DOG ADOPTION MATCHMAKER:
We’re looking for a courteous and upbeat person to make true love connections. Do you like working with people and animals? Apply today!
Tasks:
In just 10-15 minutes per app…
– Read through application and dog bios to see if applicant and dog are a good match (Good with other dogs? Children? Etc.?)
– Call vet/friend references
– Check for landlord’s permission – specifically for pit-bulls if applicable
– Arrange for meet and greet with yourself or another volunteers
– Arrange for meet and greet/home visit
VOLUNTEER COODINATOR:
Rally one of the finest troops of volunteers in dog rescue! Help our people get our dogs where they need to go, from adoption clinics and vet visits to meet and greets to home placements! Apply today!
Tasks:
– Post our transport and handling needs in the volunteer group
– Sign folks up for the job
– Arrange relays so people can share responsibility in longer transports
– Recruit new volunteers to our doggy task force!
HOME VISITOR
Want to do the most rewarding work in rescue – placing dogs in loving homes? Drive Miss Daisy to meet their true love and set them up for life! Apply today!
Tasks:
In the course of an hour + transportation…
– Visit the prospective adoptive home
– Observe the dog, people, surroundings for kindness, respect and safety (Never feel you have to leave a dog in a situation you are not comfortable with!)
– If all goes well, explain our policies
– Sign contracts, turn over vet records, collect fees
– Snap a happy tale photo!
– Return signed contract, fee and photo to DHA
– Smile! You just placed a dog!

We look forward to hearing from you!

With a series of exciting shifts at Dog House Adoptions, we’d like to re-introduce ourselves! Our 2015 board members, Brittany, Audra and Marianne, have been involved with Dog House Adoptions for some time (Audra being a founding member!). We have come to love this organization so much, we are happy to serve as its legal guardians.

Get to know us, then help us change the lives of orphaned dogs for the better. They need you, and so do we. Apply today!

Meet Brittany DeJohn!
President, March 2015 – Present
Volunteer since May 2014

As a student of veterinary services, Brittany has an enormous desire to be deeply involved with the health of animals, but also the passion to be involved in the animal welfare side of things, too. Since her invitation to the Board, Brittany has investing many hours into learning all there is to know about our organization and, with her go-getter personality, has bright plans for our future.

As one of our most active and creative volunteers, Brittany already had wonderful dedication to our organization in everything from dog handling to fundraising. Taking full initiative, she has implemented entire campaigns to raise hundreds of dollars for the organization and a personal campaign to fund the adoption fee for one of her favorite dogs. She also has terrific experience as a volunteer cat foster, so she knows the ins-and-outs of what it takes to find animals loving homes.

Meet Audra Bentley!
Founding Member
Treasurer, April 2012 – Present

Audra has been the keeper of books and manager of all things financial since our inception, but her compassion comes from all angles. As former owner of Curves in West Sand Lake, Audra rallied her members around enormous undertakings of community fundraisers for charity, many of which benefited animals. As a Pampered Chef representative, she rallied product parties to raise money for our orphaned dogs and donated her profits from those parties as well.

Audra isn’t shy about doing what it takes when a job needs doing. She has committed to vet transports, handled dogs at clinics, organized volunteers, (wo)manned information tables, and had input on every aspect of this rescue since our founding. She has also taken a strong lead during our presidential transition. Dogs in need have a most sincere ally in Audra, as does this organization.

A lifelong Rensselaer County resident, Audra has grown up caring for local strays of all kinds. After accepting her board position in 2012, Audra returned a day later to adopt Tucker, a sweet senior boy who will live the rest of his days immersed in more love than he’s ever known. Audra’s commitment to this dog and our organization offers that same hope for all of Dog House Adoptions’ orphans.

Meet Marianne Hoeppner!
Secretary, September 2014 – Present
Volunteer since May 2014

Marianne has both hands-on and administrative skills to accompany her deep love for all dogs. Her addition to the board has been a huge asset, from keeping meticulous minutes to registering every one of our microchipped dogs through FreePetChipRegistry.com. She now manages donor relations in an ever-growing rescue skill set so, if you donate toward our dogs through PayPal, it’ll be her kind words that thank you.

