Orphans of the Storm® Dogs with Personalities as Warm as Sunshine

The dogs at Orphans of the Storm® are all about being companion animals. They’re just looking for someone who will give them the love and attention they deserve, and in return they will shower that someone with lots of affection!

Sophia the five-year-old Bluetick Coonhound mix is extremely easy-going. There was a lot of hustle and bustle while I was at the shelter because a Boy Scout troop was hosting a fundraising barbecue, but Sophia just politely sniffed at them and wagged her tail as we made our way past. She walks very nicely on the leash and is happy to stop and sit by your side if you want to take a break. She is a sweet, gentle girl.

Sophia says, “Pet me!”

Sophia loves getting pet. When you start petting her, she’ll scoot closer and closer to you until she’s practically in your lap, and will stick her nose right up next to yours–and maybe even give you a doggy kiss! One of the cutest things she did while we were on our walk is put her paws up on the fence outside of the cat room so she could look inside and watch all the cats. You could just see that she was thinking, “Oh boy! Kitties!” Sophia was previously sharing her kennel with another dog, so she could go to a home with or without another pooch. Stop by soon to meet Sophia!

Sophia smiling in the sunshine

Ringo the six-year-old Husky mix might be inching his way towards my “favorites” list because he is such a good boy. He walks nicely on the leash and knows some basic commands like “sit,” which he did for me even without a treat! Ringo was sharing his kennel with another dog who has since been adopted, so he could go to a home with another pooch; however, he isn’t a fan of cats. What Ringo is a fan of is people of all ages, including children.

Ringo is so fluffy

Ringo definitely likes to cuddle, which is good because his fluffy fur makes him extra cuddle-able! He was happy to stay by my side while I pet him, and when I sat down on the bench he quickly joined me and sat right next to me. He’s not shy about offering doggy kisses, and he’s an alert boy who likes to keep track of things and investigate. Whenever a new dog came into the run next to ours, Ringo was always right there at the gate to say hello. If you’re looking for a great family pet, come in soon to meet Ringo!

Ringo enjoying a pat on the back

Ginger the four-year-old Redbone Coonhound mix (not to be confused with the other Ginger) is a super affectionate pooch. We had only known each other for a few moments before she was giving me doggy kisses and trying to sit as close to me as possible. Her happy, sweet personality has quickly made her a volunteer favorite. Now she just has to steal the heart of a potential adopter!

Ginger romping in the run

Ginger absolutely loves going for walks. She was practically bouncing up and down when she realized she was coming out with me and took off at a quick clip. Ginger could probably lose a couple pounds, but with her enthusiasm for walks and being outdoors, that should be pretty easy to do once she’s in a home that gives her regular exercise. Ginger greets everybody with a wagging tail and a doggy smile. Come by the shelter soon to meet Ginger!

Ginger is a happy girl

I also saw Blush, Courage, Fred, Hachi, Rock, Tucker, Zack, Zoey, and the other Zoey.

Orphans of the Storm® Black Dogs and Brown Dogs

You can find dogs of every shape, size, and color at Orphans of the Storm®–I just coincidentally happened to walk a number of black ones and brown ones (and black-and-brown ones!) this week.

Chevy the one-year-old Heeler mix is a sweet boy who is just a little bit shy and anxious at the moment. He politely waited for his leash to be put on before heading out of his kennel, and he walked pretty well on the leash as we made our way to the run. Chevy is sharing his kennel with another dog, and he was also interested in all of the dogs we saw while we were out, so he could go to a home with or without a four-legged friend.

Chevy enjoying a scratch on the back

Chevy was a little unsure of being pet at first, but when I sat down on the bench inside the run at one point, he soon came over and hopped up onto the bench next to me so we could enjoy each other’s company. He let me know when he was ready to leave by going to the gate and making little noises. Since Chevy is both still a puppy and a breed known for being active, he would probably prefer to be in an active home where he can come out of his shell and do some serious playing! Stop by soon to see if Chevy is the pup for you.

Chevy might have the cutest pair of ears around

Lady the eight-year-old Rottweiler/Doberman Pinscher mix may look familiar to some of you. I wrote about her back in 2012 and she was adopted shortly thereafter, but she was recently returned because her owners are moving and can’t bring her with them (which, sadly, is the same reason she and her brother were originally brought to the shelter in 2012). Everything I first wrote about her still applies–or actually, she might be even sweeter now than she was then!

Lady can be friendly with creatures of all sizes

Lady can still be very strong, especially when she first gets out of her kennel, but I think she just doesn’t know her own strength. She is the biggest cuddle-bug who rested her head in my lap while I sat on the bench. If I stopped petting her at any point, she’d nudge my arm with her nose to get me to start again. When we were in the off-leash run, she stayed by my side pretty much the entire time. She also very politely sniffed the little dog on the other side of the fence. She was raised with her brother, so she could potentially go to a home with another dog. If you’re looking for a gentle giant, come in soon to meet Lady!

Lady loves getting attention

Red the three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is just the happiest boy. I don’t think his tail stopped wagging the entire time we were out. Red needed to have FHO surgery on one of his back legs when he arrived at the shelter, but he is now fully recovered and ready to join his furever family! Red was bounding around the off-leash run as if he had never had a leg problem.

