Chipper is going on his fifth month of loneliness

When we wrote about this young Lab/Dalmatian mix dog that has been with us at the shelter longer than any of the others, we were so hoping someone would come and bring him home. But, sadly, it just didn’t happen.

Chipper is not alone at the shelter. He has other dogs, and lots of people around him. But, he is lonely. One just has to look into his brown eyes to see how much he wants a person of his own to love him.

He has become a staff favorite- several of us have wanted to take him home, but couldn’t because we have cats. And Chipper’s only fault that we have seen is that he is not good with cats…

Chipper is very well behaved, and loves to go for car rides and walks. He is a wonderful size, weighing in at a trim 40 pounds or so. He is very affectionate and calm, yet loves to play.

Five months in a cage is five months too long for this poor guy. Please come and meet Chipper, and maybe give him the chance he so needs.

Sweet, saucy redhead looking for loving relationship!

Jasmine is kind of the kitty equivalent of Chipper- she has the dubious distinction of having been at the shelter almost longer than any other cat. She is unusual in that she has a lovely orange coat- orange cats are almost always boys, yet this demure little kitty is all girl!

She has been in our kitty room for months now, and although people stop to pet her, no one has taken her into their hearts and home. Perhaps it is because she looks a little older than she really is- orange cats, like redheaded people, are sensitive to the sun and often get “freckles” around their mouths and noses. No, these are not “horrid old age spots”- just harmless freckles she undoubtedly got when she was fending for herself outdoors.

Jasmine would make a wonderful and sweet kitty for a mature couple or anyone with a quiet home. This little orange girl really needs some sunshine of the loving kind in her life!

Shelter wish list

Our kittens have arrived in force, and they are hungry! We desperately need donations of Purina Kitten Chow (the kind in the yellow bag) to help tame these tiny tigers!

Our dogs are reminding us, also, that they are running low on kibble, and would be very grateful to receive donations of Pedigree or Kirkland dry dog food- they say that this seems to be the easiest on their tummies. We humans at the shelter have a vested interest in keeping their tummies settled, as we are the ones that do the “scoop duty”!

Thank you for supporting the Humane Society and the needy animals in our care.

She’s doing really good, shes got a lot more spunk than I saw that first day but not like that’s a bad thing. She really likes going for walks and being outside and burying bones and of course chasing her tennis balls. She really took to me as her daddy really fast and momma finally came home yesterday so theyre getting accuainted today. Keda’s so funny cause shes always very curious whenever we do anything at all and never wants to be left out of any kind of fun. I could go on and on about her but Im sure you know. Shes being a very wonderful puppy and shes very happy

Randle and Kerri

hi!

everything’s going great with her–except we still haven’t come up with a name! Ben wants to call her ‘cheese’ haha…yeah I don’t think so!
she’s a lil lover, and loves to play and bounce around and chew on things too. Typical puppy! It was funny, just earlier she went #2 and proceeded to run to the where the shovel is kept…so she’s definitely trainable! Can’t wait to see her grow up.

I’m one of those that always forgets the camera for stuff like this, but I’ve attached a couple of pics that I have of her. I’ve been calling her ‘baby girl’, hence the BG-named pics. Enjoy!

Btw, I was going to send you an email as well, asking about her parents. Is she full pitbull, or a mix…or do you know? I’m also curious about where her sister ends up, if the new ‘parents’ are open to that. I completely understand privacy too, and will follow whichever way this road takes me…but it would be cool to perhaps meet them up again one day, y’know?

thank you for sendin’ a lil love our way!

~wendy

We were in a week ago Sat and adopted Nana. since renamed to Jasmine.  (the pup left in the apt by the previous owners)  We just wanted to drop you a note and let you know she is adjusting very well.  Needless to say she has taken over the house and everything in it.   ha ha……..She appears to have been house trained, we have had only one piddle accident to date.   I’ve attached several pictures of her running around the back yard and finding the perfect napping place.  ha ha……   She has since been bathed and groomed and has captured the hearts of many of our neighbors……….  Thank you so much for your help and for all you and everyone at the shelter do in helping all of God’s creatures…….

Take care, best wishes and keep up the good work.

Neil & Sylvia

The summer of beautiful white kittens

Every year when kitten season rolls around, we notice a trend in the colors or patterns- one year, we had a tabby year, the next year, we had a majority of black kittens. This year, we have a larger than usual number of pretty white kittens. Rumor has it that there is a large and very busy stray all-white tom cat in the Ocean Park area…


The mamas of these white beauties have often been snow white themselves, and have blue eyes. Some of the kittens will remain all-white, but there is definitely an Oriental breed influence happening, as some of the kittens are starting to show lynx or flame point Siamese markings.


