Happy "gotcha" day for little Belle who is Joan Stark's forever foster for NEBTR. It was one year ago that Joan drove throgh a snow storm to PA to pick up this sweet little old lady.
What a wonderful celebration and year for both Joan and Belle!
Northeast Boston Rescue (NEBTR) is comprised of volunteers based in NY, NJ, PA, CT, and parts of other states, and serves Boston Terriers in need within reach of our helping hands.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Update on Belle and Boston
This is the story of two Bostons, named Belle and Boston from Joan Stark, long time NEBTR volunteer from Julie's Klam's Blog..
(In the photo, left to right: Belle, Missy (Mast cell tumor survivor, so far) Duke, Gidget (retired therapy dog) , and Boston.
We were looking for another dog and we had heard about rescues and decided that would be the way to go. While we were researching them, I got word from my breeder that she had taken in a couple of Bostons and was looking for home for them. We went to see her (and them) She had a little girl and I was looking for a female. I fell in love with her and while we were doing the paperwork, my husband was sitting in a chair. This skinny brindle boy hopped up in his lap and sat there the whole time. When I finished paperwork for the little girl and said we could leave, my hubby looked at me and said “What about him? We can’t leave him here.” So we came home with two dogs. He was a brindle and a male – neither my favorite. His story was that he was found in an abandoned house. It was a known “crack” house and the theory is that the owners were in jail. It is estimated that he was there alone for at least six months. He was going in and out the doggy door, feeding himself from garbage cans and whatever the neighbors would give him, drinking out of the toilet in the house and sleeping in his crate. When found, on top of his crate was his rabies tag and all his paperwork to register him – his name was Boston (known as Mr. B in our house) and he is a purebreed. He was about 10 pounds, all skin and bones, full of parasites, filthy and had really bad teeth. He was two years old. We took him home, cleaned him up, fed him and loved him. He is no a whopping 23 pounds, and “my” dog–doesn’t leave my side when I am home, follows me even into the bathroom, has to be in the chair with me and sleeps on the bed with us. He is the first of our Bostons to be allowed to do this. Needless to say, the dog my husband wanted six years ago and I was not so sure about is now my faithful protector and MY own sweet boy.
The other rescue is a NEBTR and actually is a permanent foster with us. Her name is Belle. She is a tiny little thing. I saw the emails about this little old lady who had been abandoned in an apartment in PA. The owner left town and left a note on the neighbor’s door stating she would not be back and to “feed the animals”. Belle was there with a six month old kitten. The neighbor was a college girl who did the best she could but did not have the time or resources to do this permanently. NEBTR was working to find her a place but everyone was full. I could not stand the thought of her going to a shelter and even though I had not planned to foster until I retired and was home more, I decided that I needed to help the approximately fourteen year old girl. So I drove three hours to PA and met another volunteer, Kym, who had driven down to pick her up and then drove up to meet me. It was January and it was snowing. Lovely. When Belle came to us she weighed just 12 pounds. She has a cataract on one eye that requires drops every day. The vision in her other eye is limited as it is blue. She has a grade II to IV heart murmur, about six teeth left, and was bald from her shoulders back and looked as if she was having a rectal prolapse. It was understood that she would be a permanent foster with me as due to her age and health issues. She just would not be a good candidate for adoption. In the first two or three months we had her, she did nothing but eat, go out to do her business, and lay in her little bed. I changed her diet and found that she is allergic to chicken. We have fattened her up to 14 1/2 pounds, her hair has grown back. Due to a better diet with more fiber, etc. the rectal prolapse is not an issue. We still put drops in her eyes. She has no trouble eating. She has come out of her shell and shown us that she is a funny feisty little old lady. She jumps up to sit with my husband, loves to have her back scratched. Wants to play with my younger dogs and she quickly learned to be first in line for treats.
I love all my pups dearly. We have three more at home besides Belle, and Mr. B. These two have a special history, though and have earned a special place in my heart.
