Hello, there! I can’t blame you for staring. Everyone does. After all, how many cats have long blonde hair and blue eyes? My unique coloring comes from my rich heritage. I’m the proud descendent of ragdoll and Siamese cats. From my ragdoll roots, I inherited my silky coat and my love of snuggling. My Siamese background gives me my blue eyes and my adventurous spirit. I’m very friendly and outgoing, and I love to meet new people! In fact, my friends at Wayside call me a “sidekick” because I want to be your best friend and help you with everything you do. I’ll stick by you through thick and thin, as long as you don’t go near any dogs or little kids-those scare me. If you have them in your house, I hope you’ll choose a different waif to take home. If you have an adult-only, dog-free home, I know we’ll get along just fine. I might need some help brushing my coat and keeping it from getting matted, but that’s easy! I don’t make a fuss when people brush me. I’m very easy to get along with, and the only bad thing my old human had to say about me is that I bothered her allergies. I didn’t want to make her sick, so we decided it was best if I came here to Wayside where I could find a new home. If you need a constant companion to shower you with love (and fur), please spend some time with me. Give me a chance to shine!

**Click here to see Chance in action**
Hi there! My name is Chance, and I’m a 5 year old Pug/Beagle mix who came to Wayside as a stray. One look at my face and you’d think I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders - I look like I’m scowling, perplexed or just deep in thought. But truth be told, I’m a pretty happy, fun-loving little guy, although I can be a bit timid when you first meet me. Just give me some time to warm up and you’ll see what a spunky, friendly, affectionate dog that I really am! I love hanging out with my human friends here at Wayside, and I’m up for just about anything! I like going on walks (and I’m good on a leash), playing fetch or just cuddling up next to someone - especially if there is a belly rub involved!

While the folks here at Wayside have been so kind to me, shelter-life is stressful and I’m so ready to have a home to call my own. Since I have no history of living with young children, and because I can be somewhat shy or fearful at times, it would be best if my adoptive home did not have any children under the age of 5. Older kids would be fine although I should probably meet all members of my adoptive family. Also, some dogs kind of scare me, so if you have any dogs at home, you should probably bring them in to make sure we’re compatible. I’m so eager to become a beloved member of someone’s family. I know that I’ll be a loyal, loving companion - I just need a chance to prove that to someone. If you think that someone might be you, I hope you come to Wayside soon to meet me!

Izzy is a staff and volunteer favorite because she’s got such a darn cute face, loves to play by batting around small objects, and is the best lap sitter ever! She’s declawed so nobody needs to worry their nice things might get scratched, as this lovely tabby can’t possibly do that anymore. However, she doesn’t like you to touch her paws. The last time a human got near them, major surgery happened, so she doesn’t trust us humans around her paws anymore.

If you touch her paw, she’ll usually give you a warning somehow. She might shoot you a dirty look; flick her tail in annoyance, hiss, or swat. She might also nip you if you ignore her instructions to stop touching her paw. For that reason, we won’t send her to a home with children who may not be savvy at reading signals from animals when they’d like to be left alone.

When you meet this sweet kitty, she would like to sniff your hand for a few seconds just like dogs do with new people they encounter. She’d also be more comfortable if you speak softly and stand sideways, not looking directly into her eyes at first, as if you’re staring her down. Then reach out to pet her and she’ll soon be purring for you and enjoying the attention.

She loves petting more than anything in the world. She likes laps and attention, and will purr up a storm for you, then lick your nose to give you kitty kisses. She likes scratches under her chin, down her back, up her forehead, around her cheeks etc. She loves to sit on your lap and keep you company while you watch TV. She snuggles into the crook of your arm and falls asleep.

She doesn’t like other cats and we don’t know about her experience with dogs, so she needs a home where she can be the only pet. She’s been with us since last summer looking for the perfect family. Living so closely with so many other cats was stressing her out, so she’s now in a foster family where she has more personal space and less interaction with other animals. Her foster family has cats too, but Izzy has her own room and only interacts with the others when she chooses to.