Marianne joined Dog House Adoptions after losing her own dog to cancer. Not ready to adopt at first, she volunteered to walk with our rescued dogs. This type of volunteering is something she had never done before but she quickly fell in love with every dog she met and developed a fondness for our organization, as well. Walking dogs weekly, attending adoption clinics, and eventually adopting her latest dog from us (Sammy, now named Gunther), Marianne quickly became a treasured part of the DHA family.

Join Our Volunteer Group!

Join our volunteers who make the world a better place for so many lovely dogs! We’re moving forward in exciting directions, from becoming a full-on foster network to offering meaningful volunteer opportunities with wonderful friendships and camaraderie. Join Dog House Adoptions today!

From the day they met, this couple has enjoyed working together to improve the lives of dogs and people in our community. Kim joined Tim’s long-term rescue commitments back in 2003. They only half-joke that adoption clinics were considered first dates back then. They had shared a rescue history spanning ten years together when Tim then joined Kim’s ambitions to found Dog House Adoptions in 2013.

Kim’s Contributions

Kim Clune, our second president, has used her writing, photography, and videography to further humanitarian and animal welfare causes since 2009. Her 2011 rescue vision became the foundation of our organization’s mission, and a large part of its operation – from policy, promotion, public education, and fundraising to placing dogs in loving homes.

Limited time has since become Kim’s biggest challenge. Working hard to turn her photography passion into a career, she has since been invited to join a local studio to capture event photography while her fine art business has been featured at several local galleries. She has also earned entry into The Arcanum, a small but prestigious worldwide photography program. What makes her most proud about all of this? Kim’s photography, in large part, is how our dogs went from invisible strays to visibly beautiful beings worthy of loving homes.

Kim will continue to volunteer with us in an advisory capacity, handling our website and other needs as they arise. She is also making room to serve on the Code 100 response team for Hoags Corners Volunteer Fire Company, supporting local firefighters on scene – including her husband. Kim digitally records the fire company’s training materials and events and maintains their website, too, having joined the company in the summer of 2012.

Tim’s Contributions

A public interest lawyer by day, Tim Clune was also our first President. He has spent nearly 20 years rescuing dogs, 15 of which were spent at hands-on adoption clinics and weekend home visits.  For Dog House Adoptions, Tim has provided his legal and former rescue expertise to create a solid legal footing on which to found our organization. He drafted our Bylaws, policies, contracts, and educated our founding members to successfully manage the business side of dog rescue. His foresight has served us well and will continue to protect our organization, dogs, volunteers, fosters and adopters well into the future.

Tim has served the public as a firefighter at Hoag’s Corners Volunteer Fire Company since 2012. Now Lieutenant and Fire Commissioner, his expertise in helping to save homes, human lives, and animal lives will be fully utilized in the community. Even with such time constraints, Tim makes himself available to advise Dog House Adoptions. We certainly have the best of all worlds with him just a phone call away.

Dog House Adoptions is so lucky to have this dynamic duo still on board even though they are no longer on the Board. Thank you both for all you have done and continue to do for Dog House Adoptions. The 113 Capital Region dogs you helped save since our founding thank you, too!

Katie is a very curious, playful girl! She is super gentle taking a treat from your hand and overall a very laid-back, mellow girl. She has playful bouts and enjoys playing tug with the rope or chasing after a ball and plays well with other dogs.

Since her foster mom. Melissa Stafford, knows her best, here’s what she has to say:

The family who adopts this sweetheart will be very lucky indeed – she is just so gentle and happy! A few observations from the past few days:

• Katie has the best mealtime habits I have ever seen! She eats her food very slowly, as if she is savoring every bite. And if you give her a treat, she takes it very gently from your hand. I hope she might be able to teach our own dogs how to eat like her ;-p
• She LOVES belly rubs!
• Katie knows a few commands! She can ‘sit’ and give you her paw when asked. She is very eager to please.
• She has this funny little walk sometimes, a sashay. And she is super light on her feet! She’s a bit cat-like. (we are used to our big goofball Charlie, who is the opposite of graceful)
• Katie is great with our dogs, both big and small! She LOVES playing rope with our Charlie and running with him in the backyard. I think she would really enjoy being in a home with other doggy siblings (and would probably be equally OK with getting all the attention for herself ;-p)

 
Katie is fully house-trained and sleeps every night in her crate. She is also crated when alone in the house. Katie knows a few basic commands like ‘sit’, ‘down’ & ‘paw’ and is continuing to pick up others – she is a fast leaner and is eager to please! On walks Katie has a slight tendency to pull but overall does very well on the leash.

