Monthly Archives: September 2020

This Week’s Featured Adoptable Dogs @ Willamette Humane Society by Martha Russell

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

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Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Two Brothers

This post is going to be different from my usual ones. It is the story of two bonded brothers, Jack and Snoop. I first wrote about them in my August 19th post. That’s Jack on the right and Snoop on the left in the picture below. These boys won the hearts of everyone at the shelter, especially WHS Trainer Jessi’s.

 

 

 

Jack and Snoop had been together their entire seven years and were much loved by their family, but circumstances made it necessary for them to be surrendered to WHS. Because they were so dependent on each other, the shelter knew they had to be adopted together.

After several weeks when they didn’t get adopted, Jessi decided to take them home to foster. The boys loved being at Jessi’s house with her family and pack of three dogs. Jack especially bonded with Jessi’s little boy, Cash.

 

 

Jessi kept me informed about Jack and Snoop’s happenings and how well they were doing with her other dogs. She also talked about how very bonded they were to each other. They were so happy to be in a home again.

 

 

We decided that I would visit them, we’d take them for a walk in the park, and I’d take more pictures for my next blog post. The morning I was going, Jessi texted that something was wrong with Jack. He was lethargic and not at all himself. When I arrived, he didn’t get up to greet me. We decided he should be seen by the WHS vet and took him to the shelter. He went without complaint. There he received fluids, but there was nothing obvious that the vet could find that was wrong. Back at Jessi’s home again, we hoped he’d soon be back to his usual happy self. Cash sat with him.

 

 

 

But Jack did not improve. By evening, Jessi and WHS decided he needed to go to the emergency vet clinic. There, they were baffled, but thought that possibly a fast-growing abdominal tumor had ruptured. He continued to get worse and the vet advised that the humane decision would be to let him go. Jessi held him, put her head next to his and told him that he had a home and she was his person while he passed peacefully.

 

Snoop

The first night was hard. Snoop couldn’t settle and was distraught at not being able to find Jack. Neither Snoop nor Jessi got any sleep. But as each day goes by, Snoop is feeling better. Being in a home with a family and other dogs has made Snoop feel loved and less lonely. Jessi will keep him with her until he is adopted. When he didn’t want to eat the first morning without Jack, Cash hand-fed him. (Cash is becoming a wonderful dog trainer, just like his mom!)

 

 

And gradually, Snoop started feeling like playing fetch again.

 

 

 

 

Snoop is now eating on his own, playing with Jessi’s other dogs and hanging out with the family.


 

 

 

Jessi has decided that Snoop is ready for his forever home without Jack. What kind of home does Snoop need? He’ll need one with another dog and hopefully a boy or girl to call his own. He needs a family in which he can feel secure and loved while he continues to adjust to life without his constant companion and best friend.

At 94 pounds, Snoop is a large dog. He has a few of the usual older-dog health issues such as lumps and a little arthritis, but he is still very active and playful, loving to chase a ball, especially basketballs. He does need to continue working on polite leash-walking skills, as he tends to pull. But Jessi reports that he is improving every day thanks to the fact that he is very treat-motivated and loves to work for cheese!

Jessi says, “He’s going to be a really easy dog for someone. If I didn’t already have three other dogs I would keep him! He took a little time to settle in the house, but is fine now. He tries to lick my face when I bend down to give him his bowl!”

Because of his age and not having much experience with the outside world, Snoop is recommended for families with older children who will give him space when he needs it. He also needs to go to a cat-free home.

There could not be a more cooperative dog, and we are hoping that the right family with another dog and kids will read about this sweet boy and know he is just the right fit. Once he knows he has a home, Snoop will settle and his new family will be very lucky indeed.

And Jack will always be remembered by those of us who loved him, especially Jessi and Cash, as a very special boy.

 

 

If you think you could be the right forever family for Snoop, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Snoop” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

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

This Week’s Featured Adoptable Dogs @ Willamette Humane Society by Martha Russell

23 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in This Week's Featured WHS Dogs

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Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

Our Salem skies are blue and the smoke has been washed away by welcomed rain. The shelter dogs can once again romp in playgroups and take walks around the grounds. This was posted on the WHS FB site:

“As the smoke clears and evacuation orders lessen, so many families are heading back to burned areas around Salem to check on their homes and property. Many of these families discover abandoned pets during their early visits. Willamette Humane Society is working closely with VCA Salem Animal Hospital to provide life-saving help. We’re opening our doors to help uninjured animals displaced by the fires. And VCA is offering free medical care to stray/lost animals hurt by the fire.”

