In October of 2015 I lost my baby, Clyde. He was 14 and had been failing for awhile. I was broken. I knew someday we would get another cat, but didn't know when the time would be right. A dear friend invited me to come with her family to look at kittens at a Foster home. They were adopting one and hoped I would consider the other one. This was February. In the Foster home was a beautiful momma kitty and her two 8 day old babies. I went over to see them, and momma, aka, Mary, reached out to me and meowed. That did it. I knew I had found my cat! She needed to stay in Foster care until her boys were old enough and she could be spayed. It was the longest wait ever, once I had convinced my husband she was the one! On April 21st she joined our other 2 girls and 1 older dog and 3 boys. Introductions have been slow, but good and she acts like she's been here all along. Yes, I could've chosen a cute, spunky kitten, but I'm SO happy we adopted Sadie. She makes the 5th cat I've adopted from WHS, 3 of which were 1 or older. Kittens are adorable, but older, full grown cats are just as wonderful and loving. My heart is finally healing. Thank you Sadie for being purr-fectly amazing, Kim (super awesome Foster mom), and everyone involved at WHS. You truly have the best fur kids!

I first saw Bodhi (formerly Tim) on the Willamette Valley Humane Society facebook page. He was shaved in the picture and looked very scrappy. Having just lost a mini Schnauzer to old age I was looking for a new buddy.
I showed my wife the photo and she just laughed at me. "This is the dog you want?" she said sarcastically. I affirmed my choice and we headed down to see him. We have a female Chihuahua and brought her along to do a meet and greet. The meet and greet went ok. The dogs had no problem with each other at all. As a matter of fact Bodhi had zero interest in any of us. he just walked around sniffing the room. I applied to adopt him kind of reluctantly hoping he would act different once he got home. As it turned out Bodhi was just "playing it cool" He could not be more different than he acted during the meeting. He is very sweet and loving to everyone in the family, loves to cuddle, and goes crazy for tennis balls. I take him on my adventures around the state and he is the best behaved dog I have ever had. He loves to hike, go to the beach, and will jump right into my car as soon as I open the door. My only "complaint" with him is that he is a little too energetic in the early morning. Together with our female we have what we call a fluffy alarm clock. It's a small price to pay for such a great pair of companions.

I had been looking for a small dog to help keep my spirits up during the school year when I tend to get overwhelmed and stressed. I checked everyday online at many different shelters for the perfect dog, and just 30 minutes before I was planning on going into the WHS shelter, I saw Gordo online. They had JUST cleared him for adoption, and I fell in love with him instantly through the computer screen. I was at the shelter just a few minutes later, and went straight to his kennel. He was so new there that most of the staff didn't know who "Gordo" was yet. I didn't even need to look at other animals because he had instantly won my heart. I looked at my mom and said "He's the one."

At the shelter they said he wasn't interested in toys, other animals, or anything for that matter... He was too scared. He's no longer shy, or scared, and has such a bright look in his eyes, and a smile on his face everyday now. And he absolutely LOVES every single person, dog, cat, etc. that he encounters (including my moms farm animals... pig, horses, rabbit). He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, and he is the most loving dog I've ever met. He loves being by my side and follows me everywhere. He sits in my lap when I'm doing homework (which is where he is right now), but he also loves to be outside, go on walks, and play; it's the perfect balance. I LOVE him SO much, and can't imagine my life without him now. I couldn't have asked for a better pal to keep me company, and I've never been happier! I can't thank the Willamette Humane Society enough for giving me my new best friend.

We adopted our 1.5 dachshund back in May and we couldn't be happier. Bilbo (formerly Scooby), is such an amazing little guy. He is full of life, smart and a great cuddler. We are so thankful that we were able to find him. Rescue animals are the greatest.

Owner #1 gave Kona to her friend then owner #2 got Kona but then owner #2 gave Kona to the shelter when she moved. So then the shelter gave owner #1 a certain amount of time to claim Kona and take her again but they didn't so we became her third home!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lost my cat Powder at the age of 21 the beginning of this year, I swore to myself that I would never get another cat, it hurt too much to have him leave me. For weeks I would look out the window under his tree where he was buried and cry. Then a few days ago a friend of mine posted something on my Facebook page, it was a link to "Chocolate Bunny" (Now aptly named Sir Bedivere,) His story was that he had a really rough time until someone brought him into the shelter, he was almost starved to death and had a huge gash on his face, He looked like he had been through so much and my heart went out to him. I sent an email to the shelter immediately asking if he was still available and that I would be in Friday after work to meet him.
When I got there the girls were so happy that I had come in to see him, I could tell that he had touched the lives of all those that had cared for him. After meeting him and seeing his personality and after all that he had went through, he was still a gentle and loving cat, I knew I had to take him home. The adoption process was so wonderful and it pleased my heart to see a lot of people adopting. That night when we got home, he prowled around a bit and found a dark spot to hide, I let him stay to himself, and he eventually came to me and got up on my desk and laid while I did some work on my computer, he was purring and seemed very content. At bed time he followed me and we both got into bed, he stayed at the foot until I called him to let him know it was okay, then he made his way to my chest and laid down, he licked my cheek and I cried and hugged him. I cried because I knew he was happy and that small gesture of his kindness and affection was his way of saying, "Thank you." He does not know this, or maybe he does, but he in turn rescued me as much as I did him. He is truly my knight in shinning armor. Thank you Sir Bedivere.

