This Week's Adoptable Dogs 5/16/12

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:49:45 -0700

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
There are some weeks that I have a LOT to report. Yep, this is one of those weeks. So sit back, grab a soda, and get ready for some fun news about Willamette Humane Society dogs. With the coming of warm, sunny days, it seems more people feel the need for a new family member with whom to share their lives. We at the shelter are happy to assist them in finding the right fit for their lifestyle. Here are the Blog Dogs who found their happy homes this past week.

It's always fun to catch a family as they leave WHS with their new best friend. I was happy to be able to take the following pictures of three such families this week.
Mr. Bingley joins another Doberman in his new home.

It was so much fun to watch this family fall in love with Dandelion. I know she is going to have the best life ever!

There was no question in this couple's mind that Kelly was the dog for them.

Little Billy won the hearts of this pair and they assured me that he will be greatly loved.

Sunday was a busy day at the shelter. First, of course, was play group, and what a grand time was had by all! We had a total of 22 dogs all romping happily around the big yard as we stayed out of the way of the many chase games.

Sunday Play Group Chatter
You can well imagine that with 22 dogs, there was plenty of chatter. Most of it revolved around two rather large newcomers named Daisy and Peterbilt.

JoJo was ecstatic about play group and when he saw I was taking pictures, he was thrilled to pose for me.

Two girls—one heart
After play group, it was time to meet the dogs who had arrived at the shelter since my last visit. Sarah could hardly wait for me to meet Lady and Jasmine, two seven-year-old American Blue Heeler mixes who have lived together their whole lives. They happily share a kennel and we are so hoping they can be adopted together. They are feeling overwhelmed with the noise of the shelter and would love to be taken into a quiet home where they could enjoy their human family and each other.

They confided in us that they would really like to get out more and get some exercise to shed some of those mid-life pounds that come on so easily. However, they also explained that short walks are best until they work up to longer ones. These two are real sweethearts and will make someone's life complete.

Jasmine

Lady

I'm adorable!
While Sarah and I were hanging out with The Girls, I noticed Sunday walkers Jessica and Gracie walking little Hawkins, a two-year-old Miniature Poodle mix. He walks well on leash, took my hot dog bits politely and is good with kids. It was a little difficult to see his eyes under all of that poodle hair, but he is a cute little guy who will make a great new friend.

I'm getting better and better!
As you may remember, volunteer Linda has been working with Sorrel for several weeks and the training is really starting to shine. A Sunday volunteer stopped me in the hall and said she wanted to let me know how much better Sorrel was when she took her out for a walk that morning. After play group, Linda, Sorrel, and I sat under a tree and ate lunch. Here are some pictures I took of this much improved Foxhound. If you are a "hound person," this girl might be perfect for you!

I love this picture of Sorrel. Her eyes look right into your heart.

Today Emelynn, Sarah, and I took Sorrel out to the big yard for some practice on "come." She did well for awhile; here she is running to me when called. She really is improving! Then she decided it was too warm to work and she'd rather sniff around the yard.

Need a laugh every day?
I'm not sure what it is about Pit Bull Terriers that make them have such great smiles, but they do. Meet Lou, a four-year-old who scored great on his behavior assessment. He even likes cats! He's lived with another dog and THREE cats and was friendly with everyone. He's a happy boy who is looking for an active family to adopt. Here he is on Sunday with volunteer Sherrie.

I love this face!

But I'm still a puppy!
Are you waiting for that extra-large member of your family to make it complete? Well wait no longer. This is Peterbilt, and yes, it's a very appropriate name for this boy! Pete is an eight-month-old Saint Bernard/Great Dane mix, and yes, he'll get a little bigger, but mostly will fill out. As you can see, Sarah fell hard for this big boy. He did great in play group. At one point he came over to me and leaned against me, wanting my attention. He walks well on leash and sits on command. He seems to really enjoy being with people. He's a great puppy!

Emelynn's Pick of the Week!
And now for today! When I arrived at the shelter I wanted to take pictures of the new dogs and had decided to start with a little Chihuahua named Francis. The moment Emelynn saw him, she exclaimed, "Oh! I LOVE HIM!" I knew right then who was going to be her pick of the week. Francis is two years old and although he is missing an eye, he doesn't seem to care. We don't know how he lost it, as he came to us from another shelter. He's a very happy little guy who loves to cuddle.

