Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

I’m starting out this post with a major announcement about a plan that has been in the works at WHS since 2020.

Willamette Humane Society and Oregon Humane Society are merging!

Some key points from the WHS website:

“For decades, Willamette Humane Society (WHS) and Oregon Humane Society (OHS) have provided core services and lifesaving care to companion animals. Collaboration has always been part of that work.”

“Willamette Humane Society (WHS) will merge into Oregon Humane Society (OHS) to create one organization, Oregon Humane Society, with two locations. This merger between the two largest animal welfare agencies in Oregon will position us to provide even higher levels of care and compassion to the animals in our care as well as those in our communities. The merger will be effective on July 1, 2022, and the integration of the two organizations will be an 18-24 month process.”

“Both OHS and WHS are dedicated to caring for homeless pets and finding them loving homes, fighting animal cruelty and abuse, and providing services that help preserve the bond between people and their pets. While some processes may change, animals will remain the focus of the work done in both locations.”

To find out more about the merger and its benefits, read the full WHS announcement here. No doubt there will be a learning curve for volunteers as we become part of OHS. We are excited about the opportunity to help even more homeless pets in our community.

There were some wonderful adoptions during the past week.

Boris

Yes, Boris has been adopted once again. We are all hoping that THIS time this exuberant youngster has found his right match.

Blaze

Remember our three-legged bundle of energy from last week’s post? I’m happy to report that he is now settling in with his new family. He will bring them much joy.

Hayes

I only met Hayes last week, but what a handsome boy he is! We’re glad he didn’t have to stay long at the shelter.

Please Note: The dogs I feature in this section are available for adoption as of today, June 15, 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.

What? You think I’m not a lap dog? Well, actually I am! And I’m still here waiting for your lap!

It isn’t often that the shelter has a Great Dane mix, but that’s exactly what MaGoo is. At 109 pounds, the boy is huge, but with people he has gotten to know, he is a gentle giant. Here he was the first time I met him with Behavior & Training Instructor, Nichole.

I first wrote about MaGoo in my May 18th post, hoping that he’d soon be adopted by an experienced big-dog savvy person. But that hasn’t happened yet.

MaGoo was found as a stray, so we don’t know his history. He was picked up by a Deputy Sheriff answering a call of a loose dog in a neighborhood. When they arrived at WHS, MaGoo accidentally got loose. What did he do? He jumped right back into the deputy’s van, ready to go again. 

MaGoo was a bit overwhelmed at the shelter at first. But with time, he has settled in. Nichole mentioned that he loved stuffed toys, so I got my GFB (Giant Fluff Ball) to see if he’d like to play with it. He did.

Although we don’t know what his past life has been, we guess that he is about four years old. He walks well on leash, although he will pull some when he wants to check out a smell along the way. He takes a little time to warm up to a new person, but before long he is asking for pets. MaGoo is selective in his dog friends, but seems to like smaller ones. We have no idea how he would be with cats or children. 

Long-time volunteer Francis has become a special friend of MaGoo’s. Feeling sorry that extra-large MaGoo has to be in a shelter kennel, Francis decided to take him home for a respite for two three-day weekends. Both MaGoo and Francis have had a blast. Here are some pictures of MaGoo taking it easy in Francis’ home. Could he BE any more relaxed?!

Here is what Francis wrote about their time together.

“I’ve had Magoo at my house for long weekends the last two weekends. He behaves very well around the house and takes commands well. He expects to, and is good about, having his muzzle wiped after eating or drinking. The same with his paws when they are wet or dirty. His favorite spot is on the couch and he is good about lying down after attention or when I want to read or watch tv.

He loves riding in the car and prefers to lie down in the back seat versus looking out the window. He likes his morning, noon, and late afternoon walks at the park. He has a female Labrador friend who he enjoys walking with. He is happiest on a long leash because of his long stride. 

I’ve left him alone several times for 45 minutes or so and he doesn’t get into mischief. He is very happy when I return and after some attention, lies on the couch and minds his own business. He is an extremely affectionate dog. He has me laughing over his antics more often than not. Overall his previous owner provided him a good base of behavior.”

Here is MaGoo in action with his friend, Scout.

Last Sunday Francis asked if he could bring MaGoo to the shelter for some new pictures and would I feature him in this week’s post. I was delighted. We all had a great time and laughed a lot during their visit.

