Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Have you been wondering what social distancing looks like at the shelter? Well, wonder no more! Here we were on Sunday. I was catching up with pictures of new dogs with my wonderful photo team. That’s Mr. Wiggles with Marianne and he has been adopted!

 

 

 

 

 

With the new directive from Governor Brown on Monday, Willamette Humane Society is now running with an essential crew only, and everyone who can, is working from home. Volunteers have been asked to stay at home. Most of the dogs and cats are now in foster homes. There are a few still at the shelter. Adoptions of both dogs and cats will be done through appointments only. If interested in a dog, potential adopters need to read about them on the website here and on this blog post, then email adoptions@whs4pets.org to set up an appointment. A staff member will contact them to work out the process.

We can all use some happily-ever-after stories during these stressful days. If you have adopted a dog from WHS, I would love to have an update from you to post in my blog. You can send pictures and a paragraph about your pets’ lives to me at adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com 

As I write this post, there are six available dogs. I’ve decided to feature all six.

I was pretty nervous when I got here, but am settling down now. I really want my own people.

Darcy was found as a stray on March 8th. What a beauty she is!

Darcy is a German Shepherd mix. She is about seven years old, we think, and is a big girl at 66 pounds. She arrived at the shelter looking quite thin with very dirty ears. We have no idea how long she was out on her own, but walked right up to the good samaritan who brought her to us, as if asking for help. She was very uneasy at first being inside the shelter, making us wonder if she’s been an outdoor only dog. She has been to playgroup, and seems to be selective in her dog likes, but spent much of the time following the handler around the yard. Here she was with Ayla when I met her.

She didn’t like my camera and shied away from me when I got too close with it. She does like to play ball, another volunteer noted. She walks on leash fairly well (can pull some) and eventually took a few bits of cheese from me. She seems to be a very sweet dog who is longing for a patient family to help her build her courage. She is rated for kids ten and older. Darcy is still at the shelter. We’re hoping she’ll be adopted soon.

 

 

 

 

I’m back in my foster home! Yay! But I’m still waiting for my perfect permanent fit!

I’ve written about Lucky several times since his arrival November 24th. Lucky is a one-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix youngster. He has not had the best start in life, having experienced a lot of neglect. At WHS, we have worked to help him realize that the world doesn’t have to be a scary place. We’re hoping the perfect person will fall in love with our boy and continue to make him feel safe while going on outdoor adventures. Lucky’s perfect happily-ever-after would be a quiet, adult home with a person who will give him the attention he craves, the time he needs to adjust to new surroundings, and the desire to help him overcome his fears. These fears include strangers (though he warms up quickly) and being left alone (he worries you won’t come back). He is learning not to jump when he is excited to see you. While Lucky still needs to learn a few things, he will be such a loyal and devoted best friend. If Lucky sounds like a good match for you, see the latest feature about him here. These are a few if my favorite picture of him over time.

 

 

 

 

Have a yard and a couch? Spending a lot of time at home? Need a dog for company? Together, we can make this work!

Maxwell is a two-year-old German Shepherd mix and is a very handsome boy. He first came to WHS in September of 2019, having been an outdoor dog only. He was surrendered because he has chronic skin allergies. Medication at the shelter helped, and Maxwell was adopted in November. However, his new person lived in an apartment and Max was surrendered again in February because his person decided it was not fair for Max to be in an apartment all day while the owner worked.

Max is a delightful, playful dog who will entertain himself romping outside and then enjoy coming in and cuddling on the couch. He will need a family who can keep up with his skin medications, as he can quickly develop hair loss when not monitored. Max is rated for kids about 13 and up due to his size, but he is quite gentle. He will need a cat-free home and he should meet any dogs he will be living with. This sweet boy has been patiently waiting for a long time for his new family. Might it be yours?

 

 

 

 

I’m still a youngster and am looking for a patient and understanding new family to love!

Mini is a ten-month-old German Shepherd mix who was surrendered to WHS in January. She had had very little socialization in her young life except with her two brothers in the home. All three were outdoor dogs and had learned very little about the world. She was terrified when she first came to the shelter. However, over several weeks in working with staff and volunteers, Mini has come a long way. She is rated for older kids due to her timidity. Here she was when I took her profile pictures with Ayla. Mini has done very well in our playgroups and is even considered a “helper dog.”