She’ll hiss at them to stay away and might chase one off the couch if she’s already up there and settled in, but will share the couch if there’s enough space between and if everyone behaves themself. Unfortunately she hasn’t warmed up to them at all, so would really only be content in a home as the only pet. She’d be so happy with a whole house or apartment to explore without being afraid of other animals. Isn’t that reasonable?

Izzy’s weight had risen to an unhealthy number, so she’s been on a diet. She’s lost 3 pounds so far and needs to continue with that until she reaches her target weight. She will need an owner who’s willing to clean out the litter box every day, scooping the used bits. She uses her litter box faithfully if it’s kept clean for her. She also would benefit from having her ears cleaned regularly.

Her foster mother sums her up for potential adopters. “Izzy is a lady who knows what she wants. If she has a clean litter box, a home without other pets and kids, a few soft cushions and a sunny window, she’ll be a happy cat. When she’s happy, she plays often and makes you laugh with her silly antics. She makes you feel special showering you with love and affection. I’ll miss her terribly when she leaves, but I’ll be happy knowing she’ll have the home of her dreams. She’s been waiting so long for the perfect person or two. I hope her search ends soon and that you can meet this sweet and loving kitty. She’ll be waiting for you!”

Written by Michelle Cour
Photos by Catherine L. Sherman

Hi! I am Noah. Or, if you prefer, you can call me Handsome! The ladies around here swoon when I give them one of my stunning smiles. And the men are proud to be seen with me as we take our walks. I came to Wayside from another shelter after they ran out of room. I had originally been adopted and then returned by my owner for being too active. I guess they didn’t want a dog who likes to have fun and keep on top of things! I’m a 2 yr old Bulldog/Great Pyrenees mix. Yep! Wayside even did a DNA test. You are welcome to the results when you choose ME as your forever dog!

I am a staff favorite! And I love the people here who are trying so hard to find me the perfect home. It warms my heart. I really need a breed savvy owner who will understand how important it is to continue my training and mental exercises. It is also important to note how crucial daily exercise will be for me. Not just playing in the back yard, but really giving me a work out. I am smart as a whip and so willing and eager to learn new things. You’d be able to challenge yourself and me to see how much I can learn. I’m the perfect dog for fun activities like dock diving, Frisbee, hide and seek with cookies around the house and yard…there is no end! I could be one of those dogs who could appear with you on Letterman doing stupid pet tricks. But with me, they’d have to call it smart pet tricks! The sky’s the limit with me!

Above all, I am a people dog! I love love love my people and appreciate hanging with them much more than other dogs. In fact, I will do best in a home as the only dog. I just love being your one and only companion. We will bond so closely and I will be your loyal and loving friend for life. Yep, I’m looking for a forever home! No more of these shelters for me. Time to live in a home with a family dedicated to helping me become the dog I’m meant to be. I offer you my heart in return! And what a big heart it is! Please come in to Wayside to meet me. I may be a goofy doofus when we first meet but give me time and you’ll get an idea of my true character.

I look forward to seeing you very soon!

P.S. Watch my video to learn more about me!

Hi, I’m Eric Hosmer. You can just call me Eric. I’m a 1 year-old male Tuxedo cat that arrived at Wayside Waifs in June 2012 by Animal Control. I was a true scaredy cat. Wayside’s staff was unsure about interacting with me because when they tried, I would swat and my ears would go straight down. I didn’t understand they were trying to help me. They would talk to me in nice voices, but I could tell they were as apprehensive about me as I was about them!

One day, two other cats in the room were allowed out of their cages to play. I liked that! I came to the front of my cage and meowed at them. Curiosity is a great start to help cats like me. And, liking other cats is a huge bonus as well. Staff started to interact with these other cats where I could watch and see that these people were really nice and the cats liked interacting with them. Soon afterwards, a group of nice people called TABBY volunteers started to work with me. (TABBY stands for To Achieve Best Behavior Yet). These volunteers work with shy/fearful cats to help improve our adoptability. I made them work hard. You see, trust was my biggest issue. Staff felt that I possibly had been mistreated in the past due to how I reacted to certain things. For example, if someone simply raised their hands up, my ears would go straight down. I also did not like for anyone to try to reach over my head to touch me.

