Orphans of the Storm® Staffie Dogs

I walked a variety of breeds at Orphans of the Storm® this week, but the other three have already been happily adopted! So I have two Staffordshire Bull Terrier mixes to introduce to you today. (It was a hot day when I was there, so both dogs got hosed off–please excuse the wet fur in the pictures!)

Katfish the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a big boy. The first collar I tried to put on wouldn’t even fit over his head! But once we got that sorted out, Katfish led the way to the woodland preserve. He walks pretty well on the leash and only pulls occasionally when there’s something in particular he wants to sniff. He’s a smart boy who knew it was best to stay on the shady side of the trail.

Katfish is a happy guy

Katfish was a little hesitant about getting hosed off at first, but then he seemed to enjoy it. He likes getting scratched on the top of his head between his ears. Katfish can be bark-y around some dogs, but doesn’t pay much attention to others. He had a good time exploring the off-leash run, and although he poked a rope toy with his nose, it was too hot to do much fetching. Come in soon to meet Katfish!

Katfish “chilling” under the bushes

Yeyo the eleven-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix seems like a pretty mellow guy. He absolutely loves sniffing around, and scratches the grass or gravel or woodchips (whatever surface he’s on) with his front paw to get down to the extra-good smells. Yeyo unfortunately had both of his ears entirely cropped off, which certainly gives him a different look.

Yeyo follows his nose wherever it goes!

Yeyo didn’t make a peep the entire time we were out, and I also didn’t see him barking inside his kennel. He can pull a bit when he sees other dogs, but otherwise walks really nicely on the leash. Although he would keep his nose to the ground when I pet him, his tail would start wagging faster, so I could tell he enjoyed the attention. If you’re thinking about bringing home a senior dog so they can enjoy their golden years, be sure to say hello to Yeyo on your next visit!

Yeyo showing off his bright white fur

I also saw Bella, Big Boy and Mojo, Blush, Constance, Harley and Reeco, John Boy, Kaffee, Oliver, Tucker, and Vanilla.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Think Two’s Company

If you’re looking for a dog who likes other dogs–whether you already have one (or more) at home, or want to go to dog parks, or plan to take your dog to doggy daycare–there are plenty of dog-friendly pooches at Orphans of the Storm® right now!

Kaffee the two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix has a very interesting look. He has one blue eye and one brown; he has black spots all over his face like a Dalmatian; and he has a big brown patch on his back like a Hound! You will surely get lots of compliments and questions about Kaffee whenever you take him out and about.

Kaffee showing off his spots

Kaffee is on the shy side and mostly kept to himself when we were in the off-leash run. But he would take occasional breaks from sniffing and come over by me so I could pet him a bit. He also walks nicely on the leash. Kaffee is currently sharing his kennel with Thunder (see below), so he could go to a home with or without another dog. Come in soon to meet Kaffee!

Kaffee’s blue eye really stands out

Thunder the seven-year-old Weimaraner mix (not to be confused with the other Thunder) is a big, strong boy, but very sweet. He wanted to be off and running as soon as he came out of his kennel, but he settled down quickly once we were in the off-leash run. Thunder did his own thing at first, but also seemed to like following Kaffee, his kennelmate (see above), around the run.

Thunder is ready to be someone’s best buddy

Thunder warmed up to me after a few minutes and then started following me everywhere so I could keep petting him. He would also come to me when I called. Thunder didn’t give any doggy kisses on this particular visit, but he did like putting his nose to my nose. Although he’s a big guy, he doesn’t really seem to throw his weight around. Stop by soon to see if Thunder is the one for you!

Thunder loves getting pet

Constance the two-year-old Mountain Cur/Hound mix is very sweet and snuggly. The first thing she did when she came out of her kennel was give me a doggy hug. When we were in the off-leash run, Constance often put her front paws in my lap so I could pet her and so she could give me doggy kisses. She never strayed too far from me.

