Success Story Papi

Papi's new family, Bill and Deborah


Papi and his two foster moms, Mary Liberty and Robin Leone


Papi's new family, Bill and Deborah


Papi and his new sister Tara


Papi arrived in rescue in May 2011. He was found in an abandoned building in NYC, and had to survive on the streets, although he is an older gent at approximately 9 years. He also has medical challenges - Papi has luxating lenses in both eyes and will require meds for the rest of his life.

Papi’s 1st foster home was with Mary Liberty in Owego, NY but in September 2011 Mary lost her home to a flood and Papi was moved to Robin Leone in Syracuse, NY.

Deborah Dolan and Bill Delaney were the first applicants to specifically apply for Papi. As soon as Robin talked to Deborah she knew this was the perfect place for her baby. Papi’s happy ending had finally arrived. Robin asked Deborah what made her choose him and she said she felt an instant connection to him.

Papi was adopted on a snowy Saturday in October 2011 to Deborah and Bill (the adoption took place during that crazy snowstorm on the East coast). Papi now lives on Long Island with Deborah, Bill and his new BT sister, Tara. Papi bonded very quickly with his new family and as you can see by the picture he loves his new sister. Deborah tells me they play all the time and are always kissing each other.

What a wonderful ending to a little boy who used to live on the streets in NYC!

Deborah Dolan gives us a further update:

"Ok, so for an update on Papi -

Not only do Bill and I love Papi, but he was a big hit with relatives at Thanksgiving! We are so glad we adopted him. We can't believe how active he is - he and Tara choose one of many toys each day, and play "take-away the toy" with each other all day with that one toy. They are both exhausted by evening.

Papi starts the night-time bed routine by laying on top of our comforter, but then joins Tara under the covers. She lays by our legs, and he lays against our torsos. Papi used to jump out of bed in the morning, but has now joined Tara in being a lazy bum and stays in bed.

In the later evening, Bill and I usually sit and watch some TV and they both cuddle up with one of us. The other night we were home but were doing lots of things in the house. Papi kept following us around and "talking" and I later realized that he was upset that we hadn't sat down on the couches so he could snuggle. As soon as we sat down, he stopped "talking" and cuddled up. We go for a lot of walks - Papi loves that. He and Bill also have a real male bonding thing going on.

Thank you Mary and Robin for taking such good care of him - I think your care is why he was so ready and able to settle in with us.

Deb"

Introducing Mandee

Mandee was a puppy mill girl, who found her way to NEBTR. Lara Anderson opened her home and her heart to her.

Lara writes,

"Meet our first foster, Mandee! She is 2 years old (we think). She is loving towards and likes being around our 5 year old BT, Marcel most of the time, though there is some occasional aggression in the past few days (she's already gotten a little possessive of my attention). We hope with the right support and after getting spayed, she'll be her lovable self all the time. Mandee came to us terrified of people and new to the city. She is already making great strides in the four days we've had her - follows me around, takes walks with Marcel, is adjusting to the city, cuddles and plays, and is overall a completely lovable little girl.


Lara, Jesse, Marcel & Mandee
New York, NY

What Your Donations Did for Uncle and Cesar

Uncle Fester Before

Uncle Fester After

Recently, we had two fundraising drives for Uncle Fester and Cesar.

If you remember, Uncle Fester is being fostered by Meredith and Matt Festa. Uncle suffered beating after beating in his 6-8 years. None of his medical issues are due to anything but a human's hand. He was not sick, he has no disease, he has no genetic abnormalities, he just got beat up for a VERY long time. His heart murmur- caused by lack of nutrition and damage from STRESS!, His very faint cataracts- lack of proper nutrition and trauma left untreated, his hernia- kicked, his missing and rotted teeth- kicked, his broken spine-kicked, and his lipomas - lack of proper nutrition. He has numerous healed fractures.

His foster mom Meredith reports, "This little dog is now learning to actually be a dog. He can play now, he learned to sit and give kisses, he speaks on command, and after almost 5 month.... he now WAGS HIS NUB OF A TAIL! Proper diet and medication has reduced his eye damage, and the vet feels that it should not progress. His heart murmur has DOWNGRADED from 6 out of 6 to 3 out of 6. He is no longer curved in a C position... He stands straight, holds his head high, and trots around proud.