So, how did these people help me? Well, first of all, they approached my kennel in a non-threatening manner. They stood to the side and/or lower than me. They blinked very slowly until I started to blink back. This is a sign from the human they mean no harm, and when the cat blinks back, it means they are starting to feel more relaxed. They also used a cat wand toy with soft material on the end to begin touching me gently. This is like an extension of themselves, but presents no threat to the cat and keeps them safe as well. Well, I have to tell you, I LOVED being petted. This was when everyone realized I really did want human contact, and they just had to gain trust with me.

Over the summer, staff and volunteers continued to work with me, and I kept progressing along the way. I began to play in my cage on my own and with the volunteers. I would headbutt their hands to let them know to keep petting me and I would purr VERY loudly to let them know how happy I was. I was still quite shy, and fearful of new things, though.

Finally, it came time for a big test. I was sent to a foster home. It was scary at first – this was a new room, a bigger room, new scents, new people. But, I had a lot of toys, a big window, and a tall cat tower to hang out in. My Foster Mom was fantastic! She visited me often and took good care of me. One day, I was laying on the bed and she sat with me. I was enjoying being petted so much, that I rested partly on her lap. That was huge progress on my part! The one thing I just was not comfortable doing yet, though, was walking around a room when a human was in there with me.

So, it was decided that I be tried out in Cat Adoptions. I was given my very own room again. The next day, I was given one of the best presents ever! Bud is a 1 year-old male brown Tabby that came to Wayside Waifs from a hoarding situation. He had lived with more than 50 cats, so it was a good bet that he would at least like me! Bud had also been quite shy when he first came to Wayside, but he became sociable much quicker.

The minute that Bud was brought into my room, I started to talk to him and stuck my head out of my little hiding place. I was so happy to have a feline friend! Staff had expected my improvement to walk around when a human was in my room to still take weeks, even if I had cat pal. But, it only took 1 day. I wanted to do everything that Bud was doing! Bud and I are more than just 2 cats that get along. We are BFFFs – Best Feline Friends Forever! In fact, we are a bonded pair, which means we must be adopted together. Bud is like my big brother. We sleep together, we groom each other, we play and wrestle with each other. Bud helps me to be more confident. I am still shy and probably always will be, but when people spend enough time with me, I trust them and will want to be fussed over just as much as Bud. Bud has helped me so much, it has amazed everyone that has worked so hard with me. Recently, we were moved into Kitty City which has its own Kitty Cam. So, now you can watch us until the right person comes along to make us part of their family.

It’s been a long journey, and it isn’t over just yet. Bud and I are looking forward to taking the next step together to our forever home. If you have a quiet home, are patient, and want 2 sweet, awesome, adorable boys please come to Wayside Waifs to meet us!

Lightning is the dog at the top/left corner of the first picture. He is a bonded pair and must be adopted with his pal Trigger, bottom/right.** Lightning is a 6 year old miniature poodle mix. He came to Wayside Waifs with his pal Trigger and was surrendered by his previous owner. He wears a handsome white poodle coat and he loves to go for walks. He was around children 5 years and up in his previous home, however he will do best with older children.He must be an inside dog in his new home. Adopting a pair of dogs can be great because, unlike solo dogs, pairs have experience living with both humans and other dogs. This type of experience is healthy for dogs because dogs are pack animals and in the animal world if a dog has bad behavior it can be corrected or balanced by other dogs in the pack. Pairs are great because they have a canine companion to remind them that they are a dog, not a human, which can be helpful to a dog in terms of their behavior, attitude, and personality. In other words, Lightning loves having his pal Trigger around (they keep each others company when the human family is away)! He also loves having a warm and loving home to live in. So, if you’re ready to adopt an awesome canine duo, come out and visit Lightning and Trigger today! Woof, woof!

