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Radar with his kids

RADAR IS A LAB-SHEPHERD mix who came to Project POOCH from the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley a couple of years ago when he was only 9-months-old.

The photos of Radar from that time are pretty fuzzy - because he was a black blur, always in motion. Training Radar was a challenge. In his handler's own words, “He didn't mind worth a darn, and had the attention span of a gnat. He didn't come when he was called, he wouldn't heel, and he was a nipper.”

With time, patience, and lots of affection, Radar came around. He not only graduated from obedience training, he also excelled in agility training, and was a featured performer in a video.

When Radar was adopted, his POOCH handler was happy for him, but sad to see him go. His handler has now also graduated from Project POOCH and left MacLaren. He would be glad to read the following letter we recently received from Radar’s adoptive family:

“WE JUST WANTED to let you know how Radar is doing. Since we adopted him, he has been a wonderful companion to us and our son.

He is full of energy. Radar and Brian wear each other out and watching them wears us out. Radar has also been wonderful around the newest addition to our family. Her name is Alyssa and she is now 13 months old. He has proven to be very patient with her and when she falls on him he looks at her as if to say, “Are you OK?” followed by, “I won’t move until you are standing and have moved away.”

The down side is because she is right at his height, he thinks that when she walks around with food it is for him. He has only done this once, and now he waits for her to drop the food. I guess the ground is fair game.

Several times Alyssa has gone up to Radar and hugged him and the look on their faces is priceless.Thank you for letting us adopt Radar, he has been wonderful and we really love him.”

Texas thrives in his new home

TEXAS, A BLACK LAB, came to us from the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley in March 2002, when he was a year old. His first adoption didn't work out due his owner's frequent moves.

One day, we received a call from a woman saying she had a dog with a Project POOCH tag, and would we come and get him. When Adam Bergin, youth/kennel supervisor, brought him back to the kennel, he found that Texas had parasites, as well as a dull, dry coat. However, Texas remembered Project POOCH, and seemed overjoyed to back where he knew he'd be loved and well cared for.

After we'd updated his vaccinations, got him back on a good diet, and brushed up his obedience training, Texas was ready to go to a new home with Mike and Cheryl on a farm in Washington.

Here's is a letter about Texas that we recently received from his new family:

“WE WERE VERY impressed with the way your organization handled our adoption of Texas. Adam presented himself very professionally and was extremely helpful. Having someone like Adam represent your organization is a real credit to your group.

We were very impressed with the whole concept of Project Pooch and their affiliation with troubled youth. It is evident that the young man, Taiwo, who worked with Texas, loved him very much, as Texas is a very well behaved and obedient dog. I am sure he misses his companion, but he should be very proud of his success with Texas.

Texas is an awesome dog, and we feel very fortunate that he has come to live with us. He is well-mannered, very playful, curious, great with the grandkids, and enjoys other dogs. He gets very excited about the squirrel in our backyard tree, and lets us know when he is there, but we have yet to hear Texas bark. He is attached to the hip with Mike, and vice versa. Thank you for the wonderful new member to our family.”

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