Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Ready to Join a Furever Family

It was a busy day at Orphans of the Storm®, with some happy doggy adoptions! There are still plenty of pooches waiting for the right person to find them.

Coffey the seven-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix is a big, fluffy, affectionate boy looking for a nice family to join. Those of you who have been reading for a while now know that I love all of the older black Labs I meet at the shelter, and Coffey is no exception (though Coffey really isn’t even that old!). Coffey’s whole body was wiggling with excitement when he saw that he was going for a walk. He is a strong boy who can pull a bit on the leash at first, but after he gets a chance to stretch his legs he settles down and walks nicely.

Coffey enjoying his walk

Coffey is a fan of both giving and receiving affection. You won’t want to stop petting him because he’s just so fluffy, and he will happily give you lots of doggy kisses in return. Coffey was friendly with everybody we came across and that tail was wagging pretty much the entire time. As I always say, a Lab is a Lab is a Lab–don’t let Black Dog Syndrome stop you from getting to know a wonderful dog! Come in soon to see if Coffey is the pooch for you.

Coffey getting a nice drink of water

James the six-year-old Rottweiler/Shepherd mix was a little shy and unsure when he first came out to walk with me, but who can blame him? James came from an owner who lost their job and could no longer care for him, but James doesn’t understand that. He’s used to being in a home and has many years of experience as a loyal companion, so he’s more than ready to leave the shelter and settle into a new home with a new family.

James sniffing through the hay and grass

James warmed up to me after just a few short minutes, though. He enjoyed exploring the off-leash run and walked pretty nicely on the leash when we took a stroll around the shelter grounds. Once he realized that I was just there to give him some attention, he gave me a few sweet doggy kisses and stayed by me while I scratched his neck and hips. James knows what it means to be a pet, so let him show you what a good boy he can be!

James is a cutiepie

Jenny the seven-year-old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix is pretty much everybody’s favorite dog at the shelter right now because she is so sweet, gentle, and easy-going. She is an absolute breeze to walk on a leash: when I stopped moving, she stopped right next to me; when I started walking again, she was right there by my side, step for step. I’ve met some good leash-walkers before, but Jenny just might take the crown.

Jenny is so easy to walk on the leash

Jenny seems like she would enjoy the simple things in life. We found a shady spot in the grass where I sat down and she laid down next to me, resting her head against my leg and rolling onto her side so I could give her a belly rub. We probably could have stayed like that for the entire afternoon and both of us would have been happy. If you’re looking for a calm, sweet, laidback dog, look no further than Jenny!

Jenny’s sweet face

Frisco the two-year-old Mountain Cur mix is the perfect combination of cute and fun. Frisco is the type of dog who almost always has a doggy grin on his face, because he’s just so happy all the time! He also has a beautiful brindle coat and an adorable face and ears. Frisco walks pretty well on the leash but was happy to explore the off-leash run.

Frisco romping in the run

Frisco is a cuddly sort of guy. While we were in the off-leash run, he joined me on the bench, put his front paws in my lap, and proceeded to cover my face with doggy kisses. Frisco is also pretty friendly with other dogs. He met an older dog and a much smaller dog, and he was polite and gentle with both of them. Frisco is ready for a family to call his own–maybe that family is yours!

A bird’s-eye view of Frisco in my lap

I was also first greeted at the shelter by Molly, who gave me a big doggy hug when she saw me. I tell you, if you’re looking for a dog who will be an excellent running buddy and the best fetcher you’ve ever seen, Molly is your girl.

On the other end of the activity spectrum is Archie, who is just the sweetest and gentlest and bestest and I would have taken him home with me weeks ago if I could! He’s a little on the skittish side (he was found as a stray, after all, so it’s hard to know how much human interaction he’s had), but once he knows you’re a good guy he will stay right by you and just enjoy getting the love and attention he deserves.

I also saw my buddy Javan, who is another great giver of doggy hugs and loves getting his neck and ears scratched while he does so. This is one snuggly pooch!

Brothers Wilbur and Rosco are also still looking for their furever home. Wilbur is my favorite dog at the shelter, and he knows it. He knows it so well, in fact, that he now refuses to go back to his kennel if I’m the one walking him because he knows I’m a softy and I’ll just keep him out longer. So sneaky! Rosco is great too–I just personally prefer couch potatoes, and Rosco loves to run! If you want to see what happiness looks like, take Rosco to the off-leash run and let him loose–the pure joy on his face while he runs some laps is the best. You could see that joy every day if you adopted him!