Hi there! My name is Aron and I’m an 8 year old Shih Tzu who is searching for a loving home and a second chance in life. I was rescued from a puppy mill, so my life up to this point has been challenging to say the least. Luckily, I ended up here at Wayside where they have been taking good care of me and where, hopefully, I’ll find a home of my own and someone who will lavish me with the love and attention I’ve never really had. I was pretty fearful and shy when I first arrived here, which is typical of puppy mill survivors as we haven’t had much positive human contact or socialization. However, the folks here at Wayside have been so kind and patient that I’ve begun blossom into the friendly, affectionate little guy that I truly am. In fact, the staff and volunteers have noticed that I’m starting to exhibit all the wonderful traits that my breed is known for: friendly, upbeat personality, gentle and playful. I love hanging out in the volunteers’ room and prancing from one person to the next to get some pets and ear scratching. After all those lonely years at the puppy mill, I just love all the attention! I also like playing with soft toys (shaking them frantically to the amusement of those who are watching me) and love going on walks. So while I’m small in stature (13 lbs.) and destined (hopefully!) to become someone’s little lap dog, I’m no couch potato! While I’ve come a long way in the short time I’ve been at Wayside, the folks here think I’d do best in a home that is accepting of my special needs and that will continue to provide positive, patient and routine training to help in my development. Also, it would be better if there were no kids in the home under the age of 12. It’s just that children can be noisy, loud and unpredictable - and therefore somewhat scary — to puppy mill survivors like me. I’m okay with most other dogs. In fact, puppy mill survivors are often more comfortable and adjust faster in their adoptive homes if there are other dogs around; that’s not surprising given that they often have more contact and socialization with other dogs than with humans. However, it would be best if I meet all canine members of my adoptive family, just to make sure we all get along. If you think we might be a good match, I hope you come to Wayside soon so we can meet. I’ve got a lot of loving and living yet to do (we Shih Tzus live, on average, 13 years), and I can’t wait to begin the next chapter in my life as a beloved member of someone’s family. Maybe that “someone” will be you?

Wayside Waifs is always looking for volunteers who wish to foster animals. Our foster program is a way for volunteers to help animals who are not quite ready for adoption. There are numerous reasons an animal may not be ready to find his forever home. They may be sick or injured and need time to recover in a kind and loving setting. They may be puppies or kittens who are too young and need those extra weeks of nurturing to thrive. We also send animals to foster homes for training issues and behavior modification. One of the most common reasons we send animals to foster is shelter stress. These are animals that desperately need some time out of the shelter to feel good again and regain their footing! Another reason we send animals to foster homes is the need for socialization. These are the animals that haven’t had any experience with people. Most are shy and fearful. Today I’d like to share my own experience fostering under-socialized, shy, and fearful puppies. This should give you an inside look at our foster program and how fostering can make a tremendous difference in the life of an animal. 

I have been a volunteer at Wayside Waifs for 3 years, and an employee for 4 months. I have fostered puppies and adult dogs. Last August I was asked to foster 3 puppies, aged 8-10 weeks. They were technically old enough for adoption, however, their circumstances warranted foster care for a minimum of 2-3 weeks. These puppies had been found under the porch of an abandoned house. It took Animal Control two days to maneuver these puppies out from under that porch. They were so terrified by the time they arrived at Wayside that the Veterinarian was unable to examine them. I happened to be volunteering that day and Tyler, the Foster Program Manager, caught me and asked if I would be interested in fostering these puppies. I took one look at them and it was obvious that they needed help if they were to ever become adoptable. None of them would come near me. They were quite literally frozen with fear, all three lying on top of each other trembling…a sad sight indeed!

My husband and I brought these puppies home the next day. They had to be examined first by the vet and cleared to come to a home with another dog. We have a 2 year old Waif named Zoe. She is a Belgian Malinois mix who came to us as a medical foster the year before, but that’s a story for another time. We knew that Zoe would be helpful with these under socialized and very fearful puppies. We had everything set up. The puppies had an entire room in our house with outdoor access. We are lucky to have such a convenient set up in our home. Most of our foster families have a set up that works for them. You work with what you have!

