Orphans of the Storm® Snuggly Dogs

If you’re looking for a new friend to snuggle with as the weather starts to turn cooler this fall, stop by Orphans of the Storm® and meet some of the best cuddlers!

Rocky the seven-year-old American Bulldog mix ended up at the shelter because his family could no longer care for him. That just means that Rocky has years of experience being a family pet and knows what it takes to be the best companion there is. Rocky has plenty of energy, as shown by him racing the dog on the other side of the fence in the off-leash run, but he also knows when it’s time to snuggle.

Rocky just has the cutest face!

Rocky happily joined me on the bench a couple of times and covered the side of my face in doggy kisses. Another volunteer who had walked him earlier said that Rocky also thinks he can be a lapdog. He might be a little too big for most laps, but that won’t stop him from trying! Rocky can pull a bit on the leash when he first comes out of his kennel, but that’s just because he is so excited to be out. This great boy is a giant lovebug who can’t wait to join his new furever family. Stop by the shelter soon to meet Rocky!

Rocky certainly knows how to smile for the camera

CK the one-year-old Hound mix is a cutie who has gone to several off-site events and seems to get along with most other dogs. Since CK is still pretty young and puppy-like, he could certainly benefit from training–and he’s sure to be a quick learner! One thing you don’t have to teach CK is how to be a snuggler. This guy is already a pro at that!

CK coming over to snuggle some more

CK would come over and lean against me whenever I knelt down to his level and loved getting a good scratch on the back and neck in the process. He even gave me a few doggy hugs and doggy kisses while we were out. This playful pooch is ready to go home with a family who will love him just as much as he will love them. If you’re looking for a younger dog who is an expert at both playtime and snuggle-time, come in soon to meet CK!

CK romping in the yard

I also saw my furry friends Abby (who is another great snuggler), Bueller (who will look at you with the most loving eyes ever), Ebbie (who is just so gentle), Harley (who gets along great with kids), Lucy (who is a pro at giving doggy hugs), Shard (who is another gentle giant), and Wilbur (who absolutely loved getting brushed–such a good boy!).

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Take a Walk

It was the first cool day in a while at Orphans of the Storm®, but the dogs certainly didn’t mind because they all have their fur coats!

Digby the four-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound mix is a pretty mellow guy. He’s usually snoozing in his kennel when I walk by, but he was happy to have the chance to take a walk. Since he’s so laid-back, he makes for a good walking companion because he rarely pulls on the leash. He does like to follow his nose, like any good Hound, but will stop doing that in order to cuddle with you if you kneel down next to him.

Digby being a good walking buddy

Digby is what I call a leaner. When you start petting him, he will lean against your legs and maybe even attempt to sit on your lap! (Even though he’s a little big for that.) Digby was found as a stray but seems to know what it takes to be a great companion. His sweet brown eyes are clearly saying, “Let me love you.” Come by the shelter soon to see if Digby is the one for you!

Digby smiling for the camera

Duke the four-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is one handsome pooch (who actually has very similar coloring to the equally pretty Topaz). Duke is ready to greet everyone with a wagging tail. He’s a good walking buddy who would love to have an owner who can take him on nice walks every day. Duke had a great time exploring the off-leash run and getting the chance to stretch his legs.

Duke playing with Corky on the other side of the fence

Duke is a very affectionate boy. At one point, he hopped up on the bench in the off-leash run. When I came over to pet him, he put his front paws on my shoulders for a big doggy hug and covered my face with doggy kisses, with his tail wagging like crazy. Duke is the kind of dog who thrives on human attention. He just wants to make his person happy. If you think you could be that person, come in soon to meet Duke!

Duke says, “Yep, I know I’m cute.”

Jelly the nine-year-old Chow Chow mix has been a pet her entire life, but her owners recently got divorced and neither could take her. So now she’s at the shelter, waiting for a new family to find her. Jelly is super-duper fluffy, with some of the softest fur you’ll find. One person that we passed while we were on our walk said, “It’s a teddy bear!”, which is a pretty accurate description of how adorable Jelly is.