MaGoo is a very special dog. He is shy at first meeting, but quickly becomes your friend and is such a gentle giant. To see more pictures and video of MaGoo, check out my May 18th post here.

If you are looking for an extra-large companion who will love to romp and then lean against you to relax, MaGoo may be just the right dog for you. 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/.

The staff and volunteers here at the shelter have really helped me. Now I’m ready for my new family!

Raider is a seven-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. When he was surrendered, he had a very large tumor on his neck. Our shelter vet staff removed it and gave him dental and ear cleaning at the same time. The incision healed quickly and Raider is now ready to start a happy retirement life with a new family. Here he is with Marianne soon after he recovered from his surgery.

Megan is another one of his many fans.

He looked pretty serious for a while after his medical procedures, but that changed. On Sunday we brought him into Mary’s Place and he had us all in stitches. He was excited that so many of his friends were in the same place. Volunteer Kate happened to be at the shelter and came in to spend some time with all of us. Raider was delighted.

At 102 pounds, Raider knows he needs to slim down and we’re all hoping that his new family will help him with fewer treats and more exercise. But even with the added pounds, he still jumped up on the couch for snuggles.

Raider may be a senior, but he still has spunk and a desire to make everyone around him happy. He didn’t want Megan to feel sorry for him.

He also was hoping I’d forget about fewer treats.

He’s such an affectionate boy.

Here he is in action. Raider knows how to work a room!

If Raider sounds like a wonderful addition to your family, 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/.

Sunday was a very rainy day, so we spent the afternoon in Mary’s Place. After spending time with MaGoo and Raider, we wanted to visit with three of our other favorites whom I’ve featured before but who are still waiting for their new families.

Rocky

You’ll remember Rocky from last week’s post. Life at the shelter is stressful for this sensitive boy. He cowers at the back of his kennel when a visitor approaches. We think this may be why potential adopters pass him by. Although he loves being with people that he gets to know, he is very afraid of any camera, even my cell phone camera. We spent a long time with him and I was only able to sneak one picture when he wasn’t looking, as he sat next to Linda.

To read all about this adorable but timid boy, read last week’s feature about him here. And if you decide you’d like to meet him, 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/.

Carbon

I wrote about Carbon in my May 25th post. He looks so serious in his kennel, but when he’s relaxed, he has a sweet smile.

Linda worked with him on “leave it” and he caught on quickly.

Then she tried a food puzzle and it wasn’t long before he figured out what he needed to do to get some treats.

 Carbon is a seven-year old Lab mix and is a bit shy at first meetings, but once he feels comfortable, he becomes an affectionate 70-pound lap dog. He has lived happily with children, other dogs, and even cats. To read more about Carbon, check out my feature about him in my May 25th post here.

If Carbon sounds like the right dog to add to your family, 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/.

Caleb

Do you have a heart for a hospice dog? Caleb is an absolute joy to be around. He is a ten-year-old American Staffordshire mix. He is looking for a quiet home where he can take short walks and spend the rest of the day relaxing with his peeps. Because of weakness in his back legs, he is on a supplement for joint mobility which he will need to be on for the rest of his life. He also finds stairs a challenge, so a one-level house would be ideal. But don’t think for a minute that Caleb isn’t a happy, eager dog. It is obvious he has been much loved. Caleb has had dental work and a mass removed since being at WHS. Being a hospice dog means we don’t know how long Caleb will live, but we also know that there are adopters out there who find much gratification in giving a senior dog the best life for however long they have. We’re hoping such an adopter will fall in love with Caleb.

On Sunday we took him into Mary’s Place and we all had a wonderful time. He is such a happy dog.

Caleb LOVES toys. One of his favorite things to do in Mary’s Place is to raid the toy box…

…until he has his favorite ones out.

He’s not picky about his toys, though he does enjoy stuffies on the couch.

He’s such a cuddler!

Caleb is simply the best boy! He will give his new family much love and many laughs. To read more about this special boy, check out my feature about him in my May 18th post here. If you would like to give Caleb the best rest of his life, 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/.

We have dogs with so much love to give their new people. I’m hoping those I wrote about today will soon be basking in their new family’s attention.

That’s it for this week!

As always, my thanks to volunteers Marianne, Megan, Linda, and Kate; Behavior and Training Instructor, Nichole; and Francis, for bringing MaGoo to the shelter for a feature.

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