat handling-sensitive, so is strongly suggested for kids thirteen and older. But oh, what a delightful dog Bruno is. He LOVES stuffed toys. In fact, he loves them so much, he likes to carry one on his walks. On Sunday I happened to see Francis taking Bruno out for his afternoon walk. Notice the stuffed dog?

 

Later in the afternoon, we decided to take him to a yard, wondering if he would play. So Marianne went to bring him outside and he didn’t come alone.

 

 

We didn’t have to wonder long.

 

After several spirited games, Bruno started to get tired.

 

Then it was time for some relaxation.

We’re really hoping that Bruno’s new family will find him soon.

 

 

 

I’ve been here before, too. I’m waiting for a family with kids. I LOVE kids!

Meet Boosha, a four-year-old mixed-breed gal who is an absolutely delightful compact character. This is Boosha’s second time at the shelter. She first came in 2017. I fell for her then, as did volunteer Caitlin.

 

Here she was learning “leave it” and doing VERY well!

 

Boosha is back due to her chronic allergies. She arrived with otitis externa (ear infections) because of her allergies, as well as some hair loss and rashes. The allergies may be due to food, grass, and other things in the outdoors. Because Boosha was mostly an outdoor dog in her last home, the allergic reactions were greater. She really needs to be more of an indoor dog. She is now on special food and is doing great. Her new family will need to monitor her allergies and treat them early if they crop up. But Boosha will pay you back in love. This girl has a great history with children of all ages. She loves being with her people. She did show some food-guarding behavior from other dogs in her last home. She does very well in our shelter playgroups. Although she doesn’t like to talk about it, she does need to lose a few pounds. Fewer treats and more exercise will do the trick. Boosha is both house- and crate-trained, and is used to spending nights in her crate. Her previous family wrote “she is sweet and wonderful with the family and all people. She does not bark at strangers.” Boosha is a cuddler, but also loves to play outdoors. On Sunday we took her out to a yard and she had a blast.

 

Then, because it was a warm, beautiful day, we decided to sit in the grass and relax.

 

 

Ayla made her a daisy crown.

 

Boosha wanted a group shot with her fan club.

 

Some family is going to be mighty lucky to adopt this sweetheart.

 

 

 

 

Terry’s Second Excellent Adventure!

Terry got to go to another park last week with Marianne and Ayla. Here is the report:

“Terry had another excellent adventure today at Cascade Gateway Park. Once again, he was very well behaved although we did find out that he will chase a squirrel—new information on him. We saw lots of people walking, jogging, and riding bikes. We also saw ducks and geese up close and heard dogs barking in the distance. He made it through everything with flying colors. And,Terry absolutely loves the water. Ayla put a long leash on him and he waded right in and splashed around. He had so much fun! He rides so well in the car and loves being away from the shelter even if only for a short time. These outings really help him! What a special dog he is. We love him so much and are eagerly waiting for his perfect family to come and find him.”

 

I’ve written about Terry in my blog posts several times, but he is still waiting to be found by just the right people. Because he has been at the shelter since April 5th, he is getting stressed and worried. These outings help lower his anxiety. Terry is a three-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix. Terry LOVES people. He is dog-selective, meaning he likes to play with some dogs and not others, and would be happy to be an only pet. Terry needs to go home with older kids. We can’t wait for him to be found by his perfect family! They will be so lucky!

 

 

 

The time when everyone but the photographer is done with the photoshoot

 

Bench posing isn’t as easy as it looks.

 

On that 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

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Dog adoptions have slowed in recent days. May is a busy month for graduations, wrapping up the school year, planning for summer vacations, etc. But we’re hoping that people will soon decide they need a new best friend and come visit the shelter. This week I’m going to write about three dogs who have been waiting quite a while for their forever families.

I was here before and got adopted. I hope I find my forever family this time!

