This handsome black and white fellow is Fergus. He's a 6 year old Labrador - Retriever German Shepherd mix dog. According to shelter staff and volunteers, Fergus is a very friendly guy and especially loves going for walks. Take a look at his adoption video and then contact the Humane Society of Missouri at 314-951-1562. Fergus is at their St Louis City animal shelter and his animal ID number is A605316
Since 1870, the Humane Society of Missouri has been dedicated to second chances. They provide a safe and caring haven to animals - large and small - that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Their mission is to end the cycle of abuse and overpopulation, assist in creating lasting relations hips between people and animals, offer world-class veterinary care, plus offer pet obedience and behavior programs.
HSMO operates three animal shelters in the St Louis, Missouri, area, plus Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in Union, Missouri, for abused and neglected horses, cows, goats, chickens and other farm animals.
We are participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!
Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry. Handmade artisan jewelry gifts in pet themes including dogs, cats, and horses.
UPDATE - Roxie and Ranger were adopted (together) on Saturday, February 14. Now, that's a happy Valentine's Day!
This dynamic duo is Roxie and Ranger. Both are black Labrador Retriever mixes who were surrendered to Wayside Waifs animal shelter. Ranger is 7 1/2 and Roxie is 8 years old, so they're both considered senior dogs. Roxie and Ranger have been together almost all of their lives and are a bonded pair.
These beautiful dogs are housebroken, used to a doggie door, walk nicely on a leash together and have a whole lot of love just waiting for you.
Here's their story:
Hi there! We are Roxie and Ranger and we really want to be part of a family again. We had that once...a home and a family and a boy to run and play with. But for now, we're here at the shelter, waiting to start over with our new family. That's ok though. We know you'll find us soon and life will be good. We are fun and playful, affectionate and super sweet. We're just a little shy and unsure though too, mostly because this whole experience has been a bit overwhelming to us.
I, Ranger, am a handsome, 7 ½ year old, 54 pound, Black Lab mix. I love to be close to you and I melt into you when you pet me. Nothing feels better to me than a good belly rub. My sister, Roxie, is my best friend and the sweetest dog on earth, at least to me. She is a shy, 8 year old, 79 pound, Black Lab mix who is loving and gentle. We are both already housetrained and know how to use a doggie door when we need to go outside. Roxie is more nervous and anxious about life here at the shelter than I am, so she asked me to write our bio. I'd do anything for her, she knows that. It's just been a really confusing time for us, what with our family moving away and not being able to take us with them, so we are so very grateful that we have each other. I don't think either one of us can imagine making this transition in our lives without the other.
At our previous home, we were well behaved and easy dogs. We had a room that we stayed in with doggie door access to the fenced in backyard, and we proudly kept our room clean and neat. We loved more than anything when we were included in the house with the family though! Nothing feels better than the love of a family. We rode very well in the car and loved going for rides to show off our family. We lived with a teenage boy who liked to run and play outside with us every day. We loved that part of the day and looked forward to it with excited anticipation! We are in the prime of our lives, so we're calm and laidback, yet we have plenty of energy and we love to stay active and exercise, too. We're a great combination of fun and playful, yet easygoing and chilled out. We love to go for walks and one person can typically walk both of us at once, since we do really well on our leashes.
Sometimes things make us nervous and unsure. Our previous family said we were afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks and swinging baseball bats. Well, we don't feel like any of those fears are out of the ordinary, but we might be happiest in a calm and quiet home without a lot of activity and chaos. We'll do best in a home without kids under the age of 5. Older kids and adults are perfect though, and we'd love to romp and play again someday, if you're up for that. We might need a little extra time to adjust in our new home, as we get settled in and used to our new routines with you. Please just be patient and gentle with us and praise us when we are good dogs. We will thrive in a calm and loving environment. We'd like a home without cats, because we like to chase them. And we mostly do fine with other dogs, but if you do have others, please bring them out to meet us before we all go home together. In fact why don't you just bring the whole family to Wayside, so we can be sure we all get along great.