(In the photo, left to right: Belle, Missy (Mast cell tumor survivor, so far) Duke, Gidget (retired therapy dog) , and Boston.
We were looking for another dog and we had heard about rescues and decided that would be the way to go. While we were researching them, I got word from my breeder that she had taken in a couple of Bostons and was looking for home for them. We went to see her (and them) She had a little girl and I was looking for a female. I fell in love with her and while we were doing the paperwork, my husband was sitting in a chair. This skinny brindle boy hopped up in his lap and sat there the whole time. When I finished paperwork for the little girl and said we could leave, my hubby looked at me and said “What about him? We can’t leave him here.” So we came home with two dogs. He was a brindle and a male – neither my favorite. His story was that he was found in an abandoned house. It was a known “crack” house and the theory is that the owners were in jail. It is estimated that he was there alone for at least six months. He was going in and out the doggy door, feeding himself from garbage cans and whatever the neighbors would give him, drinking out of the toilet in the house and sleeping in his crate. When found, on top of his crate was his rabies tag and all his paperwork to register him – his name was Boston (known as Mr. B in our house) and he is a purebreed. He was about 10 pounds, all skin and bones, full of parasites, filthy and had really bad teeth. He was two years old. We took him home, cleaned him up, fed him and loved him. He is no a whopping 23 pounds, and “my” dog–doesn’t leave my side when I am home, follows me even into the bathroom, has to be in the chair with me and sleeps on the bed with us. He is the first of our Bostons to be allowed to do this. Needless to say, the dog my husband wanted six years ago and I was not so sure about is now my faithful protector and MY own sweet boy.
The other rescue is a NEBTR and actually is a permanent foster with us. Her name is Belle. She is a tiny little thing. I saw the emails about this little old lady who had been abandoned in an apartment in PA. The owner left town and left a note on the neighbor’s door stating she would not be back and to “feed the animals”. Belle was there with a six month old kitten. The neighbor was a college girl who did the best she could but did not have the time or resources to do this permanently. NEBTR was working to find her a place but everyone was full. I could not stand the thought of her going to a shelter and even though I had not planned to foster until I retired and was home more, I decided that I needed to help the approximately fourteen year old girl. So I drove three hours to PA and met another volunteer, Kym, who had driven down to pick her up and then drove up to meet me. It was January and it was snowing. Lovely. When Belle came to us she weighed just 12 pounds. She has a cataract on one eye that requires drops every day. The vision in her other eye is limited as it is blue. She has a grade II to IV heart murmur, about six teeth left, and was bald from her shoulders back and looked as if she was having a rectal prolapse. It was understood that she would be a permanent foster with me as due to her age and health issues. She just would not be a good candidate for adoption. In the first two or three months we had her, she did nothing but eat, go out to do her business, and lay in her little bed. I changed her diet and found that she is allergic to chicken. We have fattened her up to 14 1/2 pounds, her hair has grown back. Due to a better diet with more fiber, etc. the rectal prolapse is not an issue. We still put drops in her eyes. She has no trouble eating. She has come out of her shell and shown us that she is a funny feisty little old lady. She jumps up to sit with my husband, loves to have her back scratched. Wants to play with my younger dogs and she quickly learned to be first in line for treats.
I love all my pups dearly. We have three more at home besides Belle, and Mr. B. These two have a special history, though and have earned a special place in my heart.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Photos of Alicia, now Penny
Here are some pictures of Penny, formerly known as Alicia. She is awfully camera shy though. I tell myself she is a former show dog and is 'over' the paparazzi. haha!
So photos are few are far between but I couldn't resist the ones where she thinks she's a cat lounging in the sun!
She's settled in and we cannot get enough of her!
I can't imagine anyone not loving her but of course now I am biased. She doesn't flinch at the vet, listens well... and now I am a gushing mom!
I can't thank NEBTR enough for bringing her to us and doing everything you all do. I am so thrilled to be part of such a great group! I look at all the doggies that need homes and I want them all! Hopefully after some more time with Penny we'll be able to foster!