Bunny is a delightful eight-year-old mixed-breed girl who arrived at WHS on May 5. She had been with her family for six years but, due to moving, they were unable to take her with them. So now Bunny is waiting for a new family and hoping it will be her forever one. I first met Bunny, in November of 2013, but her name was Sunny then. Here’s what I wrote about her in my blog at that time:

Is there anything cuter than a play bow? Meet Sunny, a two-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix. This picture was taken last Thursday by volunteer Marla when she took Sunny out for her morning romp. I’m wishing the right family fit will come soon for this eager gal.

 

 

A week later, I wrote:

Sunny always thinks any glass is half full. She is an energetic, happy young girl who will need a family to give her lots of exercise. She is a ball dog through and through!

Another volunteer at that time who fell in love with Sunny was Joan.

 

Sunny was finally adopted and we were over the moon. Fast forward six years and Sunny is now Bunny in need of a new home. She’s put on a few pounds, but is still the same happy, energetic, ball-playing girl that she was in 2013.

Bunny’s family loved her and had great things to say about her, including that she loves to play, likes attention, likes to be in your lap (oh my), and to go for car rides. They also reported that she will first bark at a stranger, then when she’s told it’s okay, she wants to sit in their lap. She has even  lived happily with a cat! She is both house- and crate-trained, and is mostly an indoor dog. She is rated for kids about ten and up.

I was anxious to spend some quality time with Bunny, and so Marianne, Megan, and I took her out to the big yard for some serious games of fetch. And play she did!

 

 

Bunny is now eight, and after some vigorous games, this happened.

 

Back in Mary’s Place, we enjoyed some quiet, unwinding time.

 

Could you? We are amazed Bunny is still waiting. She will make some lucky family a perfect forever best friend.

 

 

 

 

I’m not a youngster and I don’t play fetch. But I know stuff!

Zoe is a thirteen-year-old Lab mix. She has the usual older dog issues of some lumps as well as suspected hypothyroidism which is being treated with medication. But don’t think that Zoe thinks that is a problem. She loves to go for walks and on Sunday when I saw her with volunteer Katie on a bench, Katie couldn’t wait to show me what Zoe does when asked to “sit pretty.”

Zoe’s real problem is her kennel presentation. She is so excited to meet everyone, she uses her “outside” voice to get passersbys’ attention. She doesn’t realize that this does not endear potential adopters to her and they walk by. So we decided to take Zoe into Mary’s Place on Sunday for some quiet, “inside voice” time. She did not bark once while hanging out with us. Zoe is rated for kids about ten and older.

Megan soon discovered that Zoe knows several commands besides “sit pretty.” She knows “shake,” “down,” and, of course her default, “sit pretty,” once again.

 

 

Zoe is somewhat stressed at the shelter, where it can be quite noisy. She had a little trouble relaxing at first, but then Megan got her a “frozen Kong” (a rubber Kong stuffed with dog food and treats) and she loved it!

 

 

Zoe is a sweet girl, hoping for an active retirement home with people who love her. We hope her waiting won’t be much longer.

 

 

 

 

It’s been said I’ve got a great smile. Wouldn’t you like to see it every day?

Tyson is a four-year-old mixed breed boy who is looking for a very special home. Tyson’s entire body wiggles with excitement when he’s happy, which is any time he sees people. He is trusting, eager to learn, with a smile that melts your heart.

 

Tyson is one of our Behavior and Training dogs due to the sad reason he came to the shelter. In our Behavior and Training Manager Chelsea’s words, “This handsome, friendly, active dog came to us in March from some sad circumstances. Tyson knew love, but he also knew fear and pain. Tyson is in the prime of his life and has the build of an athlete. He loves walks with all of his volunteer pals, and we think he’d be up for just about any outdoor adventure, as long as it’s on leash. Tyson finds treats and toys delightful, and he’s quite quick to pick up new tricks.”

Tyson needs an adult home and to be the only pet. He will need to be on leash whenever he’s out and about and no dog parks or dog day care for this boy, as he does not care for other dogs. But even though Tyson has restrictions to keep him safe, he is so worth the effort.

