Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Are Lots of Fun

Pets always know how to brighten your day, and the dogs at Orphans of the Storm® are no exception! Some are more playful than others, but they all know that the best way to have a good time is to be with their new family.

Buster the eight-year-old Hound mix is a big (and I do mean big) cuddle-bug. When we were in the off-leash run, Buster spent most of his time hanging out next to me so I could give him lots of attention, and in return he put his front paws in my lap and gave me doggy kisses. There’s just something about those soulful Hound faces that make them so lovable!

Buster has the most lovable face

Buster is sure to be a loyal companion. When another volunteer who has walked Buster multiple times came by the fence, Buster’s tail started wagging and he eagerly watched and waited for the volunteer to say hello to him. Buster gets along with people and dogs alike, and is currently sharing his kennel with Stella (see below). Buster is sweet, gentle, affectionate, and handsome! What more could you want in a new best friend? If you think Buster might be the pooch for you, come in soon to meet him!

Buster enjoying the sunshine

Stella the six-year-old Retriever mix is a sweetheart. She waited patiently to get her leash put on, and once we were out she was a very nice walking companion who didn’t do much pulling at all. Stella can be a little shy at first, but after a few minutes of getting to know you she warms up and happily accepts all of the attention you can give her.

Stella showing off her lovely smile

Stella enjoyed exploring the off-leash run and would probably like to be able to have a yard of her own, but since she walks so nicely on the leash it isn’t a necessity. Stella is currently sharing her kennel with Buster (see above), so she could go to a home with or without another dog. Since Stella is more middle-aged, she’s pretty calm and gentle. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hello to Stella!

Stella strutting her stuff

London the eight-month-old Hound mix is the first “true” puppy (under a year old) that I’ve walked in a while, and I’ll admit I didn’t want to put her back in her kennel! London is what I would consider the epitome of a puppy: she is super snuggly, super friendly, and super silly. London was a bit overwhelmed by all of the other dogs barking at her when I first took her out of her kennel, so she had no problems with me scooping her up and carrying her out to a quieter area in the grass. When I set her down, she put her front paws on my legs as if she wanted to be picked up again.

London is definitely a lapdog

London hasn’t quite mastered leash-walking yet, so sometimes she liked to hold the leash in her mouth while we walked like it was a toy and sometimes she would wriggle around like she was trying to break free. But most of our time together was spent with London snuggling in my lap, which is a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon! At one point I thought she was going to fall asleep because she was so comfy. Puppies usually don’t last at the shelter for very long, and one as cute and friendly as London is likely to get a lot of lookers. Come in soon if you think London is the pup for you!

Who can say no to London’s sweet face?

Duke the two-year-old Rottweiler mix has plenty of energy and a sense of adventure, so if you have an active lifestyle then Duke might be your dog! Duke pulled on the leash a bit when we first started our walk, but he settled down pretty quickly. When I sat down on a bench, he stopped and sat right by my feet so I could pet him.

Duke asking, “When is it our turn to go in the run?”

Duke can be a bit of a rascal. When it was time for us to leave the off-leash run, he would scurry away whenever I came towards him with the leash. At first I thought it was because he might be a little shy or nervous, but then he started going into a play-bow before scurrying off and I realized he just wanted to play and romp some more. It wasn’t until I pretended to leave that he came over to the gate and let me put the leash on–which shows that he may like to play, but he likes being with his person even more! Stop by the shelter soon to meet Duke.

Duke sticking out his tongue

Osito the two-year-old Miniature Poodle mix and Kanne the one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix may seem like The Odd Couple, but they are best friends and they are looking to find their new forever home together. Osito and Kanne were abandoned by their previous owner, but they got through it together and are hopeful for the future!

Osito is super cute

There are some people who believe that the “bully” breeds are dangerous and can’t be around other dogs, but Kanne is more than happy to prove them wrong and show how you can’t generalize an entire breed or group. Although Kanne can sometimes step on Osito when he’s excited (like when they learned it was their turn to go for a walk), it’s clear how bonded they are and how well they get along. Wherever Osito wandered inside the off-leash run, Kanne was never far behind. When Osito decided to climb into my lap, Kanne came over to give me a sniff of approval.

Kanne is a handsome boy

Osito is technically the “big” brother because he’s older, and he knows that he can keep Kanne in line by giving a little yelp when Kanne gets boisterous. Osito was more interested in exploring and enjoying the outdoors at first, but soon enough he made his way over to me and was happy to cuddle.

Osito got a summer haircut for late-summer

Kanne is very well-behaved, considering he’s just a year old–I was surprised to find out his age afterwards! After his initial burst of excitement when he first got out of the kennel, he was calm in the off-leash run. He enjoyed a good scratch under the chin and has surprisingly soft fur.

Kanne standing guard at the gate

If you’re one of those people who has a hard time choosing between small dogs and large dogs–here’s a perfect solution where you don’t have to choose! Osito and Kanne are already set as a pair. Now they just need a loving family and a place to call home.

