Orphans of the Storm® Shepherd Dogs

It’s a shorter post today because the rest of the dogs I met already got adopted between when I walked them and when I’m posting this 🙂 But don’t worry, there are still dozens of dogs ready and waiting to meet you at Orphans of the Storm®!

Anya the four-year-old Shepherd mix is very mellow. She is a perfect leash-walking companion because she walks at a nice, easy pace and doesn’t pull at all. She’ll stop for the occasional sniff, but mostly just seems to like stretching her legs and getting some fresh air. Anya also likes sniffing and exploring around the yard off-leash on her own. She eventually came over and stood right by my side while I pet her.

Anya is sure to catch your eye

Anya wasn’t too interested in toys when we were out. She watched me throw a ball and then looked at me like, “Now what?” Anya occasionally attends play group, but she can get a little nervous when the group is too big or too rowdy. She prefers being with the gentler dogs. But that means that she could go to a home with or without another dog. If you’re looking for a calm companion, be sure to meet Anya!

Anya doing her exploring

Titania the one-year-old Shepherd mix has super long legs, so she prances rather than walks. She is so pretty! Titania is a nice walking companion who rarely pulls on the leash. She’s very attentive and likes keeping an eye on everything happening around her. Titania particularly enjoys getting her ears scratched, but is happy to receive any sort of attention.

Titania watching the cars go by

Titania gets along with pretty much everything and everybody. She could go to a home with other dogs, cats, and/or older children. Titania participates in play group pretty frequently and has already made a list of doggy friends who she particularly likes to romp with. If you’re looking for a happy and playful puppy, come in soon to meet Titania!

Titania is super sleek!

I also saw Hazel and Nutella (Hazel was much snugglier this time now that she knows me better), Snow White, and Turbo.

Play group this week included Anya, Dunkin, Hazel and Nutella, and Kira, as well as not-yet-profiled dogs Addie, Asta, Corrina, Fannie, Freyr, Henry Hippo, Paris, Phat, Pups, and Rita.

Orphans of the Storm® Is Hoping to Empty the Shelter

This is a big weekend for Orphans of the Storm®!

Firstly, Orphans of the Storm® is excited to be one of 125+ shelters participating in BISSELL Pet Foundation’s nationwide Empty the Shelters adoption event this Saturday, October 12! Dogs and cats 6 months and older will have their adoption fees waived. If you missed Clear the Shelters back in August, now is another great opportunity to bring home a furry friend.

Secondly, Orphans of the Storm® is happy to be returning to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Spooky Pooch Parade on Sunday, October 13 from 11am-1pm! Several of our adoptable dogs will be dressed up in Halloween costumes, strutting their stuff. Be sure to come out and cheer them on!

There are many new dogs for you to meet on your next visit to the shelter too.

Titan the five-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is a very big boy, but really just a big baby! He loves being doted on and will happily stand by your side or lean against your legs for as long as you keep petting him. Titan greeted me with a very waggy tail and was eager to go on a walk. He prefers to walk at a quicker pace but doesn’t pull too much–unless he sees a squirrel or bird, and then you better hold on! Titan can definitely be strong when he wants to be.

Titan spotted a squirrel in the tree

Titan enjoys sniffing around and exploring when he’s off-leash in the yard. He has been in one play group so far and did well with the other dogs, though he was equally interested in hanging out with the humans. Titan has a ginormous head that he will nudge you with when he wants some more pets. Come in soon to meet Titan!

Titan is a handsome guy

Hazel the two-year-old and Nutella the four-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mixes are a bonded pair that are looking to be adopted together. A couple of the benefits of adopting a bonded pair are that they already have a built-in friend to feel comfortable with as they adjust to their new home, and they also have a built-in playmate to keep them company when you leave the house. Plus, Hazel and Nutella look super cute when they cuddle during naptime!

Hazel is a sweetheart

Hazel is the slightly more shy and mellow of the two. She can pull a bit on the leash when she first comes out of her kennel, but settles into being a nice walking companion pretty quickly. Hazel particularly enjoys getting her chin scratched and looks at you with such sweetness and gratefulness. She spent most of her time in the Enrichment Park slowly sniffing around.

Hazel watching her buddy

Nutella is more outwardly affectionate and playful. He likes chasing after toys but wasn’t too interested in picking them up or bringing them back. Nutella happily romped around the Enrichment Park but often came back to me for more snuggles. When I sat down on the bench, he put his front paws in my lap so I could pet him more. He pulls on the leash during walks a bit more than Hazel does, but not too much.