Uncle's options when he was brought to Brookhaven were Euthanize due to the amount of damage he had suffered at the hands of his owner, but the Director was not going to let that happen so she called me. Once he was in our care his choices were pain meds to keep him sedated so he was not screaming (he screamed all the time in agony), surgery to eliminate the pressure in his spinal column, or euthanize him so he no longer lived in pain. Despite all he had been through he licked my hand, so surgery was his only option. He didn't ask to be beaten, he just wanted to be loved.

He is 100% housebroken, he loves cats, he loves kids (although I would not place him with kids due to the fact he was an abuse case and it's not safe for him or the child), he is good with balanced dogs, but will try to challenge dogs that are too hyper, weak, sick, or scared. He will run away crying from big dogs. From a trainers perspective, his challenge behavior to some dogs comes from being used for breeding and the fleeing is most likely from being used as a bait dog. Yet after his years of beatings and God knows what else, HE STILL LOVES PEOPLE. The only aggression he has ever shown was from pain, and since his back surgery he has not growled once. He is a little gentleman.

It breaks my heart someone did this to him, he really would have been "the perfect dog". Healthy, no genetic issues, sweet, and loving..... but now..... we just wait to see how much damage can be undone. He will never get his teeth back, he will never know what it's like to go play at a dog park and run in a pack, and although he loves them dearly, he can never be placed in a home with children."

Uncle still needs more surgery, but your generosity has made his care up to this point possible.

One of the most horrendous cases was poor Cesar, who looked like this when he found his way to animal control in September. He looked like this:

You all responded amazingly to his plight, and donated a record amount, enough to provide care for him. He was taken under the wing of foster mom Carolyn McCarthy, who continued to nurture him.

And this is Cesar today!



Cesar has now been adopted and is in his loving forever home with Laura Ratsvong, where he will get all the love and care he needs. And you made this possible!

Thanks to everyone, from the bottom of our hearts!!

New Foster Madge

Hi Everyone,
I am a first time foster mom with NEBTR. I just picked up Madge, our sweet senior foster on Saturday. She was abandoned so NEBTR had no history on her. She had two seizures Saturday and one more severe one on Monday. Sadly, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Madge loves walks, belly rubs and giving kisses. In spite of all that she is enduring, she is a very sweet, loving lady. We are giving her pred and hope it helps her symptoms but we know that Madge's time with us is limited. We are making sure that Madge's last days are filled with all the love and care that she so richly deserves. Please keep Madge in your thoughts and prayers.

Cynthia Kaiser
Albany, NY

Update on Molly

Michael Roets, her forever dad, writes about this beautiful girl, to Mary MacCollum who was her foster mom:

"Hi Mary,

I want to give you an update on our little rambunctious Molly girl. I'm sorry that I haven't kept you up to date on how she is doing. She is really something, very different from our labs. At first it was like having a little alien in the house;
we never knew what to expect or what she would be up to next.

Even the labs were a bit freaked out by her. I am happy to say that that situation didn't last long and even though she can still get herself worked up and out of control at times.

We have absolutely fallen in love with her. HShe and the younger lab play great together and when Molly decides to play calmly even the older lab will roll around on the floor with her. She is both a little maniac and a little sweetheart that loves to cuddle.

She has learned our routine and fits in very well with our pack, usually walking between the big girls which all the neighbors think is hysterical. She loves retrieving the tennis ball and she also loves to swim. She knows her commands
although she can be stubborn and is much more selective about obeying then the other girls. She is a challenge compared to the labs but she is so much fun and so loveable. Here are a few photos of her on her best behavior. I hope that all is
well with you and maybe sometime we can bring her by to say hello.

Michael"

BT and Cat Lick Fest

Lulu Finds Her Forever Home

Right here with us! Sam and I were talking about whether we could stand to let Lulu go tonight, when our two-year old daughter walked in and sat down next to Lulu. Lulu started giving her kisses and Freya said to her, "I love you too, Lulu." That made up our mind; there is absolutely no way we can let this beautiful little dog go!!! She's sitting next to me, snoring away, spooning with Abbey on the couch as I write this. She has come so far since September 24th and we just can't imagine our home without her anymore.

Renee Posey

Dear sweet Coco went to her furever home on Sunday. She was adopted by Jim Costich and Leon Sheldon of Rochester. She now has two loving parents and three legged cat named Arnold as a brother. She will be summering 3 to 4 months a year at camp in the Allegeny mountains. Good luck to you sweetheart, your foster mom always loves you!

Wendy Conway

Nola's Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon from Kadshah Nagibe on Vimeo.

