Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Give the Gift of Happiness

Belated happy holidays and an early happy new year! Orphans of the Storm® had a busy Monday after Christmas and some great dogs have been adopted recently (like Izzy – hurray!), but there are still plenty of others waiting for their forever home!

Saturn, for example, is a playful four-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who would love to ring in the New Year with a new family. Saturn already has several years of experience as a pet and would make an incredibly happy companion. This adorable boy’s tail was wagging the entire time I was with him.

Happy Saturn

Be sure to have some chew toys for him. He would be thrilled to relax on the couch next to you, happily gnawing on a toy. Saturn loved to chase after the tennis ball and then go into his playful pose and chew it for a few minutes before dropping the ball so I could throw it again.

Saturn being playful

Saturn also adores belly rubs. He was just too cute: he would roll over, still with the tennis ball in his mouth, and kick the air with his happy paws while I rubbed his belly. It’s impossible to not smile when you’re with Saturn; he spreads happiness with his doggy grin and wagging tail.

Saturn with his tail wagging

Stewie is also eager to find a new home. This four-year-old hound mix will definitely grab your attention when you walk past his kennel because of his pretty coat and stunningly blue eyes. When we were taking a walk around the property, a visitor to Orphans of the Storm® passed us and said, “Oh! Look at those pretty eyes!”

Look at Stewie's beautiful blue eyes!

Stewie is a sweetie. When we were inside the run, he joined me on the bench and put his face right in front of mine so we could get better acquainted. He enjoyed a nice scratch behind the ears before we headed out on our walk around the shelter.

Stewie on our walk

Stewie loves to go on walks. We made our way to the front gate of Orphans of the Storm® and he stuck his nose through it in hopes of being able to go for a longer walk. I felt so terrible saying no to him that I promised him a treat for going back inside with me. Stewie prefers Beggin’ Strips to Milk-Bones, for future reference.

Stewie is such a beautiful dog!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Romp in the Hay

These dogs no longer have to worry about getting a little muddy! There is a fresh layer of hay in the runs, and the dogs love burying their noses in it.

Bandit is a super-cute five-year-old Labrador Retriever mix who was very happy to go for a walk around the property today. Like our friend Stitch, Bandit would do well with a taller fence around his future yard. He led the way on our walk today, doing lots of exploring.

Bandit on our walk

Although Bandit has lots of energy, he stopped next to me when I sat down on the bench so I could pet him. He led us to both ends of the property and stopped at the gates leading to the outside world, eagerly hoping that we could go for a longer walk. It was hard to tell him that it would have to wait for another day.

Bandit's lovely profile

Bandit is ready to find a new buddy to love! Will it be you? Visit Orphans of the Storm® and take him for a stroll.

Bandit sniffing in the hay

Horatio has a big name for a little dog. He is a four-year-old Italian Greyhound/Terrier mix with tufts of fluffy gray hair on his otherwise brindle face, and he was incredibly excited to come outside with me.

Horatio in the hay

Being part Italian Greyhound, this little guy can run! He enjoyed chasing after the tennis ball, but wasn’t so interested in bringing it back. He loved bounding around inside the run and would come back to check in with me every so often.

Horatio sprinting

This little guy is perfect for someone who wants big-dog energy in a little-dog body. Horatio is small enough to pick up (but not too small), but is more than happy to romp and play with you. You’ll be sure to stop and say hello to him because he’s too adorable to walk past!

Horatio's adorable face

Max is a new arrival to Orphans of the Storm®, and he has a sad story with a hopefully happy ending. This eight-year-old German Shepherd mix was adopted four years ago, but his family grew too big to have enough time or space for him anymore. This sweetheart deserves another chance with a new family who knows they will be able to take care of him for the rest of his life!

Max investigating the hay

Max was jumping up and down inside his kennel when he saw me approach, but calmed down as soon as he was let out on a leash. He walked well without pulling too much, and it’s obvious that he’s well-trained and knows how to be a perfect pet.

My new buddy Max

Even though he’s eight years old, he doesn’t show any signs of old age—except for his calm demeanor. He’s one of the best fetch partners I’ve ever had: he not only brought the ball back to me, but dropped it right in between my feet and waited patiently for me to lean over, pick it up, and throw it again.

What a handsome boy Max is!

We also had some very nice downtime together. He sat on the bench next to me and it was like we were just relaxing on a couch, watching TV. His face was just a few inches from mine as I pet him, and we enjoyed each other’s company. He’s already trained, already past his rowdy puppy stage, and all ready to find his new forever home! Please don’t walk past this absolute sweetie just because of his age; he’ll make you fall in love with him in a matter of minutes if you give him the chance.

Max ready for his close-up

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Love to Play

The first dog I spent time with today was recommended to me by a reader. If anyone would like to see a specific dog profiled, please leave a comment and let me know! I’m always eager for suggestions.