Don’t let Nutella’s serious face fool you–he’s a goofball

Hazel and Nutella both attend play groups and get along with the other dogs. Nutella engages in actively playing more so than Hazel. This is a sweet, happy pair ready to join a sweet, happy home! If you have the space for two, be sure to say hello to Hazel and Nutella!

Nutella exploring the Enrichment Park

Kado the one-year-old Labrador Retriever mix was a little wary of people when he first arrived at the shelter, but has already come a long way! Now he is quite snuggly and will put his front paws in your lap and give you plenty of doggy kisses. There are still some times when he can get nervous and skittish, though, so we think Kado would do best in an adult-only home or a home with older children/teenagers.

Kado hopped on the bench and politely sat without being asked

Kado is a play group rockstar and participates basically every day. He’s gotten along with every dog he’s met so far, so he could go to a home with or without another dog. Kado likes to lead the way on walks and moves at a quick pace, but doesn’t pull as long as you keep up with him. He enjoys chasing after toys and nibbled on a couple that were in the Enrichment Park. Come in soon to meet Kado!

Kado was a little camera-shy

Toes the two-year-old Labrador Retriever/Catahoula Leopard Dog mix has pretty much every good quality you could want in a dog. He walks great on the leash, he is friendly and affectionate, he gets along with other dogs of all sizes, and he plays nicely with toys. Toes is a play group rockstar and participates every day. Also, we walked the whole way around the woodland preserve trail next to another volunteer and a tiny Chihuahua and Toes was the perfect gentleman.

One toy is not enough for Toes

Toes will put his front paws in your lap and gives you doggy kisses when you kneel down to his level. He’s also content to sit in your lap and get lots of pets. Toes enjoys playing fetch with stuffed toys. He likes to play a bit of tug-of-war before you throw the toy, but he always drops it without being asked when he’s ready to fetch again. Toes is the total package. Be sure to say hello to him on your next visit to the shelter!

Toes’ face of contentment

Kira the one-year-old Labrador Retriever mix is super snuggly. She gave me a doggy hug as soon as she came out of her kennel and wasn’t even interested in walking! She just wanted to cuddle. Kira joined me on the bench and loved getting her ears and sides scratched. When I stopped petting her, she reached out and poked me with her front paw to let me know she wasn’t ready for me to stop yet. (I obliged, of course.)

Kira’s happy face

Kira is an excellent leash-walking companion. She doesn’t pull at all and walks at a nice, easy pace. Kira regularly attends play group and doesn’t mind the company of other dogs. She is not a fan of cats, however, so she should go to a cat-free home. Kira would also do best in an adult-only home. If that sounds like you, come in soon to meet Kira!

Kira has a super fluffy tail

Bison the four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is very attentive to his person. He looked at me frequently as we made our way around the woodland preserve trail, and I always responded by telling him what a good boy he is. Bison prefers to walk at a quick pace, but doesn’t really pull on the leash. He happily joined me on the bench for a break.

Bison has fun ears

Bison occasionally attends play groups, and he generally does better in smaller groups with mostly female dogs. Bison has a number of playmates that he particularly enjoys romping with, but some dogs that he isn’t as fond of. When Bison has the Enrichment Park all to himself, he likes to run a couple laps and then come back to his person for more pets. Stop by the shelter soon to meet Bison!

Bison about to jump on the bench

I also saw Blue and Rachel (who greeted me with a happy doggy hug).

Orphans of the Storm® Pups and Young Dogs

There are many adorable puppies and younger dogs eager to meet you at Orphans of the Storm® right now! (Also, it was another rainy day, so I apologize for the blurry and dreary photos. Everyone looks much cuter and happier when they’re dry, I promise!)

Mack the three-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is a big, friendly boy. He can pull a bit on the leash when he first comes out of his kennel, but calms down into a nice walking companion once he gets on the woodland preserve trail. He likes to spend his walks sniffing thoroughly and exploring. Mack also likes to snuffle around the off-leash runs.

Mack standing at attention

Mack is attentive and likes to keep an eye on what’s happening around him. When we were in the off-leash run, he was poking his nose through the fence to see which people and dogs were on the other side. Mack occasionally attends play group, but prefers to be in smaller groups with females. He isn’t as much a fan of other male dogs. Mack also isn’t fond of cats, so he may do best as the only pet in his new home. Come in soon to see if Mack is the pooch for you!

