Orphans of the Storm® Long-Timers Hoping for a New Home in the New Year

Here is another batch of dogs at Orphans of the Storm® who have been waiting more than their fair share of time to find a forever loving home. Help us spread the word and find new homes for these lovable pooches in 2016!

Skippy the eleven-year-old Miniature Pinscher mix is a fun little guy who doesn’t act like a senior at all. Those little legs move faster than you’d think! Skippy’s original owner had to move into assisted living and couldn’t bring Skippy with him, but that means Skippy has a lifetime of experience being a companion. Skippy would prefer to be in an adult-only home. He does get along well with other dogs, though, especially ones that are closer to his size, and has shared his kennel with a few different dogs during his time at the shelter. You can read more about my first visit with Skippy here.

Skippy

Fred the eight-year-old Shepherd mix loves being with people. This big boy is a big cuddler who just wants a good scratch on the back. Fred is on the larger side, but he walks great on the leash. I took him around the woodland preserve trail this past weekend and he stayed by my side the whole time without pulling. Fred doesn’t particularly like other dogs, so he would prefer to be the only dog in his new home. Fred can offer his new family plenty of affection! You can read more about my first visit with Fred here.

Fred

Courage the four-year-old Black and Tan Coonhound mix is one of the most affectionate dogs at the shelter right now. Even though she’s a big girl, she’s absolutely convinced that she’s a lapdog and will try to fit as much of herself in your lap as possible, and then cover your face with doggy kisses. Courage would do best in an active household with experienced dog owners, and would like to be the only dog in her new home. She loves being outside and will happily join her new family for walks or runs. When I took her into the woodland preserve this weekend, we ran the first 3/4 of the way and then slowed to a walk for the last portion. You can read more about my first visit with Courage here.

Courage

Nana the seven-year-old Plott mix is a very mellow girl. She’s one of the dogs I most often find napping in her kennel when I walk by. But when you tell her that she’s going out for a walk, she perks right up! Nana walks nicely on the leash and doesn’t seem like the overly excitable type. Nana, like Lexi from last week, has cancer and is hoping a very special person will welcome her into their home. Nana is a loving and lovable girl who will give you doggy kisses while you pet her. You can read more about my first visit with Nana here.

Nana

Happy New Year to all!

Orphans of the Storm® Long-Timers Hoping for a Home for the Holidays

I’m going to save new dogs for the new year and take the next couple of weeks to write about some of the dogs at Orphans of the Storm® who have been waiting for their forever family a little longer than others. Included are updated photos from this past weekend.

Weezie the nine-year-old Chow Chow mix is quickly becoming one of my favorites. She may bark at you when you first walk by her kennel, but once you take her out she is one of the sweetest dogs. Now that she knows me, she greets me with a wagging tail instead of a bark. Weezie is a senior and walks on the slower side, but she gets around just fine and enjoys being outside. When I had her out this past weekend, she sat by my feet and enjoyed getting a scratch on the neck. She will happily give you doggy kisses if you give her the opportunity! Weezie has a lifetime of experience as a family pet and is ready to join a new family and show off what a lovable companion she is. You can read more about my first visit with Weezie here.

Weezie

Zoey the four-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is an energetic girl who loves to run and play. She knows her basic commands like “sit” and would be a quick learner if her new family wanted to teach her more. Zoey likes to chase tennis balls, though she doesn’t usually bring them back. She’s also enjoyed playing with other dog toys in the past. Zoey has very pretty coloring that I haven’t seen on any other dog. If you’re an active person looking for an active companion, Zoey might be the one for you! You can read more about my first visit with Zoey here.

Zoey

Showtime the six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a volunteer favorite. There were several other volunteers at the shelter when I was there this weekend, and all of them stopped what they were doing to say hello to Showtime. Showtime’s favorite thing is getting her hips scratched; she does a cute little dance and wags her tail. Showtime seems to do pretty well with other dogs also. Since everyone who knows her likes her, all you have to do is come in to meet her! You can read more about my first visit with Showtime here.