Emelynn was so enchanted that she called her mother at the end of her shift to ask if she could bring Francis home for an overnight respite. The answer was yes and here is Emelynn heading home with a one-eyed little Chi in her arms. It isn't hard to tell that Emelynn is very happy.

Mind if I lean on you a little while?
Zach was walking another new arrival when I got to the shelter. This is Vinny, a ten-month-old Lab mix who is simply a very good girl in every way. Zach reported that she is gentle and walks well on leash. She took my hot dog bits nicely and seemed content just to lean against Zach as I snapped pictures of her. She has excellent scores on her behavior test and is an all-around perfect little girl. If she isn't adopted right away, and I hope she is, I'll to get to know her better in the next few days.

Richard's new best friend
Remember Daisy from the play group video and photos? She has quickly become Richard's new best friend. Today I snapped some photos of them goofing around, enjoying their time outside together. Daisy is a six-year-old purebred Saint Bernard who is as mellow as she is big. She scored very well on her behavior test. As you saw in the movie, she played well with other dogs. She is simply a gem.

I couldn't resist taking this shot of Zach and Daisy relaxing a little later.

I'm a fun-loving girl looking for an active family of my own!
This afternoon Kathy spent some quality time with Sugar Snap Dragon, a nine-month-old Pit Bull Terrier/Boxer mix who was a leader in Sunday's play group, romping the entire time with her friends. She loves people and spending time outside. She is completely crate-trained. She walks well on leash and enjoys munching on hot dog bits. She needs consistency on finishing up house training, but she's a quick study.

I'm a little stressed here, but I know I'd make a great friend if you adopt me!
This is Weasel, a two-year-old Standard Long-Haired Dachshund who won both Emelynn and my hearts today. He is a little overwhelmed, so is wearing a Thundershirt to help him feel more calm. He is a very affectionate little guy who wanted to crawl into both of our laps. He should go to a home with older children, as he can be nervous around small kids.


My name is Hoggie and I'm hoping for a family very soon!
Hoggie is a five-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who, although a big boy, is a teddy bear at heart. He walks perfectly on leash, is polite in taking treats, and knows some commands like sit and lie down. He has lived with another dog and children. Here he is with Sarah today. I love his smile and his calm manner. He'll make a great addition to a family looking for a loyal companion.

Updates!
I have several great updates this week.

Tarhill/Chance
The first is from Chance's (Tarhill) family who checked in to say this:
"Just wanted to give you an update on Chance. He is doing so good and is such a love bug. He doesn't bark or leave the yard when other dogs walk by and did a good job on his first camping trip. We are still working with him out in public on a leash. He still gets a little crazy (excited ) to play. I can't believe no one snagged him up, he's such a character."  When I hear how well he's doing, it gives me such hope for our other long-termers that they, too, will find a forever home.

Jake
Remember Jake, the active American Blue Heeler who needed lots of outdoor exercise? His new family sent staff-member Kim these photos of him enjoying his new life, and what a life it is!

Dandelion/Tallulah
And this update came just today from Dandelion—now Tallulah's—new family. "Tallulah has fit right in with our family. She is the most sweet and quiet dog, though she is big, we will ask "Where is Tallulah?" She's usually tucked away in a corner or on her blanket just lounging around. She is very smart, well behaved, loves to roll in the grass, and get her belly rubbed. When approached by a cat, she backs away (she's kind of a chicken :)), or if a barking dog is in her face, she knows to "leave it" and just keeps on walking. She is the perfect addition to our family, loves the kids (but loves mom and dad a little more). We are thrilled to have found Tallulah!"

One of the best days ever!
Finally, a personal update. Dolce's adoption did not work out, but happily we were able to find a rescue for him. In fact, for those of you who are long-time readers of my blog, you will remember our dear Spike. Yep, it's the same wonderful rescue. So last Friday, Volunteer Manager Karen and I took Dolce to his new home in Auburn, Washington. He was a great rider in the back seat—the whole back seat— for the long drive. When we arrived, Ryane, owner of NorthWest Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, greeted Dolce with open arms and he was thrilled to meet another human to love. He is settling in quickly and today's report was he was helping with yard work.

And for the faithful readers who are wondering if we got to see Spike, the answer is YES! I was thrilled that it was obvious that he remembered us and was as happy to see us as we were to see him. He is extremely fit and healthy, and while a little older, he's the same goofy boy he always was, eager to give sloppy kisses.

It was a day that Karen and I will always remember.