Mack was skeptical about the rain

Sadie the eight-month-old Australian Cattle Dog mix (not to be confused with the other Sadie) is a little shy and nervous when you first meet her, but she gets super snuggly once she feels more comfortable. In fact, it was hard to get a good picture of her because she wanted to keep climbing into my lap or leaning against my legs. Sadie is a champion leaner. She even spent the first few play groups standing in between the leaders’ legs, but has started engaging and playing more. Her “heeler” side is coming out and she tries herding the other dogs!

Sadie is definitely a snuggler

Sadie is a nice leash-walking companion who rarely pulls, since she likes to be as close to her person as possible. Her tail can sometimes be tucked, but it starts wagging when you scratch her hips. Sadie is a smart, sweet, athletic girl looking for an active home where she can also cuddle on the couch. Be sure to say hello to Sadie on your next visit to the shelter!

I wish this wasn’t so blurry, but you can at least see Sadie’s giant ears

Fletcher the seven-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix is a happy, playful puppy. He’s excited when it’s his turn to come out, but he quickly settles into being a super easy walking companion. Fletcher already knows some basic commands and is ready to learn more. He’s attentive to his person and will look at you often while on walks to make sure you’re on the same page.

Fletcher being a good walking buddy

Fletcher is a play group regular and enjoys playing with the other dogs. He lived with another dog before he arrived at the shelter, so he could go to a home with or without a furry friend. Fletcher also likes getting lots of pets and attention, and will give you a doggy smile with a wagging tail. Fletcher has adorable spots on his nose that will make you smile when you see him. Come in soon to meet Fletcher!

A white dog on a muddy day isn’t the best, but Fletcher still looks cute

June Bug the two-year-old English Coonhound mix gave me a doggy hug as soon as she came out of her kennel. Even when I let her off leash in the Enrichment Park, she just wanted to spend her time snuggling with me. When I knelt down to her level, June Bug curled up against me and gave me some doggy kisses while I scratched her sides. After we got our cuddling in, June Bug spent some time following her nose and sniffing all the smells.

June Bug wishing I wasn’t slowing her down

June Bug goes into Hound mode once she hits the trail, though. She walks with a purpose and is eager to track scents. Although she likes to walk at a quick pace, she doesn’t pull too much as long as you’re keeping up with her. June Bug attends play group pretty much every day and loves playing with other dogs. However, she isn’t a fan of cats. June Bug might do best in an adult-only home. If that sounds like you, come in soon to meet June Bug!

June Bug doing what Hounds do best

Bandit and Remmy the four-month-old Pointer/Labrador Retriever mixes are the most precious puppies. I unfortunately couldn’t tell who was who because they look so similar, but one is smaller with a wider white space between the eyes, and the other is larger with a thinner white space between the eyes. But whichever one you pick (or, if you pick both!), you can’t go wrong.

This one (Bandit? Remmy?) was the shier of the two

Bandit and Remmy are in the wriggly, snuggly puppy stage. They are constantly moving, jumping up to give doggy hugs, attempting to nibble your shirt sleeves, and just overall adorable. They don’t have a ton of experience walking on the leash yet, so they can be a little nervous at first and try to walk between your legs.

But Bandit and/or Remmy loves to cuddle too

When you kneel down to their level, you will soon find yourself covered in doggy kisses. Bandit and Remmy just want to be close to their person. They are very playful and were happy to play a game of tag with me as I ran back and forth across the Enrichment Park. Getting “tagged” meant getting even more kisses.

This other one (Remmy? Bandit?) wanted to be the leader

Bandit and Remmy have started participating in play groups and enjoy spending time with other dogs. They’re learning proper socialization, though sometimes they still get stuck in their puppy mentality and can annoy the older dogs a bit. Bandit and Remmy don’t need to be adopted together since they’re so young, but they do make a super-cute pair. Come in soon to meet one or both!

Happy doggy hugs from Remmy and/or Bandit

I also saw Alec(k), Barney, the other Sadie, and Turbo.

This week’s play group included Bandit, Blue, Cass, Chance, Donny, Joan, June Bug, Polly, Rachel, Reese, Remmy, Reno, Sadie, Spike, and Turk, as well as not-yet-profiled dogs Anya, Bison, Fannie, Henry, Henry Hippo, Izzy, Kida, Maggie, Queenie, Red, Sapphire, Scarlett, Sunshine, Todd, and Toes.