Constance likes to both give and receive kisses

Constance is currently sharing her kennel with Tucker (see below) and gets along great with him, but she can be a little bark-y around other dogs she hasn’t been formally introduced to (like the dog on the other side of the fence in the off-leash run). Constance is sort of mini-Hound-sized, so she could be a sweet lapdog. Be sure to say hello to Constance on your next visit!

Constance knows how to smile

Tucker the three-year-old Treeing Walker Coonhound mix is a sweet and mellow guy. He greeted me with a doggy kiss right away. When we were in the off-leash run, he would take a break from his sniffing every so often and come back to me so I could pet him more. He particularly likes getting his back and floppy ears scratched.

Tucker not sure about the camera

Tucker was interested in a tennis ball when I threw it and went over to sniff it, but didn’t pick it up or bring it back to me. Maybe his new family can work with him on his fetching skills! Tucker gets along well with other dogs. He’s currently sharing his kennel with Constance (see above) and politely sniffed the dog on the other side of the fence when we were in the run. Come in soon to say hello to Tucker!

Tucker is a handsome guy

Hank the five-year-old Bluetick Coonhound mix found himself at the shelter because his original owners moved and didn’t bring him with. Hank is a great walking companion. He usually walks at a faster pace but doesn’t pull at all, and he also takes plenty of breaks to use that good Hound nose. He seems like a pretty mellow dog; he didn’t bark once when we were out together.

You have to be okay with a little bit of doggy drool if you adopt Hank

Hank enjoys a good pet and will stand right by your side while you pet him. He might even rest his chin on you, or he’ll poke his nose to your nose. He didn’t give other dogs a second glance while we were out, but I didn’t take him close enough to see how he did in a real meeting. Hank would do best in an adult-only home. If that sounds like you, stop by soon to meet Hank!

Hank keeping an eye on things

Reeco the six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix came to the shelter with his brother Harley, who has since been adopted. Reeco is a little strong and can pull a bit on the leash when he first comes out of his kennel, but settles down pretty quickly. Reeco participated in the Top Dog Competition last fall and has mastered the agility course. He has also attended obedience classes.

Reeco says, “Me first!”

Reeco loves getting his side rubbed. He’ll lean against your legs and practically fall over because he’s enjoying himself so much. He also gives your hands lots of doggy kisses while you’re petting him (which can sometimes turn into little love-nibbles when he’s extra excited). Reeco gets along with other dogs and attends play group. Be sure to say hi to Reeco on your next visit!

Reeco is a happy guy

I also saw Bella, Big Boy and Mojo, Boss, Carlos, Diamond (Riley), Lucky, Lucy, Oliver, and Vanilla.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Found Their Forever Homes, Part XVII

What better way to start the week than with another Success Story! Cayrne and her husband and daughter adopted Maude and Lola eight weeks ago. Here is their story:

To be honest, we weren’t even in the market for another dog, let alone two! We happened to have been at Northbrook Court when my husband stumbled over the Orphans of the Storm® store front. He went in for a “dog fix” while my daughter and I shopped.

Once my husband spotted the two Hound mix puppies, he texted my daughter for us to come there. It has been three years since we put down our previous dog, a rescued Beagle.

I walked in and like a ton of bricks, it hit me how much I missed having a dog in my life.

Two amazing friends my husband and I adopted eight weeks ago. We can’t imagine life without our “girls.” Thank you Orphans of the Storm® and to Carol Ross, our trainer.

My husband pointed to the Hound mix sisters and my daughter and I melted. When the puppies came to me and sat quietly at my feet, I knew they had to come home with us.

I had no reservations about adopting dogs from a shelter as my previous dogs were also rescues. Orphans has a great reputation. I know many dogs that have come from Orphans and they are sweet, happy pups. When we visited the actual site to complete the paperwork, I was really impressed at the cleanliness of the facility. The dogs were clean, well cared for, and loved the nature walk.

Our puppies are happy and enjoying their forever home. I truly believe they are thankful they were able to stay together. We never get tired of all the puppy kisses Maude and Lola bestow on us!

Thank you for sharing your story, Cayrne!

