Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Merry Christmas! Since this week’s blog post falls ON Christmas Day, I decided to do something different. Here is a musical Christmas card from the shelter dogs at Willamette Humane Society! They all wish you a very Merry Christmas! 

 

I had planned just to include this musical card and an update for this week’s post, but when I arrived at the shelter on Sunday, Shelter Story Time was happening and I had to take some pictures. These kids are such a delight and so good to our dogs. And this week I listened closely to what the dogs were thinking.

Charlie Brown (pre-adopted)

 

Angelina

 

Sierra and Akira

 

Astro

 

Moose

 

 

 

Bella/Ellie

Bella arrived at WHS in late November, having been found as a stray running loose with no collar. I met her the following Sunday and fell in love with this gentle, sad girl. No matter how I tried, I could not get the worried look to disappear. Her eyes were so sorrowful. I hoped she would find a great home soon.

 

I was thrilled when she was adopted on December 7th. Staff sent me this going home picture and I knew Bella was going to have a wonderful life. And it appears she did, too.

 

Then, last week, I got this terrific update. Look at the difference in her now!

“One week ago today we were blessed to adopt Ellie formerly known as Bella. As a family we have been in discussion for a few months about getting another dog. It’s been almost 2 years since Yoda, our beloved pug, passed away. Most of our conversations centered around puppies. However, several people urged us to first check out Willamette Humane Society. The girls and I did exactly that on a Thursday and that’s when we met Bella for the very first time. She wasn’t even up for adoption yet. However, the next day when she went up on the website, we excitedly went back to visit her in their family meeting room. That was her last night at WHS and on Saturday, December 7th, she became a part of our family. She’s 7ish and, although not a puppy, she’s stolen all of our hearts. She loves to fetch balls, give love hugs, licks, and FOOD! Thankful to all of the loving people at WHS who cared for her so well. We feel like she was meant to be ours from the very first time we laid eyes on her. We told the girls it’s a dog or Christmas presents and they, without any hesitation, exclaimed, ‘The DOG!’ It will be a Christmas we’ll never forget.”

We are very happy for Ellie!

So, from all the shelter dogs still waiting for their forever homes and the people who love them, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

 

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

Merry Christmas Fellow Dog Lovers!

It’s the week before Christmas and the shelter dogs are getting into the holiday spirit. To their delight, Santa even stopped by WHS on Sunday to say hi. (Did you know that Santa has a special love for all shelter animals?) So this post will be a little different. I’ve decided to feature one very special dog who has been waiting a long time for his new family; tell you about another Swayze Dayze Adventure; and show you our dogs dressed ready for the holidays.

I’m hoping I get to spend Christmas with a forever family!

Rufus came to us from another shelter in July. Some dogs are just all about people and Rufus is such a boy.

 

Rufus is a mixed-breed dog who is about seven years old. He is active with a great sense of humor. He’s been adopted twice. The first time the family had a small child. Young children can be grabby and unpredictable and Rufus was not comfortable, so he will need to go to a home without young kids. His home will also need to be cat-free, as felines are too tempting to chase. The second family’s situation changed and they had to give him up, though they loved him. What does Rufus like to do more than anything else? Hang out with his peeps. But his love of people and his optimistic outlook on life will be all his family needs in a new member. He decided that he wants potential adopters to see his cuddly side, so asked if we could make him a movie. Of course we could.

 

Rufus has just one Christmas wish…

 

 

We are so hoping his wish comes true and his forever family finds him.

 

 

 

Swayze Dayze Adventure #6!

Yes, you read that right. Marianne and Ayla took Swayze on yet another outing last Wednesday. Here is their report:

“We had such an amazing time with Swayze last Wednesday. We originally wanted to go to the Salem Center Mall, but Swayze found out that Jo-Ann Fabric is dog-friendly and was having a 60% off holiday sale—he begged us to go there. I think he tricked us since Petco is in the same shopping center. He pointed out some wonderful holiday decor and found the candles I had been looking for. He waited patiently in the checkout line and charmed everyone. He was fascinated at Petco with everything that was potentially available for him. As would be expected, the employees loved him. He practiced polite greetings with two of them, and they were completely smitten. He was perfectly well-behaved as always.”

In case you are a first-time reader of my blog, here is a little background on our boy.

Swayze is an eleven-month-old pup, looking for a puppy-savvy family who has the time, energy and patience, using positive reward-based training, to continue to teach him the skills he needs.

Swayze came to us on June 3rd, a transfer from an over-crowded California shelter, where he had not received any training. After being returned several times, Swayze is now enrolled in our behavior training program. With some time and effort, Swayze will grow up to be a wonderful family companion. He 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.

 

 

 

Merry Christmas from our shelter dogs!

It’s that time of year when I show up with holiday attire for both volunteers (of course they are “thrilled”) and our dogs. You can read more about all of the following dogs on the WHS website under Adoptable Dogs. (www.whs4pets.org)

Princess is a four-year-old Chihuahua mix.

 

 

 

Bo is a three-year-old Lab mix.

 

 

 

Joy is a fourteen-year-old Shih-Tzu mix.

 

 

 

Angelina is a ten-year-old Husky/Shepherd mix.

 

 

 

Swayze (again)

 

 

 

Baron is a seven-year-old Lab mix.

 

 

 

Charlie Brown is a one-year-old Retriever mix. It’s always interesting to see how the dogs decide to wear their Santa hats.

 

 

 

Captain is a four-year-old mixed breed boy.

 

 

 

Moose is a four-year-old Lab mix.

 

 

 

Rosie is a three-year-old Shepherd mix.

 

 

 

Rufus (again)

 

 

 

Toby is a two-year-old mixed breed boy.

 

 

 

As you can imagine, there were a few…

 

 

Bear got adopted the very afternoon these shots were taken. He had an hilarious time!

Notice how well-trained Marianne is—she keeps smiling for the camera no matter what.

 

A very heartfelt thank-you to Marianne, Megan, and Ayla for agreeing to dress up for the dogs and a special thanks to Oz for being our Santa!

 

 

Shadow

Shadow is a sweet, gentle senior whom we all fell in love with when he arrived. He didn’t have to stay at the shelter long, as this family scooped him up and took him home.

 

I was thrilled to hear that he is adjusting well and they are in love with him.

 

 

Uber/Summit

Uber was an exuberant pup who was adopted and returned after he was too much for the first family.

But fear not! He was quickly adopted again. Last week I got this wonderful update.

“I just saw the posting of our dog’s adoption back from March 14 and wanted to thank you all at WHS! Uber is now Summit. He turned one recently. He gets to hike and travel and play on our property with our other dog. Thanks for all you do!”

Just look at him now!

 

 

 

On that happy note, Merry Christmas, 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