Orphans of the Storm® Dogs in the Springtime

My first two pooches today are new arrivals to the shelter, but I’m guessing they are going to find their new home very soon because they are so pretty and so sweet!

Pumpkin is a seven-year-old German Shepherd mix who unfortunately lost her home and her family. She could use some extra loving so she doesn’t feel so abandoned anymore. She loves getting nice and close, which sometimes involves her jumping up and putting her front paws on you. She’s too sweet to tell her “Off”, though.

Pumpkin happy to be outside

Pumpkin walks very well on a leash, pulling only when there is an extra-special scent she’s picked up. She seemed to prefer walking around on the leash to sniffing around the run, so I walked her around the shelter’s property a few times so she could get her exercise. She would look up at me every so often, as if to make sure I was still there next to her, and I would reach down and pat the top of her head to assure her I was.

Look at how gorgeous Pumpkin is!

The staff at the shelter kept saying what a wonderful dog Pumpkin is, and I definitely agree. Visit Orphans of the Storm® soon to meet her yourself!

Pumpkin letting me know she was ready for a walk

Kizzy the seven-year-old Alaskan Malamute has quite a background story! She is a retired sled dog, originally from Alaska. Now that she has gotten older, I’m sure she’s looking forward to settling down and enjoying a quiet retirement. Since she’s a working dog, she’ll still need daily exercise, but you can plan on pampering her too.

Kizzy wondering, "Where is the snow?"

Kizzy is much smaller than I expected her to be, after hearing there was a sled dog at the shelter. She took a few minutes to warm up and approach me, but once she did she was a real sweetheart who loved to sit and be pet, and I loved petting her! That gorgeous coat is even softer than it looks. She even felt comfortable enough to stick her nose right in my face.

Kizzy being beautiful

Even though she’s more used to being in a pack with the other dogs on her team, Kizzy will be happy to have a new human pack to spend her retirement with. It’s safe to assume that she’s a well-trained dog; when I went to put her leash on, she sat down expectantly–probably since she’s so used to getting a sled harness put on.

Kizzy ready to enjoy her retirement

Last up were two Chihuahuas, Mouse and Coco. Since Chihuahuas are pretty easy to manage and these two get along well, I took them out for a walk together (side note: they do NOT need to be adopted together; they just both wanted to go outside). Mouse is a fast walker, and turned around in exasperation when he reached the end of his retractable leash and saw that Coco and I were standing still as Coco sniffed something on the sidewalk.

Coco hurrying back to me when she sees I'm at her level while Mouse sniffs

After walking them (or them walking me–I still need more practice walking two dogs simultaneously) for a while, I knelt down to their level. Coco came running back to me and put her tiny front paws up on my leg, eager for me to scratch her head. When Mouse saw what was going on, he came running over too, and put his tiny front paws up on my other leg. Both of these Chihuahuas love getting attention!

Coco and Mouse watching the volunteers who were just leaving

They let me know when they were ready to go back inside by walking back to the shelter’s front door. Both of them are office dogs, so you’ll find them in their own cages by the front desk. Ask a staff member or volunteer to take them out for you, and you’ll discover how happy they can make you!

A friendly exchange between Coco (left) and Mouse (right)

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs and the Luck of the Irish

Here is a belated St. Patrick’s Day post! These past two weeks, so many lucky dogs have found their new forever homes. Their humans will consider themselves lucky too, for adopting such wonderful dogs.

There are still many dogs who have waited more than their fair share of time to find a new family to love, though. Let’s revisit a couple dogs who I met on my first few visits to the shelter, who just happen to have Irish-related names 🙂

Shamrock was the first dog I spent time with on my first visit to Orphans of the Storm®, so of course I feel a special attachment to her. She’s a beautiful American Staffordshire Terrier mix who also might have some Australian Cattle Dog in her. That brindle fur is so soft! You’ll just want to sit and pet her all day long, which I’m sure she would enjoy.

This six-year-old has, unfortunately, spent most of her life at the shelter. Even so, she seems very well-behaved. Although she had the initial burst of energy that most dogs understandably have when they first are let out of their kennel, she was a much better walker on the way back and was perfectly happy to let me put the leash on and take it back off.

Shamrock needs a little extra luck so she can find a family to join. Help by spreading the word and visiting her at the shelter!

Shamrock, waiting for her lucky day!

Emerald is another Orphans of the Storm® long-timer who I spent time with on my second visit. When she arrived at the shelter with a litter of puppies, the puppies all got scooped up and adopted right away. What about Emerald? Adult dogs want to be part of a loving family just as much as puppies do!

