Ain't Nothin' Like a Hound Dog!

Walker is a lover, with the energy of a teenager and the quintessential baying voice of a hound. We transferred him into PAWS after he spent two months at another shelter. Walker quickly won the hearts of staff and volunteers with his affectionate, curious and goofy personality. Yet for two more months there were no takers for this silly socialite, until Cassie Heaton and her son Elliott dropped by.

"I had always wanted a second dog, but our Catahoula Leopard Dog, Cali, is sensitive and emotional, so we waited until she mellowed out a bit before looking," recalled Cassie. When they spotted Walker she said, "He was in his kennel just looking relaxed. During our visit with him it was clear he loved to play. He seemed so mentally stable and happy-go-lucky that it felt like he would be a great fit for Cali and our family." Her husband Nick also fell in love with this big, friendly, floppy dog.

After bringing Walker home, they changed his name to Boomer. Now, Cali helps him burn off energy while he acts as a stabilizing influence for her, most recently remaining calm during a thunderstorm when Cali was scared. "We are still working on some of his adolescent behavior - running through the garden, chewing on pillows, and getting easily distracted," explained Cassie. But most of the time Boomer is well-behaved and Cassie can even go on a run with
both dogs.

She sums up their new relationship this way, "He's been an exciting addition to our family. He is just so sweet. He wants to curl up and be loved, and like a true hound, he also loves to run - and sniff, of course."