Congratulations to Nola, who owns Victoria Carter, for being featured in this video titled "Dog Day Afternoon."

Elsie

This is Elsie. She was a rescued puppy mill puppy. She was 3/4 lb when she came to us. She getting to be an ole lady now!

-- Judy Wade

Doesn't she look like she is saying her prayers and thanking God for her family.

Mabel's Thanksgiving

Mabel has a lot to be thankful for. She was rescued on Thanksgiving by foster parents Meredith and Matt Festa, and will start the rest of her life today.

New Foster Buggs

Buggs, age 14, was dumped by his former family at a shelter in Philly because they said he wasn't eating. He is blind in one eye, and was absolutely terrified. How cruel can people be?

Beth McFadden and her husband took in the poor little guy and made him their foster, probably permanently. Buggs now can look forward to spending the rest of his life surrounded by the love and caring that the McFaddens, who are absolute angels, will give him.

This is a real Thanksgiving for Buggs!

What Your Support Achieved

A while back, we posted a request for urgent donations to help with the medical bills and care of the many, many Bostons who have recently been in jeopardy. One of the most horrendous cases was poor Cesar, who looked like this when he found his way to animal control in September. He looked like this:



You all responded amazingly to his plight, and donated a record amount, enough to provide care for him. He was taken under the wing of foster mom Carolyn McCarthy, who continued to nurture him.

And this is Cesar today!




Here he is playing with his foster siblings Manny and Minnie:




More good news for Cesar - he has been adopted by Laura Ratsavong and Kenneth Young and now lives in Brooklyn.

Way to go Cesar! And thank you again to everyone who helped heal this boy so that he can have a forever home with a family who loves him. That is what rescue is all about!

Happy Thanksgiving

Spanky the Tricky Terrier

This is my Boston rescue Spanky that I got about 5 years ago through NEBTR. He was in a kill shelter, half dead, when we got the call and I just fell in love with his one brown eye and one blue eye. Anyway, we all know how Bostons just love their balls! Enjoy, and yes, he is one talented little man NEBTR saved from death. He was saved just four short hours before his time was up, and look at him now!

--Debbie Wanner and Spanky

Dog Letters to God

Dear GOD:
From: THE DOG

Dear God: Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?



Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?



Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?



Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a Dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the 'Chrysler Eagle' the 'Chrysler Beagle'?



Dear God: If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?


Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.


Dear God: We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?




Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?




Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.
4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.
5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.
8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table
9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt across the carpet.
11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.
12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.


P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

BT Cruisers November Newsletter

The BT Cruisers, a Rochester New York sister group, has published their November Newsletter. Click to read all about what this very active group is up to. And pictured above is Joan Stark's crew, including 14 year old permanent foster Belle. Aren't they adorable?

Love at First Bark

Congratulations to NEBTR member Julie Klam on the publication of her new book Love at First Bark!

Amazon says, "The bestselling memoirist shows how saving a dog can sometimes help you save yourself.

Julie Klam writes about dogs with a rollicking wit and a radiating warmth-as no other writer can. In her bestselling memoir You Had Me at Woof, she shared the secrets of happiness she learned as an occasionally frazzled but always devoted owner of Boston terriers. Now, with the same enchanting, pop culture-infused amalgam of humor and poignancy that reached the The New York Times and the Today show and won the hearts of readers across the country, she returns with more humorous insight into life with canine companions.

Klam focuses here on dog rescue, and its healing power not only for the dogs who are cared for and able to find good homes, but also for the people who bond with these animals. Klam became involved with rescue after years as an owner of purehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbred dogs. She was looking for a way to help and participate in a community, but she never imagined just how much she would receive in return. The dogs she has rescued through the years have filled her life with laughter and contentment, sorrow and frustration, and they have made certain that she never has a dull moment. Along the way, she has collected stories from friends who have also found that guiding dogs to nurturing homes made their own lives richer. These experiences, which show us that even in our smallest gestures we can make a big difference, inspired Love at First Bark."

Click on this link to purchase it on Amazon.

NEBTR was represented at the launch party for Julie's book at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn. What a fun night!

Alyson, Carolyn, Julie

Ellen, Julie




Then we had a party with Fiorello and Wisteria Klam at Kamp Kanine. They were so proud of their mom, although they didn't want to stand still for their portraits!

NEBTR at Quakertown

What a great day! Representing NEBTR at its finest!

Photos courtesy of Joy Riley

Uncle Fester - What a Difference Love Makes!