Emerald is full of love and affection. An eight-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix, she is a happy dog with a wagging tail. She came when called, and liked to put her front paws up on my arms so we were nice and close. She loved getting her belly rubbed and her chin scratched. Even though she’s a little too big to fit, she attempted to climb into my lap to be even closer.

Emerald’s puppies were lucky to get adopted so quickly. I’d say it’s about time for Emerald to have some luck brought her way. Bring her out to one of the off-leash runs and you’ll see just how lucky you’d be to have her as part of your family.

Emerald is ready for some good luck to come her way!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Ready to Make New Friends

I arrived at Orphans of the Storm® this afternoon with the intention of taking out Ryder, Firefly‘s brother. Turns out he was adopted yesterday! Congratulations to Ryder and his new family 🙂

Since the big Rottweiler wasn’t an option anymore, I went in a different direction–Frito, the three-year-old Chihuahua mix. What an absolute cutie! Poor Frito was hit by a car a while back, but he’s all better now, running and sniffing like any other happy dog. He jumped into my lap when I opened his kennel in his excitement to go out and behaved nicely while I put the leash over his head.

Frito enjoying the bright sun

I don’t have too much experience with Chihuahuas, so I thought I might as well try and see if Frito had any interest in playing fetch. Maybe if he had a ball that is more Chihuahua-sized. He sniffed the tennis ball and that was that. Frito was far more interested in sniffing in the hay.

Frito looking cute

His fur is very soft and very cute, with those brown spots on his back and ears. Turn his luck around, and come make a new “furever” friend!

Look at those ears!

Next up was Bella, a six-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix. She’s also extremely cute, and smaller than some of the other Pit Bull Terriers at the shelter. She was ready to get outside on this bright, sunny day and explore the run.

Bella's adorable face

While exploring, she found the same big ball that Chili had such a fun time with last week. Holding the handle of this ball would have been far too easy for Bella, though. She was convinced that she could get her mouth around it and carry it that way. Instead, she spent most of the time scratching at it with her paws and rolling it along the ground.

Bella with her favorite ball

Bella also discovered a Frisbee under the bushes, and seemed either amused or perplexed by the idea that as much as she scratched at it with her front paws, nothing happened. She eventually realized that if she scratched the edge of it, it moved along the ground. Not nearly as exciting as her ball, though. This silly, playful girl is eagerly awaiting a new home. Maybe it will be with you!

Bella being playful

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Want Your Attention

A little drizzle couldn’t keep me away from my pooches! And the dogs I took out didn’t seem to mind the rain, either. They were both very excited to be able to stretch their legs and sniff around.

Chili is an adorable two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix who loves to play. When we got inside the off-leash run, she didn’t seem to be particularly fond of the dog on the other side of the fence. All I had to do was throw a tennis ball, though, and she was off and running and ready to play with me.

Chili sniffing in the bushes

She loved the big, green ball with a handle that she could hold in her mouth even more. She would pick it up, run with it, trip over it, shake it around, throw it in the air; this girl can entertain herself very well. But she would much rather have human friends to play with!

Chili’s precious face

Chili had lots of energy, but was also happy to stop playing fetch for a few moments so I could pet her. She is so soft! And with a face as cute as hers, who can resist?

Chili watching the excitement on the other side of the fence

Firefly (who has since be renamed Lady–that is the name you will find on her info card on the front of her kennel) is an angel, which most people wouldn’t expect from her appearance. This five-year-old almost pulled me over when we first started our walk, but she can’t help the fact that she’s a Rottweiler/Doberman mix and I have no upper-body strength. If you are looking for a big dog with an even bigger heart, Firefly is your girl.

Firefly being a sweetie

Once we were inside the run, I thought she would want to run around. Instead, she was perfectly content to sit next to me and put her head in my lap. As long as you’re petting her, Firefly will stick by your side. I thought she should get some exercise, though, so I walked with her around the run and gave her a chance to sniff in the bushes.

Just look into those loving eyes and you’ll fall in love!

Firefly and her brother Ryder (who I plan to take out next time) both have many years of experience as a family pet. Unfortunately, their owner had to move to an apartment building that doesn’t allow dogs, and that is how they found themselves at Orphans of the Storm®. Don’t be turned off by Firefly’s initial strength; she’s a real sweetheart who is looking for a new family to love.

Firefly is a beautiful dog