For the first week we were only able to touch one of the puppies. We named her Juno because she was clearly the “Goddess” of the three. She wasn’t quite as shy as her sisters and had clearly eaten the lion’s share of whatever food they’d been able to scrounge up. The other two wanted nothing to do with us and were very closely bonded with each other. We named them Annabel, from the Edgar Allan Poe poem ‘Annabel Lee’, and Shya, for obvious reasons. These two were going to be tough! We had our work cut out for us.  

Our biggest asset turned out to be our dog, Zoe. Slowly but surely she was able to show these puppies that we were to be trusted. At first, whenever they ventured near, we offered them a treat. We would toss them to them at a fair distance. Then slowly but surely we began tossing them closer and closer to us. Of course this meant Zoe got a few more treats than we would have liked, but her help was invaluable and she deserved her reward. After two weeks we were able to touch Juno and Annabel with relative ease. In fact, our “Goddess” had started coming to us on her own asking for treats. She eventually got so bold that she’d hop in the chair next to us and look at us expectantly. Oh how we laughed at her! We continued a slow progression with the other two. Shya would not let us touch her but instead would sneak up to us and muzzle punch us very lightly. We started to refer to her as “Bump” and she proved to be an endless source of amusement. Annabel decided she liked the baby pool and became quite the water puppy. She would lounge in there for a solid fifteen minutes. I think half of the photos on my phone are of these three puppies and their antics!

As the days went by, they all progressed at their own pace. We used every technique we could find for shy and fearful puppies. Wayside Waifs has some terrific information and a wonderful staff to answer any of your questions and point you in the right direction.  Our girl Zoe, most of all, showed them something that no human can teach; what it is like to be a beloved member of a family. Before we knew it, they were ready for adoption. Some volunteers bring their animals back to the shelter at that time. We opted to keep them in our home but make them available. The first day they were listed we were bombarded with calls from Wayside Waifs with interested adopters. In addition to Wayside’s very thorough interview, we did an interview of our own with each adopter. It gave us comfort to know that these girls were going to good homes and that we had given them what we could. We wanted nothing but the best for them now that they had come so far!

Saying goodbye to them was indeed very difficult. We had several days of missing them, but one of the perks of Fostering is that more often than not, adopters will send you updates. It is now 3 months later and we still receive updates and photos. They are all doing beautifully and we are as thrilled with their progress as their adopters! In a nutshell, this is what makes volunteering as a Foster a wonderful and rewarding experience. A Foster Parent’s responsibilities may vary depending on the circumstances, but whether you foster a shy and fearful animal, an animal suffering from shelter stress, a sick or injured animal, or puppies and kittens, there really isn’t anything better than knowing you are making all of the difference in the world for that animal. Though volunteering as a foster might seem like a selfless act, it is actually a truly enriching experience for the foster parent as well. Fostering is good for the soul!

I encourage anyone who is interested to please refer to the Foster Program on our website. We offer a Foster Orientation Class at the end of every month. We’d love to see you there! 

Written by: Julie Hamilton-Paz, Wayside Waifs Foster Program Assistant

Winter is definitely upon us! Not only is it time for humans to dig out their cold weather clothes, it’s also time to think about keeping our pets safe during these arctic cold days. Here are some tips to keeping your pets safe.

1. Keep your pets inside. Limit your pets outside time for bathroom breaks when temperatures start to tumble. If its too cold for you, it’s defintely too cold for your pet. If your pet is normally outside, move them to a sheltered garage or heated dog house, away from the wind.

2. Outdoor cats have been known to find refuge underneath the hoods of cars. When the car is started, the cat could become injured or even killed by moving parts of the engine. If you have an outdoor cat, honk the horn before starting the car to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Keep your dog on a leash in the winter weather. Pets can lose their scent in the snow and ice and find refuge in unfamiliar places. This is also a good opportunity to check your dog or cats id tag to make sure they have the most current contact information in case your pet becomes lost or stolen. We also recommend mircrochipping your pet. More dogs are lost during the winter than any other time of the year.

4. When getting your pet groomed, don’t have them shaved down to the skin. A longer coat provides more warmth. Bathing your dog? Be sure to completely dry them before taking them out for a walk. For short-haired breeds, put them in a warm sweater with a high collar that gives the pet coverage from the base of their tail to the belly. My toy poodle Lucy loves to wear her jacket and waits for me to put it on her before going outside.

