Tag Archives: Adopting a Dog

And We’re Back!

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Because of all the travel and holiday craziness, I’ve missed a couple of weeks working with the SPCA.  Almost all of the dogs that I have worked with have been adopted, and there is a whole new set of pups there now (plus puppies who will soon be on the adoption floor).

I have been trained to do several things at the SPCA.  I work with dogs at the shelter and in fostering in my home who have anxiety or shyness.  But I also work with potential adopting families, answering questions about the dogs, as well as take the dogs out after dinner for one more walk before bed.

This week, I was walking with this dog after dinner when a family came in to see her.

Isn’t she gorgeous?  Her name is Tiger Lily, and her brindle coat looks like tiger stripes.  While they didn’t adopt her that evening, I know she will go to a home soon.  She is fun and full of energy.  We played with her in the big play yard.  She has the best time running around and leaning into people for quality petting.

I didn’t manage to get pictures from any of the other dogs on the floor, but I checked the website and some have already been adopted today!  It makes me so happy to know that these dogs spend so little time on that adoption floor before going home with their families.  Even Tiger Lily has only been on the floor for a few weeks.  I know she will find her home soon!

Do you do volunteer work?  Did anyone make a new year’s goal to get involved?  I did that last year with the SPCA and it has been an amazing experience!

My visit to the SPCA

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Last week, I was sick, so I didn’t get to volunteer at the SPCA like I usually do. However, this week, I was able to go, so I have more doggies to share with you that as far as I know are still up for adoption!

Since I was getting back into the swing of things, I decided to work with Rowdy, my previous foster. He’s still there and adjusting back to shelter life. It was wonderful to see him! The staff said that he seems more friendlier than before his foster time, so I’m hoping that the work I continue doing with him during my volunteer time at the shelter just brings him that much closer to a forever home!

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Charlie was another dog I worked with this week. Charlie is a 6 month old lab mix who is full of energy! He is super fun and loveable. He can sit on command and is super sweet. If you are walking next to him and you stop, he will stop, sit and look up at you. He also has a howl that will just make your heart melt. I know he will find a home pretty quickly, so I thought I would just share his sweet face now!

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Gabe is the funniest looking dog I’ve ever seen. He looks like a humungous Dachshund, with big floppy ears. He’s actually a one and a half year old part Dachshund and part Catahoula hound, which is what gives him his strange, yet loveable, appearance. He cuddled up next to me when we sat on the grass in the garden at the shelter and just looked up at me.

Gabe

Stormy was the sweetheart that day. She is a two year old border collie. I just love her speckled face. She was a little lower energy than the other dogs I worked with that day, which was a welcomed change. We walked out into the garden, and she just leaned into me. When I sat on the ground, she inched over to me and rolled on her back for belly scratches.

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I am so lucky to be able to work with these dogs. The SPCA really is a special place. I’m not the only one who gushes over these pups. The staff there is incredible. We had one dog adopted while I was there that day, and the whole place was buzzing with excited celebration. It’s pretty awesome to volunteer there. And I know I’ve said it before, but if you have an opportunity to volunteer, I highly recommend this place.

(I am not a representative of the SPCA, other then being a volunteer there. They didn’t ask me to write about the dogs. In fact, they don’t know that I gush this much about my time there. I just want to share all the cute doggy pictures with you!)

Have you ever worked in a shelter?  Do you have cute dog pictures to share with me?

Clear the Shelter Day!

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Some of you may know that I volunteer with the SPCA.  This was my first time volunteering on Clear the Shelters day, though.  Once a year, shelters in North Texas waive their adoption fees for the animals.  They told me that last year at the SPCA, it was crazy, with a line wrapped around the building, so I expected that it would be an adventure.

I got there about a quarter to 10 to get my assignment.  They told me people had been waiting in lawn chairs since 6am that morning.  I was assigned to be an adoption specialist.  As each group came in, I walked with them, talked with them about what kind of dog they were looking for.  Sometimes it was a particular dog that they wanted, sometimes it was a type of dog.  But even if the dog they wanted was already adopted, they were still open to other canine companion options.

It was such a rush to find a forever home for the dogs.  During my shift, I matched five dogs to their families.  Seeing them interact with such love just made my heart smile.

And from the time I got there to the point I had to leave, we had 35 dogs and cats go home.  In total, the SPCA of Texas found homes for 132 animals on Saturday.  It was especially neat to see some of the dogs who had been there for several months go home with loving families.

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Picture from SPCA of Dallas

This is Cree.  She is a 6 year old Shepard mix who has been in the shelter since April.  Towards the end of my shift, it was announced that she was going home.  All the volunteers and staff were over the moon, wiping away happy tears and cheering.

This is why I love the SPCA.  Everyone who works there, everyone who volunteers there, truly love those animals, taking care of them until they go home with their families.  Because that’s what it’s all about, finding homes for these precious animals.  I hope they do this again next year, and I hope I get to be a part of it again.  It truly was a wonderful experience.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering with the SPCA of Texas, check out their website here.  Do you volunteer with any charities or organizations?  Or have you adopted from a shelter before?