Pet of the Week puts a spotlight on a furry friend who is available for adoption at the Lawrence Humane Society at the time of the article’s publication. According to ASPCA, dog adoption numbers are down nationwide, which adds additional strain on shelters that are already struggling to accommodate high volumes of animals. Lawrence Humane is no exception.
Through Pet of the Week, readers can learn about a pup before they visit the shelter. The featured furball is selected by shelter staff members, who provide all details on the animal’s personality and history.
Waylon has spent his life as a deeply loved doggy, and now he’s ready to be your personal, 75-pound bundle of joy.
A 6-year-old labrador retriever mix, Waylon is a bounding ball of energy. Throughout his life, he’s lived with kids of all ages, dogs, cats and small animals.
His owner had him since he was a puppy and, according to shelter staff, did everything possible to keep him.
“(S)urrendering him was an act of love so that he could find a home where he could thrive,” said Elina Alterman, chief development officer at LHS.
The owner told staff that Waylon is the certified best boy. He’s been at the shelter for about two months and has gone on outings with Mass Street Mutts volunteers who say he’s adorable, happy and loyal.
One volunteer laughed about how Waylon is “a typical lab with no spatial awareness – yours or his.”
Alterman also took him on an outing and said he also “flopped over for belly rubs whenever anyone stopped to pet him.”
Waylon can’t be around bikes, as he dislikes them and will chase after cyclists. He also will let his excitement get the better of him and push past small children to get outside or climb 4-foot chain-link fences.
“But it’s not that he’s trying to be naughty, it’s just that the world is full of interesting smells and adventures and he just wants to experience it all,” Alterman said.
This adventurer can be thwarted with a 6-foot privacy fence for his own safety.
Waylon is an absolute gentleman on car rides, and Alterman thinks he would love owners who have a boat or live by the water. He needs to meet any potential doggy siblings, which staff can facilitate.
Waylon is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. His adoption fee is $150, although adoption fees are waived at the shelter Saturday, Sept. 12.
Those interested in adopting Waylon can email the Lawrence Humane Society’s adoptions team at [email protected] or call 785-843-6835.
People can also go straight to the shelter at 1805 E. 19th St. to meet him. The Humane Society is open to potential adopters from noon to 6 p.m. every day. People can also sign up for the Mass Street Mutts program to get to a know a dog before adopting.
Potential foster parents can email the Foster Coordinator at [email protected] and fill out an application here. The Lawrence Humane Society provides foster parents with all necessary supplies and food, and they cover bills for medical care, behavioral support and more.
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Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at [email protected].
Read their complete bio here. Read their work for the Times here.
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