Showtime

Lexi the five-year-old American Bulldog mix is super happy, all the time. Her tail never stops wagging and she is always eager to greet people and do some cuddling. Lexi quickly joined me on the bench and tried her best to fit in my lap, though she’s a little big for that. Lexi loves going for walks and literally jumps up and down when she finds out it’s her turn. Sadly, Lexi has cancer, but you wouldn’t know that just from spending time with her. Lexi is looking for a special person who will love her and take care of her through her illness. You can read more about my first visit with Lexi here.

Lexi

Zola (previously known as Chola) the two-year-old Hound mix has shared her kennel with many dogs during her time at Orphans of the Storm®, and for some reason her kennelmates always get adopted and Zola remains. Although Zola gets along with other dogs, she would prefer to be the only dog in her new home. Zola is very snuggly and absolutely loves getting belly rubs. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her this weekend when I was giving her a belly rub because I have never seen a dog look so happy: Zola’s eyes were half-closed and the corners of her mouth were turned up just slightly so she really looked like she was smiling. She could have stayed like that all day! You can read more about my first visit with Zola here.

Zola

Diamond the eight-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is one of the longest long-timers at the shelter, and she’s another volunteer favorite. She walks pretty well on the leash and enjoys spending time in the off-leash run. One of her favorite activities is racing whatever dog happens to be in the run next to her; she’ll do a little bark and go into a play-bow to entice them. Diamond will gladly stay by your side as long as you’re petting her. You can read more about my first visit with Diamond here.

Diamond

Bear the two-year-old Chow Chow mix likes being around adults but isn’t as much of a fan of children. Bear likes adults so much that he sometimes has separation anxiety, so he would prefer to be in a home where someone is around most of the day. Bear is a sweet boy who walks pretty well on the leash and enjoys getting a good scratch under the chin. You can read more about my first visit with Bear here.

Bear

Roxy the six-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix came from an owner, so she knows what it takes to be a family dog. She’s not too fond of other dogs but loves being with people and will give you plenty of doggy kisses once she gets a chance to know you. Roxy can pull a bit on the leash at first but settles down quickly. She would love to have a yard to call her own and an owner who will take her for daily walks. You can read more about my first visit with Roxy here.

Roxy

Bella the eleven-year-old Boxer mix is another one of my favorites. I know I say this about her every time, but it’s because it’s so true: Bella is the definition of “gentle giant.” She’s one of the largest dogs at the shelter right now, but one of the easiest to walk on the leash. Bella loves to snuggle and give doggy kisses. Her favorite place to get pet is her back, but her ears and chin are good choices too! Bella would like to be the only dog in her new home. All she’s looking for is a loving family to join for her golden years. She has so much love to offer! You can read more about my first visit with Bella here.

Bella

Scotty the ten-year-old Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull Terrier mix is another sweetheart. He walks nicely on the leash and just loves spending time with people. Scotty will stay by your side as long as you’re petting him and particularly likes getting scratched on his back and hips. Scotty has a horseshoe-shaped marking on his back, which we keep hoping will bring him some luck! Scotty had some surgery on his back knee a while ago but you wouldn’t be able to tell that now; he gets around with no problem. Scotty is a mellow senior looking for a loving home. You can read more about my first visit with Scotty here.

Scotty

Stay tuned next week to get reacquainted with some other long-timers!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Found Their Forever Home, Part XII

What better way to start of the holiday week than with an Orphans of the Storm® success story! Cathy adopted Sweetie, who now goes by the name Coco Chanel, earlier this month. Here is what Cathy has to say about her new family member:

I went to Orphans of the Storm® “just to look” and was instantly smitten with Sweetie. She is only 8 lbs and would have had a hard time with the cold weather in her kennel! Luckily we were a match made in heaven and I brought her home within an hour of meeting her. Her new name reflects her princess-like personality; she’s already shown my two cats who is boss even though they both weigh twice as much as she does. Here she is celebrating Christmas and just chilling with her new mom. Coco is a real winner!

Thank you for sharing your adoption success story (and adorable pictures!) with us, Cathy!

If you would like to have your own success story shared on the blog, please email meetthepooches@gmail.com.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Like to Play

I met some playful dogs at Orphans of the Storm® this week, and they’re all ready to find some new playmates in the form of a new forever family.