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

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Will Put a Smile on Your Face

There are so many sweet dogs at Orphans of the Storm® right now (and always!). Come by for a visit and find out how happy a new forever friend could make you.

Gracie the seven-year-old Labrador Retriever/Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a sweet girl. She led the way to the woodland preserve and then settled into being a good walking companion. Gracie only pulled on the leash a couple of times when there was a particularly interesting scent she wanted to investigate. The rest of the time, she walked at a nice pace just a few steps ahead of me.

Gracie has cute patches on her face

Gracie likes to give doggy kisses, especially after she’s had the chance to get to know you. Gracie also had no problem pausing a few times during our walk so she could get pet. When we were in the off-leash run, Gracie did some exploring on her own but always came back to get a pat on the back. Stop in soon to meet Gracie!

Gracie literally shines in the sun!

Luke the eleven-month-old Catahoula Leopard Dog mix is a happy boy who will be even happier once he has a home to call his own. Luke isn’t shy at all, and will cover your face in doggy kisses. He’s also happy to hop up and join you on the bench for a snuggle session. This puppy will take all the attention he can get!

Luke knows how to smile

Luke is pretty well-behaved for a puppy. He probably hasn’t had much (if any) training, but he walks well on the leash and is content to just go with the flow. Luke gets excited around other dogs but it seems to be more of a friendly exuberance. He has a cute, curly tail and sweet face. Come in soon to see if Luke is the pup for you!

You can’t say no to a face like Luke’s!

Boss the three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix might look tough, but he doesn’t act tough! When I first saw this big boy, he was rolling around on his back in the grass and kicking all four paws in the air. Boss sometimes makes a snuffly noise of contentment when you pet him, which is cute.

Boss says hello!

Boss enjoyed his walk around the woodland preserve. He made his way through the tall grasses and did some more snuffling. He can get bark-y around some dogs, but other dogs he doesn’t give a second glance. Boss would do best as the only pet in his new home (he’s not a fan of cats in particular). If you have a one-pet kind of home, come in soon to meet Boss!

Boss is a handsome boy

Sydney (also known as Melody) the eight-year-old German Shepherd mix ended up at the shelter because her original family became homeless and could no longer care for her. But this means that she has a lifetime of experience being a family dog, and we know that she gets along with children. Sydney is very sweet and will give you some doggy kisses while you pet her.

Sydney (Melody) could be a dog model

Sydney is a gorgeous dog. More than one customer stopped me to ask more about Sydney while we were out on our walk. She walks great on the leash but also didn’t mind stopping every once in a while so I could pet her. Sydney can get a little bark-y around other dogs, but it was easy enough to redirect her and keep walking. Be sure to say hello to Sydney on your next visit to the shelter!

Sydney (Melody) keeping an eye on things

Buddy the three-year-old Hound/Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is a fun boy. The first thing he did when he came out of his kennel was give me a big doggy hug. He gave me a few more during the rest of the time we were out together. Buddy has some energy when he first comes out, but he settled down soon after.

Buddy’s smile will brighten your day

Buddy likes to chase after toys, but could use some extra practice on bringing them back to the person who threw them. Buddy’s tail was wagging pretty much the entire time we were together. He did some exploring in the off-leash run, but mostly stayed close to me so I could keep petting him. Buddy is ready to find his own buddy, so come in soon to meet him!

Buddy cooling off after chasing his toys

I also saw Bella, Big Boy and Mojo, Clarinet, Delilah, Dunkin the Red, Lucy, Oliver, and Scotty.

Orphans of the Storm® Smaller, Older Dogs

Adopting a middle-aged and older dog has many benefits compared to adopting a puppy. And when dogs are on the medium or smaller size, the usual “senior” cutoff tends to get pushed back a few years. Older dogs have so much love and companionship to offer, and will appreciate having a loving home. There are several older dogs at Orphans of the Storm® right now who are ready and waiting to meet you!

