Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

There were three very happy dog adoptions during the last week. Remember Bruno from my previous post? He has left the building and is adjusting to his new life with his new people. We are so happy for this young boy who couldn’t wait to spend time indoors with his new family.

 

 

 

Also adopted last week was eight-month-old River. I had planned to feature him in this week’s post, but he already found his forever family. Yahoo!

 

 

 

WHS Trainer Nichole sent these great pictures on Tuesday when Bear got adopted. She wrote, “This sweet black Lab went home with a teacher and his daughter, who will be starting kindergarten this year. All she asked for was a picture of her and Bear together. Happy trails! Look how nicely Bear is walking on the leash as they leave.”

 

 

 

 

The Adoption Process 

WHS is keeping people safe while continuing to match dogs and cats with their perfect fits of families. WHS is open for adoption appointments 10:00 – 3:00 every day.

To find out exactly how the adoption process works, click on the link below:

Adoptions Continue! But Your Patience Is Crucial

 

 

Got a tennis ball? A squeaky toy? Anything to throw? Great! Let’s play fetch!

Mandy is a happy, exuberant two-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix who is looking for just the right family to adopt her. Mandy was found as a stray in late June, so we don’t know anything about her history. However, we have learned quite a bit about her during her stay at the shelter.

 

 

The first thing you need to know about Mandy is that she is all about playing fetch! Her favorite thing to use is any “squeaky” toy and her goal is to catch it while it’s still in the air, which she often does. WHS Trainer Jessi caught these shots while playing in the big yard. Oh, and Mandy likes to carry a squeaker toy along on walks, too.

Mandy loves people. She greets them with wiggly excitement. During her intake process at the shelter, staff wrote, “She was a bit timid at first, but once she was given treats she really warmed up and we had no issues with her. She took the vaccines really well. She let us touch her and move her around. She was very tolerant and patient.”

It appears that Mandy has had little training in her young life. Staff is working with her and she has been showing improvement. Mandy’s new family will need to continue this rewards-based instruction. In Mandy’s excitement to meet people, she will jump and pull while on leash. She also has shown some guarding of her food and toys. Staff is playing “trading games” with her and she is responding well. Because of these behaviors, she will need to go to a home with teens fifteen and older, or just adults, who will respect her space as they carry on with her positive training.

Here is a movie that WHS Trainer Nichole made for our girl showing off Mandy’s new skills of trading squeaky toys and sitting, waiting for one to be thrown for her.

 

 

 

Mandy will need to be an only pet. She has been too intense with other dogs and seems to have a prey drive, so no cats, either. While Mandy is not the right dog for everyone, she will be such a delightful member of the right family.

 

 

If you enjoy dog training and have the time for an eager and willing student, Mandy might be your perfect fit. She will be a loyal and devoted best friend who will keep you laughing as she races to catch her newest squeaky toy.

 

 

If Mandy sounds like a perfect fit for your family, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Mandy” under her picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

 

 

 

I’m not a youngster anymore, but oh, what a friend I will be!

Do you enjoy relaxing on the couch and wish you had a companion to share it with? (Note: the couch needs to be pretty big!) If so, you need to meet Riley whose favorite thing in the world to do is hang out with his peeps on the couch.

 

Riley is an eleven-year-old mixed-breed boy who, at 117 pounds, could use a little help and encouragement to get rid of some of his excess weight, something he’s a tad embarrassed about.

Sadly, Riley’s family had to surrender him because of landlord breed restrictions. He is hoping for a retirement home where he can spend his days cuddling with his new peeps and getting a little exercise. 

 

 

Riley’s former family reports that he loves people after they are introduced to him. He will bark when someone knocks on the door, but once he’s told to stop, “when the people come in, he will go up and introduce himself, wagging his tail.”

When Riley was six years old, he was attacked by another dog. Since that time, Riley is fearful of some other dogs, and is selective about what dogs he feels comfortable with. In our shelter playgroups, he has mingled with other dogs and there have been no issues. He has even gotten in the kiddie pool a few times to cool off. He will need to meet any dog he will be living with.

 

WHS Trainer Jessi has wonderful things to say about Riley in her shelter play groups. “He is mellow and mingles well in the yard with other dogs. He approaches handlers for attention often. I used him to help a really fearful dog come to play group. Riley was great walking near her on leash, and once in the yard he allowed her to sniff and greet him.”

Here’s a little video of Riley in play group.

 

 

Riley is house-trained and will go to the door and make a “certain noise” to let you know he needs to go out. He is also crate-trained. When left alone in the house he did fine as well as in the fenced back yard. He walks very politely on leash.

At eleven years old, Riley enjoys short play sessions like the one in the video, then he likes to relax. He loves to go for rides in the car and knows basic commands. He has no issues with toys or food being taken away from him. 

 

 

Because he is a senior with the usual older-dog issues, he is recommended for kids about 13 and older who will be gentle with him. He has never lived with cats, so we recommend a feline-free home.

If you have a heart and a couch for a senior dog who will believe you are the best human in the universe and wants more than anything to hang out with you (on the couch), please fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Riley” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

 

 

As always, I am deeply thankful for the pictures and videos that WHS Trainers Jessi and Nichole send to me so that I can continue to write this blog during the pandemic.

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 will need to make an appointment.

You can reach me at  adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

I am amazed and thrilled to report that even in the midst of the pandemic, last week SEVEN of our shelter dogs found their new homes!

 

 

Emilio

 

Trixie (Her new brother is Max, on the left.)

 

 

 

Red (He fell instantly in love with Garland, a WHS alumna. Update at the end of this post!)

 

 

Scooby

 

Chet

 

Houdini

 

Sherman

 

 

 

 

 

The Adoption Process 

WHS is keeping people safe while continuing to match dogs and cats with their perfect fits of families. WHS is open for adoption appointments 10:00 – 3:00 every day.

