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adoptable dogs, adoption dogs, deserving dogs, dogs, fellow dog lovers, humane society, shelter dogs, WHS, willamette humane society
Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
It is always such a thrill when two dogs who are the best of friends are adopted together. Hillary and Hubert were found as strays and it was obvious they were best friends. Last week they were adopted by the same family!
Sometimes it is decided that a dog has needs that are better met by sending them to a rescue that is breed-specific. Such was the case with Bosco, a beautiful St. Bernard. After being adopted and returned twice, he was transferred to a St. Bernard rescue where last week he found his perfect St. Bernard-savvy family. They sent this report:
“Here’s a picture of Bosco with his new family. His new dad is retired, so Bosco has someone home with him all day and he also has a two-year-old female Saint Bernard sister to keep him company.”
We are so happy that this sweet boy has found his forever home.
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:
I’m looking for a Shepherd-savvy family. Is it yours?
“Holy, Moses! This big boy is as sweet as a bug’s ear,” said the Polk County Deputy Sheriff after picking him up on Highway 22. This handsome dog had been having a great time greeting all of the flaggers for a tree service company. “He was nice to everyone he met, good on a car ride, loaded himself. He is very puppy-like, when he gets excited he uses his (soft) mouth to play. Gentle giant for sure.”
And that’s how his name became Moses.
Because Moses is a stray, we don’t know his history. He is about a year old and has not had a lot of training, so his youthful enthusiasm can be a bit overwhelming. He will need a family with Shepherd experience who has the time and energy to teach Moses manners with reward-based training. He is very treat-motivated (cheese is a favorite) and a quick learner. WHS staff has been working with him on walking politely on leash, not jumping up on people, and not mouthing them in play.
Moses was adopted very soon after he arrived at WHS, and while he wasn’t the right fit for the family, they loved him. They said he would create games to entertain himself. He traveled well, though did need a chew toy, or he would chew on the seats. We think Moses has been an outdoor dog only, as the family said he seemed to become overwhelmed when indoors for very long. Because of his need for training, Moses was too much for the family to handle, and he was returned.
Moses has done well in our shelter playgroups, though he is a rough and rowdy player, which could be too much for some dogs. He will need to meet any dog he would be going home with. Moses loves to play fetch in the big yard and will retrieve the ball for another throw. He also enjoys hanging out in the kiddie pool.
Moses and Riley enjoy sharing a pool, even when they don’t have to.
Here Moses is hanging out with Jethro last week.
Moses will need a gradual introduction to living inside so that he can feel relaxed and learn the indoor rules. We don’t think he is house-trained.
What kind of home is right for Moses? He will need an experienced family with teens fifteen and older, or just adults. He will need space to exercise, Moses is not an apartment dog. He also requires a cat-free home. Most of all, Moses needs a patient family who will use positive training and have the time to work with this youngster so that he will become the wonderful companion he wants to be. Moses’ adoption includes a thirty-minute private lesson to help him and his new family get off to a great start.
If your family is the right fit for this terrific young dog, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Moses” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/
I’m looking for a patient family who will show me that the world is not so scary.
Feebe, a two-year-old mixed-breed girl, is looking for a special home with experienced dog handlers where she will feel secure. She was surrendered because she needed more attention than her person could give her.
When she first arrived at the shelter in mid-July, Feebe was extremely fearful. She cowered in her kennel and alarm-barked at anyone nearby. The staff gave her time to settle and slowly have been working to earn her trust and to make her feel safe. Happily, Feebe is very treat-motivated and through bits of cheese and hot dog, she has been making progress, though she is still quite nervous.
Feebe’s former family reports that she is house-trained and loves to play fetch and will drop the ball when she returns it to you. She spent time both indoors and outdoors, and was loose inside the house at night and did fine. She was quiet in the home unless she heard something outside, was fine in the car, and settled when riding.
Feebe has not had a lot of training and is quite a puller on leash. Staff has been working on loose-leash walking using rewards-based instruction. She also takes treats quite roughly and playfully jumps up on people she feels comfortable with. Due to these behaviors, she will need to go home with teens seventeen and older or just adults who will continue to help her learn polite behaviors.
Feebe is improving in our shelter playgroups. WHS Trainer Jessi has been working with her and says she’s getting much less fearful outside. “She is able to play and mingle with a solid, social or tolerant dog. Will accept petting and she approaches handlers outside. She loves to play fetch with a tennis ball.” She is not comfortable with all dogs and has some prey drive, so Feebe needs to be in a home without small dogs or other small animals, including cats.
According to her former family and staff observations at WHS, Feebe does not like to have people approach her first, but prefers to be given the chance to approach them as she feels comfortable. She has been somewhat handling-sensitive at the shelter, but slowly is choosing to lean into a trainer for pets and treats.
To help Feebe settle into her new home and bond with her family, WHS will give a free 30-minute virtual or in-person private lesson.
Feebe is not the right dog for everyone. But for someone experienced with fearful dogs, and whose heart is touched by dogs who need a little extra time and attention to become the best dog they can be, Feebe might be the perfect new best friend.
If you are that person, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Feebe” under her picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/
I may need a little polish, but I’ll be a loyal and loved family member!
Izzy, a two-year-old Husky mix weighing 71 pounds, is a bundle of energy and excitement. She is looking for a family experienced with the joys of reward-based positive training who will help her to become the well-behaved dog she wants to be.
Izzy was surrendered because of her family’s landlord restrictions. They had cared for her for three months, having taken her in when she needed a home.
Izzy has had little training in polite manners. As a result, she will need someone with the time, energy, and patience to teach an oversized puppy-like dog how to be a well-behaved part of a family.