Jelly is so fluffy!

Jelly, having years of experience as a pet, is an excellent walking buddy; she didn’t pull on the leash once. She’s currently sharing her kennel with another dog, so we know that she is dog-friendly. Jelly didn’t do anything wrong to end up at the shelter, so she’s hoping that she’ll be out of there and in a new, loving home soon. If you think that loving home could be yours, stop by soon and meet Jelly!

Jelly knows her leash manners

Scooter the six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix is a little cutie. If you were a fan of Wishbone (as I most certainly was), you will quickly notice that Scooter could almost be Wishbone’s twin! Scooter seems energetic inside his kennel, but he was very easy-going when we were out on our walk. Scooter would do best as the only dog in his new home and, being a Terrier, would like to have an owner who can keep him busy by teaching this middle-aged dog some new tricks!

Scooter sniffing

Scooter was a little on the shy side when we first got to the off-leash run. He started by tentatively sniffing my leg, then my hand–but before I knew it, Scooter was in my lap! He only needed a couple short minutes to warm up to this stranger. After that, we had an enjoyable time sitting on the bench together. If you’re looking for a new, fun cuddle-buddy, come to the shelter soon and say hello to Scooter!

Scooter’s cute face

I also saw Abby (who sat in my lap like the lovebug she is), Shard, Tom-Tom (who gives the biggest and best doggy hugs), Corky, Benny (who is just so gentle), and Shasta.

And don’t forget to sign up and start fundraising for the Pooch Parade on October 18!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Know What They’re Looking For

All of the dogs at Orphans of the Storm® are looking for one thing: a forever home. Some just have more specific requirements than others. Dogs, like people, have preferences. Some dogs would love to have other furry family members; others simply prefer the company of humans. Some dogs want to play all the time; others are couch potatoes. Some dogs prefer women over men; some will befriend anybody. That’s why it’s always a good idea to spend time with a couple of different dogs at the shelter, to make sure that you both like the same things and help ensure that their forever home will be a happy home.

Hachi the one-year-old Mountain Cur mix still has a bit of a puppy look about him–especially that adorable face! As I’ve said before, one-year-olds are still definitely puppies in my book. Hachi is a friendly boy who likes to say hello to any person he comes across, and will do so by giving a happy doggy hug and wagging his tail while he gets a good scratch on the neck.

Hachi enjoying playing in the yard

Hachi is also a playful pooch. When the dog in the run next to us was playing fetch, Hachi looked so eager to join in that I found a tennis ball for him too. He hasn’t quite mastered the concept of “fetch,” but with a little practice I’m sure he’ll get there! Hachi would do best in an active household with experienced dog owners who can help give Hachi a purpose, since he was bred to work! If you’re looking for a young dog who is ready to become a faithful companion, come in soon to meet Hachi!

Hachi has such interesting fur color(s)!

Sally the two-year-old Boxer mix was found as a stray, but she must have had an owner at some point because she is super sweet with everyone she meets and is extremely well-behaved. Being mostly muscle, Sally could throw her weight around if she wanted to, but in fact she is a great leash-walking buddy and likes to stay close to her person. Her tail wags almost nonstop.

Sally’s pretty profile

Sally is also super affectionate. She loves to give doggy kisses and would make a great cuddle-buddy. When I sat down on a bench after we had walked around for a bit, she hopped right up next to me and sat there, keeping an eye on things and wagging that tail every time I pet her. The shelter staff and other volunteers think Sally is the sweetest, and I agree! Stop by the shelter soon to say hi to Sally.