To find out exactly how the adoption process works, click on the link below:

Adoptions Continue! But Your Patience Is Crucial

 

 

I can’t wait to meet my new family! I’ll love to romp and then relax with you in our house!

Bruno is a one-year-old German Shepherd mix with an absolutely delightful personality. He lived with his former family since he was four months old, but now that he is a big boy at 60 pounds, he has been escaping the yard and exploring the neighborhood. He always returned, but his family decided he needs more space. They were also getting complaints that he was barking when the family was gone.

Bruno has been an outdoor dog his whole life and he can’t wait to become an indoor dog, too. Even though he has never been house-trained, he has not messed his kennel since arriving at WHS, showing everyone he’s ready to live in a home!

Bruno has a wonderful history with children and his former family said that he loved their attention and was very gentle with them. Because of that, he is rated for kids five and older. 

Having lived in a backyard since he was a puppy, Bruno has not had much contact with other dogs. He seems to be dog-selective, meaning he feels comfortable with some dogs and not with others. He has been in our shelter playgroups and, while initially tense, he has tried to engage with other dogs. However, he does not seem to have much experience in canine play, though he was able to mingle with some of the other dogs. He did enjoy the kiddie pool in the play yard. 

 

 

Since he has had no experience with cats, we are advising a feline-free home.

Bruno is a young, active dog and will need lots of physical exercise. With his history of escaping, he’ll need a secure yard and should not be left without supervision. He walks well on leash, likes to be petted, and is not handling-sensitive. Our Intake Staff reported, “He did great, no issues. Still wanted to be petted and was soliciting attention after his exam was done. We walked him to his kennel and he walked right in. Great dog.”

 

 

So what does Bruno need in his new home? He’d like to spend times both indoors and outdoors. Since he loves people, especially children, he wants to spend time with them. He’d like a secure yard to romp in, and some hiking or jogging with his peeps would be great. 

If Bruno sounds like a perfect fit for your family, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Bruno” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

 

 

Are you looking for a super-sniffing sleuth who will make you laugh every day?

“Such a sweetheart.  Calmest Hound I’ve ever met.” That’s how WHS Trainer Nicole described Sherlock to me in an email.

 

Sherlock is a one-year-old Hound mix who was found as a stray. Since we do not know his history, Nichole has spent time getting to know him since his arrival. “For a youngster, Sherlock is pretty laid back, but he can be shy at first,” she says. “He enjoys getting to know people at his own pace so gradual introductions to new people and environments would be best. Once he gets to know you, he will lean into you for body scratches and look to you for comfort when he feels uncomfortable. He will also show his exuberance to see you by jumping up on you. He will benefit from rewards-based training which we have started at the shelter.”

 

 

Sherlock LOVES food puzzles. In fact, he loves them so much that he wants to be left alone when eating. He also can be jumpy when he’s excited. Because of these behaviors, he will need a family with older children, about thirteen and up, who will respect his space when he’s eating and who won’t be knocked over when they are excitedly greeted. Because he is a Hound, he’ll need a feline-free home.

 

 

Sherlock can walk politely on leash, however, Nichole notes, “He loves to sniff. He’ll pull you on the leash towards anything that looks interesting. He would probably enjoy sniffing games like Find the Treat.” Did I mention that Sherlock is extremely treat-motivated?

 

 

Sherlock has enjoyed our shelter playgroups, but has been dog-selective, meaning he likes some dogs and not others. He will need to meet any dog he will be living with.

We think that Sherlock has been loved, as he knows some basic cues like “sit” and is affectionate once he feels comfortable with a person. The Intake Staff discovered he LOVES peanut butter and the person who brought him to WHS said he likes to ride in a car. Being a Hound, Sherlock will need a securely fenced yard and he is not recommended for apartment living due to—well, being a Hound!

For a family who has a soft spot for Hounds, Sherlock may be a wonderful addition.

If Sherlock sounds like a perfect fit for your family, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Sherlock” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

 

 

We have three wonderful updates for this post.

Red and Garland

This was Garland in December of 2017. She had been found as a stray. She was a sweetheart and Marianne loved her.

 

 

We were thrilled when she got adopted. She has been very happy.

 

 

Fast forward to last week. Garland and her people came to meet Red. It was instant love—Red was over the moon for Garland, reported Adoption Specialist Sasha. I just received this happy update.

“Both Garland and Red are doing fantastic. They are getting along very well. Red really enjoys being able to run around and investigate the yard. He’s adopted my chair as his place in the house. Funny because half of him hangs out of it. 

As for Garland, she has blossomed so much since we brought her home. She loves her bananas and baby carrots, her love seat and most of all besides car rides, my boyfriend. He is her most favorite thing in the world. Where you see one, you see the other close by. Since adopting Garland, she has really become an important and much loved part of the family. She loves the beach.

Red is following them around like he’s been here forever. He has decided my tiny chair is his favorite thing to lie in. He has already figured out the doggy door. Makes me happy.”

 

 

Chip

Remember last week when I announced Chip’s happy adoption?

 

WHS received this great update.

“Thank you for letting me spend the needed time with Chip at our meet and greet!

Chip had several accidents in the house for the first two days. I started rewarding him with treats for going potty outside and we’ve had no more accidents! Today was the first day I went back to work since getting him and was terribly concerned about barking and a potty accident but neither happened! He’s been wonderful with all of the neighbors and their dogs so far and everyone loves him! He even went to the dog park on Tuesday and did fantastic! 

I wish I could upload the video of him sleeping because he snores when he sleeps and it’s loud but freaking adorable. So far so good! I think he knows he’s mine!”

 

With those happy reports, 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