Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

We had a beautiful, though cold day on Sunday to take pictures of new dogs and the ones I am featuring in this post. We also had SIX puppies adopted on Friday and one adult on Monday.

Yes, we had puppies. And they were adorable. Marianne, Megan and I got to spend a little time with them at the shelter, and then on Friday, they went to PetSmart for a special adoption event and all six were adopted by the end of the day! I’m glad I took a few pictures before they left WHS. (And before you ask, they all had tiny cones on because they had been spayed or neutered.)

Henry

Henry only had to wait a short time for his new family to find him. He is just an all-around great family dog. I had planned to feature him in this post, but he was adopted on Monday. Here are a few pictures from our time with him on Sunday.

He was sure his new family would be coming very soon and he was right!

Please Note: The dogs I feature in this section are available for adoption as of today, January 12, 2022. 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 featured dogs are still available and to see other available dogs, click on the link to the currently available dogs here.

I’ve been here a while working on my skills to be a great family dog. If you need a big guy and can continue to help me with rewards-based training, I could be your devoted partner!

Mr. Shepp is a one-year-old German Shepherd mix who at 90 pounds is not for the faint of heart. He is waiting for a home with a German Shepherd-savvy person. Mr. Shepp (just Shepp to his friends) was found as a stray and came to WHS in mid-November. At only a year old, he arrived with some puppy-like boisterous behavior and no training. We know nothing about his young life. What a handsome boy he is!

Shepp has been working with our Behavior and Training staff and has been making progress in learning to be calm and to settle. He has been practicing cues for sitting and taking treats politely. He is still working on leash walking, which has been a challenge for him. Shepp can be jumpy and mouthy when he gets excited, so should not go home with small children. He is hoping someone with an understanding of his breed and patience will take him home where he can continue to be taught the skills he needs through rewards-based training. His love of cheese will be key to his success.

On Sunday Trainer Nichole brought Shepp out to a yard for some pictures and he proved to be very cooperative and was comfortable with my camera. Here he is practicing cues “sit” and “easy” when taking treats.

WHS Trainer Skylar has been spending time with Shepp in the training room showing him how to remain calm and to relax.

Skylar wrote, “Shepp has been performing very well this week and making good choices. Still a bit jumpy when meeting new people but able to give engagement to the handler and check in before being allowed to greet. Performing well with default sits and downs. Performing well with mat work. Periodically put in the training room, throughout the week for training sessions on calmness. Shepp enjoys playing fetch and chewing on long chew items. Still needs loose leash work. Overall Shepp is performing well but still needs help and support during sudden environmental changes.”

Shepp did very well with meeting me for the first time on Sunday, and he was happy to pose for my camera with cheese as a reward.

Linda has been spending some time with Shepp, too, and came out to join us.

He practiced the cue “down.”

We decided to take him into Mary’s Place to see if he would settle with us. He did and enjoyed it

We let him try a food puzzle and it was a hit!

Mr. Shepp is not the right dog for the casual, inexperienced, or first-time dog owner. He will need a home where he can continue to learn the family-life skills he needs and a place where he will feel safe and loved while he learns. Shepp has great potential to become a wonderful sidekick for someone with an active lifestyle. If you are that person, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on his picture and then on the link Adopt Me found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/.

I am really nervous about being here, but I’m trying to be brave. Do you have a spot in your heart for a shy dog? If so, could you adopt me?

Phoebe is a beautiful seven-year-old Rough Collie/German Shepherd (?) mix. She was found as a stray and arrived at WHS on December 31. I met her for the first time on Sunday and felt so sorry for how timid she still is. Notice the tucked tail in the photo below.

Phoebe was found and kept overnight by someone who then brought her to the shelter. They said she was extremely shy and nervous during her stay. Because of her timidity, Phoebe will need a home where she is given the time and space to adjust on her terms. Once she feels safe, she will need gradual introductions to new people, situations, and places. Patience, understanding, and a quiet home are important for this sweet girl.

Given the time she needs, Phoebe will be a wonderful companion. WHS offers a complementary 30-minute consultation to help her new family and Phoebe get acquainted and give tips on helping her adjust to her new home through positive rewards-based training.

If you enjoy working to gain the trust of shy dogs and to make them realize that the world does not have to be a scary place, Phoebe might be just the right fit for you. If you think so, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on her picture and then on the link Adopt Me found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/.

One more time…I’m here still, just waiting in my kennel for you to adopt me. Maybe one more feature about me will do the trick and my forever family will realize they need me.

When I got to the shelter on Sunday and walked past the kennels, saying hello to the dogs, Rosie happily ran to the front of hers and greeted me with her usual enthusiasm. I stopped and looked at her. Such a sweet girl who has been waiting since early December for just the right family who has yet to find her. And so, as I gave her a cheese bit and looked into her eyes, I promised her that she would once again be featured in my post this week, hoping that it would be the last time.

I have written about Rosie a lot during the three times she has been at the shelter since 2020, the last time being a week ago. She is a three-year-old Australian Cattle Dog/American Staffordshire Terrier mix who is smart, loving, eager to learn, and active. She and all of us who love her are hoping that the next home will be her last.

So after we took all the pictures of new dogs and spent time with Mr. Shepp and Phoebe, we asked Rosie if she’d like to spend some time in Mary’s Place with Megan, Marianne, and me. She was thrilled, eager to once again pose for new pictures to help people see what a good girl she is.

