Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

First of all, some great adoption news! Remember Johnny from last week’s post? He has something to tell you!

 

We were very hopeful on Sunday afternoon when a young couple came to look at our dogs. I happened to be walking past Johnny’s kennel when they were talking with him. They were pleased that he had stopped barking for a nanosecond (remember I mentioned last week that he had poor kennel presentation). I explained that Johnny was very different outside his kennel. They decided they wanted to meet him. They fell in love, but needed to do a dog meet with their dog, also a senior. They came back Monday, the dog meet went well; Johnny is now Jonny and he has a Spaniel sister named Hershey. So happy for this wonderful boy who had been waiting for his perfect family since June 14th.

 

And that’s not all! Ozo went home on Sunday!  I was so happy I was there to take his going-home picture!

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a non-velcro dog who won’t be constantly in your way, I’m your pick!

Pepper is a six-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix who is looking for an understanding and patient family.

 

 

Pepper came to us after her person died. The shelter is a stressful place for this sweet girl. She would love to live in a quiet home with a backyard where she could hang out. Pepper is not a clingy dog, but is happy to be with her peeps. She is very treat-motivated, cheese being one of her top five favorite treats. She walks well on leash and once relaxed, has a beautiful smile. Pepper would like a family where there was someone home most of the time, as she can be anxious when left alone. She is nervous around new people, especially younger children, so needs a family with teens or above. Marianne, Megan and I decided to take her out for some blanket time and she was very happy to just chill with us in the shade.

She seemed a little worried at first, but then settled down when we offered her some cheese bits.

 

She was quite concerned when I temporarily ran out of cheese.

 

Pepper is selective about her dog friends and although she has played some in our shelter playgroups, she isn’t that interested in romping. She lived with two other dogs in her previous home, but mostly ignored them. Pepper has some resource-guarding issues of both food and toys, another reason she should go to a home with teens or just adults. We found, however, that she is very willing to trade a toy for a cheese bit, and takes treats gently. She is house- and crate-trained, though she will bark when left in a crate, something her new family could work on with reward-based training. Because Pepper’s behavior needs a little fine tuning, her adoption includes a Dog Smart class and a thirty-minute private lesson with one of our trainers.

After some time outside, we took her into Mary’s Place.

 

 

Pepper loves stuffed animals. Sunday the green turtle was her favorite.

 

 

We decided that a movie would show Pepper’s gentle personality the best, so here you go!

 

 

Pepper is not the dog for everyone and will be a bit of a project. However, she will reward you with her love and loyalty. We’re hoping that just the right fit of a family will find Pepper soon.

 

 

 

I’m ready for a new beginning with an active family! Could it be yours?

Sometimes a new dog arrives at WHS who is just a hoot, full of joy, and ready to entertain his new family and keep everyone happy. Rufus is such a boy. He is a seven-year-old mixed-breed boy, though you’d never know it by his energy!

 

 

 

Rufus came to us from another shelter where he was not adopted. He is an active boy with a great sense of humor. He challenged Megan to a race. Rufus won.

 

 

After romping in the yard, it was bench time.

 

 

 

Rufus is treat-motivated which will be key in training him to not pull when going for a walk. He will need to be an only dog in a cat-free home. But his love of people and his optimistic outlook on life will be all his family needs in a new member. He is rated for children ten and older. Because of his enthusiasm for all things, Rufus’ adoption package includes both a free Dog Smart class and a thirty-minute private lesson from one of our trainers.

Rufus decided he’d like some time in Mary’s Place and we were happy to oblige him. Megan got out the bubbles and Rufus was entranced.

 

 

We were not surprised that Rufus thinks he’s a lap dog.

 

 

He settles nicely and isn’t shy about taking up the whole couch.

 

 

 

 

Rufus will be such a fun boy for some lucky family looking for their one and only.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m waiting for a just-right family. I promise to try my best to be a really good girl.

Mary is a seven-year-old Lab mix who came in our last transfer from Hawaii. The Maui shelter thinks her damaged left ear is the result of a wild bore attack while she was a stray. She arrived at the Maui shelter in bad shape, but with excellent vet care, recovered. She wasn’t adopted in Hawaii, so she decided to move to Oregon to see if she could find her perfect home.

 

 

Mary is affectionate and eager with plenty of energy, as we discovered when we spent time with her after she arrived in late June. I had planned to feature her in my next post, but she was soon adopted. Ayla fell for her right off the bat.

 

 

 

She quickly had a fan club including Jolene, Linda, Caroline, Marianne, Megan and, of course, Ayla.