Donny the eleven-year-old Mountain Cur mix has come a long way since he first arrived at the shelter. He used to be nervous and didn’t like leaving or going back into his kennel. Now, the volunteers think he’s great and he’s a perfect walking companion! Donny likes to sniff around and explore during his walks. He will also happily try to chase squirrels. (That’s the only time he pulls on the leash.)

Donny was very alert for our walk

Donny can be a little bit of a “grumpy old man.” Sometimes he’s happy to stand or sit by your side and get his ears scratched, and sometimes he would just prefer to do his own thing and not be bothered. But everyone can get a little moody in old age, so we don’t hold that against Donny. Overall, he’s a calm guy who would probably prefer being in a calm, adult home where he can come out of his shell even more. Stop in soon to see if Donny is the one for you!

Donny smiling in the sunshine

Jack the seven-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix is super cute. He is also super athletic. Don’t be fooled by his small stature, because this guy’s little legs move fast. Sometimes I had to jog in order to keep up with him during our walk around the woodland preserve. Since Jack was always on the move, it was hard to get an in-focus picture of him!

Jack leading the way on our walk

Jack might have fun doing agility, because he jumped up and over a number of benches and also climbed up to the top of the picnic table. Jack likes to move at a quick pace, but he also appreciates having the chance to sniff things thoroughly. Jack went right into the bushes or through the tall grasses in order to find more good smells. This little cutie will bring lots of fun to his new family. Come in soon to meet Jack!

Jack keeps those little legs moving

Lucky the eight-year-old Smooth Fox Terrier mix was a little unsure about coming out of his kennel at first, but he warmed up as soon as his leash was on. Whenever you start petting Lucky for more than a few seconds, he’ll sit right at your feet so you can continue. And when he sat, he reminded me of Ancient Egyptian dog statues because of his perfect posture!

Lucky’s eyes are always shining

Lucky is a good walking companion. He rarely pulls on the leash and mostly walks by your side or just a few steps ahead. Although he didn’t get nose-to-nose to other dogs while we were out, Lucky seemed politely interested from a short distance, particularly with dogs that were closer to his size. Lucky will feel even more lucky once he has a family to call his own. Stop in soon to meet Lucky!

Lucky standing at attention

I also saw Bella, Diamond (Riley), and Sid.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Who Found Their Forever Homes, Part XVI

We have another Success Story to share! Diana wrote this sweet letter to her dog, Piglet, who she adopted from Orphans of the Storm® eight years ago.

Dear Piglet,

Today marks you and I being a family together for eight years. I think. I was wrong about this date, but now the year seems foggy as well. My one regret is that I never saved your picture from the Orphans of the Storm® website that made me say, “That’s my dog.”

 

You were in a kennel that was a middle corner spot, barking your little face off. Your bark was terrifying. I would be terrified too if I was in a cage. Your story was that you were found wandering the streets of Mundelein. I have a hunch that you were living by a pizza place because you always go crazy when we have pizza. Someone threw you away because you never had to be trained and always had a lot of energy back then. You also came with a little note of nots. “Not good with small children, not good with other animals,” but none of which panned out to be true.

We started together in a place in Lake Forest. You would play with the kids on the lawn of the library. We’d run together for many miles in your youth. You busted your knee as we fondly call now “The D-Rose Incident.” You were attacked by a German Shepard while we were on a walk. It was one of the most horrifying things that I had ever experienced and forever changed your demeanor towards bigger dogs. You are still so sweet and so lovely. They were wrong about you and your list of nots.

Since then, we’ve lost some people. We’ve definitely gained some people and other animals too. We’ve moved quite a bit, but I know that you understand now, you are my dog, I am your person, and even if we lose everything, you and I will always be together.

Happy Gotcha Day, Piglet! I hope we get to celebrate many more. Love always, the lady you taught to be a Mom

Thank you for sharing your and Piglet’s story, Diana!

If you have adopted a dog and/or cat from Orphans of the Storm® and would like to share your own success story, please email meetthepooches@gmail.com.