We are very much interested in catching and “tutoring” the white tom, so if he appears around your neighborhood, please give us a call. “Casper”- even though you make very pretty babies, enough is enough!!

Keda: this golden girl would light up your life!!

Keda is a very easy-going, well-mannered Belgian Shepherd Tervuren mix girl that now has the dubious distinction of being the dog that has resided at the shelter for the longest time. Not only can she not understand why she was given up by her previous owners, she can’t understand why no one is coming to give her a chance at a new life.


True to her breed, Keda would be a wonderful family dog. She loves children, would be very protective of her family and would be steadfastly loyal. Keda is very well-behaved in public with other dogs, but tends to become jealous if she finds herself in a home with another constant canine companion. She would be happiest not sharing her love and space with another dog, but would lavish attention on new owners. She has spent enough time at the shelter- if you have room in your heart and home for a wonderful dog, please come in and we will introduce you to Keda.

By Cory McKeown

June is Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month

And we are ready! We are finally getting kittens in, and have a cute selection. There are more feline families in foster care, and they will also be arriving at the shelter very soon. So, if you want to be “smitten with a kitten”, come on down!!

Even though much attention this time of year is focused on kittens, we want to remind everyone that we also have wonderful adult cats waiting for loving homes. Some of these adult kitties have been waiting too long for homes and just need to be given a chance. Ask our staff about our ‘adult cat special” and help a deserving kitty find a home.

June is also adopt Juno Month!!

Juno is hoping that some of the adopt a pet in June thinking will carry over to her and she will find a loving home. She is a year-old Chocolate Lab mix, and has a great potential to be a loving and loyal companion. Lab lovers know what wonderful pets they can make, but they also know that labs can be slow to grow up. Juno needs a patient and caring human friend to guide her as she becomes more mannerly and reaches her full potential. She definitely has the desire to be a very good dog- she just needs some love and attention and someone to show her the way.

In memory of a Greyhound

When Cody and Star were at the end of their Greyhound racing careers, they won the biggest race of their lives. For the first time, they were not seen as just money-makers born and bred to run, but through Greyhound rescue, were adopted into the comfortable home of a local couple, and finally knew what it meant to be loved.

At the shelter, we had the opportunity to know these gentle dogs when they were boarded with us from time to time when their owners traveled. When they first started staying with us, they were a little shy and frightened, but became more outgoing as they became more comfortable with us.

Star remained quieter and more subdued, but Cody quickly became a clown. He delighted in playing with his favorite shelter toy “Mr. Squeaky”, and loved it when we laughed at him, which we did often.

Sadly, last week Cody lost his battle with cancer and passed away. Rest in peace gentle boy. We will miss you.

By Cory McKeown with photos by Melanie Epping

Please help Sammy get the heck outta Dodge!!

While we are totally committed to the concept of the no-kill shelter movement, the fact that the pets are sheltered until they find a home can mean that the more needy animals, the ones without the built-in cuteness of kittens and puppies, can linger.


Sometimes the pets just settle in well to shelter life, and are very content with the comforts a well-run shelter can provide them. Some, however, like poor Sammy, get more restless with time, and their good traits become hidden by their escalating energy levels, as they bark and jump to get attention.

One on one, Sammy is a very nice dog. He is playful and affectionate, and very bright. But, it will take the right person, a person who knows dogs and has love and patience to give, to get Sammy back on track. If that person doesn’t come along, Sammy will continue to be overlooked day after day. What a shame it would be for this nice Border collie mix to spend even more of his time searching the faces of the shelter visitors for the one person who will give him a chance.

Weak in the knees for Siamese??

Cisco and Trudy are the kitty equivalents of the dog Sammy, but as cats are inclined to do, they don’t get more energetic as they spend more time at the shelter- they withdraw and hide.


This trait is truly unfortunate, as people tend to pass by the “fraidy cats” and are drawn to the more outgoing felines. But, just as it is with Sammy, there must be cat lovers out there who would have tender hearts and would give these two beautiful Siamese’s a chance.

Cisco is a handsome flame point Siamese, with gorgeous blue eyes and orange coloring on his “points” (you Siamese lovers know what this means!!). Trudy is a pretty petite Snowshoe Siamese that became homeless when her owner lost her home. Both of these classy felines would be very happy in quieter homes, and both of them are desperately hoping to be given a chance. It is time for them to come out of hiding. Frightened cats need love, too.

Shelter Wish List

Our adult kitties have informed us that they are running low on dry cat food, and would be very happy to receive donations of kitty kibble. They thank you very much for caring about them and the other needy shelter pets.

Double your pleasure, double your fun!!

