Orphans of the Storm® Dogs with Snowy Paws

Before we meet this week’s new pooches, there are a few Orphans of the Storm® announcements:

• Please bring your newspapers to the shelter! There is an area to deposit them at the entrance to the parking lot, or you can bring them to the front office and then stop in and meet the pooches (and/or cats) yourself!
• Orphans of the Storm® has returned to its spot at Northbrook Court. Meet adoptable and adorable dogs and cats every Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm.
• The Orphans of the Storm® Annual Benefit Dinner is Monday, April 20–mark your calendar!

Sandy the three-year-old Husky mix is a happy girl who eagerly greets everyone who walks by her kennel. When she saw me coming with the leash, she started jumping up and down as if she was on a pogo stick! Even though she was super excited, once she was on the leash she walked pretty well without much tugging. Sandy is naturally prepared for this type of cold weather, so she was ready to jump right into the snow.

Sandy is appropriately named with her sand-colored fluff

Sandy kind of kept to herself while we were in the off-leash run, since she was enjoying the chance to run around and explore (and politely sniff the dog on the other side of the fence), but when I hooked her back onto the leash and took her to a place where we could sit together, she attempted to climb into my lap and gave me a few happy doggy kisses. Who wouldn’t want a fluffy snuggle buddy? If you’re looking for a happy girl who can bring you years of happiness, come in soon to meet Sandy!

Sandy certainly loves the snow

Caesar the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a big, handsome boy whose unique looks caught my eye right away. Caesar has one blue eye and one brown eye (like Clarinet, Clint, Luciano, and Pancho!) and pretty chocolate-colored spots on his otherwise white fur. He has plenty of energy, so he would be happiest in a home that can give him the exercise and stimulation he needs, whether that be a big yard to romp in or long walks or plenty of playtime.

Caesar is such a handsome boy

Caesar had a great time running around in the snow in the off-leash run. He happily chased after a ball I threw, though he doesn’t seem to have realized that if he picks it up and brings it back, that means I can throw it again. When we walked around for a bit with him on the leash, he mostly did pretty well, though sometimes he would pull if there was a particular direction he wanted to go in. This big boy has an even bigger heart that he is ready to share with a new family. Stop by soon to say hello to Caesar!

Caesar would love a yard of his own where he can romp

Belle the eight-month-old black Labrador Retriever mix is such a cutie. She’s a little nervous inside her kennel, since she’s new to the shelter, but when she’s out and about she seems much more comfortable. She’s currently sharing her kennel with Hachi (who is such an affectionate boy who gives great doggy hugs) and was eager to play with him when they were both outside, so she could go to a home with or without another dog.

Belle is a real beauty!

Belle walks pretty well on the leash and will stop and sit if you stop walking–which is quite impressive for a puppy! Whenever I knelt down next to her, she would put her front paw in my lap. She didn’t mind when I took her paw to practice the ‘shake’ command. Belle is a sweet girl who just needs someone to give her an extra boost of confidence. She also seems like a smart girl who is eager to please, so she should do well in obedience classes. If you’re considering adding a puppy to your home, come in soon to see if Belle is the pup for you!

Belle sitting pretty

I also saw Bella, Blush, Chato, Cosmo, Gus, Jarvis, Rocky, Tom-Tom, and Winter.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Eager for a Valentine

What better way to open your heart this Valentine’s Day than by welcoming a new pet into your home? The dogs (and cats!) from Orphans of the Storm® are all eagerly awaiting their new loving families. I only have two new pooches to introduce this week (the other two I walked have already been adopted, hurray!), but there are currently 97 dogs listed on the Orphans of the Storm® website, and all of them are in need of a good home!

John Boy the six-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever mix caught my eye right away as I was walking through the shelter because he seemed like such a happy boy–and he absolutely is! He was just wriggling with excitement when it was time to put his leash on. Even though he was very enthusiastic, he still did a good job of walking on the leash without pulling too much.

