Earl
6 years / 21 days
German Shepherd / Mix

Hi there! My name is Earl. I know...I know..."just like the t.v. show". Not at all, actually. I am WAAAY smarter than THAT guy! But in my own way...I'd LOVE to win the lottery and come home with YOU! I'm a 6-year old, German Shepherd Mix. I'm a big guy but I'd say just about the right size for snugglin' on the couch or sleeping next to you in bed...I have a very soft and warm coat that would feel nice cuddling up next to now that it's getting chilly outside. OR on my own bed... I'm easy!! I just want a home again. I lost my last owner kinda suddenly and well...I was a little territorial when I was taken to Wayside but that just shows how loyal and protective I can be to my humans. You just need to know that I will be very protective of my humans and their home so as long as you are ready for that then I'd love to meet you! The humans here at Wayside have been so great and kind to me and I've been really good since I've been here, but they think I'd probably do better in a home without kids under 12. And since I'm such a good protector...I should really be the only male dog you have and I should really meet any female dogs you might have just to make sure we get along alright. But that's not just for me, ya know! I hear they like to do that for all the dogs around here. I'd hate it if we fell in love with each other when you came to meet me and I had to come back because we didn't do it just right! I want to go with you to my FOREVER forever home. But don't worry...the ladies LOVE me! How could they not...I mean look at my smile! Here's the thing that I think sets me apart... I am a TRUE gentleman. No foolin'! I am polite. I'm not a "jump all over you" kinda guy. I like treats and toys and I'm very gentle when taking either with my mouth. Manners...just part of my charm! I take a leash well...you may even notice I wiggle a bit when you put it on me because I love taking walks and I walk on a leash very well. Did I mention that I'm smart? I know "sit" and "shake" and if you're smart too...I bet together we can add a few more tricks to my repertoire that we can use to dazzle and amaze your friends! I mean..."OUR" friends. Though I'm not a puppy...that can be a good thing if you're looking for a smart and handsome guy who CAN be playful and mellow then I am DEFINITELY the dog for YOU! I love it when my human gets down on my level and rubs my back and my belly! Man, do I LOVE that!! I AM "partially" house trained but when a volunteer took me out around midday...I did my business outside. I really just want to find a loving and nurturing home with some humans who will love me as much as I love them. This is a great place if you're a dog without a home but it can't compete with snuggling on the couch with you and getting my belly rubbed. So if you're looking for a loyal, smart and loving cuddle buddy then please come and meet me at Wayside. You just gotta see this smile in person to get the full effect of my charms! I'll be waiting... Snuggly yours... Earl 

Adoption fee: $125

Izzy4 years months / 3 months
Domestic Shorthair / Mix
I'M SHY but like friendly laps and gentle attention...

and really would prefer to be the only smaller object of affection in your all adult household. Dogs and children and other cats are just not my favorites to be around. They make me feel insecure and like I may need to defend myself at any moment. I am also the kind of girl who likes to keep my human loving time limited, and who will signal my people when the limit is reached. Very lovey, but sort of on my terms, just a smidge independent in that way.

When you come out to visit me, please do not be surprised to see that I am a heavy kitty. I know a lot of people think 'fat cats' are a hoot, but it is a condition no self-respecting cat sets out to have. The extra weight makes moving around harder and if we don't have an owner committed to helping us lose some pounds, extra weight can be very harmful. Luckily, I have started to trim up through diet and exercise here at Wayside. My goal is to be able to jump on a lap and snuggle without a struggle, so if you are compassionate about the weight, you may be my hero(es).

Also, when we are introduced please be patient and give me a couple of minutes of soft talk and hand sniffing to get me to relax with you. Once we get to point of me being confident about you petting me, I will be able to show you what a sweet, loving companion I can be. My ideal adopter(s) will understand that I am the type of girl who will need to come out of my carrier at my own pace when we go home, and I may even need some time to hide out for a while till I am comfortable with all the sounds and smells in my new place. Patience plus kindness will win my heart and loyalty. (Oh, and keeping my litter box clean is a must - I am fussy about a tidy toilet!)

Please think about whether you are the kind of family I need and what I will blossom into with the right environment. If you truly are right for me, you will know it in your heart once you meet me. I can't begin to tell you how much I really need to be out of here ... the people are kind and the care is wonderful, but it just is not HOME.

Izzy Solekity

Adoption Fee: $50

Oliver
2 years old
Basset Hound / Labrador

Hello there! I'm Oliver, such a character, sure to put a smile on your face every single day. I'm looking for a new home. A special new home, to be exact. Well, that's cause I'm a special sort of dog. I'm a two and a half year old, 44 pounds of solid love, Basset Hound/Lab mix, or Bassador, as the staff likes to call me. I like that. It fits my spunky and sweet personality.

