Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Walking in Warm Weather

This was the first time this year where it was warm enough that the dogs I walked at Orphans of the Storm® needed a break to drink some water and lay in the shade! I think we can finally say spring has arrived.

Lady the six-month-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix is such a sweetheart. She’s a little shy at first, but once she gets comfortable then she gets along with everybody. She does well with kids and was super nice and mellow when we met a couple other dogs while we were out on our walk. She politely sniffed them and wagged her tail and that was that. She also likes to give people doggy kisses.

Lady says, “It’s hot out here!”

Lady will be a very loyal companion once she knows that you’re her person. The entire time we were out, all she wanted to do was say hello to one of the other volunteers who has walked her a couple times previously. When she finally did get to say hello, she snuggled with him and then rolled over for a belly rub. It was adorable! Lady did nicely on the leash when we took a stroll around the walking trail. If you’re looking for a younger dog to be your new best friend, come in soon to meet Lady!

Lady licking her lips

Meatball the three-year-old Shepherd/Mountain Cur mix is a fun boy. As soon as his leash was on, he was ready to go. We first went to the walking trail, where about half the time Meatball walked nicely by my side and the other half he was excitedly romping and sniffing, which is understandable. Now that the weather is nice, you can see golfers on the other side of the fence when walking around the trail, and Meatball was very curious about what they were doing!

Meatball knows to smile for the camera

Meatball is playful, in his own way. He doesn’t exactly fetch, but he gets excited when you hold up a toy and throw it. Sometimes he picks it up and sometimes he just sniffs at it, but he’s always happy when you pick it up and show it to him again. Meatball is also happy to give doggy kisses. Stop by the shelter soon to see if Meatball is the pooch for you!

Meatball playing with his rope toy

Yellow Stone the four-year-old Golden Retriever mix was found as a stray, but he must have been in a home at some point because he is very well-behaved. If you like going for brisk walks or jogs, Yellow Stone may be the perfect companion for you. He walks quickly, but he doesn’t pull as long as you keep up with him. We took a break about halfway around the walking trail and he enjoyed sniffing in the bushes and getting a nice scratch on the neck.

Yellow Stone enjoyed being out in the woods

Yellow Stone is very much a retriever. As soon as we went into the off-leash run, Yellow Stone found a tennis ball and happily carried it around with him. He occasionally dropped it to sniff something or get a drink, and he would chase after it when I threw it but then carry it around some more. He eventually laid down and kept the ball between his paws while he rested. It was too cute! On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hello to Yellow Stone!

Yellow Stone carrying his tennis ball

Pharea the six-month-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix is very shy but very sweet. Since he’s still a puppy, it seems like he doesn’t have much experience with leashes. He wasn’t too sure about getting the leash put on to come outside, and he could also use a little training to learn to walk nicely rather than pull. But when we were making our way around the walking trail, if I stopped walking, Pharea would come back to me so I could pet him.

Pharea with his cute freckled nose

Pharea is a super cute puppy. I’m a softy when it comes to wrinkly foreheads and semi-floppy ears, and Pharea has both! Pharea also has a tickly spot on the right side of his neck. Whenever I scratched there, he started kicking his back foot. Pharea hasn’t gotten off to the best start in life, so he needs someone who will help him come out of his shell and show him what a nice place the world can be. If you think that someone could be you, come in soon to meet Pharea!

Pharea coming over to cuddle

I also saw Bella, the other Bella, Blush, Bolt, Chief, Coal, Diamond, Lisa, Tobi, and Zoey.

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

I’m happy to share another success story! Michael and Wei adopted Willie the Beagle mix and have their story and some adorable pictures to share.

If you would like to share your own Orphans of the Storm® success story here on the blog, please email meetthepooches@gmail.com.

Here is what Michael had to say:

I wanted to let everyone know Willie is doing great in his new home. We adopted Willie on December 23, 2015.

Willie on his car ride home for the first time

We first went into Orphans sometime in October just browsing and considering a second dog for company to our young puppy Oreo (also a rescue but from WrightWay).