Rosie came to the shelter the first time in February of 2020 when her family’s circumstances changed and they could no longer keep her. They described her as “very friendly, loves people, happy, and high energy.” She went to a foster home where she was much loved. Her foster mom wrote, “She needs to go on walks frequently and naps well when her energy burns off. She is extremely loving and sweet.” Rosie was adopted a second time, but returned when she was too active for the person. Rosie was adopted once again, but was recently surrendered because of her prey drive for small animals. So that is the full disclosure. All of Rosie’s former families stressed how wonderful she is with people and how affectionate and fun she is. She just needs a family who can give her plenty of exercise and love.

Rosie knows several cues such as “sit,” “lie down,” “go to bed,” “down,” “go home,” and is eager to learn more. She is house-trained and will alert you when she needs to go out. Rosie is uncomfortable around small children, so she should go home with kids about 13 and older. She needs a secure fenced yard and should not go to a home with cats or “pocket pets.”

Rosie’s last family wrote that she is “adorable, warm, friendly, and loves people.” What is Rosie’s ideal home? Here’s what her foster family wrote: “Rosie’s dream home would have a yard with room to run and play. She LOVES toys! Her dream human would be very loving, ready to snuggle with her regularly, but also ready to play.”

We had so much fun with Rosie on Sunday, just hanging out. She settled and enjoyed relaxing with us. She actually had quite a lot to say.

Then it was time just for some quiet relaxation together as the afternoon sun streamed through the sliding door.

Rosie decided a video might be nice to have in this post to show how she plays. So here it is.

Then it was back to relaxing on the couch.

This afternoon, Rosie had a wonderful surprise! Marianne took her on a park respite. Here is her report:

“A couple of other volunteers went with Rosie and me to Geer Park. Rosie seemed a little anxious in the car and did pull on leash a bit, but I feel like it was just excitement about going someplace new. She saw children, other dogs, a teenager on a skateboard, and a few other adult humans. She was great—not reactive to anything. She’s been with us for a while, and she is just an incredibly sweet dog.”

It was such a nice day for a shelter-dog adventure and Rosie obviously loved it!

Rosie has been waiting a long time for her forever family. If you think Rosie is a great fit for you, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on her picture and then on the link Adopt Me found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/. She is hoping she’ll be with her family very soon.

I’m not a youngster, but I still have spunk! If you’re looking for a pint-sized dog with a big personality, pick me!

Spencer is a thirteen-year-old Miniature Pinscher mix. When he arrived at the shelter, he had some medical issues that were quickly addressed by our WHS vet, including the extraction of eight teeth. He almost instantly felt much better and his delightful personality began to show.

Spencer has the usual older dog medical issues like arthritis, but medication helped that and he soon had a spring in his step.

Spencer quickly became a volunteer favorite. One took him on a respite ride in the car and reported, “He was calm and seemed to be happy. He loved the car ride. This dog needs a lap and ‘Golden Girls’ reruns! He is a loafer for sure. He was very good on leash.”

Marianne is another one of Spencer’s fans. Here they were a couple of Sundays ago in Mary’s Place.

He also wanted to discuss which was his best side for pictures. He decided they both were good.

Another one of his volunteer fans, Sheronne, stopped in to say hi and to take him on respite. She then decided to foster him until he finds his perfect retirement home. One note, Spencer would like a feline-free home, as he finds cats too tempting to chase.

It didn’t take him long to settle into his foster home!

Spencer hopes to find a forever retirement home where he can go for walks around the neighborhood and then settle in with his family for some serious relaxation and napping. If you are a person who loves senior dogs, Spencer may be your new best friend. Just fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on his picture and then on the link Adopt Me found on this page: https://whs4pets.org/dogs/. He is hoping to be with his family very soon.

We have THREE updates this week!

Patty/Minnie Pearl

Every so often I get an email from someone who adopted a dog several years ago. It’s great fun to look up my pictures of the dog at WHS and then see them today. Such is the story of Patty. Here she was with Marianne shortly after she arrived from a shelter in California in 2017.

And here is her update:

“The dog that we adopted was called Patty at the shelter. We adopted her in August of 2017. We named her Minnie Pearl, but we just call her Pearl.

My husband, Joe, is an entertainer which requires us to go on long road trips from time to time and Pearl goes wherever we go. She’s a good traveler, great with kids, our 21-year-old cat, and other dogs. 

She’s the best dog we’ve ever had and we feel so lucky that she’s in our life.

Despite the wonderful care she had at the WHS shelter, she looked so scared and pathetic, but she instantly relaxed and made herself at home on our couch and with our family.”

Tripp

Remember Tripp from last week’s adoption announcement?

We were so happy to know he is doing well with his new family.

“Just wanted to let you know that Tripp is settling into his new loving home. He’s had a busy week and learning more every day. Thanks so much for caring for him and connecting us!”

Earl/Tico

Then there was the giant puppy, Earl, from last week. Remember him?

Yesterday I was excited when I got this email:

“We wanted to let you know how great Earl (now named Tico) is doing. He has been with us for a week now. Tico loves playing with his big brother Milo and his family. Thank you to the humane society again for letting us adopt him!” 

It is such a joy to hear that our former shelter dogs are living such wonderful lives and are much loved. On those happy notes, that’s it for this week.

My thanks to volunteers Marianne, Megan, Linda, and Sheronne for making this post possible, and to WHS Trainers Nichole and Skylar.

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/dogs/

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