John Boy is a happy boy

John Boy is a very playful pooch. There was another smaller dog in the run next to us, and that dog and John Boy had the best time racing each other. John Boy would go flying through the air, and then stop and stick his nose through the fence to say hi to the other dog and wag his tail. John Boy often attends play group, though he sometimes isn’t a fan of other “strong” males. However, his best friend is Elijah! If you’re looking for a fun new friend to join the family, don’t delay–come in soon to see if John Boy is the one for you!

John Boy dashing through the snow

Cooper the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix sadly lost his home because his family could no longer keep him. What that means for his future owners, though, is that he has a lifetime of experience being a pet! Cooper (which is an excellent name, if I may say so myself) is a strong boy, but he’s still a pretty good leash-walking buddy. A big boy like Cooper would definitely appreciate a few good walks a day and/or a nice yard to romp in.

Cooper the cutie

Cooper had such a fun time playing in the snow. He’d sniff, dig, run, and he even attempted to fetch a snowball! Cooper seems to be okay around some dogs and less okay around others, so you’ll want to take it slow if there are other dogs in your neighborhood (which is true for all dogs, really, since you never know how two will respond to each other). Cooper enjoyed a good scratch on the back and behind the ears. He knows that he can be an excellent companion–give him a chance to let him show you! Stop by the shelter soon to meet Cooper.

Cooper sniffing in the snow

I also saw my buddies Blush (who absolutely loves snow and will happily stick her entire face in a snow pile), Cosmo (who is thankfully getting a little less nervous each time I walk him), and Topaz (who is quite possibly the most affectionate dog at the shelter right now). Which pooch will be your Valentine this year?

Orphans of the Storm® Success Story: Rocky’s Two-Year Update!

Those of you who have been following Meet the Pooches for a while now may remember Rocky, the lovable and playful pooch who had spent far too long waiting at Orphans of the Storm® to find his forever home. But about two years ago, the Cruz family came in, met Rocky, and brought him home! They sent an update on how Rocky was settling in back in July 2013, and now that Rocky’s two-year “adoptday” is here, we have a new update with an adorable collage of photos!

“Hello! Just wanted to share with you some pics of Rocky on the 2nd year anniversary of his coming into our lives. He still enjoys rolling in the grass, long walks, and cuddle naps with his kids. New this winter is his mastery of the treadmill to keep him fit when it’s too cold outside (bottom left). He did have a run-in with a pesky skunk (2nd left), but he tolerated his bath like a good boy. He has brought so much love and joy into our lives and we can only wish a forever home for all your dogs and cats at Orphans of the Storm®. Love, Cruz family”

What a happy pooch! Thanks so much for the update and wonderful photos, Cruz family!

If you would like to share your own Orphans of the Storm® success story on the blog, we’d love to hear from you! Please email meetthepooches@gmail.com.

Also, have you checked out the new-and-improved Orphans of the Storm® website? It’s pretty great! However, some of the links on this blog may no longer work due to the new pages added to the new website. I appreciate your patience as I go through the blog and update those links. If you encounter any links that aren’t working, please feel free to leave a comment on that post or email meetthepooches@gmail.com. Thank you!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs to Cuddle

Although any time of year is the perfect time to adopt a dog (or cat) from Orphans of the Storm®, you have to admit that the middle of winter is a great time to bring home a new furry friend to help keep you warm!

Bear the one-year-old Chow Chow/Shepherd mix can pretty much be described in one word: mellow. When he’s inside his kennel, he’s just relaxing on his doggy bed. When he’s outside, he is a great walking buddy who doesn’t pull on the leash at all. Bear seems politely interested in other dogs; he sniffed nicely through the run’s fence and even whined a little bit when the other dog walked away!

Bear has a very handsome face

Bear has plenty of adorable black fluff to keep him warm in these cold temperatures. He has a sweet, expressive face that he doesn’t mind putting right up to yours in order to give you a quick doggy kiss. Although Bear seems to be naturally well-behaved, keep in mind that he’s still young and would benefit from some training. Bear would also prefer to be in an adult-only home. If you think Bear could be the pooch for you, come in soon to meet him!