5. Make sure to keep a dry towel near the door when you bring in your dogs from being outside. Thoroughly dry their paws, legs and belly. They can pick up bits of salt, antifreeze and other lethal chemicals from being outside. It can also be painful for the animal to have shards of ice in their fur. A dogs paws can actually bleed from encrusted ice. This is also a good opportunity to give them some extra love and praise them for good outdoor behavior.

6. Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle. The vehicle can act as a refridgerator, keeping the cold inside and causing your pet to freeze to death.

7. If your pet spends a lot of time playing outside, increase his food supply. Make sure to include extra protein to help keep his fur in great shape.

8. Coolant and antifreeze are lethal for cats and dogs. If you have any spills in your garage or driveway make sure to clean them thoroughly. Stay away from product s that use ethylene glycol. If your pet should ingest any of these products, call your veterinarian immediately.

9. Rock salt is also dangerous for pets. “Safe Paw” is pet safe ice melt is available for sale at Wayside Waifs and is safe for pets.

10. Give your pet a warm place to sleep. Make sure beds are located away from doors and drafts. Warm blankets or a large pillow is great.

Written by Trish Stinger
Web & Marketing Manager at Wayside Waifs

There is nothing quite as wonderful as being surrounded by loved ones, the smell of delicious indulgences in the oven, and celebrating another year with holiday traditions. It is time to count your blessings and say thanks because Thanksgiving here.  As you start to purr-pare your favorite holiday dishes, don’t forget about the hazards that certain foods create for the furry members of your family. Take the necessary precautions to ensure a happy and healthy holiday for everyone this year, including your cats and dogs.

Here are a few tips to make for a Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy too:

Turkey Talk
As much as we humans love a big bird for the holidays, turkey contains L-Tryptophan which as you may already know induces sleep. Everyone enjoys a good nap after dinner, but due to the size of pets, turkey can cause lethargy and listlessness. If you do choose to indulge your pet, make sure to only share a treat sized portion of white meat and check that the meat is well-cooked to eliminate the possibility of salmonella. Also, be sure to take off the skin and not include gravy as these fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis.

No Bones About It
The real danger with turkey lies with the bones. Turkey bones can splinter which can cause intestinal obstructions, tears, or internal bleeding.

Refrain From Stuffing
What would Thanksgiving be without stuffing? When preparing this customary dish, consider making it without raisins, onions, or sage. Raisins can cause kidney failure while onions can lead to canine anemia. While sage adds an extra boost of flavor to your dish, it contains essential oils which can lead to gastrointestinal upset or central nervous system depression in pets, especially cats who are sensitive to the effects of essential oils. Also, don’t forget to check and see if the broth you are using contains onions; this sneaky culprit could also make your dog sick.

Chocolate Lovers Nightmare
Chocolate may not be your weakness, but it is definitely your dogs. Your pup’s heart and nervous system are negatively affected by chocolate which can lead to seizures or death. The darker the chocolate, the more deadly it is for Fido. Better to be safe than sorry so please keep this sweet treat out of reach not only around the holidays, but year round.

A few other foods to be cautious about include macadamia nuts, raw bread dough, avocados, raw eggs, and alcohol.

It is best to stick with your pet’s usual diet as not to cause an upset stomach that could lead to vomiting or diarrhea. If you want to give your pet an extra special Thanksgiving, you can mix a bit of sweet potato or green beans in with their usual dog food or give them a peanut butter filled Kong to enjoy while everyone is at the dinner table.

If by chance your pet happens to get into something they are not supposed to, try giving them a dollop of plain yogurt or cottage cheese to soothe an inflamed digestive tract. If your pet seems to be suffering from something more severe than an upset stomach though, it is important to have your vet’s number or the ASPCA pet poison control center number (888-426-4435) handy, just in case.

Be aware and be prepared this holiday season to ensure another great Thanksgiving for you and your family (Fido included).

Written by Danielle Sather, Marketing & Development Intern at Wayside Waifs