 

 

We were thrilled when Mary was adopted, but she was returned when the family discovered she could not live with a cat. We don’t know what Mary’s life was like before she was found hurt in Maui, or how long she was a stray having to forage for herself. But whatever the reasons, Mary will need a special family who will help her with a few issues. She can be jumpy and a “door darter,” so her family will have to be alert and work with her with rewards-based training. She should not be around small dogs or cats. She does fine with other big dogs, and loves to romp with them, but would need to meet any dog she would be living with. Mary is rated for kids ten and older.

Mary is more stressed now that she is back at the shelter. We decided to try some blanket time and see if she would relax. She did.

 

 

We are hoping that Mary soon finds her right family fit, as the shelter is increasingly stressful for her.

 

 

 

 

 

There are two happy updates!

JD

Remember JD, our fourteen-year-old sweetheart, here with Marianne?

 

 

Here’s an update from his forever family:

“Hi, well it’s been almost two weeks and everyone has adjusted nicely! So glad we adopted JD.”

Yep, looks like he’s settled in!

 

 

Winston/Wilson

Winston had many fans at WHS! He is such a delightful boy.

 

 

I happened to be at the shelter when his future family came to meet him. I was so excited that they were interested in him.

I was thrilled when I got this update!

“I just wanted to let you know that we did end up adopting Winston whom our kids renamed Wilson. He is doing very well and is very loved. He sleeps on my daughter’s bed every night and they are very bonded. He loves everyone and everything. Thank you so much for your help!”

 

On those happy notes, 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,

News Flash! Macy, our always-smiling girl from last week’s post, wanted you to know what happened last Saturday…

 

 

And that leads me to a fun story. If you read my post last week, you saw this cartoon of Macy in Mary’s Place.

 

 

The night my blog was published, I got this message: “Martha: Is that a picture of Mitzi? That is the harness she had on when I adopted her in 2017? She is such a sweet girl and thriving at 14+ years.” Yep, it was from Kathy, Mitzi’s person, who still reads my posts. Fast forward to Sunday and Kathy and Mitzi came to visit us. Mitzi was one of Marianne’s all-time favorites and we were thrilled to see that she is  still a happy, much-loved girl.

 

 

Kathy then sent this update:

“I adopted Mitzi in March 2017. She came home to a younger brother who I had adopted from Marion County in 2012. The two of them keep me young. She is now 14 and he is 10. They love their daily walks and leisurely life. Anyone looking for great companions should always look for the seniors and dogs who have been well taken care of by the Willamette Humane Society. Thanks to Martha’s picture of Macy looking at a framed picture of Mitzi, we were able to reconnect with her and Marianne.”

And here are Mitzi and Spike at home.

 

 

Such a fun surprise to be able to see Mitzi again!

 

When I arrived at WHS on Sunday, we had three dogs in mind to feature in today’s post: Johnny, Ricky, and Riley.  We spent quality time with all three and I took lots of pictures. Then on Monday, Ricky and Riley were adopted! But fear not. I took pictures of many other dogs, as well, and am excited to introduce them to you.

 

 

My name is Johnny and I like apple slices. Do you?

Johnny, a Shepherd mix, arrived from Maui on June 6, a transfer from our sister shelter in Hawaii. From the moment he set paw in Oregon, he was a happy boy. Here he was the first time we met him. Caroline and I were instant fans.

 

Johnny is a senior at ten years old, but you’d never know it, as he is an active, eager boy. Johnny was a rock star at the Maui shelter, where “Beach Buddies” wrote glowing reports of outings with him, such as this one: “Johnny was a great boy today! He loves to run along the beach in the waves—not scared of them at all. He did great with other dogs around. He didn’t bark at anyone. While walking the beach, he was great and let people meet him as well.” And this one: “Johnny was PERFECT! He loves to swim and go for walks. He knows sit and shake. Didn’t bark once. Loved his treats. He loves to ride in the car. He was a perfect gentleman today! We will miss him. He loves to give kisses, too!”

 

 

One of the Maui volunteers fostered Johnny for five days and gave him a stellar report including: “Johnny was a delight to have at our house. Two things are clear about Johnny: he is a wonderful dog that makes a great companion, and his favorite thing is going for walks, which he absolutely needs and adores. I walked him 4.5 miles in the morning and 2 miles before dinner. In addition to being affectionate and friendly, he was very relaxed and easy going. In the car, he is happy to stay in the back, but at times might come forward for an ear lick. Not only is he thrilled when he learns that he is going for a walk, but he is happy throughout the walk. While he was fine sleeping on his dog bed, if you are looking for a sleeping buddy you will not have to ask him twice.”

