More than 11,900 animals enter Oregon Humane Society’s shelters every year—an impressive number made possible by the generosity of our donors. Every animal in our care receives everything they need—healthy food, medical care, spacious shelter, plentiful exercise, love, and support—but the very best place for every animal is at home.
Sunny at Shelter
Sunny Day came to OHS after being with the same family for seven years. Previous experiences with animal companions made it clear that she would need to be the only animal in the house. However, staff were concerned about how long this sensitive girl would have to wait for the right family to take a chance on her.
The most essential service we provide at OHS is finding homes for animals in need—but OHS and animal welfare agencies across the country are seeing a reduction in adoptions of large dogs. Breed restrictions, housing density, cost of living, and a variety of other factors play a role in this complex and compounding issue—and vulnerable dogs like Sunny Day are paying the price. During her shelter stay, staff observed that at times Sunny could be tense and nervous. To ease her anxiety, they needed to get her in a home setting as soon as possible.
Because of donor support OHS was able to think outside the box to find solutions to help dogs like Sunny find a home as quickly as possible.
Diamond In the Ruff
Diamond in the Ruff is a foster-to-adopt program created by OHS to encourage interested familiesto take a second look at dogs they may not have considered. By participating in the program, families agree to foster a potential new pet before committing to adopt, and the OHS Customer Care team provides guidance through regular check-in calls.
The program turned out to be an ideal arrangement for Charlotte, who was interested in a dog of her own but couldn’t stand the idea of adopting a dog only to discover that they weren’t the right fit. The regular check-ins from OHS staff gave Charlotte the encouragement she needed as Sunny Day got settled and the duo navigated their new routines.
At Home with Charlotte
Initially, Sunny Day struggled to stay calm in her new environment, but the customer care team was able to share tips specific to Sunny Day’s experiences and needs. Charlotte became more confident as a pet owner. The time in a home with room to stretch and relax allowed Sunny’s full, loving personality to shine, and soon Charlotte decided that Sunny Day was meant to be hers forever.
Today, Sunny is a lovebug and an occasional couch potato who snuggles with Charlotte under the covers.
“Sunny is absolutely a delight; I love her dearly and am so thankful for OHS for taking care of her until we found each other. She is so sweet to other humans and guests and is quite popular with my friends and neighbors. While I work, she rests by my feet in her bed, and I let her sleep under my covers every night for snuggles.” says Charlotte.
Helping Animals Feel at Home at OHS
OHS is committed to ensuring that all animals feel at home while they are in our care. We encourage animals to show up as their most comfortable, authentic selves through a variety of innovative programs and services.
Dogs Day Out – A volunteer-run program that gets dogs out of shelter for a few hours and into the community. A walk around a neighborhood, a cozy couch in a volunteer’s home, or a Sniff Spot for safe exploration are just some of the activities a dog can expect.
Cattery – The purpose-built Behavior & Rescue Center is where our animals in the Behavior Modification Program live. The cattery sunroom includes large windows for bird-watching and is a communal space for cats to cuddle and play with one another.
Real Life Rooms – Our shelters have “real life rooms,” spaces set up to model what a home would look and feel like—complete with cozy couch. OHS trainers use these spaces to observe how animals will do in home settings, but often animals can spend some cozy alone time in the rooms to refresh and recharge away from their kennels.
One of the highlights of working at OHS is receiving updates from adopters that showcase just how transformational a supportive, loving home can be for animals. At times behaviors and preferences observed in shelter completely change and melt away in a home environment. Your gifts help all animals on their unique journey home.
