Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Ready to Make Summer Plans with You

Orphans of the Storm® will be closed on the 4th of July, but you can still come in this weekend to find your next family member to celebrate with!

Windy the five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a well-behaved girl. She walks nicely on the leash and was calm the entire time we were out. Even when I threw a tennis ball for her to try to get her to play, she just sniffed it and that was that. Windy is more of a snuggler than a fetcher.

Windy liked being in the sun

Windy was happy to join me on the bench and sat by my side while I pet her. She gave me a couple doggy kisses before hopping off and exploring in the bushes some more. Although Windy didn’t mind having a dog on the other side of the fence, she would prefer to be the only dog in her new home because she can get a little jealous. If you’re looking for a new companion who equally enjoys going on walks and hanging out on the sofa, stop in soon to meet Windy!

Windy has such pretty coloring

Padmay the one-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound mix is an affectionate bundle of energy. She was so excited to come out for a walk that she ran headlong into my shin and then ran in circles around me. Once we got that straightened out, we made our way to the off-leash run. Padmay politely sniffed the dog on the other side of the fence. She also did that signature Hound howl when the other dog stopped paying attention to her!

Padmay says, “Hi! I love you!”

Padmay loves to give doggy kisses. She sat next to me on the bench for a while and covered my face (including my ears) in kisses. Padmay is also very playful. She found a squeaky toy and carried it in her mouth as she ran a couple laps, then brought it to me so I could throw it. Padmay would love to join an active household that will take her on walks and play with her. Stop in soon to see if Padmay is the pup for you!

Padmay being a hound

Snoopy the four-year-old Hound mix is super cute and super sweet. He was a little shy when we first got to the off-leash run and kept to himself as he explored. Instead of following his nose along the ground like most scent hounds, Snoopy kept his nose high in the air and found smells that way! It was funny to watch.

Snoopy has such an innocent face

Snoopy started to warm up to me after a few minutes and came over so I could pet him. He enjoyed a good scratch under the chin. Snoopy didn’t pay much attention to the dogs on the other side of the fence. Like his namesake, Snoopy will make a loyal companion. Be sure to say hi to Snoopy on your next visit to the shelter!

Snoopy enjoys being out and about

Klovie the nine-year-old English Setter mix is a handsome boy who will look absolutely stunning after he gets a nice bath and grooming. Klovie seems pretty mellow and is easy to walk on a leash. I never heard him bark, either inside his kennel or when we were out for our walk. He sniffed the dogs on the other side of the fence when we were in the off-leash run but wasn’t particularly interested after that.

Klovie is a big sweetheart

Klovie has such a sweet face. You know you’re dealing with a nice dog as soon as he looks at you. Klovie would come over to me and just rest his head on my arm or leg while I pet him. He even gave me a couple doggy kisses eventually. Don’t pass over Klovie just because he’s a senior dog. He still has so much love to offer his new family. If you think that might be you, come in soon to meet him!

Klovie is a graceful guy

Ziggy the one-year-old Mountain Cur mix has a very unique look. Most of him is a blonde-ish brindle color, but his paws look like he just walked through mud and his snout is a dark brown too. He will certainly catch your eye! When I first saw Ziggy, he was running back and forth inside his kennel, barking at the dog next to him. But when I came back later to take him out, he was relaxing in a shady corner.

Ziggy showing off his unique markings

Ziggy can be a little bit of a velcro dog. He mostly stayed right by my side when he was on the leash, and even when I let him off-leash in the run he would often come back to me and lean against my legs so I could pet him. We took a walk around the woodland preserve and he enjoyed all of the new smells. Come in soon to say hi to Ziggy!

Ziggy hits the trail

I also saw Blush, Candice, Diamond, Roxy, Trixie, Weezie, and Zoey.

Orphans of the Storm® Big Dog and Small Dog

Whether you’re looking for a larger dog or a smaller dog, Orphans of the Storm® has them all! This week, I met one dog from each end of the spectrum.

Seguoi the two-year-old Chihuahua mix is a little cutie. He barks a bit when you walk past his kennel, but that’s because he’s saying, “Look at me!” Once you do stop and say hello, the barking stops. He also didn’t make a peep the entire time we were out on our walk. Seguoi may look like a lapdog, and he certainly can be, but he also likes going for walks and was eager to take the lead.

Seguoi’s little paws and big ears

Seguoi gets along with other dogs. He’s currently sharing his kennel with Mini Me, who is closer to his size, but he also doesn’t seem to mind bigger dogs (unlike some other Chihuahuas who have “Little Dog Syndrome” and try to act tough) and basically ignored Diamond, who was in the run next to us and wanted to race. Seguoi was fine with being picked up, and I set him on the bench next to me where he seemed to enjoy having a new, taller view of the world. Stop by soon to see if Seguoi is the pooch for you!

