Wayside Waifs typically cares for 5,400+ animals per year, but some of our residents stay longer than what is expected. Sometimes the animals get extra medical treatment for maybe an upper respiratory infection, to something as severe as pneumonia. That can extend the stay of our friends here, and another reason they may stay longer is if they are involved in our behavior rehabilitation programs here. Every case is different, but these two long-term animals have the longest length of stay in the dog and cat categories. Bert and Marla are eager to find that fur-ever home, but here is a little background about them.
This is Bert, and he is a five-year old Basset Hound mix. His LOS (Length of Stay) is 184 days since he was returned from his previous adopter. Collectively, his LOS is longer than that. Bert was transferred to us back in August of 2016 when his previous shelter ran out of room for him. He came to us with a little upper respiratory infection, as well as being Heartworm positive. Bert received care for both conditions and is now healthy and ready to settle in a home.
Bert battled an infection on and off during his first few months here, and then he was medically cleared for adoption. Bert has a high reactivity to other dogs when on-leash, and he has been known to get stressed out around children. However he is a sweet boy, and very active! He LOVES going on walks and runs, and really loves to be outside when the weather’s nice. He loves toys as well, especially Kongs. The staff members and volunteers here have easily joined Bert’s fan club, as he is now a favorite throughout.
Jess, our Canine and Behavior Manager, speaks highly of Bert. “He’s a really fun guy, and if you’re looking for an active, lovable boy, Bert’s the dog for you.”
Jess also mentions his restrictions with children and dogs shouldn’t necessarily be set in stone. “Honestly, he needs a patient person or persons to train him properly, as he never has had the proper training. Once he has a good pattern of behavior, maybe he’ll do good with kids and dogs. At the beginning, it might be too much for him.”
Elise, a Canine Care Technician, also had some great things to say about Bert. “He will make you laugh, he’ll go outside and roll on his back with a big goofy grin. It’s hilarious!” Elise works with Bert and all of our canine friends regularly, and has seen his progress firsthand. “He needs a special person that will see how unique he is, and that will be Bert’s perfect home.”
This precious boy is looking for his big break, and who better to tell you about Bert than Bert himself?! If you want to watch his video, click here.
“Hi there, I’m Bert! I’m an adorable, 45-pound dog who’s looking for a place to call my own. After being transferred here by my shelter when they ran out of space for me, I’m ready to move on with my life and get things started with my new family! I’ll do better in a home without small children. Sometimes I forget how strong I am! I’d love to meet the whole family before heading home, so bring everyone out to meet me! I’m affectionate and loving with people! I like to stay active because being healthy is so important. I have great leash manners when I use my easy walk harness so taking walks together will be so much fun! Being outside is one of my favorite things so I hope we can spend some time bonding over the exciting sights and smells of this world. I also love to keep my brain sharp so teach me everything you know! I’ve already got the commands sit, down, and come covered but I know I can learn even more with your help. Oh, and I can even army crawl! I think that’s pretty cool. Get me extra motivated with fun toys or yummy treats! I’m so handsome and have a stellar personality. I’m one happy boy who doesn’t know a bad day! I’ll be sure to put a smile on your face whenever you’re around me. I hope you’ll come meet me soon so you can fall in love with my bubbly personality and handsome smile! Love, Bert”
This is Marla, and she is a three-year old tabby cat. Her LOS (Length of Stay) is 136 days straight. Back in February of this year, Marla was rescued from a hoarding case, and had no major signs of illness. With hoarding cases, we test for FIV and FELV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus respectively. Being around all those cats in certain conditions can bring life-altering illnesses. Marla was the only one out of ten in her group to test negative for both, she is resilient!
Even so, she did contract ringworm after staying her for almost a month, and was put in our isolation ward to treat her patches of hair loss. She was shy through all of this, so she felt a little run-down. However, with quick treatment and our excellent TABBY program, To Achieve Best Behavior Yet, she became the wonderful cat she is today! Our excellent staff and volunteers worked with her everyday to allow her to come out of her shell. She is a staff and volunteer favorite as well, mainly because of how independent she is.
Our Volunteer Coordinator Becky is Marla’s Waif Watcher, which is an advocate program to help promote our waifs. “I love how independent she is, but she also will come up for pets. She will enjoy playing with someone, and playing by herself. She’s the perfect cat!” Becky used to work in our Feline Care Department as well, so she also got to know Marla through there. “When she started to come out of her shell, we noticed how playful she is, and it’s adorable to watch. She is also unique looking for a tabby, so that is a positive too!”
Bonnie, our Feline Care Manager, also has some nice things to say about Marla. “I love seeing a really shy cat make a huge turnaround and become who they really are. The day Marla started to play with me was a great day!” Bonnie founded our TABBY program and it has helped cats like Marla become more confident. “Marla gives good signs when she either has had enough or if she wants more attention. She’s a smart girl!”
This gorgeous gal is looking for her fur-ever home, and that might be you! She would love to tell you about herself, and you can also watch her video here. Please note this video is earlier during her stay here, come meet her to see how much she has grown! Here is how Marla is now!
“Hi I’m Marla! I’m a pretty tabby cat with plenty of love to give. My friends at Wayside call me a Private Investigator. That means that I might spend some time behind the scenes while I make sure everything in the house is in order. I might be a little shy at first but I’ve been known to give purrs and headbutts. I love mice and wand toys! I will need a home where I am the only cat and there are no children under the age of 10. I’ll need someone to be patient with me and give me the private space I need to adjust to a new home. Once I’m comfortable, I’ll be your best friend. I can’t wait to have my own furever family!”
You can meet Bert and Marla at our facility during our adoption hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: Noon-8pm
Thursday: Noon-8pm
Friday: Noon-8pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 1pm-6pm
Written by Teryn