Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

I’m happy to report several wonderful adoptions during the past week.

Luke

Our wonderful boy, Luke, who had been waiting for his new family since early November, found them! We were getting worried about him; lately he seemed so sad in his kennel. He is sure it was the beautiful painting he did last week that appeared in my post that caught his adopter’s attention. Whatever it was, they are a lucky family!

Riley

Puppy Riley went to his new home. He wasn’t at the shelter very long. He will keep his new family happy!

Jack

Jack was a newbie, but we all fell in love with him on Sunday. What a great dog! Lucky family, indeed!

Dakota

If you are a regular reader of my posts, you will well remember our sweet Dakota who had waited patiently for a family since early September. I featured her twice, but still she waited in her kennel. At the end of October, staff agreed that she needed a fresh start. It was hard for those of us who love her to say goodbye, but we were hoping her perfect family will finally find her at our Portland campus. Our friend, Portland OHS volunteer Julie, kept us in the loop, and reported that Dakota had become a favorite there, too, and got much attention. We were so relieved that she was happy and helping staff in the office.

Yesterday I got this wonderful news from Julie:

“Whew, finally! Dakota was adopted yesterday! She spent a lovely time in a foster home and then came back to the shelter to charm the public in person wearing an adorable pair of puppy pajamas with a piggy print.” Julie sent along this photo. Needless to say, we all who love her are overjoyed she finally has a family of her own.

Please Note: The dogs I feature in this section are available for adoption as of today, December 21, 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’m told my name fits me! I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m working hard to become the best dog I can be! You and I could work together to help me!

Spirit is still a youngster at about one year old, and a Border Collie mix. Since he came to us as a stray, we know nothing of his past. We do know that he is a happy, outgoing, and VERY exuberant dog.

Spirit had very little training before arriving at our shelter on November 18th from another shelter. While he still has lots to learn about impulse control, as he is jumpy and can be mouthy when excited, he is smart and will be a delight for a family experienced in rewards-based training of young dogs. He happily posed for his website photos the day I met him. He loves cheese.

Whoever named him at his former shelter picked the perfect one; he certainly has spirit! And since he is still puppy-like in many ways, with lots of energy, staff and volunteers have been working with him. Besides impulse control, Spirit is also learning manners and how to walk politely on leash, things he was never taught as a puppy. Because he has a lot to learn, he will need an experienced person who has the time and patience it will take to show Spirit what being a family dog is all about. He is easily excited and, when aroused, he becomes jumpy and mouthy. Being at the shelter so long has been difficult for this young, energy-filled dog.

A couple of weeks ago, we took Spirit into the Ed Hall. Linda worked with him on the cue to sit. There is no question that Spirit is smart (he is a Border Collie mix, after all!) and he happily showed me his new skill.

Since we were painting holiday ornaments that day, Spirit was eager to try one—especially since there was peanut butter on the plastic bag covering the ornament and wet paint. He had a little help from Megan.

Spirit was quite pleased with himself.

Then he had an idea (did I mention he’s a Border Collie mix?) about an adoption lure.

After his painting success, he wanted to pose for one more picture, this time with Marianne.

Spirit is not the right dog for everyone, but for someone who has had experience with young Border Collies and how to train them with positive reinforcement, he will blossom into the well-behaved dog he wants to be. If you would like to meet Spirit, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on his picture and then on the link Adopt Me found here  oregonhumane.org/adopt/salem-shelter-adopt-dogs/

I was pretty nervous when I first came to the shelter, but I’m feeling much better now and I’m ready to go to my new home. Will you be coming soon?

Brody is a very handsome two-year-old German Shepherd mix.

Brody was found as a stray on the property of a good Samaritan who took him in. She wrote, “I held onto him for three weeks because he was such a good boy, but ultimately I couldn’t care for him as I already have three dogs.” Brody got along very well with her dogs, “and he was a very good boy.”

When I met Brody for the first time a couple of weeks ago, Kate brought him into the Ed Hall for his photo shoot. He was so uneasy and shy, he tried to hide behind Kate while he peeked out at me.