The good news, and the key to Izzy’s success, is that she is very treat-motivated! (Did someone mention cheese?) She is a quick learner and will be fun and gratifying to train. She is already working on how to walk politely on leash. When she is excited to see you, she jumps up, so impulse-control practice will be necessary. Because of her size and need for manners-training, she is recommended for kids about 13 and older.
Her former family reports that Izzy is house-trained and will alert when she needs to go outside. She also is crate-trained; she was crated when left alone in the house, and did well. While they said she is very energetic, they also said she slept on their bed at night.
Izzy has been going to the shelter playgroups and WHS Trainer Jessi observed that she is “very handler-friendly. I used her as a helper dog with a new arrival, and she did well. She lacked confidence in the first couple of playgroups she attended, but has improved a lot.”
Izzy does have a strong prey drive. She has killed squirrels. Therefore, she will need to go to a home with no small animals including little dogs and cats. She has made some dog friends her own size since arriving at WHS, and will need to meet any dog she would be living with.
Izzy can be easily startled by sudden loud noises or movements. She will bark at strangers, wanting their attention. She enjoys being petted and is not possessive of either food or toys.
Izzy will be an eager, willing student and wants more than anything to be part of an active family. She may take some time and patience to learn the house rules, but she will be so worth the effort. Izzy is going to make some family a wonderful companion.
To make sure Izzy and her new peeps get a good start on bonding, WHS will give a free 30-minute virtual or in-person private lesson to her family.
If you would like to meet Izzy, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Izzy” under her picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/
I may be goofy, but I’ll love you with all my heart!
Are you partial to Bully Breed dogs with their big blocky heads and goofy wide-mouth grins? If so, take one look at Hulk and you will be smitten.
Hulk is a sixty-pound American Staffordshire mix who is waiting for an experienced, breed-savvy family to love. He was surrendered because his person did not have enough time to give him.
At two years old, Hulk has a lot of energy and loves to romp and play. In his former home he was an outside-only dog and he is looking forward to being an indoor/outdoor dog in his new home. We do know that he was house-trained because he slept in the garage and never had accidents.
Hulk has had little training and so is learning all about manners at the shelter. He is already walking better on leash than when he arrived. He has a history of deciding to go on adventures, escaping his yard. Happily, neighbors aways brought him home. In his new home, he will need to be closely monitored when outside, as he has been known to try to scale a fence.
Hulk is very stressed at the shelter. Because he has not seen much of the world in his young life, he is fearful in new environments and so will need an understanding and patient family using positive training to help him realize he is safe in his new surroundings.
Hulk is fearful of men he does not know. But when he gets comfortable with a person, he is a wiggly, eager, affectionate boy. He loves treats (hot dog bits are a favorite) and thrives on reward-based instruction. Our training staff have been working with Hulk and he now sits with a verbal cue and is learning “down.” He will go happily into his kennel and sit, knowing he’ll be rewarded with a treat.
Hulk is hyper-focused on his environment both indoors and out. He is startled by sudden sounds and movements. He will flinch and cower if a handler moves too quickly reaching toward him from above. He will bark at strangers.
Because Hulk has some challenges, he will need to go to a family who is experienced with dogs who need some extra time and effort to make them feel safe. If there are children, they need to be about 13 or older, and because he has been overly interested in cats, he will need a feline-free home. Hulk has been in our shelter playgroups and is selective in his dog friends. He loves to run around the yard with other dogs, but doesn’t like making contact, so some dogs with rough and rowdy play styles could be too much for Hulk. He will need to meet any dog he will be going home with, and he is not a dog-park kind of boy.
Yes, Hulk needs a special family, one who will patiently show him that he does not need to be afraid of every new experience. And if you are that family, he will reward you with unconditional love and a constant goofy smile.
If you think you are the right match for Hulk, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Hulk” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/
I’m looking for a quiet retirement home. I promise not to be much trouble.
Every so often, a dog arrives at the shelter who touches every heart she meets. Emma is such a dog.
Emma is a thirteen-year-old Shih Tzu mix who was surrendered when her elderly person could no longer care for her. Emma has multiple health issues, including being deaf. Because of these conditions and her age, she is a hospice adoption.
It takes a special person to adopt a hospice dog—a person who is willing to adopt with their eyes and heart open and no idea how long their bond will last. But people like these are determined to give their new charge the very best life possible for as long as possible. For that, we are so grateful.
Emma still enjoys life—just at a slower pace than she used to. She happily goes out to our shelter playgroups, allows greetings from other dogs, mingles a little with them, then finds some shade and lies down to watch the games.
Emma came to her former person from a rescue in California about seven years ago, and we know she has been much loved. At home she and her person would take strolls around the neighborhood, and then she would lounge around for the rest of the day. Emma is not a lap dog, but loves to be petted. She does beg at the table, a habit she is not proud of. She is very easy-going about food and toys and doesn’t mind them being taken from her. “Everyone is her friend,” says her person. “She doesn’t go up to strangers, but waits for them to pet her.”
Emma is not a fan of children and is not interested in playing with them, preferring to avoid contact. Because of this, she is recommended for kids 13 and older who will respect her space.
Emma is house-trained and will alert when she needs to go out. She is crate-trained and is used to being in her kennel at night. When left alone in the house, she has been fine. She is very treat-motivated and, though deaf, she responds well to hand signals to come to a person.
During her intake process at the shelter, staff wrote, “She really loves attention and being petted. Very mellow. When walking her back into her kennel, she walked right in and lay on her bed.”
If you are a person who is willing to give your heart for however long Emma has, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Emma” under her picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/
As always, I want to thank WHS Trainer Jessi for use of her wonderful pictures.
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