Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Are Ready to Let Freedom Ring

This weekend (Friday the 28th through Sunday the 30th), Orphans of the Storm® is hosting a “Let Freedom Ring” adoption event! Adoption fees will be waived for adult dogs and cats. There will be a Pet Stuff Sale, raffles, giveaways, and a Red, White, and Cute petting booth. A big event with big hopes for lots of happy adoptions!

Sawyer the two-year-old Hound mix was a little timid when I first came to her kennel, but she warmed up quickly and gave me a couple doggy hugs as soon as I put her leash on. We started in the off-leash run, where Sawyer did what Hounds do best and followed her nose all around the perimeter and underneath the bushes. As soon as I went to the gate to get her leash, though, Sawyer came running over without even needing to be called and was ready to go for a walk.

Sawyer doesn’t mind a little drizzle

Sawyer is a perfect walking companion. She stayed right by my side or just a couple steps ahead of me, and didn’t pull at all. She had one spurt of energy when a chipmunk ran in front of us, but otherwise walked at an easy pace. Sawyer loves other dogs and has already become a play group regular. She wants to say hello to everyone and tries to get the shier dogs to come out of their shells. Come in soon to meet sweet Sawyer!

Sawyer is a sweetheart

Karla the two-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix is a super lovable girl. She is easy-going and mellow, and happy to sit by your side as long as you’re petting her. Karla did some of her own exploring around the off-leash run, but often came back to me for some more attention. Karla is also an excellent walking companion. She walks at a nice pace and never pulls on the leash.

Karla knows to smile for the camera

Karla attends play groups and although she doesn’t actively play with other dogs too often, she walks around with her tail wagging constantly and occasionally sniffs hello. She gets along with larger dogs similar to her size, but isn’t as much a fan of smaller dogs or cats. She also prefers adults and older children to small kids. Be sure to say hello to Karla on your next visit to the shelter!

Karla standing at attention

Polly the three-year-old Mountain Cur mix is a bundle of energy. She’s a regular in the “rough and rowdy” play groups and enjoys wrestling, chasing and being chased, and occasionally woofing to get other dogs to play with her. Polly knows when it’s play group time and heads straight for the gate! Polly also likes to say hi to other dogs when she’s out for walks, though she might be a little exuberant for smaller or more timid dogs.

Polly’s ears are the cutest

Polly can pull a bit on the leash when she first comes out of her kennel, but she settled down once we were on the woodland preserve trail. She can sometimes have spurts of energy where she would rather run than walk, but mostly preferred walking at a quick pace. Polly enjoys people’s company too and will give the occasional doggy hug. If you’re looking for a playful pooch, come in soon to say hello to Polly!

Polly caught in a blink

I also saw Alec(k), Cheyenne (Shyanne), Clyde the Heeler, Cocoa, Donny, Kacy and Oliver, Maggie, and Thunder (who is so well recovered from his surgery that he jumped on and off every single bench we walked past!).

A big group today! Polly, Peterson, Cocoa, Reeco, Bart, Elijah, Sawyer, Huckleberry, John Boy, someone too far in the back to ID, Kodi, Karla, and Heidi

Gia (Pippa), Kodi, Chubby, and Huckleberry

Play group this week included Beatrix, Brutus, Cheyenne (Shyanne), Cocoa, Daisy, Elijah, Gia (Pippa), Huckleberry, John Boy, Karla, Maggie, Polly, Pumpkin, Sasha, Sawyer, Sox, and Whizzer, as well as not-yet-profiled dogs Amadeus, Baby Girl, Bach, Bart, Billy, Chance, Charley, Chubby, Cowboy, Faith, James, Katie, Kerrigan, Kodi, Lucy, Peterson, Sandy, and Tintoo.

Gia (Pippa), Daisy, John Boy, Pumpkin, Maggie, Heidi, Chubby, and Kodi

Daisy, Gia (Pippa), Kodi, Pumpkin, Karla(?), Cocoa, Elijah, John Boy, and Heidi

Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Will Warm Up Your Summer

The dogs at Orphans of the Storm® are ready to get their summers off to a sunny start by finding their new forever homes!

Pumpkin the four-year-old Boxer mix has experience as a family dog and is ready to find a new family to join. She was adopted several months ago but returned because she was jumping the fence and not getting along with other dogs in her neighborhood. So, Pumpkin is looking for a home where she can go on leashed walks or be closely supervised in a fenced yard.

Pumpkin keeping an eye on things

Pumpkin loves people and gets along with kids and even babies. She politely sits while getting her leash put on, without even being asked. Pumpkin is a great walking companion. She also likes to cuddle and get pet. Pumpkin attends play groups and sometimes plays with the other dogs, but more often keeps to herself or tries to initiate pets from the humans in the yard. She would prefer to be the only dog in her new home.  Come in soon to see if Pumpkin is the pooch for you!