Red is constantly happy

Once Red knows you, he loves you. He gives excellent doggy hugs and will cover you with plenty of doggy kisses, and will even try to fit himself into your lap (though only about half of him can fit at a time). Red also seems to be pretty friendly with other dogs, at least through a fence. He even tried to get a little Chihuahua mix to race him! This affectionate boy is ready to show you just how “lova-bull” his breed can be. Come in soon to meet Red!

“Yippee!!!” says Red

Brandy the eight-month-old black Labrador Retriever mix was found as a stray but is very well-behaved, especially for a puppy. When the Orphans of the Storm® photographer was taking Brandy’s picture for the website, Brandy quickly sat as soon as she was shown a treat. Even when we passed the photographer on our way back to her kennel at the end of our walk, Brandy sat again without any prompting. She’s obviously a quick learner!

Brandy likes to cuddle

Brandy is a sweet girl who gets along with people and other dogs alike. She was sharing her kennel with a little Bichon Frise who has since been adopted, so she could go to a home with or without another dog, big or small. While we were in the off-leash run, Brandy happily joined me on the bench and put her paw in my lap so we could cuddle some more. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Brandy!

Brandy enjoying the outdoors

Fred the seven-year-old Shepherd mix has been at the shelter for at least a year now, and I’m upset with myself for not having walked him before because I have really been missing out! Fred is one of the select few “backyard dogs” who gets to spend time in one of the yards at the shelter that has a shorter fence, which he won’t jump (which is good for possible future owners to know!).

Fred will stick to his new family like glue

Fred is well-behaved in pretty much every way. He walks great on the leash, he knows basic commands like “sit,” and he loves to cuddle. One of his favorite things is getting his back scratched, right by his hips and base of his tail. He does a little dance that is just too cute. The only thing holding Fred back (in my opinion) is that he doesn’t get along with other dogs. But when we were in the off-leash run and Clarinet was barking at him from the run next to ours, he didn’t react at all. So it really depends on the situation, and it shouldn’t be held against him. Fred is more than ready for his second chance. If you’re a one-dog-at-a-time kind of owner, come in soon to meet Fred!

Fred loves getting his hips scratched

I also saw Blush, Courage, Daka, Honey Lamb, Joy, Roxy, Smoochie, Tulip, Zak, and Zoey.

P.S. Apologies for the extra human limbs you see in the pictures this week. Still getting used to the new camera!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Aren’t Shy

The dogs at Orphans of the Storm® were the first test subjects for my new wide-angle lens camera, so thank you in advance for bearing with me as I figure out how to compose these shots over the next few weeks!

Sharkie the two-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix found himself at Orphans of the Storm® because his original family’s new baby ended up being allergic to dogs. The bright side of this is that we know Sharkie is good with kids and would fit right in with a new family. As I say every time I write about Labs, there’s a reason why they’re the most popular breed in America–they’re so friendly!

Sharkie the snuggler

Sharkie was very energetic when we first started on our walk and was eager to run and play. Funnily enough, when I let him loose in the off-leash run, he calmed down and took his time following his nose around. When I’d kneel down next to him to pet him, he’d put his nose right in my face and eventually gave me a couple doggy kisses. On our walk back to his kennel, he was a much better walking buddy. In fact, if I stopped walking, he would stop and sit at my feet! If you’re looking for a good boy who gets along with people of all ages, come in soon to meet Sharkie!

Sharkie exploring the run

Lisa the three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix was pretty nervous when she first arrived at the shelter, but now she’s always happy to go for walks and meet new people! Lisa has the cutest perky ears that sometimes point straight up to the sky. She was pretty good at walking on the leash and seemed pretty friendly with other dogs when they sniffed each other through the fence.

Lisa is super cute

Lisa is a very affectionate girl. She likes to give doggy kisses and also likes to snuggle whenever the opportunity presents itself. When I joined her on the bench, she laid down next to me, resting her head on my arm. When she sat up again, she scooted right beside me so I could keep petting her. Stop by the shelter soon to see if Lisa is the couch-sharing pooch for you!

Lisa likes to be by her people

Ginger the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a happy, friendly girl who loves to be with people. When I first stopped by her kennel, her entire body was wiggling because her tail was wagging so much. Then, as soon as she got out of her kennel, the first thing she did was give me and another volunteer doggy hugs. We went on a fast-paced walk (more like a run) to the off-leash area.

Ginger not so sure about getting her picture taken

Ginger is another pooch who likes to shower her people with affection. She’ll gladly stay by your side while you pet her, and give you doggy kisses as thanks. Although Ginger is a big fan of being with people, she isn’t such a fan of other dogs and would like to be the only dog in her new home. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Ginger, who will enthusiastically say hello back!

Ginger enjoying the outdoors

I also saw Blush (who is the best walking buddy), Cooper (who is so snuggly), Diamond (who loves to play), Hachi (who gives great doggy hugs), Heaven (who has plenty of energy), Joy (who is so sweet), Shasta (who is such a good girl), Smoochie (who is always eager to go for walks), Zak (who is such a gentle boy), and Zoey (who loves to fetch).