Tyson is a silly one-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who absolutely adores running after tennis balls or any other toy that happens to be around. The first thing he did when we got inside the run was pick up a tennis ball. Seeing this interest, I thought Tyson might like to play fetch. He was thrilled to chase after the ball, and even threw it around himself a little bit, but rather than returning the ball to me, he started to make a pile of toys in front of the bushes.

Tyson ready to chase a ball

I started picking up the toys from his collection and throwing those across the run for him. Realizing what I was doing, he chased after the ball and then started to make his pile behind the bushes. He eventually got every single toy in the run to that back corner, and then looked at me as if to say, “What are we going to play now?” I told him that he had to bring a ball back to me for us to keep playing, which he eventually did.

Who can resist Tyson's attentive face?

He is a goofball with an incredibly expressive face. He watched me wherever I went, even if we were on opposite sides of the bushes. I could see his face low to the ground, peering out from under the branches, seeing if I was going to steal a ball from his proud horde. He used the branches as a back-scratcher a few times also, which was funny to watch. This cutie would love to find a forever playmate!

It's hard to get a picture of Tyson without his favorite tennis ball

Red is a new staff favorite, and for good reasons. This three-year-old Dachshund mix is such a little sweetheart! When I went to her kennel to open the slot to the outside half, she was too delighted that someone was standing in front of her to go out the door. It took some pointing and encouraging to get her outside to where I could put her leash on. When I met her outside and opened the kennel gate to let her out, she jumped right into my lap, which made it easy to get the leash over her head.

Look at Red go!

Red is the kind of dog who loves to get her exercise, and then come snuggle in your lap. She first sprinted around the run a little bit while I sat down on the bench, and then hurtled herself onto the bench next to me and put her front paws in my lap for a quick pat. Then she was off again, this time at a slower pace so she could put her hound nose to good use.

Red with her nose leading the way

I stood up and walked towards the middle of the run, kneeling down to Red’s level. She came hurrying over to me and again put her front paws in my lap. While I scratched her back, neck, and ears, she gave me doggy kisses on my chin and nose. She then rolled over onto her back for a belly rub, looking absolutely content.

Red being cute

This affectionate, adorable little girl will make a family extremely happy. Come to Orphans of the Storm® and say hello!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Get a Little Muddy

It was a dreary day outside, but that didn’t dampen these dogs’ spirits! A little bit of playing in the mud never hurt anybody (even though I now have a muddy paw print on the toe of each shoe).

Buddy the two-year-old Boxer mix was incredibly excited when I came up to him with the leash. This guy has been catching my eye every time I’ve visited Orphans of the Storm® because he just looks so friendly and happy. You can’t help but smile when you see him.

Buddy, someone’s future buddy!

Buddy and I went to one of the runs, and the other run was occupied by Bubba. Buddy and Bubba met each other at the fence and did a little sniffing, and then Buddy meandered around the run. After Bubba left, a group of three dogs and two humans came to the run. One of the humans said that she was very interested in Buddy because he’s so cute.

Buddy saying hello to another dog

His light brown eyes match his fur almost perfectly, giving him a unique (and adorable) look. He can be pretty strong, and likes to go in his own direction, but he is capable of being a good listener.

Buddy in the rain

Rocky the three-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix is a complete lovebug. When I first took him out of his kennel, he jumped straight up and our noses met. After that one brief moment of excitement, though, he was as cool as a cucumber. He didn’t pull on the leash on the way to the run, and didn’t jump up again.

Rocky saying hello!

Rocky definitely inherited the Lab personality traits. He kept trotting over to stand next to me so I could pet him. He particularly likes being scratched on the side of his neck. At one point, he jumped onto the bench and took a seat. It was almost too cute to handle.

Rocky on the bench

I went over to pet him and he kept looking up at me with those warm brown eyes as if to say, “Look at what a good dog I am!” I, of course, told him repeatedly that he is indeed an excellent dog. Such a sweetie!

Rocky right before he sat down

Akiva is a beautiful seven-year-old Husky mix. She hasn’t been at the shelter for very long, and I expect that she will be adopted very soon with her looks and personality.

I almost didn’t want to take Akiva out in the rain and get her beautiful fur all muddy…

Like many Huskies, Akiva has stunning bluish-gray eyes. Her thick, fluffy fur is varying shades of white, gray, and black, and shimmers as she moves. Her perked ears are mostly white, but have black tips.

Akiva turned her head just before I could get a picture of her eyes

She walked extremely well on the leash, so after spending some time hanging out inside the run, I decided to talk her on a walk around the property. She seemed to enjoy this more, and we had a good time on our stroll in the drizzle.

Akiva investigating some leftover snacks from the shelter’s holiday event (see below)

Please note: Orphans of the Storm® has extended hours all through December to share the holiday spirit! This month, the shelter will be open from 11am-8pm Thursdays-Sundays. If you want to get to know your new best friend with festive music in the background, you can stop by Thursdays-Saturdays from 6pm-7pm and Sundays from 2pm-3pm for the live music hour. Human food and drink available!