Mini has been working closely with our staff behavior trainer, Marilyn, and this is what Marilyn wrote about her: “Mini is a teenager, and she’s made great strides since coming to WHS in January. She hadn’t seen much of the world beyond the backyard with her dog brothers, and it was quite evident with how fearful she was in this new environment and with new people. Our team of staff and volunteers have been helping Mini to learn that the world is full of fun things and safe people. Yes, that trust was built upon a lot of patience, choice, chance to explore, play, and you guessed it–cheese! Continuing her rewards-based training is critical to help Mini become a well-adjusted adult dog, and lucky for her, we’re sending her home with a comprehensive FREE training package. Like most GSDs, Mini is brilliant, affectionate, and busy. She enjoys a good romp with toys or with other dogs. Trail walks and snuggling with her human friends are up there in her top ten list as well. She’ll succeed with daily mental and physical enrichment, rather than being left to her own devices. Oh, she requests a lot of chew toy options as well! Mini would do best without young kids, and we don’t know how she’ll do with cats. If you enjoy building trust slowly with dogs and building their confidence with compassionate handling, then Mini hopes you’ll come visit her soon!”

This sweet girl deserves a loving, understanding home where she can become the confident dog she wants to be.

 

 

 

Do you love the fun and rewards of positive dog training with an eager dog? Pick ME! 

Rango is a two-year-old German Shepherd/Bull Dog mix and a very handsome boy!

When he was surrendered to WHS on February 29th, he had been an outdoor dog his whole life and had not learned basic manners or how to walk on a leash. Our staff and volunteer trainers have been working with Rango and he is making progress. He is a happy, eager boy who loves attention and petting, but in his exuberance, he can become jumpy and mouthy. He loves kids, but will need older children due to his size and enthusiasm for everything. Rango has done well in our playgroups and especially likes playing with Russell (next dog in this post). Rango will be a wonderful family dog once he learns how to be one through continued positive training. For a dog-savvy person who is spending their time at home during these weeks, and wants a very worthwhile project that will result in a delightful and loyal family member, Rango might be the perfect one.

 

 

 

 

I’m another youngster just waiting for my perfect family to love!

Russell is a ten-month-old German Shepherd mix who was surrendered to another shelter and transferred to us in mid-January.

Russell has been a mostly outdoor dog, and, like his buddy, Rango, he was never taught manners. He can be cooperative and attentive, but also mouthy and jumpy. He needs a dog-savvy person who will continue the work that WHS trainers have started with positive, reward-based lessons. Happily, Russell is very treat-motivated and loved my cheese bits during his photoshoot. He does well in playgroups, especially liking to romp with Rango. He will need to go home with older kids due to his current lack of manners. This youngster wants to learn to be a much-loved family member. We’re hoping that someone with time at home now will want to help Russell become the wonderful dog he wants to be. He really is a good boy with great potential. Here he is with Ayla.

 

 

 

I have a most uplifting update this post, just what we all need!

Rudy and Sadie

Joan and Steve were long-term Wednesday dog walkers when I was their team captain. They were great with our dogs and very dependable. We became good friends. Joan and Steve loved all the dogs, but hounds and those with quirks were their favorites. It was wonderful that they loved hounds, as they live out in the country where a hound can howl to its heart’s content.

Steve and Joan have adopted several WHS dogs over the years. They currently have two. Rudy, the hound, is pictured here with Joan last year when they brought him to playgroup one Sunday. And yes, he is howling in the shot!

 

 

They adopted Sadie before I got a chance to meet her! It was love at first walk. Over the years, Joan and Steve have kept in contact with me and on Monday Joan sent me a picture and I asked her for an update. Get ready to laugh out loud! Here it is:

“We adopted Rudy, a black and tan Coonhound mix, and Sadie, a Border Collie mix, from WHS in February of 2018. They continue to fill our hearts and entertain us with their very different personalities and antics!

 

Rudy is a true nose-to-the-ground, three-year-old hound! Last fall he wandered off into the brush (we live in a wooded area). He was baying and carrying on! I saw a stripe of white and thought for sure he was going to tangle with a skunk! I called and called, but he chose to ignore me. I went inside to get my boots and go after him. By the time I was out the door, he had returned with a new friend—a wandering pig! He was delighted with himself!

 

Sadie is quiet and dainty. She, at 10, still runs like the wind! She loves our morning walks down the hill and is always in the front. She searches for things to roll in! Her favorite is still sword ferns—but she’ll roll on animal-marked gravel, fir cones and, unfortunately, the occasional dead newt! She lives by her schedule: outside by 7:00, fed by 8:00 and 5:30.  At 8:30 each night she goes upstairs, jumps up on the bed and snuggles into her corner!

We love and enjoy both our kids! They have been amazing additions to our family! Thank you WHS!”

Each morning, Steve takes the dogs on a run down their steep and long driveway. Steve drives the 4-wheeler and the dogs are supposed to run ahead. Sadie, the ten-year-old dashes down the driveway, then dashes back up again. Rudy, the three-year-old, walks down the drive way and catches a ride back up.

 

 

What a wonderful life these two dogs have!

 

Remember, send me updates about WHS dogs you’ve adopted for my future blog posts during these uncertain times.

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