I am beginning this post with a thank you and a farewell to two special friends and invaluable contributors to my blog. WHS Trainer Jessi has worked in many capacities at Willamette Humane Society for the past sixteen years. Many volunteers, like me, as well as staff, have learned so much about understanding dog behavior and positive training through her mentoring and example. Not only is Jessi an outstanding dog trainer, she is a patient and encouraging teacher to both canines and their human handlers.

Jessi’s son, Junior Trainer Cash, is following in his mother’s footsteps and has developed amazing connections with the shelter dogs that Jessi has taken home to foster.

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Over the years, Jessi has taken every opportunity to learn more about dog behavior and improve her skills, including becoming a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and attending Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL) trainings which resulted in her running shelter play groups, a huge benefit for the physical and emotional health of our shelter dogs.

Jessi has recently been offered and has accepted a wonderful position with ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and will be moving out of state. She will be working with her staff in providing behavioral rehabilitation to dogs rescued from cruelty situations. She will be fabulous at her job. A few weeks ago while packing, Jessi came across a long-forgotten certificate of appreciation that ASPCA sent to her in 1998, when she was 12 years old, thanking her for sending her allowance to the organization.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Jessi and WHS shelter dogs she has helped.

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Cash, at five years old, has already developed a love and sensitivity to dogs. He eagerly welcomed each one from the shelter that his mother brought home to foster. He helped to comfort and train those who were frightened and under-socialized. He learned it can be hard to say goodbye to them, but he was always happy when they found a perfect home. I’m sure ASPCA will find ways that Cash can help. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Cash with some of his foster dogs.

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When Magnum first arrived at the house and was so shy, Cash drew a picture of him to make him feel more at home.

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During this year of the pandemic, I would not have been able to write my blog posts without Jessi’s help. Each week she took wonderful pictures for me during her play groups that I used to feature that week’s dogs. It is not easy to say goodbye to Jessi and Cash. But I am so excited for them in their new life adventure. Thank you, Jessi and Cash, for all you have done for WHS shelter dogs and for me. You will be greatly missed.

I’m always excited when I’m at the shelter when one of our dogs is adopted. Sunday was such a day.

Daisy

I had met Daisy last week and knew she’d be adopted quickly. She is a delightful girl and we felt she’d do best going home with another dog. She did! Volunteers Marianne, Megan, and I got to watch her meet her two new siblings, Buddy and Bullet. She’s going to have a great life!

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Yang

On Tuesday, our sweet Yang got adopted! She came to us as a stray and we knew she wouldn’t be around very long. Lucky family to have found this delightful new best friend.

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Please Note: 

The dogs I feature in this section are available for adoption as of today, June 16, 2021. But things change fast and our goal is always to find wonderful homes for our dogs as quickly as possible. To see if today’s dogs are still available and to see other available dogs, visit https://whs4pets.org/dogs/ .

Do you need cheering up? I can do that! I promise to keep you laughing and to be your best buddy!

Some dogs are packed with personality. Duke is one such dog. This three-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix is an absolute delight to be around. Wherever he is, he is making people laugh, either by his comments (he is quite a talker) or his antics. At 52 pounds, Duke is not a big dog, but he is compact and always read for action.

Duke was surrendered because of the health of his person and they were very sad to give him up. They described him as “silly, cute, sweet, and sometimes lazy.” He loves people to scratch under his chin and on his rear. His favorite treats are cheese and meat and his favorite toy is a Nylabone. Duke is house-trained and will go to the door when he needs to go out. He is not a fan of nail trims, but loves baths and car rides. He knows “sit” and sometimes “come.” He has lived with other dogs, but will need to meet any canine he will be living with to make sure they have compatible play styles. He should not live with cats, as they are too much fun to chase. His two favorite pastimes are playing and sleeping. He sometimes is leash-reactive toward other dogs when being walked, but volunteers have found they can redirect his attention with cheese. He is crate-trained and slept in one at night in his former home. Because of his exuberant personality, Duke should go home with older children.

Duke will need regular exercise and he would love a fenced yard to romp in. He thoroughly enjoys playing fetch, but doesn’t always return the toy thrown. He seems to thrive on making people laugh.

When Duke arrived at WHS, he was cooperative and very treat-motivated. He so enjoys being out and about, he sometimes is a bit stubborn about going back in his kennel, but always decides to go in.

Duke has done well in our shelter playgroups and is absolutely overjoyed when he gets to play in a yard. He is not above trying to con the handlers into giving him treats. And he always has a lot to say.

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He also enjoyed some scratch time with volunteer Susan and then suddenly realized it was Jessi’s last playgroup.

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Megan, Marianne and I had a great time with Duke a couple of Sundays ago when the weather was beautiful and we decided to take him to a yard for some fetch.

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Later, we took him into Mary’s Place. He loved it.

Duke is a hoot. If he seems the perfect match for your family,  fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on Duke’s picture and then on the link Apply to Adopt found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/. We’re hoping his new family will find him soon. He can’t wait to meet you!

I need a job. Got a farm? Got goats? Can we talk?

Willow is a beautiful five-year-old Great Pyrenees. At 86 pounds, she is a big dog, and such an affectionate girl.

Willow lived her first four years happily on a farm. She was outside during the day and slept in the house at night. She did very well with the goats on the farm. Then the family moved to town and Willow has had a very difficult time adjusting. She was anxious, and stressed, startled by noises and was vocal outside. She needs to go back to living on a farm, preferably a goat farm where she can once again relax.

Willow has been cooperative since arriving at the shelter. Volunteers love spending time with her, and she is happiest when getting their attention. Megan is totally smitten with her.

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However, as Megan’s attention is caught elsewhere, Willow gently gets it back.

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Willow will need to be the only pet and a family with kids fifteen and older. Willow walks well on leash and when walking, will lean against her person. She also loves to roll in the grass and get her stomach scratched.

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Jessi is another one of Willow’s many fans. Willow knows several commands including “sit” and “down.”

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Willow also enjoys spending time with her friends, Marianne and Megan, in Mary’s Place, though she takes up most of the couch!

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Willow is in need of a very specific home. City life is not for this girl. She misses her goats and freedom of a farm. If you are that farm family, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on Willow’s picture and then on the link Apply to Adopt found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/.

Hoping both Duke and Willow will find their new homes very soon.

That’s it for this week!

Thanks to Jessi and volunteers Megan, Marianne, Susan, and Jr. Dog Trainer Cash for their help with this post.

Remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in meeting, fill out the Adoption form at whs4pets.org, and wait to be contacted by the staff. And please remember that sometimes dogs are adopted quickly, so might have already found a great home by the time you ask about them.

You can reach me at adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com