Orphans of the Storm® Dogs Hit the Trail

The new Orphans of the Storm® woodland preserve and walking trail is officially open! Of course, who would I take for my first walk there other than my best walking buddy, Blush? Check out the video below to see how nice and tranquil this new space is. And also notice how much Blush’s tail is wagging! She absolutely loved it.

And here are some new pooches who would also be happy to join you for a walk!

Barney the three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix is such a friendly guy. When he realized that it was his turn to come outside, you could just see him thinking, “Oh boy!” His tail was wagging, but he still stayed pretty calm while he got the leash put on. Barney is a big boy, so he’s pretty strong and doesn’t mind leading the way on walks. When we got to the off-leash run, Diamond was already occupying the second one, and she and Barney sniffed each other politely through the fence.

Barney saying hello to Diamond

Barney is a very attentive boy. He was always looking through the fence to see what was happening. When it was time to get his official portrait for the Orphans of the Storm® website, it was a little challenging to get him to focus on the camera because he was too busy paying attention to everything else going on! Barney is an affectionate boy, too. He joined me on the bench for a while and enjoyed getting a good scratch on his hips and back. Come in soon to see if Barney is the companion for you!

Barney has such a lovable face

Chanel and Gucci the eleven-year-old Yorkshire Terrier mixes make for a super adorable pair. I originally thought they were brother and sister, but apparently they are boyfriend and girlfriend! Either way, they need to be adopted to the same home. You might think that eleven is pretty old, but for dogs as small as Yorkies it really isn’t. You would never guess that they’re into double-digits when you interact with them.

Chanel is so precious

Chanel, the girl with brown-and-silver fur, seems to be the more adventurous one. She was romping and exploring and doing her own thing while we were in the off-leash run. She even jumped up on the bench a few times, which I thought was going to be too big of a leap. But Chanel still enjoys having a person nearby, and climbed into my lap at one point for a quick cuddle session. She also had no problems with me picking her up when it was time to go back inside her kennel.

Chanel knows she looks good

Gucci, the boy with the brown-and-black fur, seems a little calmer. He would come back to me for a reassuring pat on the back every few minutes. When Chanel hopped onto the bench, Gucci kept his four paws on the ground. Gucci wanted to say hello to anybody we passed while we were on our walk.

Gucci is too cute to handle

These two pooches are too cute to pass up! If you’re thinking that two dogs might be too much for you, consider the fact that even if you combined Gucci and Chanel, they would still be smaller than most dogs 🙂 They’ve spent their whole lives together and are looking for a new, happy home that will love them both. Stop in soon to say hello!

Gucci wondering how Chanel got to be so tall

Opa the ten-year-old Mountain Cur mix may be older and have some gray fur on his face, but don’t let that deter you. Opa still has plenty of spunk! (Appropriately, “opa” is what people say during Greek celebrations and dances.) Believe it or not, this little guy with his little legs can hop over a fence! So, if you adopt Opa and have a backyard, it would probably be a good idea to supervise him, at least in the beginning while he’s still getting used to his new surroundings.

Opa loves going for walks

Opa is an affectionate boy who likes to cuddle. Whenever I knelt down next to him, he put his front paws in my lap and gave me doggy kisses. Opa is an excellent walking buddy who rarely pulled on the leash. He seems like a pretty happy, easy-going dog whose tiny tail wags the majority of the time. All Opa needs is a new, loving family who will help him enjoy his golden years! Come in soon if you think that might be you.

Opa also enjoys being a lapdog

Orville the ten-year-old Husky mix is a sweetheart. I wanted to take him out this week because he looked rather forlorn inside his kennel when I first walked past, and thought he could use some quality one-on-one time to cheer up. And cheer up he did! Orville had a good time hanging out in the off-leash run, following his nose and doing some exploring.

Orville is so fluffy

Orville is smaller than your average Husky, but his fur is just as soft and fluffy as you would expect. Since he’s getting up there in years, he doesn’t need too much activity to keep him happy–just some nice walks around the neighborhood a few times a day. Orville is very easy to walk on the leash and is a gentle boy overall. On your next visit to the shelter, be sure to say hi to Orville!

Orville was interested in the camera

I also saw Bear, Bella, Lexi, Nana, Roxy, Scotty, Zoey, and Zola.

The Pooches at Didier Farm

Excited yelps of, “Mom, look at the doggies!” filled the air as I approached the Orphans of the Storm® tent at Didier Farm’s Pumpkinfest in Buffalo Grove. Four dogs, three kittens, and a handful of volunteers were there to bring some publicity to the shelter and hopefully encourage some adoptions. Although you aren’t able to adopt at this off-site event, you can always visit the shelter the next day to get better acquainted with your pooch and bring him home.

The first dog I met was Tulip, a six-year-old Beagle/Shepherd mix. The volunteer at the other end of the leash told me that Tulip is a sweet, calm dog who loves to go for walks. Tulip is currently on a diet because she’s a little rotund, so a healthy home with some good walkers would be a nice fit. If you don’t want a dog that will jump all over you and lick your face at every available chance, Tulip is the right dog for you. All she wants is good companionship; she’ll be happy to lie down at your feet as you read a book or watch TV.

Next was Eddie, the Mountain Cur who will be turning one year old in just a few weeks. Eddie is currently in a foster home because he arrived at the shelter in May with a broken foot and needed some extra TLC. He’s all healed now, thankfully! This guy is still in his puppy phase and enjoys nibbling on his leash, but the breed is known to be easily trainable. He already knows a few commands and was pleased to show off how to “sit” for those saying hello to him.

Howser is an eight-year-old Pointer mix who was very popular with visitors to the tent because of his calm demeanor. When I knelt down to say hello, he put his nose right up to mine and was happy to have his head scratched. He and Eddie were both proudly sporting donation vests, where people could put money to help the shelter, and Howser’s vest was pretty full when I saw him. He is a very good walker on a leash and is looking for a caring home with people who will love him and his sweet personality.

The smallest, most rambunctious dog at the event was Pickles, a three-year-old Yorkie mix. Pickles wanted to say hello to anyone and everyone, including his doggy friends from the shelter, and is certainly not shy. When I got down to his level, he jumped right into my lap in an attempt to lick my face. His fur is extra soft and he has an adorable little face. Pickles is relatively new to Orphans of the Storm® and hopes to find a permanent cuddle buddy soon.

To meet these dogs, and the rest of the great dogs available for adoption, please visit Orphans of the Storm® any day of the week!