This is to give you my impressions of volunteering for the Central Oregon Humane Society by walking dogs. When I update the site, I'll just let you know with an email. If you need to be added to my list, let me know: sbraemer4@gmail.com. So far I'm finding that the Humane Society is a very cheerful place full of people who really care about the animals.
Right or wrong your tivia answer feeds a shelter dog
I don't know why no one has thought of this combo before but a beagle/basset makes such a sweet, good looking hound. At a chubby three years old, Bugs has so much to offer. I've always loved hounds but I must admit, some are so scent obsessed that they seem to forget everything else. Not Bugs. He loves following a scent trail but he is so happy when you talk to him, he stops everything just to connect with you (top video).
We began our outing in the exercise yard where he did a good job of sit, down and fetch. Just a note here, my video of his basics came after our walk, he was a little tired so he was not quite as sharp on these commands. One of the nice things about a slightly chubby dog with shorter legs is that they do get tired! During our walk, I noticed that his tail went into high gear every time he saw another dog and almost off the chart when he saw one of his staff buddies. It is clear that he is used to tight bonds with people as well as good dog to dog relationships. Bugs has one other little oddity, he is very UN-territorial, and the very few times he does relieve himself, he does not lift his leg, he squats. Just thought I'd mention it for any of you who may know more about dog behaviors than I do. Bugs ended up at the Shelter because a grumpy landlord did not appreciate his enthusiastic tenor voice. He is such a sweet, soft, cuddly little guy, let's hope his new family finds him soon.
A beautiful Saturday plus the annual Micro Chip day equals an extremely bustling day at the Shelter. Surprise, surprise at 12:30 none of the category dogs I walk had yet been out with volunteers. I just went for who I thought looked the neediest - Jack. He is a very big beautiful lab, who looked more cramped in his normal size kennel than the other dogs looked in theirs . He was very excited but after a few firm "sit" commands, he backed up and sat so that I could enter and get him harnessed. Down the hall and out the door we went. Though he was good on the leash, I could feel his high energy level so I was very disappointed to see that both exercise yards were being used. As we went around behind one of the yards and came out on the other side, Jack grabbed his leash and started pulling on it. At first I thought he was initiating a tug of war game, a no no with any dog in my book, but out of the question with an 80 pounder. I got very quiet, held him firmly and refused to interact with him.
Sometimes we humans take awhile to get it, but I slowly began to move in the direction he wanted; he lowered his head, leash firmly in his teeth and led me toward the now vacated exercise yard. As soon as we arrived, he let go of his leash and happily bounded in. When Willow wants me to do something for her and I just don't get, she will often gently take my hand and try to tell me what she wants. I'm sure Jack, as a shelter dog, knows that taking someone's hand is NOT OK. To Jack, the leash was an extension of my hand and he knew that the exercise yard was the right place at the right time for us.
Jack is the best fetcher I've encountered; he never tires, of all the balls in the yard he retrieves the specific one you have most recently thrown, and..... he does not drop the ball in front of you, he puts in your hand! On one of my throws the ball went over the fence, I had a moment of panic as I pictured Jack flying right over after it. I immediately called him to me to distract him with other commands. He is also good at the basics, sit, down and come, plus being good on the leash. According to his profile he is also good with young children and other dogs.
At the start of our walk in the open area, Jack dove into a big bush and began scrambling around. Before I could drag him out; he emerged and triumphantly placed the errant tennis ball in my hand. What a dog! The rest of our walk was pleasant and uneventful. We returned and Jack was easy to get unharnessed and re kenneled.
Being big, black and nine years old, Jack is likely not at the top of most people's "must have" lists; but in my opinion, his nine years is a typical dog's six. I think he is just a bit beyond his middle age, good news for some adopters and a word of caution for others. He does NOT act like a senior dog. Let's hope this very special dog connects with the right family soon.
One more of my breed prejudices bit the dust; really small dogs are really yippy and snippy. Lilly is just over two, a Tea Cup Chihuahua
and about the sweetest most lovable dog yet! The very delicate dogs,
and young puppies, are housed in special elevated clear plastic
kennels somewhat separate from the other dogs. As I opened her door she greeted me shyly but with a waggy tail. We began
our outing in a quiet spot where Lilly could sit on my lap and
feel safe watching the world around her. Though it was warm she
trembled and cuddled close for about 15 minutes. Since I like sharing videos of the dogs and I thought this could be the entire outing, the top video is mostly Lilly's back.
When an exercise yard vacated, I carried her over just to see what would happen. Surprisingly she began to explore, however remaining close for the first few minutes. However bravery increased quickly and soon she was trotting around, happily
coming when she was called and flopping over for belly rubs.On the
first flop I noticed that Lilly had been a fairly recent Mom.
On our return I read her profile and saw that she had come in as stray, so her history was a mystery.
As I drove home and thought about this tiny dog I had so many
questions: How could she have ever survived being a stray, did she have
puppies to care for in addition to herself, and the one I always ask;
how could anyone have let her go? I see a great story for all of you
potential children's book authors out there! Let's hope the happy
ending comes soon.
Hurley's wait for his forever family was very short. Within just a day after I met him, he had two adoption holds put on him and by that next evening, he was home. A beautiful beginning for a beautiful dog.