Diesel and Shadow are charming young Australian Cattle Dog brothers. Cattle dogs are known for their great energy levels and active minds. They are very intelligent, take well to training, and are wonderfully loyal companions.


Aussies, however, do not like to be bored. They need a living situation where things will interest them, and prefer to be with active individuals and families. They make outstanding Frisbee and agility dogs.

These guys are on the smaller size for Cattle Dogs, and have beautiful markings and short, dense coats. Diesel and Shadow love people, and are eager to please. If you have an active lifestyle or kids who love to play, come and meet these two Aussies. They truly love each other and are very bonded, and it would be wonderful if they could go to a good home together!!!

Miss Kitty needs her own person to love

Miss Kitty ended up in the shelter when her elderly lady owner became allergic to her. Life at the shelter has been hard for this pretty five year old cat. She very much dislikes other cats, and has spent the past several months huddled in the corner of a room. Truly a bad way for her to have to spend her life…

She would be most comfortable repeating the living situation she is used to: being a loving companion for a single person or couple who has no other pets. Miss Kitty really needs a better chance again at a good life. If you have a quiet home, please come and meet her. Life is too short to spend it huddled in a corner….

Thank you to our loyal supporters

We are very appreciative to Todd Kaino and the staff of Lighthouse Realty and to Cheri Diehl of Dennis Oman Realty for their sponsorship of shelter pets. The ads they have funded have resulted in some wonderful adoptions of needy pets. Thank you so much- we are grateful for your community spirit and support!!!

Shelter wish list

We are running very low on the 13 gallon garbage bags we use so many of in keeping the shelter clean. We would be very grateful to receive donations of these bags- Costco sells some very durable bags for a very reasonable price. Thanks!!

Hi Diana,

Sorry I haven’t been able to update you sooner, but we’ve definitely had our hands full with Jackson (formerly Jeremy). No worries though, it’s in a good way. =)

On the way home, he seemed exhausted and slept most of the way. He was probably pretty overwhelmed, maybe playing possum just in case we were headed to the vet. Once we got back to Portland, he had a chance to meet the cat and my roommates Min-Pin. Boy was he excited… He chased Ninja (the cat) for a while, then did some laps around the living room and the dining room before turning on Dakota (the dog). I guess he had built up some energy during the drive home, and he couldn’t wait to get outside to let it out. So, needless to say, we were wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

We left him alone for the first time on Thursday afternoon, and he seemed to do just fine. There was quite a bit of barking and crying at first, but he eventually quieted down and entertained himself (probably with one of the millions of toys that we’ve bought him so far). He does love to destroy tennis balls, we’ve noticed. So far, he hasn’t been able to demolish the rope or the Kong… thank goodness.


We took him off the choke and switched to a harness, which he seems to respond very well to. His leash training is coming along quite nicely, and he’s almost impermeable to distractions from squirrels, cats, and other dogs. Birds are another story, but we’re working on it… He walks nicely by our side with minimal pulling, and he even runs on a loose leash.

We’ve visited the vet to get his general exam, rabies, Giardia, microchip, etc. I wouldn’t say he really enjoyed it, but he’ll thank us later. Hopefully. We also took him to a couple of clinics at the pet store, one on leash manners and the other on general obedience. I’m proud to say that he was the best kid in class for both. =) His sit, down, stay, and leave it are coming along great, especially if we’ve got treats.

We take him on at least 2 runs and 3 or 4 walks every day, and it seems to work for wearing him out. Jonathan runs him before work at about 7, I run him at lunch, then we take him on a few long walks in the evenings. I’m worried about how our sleep would be impaired if we didn’t exercise him that much.

So, overall, he’s doing really well. We absolutely love him, and we think he likes us quite a bit too. He’s graduated to being left in the house during the day instead of the garage, and so far, no catastrophies too big. =)

His coat is much better now, and we’ll be taking him in for his second dog wash next week. =) We also have taken him the dog park, and he absolutely loves it. Just like you said, he’s a big hit with all the other dogs (the energetic ones anyways). He loves making them chase him around for 10 miles or so until they get worn out.

We’ve had a blast with him, and we love him more than anything… He’s been a great addition to our home. He keeps us on our toes anyways. =)

Thank you so much, and I’ll keep you as updated as I can.

Kristina

Thanks so much for letting us visit with Mandy.  It’s so great that there are caring people like you and the others at the shelter who put so much effort into finding these poor dogs a home.  It would’ve been nice to just take her with us, but it was apparent we weren’t the right people for her.  She really needs someone who will take her hiking and camping in the mountains and let her be a free spirit, not two geezer-types with creaky joints like Tom and I.

I hope she finds someone to love her.  We were very sad on the way home that we left her behind.

Anyway, thanks again, and God bless.

Deb