Rooney the three-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever mix is an active boy. He’s pretty strong and can pull on the leash a bit, especially when he’s first let out of his kennel, but once he’s in a home where he gets regular walks and exercise every day he’ll probably be a little less excitable. Rooney and I hurried over to the off-leash run, where Rooney had a fun time.

Rooney with his cute nose and flappy ears

Rooney absolutely loves tennis balls. In fact, he loves them so much that he doesn’t want to drop one long enough for you to throw it again! Rooney was perfectly content to romp around the run with the tennis ball in his mouth. On the few occasions where he got distracted and dropped the ball on his own, I picked it up and he was immediately ready to chase after it again. His new family can work on the second step of fetch, which is to return the ball! If you’re looking for a fun-loving (and just loving in general) pooch, come in soon to meet Rooney!

Rooney proudly carrying his tennis ball

Hobbs the five-year-old Mountain Cur mix was the mellowest dog I walked this week, but he still has plenty of spirit. Hobbs is a friendly guy who gets along with people and dogs alike; he was sharing his kennel with another pooch who has since been adopted, so he could go to a home with or without another dog.

Hobbs says, “I’m here! Love me!”

Hobbs enjoys getting attention. He would explore the off-leash run for a bit, then come back to me to get a nice scratch on the back or behind the ears. Whenever I knelt down to his level, he would be right there next to me. Hobbs is a cute boy with pretty brindle fur and a lovable face. Stop by the shelter soon to say hi to Hobbs!

Hobbs is a good-looking guy

Reggie the eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix is super cute and very snuggly. He quickly led the way to the off-leash run, but once we were in there all he wanted to do was try to climb into my lap! Reggie also likes to give doggy kisses. He’s a perfect size for snuggling if you’re looking for a dog that can fit in your lap or be picked up.

Reggie coming in for a cuddle session

Reggie also loves to play fetch, which makes sense for an active breed like his. Check out the cute video below to see what a fetching expert Reggie is!

Reggie found the tennis ball on his own and brought it straight to me, dropping it on the bench so I could pick it up easily. I would throw the ball, he would catch it, and he would bring it right back to the bench again. We did this for quite a while, until Reggie eventually got tired and took a water break. This little guy is the perfect combination of snuggly and playful. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Reggie!

Reggie is thrilled to be playing fetch

Coal the four-year-old black Labrador Retriever mix is another active guy. I knew right away that he would be perfect for walking around the woodland preserve, and he was. He occasionally pulled on the leash, but for the most part he walked just a couple steps ahead of me and enjoyed sniffing all of the trees and bushes. At one point we stopped and I sat on one of the benches on the edge of the trail. Coal rested his head on my arm while I scratched his chin for a bit. A little further along, we stopped again and Coal leaned his whole body against my legs so I could rub his side.

Coal was happy to walk on the trail

Coal can get a little wound up when there are other dogs nearby, particularly if they’re barking at him, so that’s another reason why going on the walking trail was a good choice. The farther we got from the kennels, the calmer Coal became. Coal would do best as the only dog in his new home but has plenty of love to offer to his future person/people. If you’re a one-dog type of person, come in soon to meet Coal!

Coal is a cutie

I also saw Bear, Blush, Lexi, Lisa (who is so cuddly and sat with me on the bench for a while), Old Red, O’Shea, and Zoey.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Bring the Holiday Cheer

When you adopt a pet from Orphans of the Storm®, that cat or dog is going to brighten your day every day! But the holidays are an especially nice time to have some extra cheer. The three dogs I met this week will have no problem putting a smile on your face.

Spade the two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix is a cutie. His light brown eyes really jump out at you from the black fur on his face, so you won’t be able to resist saying hello! Spade was a little shy at first, but he walked nicely on the way to the off-leash run and he even sat down next to me and waited patiently while I took his leash off (unlike most dogs, who try to run free before I can even close the gate behind us!).

Spade showing off his black “mask”

Spade spent the first couple of minutes exploring on his own, but he came back to me soon enough so I could pet him. He gave me a few doggy kisses in return. Spade joined me on the bench briefly, so there’s a good chance there is some couch-cuddling in store for his future owners. Spade seems like a pretty calm and easy-going guy. Stop by the shelter soon to say hello to Spade!

