Buddy Loves the Great Outdoors!

The Bangor Humane Society is offing a special during the month of October - $30 for dogs who have resided at the shelter for more then 30 days.  I, Buddy, am part of this deal!!!  Today I had a well deserved break from all the barking and goings on of shelter life - today I was the pick for Dog's Day Out. 

I'm sure you are just waiting to hear how my day went, so now I am about to tell you:

The car ride was great with the exception of my long legs and long tail trying to fit into a small car that does not have much of a backseat.  I was very much in control during the whole drive, even when I discovered I could stand in the backseat and reach my head out the moonroof.  This was too cool and this also got the Mrs to laughing - I think I love laughter.  On the way home, I actually was able to curl up in the front seat and have a little rest.

On the leash I do have a tendency to pull:(  This would be a project for my future owner and I to work on. We worked on it today and I do understand the concept - I just need practice.

I LOVE nature - all the smells and sights in the Bangor City Forest were incredible.  So incredible that I was more interested in the outdoors then I was in the people passing. 

When I mentioned people above, that did not include children.  We met several groups of these little folks and they all wanted to pat me.  I was as calm as could be while receiving multiple pats all at one time.  I think the Mrs was a bit apprehensive, but I did great!  Also, listening to their little children squeals during our walk made me want to smile.

Okay, now I will tell you one of my downfalls.  It is probably why I am still hanging out at the shelter and not at a forever home.  Other dogs!  I think I love other dogs - my tail wags like crazy / I pull out of control / I just want to get at them and say "Want to be friends?".  But rumor has it that when I have had visits with other dogs, I want to show my dominance - like getting on top of them, if you know what I mean.  This is not a good thing.  So today when I did meet a dog, I pulled out of control and was quickly ushered away from the other dog.  The Mrs did not want to have me show my not so good stuff off on our outing today. 

Lastly, we went up on a grassy hill for a photo shoot.  I do not care for cameras being aimed in my direction and I do love green grass.  So you probably got my drift - the picture-taking was short lived.

If you love nature and want a dog with simular interests, please come and check me out at the Bangor Humane Society.  I am a three year old retreiver/hound mix.

Murdoc wants a hug...

What the heck is Murdoc doing back at the shelter???  I will say that the Bangor Humane Society does a great job in making sure folks (yes, the two legged ones) realize the responsibility of adopting a pet and they also do their best in making sure each adoption is the right fit.  But every once in a while the adopter is not who they portrait and that's what happened to poor Murdoc.

Sadly to say  he is back in the shelter waiting for the right owner who is not only responsible, but is also looking for a dog who just wants to hug. I've been volunteering at the Bangor Humane Society for almost two years and I don't think I have seen a dog who just wants to sit and hug as much as Murdoc. The downside of being sooo loving is that he does not like being left alone. He would definitely not do well in a home where he was left for the day while the humans were at work.

I did bring Murdoc to my home to meet Lola a while back and that did not go well at all. You see Lola likes dogs who love to play with her. In fact, Lola really likes dogs who do not like me. Murdoc could care less about other dogs, but loves to hug and sit next to humans. Obviously it was not a great scene. My thoughts are that poor Murdoc deserves a home where there is no competition for the hugs and kisses from the two legged folks.

If you are interested in a dog that just wants to be loved, contact the Bangor Humane Society asap.

Paw's on Parade 2011

What a successful (although wet) day it was last Saturday for the Bangor Humane Society.  That is the day Paw's on Parade gathered 300 humans and their dogs to walk and raise over $56,000 to benefit the shelter and the animals they house. 

I attended with my dog Lola, husband and camera.  I captured too many photos to even try to post in a blog, but have add all photos to my photography website (click on the hi-lighted words). 

I will mention a few special moments to my day:

Seeing Chuck who had been a long term resident at the shelter (yes, "had been" means he was adopted this week).  He is a very sweet, well behaved dog who just needed a chance.  Those marble eyes of his made him look just a little bit crazy; which he was not.

Also attending from the shelter was Buddy.  What a handsome dog he is.  I believe at this time he is still waiting to be united with his new owners.

....and you all know me as being a sucker for a dog who loves me.  Well, this little beagle couldn't keep his eyes off from me.  Oops - it was his nose and it wasn't me:(  It happened to be the pocket full of treats I had.  He sniffed me out anytime I was within smelling range.  And the children were delightful.  Thanks to them for rescuing such a great sniffing dog.

Thanks to those involved and thank you to all those who have adopted/rescued a dog and given them the much deserved chance!!!

Dog's Day Out for Chuck

If you have been to the Bangor Humane Society in the last few months, you have probably seen a dog with marble eyes.  Well that dog is me - Chuck.  I am what they call a long term resident.  There have been other great dogs written about on this blog who have also been long term residence.  We all remember Jack, Vicki and Bubba - all great dogs that took a little longer then norm to find the perfect home.  Well that's me - just hanging out here waiting for the perfect match.

Enough about me and more about me day out:

It started out with having a harness put on me.  I will say that a harness makes a dog feel like the human is in control and makes a dog not want to pull so much.  While on dog-walk here at the shelter, I give the workers a true workout - meaning I pull quite a bit.  But once that harness was put on me, I slowed right down and enjoyed the walk.

I will say I love car rides.  Especially sticking my head out the window - just head, no body:)  I think I would have really liked a car with windows in the backseat - but at this point I am not going to be choisy. 