 

 

And that brings us to Sunday and blanket time with Johnny. He loved posing for pictures with his Oregon peeps, Caroline, Ayla, Megan, and Marianne.

 

 

Megan had brought her usual McDonald’s apple slices as a snack and Johnny decided he’d like to try some. He LOVED them!

 

 

A little later, this happened.

 

 

Johnny is rated for kids about 13 and older. He walks perfectly on leash, is house-trained and knows several commands. He loves attention, is affectionate, and is going to make a wonderful dog for an active family. Johnny’s one fault is that because he is stressed at the shelter, he barks in his kennel. Potential adopters assume that he will be a barker at home, but, as the Maui foster found out, he settles quickly with a family and once relaxed, the barking stops. He didn’t bark once during our blanket time with him.

We decided to see what he thought of a GFB (Giant Fluff Ball). It was quite a hit.

 

 

Johnny would have liked to hang out with us all afternoon.

 

But when it was time to go back to his kennel, we took one last happy picture at the bench. Some family is going to be very lucky to adopt this eager, active, delightful boy. We hope it is soon.

 

 

 

 

 

This is my second time here at WHS. I’m hoping my next home will be my forever one.

Ozo is a seven-year-old Bassett Hound mix with a delightful sense of humor. I first met Ozo in September of 2017 when he came to WHS as a stray. He was quickly adopted, but was recently transferred to us from another shelter, having once again been found as a stray. We’re hoping that Ozo will finally find his forever home.

 

 

Ozo loves everybody and has done well in our playgroups, though he is mostly a mingler rather than player. He is rated for kids 13 and older because he can be sensitive about having his mouth touched. Megan brought him out for new pictures on Sunday and he soon had us both laughing.

 

 

I did notice.

 

 

He seemed to enjoy posing for my camera.

 

 

And then he did this.

 

 

Ozo would like to lose a few pounds. Going for walks and fewer treats (he LOVES cheese a little too much) should do the trick. We don’t know this boy well, but he sure seems like he will make a terrific companion for someone who wants a happy, comic new family member.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m new here and I’m a little confused by all the activity.

Bentley is a newbie who came to us when his family moved and couldn’t take him. He is a four-year-old Chihuahua mix. Bentley is having a difficult time at the shelter. The noise, movement, and so many new people are overwhelming for this little guy. He will need a patient, understanding person who will make him feel safe until he gains some confidence. Once he feels comfortable, his former owner reports Bentley is active, friendly, and a total lap dog.

 

 

 

Marianne and I spent some time with Bentley on Sunday for his photo shoot, and both of us were touched by his hesitant but hopeful demeanor.

 

 

 

 

He really wanted some lap time, but Marianne was a new person, so it took some time and lots of courage.

 

 

 

He did it!

 

 

Sometimes it is so rewarding to just sit quietly and let a dog chill until they feel safe enough to solicit affection. Bentley was such a case.

Bentley has lived with both cats and other dogs. He actually slept with the cats! He likes chase games and running after a ball. He is crate-trained and used potty pads in the house. Because of his timidity, he is recommended for kids about 13 and older.

Bentley’s adoption package includes a free Dog Smart class as well as a free thirty-minute private lesson to help the new family and Bentley to get off on the right paw. I can’t wait for this little guy to be happily curled up on the lap of his forever person.

 

 

 

I’m new here, too! I’m looking for some patient peeps to adopt me.

Meet Buddy, a two-year-old Chihuahua mix. Buddy is looking for a person who will help him with a few issues. But look at that smile!

 

 

Buddy has been an outdoor dog his whole life and is really eager to start being an indoor dog, once his new family explains the art of house-training to him. He is an active, happy little dog who loves to go for walks. He solicits attention, petting and scratching, as Megan found out during his photoshoot.

 

 

Buddy is nervous in new situations and with new people. Because of this, he will do best with older children. He does well in a kennel when left alone. Because of his shyness, Buddy, like Bentley, comes with a free Dog Smart class and a free thirty-minute private lesson with one of our trainers. We’re hoping just the right person will find Buddy the perfect fit for them and adopt him soon.

 

 

 

Axel

Remember our sweet, athletic Axel? I wrote about him in my June 12th post.

 

 

We had such fun with him in a yard.

 

 

We were thrilled when Axel got adopted. Recently the staff got the following update.

“Axel turned out to be a real cuddle bug and is learning to give kisses!! He also turned out to be a bed-thief, blankets and all! He eats 4 cups of high-protein dog food a day plus home-made chicken breast and potatoes and is gaining some weight. We love him to pieces already!! He is soooo… gentle and a ‘little wiggle butt.’ Thank you for all you have done for him.”

 

 

On that 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