We know we're asking a lot from you to welcome two big dogs into your home. But we think we're worth it! We are well behaved and calm and sweet. We are best friends, so we promise to always get along. We play and entertain each other and keep each other company when you are away, so you never have to feel guilty about leaving us alone. Of course we'd prefer to have you home with us, so we can show you what true unconditional love is all about. And there will be double of that going around, with both of us giving you plenty of doggie love. Life will be happy and fun and full of good times with us around.
We just want to belong to a family again. We loved that part of life...being part of something and belonging to someone and knowing we were loved. We want that again, hopefully with you. Please give us a chance to show you what fantastic companions we can be. We won't let you down. We can't wait to meet you! Love, Roxie and Ranger
Take a look at their adoption video and then contact Wayside Waifs at 816-986-4426 Adoption fees have been reduced for Roxie and Ranger.
Wayside Waifs is Kansas City’s largest no-kill animal shelter. They are an independent, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization established in 1944. Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City's no-kill community.
Talking Dogs blog is participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!
Tuesday's Tails blog hop participants can post any day of the week and link up with a fresh blog hop linky every Tuesday. Though targeted at adoptable pets, we also welcome blog posts regarding pet adoption, rescue organizations and adoption events. Fetch the Tuesday's Tails Facebook page and give us a like and if you're participating in the blog hop, post your featured pets! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!
Awhile back I wrote about dogs who spend most or all of their lives in a shelter. I wondered out loud: how long is too long. I caught some flack from some who thought I was promoting euthanasia. I also received some very thoughtful messages from folks who also had conflicting thoughts and emotions about the quality of life provided in a kennel run at a "no-kill" shelter. That resulted in a second blog post.
At the time, I ended up just feeling glad that the dog that caused me to confront the issue, Hailey, found a home.
My friend, Kim, has forced me to confront the issue again. I'm still conflicted and find no good answers within myself. Pro-euthanasia? NO. However, dogs deserve better than to live in a kennel for years.
Kim is a professional photographer with her own business, Creative Photography by Kim Hansen. She is also a passionate advocate for animals and donates her services to Dogwood Animal Shelter in Osage Beach, Missouri. Her goal is to show people the beauty in these dogs and cats that she sees, to capture their spirit in a photograph that will get them noticed. As Kim says:
With so many of them, it takes patience, kindness, understanding, and the ability to connect and gain their trust in order to capture an image that I feel is worthy of using as their 'life line' on a site [Petfinder] for all of the world to see.
That may sound a little dramatic and over the top, but really, aren't these animals worth it? worth my time, effort, compassin, dedication and ability to do something so important and so life changing? My answer is YES! A million times YES!
Here are two dogs whose photographs were taken by Kim over a year ago. Though I don't know how much longer than a year A-Rod has been there, I do know that Carley has been there for five years. Almost all of her life.
Carley is listed on Petfinder (by the shelter) as an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) and Labrador Retriever mixed breed dog. She looks like a Rottweiler mix to me.
She is 5 years old and has spent her whole life at the shelter.
Carley came to Dogwood Animal Shelter as a puppy and has been there ever since. Her brother was adopted, but she is still waiting.
Primarily black with some tan, Carley weighs 65 pounds and has been spayed. She just completed the shelter's 6 week obedience class. Carley is a smart girl. She learns fast and is very eager to please. Adoption fees have been reduced to 1/2 price for Carley.
A-Rod is a Labrador Retriever mixed breed dog. He's shy so it make take a moment to get acquainted, but shelter staff report A-Rod is a sweet boy. Primarily black in color, about 4 years old and already neutered. This playful boy needs a place to call home. Adoption fees have been reduced to 1/2 price for A-Rod.
Please share Carley and A-Rod via social media. Use whatever networking means you have at your disposal and let's try and get them real homes.
Those of you reading closely, may have noticed:
same "no kill" shelter as Hailey, the dog who'd spent all 8 years of her life in the shelter
all black dogs
same shelter where we found our birthday boy, Jeffie (and our puppy, Rosie, too)
Dogwood Animal Shelter is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter in Osage Beach, Missouri. They've been in operation for over 30 years and survive on donations and proceeds from their Dogwood Thrift Shop. Services include: low-cost spay/neuter clinic, obedience classes, and more. They can be reached via email and their telephone number is 573-348-4411.