Spade is such a handsome boy

Weezie the nine-year-old Chow Chow mix was adopted from Orphans of the Storm® when she was just a puppy. Now she’s back and ready for a second chance at a forever home where she can spend her golden years. She has a lifetime of experience as a family pet; she’s house-trained and knows some basic commands. Weezie is pretty nervous inside her kennel (understandably, since she’s used to being in a home) but she really perks up once she’s out and about.

Weezie coming over for a scratch on the back

Weezie, being an older dog, has some knee issues. But that doesn’t stop her from enjoying the outdoors! She’s happy to go on short walks or spend time hanging out in the yard. There were a few times while we were together when she simply sat by my feet and enjoyed a good scratch on the top of her head between her ears. The cutest/funniest thing Weezie did was that when I went to take her for a walk, she was in the middle of chewing on a bone. I thought she had carried it with her, but it turned out that she sneakily hid it outside her kennel and when I went to put her back, she went straight to the spot she hid it, picked it back up, and continued to chew it after she was back in her kennel. So resourceful! Come in soon to meet Weezie.

Weezie is ready for a new life on the other side of the fence

Tweetie the ten-year-old Beagle mix is one of those pooches who will make you say “Aww” when you see her, particularly if you have a soft spot for older dogs and/or dogs who are slightly overweight. Tweetie has a bit of a tummy that could probably be worked off once she’s in a home where she gets to go for regular walks multiple times a day. The good news is she loves going for walks!

Tweetie is a sweetie!

Tweetie may have gray fur on her face, but she certainly doesn’t act like a senior. We headed straight for the woodland preserve walking trail and Tweetie led the way. When Tweetie wanted to follow her nose off into the bushes but I kept her on the trail, she voiced her opinion with a short howl. Tweetie was previously sharing her kennel with another Beagle mix who has since been adopted, so she could go to a home with or without another dog. Stop by soon to see if Tweetie is the pooch for you!

Tweetie enjoying the fresh air

I also saw Bear, Blush, and Duke.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Will Warm You Up

Any day is a great day to add a new furry family member, but it’s even more appealing in the winter months when the perfect place to be is cuddled up on the couch! The dogs I met this week at Orphans of the Storm® are certainly ready to take on the task of snuggling with their new families.

Rocky the seven-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a great guy. Some people may think he looks tough, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s a big boy, but he has a big heart to match and can’t wait to shower his new family with lots of love. Rocky walks nicely on the leash and knows some basic commands like “sit.”

Rocky enjoyed exploring in the bushes

Rocky gets along with both people (including children) and other dogs. He loves to get attention and will stay by your side as long as you’re petting him. As a thank you, he’ll happily give you doggy kisses. Rocky is such an expert snuggler that some of my pictures of him ended up being too much of a closeup because he was right there next to me. If you’re looking for a big lovebug, come in soon to meet Rocky!

Rocky turning around to get some more pats

Maggie the three-year-old Mountain Cur mix is a total sweetheart. If those eyes of hers don’t melt you, I don’t know what would! Maggie was eager to come out for a walk and pulled a bit on the leash at first, but settled down nicely pretty quickly. She explored the off-leash run on her own at first, but came back to me for some quality time.

Maggie is such a pretty girl

Maggie is an expert at giving doggy hugs. When I was standing next to her, she put her front paws up on my jacket and stood on her hind legs for quite some time with her tail wagging while I scratcher her chin, ears, and belly. Maggie is ready to have a forever home in time for the holidays. Stop by the shelter soon to see if Maggie is the pooch for you!

Maggie has such soulful eyes (and adorably floppy ears)

I also saw Barney (who looks a bit like Rocky and also knows some commands), Bear, Blush, Diamond, Donna, John Boy, Showtime, and Zoey (who is also well trained–she’ll even “stay” for you when she’s not on a leash).

I also got to walk a couple dogs who aren’t quite ready to be adopted yet (but still need their fair share of exercise), and I can’t wait to write about them once they are because they were so nice!