Seguoi’s short legs were always on the move

Blondie the three-year-old Husky/Great Dane mix is already becoming a volunteer favorite. As soon as I walked into the shelter this week, one of the other volunteers said, “You have to take out this new Husky!” and I’m glad I followed their advice. He is a very handsome boy, with that blonde fur and bright blue eyes. Although Blondie was a little shy at first, he ended up being very easy-going.

Blondie was very interested in the camera

Blondie politely sniffed the dog on the other side of the fence while we were in the run, but mostly kept to himself as he followed his nose. He occasionally stopped by me so I could pet his back. Then we went for a walk around the woodland preserve, where Blondie showed off what an excellent walking companion he is. He didn’t pull at all, and stayed either right by my side or just a couple steps ahead of me. When we stopped at a bench, Blondie gave me a doggy kiss and rested his chin in my lap. Come in soon to meet Blondie!

Blondie will be sure to catch your eye

I also saw Bella (one of my personal faves–if big dogs are your style, check her out!), Candice, Duke, Lucky, Lucy, Merlin, Mia (whose brother Marley has already been adopted, so if you only have room for one big dog at the moment, now is a good time!), Miller, Molly (who greeted me with a big doggy hug and doggy kisses), Trixie, and Zoey.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs in a Downpour

Even though I checked the radar and thought we would get some dry time, it ended up raining (sometimes pouring) the entire time I was at Orphans of the Storm® this week. Some dogs mind the rain less than others, though, so I was able to at least take a couple new dogs out for a walk.

Miller the seven-year-old Pug mix ended up at the shelter because his original owner could no longer take care of him. Sadly, Miller is very overweight–but, on the bright side, that really doesn’t seem to slow him down. He still enjoys going for walks and being outside. If you adopt Miller, it would be a good idea to talk to your vet about the best diet and exercise routine to help him shed all the extra weight.

Miller has that adorably wrinkled Pug face

Miller is a pretty easy-going, mellow guy. He walks nicely on the leash and doesn’t seem to get overly excited when other dogs are around. There were about five person-and-dog pairs all huddled under the tent together when the rain started coming down, and Miller just did his own thing. Pugs are a popular breed these days and make good family dogs. If you’re able to take home a dog that needs some extra TLC, come in soon to meet Miller!

Help Miller look less like a pig and more like a pug!

Renji the two-year-old Rottweiler mix is a handsome boy with a good amount of energy. He’s not too exuberant to be challenging, but he’s always up for going for a walk and exploring. Renji had been watching me last week with a “When will it be my turn?” expression, so he was at the top of my list this week. We headed straight to the woodland preserve, where Renji had a great time following his nose and poking around the bushes and tall grass.

Renji loved romping in the grass

Renji walked nicely on the leash for the most part, though he did occassionally get a burst of energy and sprint ahead for a few feet before slowing down again. When I knelt down next to him, he touched my nose with his nose and also licked my hand a bit. Renji would do best as the only dog in his new home. His breed is also known for needing a strong-willed owner who will be the boss, rather than letting the dog (in this case, Renji) be the boss. If you’re looking for an active new companion, stop by the shelter soon to see if Renji is the dog for you!

Renji goes where his nose leads

I also saw Diamond, Duke, Festus, Lucy, the other Lucy, Molly, Scotty, and Weezie.

Orphans of the Storm® Big and Bigger Dogs

We have quite the lineup for you today! It was a beautiful weekend and the dogs at Orphans of the Storm® were all eager to spend some time outside. Six of the seven new dogs I met were big (or extra-big), so if you’re looking for a larger new companion, now is the time to come in to the shelter!

Smalls the three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix isn’t small in any sense, actually. This big, lovable boy is a sweetheart whose tail wags pretty much constantly. We first spent time in the off-leash run, where Smalls had a good time romping and exploring and sniffing the dogs on the other side of the fence. He wasn’t too interested in playing fetch, but maybe he could learn when he has a yard to call his own!

Smalls knows to smile for the camera

Smalls will give you plenty of affection once he gets to know you. He gave me some doggy kisses when I was kneeling next to him and was happy to stand by my side as long as I was petting him. He has a big, adorable face and when he smiles, you just have to smile back! We then went for a walk around the woodland preserve trail and it turns out that Smalls is an excellent walking buddy who barely pulls at all. Stop by soon to see if Smalls is the one for you!

Smalls in the sunshine

Chun-Li the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is this week’s smallest dog. She’s like a miniature version of her breed, if such a thing existed. Although I personally didn’t try, Chun-Li is definitely small enough to carry. There were several people who stopped and cooed when they saw how small and adorable Chun-Li is. But Chun-Li isn’t just about looks! She has a great personality to match.

I just want to put Chun-Li in my pocket!