-- Sara McLaughlin
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Update on Ori and Molly Moo
We celebrated O's one year of Freedom from the puppymill on January 18th. We can't believe how quickly time has gone by and how much she has changed. Her coat is beautiful, she loves to play and she is the cutest little snuggler. She and Moo have taught each other so much. I love watching the 2 of them snuggle and relax on the couch or a bed together. I have such a hard time even attempting to comprehend how people can do what they do to dogs in a mill...I shudder at the conditions O was in last year especially during this cold snap that we've been having.
To celebrate Ori's 1 year of freedom, I think it's appropriate to come up with a Top 10 Favorites list for both O and Moo.
Ori's Top 10 Favorites:
10- slinky across the floor on her belly looking all cute and playful
9- dive bombing Moo while Moo's still peeing
8- playing tug of war
7- strategically resting her nubby to snuggle as close as possible
6- snuggly with her mommy!
5- standing as tall as she can to try and grab things off the kitchen table
4- Stealing Molly's kong as soon as they get out of their crates
3- staring at Molly in hopes of distracting her to grab whatever Molly is chewing on
2- sleeping in the big bed
1- Squeakie toys!!!
And dear Miss Moo's Top 10 Favorites
10- Food
9- peanut butter filled kongs
8- Cookies
7- Zuke's Z-ridges
6- trash picking
5-bully sticks
4- snuggling on the couch
3- liver
2- burying her nose under covers
1- Food!
-- Vicki Rowe, And Tinker Makes Three
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Update on Addie
The amazing story of the rescue of a puppy mill girl from NEBTR’s Placement Coordinator and all around wonder, Jodi Groff, which was featured first on Julie Klam's Blog.
Every foster I take teaches me a new lesson but it is my first foster that opened my eyes to a world I knew existed but never understood. I anxiously awaited my first assignment. I had agreed to foster one of five dogs being tossed aside by a puppy miller. I was asked by several people in the group if I thought I was ready for such a big assignment and I kept thinking what could be so bad? Well, my no name foster came and any denial that I had about how awful dogs are treated in a mill went out the door- the terrible pictures you see are sadly accurate. When this little 14 pound peanut was put on solid ground she froze, unable to move for what seemed like half an hour because she was never on grass, outside a cage or handled gently by a people…essentially she never felt an ounce of kindness or love. She was five years old and I wondered on a daily basis if she would be able to overcome her demons from years of severe abuse and neglect. (She apparently had a litter only a few days before. Our thought was that she had a litter of still born pups because of a uterine infection which is why she was given up by the miller…only in that world is having a litter of still borns be a ticket to freedom.)
She needed a name and we decided on Addie. It took months of slow interaction and lots of patience but Addie gradually began to show small signs of improvement. Even the smallest gesture like eating her food with a person in the same room was reason to celebrate…calmly of course because you didn’t want to scare her with sudden movements). Right before Christmas an application was submitted and something was telling me that it was Addie’s new family. I cried at my computer reading it because I couldn’t believe I was going to agree to give her up but I also cried because I was happy that she was finally getting the life she deserved. The family was perfect and up for the challenge to continue what was started. On a cold December morning three days after Christmas they officially adopted Addie. Rescuing these dogs is a team effort but it is the families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to the imperfect and difficult dogs that are truly the backbone of what we do. These families have the strength to love the dogs that others will not consider and they take on the challenge with a joyful heart. They practice the true definition of rescue.
Now, just close your eyes and imagine a filthy, flea infested, frightened, continuously abused, feral dog that spent her entire five years locked in a cage breeding with no human interaction. Then see the magic of patience and love by watching Addie on the video her family sent me to celebrate her one year adoption anniversary. (She is actually coming up on her SECOND anniversary December 28th!!) I have to give all the credit to her family because this amazing transition was the result of LOTS AND LOTS OF HARD WORK.
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