Our walk went great with me sniffing and then watering every thing in sight (if you get my drift).  I will say that I only watered the green stuff - never tires like some dogs do.  While out we met many people and dogs.  The Mrs always started out cautiously, since word is that I may not care for other dogs (obviously, I wasn't aware of this today).  Today I fell for all dogs and most people. 

While on our walk, I did have one person spook me.  She was the lady in the caretakers building.  I was looking at that building like it would be a nice place to visit and then out of nowhere up pops a head.  Boy, was I spooked.  I started barking; trying to say stay away.  This women really wanted to meet me, but new that I was quite nervous.  This is when the Mrs distracted me by having me show my stuff - I know sit, stay, down, paw and a whole lot more.  As with most dogs, a treat is in order after such a performance.  That's when the lady slowly approached me and gae me lots of reassuring pats.  After this, I decided it would be fun going in her building.  That's when she suggested my name should be Snoopy.

Speaking of names - my name is Chuck.  Not a bad name, but if you decided you liked something else I could adjust.  Somebody on the trail mentioned they would name me Mesmer, since my eyes are quite mesmerising.  FYI - I am not blind.  I just have very different eyes or you may say special.  They make me look a bit loco, but I'm not.  I am just a great well behaved pit bull looking for a forever home.

Further down the trail, we met a woman who had two collie rescues.  We did a bit of meet and greet then continued our walk with them.  The Mrs and this woman got to walking and talking about everything from shelter dogs to art - and us dogs just walked along enjoying each others company and sniffing all there was to sniff.  Word has it that these dogs don't know how to play - I did a few play bows and they just looked at me.  I did say that there was a lot of talking going on - well so much that we lost track of time.  We spent over half an hour with them and then realized time was running out and we needed to get going.  Speaking of running - we had to run all the way back to our car!!! 

Well back at the shelter waiting for the perfect home.  Please remember that looks aren't everything - behind these crazy eyes of mine is a very well behaved dog who would love to be loved.

One Down, Two to Go!!!

On Sunday one of the staff members at the Bangor Humane Society took Sunny to the WeinerFest.  She had a spendid time and got to show her stuff.  Good news was that she met her new owners there!  Yes, that's right - Sunny is no longer available for adoption.

I, Jax, on the other hand am still hanging out waiting for somebody to come in and fall in love with me!!!  Today was pretty special.  Two volunteers came in to walk dogs prior to the doors to the shelter being closed for the night and you guessed it - they both picked me.  The second one did not realize that I had already been out, but I think secretly she would have taken me any ways.  It was the Mrs and I know she is madly in love with me.  We played ball - I will retreive and leave it.  We hugged - this is the part she loves and I don't mind it either.  We just ran around and had a grand time.  I think I love people and other dogs - did I mention the other dog I played with through the fence.  As I said, this was a great time.  Now I'm just hanging out waiting for that certain someone. 

By the way - Harley is also hanging out waiting for his forever home!!! 

Photo Shoot for Harley

Today was the day for me to get my photo done for PetFinder and I will say this "I do not like cameras and I do not like having my photo taken!"  You wouldn't know it by the looks of the photos on this blog, but you should have seen those that were not published - not good:(

We went to the Bangor City Forest and did a bit of walking prior to the camera being brought out.  I am very STRONG, so my advice for you is to invest in a harness.  I do not pull unless I see something I want and then I just pull very hard - not out of control  pulling such as a lab, just very deliberate.  This being said, our walk today was cut short since the Mrs did not have a harness.  I know with a harness things would have been different.

A little about me - I am a friendly nine year old pitbull who was surrendered because my family was having some issues and didn't have a place for me to live.  I am really not happy about being here at the shelter and am anxious to find my next forever home.  This week I was seclected to appear on  Channel 5's Pet of the Week.  If you watch this, you will note that I am very stressed in front of the camera. 

One last thing - car rides are great, but I would love to be one of those irresponsible dogs and hang out the window - like with my body half out!  The Mrs put a stop to this immediately:(, but I did enjoy the ride even though.  Well back at the shelter and I am patiently waiting for my forever home!

Day Out for Jax!!!

You may remember me hanging out at the Bangor Humane Society a few months ago - back then my name was Cadbury.  Well I'm back here again due to the fact that the folks who adopted me were both teachers.  Our summer was spectacular, but once school started it was determined that I have a bit of separation anxiety - well maybe more then a little.  So if you are the type who hangs out at home or you could take a dog to work with you - I may be just the dog for you!!! 

Today we went for a walk in the Bangor City Forest.  I love smells, people, children and affection.  Today consisted of all of these.  I walk very well on leash - only pulling if I saw a dog that looked like he might want to meet me.  Most of the time I was asked to sit and bribed with a treat - and yes I obeyed:)

I will say while on our walk I found the smells very distracting.  I actually had to be coaxed along at times, because otherwise we could have ended up there until dark.  If you wanted a dog to run with, I may be that dog because once I'm running we are just flying by those nice smells.  But walks turn into strolls; which turn into lingering over all those smells.

We did meet up with children who were very interested in patting me.  That was great!!!  They asked the Mrs if I could shake paws - boy was she surprised when I raised my paw up for them.  Oh and by the way I did expect a treat for this performance:)  I love treats more then anything and I will say I love most things!

The afternoon ended with the Mrs and me just hanging out in the field enjoying our last few minutes together.  Did I mention that she loves hugs as much as I do - especially those from a pit as affectionate as I am.  I know I will be one of those special dogs that will always have a place in her heart. 

Well I am back at the Bangor Humane Society just waiting for the perfect home.  The folks here all love me too and are really crossing their fingers that I am out of here sooner then later.