I came to Wayside awhile back from the shelter in Hutchinson, KS. I was not happy to be here, not a bit. I just couldn't relax. I was grumpy in my kennel and very protective of all my stuff...blankets, toys, food, even people. They call it 'resource guarding'. I never had anything of my own before, so what I do have needs to be protected. This is why I'm listed as a 'special needs' dog. I will need my owner to be very diligent and consistent in training me. I will need lots of positive reinforcement, like praise and treats, as you're teaching me all about life and limits and rules. I hope you're ok with that! By the way, I think I'm mostly housetrained. I don't like to go to the bathroom in my kennel and I show people when I need to get out. Please be patient with me when we get home, but rest assured I'm well on my way!

So anyway, the Wayside staff, especially one staff member who knows who she is and who I owe so very much to, has worked tirelessly with me over the past few months to get me to where I am today. I made her, my new best friend, sad when I got here, and she vowed not to let me down, so she began patiently working with me day in and day out. And I started to come around, ever so slowly. One day on our walk, I decided I wanted to start meeting other people too. And my attitude started getting better. And my walk had a spring in its step all of a sudden. And then, before she knew it, I was excited and happy with my life. I started smiling and got playful. I decided that life was good! What a wonderful discovery!

Since that time, I've started participating in doggie play groups. I do best with the friendly, relaxed, easy going type of dogs. Hyper and crazy dogs aren't my style at all. And if you do have another dog, I'd definitely like to meet them before we go home together. I also need a home without cats, bunnies, or other small and furry animals. I love my people, but staff feels that I need a home without kids under the age of 15, because of my resource guarding issues. Kids scare me anyway, along with loud noises.

I'm a very smart boy! I already know 'sit', 'wait', 'off', 'speak', and I'm currently working on 'down'. You can feel free to teach me more cool stuff if you'd like! I love to play fetch. Love to go for walks. Love my toys. And I love to just hang out with you, enjoying a little quiet time each and every day. I will be a wonderful companion, content to do whatever you'd like, your friend always, loyal and true. I'm active and playful, yet calm and gentle and sweet. I'm such a great combination of qualities. Oh, and I'm adorable too, but you already knew that, didn't you?

Well, I hope I didn't take up too much of your time! Sometimes I get carried away when I start telling my story. I'm just happy I have a story to tell! Happy to be here this fine day, preparing for my new life to begin! And the day I become a valued part of a real family, well, that will be the happiest day of all for me! I can't wait!
Love, Oliver

Adoption fee: $125

Stop the Georgia Aquarium from Importing Wild-Caught Belugas

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta has applied for a permit from the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service to import these 18 wild-caught beluga whales from Russia. Meanwhile, much closer to home, 40 already-captive belugas languish in substandard conditions at Marineland of Canada.
If the permit is approved, the aquarium will transport these wild-caught whales 6,000 miles, first to Belgium and then across the Atlantic, causing the animals tremendous stress. For hours on end, the whales -- highly sensitive to noise and handling -- would be forced to endure the roaring engines of cargo planes. On top of that, the 1- to 1.5-ton animals would be transferred from one container to another -- and then one plane to another -- during their grueling journey’s layover in Belgium. It’s too much for these aquatic mammals, and it will be extremely stressful.
The 40 belugas at Marineland of Canada are desperately in need of rescue from deplorable conditions. The Georgia Aquarium could rescue them from misery, with a much shorter transport, rather than ship 18 whales 6,000 miles from Russia.
The Georgia Aquarium needs this permit to move forward with the import—help halt this application.
Please sign our petition protesting the permit application. We will deliver this petition, with all the names, to the National Marine Fisheries Service by the end of the permit application's public comment period on October 29.

ASPCA Happy Tail: Old Dog, New Tricks

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - 10:45am

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When Britney came to the ASPCA through the Humane Law Enforcement department, she was in pain and suffering from multiple untreated conditions.
Fortunately, the veterinary staff at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital was able to nurse Britney back to health, and eventually she became available for adoption; we could finally find a home for this sweet dog who had suffered so much.
We knew it would be a challenge.
Statistically speaking, animals who are black, large or senior, as well as those who take medication or can’t live with other animals, usually spend more time waiting for homes. Britney was all of these things, and to make matters worse, she didn’t engage much with adopters who passed her habitat, preferring to rest quietly.
Still, we knew that the right person would come for Britney, and to speed things along, we spread the word about this special canine. After seeing Britney’s picture and reading about her, Kevin Bechard tells us, “I wanted to snatch her right up.”
A few days later Bechard was going above and beyond to help Britney settle in to her new home in suburban Connecticut.
“The first couple nights I actually slept on the floor with her because she can’t do stairs, and she would just reach out with her paw and make sure it was against me,” he recalls. “Only then she would allow herself to go to sleep. If I moved away a little bit, her eyes would open.”
The love and comfort of a forever home has revived Britney, who has blossomed into a trusting and happy pup: Bechard reports that at his house Britney loves romping outdoors and goes on multiple nature walks a day.
In return, Bechard has gained a new best friend who, he says, never required house-training or manners instruction, thanks to her age. “I wish more people would consider older dogs,” Bechard says. “I was open to anything, but I was so pleasantly surprised.”
To read more happy endings, check out our Happy Tails archive.