Gradually he started to feel more comfortable and got a little braver, as long as Kate was close.

What a change two weeks make! Once again, Kate brought him into the Ed Hall and it was like he was a different dog—happy, confident, and affectionate. He is stressed being in a shelter environment, and can get overly excited in his kennel when he knows he’s going to go out. One volunteer wrote, “Brody is more jumpy and mouthy than he has been in the past few weeks. Nice dog, but be prepared.” We’re hoping he won’t have to stay in the shelter much longer and will soon be in a home where he can relax.

Brody was very polite while with us in the Ed Hall, and knows several cues such as sit and down. He seemed to enjoy posing for my camera this time. He had a small growth removed from his foot and is wearing a bandage while it heals.

He volunteered to put on a holiday wrap and pose with Marianne.

Then he had the idea of posing with everybody to show potential adopters how he is good at making friends. He even earned a new friend, Nyah, who is a beginning volunteer. Nyah had so much fun during her first dog-walking shift, she didn’t want to leave yet, so we invited her to hang out with us for photos.

Kate is still Brody’s favorite volunteer.

Brody is hoping to spend the holidays with his new family. If you are a German Shepherd fan, Brody might be your perfect companion. If you’d like to meet him, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on his picture and then on the link Adopt Me found here  oregonhumane.org/adopt/salem-shelter-adopt-dogs/

I was adopted once, but it it turns out I am uncomfortable around small children, so I’m back. I hope I’ll be adopted again real soon!

Midas is a three-year-old Lab mix who is such a goofy, fun boy with a constant grin.

I first wrote about Midas in my November 23rd post. He was adopted in early December, but the family had a toddler and Midas was very anxious around him. But when they returned Midas they said this: “Aside from that, Midas is the perfect boy! He is very loving and such a sweet boy. Midas loves to be with his people. I believe that he would truly thrive in a home without small children.”

Midas was surrendered originally due to his chronic skin issues. When he arrived, he was quite thin and his coat was missing a lot of hair. But now, after medication and special food, he looks and feels like a different dog. His last vet-check note read, “Overall greatly improved.” His new family will need to be willing and able to keep up with his medication and special diet. But don’t think for a minute that this dog isn’t worth the expense. With his new shiny, soft coat, he was happy to put on a neck wrap to celebrate the holidays and pose with Marianne.

Midas loves people and wants to be with them. He has lived happily with a cat. His first family reported that he got along well with other dogs. Because of the stress of a shelter environment, Midas has shown some reactivity toward other dogs, so would need to meet any dog he will be living with.

This boy prefers to be inside with his family. He has been known to chew on inappropriate items when left alone too long, so a home where there is someone there much of the time would be ideal. He is house-trained and has not had accidents. His first family describes him as affectionate and friendly with visitors. He knows several cues including sit, stay, down, and come. His favorite thing to do is go on walks.

We had such a fun time with him on Sunday. He was as goofy as ever and had lots to say. Even though he is on special food, he loves it and is always eager for more.

Then he wanted everyone to pose together, but it didn’t quite work out at first.

Finally!

But wait! There’s more!

So we did!

After the romp, Midas was ready to relax on Linda.

Midas is a loving, happy, playful young dog. We’re hoping the right family who will keep him healthy will find him soon. If you are that family, fill out the Adoption Questionnaire by clicking on his picture and then on the link Adopt Me found here  oregonhumane.org/adopt/salem-shelter-adopt-dogs/

We’re hoping that these three dogs will be with their new families before the holiday season is over.

As always, thanks to my photo team volunteers Marianne, Megan, Linda, Kate, and Nyah.

All of the dogs I have featured today, along with other terrific dogs waiting to be adopted, can be found at Oregon Humane Society Salem Campus. Here is the link to the adoptable-dog page: oregonhumane.org/adopt/salem-shelter-adopt-dogs/

Remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in meeting, try to make arrangements to get to the shelter soon. Some dogs are adopted more quickly than you might think.

You can reach me at  adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com