After so much worry and sadness, I’m glad I have pictures of three very happy dog adoptions this week.

 

Romeo

Our sweet Romeo was adopted! WHS Trainer Nichole wrote, “His adopter was so excited to take him home that he had a special tag made and bought him a monkey toy! Romeo will have a yard of his own, lots of bones, and treats. (Special thanks to Steffanie in Adoptions for taking the photo.)

Scruffy

Also adopted this week was Scruffy. Nichole writes, “He’ll be living with a young couple.  The woman is a large-animal veterinarian.  Scruffy will be their first dog as adults and they couldn’t be happier!  Scruffy seemed pretty happy, too!”

Chica

Chica, who has been fostered by volunteer Marianne, went to her new home today! WHS Trainer Nichole writes, “Chica has just been adopted!  She’ll have a Labrador Retriever sister and a parent who is a CVT (certified veterinary technician). Living the buena vida!  Adiós dulce niña! (Goodbye sweet little girl!)”

 

Here she is in the car about to head to her new home. Guess she’s already getting settled in!

Also adopted during the week were Bo, Townes, and Liberty. They were adopted so quickly, I wasn’t able to get any pictures of them.

 

 

 

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

Still looking for just the right person for me.

Sherlock is back. He really needs a Hound-savvy, experienced family who enjoys and appreciates the enthusiasm and fun of having a Hound.

Sherlock is a one-year-old Hound mix who was found as a stray. Since we do not know his history, WHS Trainer Nichole has spent some quality time with him and says, “Sherlock 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 are using 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 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 would do best as an only dog in his new home.

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 is Hound-savvy, 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/

 

 

 

 

 

Are you looking for a smart, eager dog, and do you also have a calm home? That’s what I’m looking for! We need to talk!  I’ve been waiting quite a while!

I first wrote about Tucker in my September 2nd post. Since he is still waiting for his perfect fit of a family, I thought I’d feature him again, hoping just the right person will read about him this week.

 

 

Tucker is a five-year-old Border Collie mix. And if you know anything about Border Collies, you know they love to “herd.” According to the American Kennel Club, “Borders are among the canine kingdom’s most agile, balanced, and durable citizens. The intelligence, athleticism, and trainability of Borders have a perfect outlet in agility training. Having a job to perform, like agility—or herding or obedience work—is key to Border happiness. Amiable among friends, they may be reserved with strangers.”

This is Tucker’s second time at WHS. He first came in 2017, having been found as a stray. He was quickly adopted, but was surrendered earlier this month because he had become too nervous around the family’s children. 

 

 

Tucker is looking for a forever home with some special qualities. Since he is uneasy around commotion, he needs a calm home with adults only, or teens fifteen and older. Tucker can be possessive about his food and toys with other dogs, so would do best as an only dog. But that doesn’t mean he can’t have some dog friends. He has done well in some of our playgroups. WHS Trainer Jessi writes, “He mingles well in groups and even will play some, but mostly it is pretty mellow play. He can be reactive if another dog is reactive towards him, but he is easy to redirect. He is very interested in people and when we bend down to pet him, he starts rolling in the grass.”

 

 

Tucker does have some prey drive, so he will need a cat-free home.

Tucker’s former family reports that he loves being with his people. He is crate- and house-trained, and enjoys being both indoors and outside. He quickly became a favorite of staff. WHS Trainer Marilyn has been spending time with Tucker and writes, “He is social-seeking with handlers. Took treats gently from my hand. Gave eye contact. Tolerated all handling of body, feet, mouth, and ears without stress signals.” He also walks well on leash.

 

 

Tucker becomes anxious in new situations and around new people. He needs a family who will be patient and understand that slow introductions are necessary in order for Tucker to feel secure. Rewards-based training is very important, especially for sensitive dogs like Tucker. Because he is treat-motivated and very smart, training will be fun and rewarding for both him and his person.

 

 

In order for Tucker and his new family to start out on the right paw, WHS offers a free 30-minute private lesson. This will help both Tucker and his new peeps to get to know each other.

If you have had experience with “herding breed” dogs in the past and are looking for a bright, active and eager dog who will love hiking, agility, and hanging out with you, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on the link “Ask About Tucker” under his picture on the WHS adoptable dog page found here: https://whs4pets.org/adopt-a-pet/dogs-2/

 

We are really hoping that these two dogs will find the families that they need soon.

Many thanks to Jessi, Nichole, Steffanie, and Marianne for this post’s pictures.

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