I also need to take a moment to talk about Gizmo. People see Gizmo jumping up and down in his kennel and hurry right past because they think he will be too much to handle. Au contraire! I walked Gizmo this week and he did such a good job walking on the leash. He’s all pent up in his kennel, but once he’s out and about he calms down in just a few short minutes and becomes a great walking buddy. Gizmo is also super affectionate. I knelt down next to him and he immediately started giving me doggy kisses. Gizmo is a perfect example of why it is so important to give the dogs a chance outside of their kennels. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Will Warm Your Heart

There are plenty of dogs at Orphans of the Storm® who are hoping that the warm weather brings out warm people with some extra space in their hearts and their homes!

Bear the one-year-old Mountain Cur mix is quite the cutie. This guy is still a puppy in my book, and he certainly acts like it. He gets excited about pretty much everything and that tail of his is almost always wagging. We hurried our way over to the off-leash run and he had such a fun time running around and racing the dog on the other side of the fence. He even chased after a toy I threw, though he didn’t quite understand the concept that he was supposed to bring it back to me.

Bear enjoying the fresh air

Bear just loves getting attention, and he particularly likes getting his hips scratched. He’ll turn his head all the way around and try to lick your hand while you pet him, all while doing a little happy dance. He gave me a couple of quick doggy kisses, but mostly he was interested in walking around and exploring. Bear would love to have a family who will take him on nice walks around the neighborhood every day. If that sounds like your kind of pooch, come in soon to meet Bear!

Bear romping through the hay

Bo the eight-month-old Plott Hound mix is another puppy, but he acts a bit older than his age would suggest. He walked well on the leash and wasn’t overly excitable, though it was clear that he was having a good time being out and about. He was friendly with the dog on the other side of the fence, politely sniffing and then moving on. Bo could use a few good meals and extra treats to put some more meat on his bones.

Bo is such a sweetie

Bo is almost like a cat with the way he rubs against people. When we got to the off-leash run, rather than running around he started rubbing against my leg until I leaned over to pet him. When I went to sit down on the bench, he followed and leaned against me some more. This is an affectionate pooch who just wants to be somebody’s companion. If you’re looking for a pup with all the right stuff, stop by the shelter and say hello to Bo!

Bo could use some extra meat on his bones

Grover the two-year-old Irish Red and White Setter mix is probably one of the most handsome dogs at the shelter right now. He has a unique look with his white-and-red fur and curly tail, and he was definitely catching everyone’s eye when we went out for our walk. He was a little shy at first and not too sure about walking on the leash, but after a few minutes he got more comfortable and warmed up to me.

Grover is such a handsome boy

Grover, once he was over his shyness, seemed to get along with everybody. A potential adopter stopped inside the off-leash run with us and Grover started following her around, waiting for her to turn around and pet him. When he saw that I sat down on the bench, he jumped up next to me and gave me some sweet doggy kisses while I scratched his neck. A dog with looks as good as Grover’s isn’t going to be at the shelter for very long, so come in soon and find out if he’s the one for you!

Grover enjoying a nice scratch on the back

Nacho the five-year-old Chihuahua mix and Zorro the four-year-old Chihuahua mix are almost too precious for words, but I will do my best! These two little guys are so eager to greet everybody who stops by their kennel–they’ll stand up on their hind legs and almost look like they’re waving! Zorro may only have one eye, but that doesn’t slow him down in the slightest. They didn’t particularly like having the leashes put on over their heads, but we eventually made it outside and they walked just fine once they were used to the idea.

Nacho has the cutest little face

This is Zorro’s “I’m so happy you’re petting me!” face

Nacho and Zorro are both complete lap dogs who seem like they would rather be carried around (however, as tempting as it may be to just carry them everywhere, it’s always good to let even little dogs take regular walks!). In fact, I ended up carrying them both–one in each arm–on our way back to the kennel. Both of them were perfectly fine with being picked up by a stranger; they even gave me kisses! When I tried to put them back in their kennel, they kept jumping into my lap and making themselves comfortable.