Willie and Oreo waking up in the morning

We saw Willie, and he was so adorable! We took him out for a walk and discovered he was having issues with one of his rear legs. It made us so sad to see him limping along on 3 legs! But he was so eager to walk and enjoy the fresh air it broke our hearts to put him back inside. We weren’t sure if we could handle two dogs, so we opted to consider it for a while and also allow some time to diagnose more of what was wrong with his leg.

Willie lives in comfort now

Over the next few weeks I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor guy stuck in the shelter. I went back about 4 weeks later, and he was still there. I walked in and he was in the office area behind the door. He saw me and instantly jumped up and came to the door, almost like he remembered who I was. He stood on the other side looking up at me through the glass with his tail wagging, and I knew at that point I had to take him home! A little convincing to Wei and she agreed.

Willie and Oreo getting acquainted

It took a few additional weeks to sort out his medical issues, but we were finally able to bring him home on December 23. The whole ride home he kept looking at me and reaching out for me with his paw…he seemed to know he was rescued! He’s been a wonderful addition to our family and we’ve been giving him plenty of exercise. His leg seems to be all better now and he really enjoys running. I’ll take him for a nice run everyday, and it’s at the point where when I get the leash, he starts jumping up and down in excitement to go for the run.

Willie and Oreo enjoying the fireplace

He has become best friends with our younger Oreo. The two are almost impossible to separate, often sleeping next to each other and playing together. They are the perfect partners in crime, having managed to destroy more than a few soft toys–often working together on the same toy.

Willie and Oreo have great teamwork

He’s completely spoiled, but we figure that’s okay–we’re just making up for him the time he spent at Orphans. He likes to sleep on the bed curled up right alongside either Wei or me.

Willie in bed with Wei

Hope you enjoy–we are certainly enjoying Willie.

Thank you, Michael and Wei, for sharing your story and pictures with us!

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Enjoy a Spring Day

Firstly, I hope many of you are able to come to the Orphans of the Storm® Benefit Dinner this upcoming Tuesday, April 12!

Secondly, there was finally a day where it started to feel like spring, so the dogs were eager to come outside, play in the run, and take a nice lap around the woodland preserve walking trail.

Nancy the eight-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix is a real sweetheart. She was half-napping in her kennel when I came by, but when I opened the doggy door to the outside she perked right up and met me with a wagging tail. Nancy is an excellent walking buddy. She likes to walk at a brisk pace, but doesn’t pull at all. She seems like a pretty mellow girl.

Nancy enjoying a scratch on the back

Nancy isn’t super-duper affectionate like some other dogs at the shelter, but when you kneel down next to her she’ll sniff your face for a moment and then give you a couple doggy kisses. Another volunteer came to brush out Nancy’s coat, and Nancy stood there nice and still and seemed to enjoy the extra attention. If you’re looking for a companion who will keep you quiet company around the house but who is up for daily walks, Nancy might be the perfect pooch for you! Come in soon to find out.

Nancy investigating among the pebbles

Bella the two-year-old Boxer/Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix (who looks like a smaller version of the other Bella, who I love!) loves to be around people. Her tail was wagging so hard when I came to take her out that her entire body was wriggling. Bella is very sweet, and also very muscular! She can pull on the leash when she first gets out of her kennel and was happy to race the dog on the other side of the fence in the off-leash run to burn off some energy.

Bella enjoying the sunshine

Bella is a snuggler. When I sat down on the bench, she came right over, put her front paws up on my lap, and gave me lots of doggy kisses. She stood like that for a while as I scratched her ears and back, then was off and running again. When we went around the walking trail, she walked very quickly around the first half or so but then slowed down and we enjoyed ourselves. Stop by the shelter soon to say hi to Bella!

Bella coming over for a cuddle

I also saw Angel, Bear, Blush, Bootsy, Honey Lamb (who gave me a big hug), Lexi, Lisa, Snuffles, and Weezie (one of my favorites!).