Katie shows no food aggression at all (we have placed our hands in her bowl while she was eating and removed it from her – not a problem). She is a very good eater and takes her time with her meals. She is currently living with five other dogs and two cats and gets along great with everyone! She hasn’t had much experience around kids, but I think she would be great with them. She is very gentle!

Thank you for the photos, Melissa Stafford!

 ADOPTED!

A note from Katie’s foster mom:

Ah, the luck of the Irish! We are very happy to announce that Katie, our amazing foster dog, finally found her forever home! She is SO loved and already went on her first skiing adventure with her new family.

Fostering has been such a positive experience for us and we would love to see more foster parents out there, it truly makes a difference for these pups and helps to save so many lives.

Anita and Dot, Katie’s new moms say Katie’s all settled in Vermont now, loving her new bed, and being such a good girl. She’s filling the void left by their prior dog and helping the healing process already by giving so much joy. She even met her new vet. Her name has a new twist, too. Adopted on Pi Day, Katie is now fondly referred to as Katie Pi!

We know this cutie pie, Katie Pi, is going to have a wonderful life, as will her new family. Congratulations, Katie!!

This chocolate miniature pinscher was pulled from the Schenectady Animal Shelter on January 2. Placed in a home with a loving couple, a fenced in back yard, and a 9 year old lethargic female dappled dachshund, this pup did his best to take charge!

Bill Lundgren, this dog’s foster failure (in a most heroic of ways), had this to say:

DHA named him “Trike”, he has been re-named “Trevor Martin”, and has worked his way into the hearts of his foster family. For sure, this “foster” home will be his “forever” home. He’s making such great progress, although he’s quite a challenge being a Min Pin. Still very much a ‘baby”, and his energy level is boundless. His “manners” need a little work, but his goal is to please and be loved. He is settling in quite nicely, and is working so very hard at being a “good boy”.

Another note came in on 3.2.2015:

I can assure you that “Trevor-Martin” has found his forever home.  After this year, he will be spending his winters at our Florida home, and within 5 years he will become a permanent resident in the State of Florida.  He’s definitely a challenge, but nothing that we can handle because try as he may, he knows that I am the Alpha Human and that our little dappled dachshund “Bowie-Ty” is the Alpha female dog in the house, she reminds him daily of that!

We couldn’t be happier for this tiny rescued boy with the biggest personality. Congratulations to the whole family!

Vivian has been adopted and settled into her new home perfectly! 

Vivian’s History

Vivian, a gorgeous brindle pitbelle, has been on quite a journey in a very short amount of time. Rescued from death row on December 9th, 2014, sweet Vivian had been cooped up in Schenectady stray hold for a full month. Never claimed, nobody knows her prior story but for evidence that she’s had a litter of puppies at some point. Since her rescue, she spent another two weeks kenneled until Bonny K., a wonderful but temporary foster stepped up. Sadly, that situation is quickly coming to a close.

Vivian needs a safe new space immediately.

Vivian’s Winning Personality

Vivian couldn’t be happier to greet anybody who pays her attention. She is very outgoing, affectionate and friendly. Vivian knows how to sit and she’s very good at taking treats gently. She loves her Kong toys, which keep her occupied. She also loves car rides and does well both loose or in a crate. She doesn’t bark much but ,when excited, you’ll find she thinks she’s an owl with a bit of a screech. Vivian was spayed, vaccinated and treated for a healing skin irritation on her foot and tale, which is all healed up now. The poor girl has been bred way too much in her past life. And yet she is as goofy and talktive as ever.