I was walking through my local mall when I decided to walk through the Kitten Kaboodle. I had no intention to get a cat at that time, maybe in a month or so when I had moved. My older sister, who was following behind me, let out a gasp and an "Awwww". This little orange kitten had grabbed her through the bars of his cage. She had asked to hold him, and he immediately fell asleep in her arms, legs splayed, flat on his back, mouth agape.
She handed him to me and went to find her husband. I sat with him four a total of two minutes when I knew I would't be leaving without this little furball. He had curled himself into my sweater, and people were walking by and petting him. When the handler took him so I could sign the papers, he clung to me 🙂
He is now my constant companion and in much better health and spirits (He had a bad upper respiratory infection that he was being treated when I got him). I regret nothing. I'm so happy I went into Kitten Kaboodle that day.

When we arrived at the Humane Society early this month, we didn't plan on coming home with a new kitty. My boyfriend and I already had a 16 year old Golden Retriever and a 14 year old American Bobtail. However, while visiting the cat room there was one kitty who caught my eye, Tatertot. She seemed so friendly and had an adorable face so when a volunteer offered for us to go to a visitation room I couldn't say no. Tatertot had won me over; the only catch was she was very sick. Tatertot was a hospice adoption because there were multiple masses in her abdomen. At that point I'd already fallen in love so I still took her home and promptly to the vet. My veterinarian said that along with the masses, Tatertot had a heart murmur which makes it very difficult to predict when she might pass away. Despite all this Tatertot is happy as a clam and so are we. The other animals act as if they've been siblings all along, and I've never met a kitty who likes to cuddle more than Tatertot. One of her favorite activities is headbutting and purring. In the morning, I'm awakened to two meowing kitties on either side of me, begging for breakfast, and it's so cute I can't be mad. She has also created a very close bond to my Golden Retriever; they will sleep on the same bed, drink out of the bowl at the same time, and they have even begun taking leashed walks together! I feel so lucky that my boyfriend and I were there to find Tatertot and welcome her into our family. She is treated like an absolute princess and knows that shes finally at home. We look forward to spending many more years with Tatertot.

Hey I'm destiny last year we went an decided to sign up to be a volunteer and an in we I mean my mom an my brother an I but I saw copper an it was just how he was.He's a great dog he gets along well with my brothers dog . he's my best friend that may sound weird but its true he's an amazing dog I'm so glad we came an I cant thank anyone enough for him he is truly a blessing in disguise I an my family love him with all our hearts he's my family an I love him dearly thanks Willamette humane society.

Bentley is so much fun! I love him so much and I'm really glad he can keep up with all the things I like to do. So far I've taken him to the beach for the weekend, gone on long hiking trails through the forest, bike rides in nearby neighborhoods, and taught him new skills (tricks). He loves to be outside in the early morning, and let the summer breeze blow against him in the evening. He also enjoys barking at random moments, and he takes pleasure in sitting right in front of the TV when my favorite show is on. When I was first interested in adopting a dog, I was looking for a younger and energetic dog. But I fell in love with Bentley when I got to interact with him in another room. Bentley has been in my family for two years now and he's all I've ever wanted.

Buddy came home with us as a rescue for our senior family member Bear who had also been adopted from the Humane Society in Lafayette Indiana 14 years before. Bear was traumatized from abuse and starvation and not considered highly 'adoptable' for us because of our young children. The children became his saving grace as he fell to nurturing them and took them on as 'his kids' to raise. Bear became not only a member of the family but a neighborhood favorite, but sadly he was starting to age and loosing interest in much of his world and what he had enjoyed in his youth. We went to the WV Human Society hoping to find a friend for Bear, someone to inspire his energy. Buddy was a great fit. He was found stray and was very anxious, he was kept in the back cages by himself to help keep Him calm. It was love at first sight for us and an instant connection with Bear! We had found a fountain of youth for our old friend! Buddy has sadly seen his friend bear pass on in 2009. Since then we have grown our family by another dog, Champ and a stray rescue kitty, Salt. Buddy has always been among our greatest Blessings in his genuine desire to be a part of the family as a friend and caretaker of all in the household. We can't imagine what life would have been like for Bear and us without him.

Bunny's foster parent brought her to the into clinic where I work. She instantly won me over! We brought her home as soon as we could! This picture is from our trip to the coast to visit her human auntie.