On Sunday we took this happy boy out to the big yard to see if he liked to play fetch. We should never have doubted for a second that he would be ecstatic about the game.

 

 

Not only did Tyson run after the ball, but when he returned it, he dropped it at our feet to be thrown again and again.

 

 

 

And this boy has quite a sense of humor, too, as he demonstrated when I was trying to get a group shot.

 

And again, when I asked him to pose.

 

But once the joking around was over, he was extremely cooperative.

 

Then we went back to Mary’s Place to see if he liked the GFB (Giant Fluff Ball). He did.

 

Tyson is a very special boy who will be such a joy to the right person. If you would like to meet Tyson, you can submit your Adoption Questionnaire and allow the staff to contact you for an appointment to meet him. You can fill out the application here: whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/adoption-process/adoption-application/. We know just the right home is out there for Tyson, we just have to find it.

 

 

 

 

Teaka is a twelve-year-old Toy Fox Terrier mix. She is such a sweet little dog and Marianne is completely taken with her.

 

 

 

Hawk is one of the Alabama dogs and is a four-year-old mixed-breed. We have no idea what happened in his four years to make him so fearful of new things. Jolene has been spending a lot of time with him to help him gain some courage. When I arrived at the shelter on Sunday with a new Giant Fluff Ball, we decided to see what he thought of it. He LOVED it! He was very wary of me and my camera, but he wanted to keep the GFB forever! We’re getting him one of his very own.

 

 

 

 

Tank, a one-year-old American Staffordshire mix has everyone laughing and loving him. What a great boy! Megan is one of his biggest fans and was so eager to pose with him for his pictures.

 

Kaylee and Frank also think he’s a hoot.

 

 

 

This very special boy is Titan, a ten-year-old Great Dane mix who is the most sweet-tempered and easy-going guy EVER. He is even rated PG+5 and has lived happily with toddlers! Everyone at the shelter has fallen in love with this gentle giant including Haylee and Diane.

 

 

 

This adorable little guy is Poncho, a thirteen-year-old Yorkshire Terrier mix, here with Marianne. Poncho is looking for a home with adults and older teens.

 

 

What??!! A Cat??? 

Yes, this is a blog about dogs. However, once in a while a cat needs an added plug and today that cat is Doc. He is very tired of living at the shelter and really wants his own forever family. Here is what staff member Jean writes about this special boy:

“Meet Doc. He’s a four-year-old bicolor kitty, and he’s been waiting for the perfect home since March! His people say he will let strangers pick him up, and he loves to be cuddled and nuzzled. He has perfect litter box habits, never scratches, and enjoys independent playtime with his toys. He’ll need a special diet to control crystal formation in the bladder. Doc doesn’t enjoy life with either cats or dogs, so would like to be an only pet.”

Doc has moved into Volunteer Manager Janine’s office recently to give him a break from his kennel where he is so stressed. He has settled in nicely. We are so hoping that Doc’s perfect fit of a person will find him soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Usually in any group shot, at least ONE of the subjects is paying attention…however not always.

 

That moment when the dog says the photoshoot is over and it’s time for his cheese reward.

 

 

 

 

Roxie

We have one very special update. Roxie arrived at WHS in January, a very frightened and nervous girl with a history of some behavior concerns due to unknown events in her past. It took some time, but eventually we began to see the sweet Roxie underneath the fear.

 

Roxie was going to need a very special home where she could learn to trust and build her courage. We were thrilled when just the family she needed came to meet her and fell in love.

 

This week I got this wonderful update.

“Roxie is doing great with us. She sees her trainer at PetSmart every Saturday morning for training. Roxie can perform many tricks on command. We are working on stranger danger, and her being afraid of other dogs still. I am so proud of how far she has come in such a short time. I love her more than any words can express. Here are some pictures.”

We are so grateful that Roxie got her perfect home. We are thankful for adopters who don’t come to the shelter to find a perfect dog, but who come to find a dog who needs them.

 

On that very happy update, 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