Thank you for the outdoor photos, Jenny Murtaugh!

UPDATE 5/21/15:

Vivian has started her Canine Good Citizen Classes (CGC)! She did amazing at her first class and got LOTS of compliments on how great she is! She is such a sweet girl, so calm and loving. She deserves a foster home or even better, a forever home! Please consider opening your home to foster this lovely girl! Pictures do NOT do her justice! She is a little peanut and has such a sweet, kind face.

Become Vivian’s Best Friend, Today!

• Fill out a foster application at http://www.doghouseadoptions.org/foster-application/

OR

• Fill out an adoption application at http://www.doghouseadoptions.org/dog-adoption-application
• Once your application is in, we’ll get in touch. (It may take a week for us to process.)
• If this is truly the pup for you, we’ll do a home visit. If that goes well, you’ll sign the contract, pay the non-refundable $250 adoption fee, and enjoy life with your new dog!
• Please note: We keep our adoptions to within a 90 minute radius from Albany, NY, which is most central to our foster network.

Who is Daisy?

Daisy’s pretty petals are many. Of course, with her blue and brown eyes, she’s gorgeous – but her beauty runs deep.

An affectionate little girl, she’ll stretch her entire body across the lawn for a head pat and then somersault onto her back for a belly rub. Nothing makes her happier than to sit by your side, leaning in forehead to forehead while you stroke her sides. Daisy is bright and cheerful, just like her name implies and, at 6 years-young, she’s seeking moderate to low energy beings like herself. She’s a tad cautious on first meetings but quickly warms up. Once that happens, she is certainly no wallflower!

Daisy is super smart and eager to please, already knowing basic commands and wanting to learn more just to make you happy. Happiest in clean surroundings, she will keep your house that way. She’s working on crate training, but would much prefer her hours spent out with her humans.

Favorite Things

Her favorite activities include leash walks, tossing toys and, best of all, pouncing into a play bow for a rousing romp with her dog friends. Even with such a wide variety of favorite activities, napping by your feet ranks highest.

Unfavorite Things

Loud noises and the start of car rides can jar her sense of calm, but she does resettle quickly, even in the car. (Oh,and she didn’t much like the camera, so you’ll see she’s even more beautiful in person.)

What Daisy Needs Most – You!

Most importantly, Daisy is a soft, sensitive soul who needs somebody who understands that she has led a tumultuous life. Her people pushed her out the door, still unspayed, after she had puppies. Shell shocked when she came to us, she tends to feel a bit anxious until she settles into her new routine. (She is spayed now, by the way.)

Daisy is doing very well with her foster mom, Carrie Moak, loving reassurance that she is loved and safe.

Adopted!

Here’s a note from Daisy’s foster mom, Carrie Moak:

It was very hard to say goodbye to my foster sweet Daisy. She went from a flea ridden, skinny, breeding machine to being adopted by a lovely couple. Forever a part of us Daisy Girl. Enjoy your forever home. The new dad is really happy- me not so good at catching a good pic!!

It’s a lovely pic, Carrie. Daisy is going to be one very happy pup, thanks to your intermediary care! Congratulations to you all!!

Chi Chi Carumba!!
Neutered and Vaccinated
Middle-Aged Pup

Capone is a teeny, tiny, happy people pup, and not interested in taking them out as his name might suggest. The only thing he might do “to” you is smother you with affection, but it’s hardly deadly. Because this little teacup of a dog is so tiny, we suggest a household with older children who won’t unintentionally toddle upon him. For Capone, that could be his undoing.

Capone loves to survey his neighborhood, whether leash-walking the beat or doing a drive-by. Car rides are a lot of fun. He might rough things up a bit as he chases his foster mom’s cats, but he doesn’t try to hurt them. He’s not into their business as seriously as all that. And he likes to hang with the big dogs, or small dogs, although it takes a little bit to earn his trust. He’s not exactly particular in the who as much as what the have to offer him.

Bones are a favorite pastime in his crate – and the bigger the better. He also likes toys and to play fetch.