I also saw Bear, Blush, Cooper, Diamond, Gypsy, Lexi, Nana, O’Shea, Parzivie, Red, Scotty, Trixie, Tucker, Willow, and Zoey. So many greats dogs are waiting to meet you at Orphans of the Storm®!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Don’t Mind a Cloudy Day

Last week I met a total of five new dogs at Orphans of the Storm®, and I’m happy to say that three of them have already been adopted before I could write about them! But there are still plenty of pooches waiting to find their perfect match, including these two sweeties.

Marcus the two-year-old Basset Hound/Beagle mix is super adorable. When we first got to the off-leash run, Marcus was mostly interested in exploring on his own, but once he realized that I was there to spend time with him, he happily came trotting over and enjoyed getting pet. There were a few times where he put his front paws in my lap so we could cuddle even more.

Marcus enjoys a good snuggle session

Marcus ran after a toy when I threw it, though he didn’t pick it up and bring it back to me. He seemed to prefer either standing next to me and getting lots of attention, saying hello to the dogs we saw on the other side of the fence, or following his hound nose. Marcus has those sweet puppy-dog eyes that will melt your heart as soon as you meet him. If you’re looking for a cute little companion, stop by soon to say hi to Marcus!

Marcus exploring the run

Rufus the four-year-old Shepherd mix was happy to learn that it was his turn to come out for a walk and walked pretty nicely on the way to the off-leash run. He was a little skittish at first and sometimes jumped a bit when I pet him, but the longer we were together the more comfortable he became. Rufus even gave me a doggy kiss eventually!

Rufus says, “What’s that you’ve got there?”

Rufus seems like the type of dog who just goes with the flow. He casually made his way around the off-leash run, stopping here and sniffing there. When he got used to me being around, he was happy to stand by my side and get a good scratch on his back. Rufus’ fur is surprisingly wiry in texture, which just adds to his cuteness. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Rufus!

Rufus was always there when I turned around

I also saw Bella, Blush, Diamond, and Lexi.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Found Their Furever Home, Part XI

I’m happy to bring you another Orphans of the Storm® success story! Steve and his family have shared their adoption story and some adorable photos of their Orphans of the Storm® dog, Charlotte:

We adopted our Catahoula mix from Orphans of the Storm® in January of 2013. Our previous dog, Shelby, had passed away after 12 wonderful years after we adopted him from Orphans of the Storm® and we wanted to give another dog a forever home with us.

Charlotte liked to rest her head on my shoulder as I drove to Colorado

We had looked at many dogs and I had even been to Orphans of the Storm® on a Friday when my wife wanted to go look again two days later on a Sunday. Orphans of the Storm® had just had 25 dogs from out-of-state arrive and the first one we saw was this Catahoula mix with bright amber eyes jumping up at us from inside her cage. We took her for a walk and instantly bonded with her. Because we had previously adopted from Orphans of the Storm® and because it was a bit chaotic there at the time, we were able to complete the paperwork and take her home with us right away.

Charlotte got a little hamburger at Sonic in Nebraska for dinner

We named her Charlotte. She was a bit submissive and we’ve had to work very hard to make sure she didn’t stay afraid of people. She is still a bit skittish at times, but she is also protective of her new family. We bring her as many places as we can–she is a fantastic car-rider! Her eyes see everything, her ears hear everything, and her nose is often buried in a smell or sniffing the wind. She certainly has the traits of a Catahoula.

On the way home, Charlotte found our daughter’s leg to be a comfortable pillow in the car

Charlotte crashes on the couch in our cabin after a walk

Recently we brought her on our summer vacation to Colorado where we rented a cabin that allows dogs. Charlotte had a terrific time and was perfect during the drive and in hotels and in the cabin. She doesn’t chew or bark and she’s wonderfully house-trained.

Charlotte found the Winter Park, Colorado, area to be very dog-friendly

At home she enjoys her spacious fenced-in yard and chasing birds, lying in the sun, or playing with a stick or tennis ball. We’ve also introduced her to friend’s and family’s dogs and she gets along with everyone. She’s also very gentle around small children and is never afraid of them.

My wife Robin and our daughter Lauren relaxing with Charlotte on the front porch of the cabin we rented in Colorado

We really love this beautiful dog and thank Orphans of the Storm® for all the hard work they do to find homes for dogs. Charlotte is the third dog I’ve had from Orphans of the Storm® (my family adopted a German Short Haired Pointer when I was a kid around 1977) and I highly recommend this shelter to anyone seeking a terrific animal to share a forever home with.

Charlotte loves to jump from bed to bed in the hotel

My wife Robin riding in the backseat with a happy Charlotte

Thank you for sharing Charlotte’s story with us, Steve!

If you have an Orphans of the Storm® adoption success story that you’d like to share on the blog, please email meetthepooches@gmail.com.