Nacho coming over to cuddle

Zorro heading straight for my lap

Nacho and Zorro have grown up together and would love to be able to go to their new forever home together. They literally do everything together: they climbed into my lap together, they drank from the water bowl together–they even went potty at the exact same time, multiple times! Luckily, these two cuties are small enough that they can easily share one lap. If you’re looking for two snuggly additions to your family, definitely stop by to meet Nacho and Zorro!

Nacho and Zorro do everything together

I also saw my furry friends Archie, Rosco and Wilbur, Dezzie, Emerald, Molly, Clint (who was on his way to the Pet Showcase at Northbrook Court!), Ryla, Shasta, and Topaz.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Give Hugs and Kisses

There are lots of new and wonderful dogs to choose from at Orphans of the Storm®! Which one will steal your heart?

Tucker the nine-month-old Mountain Cur mix is absolutely adorable. This little (big) pup doesn’t understand how he ended up at the shelter, so he was a little unsure of people at first. He also wasn’t too interested in wearing a leash–he’s a free spirit! His little tail was wagging, though, so he certainly would like to be outgoing eventually. He just has to learn that he can trust people first, and then he will be the most loyal companion.

Tucker looking a little unsure about his new surroundings

Tucker enjoyed exploring the off-leash run on his own, but as soon as I put the leash back on, he was ready to spend some time getting to know me. After I pet him a few times and he realized I was one of the good guys, he gave me some friendly doggy kisses and decided that it was best to stay close to me. Stop by the shelter soon and give Tucker the chance to show you what a sweetie he can be!

Tucker being more outgoing on his leash

Shasta the five-year-old Pointer mix (not to be confused with Shasta the Border Collie mix) is such a friendly girl. The first thing she did was give me a big doggy hug. She walked very well on the leash as we made our way to the run–but boy, once she was off the leash she was off and running! She did a few laps around the run before hopping up and joining me on the bench, where she gave my face a friendly sniff and then enjoyed getting some love and attention in the form of a good neck scratch.

Shasta joining me on the bench for a nice pet

Shasta is most definitely a Pointer. Whenever she saw a bird land on the ground or on a lower branch of the bushes, she chased it down. She even went into that unique Pointer pose a couple of times. Shasta is also a very agile dog–she climbed up and over the agility bridge without anyone even asking her to. Shasta is a great combination of a dog who is happy to snuggle on the couch–after she gets her daily dose of fun! Come in soon to say hello to Shasta!

Shasta looking majestic on the agility bridge

Sasha the ten-year-old miniature Australian Shepherd mix is, to quote Despicable Me, “SO FLUFFY!” She is just the cutest, fluffiest dog in the whole entire world–and, on top of that, she has the beautiful one blue eye/one brown eye combination. (That’s a trend at the shelter right now, it seems, with Elmo and Clint having the same thing!) Sasha walked really nicely on the leash, and she currently shares her kennel with another pooch, so she could go to a home with or without another dog.

Sasha is SO FLUFFY!

Sasha is the epitome of a lapdog. I sat down on the bench to give her time to explore on her own, but she followed me right over there and rested her chin in my lap. I moved to sit on the ground and she climbed right into my lap and gave my chin lots and lots of doggy kisses. It seems like she would have been perfectly content to sit in my lap for the rest of the day! A cute, sweet, gentle, affectionate girl like Sasha won’t be at the shelter for long, so come in soon to meet her!

Sasha’s pretty two-tone eyes

Roxy the four-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix ended up at Orphans of the Storm® because, unfortunately, her owner didn’t have the time to take care of her anymore. The good news is that she has years of experience as a family pet and is more than ready to get a second chance at a new forever home. Roxy was super excited to come out for a walk with me. She did pull on the leash a bit at first, but once she got the chance to run off some energy, she walked much nicer on the way back to her kennel.

Roxy is such a pretty girl

Roxy is another dog who likes to give doggy hugs and kisses. Who could possibly say no to that face? Roxy has adorable ears that fly straight up into the air when she’s running, and a wrinkly forehead when she’s sniffing along the ground. She is a playful girl who would love to have a new owner that will give her the exercise and stimulation she needs. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Roxy!

Roxy just wants to say hello!