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. Also check out my WHS dog Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/adoptanoregondog for updates on this week's dogs.

This Week's Adoptable Dogs 5/9/12

Wed, 9 May 2012 22:31:29 -0700

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

It was an amazing adoption week at Willamette Humane Society! Twenty dogs found their forever homes—twelve of them were Blog Dogs, some of them long-termers like Freedom, Nate, Cooper, Mollie, and Rocky!

The most exciting adoption for me personally was Rocky's (I know you're not surprised). His new family found him on Sunday, and while I was not able to be there to see him off, many staff and volunteers were and reported that it was a great match. Here is what he wanted to tell everyone.

I was so glad that staff member Kim snapped this photo of Rocky leaving with his new family. In last week's post, my title for Rocky's section was "I'm still here, still happy, still waiting." Yesterday I received this comment from his new owner, Beth, "Well Rocky is no longer waiting! He's happily adjusting to his new home here with us and we just LOVE him so much already! Thanks for taking such great care of him until we could find each other." (Beth—if you are reading this, I would love to get an update/pictures of Rocky's new life whenever you have time.)

As I mentioned earlier, I was not able to be at WHS on Sunday, so I have no Play Group Chatter, though I heard it was a fun day of romping and that Rocky played more than usual. Perhaps he knew that it would be his last one and he wanted to make the most of it.

I'm Dandelion and this is my friend, Dan!
After Rocky left, I thought I'd never see a dog with as big a smile, but look at Dandelion! Today she spent some quality time with volunteer Dan who came in to help out this afternoon. Dandelion is a three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. She has quickly become a favorite around the shelter. She even got to have an overnight sleepover at volunteer Krystal's house and has pictures on her kennel to show what a great time she had with the family and their dogs. Everyone got along great and Krystal couldn't say enough good things about her.

One of Dandelion's favorite things to do is roll in the grass.

And she smiles all the time! We're all hoping this sweet girl finds her forever home very soon!

Speaking of happy smiles, meet Arrianna!
With so many adoptions in the past week, there were many new dogs whom I met for the first time today. One of them was sweet Arrianna, a Border Collie mix who is about six years old. She came to the shelter as a stray, so we don't know much about her, but she is getting along well with staff, volunteers, and other dogs. She enjoys being with people and loves to go for walks around the grounds. Here she is this afternoon with Sarah.

I love this picture of her. She seemed to enjoy posing for the camera.

Yes, yes, I'm well aware that I have big ears!
This is volunteer Kathy today with little Milo, a three-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi/Miniature Smooth-haired Dachshund mix. Yes, his breed combination is bigger than he is! Milo loves to ride in cars and is housetrained. He came to us from another shelter where he was overlooked by potential adopters. Maybe they didn't look down! He does tend to be possessive of things like rawhides, so will need some work in that area. Because of this, he should not go home with young children. He is hoping his new family will find him soon!

Sarah falls in love (again!)
When Sarah came outside bringing new-arrival Etta, a three-year-old American Staffordshire mix, she called her "pocket size." Etta weighs 31 pounds. She is a real sweetheart, earning perfect scores in her behavior assessment. She loves tennis balls and people. Want a lap dog? Need a jogging partner? Etta will be a great fit! Being new to the shelter, she is still a little shy and I couldn't get her to smile, but I'm going to try again next time I'm there.

Sarah discovered she knows how to shake hands (paws).

I like this shot showing her spotted ears. She will be a wonderful new addition to a family.

Still a hound...still waiting for my new family.
Wood Sorrel has been at WHS since March 12, and even though she's been there so long, she remains upbeat and happy, always eager to go outside and play. She is a five-year-old American Foxhound mix. With her energy and size, she would do better with older kids. Here she is today with Dan. Volunteer Linda has been working with Sorrel to improve her manners and impulse control. If you are knowledgeable about hounds, Sorrel would love to finally find her forever home with you.

Emelynn's Pick of the Week!
Emelynn's pick of the week is a newbie to the shelter, Kelly, an eleven-month-old Lab/Pit Bull mix who is still quite a puppy! Emelynn and her mother were in stitches when they came back from playing with Kelly in the big yard. It seems she made up her own pool/tennis ball game. When Emelynn dropped a tennis ball into the pool, Kelly would dive in after it, then race around the yard, ball in mouth. After a couple of laps, she would dive back in the water with the ball still in her mouth. Here is her picture with Emelynn; notice Kelly's face is still a little wet.