Sally in the sunshine

Courage the three-year-old Black and Tan Coonhound mix is a big girl with plenty of energy. She would have a great time with an owner who likes to go for long walks, which Courage would enjoy both for the exercise and for all the fun smells she could track with her excellent Hound nose. Courage also has that signature Hound howl (though I only heard it once while I was with her). Although she spent most of her time following her nose around the off-leash run and less time socializing, she still enjoyed getting a nice scratch on the back.

Courage putting that Hound nose to good use

Courage was plenty polite when giving a hello sniff to the dog on the other side of the fence when we were in the off-leash run, but she would prefer to be the only pet in her new home. She, like Hachi, would also do best in a home with experienced dog owners. I know there are plenty of Hound-lovers out there who would love to add this beautiful girl to their home. If you think that means you, come by the shelter soon and get to know Courage!

Courage is one good-looking pooch!

Riya the one-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix has, I’m ashamed to say, been flying under my radar the last few weeks–and boy, have I been missing out on one great dog! Riya excitedly led the way straight to the off-leash run and had a great time romping around. There were three small dogs in the run next to ours, and Riya also enjoyed racing them along the fence, even going into a play-bow a couple of times.

Riya exploring around the run

Riya, like Hachi, still has plenty of puppy qualities, including being super cute! Riya is a friendly girl who greets everybody with a wagging tail. She hopped up on the bench next to me for a quick pat before going off and romping some more. Don’t let Black Dog Syndrome keep a sweetheart like Riya at the shelter for too much longer! Stop by soon and find out if Riya is the pooch for you.

Riya wondering if the agility bridge is right for her

Trixie the three-year-old Chihuahua mix (not to be confused with the other Trixie!) is just the cutest little thing. She is extremely nervous at the moment, but that’s because she’s just waiting for someone to show her the love that she deserves. She’s not a huge fan of walking on the leash (though she did get better the longer we were out), but she will climb into your lap as soon as she gets the chance and she will contentedly stay there for as long as she can. I couldn’t even keep her out of my lap long enough to take a picture, so another volunteer had to take our picture for us 🙂

Trixie is a cute little lapdog

Trixie is one of those dogs who prefers women over men. She climbed into three different women’s laps while I was with her (though I wasn’t near any men at the time so I didn’t get a chance to see how she behaved with them). Trixie is currently sharing her kennel with Gypsy (who jumped right into my lap as soon as I went into their kennel), but she could certainly benefit from some one-on-one love and attention to help bring her out of her shell. She is so sweet and so adorable–she just needs someone to give her a chance. If you’re a lady looking for a new friend, come in soon to meet Trixie!

Trixie just wants someone to love her

Simon (also known as Harry) the three-year-old Silky Terrier mix has the best head of hair (fur) at the shelter, hands down. It is impossible not to smile when you see him because he is just so fluffy! Simon knows he’s a good-looking dog, too–you can tell by the way he struts his stuff when he’s walking on the leash. But Simon doesn’t mind getting a little dirty; he had so much fun rolling around in the grass! And he happily received a belly rub while doing so.

Simon is just precious

Simon, like Trixie, prefers the company of women. And with that independent Terrier personality, he’s another pooch who would do best in a home with someone who has owned dogs before. Simon is a fun guy who walks nicely on the leash and will make for a great snuggler. Calling all the single ladies: If you’re looking for a new, handsome guy in your life, look no further than Simon!

Simon knows he’s handsome

I also saw my furry friends Bueller, Ebbie, Mr. Big (who is doing so much better with his leash-walking now!), Screamer (who is still a total lapdog), and Tom-Tom.

Were you wondering what happened to the annual Orphans of the Storm® Pooch Parade this summer? Never fear! It has been moved to Saturday, October 18 and is Halloween-themed! You and your pooch can come in costume and help raise both awareness and funds for the shelter. For more information, visit https://www.stayclassy.org/deerfield/events/happy-halloween-pooch-parade-2014/e37134.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Enjoy the Sunshine

It was a lovely day to walk some lovely dogs at Orphans of the Storm®!