Capone is working on house training with plans for success, and he’s good at rolling with the punches, adapting to his foster mom’s schedule with ease. He’s also not too particular about how or why he’s touched. “Just pet me!” is his only demand. And he’s so eager to please so he’ll be a breeze to train!

Just hold this pup, ply with kisses often, and you will have a friend for a long and happy life. Once you get to know his super softest underbelly, you’ll be committed. It’s a sure thing.

Adopted!

Hurray! We received this note from Capone’s foster mom, Diane Wood.

Capone went to his furever home tonight! The family is going to send pictures … I can tell you though,Capone is in a great home with 2 great kids another dog & a cat. When I left he was playing with his toys with the kids & their parents.

We couldn’t be happier for all of you and cant wait to see and share those pictures!

Nigil’s life on death row was spared by Barb, one of our independent connections. When this little Chi-chi first came to her at just under two years old, he was shy and had no house training at all. He’s come such a long, long way in a very short amount of time.

At just 10 pounds, Nigil is all brain and heart. A smart little guy, he’s learning to recall, trust, leash walking, and working to keep his home clean. His heart is happiest when he’s sitting in your lap or dozing off in the crook of your arm.  Nigil’s heart is’t particular, by the way. He’ll befriend dogs, cats and children with ease. The perfect pet, he’s just eager to learn and do what pleases you.

Won’t you please give him a home where you can both be happy?

Nigel Found His Best Friends!

Barb says Nigil found a wonderful forever home just before Christmas! What an amazing gift for this little dog and for his new family. Congratulations, Nigil family, and to you, Barb, on one more soul of many saved by your helping hands.

Gracie is a bouncing 6-month-old bundle of Coonhound mix sunshine with a goofy energy who brings joy to all she meets. She’s wiggly and wobbly, like a slinky, with the energy of a wind up toy – highly active until the spring quickly unwinds. She is also sweetly even-tempered, great with the dogs, kids, cats, ad adults she used to live with. She’s even kind to strangers.

Gracie’s appreciation for affection can settle her pouncing puppiness to a sit with a quick scratch under the chin. She’ll require typical puppy training for basic commands and leash walking, but her eagerness to please will go a long, long way. She makes beautiful, adoring eye contact, indicating an eagerness to please, and she’s already house trained and crate trained, so far.

Gracie and her twin brother Solomon were surrendered from a household with too many animals. Typically, we don’t recommend that two puppies from the same litter are homed together, but these two are so sweet and kind to people and to each other that we would gladly do so. Of course, they can also be given their own special homes where each is the sole recipient of love and devotion.

Adopted!

Gracie has gone to the dogs – making best friends with 2 of them! Michelle and Gary Thornhill were looking for love as well as a friend for their rambunctious Shepherd pup, Samson, who would take the pressure off of their older dog, Rocky. During their home visit, the dogs had some adjusting to do, but we had high hopes. Watching Gracie crawling into the lap of her new papa, both cuddling on the couch, made our hearts melt. She could do no wrong – even when she did. We received this email from Michelle and solidified Gracie’s adoption just in time for Thanksgiving 2014.

Gracie has been good for both Samson and Rocky. She has been a good playmate for Samson and Gary gets to sleep until 4 PM most days when they (all 3 of them) decide it’s time to eat. Rocky is playing with her more often now. She has however become Samson’s partner in crime and the 2 of them take things outside that I’ve never had to worry about. For instance she seems to have a thing for paper products and took about 1/2 a package of napkins as well as the Sunday paper that I left on the table outside. Gary even found Gracie standing on the kitchen table with the bag of cheese curls in her mouth. While I was writing this one of them (Samson or Gracie) took one of my shoes outside and I had to go into the fenced yard to retrieve it. If I don’t put them up on the self when I take them off, they disappear. On the upside, it has caused me to make sure everything is picked up before I leave for work in the morning or at night with I go to bed.

Gracie is so grateful for her new family and all their wonderful patience. They’ll all be going to obedience classes together for some bonding and “better blending” of human/dog relationships. LOL. For now, Michelle continues to hide shoes, remote controls, and everything else that’s in plain sight. We look forward to hearing about their progress!

Congratulations, Thornhill family!