Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Are Older

Some people come to Orphans of the Storm® looking for a puppy or young dog, but there are many advantages to adopting an older one! Oftentimes they have come from a home, so they know how to be part of a family and are most likely housebroken. Some might also have some basic (or advanced) training. They also tend to be mellower, though plenty of seniors still love to play. Maybe one of these seniors will steal your heart!

Buster the ten-year-old Shepherd mix isn’t up for adoption quite yet, but he is still eager to say hello to everyone who comes by! Buster was dancing with excitement when he realized it was his turn to go for a walk. He makes a great walking buddy and stayed by my side for most of our walk around the woodland preserve, though he did enjoy snuffling through the tall grasses every once in a while.

Buster is so fluffy

Buster is always up for a scratch on the back (or under the chin, or behind his ears). While we were in the off-leash run, Buster would go off on his own to explore for a bit, and then come back to me for some attention. He sniffed at some of the toys but wasn’t too interested in playing fetch at the time. Buster is sweet and friendly. Stop in soon to learn more about Buster and his adoption status!

Buster asking, “Why did you stop petting me?”

Stella the twelve-year-old Mountain Feist mix doesn’t act like a senior at all. This spunky girl led the entire way around the woodland preserve. Even though her little legs are about 1/5 the length of mine, I had to hurry to keep up! Stella is also adventurous. She leapt right over a fallen log to go exploring in the bushes, and also walked along the top of the log for a while.

When Halloween comes around, Stella will make a great house-elf from Harry Potter!

Stella is very snuggly. While we were walking, she suddenly stopped and looked at me. I knelt down to see what she wanted, and Stella hopped right into my lap and then gave me some doggy kisses. She stayed in my lap for a bit before we continued on our walk. Stella always has such a sweet expression on her face, and those big ears are too cute. Stop in soon to see if Stella is the “feisty” dog for you!

Stella enjoying snuggle-time

Some other seniors (8 years+) who I have previously profiled are:

• Delilah
• Lucy
• The other Lucy
• Puggie
• Ralphie
• Scotty
• Snuffles
• Thunder

(Please note that some ages haven’t been updated since I wrote each dog’s first post, so check the website or call the shelter for the most up-to-date information.)

I also saw Bella (another sweet senior), Biscuit, Bud, Chester and Te Amo (two of the most playful seniors), Gunner, Mojo, Mongo, Oliver, Sadie, Sammy, Sir, and Tyson.

Orphans of the Storm® Boxer Dogs

It was a big week for adoptions at Orphans of the Storm®, so all of the dogs but one I met this week have already been adopted!

Sadie the six-year-old Boxer mix is a playful girl. In fact, the first thing she wants to do when she comes out of her kennel is play tug-of-war with the leash! Not everyone likes to play that game, though, so her new family might want to work on leash manners. When Sadie and I were walking around the woodland preserve, though, she was a polite walking companion who only pulled on occasion and otherwise enjoyed following her nose and stopping to sniff.

Can’t say no to a face like Sadie’s!

Sadie and I also spent some time in the off-leash run. Sadie explored in and around the bushes, always with her tiny stub of a tail wagging. She likes to be pet and would stop and stand next to me whenever I started to pet her. Sadie came from a home that was no longer able to care for her, so she has a lifetime of experience as a family pet and gets along with children. If you think Sadie might be the one for you, stop in soon to meet her!

Sadie pausing for a drink

And if you like Boxers in particular, there are 8 other Boxer mixes besides Sadie currently at the shelter! They are:

• Bella
• Big Boy
• Bree (not yet profiled)
• Lucy
• Lukas
• Mojo
• Sugar (not yet profiled)
• Thunder

I also saw Chester and Te Amo, Gunner, Hobbs, Ralphie, Sammy, Sir, Snuffles, Toby, and Wombat.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Are All About the Cuddles

It was a hot day at Orphans of the Storm®, so it was a little hard to tell if the dogs I met this week are always mellow, or if they were just taking it easy to keep cool. One thing was for certain, though: all of these pooches love to cuddle! I almost never include myself in photos of the dogs, but there were so many lapdogs this week that it was a challenge to get solo shots!