Dolly the two-year-old West Highland White Terrier mix is just one of the cutest things you will see, especially with that adorable black spot on her otherwise all-white fur. You can tell that when you talk to her she’s really listening, because she’ll cock her head to the side and give you a look that says, “Yup, I’m with you.” Dolly is a take-charge kind of girl who liked to lead the way on our walk.

Dolly loves taking walks

Dolly does her Terrier roots proud and feels very dedicated to chasing away vermin–but sometimes that extends to animals that aren’t actually vermin (i.e., cats), so Dolly would probably do best in a home where she’s the only smaller animal. But that should be just fine for her new owners, because Dolly has plenty of love to share! She absolutely loves people and gets along well with children. If you’re looking for a spunky pup, come in soon to meet Dolly.

Who could resist Dolly’s face?

Bleu the three-year-old Mountain Cur mix is an adorable bundle of energy who still seems very puppy-like. He had been barking at people who walked past his kennel, but as soon as he realized he was going for a walk he put on his best manners and I didn’t hear a peep out of him for the rest of the time! Bleu and I hurried over to the off-leash run, where he had a great time racing the dogs on the other side of the fence.

Bleu’s cute face

After Bleu got the chance to stretch his legs, he quickly became my new companion. He loves to give doggy hugs and doggy kisses (which are sometimes a little on the slobbery side) and enjoys a good scratch on the back. Bleu might also be a good swimmer! He put his paws in the water bowl and splashed around, having a great time. There are still plenty of warm days ahead of us, so perhaps Bleu can find his own pool to play in at his new home! Stop by the shelter soon to meet Bleu.

Bleu enjoys romping in the yard

Boo the two-year-old American Bulldog mix is as friendly as they come. She has a short, little tail that is wagging almost constantly, which sometimes causes her whole back half to wiggle with happiness. It’s so cute! Boo also has that great, wrinkly Bulldog face that will make anybody say, “Aww!” It’s a winning combination of looks and personality.

Boo making a funny face for the camera

Boo is a great leash-walking buddy. She rarely pulled, instead choosing to stay close to me. If I ever stopped walking for some reason, she would also stop and sit at my feet, looking at me expectantly for the next cue. When I would kneel down next to her, she’d give me a quick doggy kiss and a tail wag. Boo even got a quick bath with the hose, and she was such a good sport about it! A pooch this sweet won’t stay at the shelter for long, so come in soon to meet Boo!

Boo is such a good girl

Casey the two-year-old Shepherd mix is a good girl who does well with other dogs. She was sharing her kennel with Cody, who was recently adopted (hurray, Cody!) and wanted to play with all of the other dogs we passed while we were out and about. Casey would do best in an adult-only home with people who are experienced dog owners.

Casey the cutie

Casey is another good leash-walking buddy. She seems like the type who would enjoy nice walks around the neighborhood or longer walks on trails. Afterwards, she’ll be happy to climb up on the couch with you to relax (if her jumping up on the bench next to me was any indication). Casey also has one of those great doggy smiles that is sure to make you smile back at her. Put a permanent smile on Casey’s face by bringing her into a new furever home!

Casey is a happy girl

Baylor the one-year-old Shepherd mix isn’t quite ready to be adopted yet, but you can still stop by and get to know him! Regular visits would probably be a good thing for Baylor, actually, because he’s a little on the shy and skittish side. All he needs is a gentle and loving friend to show him that the world isn’t a scary place.

Baylor enjoying the sunshine

Baylor‘s shyness doesn’t take away from his sweetness, though. When we were in the off-leash run, Baylor would come up to me every minute or so and take a quick sniff at my shoes or hand, just to check me out. When it was time to head back inside, Baylor had no problems with me putting the leash back on and enjoyed getting a scratch behind his ears. Baylor will make for one great companion once he comes out of his shell. Could you be the one to help him do that?

Baylor thinking about saying hello

I also spent some time with my favorite pair of brothers, Wilbur and Rosco!