If you're looking for a playful young dog who still thinks like a pup, Kelly could be your match!

Looking for serious jogging partner and someone to polish my manners! Apply at WHS.
This is Mr. Bingley, a one-year-old Doberman Pinscher mix who is a good-natured boy looking for a sturdy family to help him learn to walk politely on leash and work on impulse control. Bingley is such a happy dog and loves to romp around a yard. If you enjoy playing outside and need a companion with lots of energy and a great sense of humor, come and meet Bingley. Here he is with me today. He does sit on command and is eager to learn new things.

I was very shy when I arrived, but I'm doing much better now.
I saw this happy girl out twice today. Here Coco is the first time with volunteer Kathy. Coco is a ten-month-old Border Collie mix who is looking for an active, loving family. She walks well on leash and likes to sniff everything in sight. She has improved a lot since arriving at the shelter a few days ago and is becoming more easy-going. She enjoyed my hot dog bits and took them very politely.

A little later in the afternoon, I saw Coco out again with volunteer Patrick, who is a Tuesday dog walker. Patrick enjoys spending extra time with especially shy dogs to help them gain confidence. Today he took her to the park. When they returned, Patrick reported that she met some new people, and although shy, she did well with them.

Coco may need a little time to warm up, but as she gains confidence and learns to trust, she will make a great best friend.

Just when I thought I was finished with taking photos of Coco, I saw this.

After saying goodbye to Coco, it was time for me to head home. As always, I'm hoping for more adoptions this week!
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. Also check out my WHS dog Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/adoptanoregondog for updates on this week's dogs.

This Week's Adoptable Dogs 5/2/12

Wed, 2 May 2012 21:49:27 -0700

Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,
It's hard to believe that May is here and with it the promise of warm, sunny dog-walking afternoons. Last week we had quite a few adoptions, and among them were four Blog Dogs. My personal favorite adoptee was seven-year-old Journey who had been waiting at the shelter since April 5 for her forever family to find her.

Play Group Chatter
Sunday's play group was active! There was quite a bit of chatter among the participants and I caught several of the exchanges.
Molly picked her spot early and decided to help BJ monitor the group.

Jake was quite proud of his beautiful new collar. He asked several of us what we thought.

Rocky was his usual charming self.

Pete is a newbie and is just learning the play group rules.

A Sunday afternoon picnic with a favorite friend!
After play group was over, I decided to have a picnic out on the lawn. I invited Rocky to join me and he eagerly accepted. While I ate my lunch, Rocky munched on hot dog bits and we enjoyed relaxing and watching other dogs strolling with their afternoon walkers. Rocky is a five-year-old Pit Bull Terrier/Lab mix who has been at WHS since March 15. He is a staff and volunteer favorite because of his happy disposition, his gentle ways, and his eagerness to be your friend. He walks perfectly on leash and I love how he looks up at me every so often to check in while we walk. He is great with kids and I have had him help me with several school groups visiting the shelter. We really enjoyed our quiet time together Sunday afternoon.

Nancy arrived to teach a volunteer orientation class and I asked her to snap our photo. Rocky chose that moment to tell me he appreciated the outing.

Then he decided it was time for a nap.

Will my new collar make me more adoptable?
As you saw in the chatter, Jake is pretty pleased with his new collar. While Rocky and I were having lunch, we saw volunteer Jamie taking Jake for a walk. Here he is showing how he can ask very politely for a treat.

Jake is a five-year-old American Blue Heeler looking for an active family who loves to hike, jog, or do just about anything outdoors that involves running! Jake needs exercise every day. He does well with kids, cats, and other dogs and is completely house- and crate-trained.

I'm a puppy and I'm ready to make your life...shall we say...exciting!
While taking pictures of new arrivals on Sunday afternoon, I met this cute little girl named Tori, a three-month-old Lab Retriever mix.

I started to take pictures of her and she started to pose.

I was quite surprised by her calm demeanor, although after the pictures she made it quite clear she wanted to play. Tori's adoption package comes with the class "Surviving Puuppyhood," which will teach the new family everything they need to know to raise this sweet girl to become a terrific dog.

I'm looking for a no-cat home, please!
When I arrived at WHS this afternoon, the first walkers I saw were Zach and Wednesday Rose. Wednesday is a little over a year old and is a Pit Bull Terrier mix. She enjoys being with people more than other dogs. She was so excited to see me, she could barely contain herself to sit long enough for a picture. She loved my hot dog bits and her whole body quivered in anticipation of them. She needs a little practice on leash-walking manners, but is eager to learn new things. She needs to be in a family with no cats, as she simply can't resist chasing pesky felines.