Sheba the one-year-old Mountain Cur mix is another puppy who isn’t quite sure what to make of being at the shelter, and therefore isn’t too sure about being taken out on the leash. We even had to pick her up and carry her through the gate to the off-leash run! All you have to do, though, is sit down on the ground and she will immediately come to you and curl up in your lap.

Sheba enjoyed sprawling in the grass

Sheba is just the sweetest little thing. After she curled up in my lap and I pet her for a while, she lifted her head up to give me doggy kisses. She was perfectly content to lay in the grass and soak up the sun, as long as I was there next to her. She may not be too fond of walking on a leash at the moment, but show her that she can trust you and she will follow you anywhere! If you’re looking for an adorable companion, come in soon to see if Sheba fits the bill!

Sheba coming in for a doggy kiss

I also saw plenty of my favorites, like Archie, Dezzie, Emerald, Hutch, Lady, Lucky, Mister, Shamrock, Tiger, Tom-Tom, Wilbur, and Winter.

This upcoming weekend is a big weekend for Orphans of the Storm®!

• We will be participating at Angels with Tails/Gold Coast Adoption Walk on Oak Street and Michigan Avenue in Chicago this Sunday, May 18 from noon-4pm. You can volunteer to transport and show off some pooches, or just join us in the city to show your support!
• Also on Sunday, May 18 from noon-3pm is the Christensen Animal Hospital Open House in Wilmette.
• We will also have dogs (and cats) at the Pet Showcase at Northbrook Court all weekend long, and volunteers are always welcome to help there!

Lots of chances to help, and lots of chances for happy adoptions! Please check the Orphans of the Storm® Facebook page for more detailed information.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Think Love is in the Air

It was a busy day at Orphans of the Storm® with some very happy adoptions, but there are always more pooches to meet!

Archie the twelve-year-old Labrador Retriever mix has officially stolen my heart. His face may be getting gray, and his back legs may not be as flexible as they once were, but he still has plenty of joie de vivre and just wants someone to love him. Archie is an excellent walking companion, and an excellent companion overall. He absolutely loved getting his neck scratched and gave me some sweet doggy kisses as a thank you.

Archie just has the sweetest face

Archie is a big boy, but he thinks he’s a lapdog. He kept trying to scoot backwards onto my legs when I was kneeling next to him, but when that didn’t work he just laid down in the grass next to me and enjoyed some snuggle time. When he found an interesting smell in the grass, he rolled around like a puppy! Archie is a laid-back guy who wants nothing more than a soft bed to nap in and a nice family to appreciate him. He broke my heart when I put him back in his kennel, though; he started crying and stuck his paw through the gate 😦 I would’ve taken him home that very minute if I could! Come into the shelter soon and see for yourself how amazing Archie is.

Archie was such a good boy on his leash

Sydney the one-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix is a little bundle of cute. She seems like she’s going to be a permanent puppy, in both appearance and personality. Since she’s over a year old, she probably isn’t going to get any bigger than her current size. She is also incredibly playful. As soon as we got in the off-leash run, she found a soft squeaky toy and started to play fetch with herself by throwing the toy in the air and pouncing on it.

Sydney with a favorite toy in her mouth

Sydney loved her toy so much, in fact, that she carried it with her when we left the off-leash run! Her new owners should be prepared to spoil her with lots of fun toys. Sydney was very interested in all of the other dogs that were out and about, but figured out that it was best to sit nicely and watch from a distance rather than pull on the leash. Sydney might be a little too rambunctious for little kids, but she would love older kids who can keep up with her! If you’re looking for a playful, adorable companion, come in soon to meet Sydney!

Sydney’s puppy face, with wrinkly snout!

Murphy the two-year-old Husky mix is one good-looking pooch. I helped him pose for his official picture on the website, and it just took a couple of tries to get the perfect shot. It’s not hard to be a model when you’re as handsome as Murphy! Murphy is a fun dog to be with. He had a great time chasing tennis balls in the off-leash run (though he wasn’t the best at bringing them back to me) and wanted to race the dog on the other side of the fence.

Murphy knows how to smile for the camera

Murphy is one of those dogs who loves to give doggy hugs. While he’s doing that, he appreciates getting a good scratch on the neck or behind the ears in return. Murphy’s tail is almost always wagging, and he always has a smile on his face. He would be happiest in an active home, since his breed is meant to run long distances. Murphy is sure to bring a smile to his new family’s face every day, so come in soon to meet him!