Chun-Li is super affectionate. When I sat down on the ground, she climbed right into my lap and wiggled around until she got comfy. She also gave me lots of doggy kisses. At one point she tried to join me on the bench, but it seemed like a little too high of a jump for her. She was pretty polite when it came to sniffing dogs on the other side of the fence when we were in the off-leash run. A cutie-patootie like Chun-Li won’t be around for long, so come in soon to meet her!

Chun-Li says, “Help me up!”

Yeller the four-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever mix is a nice boy who mostly kept to himself, particularly at the beginning when we were still getting to know each other. We started in the off-leash run, where Yeller followed his nose around the whole perimeter. He would occasionally pass by me so I could scratch his back or under his chin.

Yeller enjoying the outdoors

Yeller is a big fan of going for walks, as opposed to just hanging out in a yard. He walks at a brisk pace, but doesn’t pull as long as you’re keeping up with him. He didn’t try to stray off the trail or chase any birds or squirrels; he just enjoyed being outside for a stroll. I tried to stop and take a break at one of the benches along the trail so we could sit and relax together, but Yeller just wanted to keep moving. If you’re looking for a new walking companion, definitely come in to meet Yeller!

Yeller often had his nose to the ground

Marley the four-year-old Great Dane/Labrador Retriever mix came to the shelter with Mia (see below) after their owners got divorced and neither felt they could care for both dogs. They are very much a bonded pair and would love to find a new home together. Marley falls into the “extra-big” category, but he’s still smaller than Mia! Marley is a playful pooch who was off and running as soon as he was out of his kennel (with the leash on, of course). He is too funny. There was a bumblebee flying around the off-leash run, and Marley was determined to catch it in his mouth. Luckily he was unsuccessful, but it was hilarious to see this giant dog chasing after a little bee. One of the staff members was just watching and laughing.

Marley likes to play

Marley is super snuggly. He may not be able to fit in your lap, but he’ll at least rest his head there while you scratch his ears. Whenever I knelt down to his level, he would quickly appear by my side and stand next to me while I pet him. He may look big and imposing, but he is a puppy at heart who just wants to love you and be loved in return. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen what a great dog Marley is. Come in soon to see for yourself!

Marley coming over to cuddle

Mia the nine-year-old Mastiff mix came to the shelter with Marley (see above) after their owners got divorced and neither felt they could care for both dogs. They are very much a bonded pair and would love to find a new home together. Mia is older, so she’s very mellow. We casually strolled over to the off-leash run, where Mia continued to take her time sniffing and exploring. I’m particularly fond of Mastiffs, so I just kept squealing about how wonderful she is!

Mia is so big and so sweet

Mia likes to get attention, but she isn’t pushy about it. She never strayed too far from me, and enjoyed getting a good scratch on her back and neck. At one point I was kneeling on the ground, and Marley came to stand on my right side while Mia stood on my left. I put my arms around both and felt like we were the perfect trio. Marley went to go explore some more, but Mia stayed by my side until I stood up. If you have the time and space for two big lovebugs, stop in soon to meet Mia and Marley!

Mia standing tall and proud

Duke the five-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound mix seems to have had at least some basic training, because he will come when called (which is particularly impressive for a Hound, who will usually just follow their nose!). He would be going in one direction, then I would call or whistle and he would change course and come right into my open arms. He has those big, floppy ears and soulful eyes that I just can’t resist.

Duke with his ears flapping in the wind

Duke is a sweetheart. When I was sitting on the bench, he squeezed his way underneath my legs and stood there for a long time while I pet him. He was always happy to take a break from exploring for a cuddle session. Duke is currently sharing a kennel with Lucy, so we know he gets along with other dogs and could go to a home with or without another dog. (However, he’s not as great with cats, since his breed is meant to hunt raccoons.) Be sure to say hi to Duke on your next visit to the shelter!

Duke has such a sweet face

Molly the two-year-old Labrador Retriever/Hound mix came from a family that had too many kids to care for a dog anymore. Molly could still go to a family home, but maybe one a little smaller so she gets the attention she deserves. Molly is still young, so she has plenty of energy and liked getting the chance to stretch her legs in the off-leash run. She’s a sweet girl with pretty coloring.

Molly keeping an eye on things

Molly already knows some basic training. Another volunteer was in the run with us, eating crackers. When Molly noticed this, she sat right at his feet and waited patiently for her “treat” (though she ended up not liking the cracker and didn’t eat it). Molly also hopped up on the bench next to me for some snuggling. She is currently sharing her kennel with Festus, so we know she gets along with other dogs. If you’re looking for a new family member who already has experience being part of a home, come in soon to meet Molly!

Molly posing nicely for the camera

I also saw Coal, Gypsy, John Boy, Weezie, Willow, and Zoey.