Trooper the two-year-old Hound mix gave me a doggy hug as soon as he came out of his kennel. He was so excited that he got chosen to go for a walk and seemed to be saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Trooper is not shy about sharing affection. In addition to doggy hugs, he also likes to give doggy kisses and will put his front paws in your lap when you’re sitting down.

Trooper is so handsome

Trooper particularly enjoys getting his hips scratched and will lean to the left or right depending on which side you’re scratching, and lick your hands while you’re at it. Trooper walks nicely on the leash, though he can pull a little bit at first when he’s extra excited. Trooper is looking for a quiet adult home where he can be with people who will return all of the affection he offers. Stop in soon to see if Trooper is the one for you!

Trooper says, “Well hello there”

Sela the eight-month-old Labrador Retriever/Great Dane mix is an absolute sweetheart. Her description makes her sound like a big dog, but she’s currently a nice medium size. After Sela did some exploring in the off-leash run, she hopped up onto the bench with me and snuggled in my lap. She also gave me a few doggy kisses. Neither of us wanted to get up!

Sela is a true lapdog

Sela is an attentive walking buddy. Every so often she would pause and look up at me while we were making our way around the woodland preserve, just to check in and make sure she was doing a good job (which she was). Sela is currently sharing her kennel with Oliver, so she could go to a home with or without another dog. Be sure to say hello to Sela on your next visit to the shelter!

Sela knows how to keep cool

Biscuit the five-year-old Labrador Retriever/Heeler mix is a happy girl with a wagging tail. We first spent some time in the off-leash run, where Biscuit explored on her own for a few minutes but then decided she would rather snuggle in the shade with me. She hopped up on the bench, put her front paws in my lap, and gave me a few doggy kisses. Biscuit enjoyed getting her sides rubbed.

Biscuit’s sweet face

Biscuit and I then went for a walk around the woodland preserve. She’s a good walking companion overall, though she did have a few bursts of excitement where she wanted to run before determining it was too hot for such an activity. Biscuit also liked having the chance to stop and sniff around in the tall grass. Come in soon to meet Biscuit!

Biscuit leading the way on our walk

Big Boy the five-year-old Boxer mix is a friendly boy. The first thing we did when Big Boy came out of his kennel was get a quick hose-down. Big Boy stood still nicely, which is a good sign that he probably won’t mind getting baths in the future. Big Boy also loves getting his back scratched and does a little dance when you get the right spot.

Big Boy’s face of contentment

Big Boy is also affectionate. He wasn’t too sure about getting all the way onto the bench, but he put his front paws in my lap and stretched his neck so he could give me doggy kisses. Big Boy is currently sharing his kennel with Mojo (see below), and although they don’t have to be adopted together, they certainly make a good-looking pair. Say hello to Big Boy on your next visit!

Big Boy between kisses

Mojo the five-year-old Boxer mix can be a little shy at first, but she warms up quickly and enjoys being pet. Mojo wasn’t overly enthused about getting hosed down when she first came out of her kennel, but she was a good sport about it anyway. Mojo spent most of her time in the off-leash run exploring in and around the bushes, where it was probably cooler.

Mojo chilling in the shade

Mojo eventually made her way over to me and then stood by my side while I pet her. She has such sweet facial expressions! Mojo is currently sharing her kennel with Big Boy (see above), so she could go to a home with or without another dog (maybe even Big Boy, since they look so cute together). Stop in soon to see if Mojo is the right next addition to your family!

Mojo waiting to be pet some more

Lady the five-year-old Beagle mix is super mellow. She was getting her official photo taken for the Orphans of the Storm® website when I first came over, and once she sat nicely for the camera she didn’t want to get back up! So we relaxed in the shady grass for a few minutes while I pet her. Lady eventually decided she was ready for a walk and popped right up.

Lady is all smiles

Lady‘s tail wagged the entire time we were at the woodland preserve. Lady is a great walking buddy and also didn’t mind taking occasional breaks for more cuddling. Lady gets along with other dogs. She is currently sharing her kennel with a larger dog, and also politely sniffed another Beagle while we were on our walk. Be sure to say hi to sweet Lady on your next visit to the shelter!

Lady is such a cutie

I also saw Bella, Bud, Chester and Te Amo, Gunner, Hobbs, Honey Lamb, Lucy, Lukas, Sammy, Sir (Sammy and Sir are now great playmates with each other!), Snuffles, Toby, and Tyson.