Dark Times

It is that time of the year when there is less light and you want to wear turtlenecks and wrap yourself in an afghan, stay home, and drink hot cocoa.




Izzy and Bullett tried to keep Loki warm but he said, "You are doing it wrong!"




We don't have turtlenecks for the dogs so we improvise.







Loki's coat wasn't enough to keep him warm so while Izzy and Bullett had a rousing game of chase and wrestle, Loki got some relaxation and warmth in the arms of a volunteer.




Loki looks to be the next adoption project by volunteer Loreen Skinner.



You see, Loreen's last project was the adoption of Hercules! Well, it isn't quite a done thing yet. He's on Pawsability.


Loreen found non-traditional ways to advertise dogs for adoption when she put a magnet on her car. Hercules was already used to sitting in his foster mom's car so Loreen put him in her truck and advertised his availability by parking her truck by the front door of the shelter. Then volunteers began taping hand-made posters on their cars.

Posters appeared on a sandwich board out front and in a local city garage.

Magnetized versions began appearing on cars.

The word got out state-wide through Craigslist and a potential adopter saw our videos and photos of Hercules. She had been looking for just the right dog for a year. And Herc was the right one for her. Keep your paws crossed for him but so far so good.

A number of adoptions came through since Christmas. The shelter is at an unusual low in terms of numbers of dogs. It has been a blessing because a number of the staff are involved in dealing with the Malamutes.

Just as the light starts increasing and our moods begin to lift as we look towards Spring, everything seems sunnier. Seeing happy dogs play on Play Group Sundays is a huge boost for us.


Dogs like Bailey get happy-crazy eyes and flapping tongue from being able to run the entire parking lot. We get happy from watching them get happy. How could you not feel that warm and gooey feeling when you see this photo taken by Debi Beardslee, our action photographer?


So while we wait for it to get warm we aren't in our PJs and afghans, we are still in our Carhartts and out there with the dogs. Volunteer participation in dog-walking has dropped off dramatically but the Feisty Fido Crew and staff are out there!

The green grass will soon be gone but these dogs are still with us.


Andrea, our black sweet girl, is the third longest term dog at the shelter. Petey got into trouble with the landlord and had to come stay with us until a new owner arrives. He was having a great time playing at this play group on a Sunday afternoon.








Andrea was still enjoying the ice a month ago when we had this play group. None of the dogs wants ice now that it is falling from the sky.








Amelia, who has blue eyes, got into a bouncing session with Hugh. Amelia is still with us also. She's darling and playful. Sometimes I just wish we could dye or bleach the dogs. We have so many black dogs because people adopt them at lower numbers than the light-colored dogs.


Isn't that weird? But it is scientifically proven.





In the below photo you can see Amelia's beauty even better. She's only 8 months old and a complete charmer. However, she is always looking for The Great Escape!



Brass, Brass, Brass, what a dirty boy you are! But what a sweetie and so good with other dogs. With that squishy face that you want to take and smush between your fingers... Some dog faces were meant for loving fingers to smush.













Loki, Brass' play mate in this photo, is a dog with a sense of fun.


















Briggs, on the left, went to the Carroll College Human-Animal Bond Program. Loki misses him!










Please come see Loki, Brass, Amelia, Andrea, Petey. They are great dogs looking for a home!

Thanks to Debi for the great photos!