Pumpkin in a little bit of rain

Brady the three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is an active, playful guy. He can pull a bit on the leash when he first comes out of his kennel or if he sees something exciting, but will also eventually slow down to enjoy some sniffing along the trail. Brady liked romping around the off-leash run and exploring along the fence line. He often has a doggy smile on his cute white face.

Brady knows how to smile for the camera

Brady gets along well with other dogs. He arrived at the shelter with his sister, who has since been adopted. He also attends play groups and particularly enjoys the company of Jackson (see below). Brady liked sniffing at toys and poking them with his nose, but wasn’t too interested in playing fetch on this outing. Stop by the shelter soon to meet Brady!

Brady following his nose

CoCo and Scooby the six-year-old Great Dane mixes found themselves at the shelter because their family was moving and couldn’t bring them with. They’re hoping to find a new home together–and it will hopefully be a large home, because these are two of the largest (and strongest) dogs I’ve walked!

CoCo has white socks!

CoCo and Scooby occasionally attend play groups, but since they’re so much bigger than everyone else, they make some of the other dogs a bit nervous and tense. They can also be bark-y around other dogs when they’re on the leash or on opposite sides of the fence (CoCo more so than Scooby).

Scooby is a handsome boy

Scooby seems to be the more affectionate of the two. He often came back to me while exploring the off-leash run so he could cuddle and give me a couple doggy kisses. CoCo did more exploring on his own, but he also poked my nose with his nose once or twice and liked getting scratched on his hips. If you have the space in your home and your heart for these two big brothers, come in soon to meet CoCo and Scooby!

CoCo and Scooby finding out what’s behind the bushes

Athena the one-year-old Hound mix is very friendly and affectionate. She gave me a doggy hug as soon as she came out of her kennel and was always attentive to where I was when we were in the Enrichment Park. I’m not sure how much training she’s had since she’s barely out of puppyhood, but she did come running over when I called her.

Athena being attentive

Athena can pull a bit on the leash when she first comes out of her kennel, but settles into a nice walking companion after she has a chance to romp around and get some of her excess energy out. Athena is currently sharing her kennel with Jackson (see below) but was a little tentative and nervous when she went into a larger play group. Be sure to say hello to happy Athena on your next visit to the shelter!

Athena caught in a blink

Jackson the eleven-month-old Black and Tan Coonhound mix is super sweet. He likes to snuggle and will tuck his head into you. He also gave me a couple gentle doggy kisses. Being a Hound, Jackson likes to follow his nose and take his time exploring. He criss-crossed the Enrichment Park in order to find all of the interesting smells.

Jackson has super floppy ears (cameo by Athena in the back)

Jackson walks nicely on the leash and is pretty calm overall, especially for a puppy. He is currently sharing his kennel with Athena (see above) and also attends play group regularly. He interacts nicely with the other dogs and particularly enjoyed the company of Brady (see above), so he could go to a home with or without a doggy friend. If you’re looking for a lovable and loving pup, come in soon to meet Jackson!

Jackson doing what Hounds do best

Beatrix the five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is very attentive to her person. When we were on our walk around the woodland preserve, Beatrix often paused to look up at me and confirm that we were still on the same page. She alternates between walking at an easy-going, meandering pace and speeding up to follow an interesting scent trail, but she doesn’t pull much on the leash.

Beatrix has such a smooshy face

Beatrix also likes to be close to her person. When I knelt down next to her, she leaned against me so much that I almost toppled over! She wanted to be as close as possible without actually climbing into my lap. Although Beatrix loves the company of people, she doesn’t seem too fond of other dogs and would probably do best as the only dog in her new home. Stop by the shelter soon to meet Beatrix!

Beatrix enjoying the outdoors

I also saw Alec(k), Anna, Barney (who loves splashing around in the puppy pool), Clyde the Heeler (who just wants to spend all of his time snuggling with you), John Boy, Pony Boy, Sox, and YoYo (Yeyo).

My first play group this week included Alec(k), Brutus, Cheyenne (Shyanne), Clyde the Heeler, Cocoa (who is getting better in larger groups), Elijah, Gia (Pippa), Huckleberry, John Boy, Maggie, Pumpkin, Tom, Whizzer, and YoYo (Yeyo). Snow White also had a one-on-one with Huckleberry. The not-yet-profiled dogs were Bandi, Bruno, Emma, Gilbert, Marcie, Polly, and Vannah.

My second play group included Alec(k), Brutus, Cass, Cheyenne (Shyanne), Clyde the Heeler, Delilah, Donny, Elijah, Jackson, John Boy, Maggie, Mojo, Quinn, Romeo, Sasha, Sox, Spike (who is doing great in larger groups), Whizzer, and YoYo (Yeyo). Barney also had a one-on-one with Cocoa. Not-yet-profiled dogs included Bogo, Bruno, Emma, Gilbert, Maizie, Pepsi, and Polly.