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs with All Different Markings

Whether you like spots, stripes, solids, or patches, there are a variety of looks to choose from when you visit the dogs at Orphans of the Storm®!

Sid the one-year-old Beagle mix greeted me with a wagging tail and was eager to head out on our walk. When you take Sid on a walk, you have to be prepared to make lots of stops because Sid takes his Hound roots seriously and keeps his nose to the ground, sniffing very thoroughly. Overall he is a good walking buddy, though, because he goes at a nice pace and rarely pulls.

Sid’s adorable face

Sid also enjoyed having a chance to explore the off-leash run. He sniffed in front of, behind, and through all of the bushes. He also poked some of the toys with his nose, but didn’t seem too interested in playing with them at the moment. Sid is a real cutie with his tricolored spots and patches, and those irresistible Hound eyes. Come in soon to see if Sid is the one for you!

Sid following the trail

Toby the one-year-old Plott Hound mix was jumping in excitement when he realized it was his turn to come out. Although he had an initial burst of energy and wanted to start off at a run, he quickly settled into a nice walking pace when we got to the woodland preserve. I thought that since Toby is still a puppy, he would want to play with the toys in the off-leash run, but he just sniffed them and continued on. Maybe he needs someone to teach him how to play!

Toby wasn’t sure what to do with all these toys

Toby politely sniffed the dog on the other side of the fence when we were in the off-leash run. When we were walking around the woodland preserve and passed another dog, Toby didn’t give him a second glance. Toby would do best in an adult home with an experienced dog owner. If that description fits you, stop in soon to meet Toby!

Toby has great camouflage fur!

Whizzer the six-year-old Redbone Coonhound mix absolutely loves squeaky toys. The first thing he did when we got to the off-leash run was pick up a blue plush ball with a squeaker. But one toy is never enough, of course, and soon Whizzer had himself a pile of toys that he could alternate playing with. He’ll chase after toys when you throw them but would rather chew on them than bring them back.

Whizzer loved this toy

Whizzer is a strong boy and likes to walk at a brisk pace. When we were going around the woodland preserve, Whizzer stretched his nose up as high as it would go so he could collect more smells. Maybe there was a raccoon hiding in the trees, because he was very intrigued. Whizzer also likes to give doggy hugs. He used to share his kennel with another dog and attends play groups, but might be a bit overwhelming for a small dog. Be sure to say hello to Whizzer on your next visit to the shelter!

Whizzer was proud of his collection

Layla the two-year-old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix is a very pretty girl. She seemed a little skittish at first, but warmed up quickly. When we went to the off-leash run, Layla joined me on the bench. She put her front paws in my lap and gave me some doggy kisses while I pet her. Most dogs I’ve met have their tickly spot (where they kick their leg while you scratch them) somewhere around their ribs, but Layla’s tickly spot is right on her chest between her front legs!

Layla with perky, upright ears

Layla is a great walking companion. She didn’t pull and mostly stayed by my side. We stopped occasionally for more snuggles. Layla got a couple sticky plants stuck to her fur while she was sniffing around the tall grasses, but stayed still so I could pull them off. Layla would like to be the queen in her new home (rightfully so), so she would do best as the only dog in an adult home. Stop in soon to meet Layla!

Layla with her ears down in the sunshine

Nasus the two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix ended up at the shelter because he didn’t get along with the little dog at his old home, but he loves people! At first glance, you might think Nasus is a lot to handle because he’s big and muscle-y, but he’s actually quite easy-going and walks great on the leash.

Nasus is a big, lovable boy

Nasus might do best as the only dog in his new home, but when he’s out on a walk he doesn’t seem to mind passing other dogs. When a smaller dog walked past us on the trail, Nasus first sat and then laid down until it went by. I also saw him walking on the trail with another larger dog on Clear the Shelters. Nasus is a happy boy looking for a happy home. Stop in and say hello to Nasus soon!

Nasus says, “Okay, follow me!”

I also saw Barney, Bella, and Thunder (who I haven’t walked in a while but he knew we were old friends and gave me lots and lots of doggy kisses).