Copper has been the most amazing companion. He is such a sweet calm boy. He is great with kids and other animals. Now if only I can talk my better half into getting him a brother or sister. 😉

Copper has been the most amazing companion. He is such a sweet calm boy. He is great with kids and other animals. Now if only I can talk my better half into getting him a brother or sister. 😉

I went in to the Humane Society looking for a dog with my best friend who decided we should stop and look at the cats first. I was never really a cat person, so while she was walking around looking I was standing by the door waiting in anticipation to go check out the dogs when this handsome guy caught my attention. He's been part of the family ever since and I can now say he has turned me into a crazy cat lady. He goes almost every where with us as he loves riding in the car and visiting new places. He is quite the character and although it is hard to choose just one photo, our story is a happy tail nonetheless. Thank you Willamette Humane Society!

After months of writing up stories about shelter cats for the WHS blog, I got hooked myself. As an all-black, senior cat, Troy wasn't the first choice for many adopters. But he kept his sunny outlook, and he doled out affection to anyone who would so much as look at him. Finally, my husband and I decided to take this sweet guy home and add him to our pack. He's been here less than a week, and he's already fitting in beautifully. He has yet to fully meet our cats (still doing introductions), but he has the dogs whipped into shape. And he has us wrapped around his little paws. We couldn't be happier.

Josie is just the greatest dog!!!! Loves to sleep in and lounge around all day but doesn't mind a bit play and long walks too 🙂 She is currently sleeping on our couch which she has claimed as her throne. She grabbed our hearts and has never let go and she is our little princess.

I went to Petco for food for my then 14 yr cat Goober. I made the mistake of looking at the cats and noticed a little black and white kitten calming watching me. "Would you like to hold him?" No, no ....ooh he's adorable and so calm. That was it I went home with Goobers' food, kitten food (which immediately became Goobers food of choice but that's another story) and Roberto. Goober is such big, ole mellow cat I wasn't too worried about him but you never know. I let Roberto out of the carrier, they checked each other out and it's been best buds ever since. They both stand at the door together and demand to go "Outside" on the porch(enclosed) where they munch on grass I have in a planter for them, when they get a dry food treat Roberto runs back and forth making sure Goober knows the good stuff is coming, and they wrestle off and on all day, Goober has known how much is enough without hurting Roberto from day one. I had always thought I would get an older cat as a buddy for Goober ( that is a morph of Good boy by the way) but Roberto has been a perfect addition for both of us, I cannot imagine this home without him.

Faith started as another foster kitten that needed to gain some weight prior to being spayed. She instantly fit in with my other three cats and two pit bulls. After the first week it was clear Faith and my first foster failure Onyx had become the best of friends. By the time Faith weighed enough to have surgery I knew there was no was I could let her go !

Beauty was named at the Humane Society. I kept her name because she was a "beauty." She has been so much fun and a wonderful companion. I am so happy I chose her.

I was diagnosed with an Acustic Neuroma, a brain tumor when We adopted flora in October. After my surgery Flora (now called Hazle) spend endless hours keeping me company when I was recovering. Most time confined in bed or to the home. Always ready for a pet or a closer snuggle. She was taged as feral and aggressive. I don't know how. Shy at first but definitely not aggressive. Now she thinks she is queen. She likes her special treats and has developed a gourmet taste. He favorited spot, right in the middle of the bed, soft and cozy, just purrfect for a cat nap

Bonnie and Clyde are brother and sister. They're my babies. They love to play and chew on your hair when it's wet. They're trouble makers so their names fit perfectly. I've lost count at how many things they have broken. It's all e with it though because they're so cute. They love to cuddle and sleep with each other and they hate being apart from one another.

When we came to WHS to adopt a kitty, we had no intention of adopting a medium length hair one, especially one without a tail. But when we walked into the room and saw Dot playing with a volunteer, we fell in love immediately and no other cat could compare. In the nearly two years since we adopted Dot, we've learned that Manx cats are excellent jumpers and fast runners. He's become an important member of our family.

We waited for Stanley for several months as his mom was in hospice and Stanley was living with the gang at WHS. He was definitely worth the wait. He has quite the personality. He loves to sleep with us and lick us in the middle of the night. He talks a lot and is getting along well with his big sister Maggie the Ragdoll. He even gets along (finally!) with his other big sister the Great Dane.

I am a young, newlywed, college student and for my 21st birthday, my sweet Husband bought me the only thing I want… a kitten! It didn't take me long to choose the perfect kitten for me. I took one sweep through all the rooms and came right back to my little Dr. Bruce. Even at the humane society he was playful and loving just like he is now. He loves his brother Zeus who we adopted the same day. They are literally best friends. They like to cuddle and fight. Dr. Bruce loves his sparkly, jingly, ball and playing catch with us. He's the best kitten I could have ever asked for. Thank you to my husband, and the humane society for the best birthday present ever.