Bear enjoying the outdoors

Clarinet the one-year-old Catahoula mix is a real sweetie. She will greet any person who comes her way with a doggy hug and a doggy kiss. Her entire body was wriggling with happiness when she realized she was going out for a walk and she quickly led the way to the off-leash run, where she had a fun time exploring.

Clarinet following her nose

Clarinet is a very affectionate and snuggly girl. After she had romped around the run for a few minutes, she joined me on the bench and sat as close as she could without actually being in my lap. Clarinet loves attention and will gladly stay by your side as long as you’re petting her. If you’re looking for a fun girl who will surely put a smile on your face, stop by the shelter soon to meet Clarinet!

Clarinet with her pretty blue eye/brown eye combo

Pancho the one-year-old Labrador Retriever/Catahoula mix is another young dog, which you can easily tell by his exuberant and happy-go-lucky personality. Pancho is constantly wagging his tail, whether he’s walking on the leash, greeting another dog, or trying to climb into your lap (“trying” being the key word, since he’s a little big for that).

Pancho also has one blue eye and one brown eye!

Pancho loves people, and it seems like he would get along with other dogs as well. Whenever I knelt down to his level, he would come hurrying over to snuggle, and also rolled over for a belly rub a couple times. While we were in the middle of one belly rub, the girl in the run next to ours said, “I want a dog like that!” because Pancho was being so sweet and cute. If you want a dog like that too, be sure to say hello to Pancho on your next visit to the shelter!

Pancho wants to say hi to everybody

Jingles the five-year-old Rat Terrier mix is a little cutie. I actually tried to walk him a while ago, when he first arrived at the shelter, but he was too nervous and shy at the time. Now he’s started to come out of his shell and was more than ready to come out for a walk (and it probably helps that he now has a buddy, Suzie [see below], to make him feel safer).

Jingles preferred being in the bushes

Jingles is still a little on the shy side, so he spent the first few minutes hanging out in and around the bushes in the off-leash run. Once he got more comfortable, though, he came over to me on his own and even put his front paws in my lap so we could cuddle. Our visit got cut a little short because Jingles was heading to an off-site event, so we know he does well on car rides too. If you’re looking for a smaller dog who can easily settle into your lap for a nap, be sure to meet Jingles!

Jingles has an adorable little face

Suzie the seven-year-old Beagle mix is absolutely adorable. She has a bit of a round tummy (as Beagles can sometimes have, since they’re known for getting a little chunky if not properly monitored) but that doesn’t slow her down in the slightest. She quickly led the way to the off-leash run, though we sometimes had to stop and wait for her kennelmate Jingles (see above) to catch up. Suzie is the typical Beagle in that she usually keeps her nose to the ground, following whatever scent she picks up.

Suzie the sweetie

Suzie is another incredibly affectionate pooch. She’ll put her paws on your leg and wait for you to lean over so she can give you a doggy kiss, and she’ll also try to climb into your lap if given the opportunity. Suzie also gets along with dogs of all sizes, from little Jingles all the way up to a big yellow Lab that she spent some time with. Whether you’re looking for your first dog or looking to add another dog to your pack, you can’t go wrong with Suzie! Stop by the shelter soon to see if she’s the one for you.

Suzie coming over to snuggle

Turbo the two-year-old German Shepherd mix is very appropriately named, since he is full of energy and quite speedy. We hurried our way over to the off-leash run, where Turbo took full advantage of the open space and had a fun time racing the dog on the other side of the fence. Turbo is out of official puppyhood, but he can still act like a pup sometimes, especially when it comes to thinking the leash is a toy!

Turbo knows how to smile for the camera

Turbo came from a family who could no longer care for him, so he already has some training under his belt and is housebroken. However, Turbo has some separation anxiety and would do best in a home where at least one member of the family is home the majority of the time. What fun company Turbo would be! If you’re looking for a big boy who can provide great companionship, come in soon to meet Turbo!

Turbo racing through the run

I also saw my buddies Cosmo, Chubs, Blush, Gypsy, Willow, and Shasta.