Murphy wanted to play with the other pooches

Clint the two-year-old Basset Hound mix is a real sweetie. He was extremely shy when he first arrived at the shelter, but he’s starting to get better–though he is still a little unsure of new things, like when we walked through the brand-new hallway by the cat wing (which you should definitely check out, by the way, even if you aren’t looking for a cat). Once we spent some time walking around together, though, Clint perked up and enjoyed himself.

Clint is the cutest! Look at those white paws!

Clint will catch your eye right away because he is so darn cute. He (like Elmo) has one blue eye and one brown eye, and he’s the first Basset mix I’ve seen with a docked tail, which is just the cutest little thing. I sat down in the grass at one point, and Clint slowly started to take tiny steps closer and closer until he had one paw in my lap. From there, I scratched his chin until he was comfortable enough to actually sit in my lap. Clint used to have a kennelmate, so he could go to a home with or without another doggy friend. Stop by the shelter soon to see if he’s the one for you!

Clint’s pretty blue eye

I also saw plenty of my other furry friends, like Corky (who is such a pro at sitting for a treat), Giorgio, Lady, Mister, Molly (who loves to give doggy hugs), the other Molly (who will catch anything you throw–in midair!), Peggy (who did so well with her training at Tops Kennel and wants to prove how good she is), Rosco (who loves to get his hips scratched) and Wilbur, Rusty, Shamrock, and Tom-Tom (who is also a good doggy-hug giver).

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Benefiting from the Benefit Dinner

Firstly, a big thank-you to everyone who came to the benefit dinner on Monday! We had a great crowd for a great cause. The pooches below and their fellow furry friends are all very thankful for everyone’s support!

Bella the two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix is a sweet girl who was more than ready to stretch her legs in the off-leash run. We hurried over there and Bella had a great time sniffing around and investigating everything. How happy she would be to have a backyard to call her own! Bella would prefer to be an in adult-only home where she is the only dog, where she will quickly become the apple of your eye.

Bella in the sunshine

When Bella finished exploring the off-leash run, she came over to me and enjoyed a nice scratch on the neck before giving me a quick doggy kiss. Then the leash came back on and Bella did a pretty good job walking with me, though she did pull occasionally when the landscapers walked by (it was spring cleaning time at the shelter, even though it still doesn’t feel like spring!). Bella is an adorable girl who will grab your attention right away, so be sure to stop and say hello to her on your next visit!

Bella would love to have her own yard to play in

Daisy the seven-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is a volunteer favorite because she’s so easy-going and mellow. Although she’s pretty much all muscle and therefore strong, she doesn’t try to throw her weight around while walking on the leash and is happy to stay close to her person. Daisy recently had a litter of puppies and now she’s ready for some peace and quiet (but still plenty of fun!) in her new forever home.

Daisy enjoying a romp in the hay

Daisy is a very affectionate girl. She loves to give doggy kisses and enjoys a good scratch on the back. There was another dog in the off-leash run next to us, and the two of them had a great time going into play-bows and racing each other along the fence, always with their tails wagging happily. If you’re looking for a big, beautiful, brindle girl to add to your family, come in soon to meet Daisy!

Daisy is such a pretty girl

Lance the three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is a super-cutie. He actually reminded me a lot of Elmo from last week, because he’s a smaller size and he absolutely thinks he’s a lap dog. When we got to the off-leash run, the first thing Lance did was find a tennis ball and then snuggle into my lap while holding onto the ball. His tail was wagging like crazy and he kept wiggling around in an attempt to get even closer to me.

Lance had a great time with his tennis ball

Lance loves carrying tennis balls but hasn’t quite mastered the idea of “fetch” yet, though he did eventually drop the ball at my feet and let me pick it up and throw it again. Lance came from an owner who could no longer take care of him, so he knows how to be a good pet and is more than ready to prove it to you. If you’re looking for a bundle of fun and love, stop by the shelter soon and get to know Lance!

Lance could probably use some extra treats

I also saw Dezzie (who gave me a big doggy hug), Gizmo, Javan, Lucy, Rosco, Tiger, and Wilbur (who rolled over to get a belly rub from me for the first time ever!).