I'm Poppy Pete and I'm one of Sarah's favorite dogs ever!
It didn't take Pete long to worm his way into Sarah's heart the day he arrived at WHS. In fact, I think it was mere minutes. He was the first dog Sarah took out this afternoon. Pete is a six-month-old Great Pyrenees mix and although he is a big boy, he's still very much a puppy, meaning he is goofy. Sarah was taken with his always-happy outlook and his liking to snuggle with people. Pete thinks that everyone is a friend and is eager to play. He had a great time in play group on Sunday.

Yep, I'm pretty much the perfect dog!
Two-year-old Kesha is a purebred American Cocker Spaniel whom volunteer Kathy fell in love with today. Besides being such a cute little dog with good manners and nose freckles, she gets along with just about everyone including kids, cats, and other dogs. She enjoys going for car rides and long walks. Her gentle ways and polite taking of treats along with everything else will make her a wonderful family addition.

I'm still here at the shelter waiting for my perfect match! Could you be it?
Volunteer Richard spent some time with Mollie today and I caught up with them before they headed back to her kennel. Mollie has become one of our long-termers, as she has been at WHS since April 15. She has improved a great deal since arriving. When she first came, she was so fearful and shy that she cowered at the back of her kennel and had to be coaxed out to go for walks. But now she eagerly sits at the front of her kennel and happily takes treats and is thrilled when she is taken out for a walk. Mollie is four years old and is a Border Collie mix. She needs a home without cats and a family with a relaxed life style.

Yes, I'm missing a front leg. But do you think that slows me down? Nope!
When Zeus arrived at the shelter he had a hurt front leg and it was determined that the best thing for him was to have it removed. After the surgery, he spent some recovery time in a foster home. He arrived back at WHS a few days ago and is now ready to be adopted. Zeus is a four-year-old Staffordshire Terrier mix. You don't need to feel sorry for this three-legged boy, as he hasn't missed a beat in his love of life and eagerness to explore the world. He needs some work in learning to not pull (even on three legs, he still makes his wishes known), and would be a great student in one of our WHS training classes. Zeus loves people and is hoping to be adopted very soon. Here he is with Kathy this afternoon.

I know I have a cone on my head.
Meet Stanley, a spunky five-year-old Miniature Poodle mix who right now is recovering from a little cold and so is in the ISO kennels temporarily. He's feeling quite fit now, and today enjoyed sitting on Richard's lap and talking about getting adopted. Stanley loves people and hot dog bits in that order. If you're looking for a small lap dog who will delight you with his humor and good nature, come and meet Stan.

Will my next home be my forever one?
Sarah and I spent a long time with Nate this afternoon. This is his second time at WHS. He was adopted a year ago, but was brought back when his owner could no longer keep him, through no fault of Nate's. If you've ever wanted someone to play fetch with, this is your boy! Nate LOVES tennis balls, whether it is to chase them, return them to you, or chew them. In fact, when I gave him the choice today of a hot dog bit or a tennis ball, after hesitating a moment, he chose the tennis ball. Nate is an eight-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier and will make such a great best friend. He loves people, including kids, and is very gentle.

"Ahhhh...tennis balls!"

I'm still here...still happy...still waiting.
At the end of our shifts, Sarah and I took my favorite, Rocky, out for some extra quiet time. The pictures say it all.

Updates!
I was thrilled this week to get this photo and message from Echo's new family! I guess we didn't need to worry about how she would get along with the cat! We are so happy that this girl has found her home!
Just a quick update on Echo. She is doing good and trying to play with the cat more often than not. She likes our other pets, is loving our bed and helps make a mess out of it. Next weekend we are planning a trip to the coast. ~Heidi 

The last report we got about Obie (seen here when he was at WHS) was that he was beginning to learn how to participate in Earthdog trials. These trials involve small terriers learning to navigate man-made underground tunnels while following a scent of a rat. (No rats are endangered during the competitions.)

Here is the latest report and picture of Obie's adventures.
Hi Martha! Obie had a fun time at Earthdog practice last week. He got completely filthy! But look how happy he is! We are glad he is part of our family.

Happy May, everyone! I look forward to more adoptions this week!

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. Also check out my WHS dog Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/adoptanoregondog for updates on this week's dogs. 