Belle Goes to the Rainbow Bridge

Our little energizer bunny, Belle, went to the Bridge.  She was one sweet feisty little old lady.  She was 17 and had multiple organ failure related to a very bad heart.  Meds had helped for a few weeks but she told us last night that it was time. Her breathing was so bad and she was filling up with fluid to the point she could hardly move.  We only had her for two and a half years but she added so much to our lives that I do not regret taking her in.  She was the tiniest one in the house at 12 pounds but she didn't take any nonsense from the rest of the pack. She was my first foster (I sort of fell into fostering with her).
 
For those of you who may not remember her story let me tell you about this wonderful senior lady.  Belle was abandoned in an apartment in Pennsylvania at age 14.  Her owner put a note on a neighbor's door stating that he had left town and would not be back and for her to feed the animals (there was also a six month old kitten with her).  The neighbor was a college student who did her best but could not take care of animals while going to school and working.  She was about to take them to a shelter when her mother contacted NEBTR.  This was in January and the rescue had had a large influx of dogs, many of them seniors so no one had a spot for Belle.  I did not plan to foster until I retired which was a year or more off but I could not bear the thought of her going to a shelter and probably being put to sleep because of her condition. 

You see, Belle had a serious heart murmur, a skin condition where she was almost bald, many hot spots, was nearly blind and only had about six teeth left.  So I drove to PA in a snowstorm to meet Kym another rescuer who had driven down to get her and so Belle became part of our family.  We know at the outset that she would be a permanent foster due to her age and health.  No one, even our vet thought she would live more than six months.  Well, to keep this long story short, we gave her lots of tlc, she gained weight, grew her hair back and lived for two and a half years with us.  She was such a little sweetheart.  My husband often remarked that he would have liked to see what she was like as a pup, as she must have been pretty spunky.  She was happy to get up in the morning and eat breakfast.  Her appetite was always good - we fed her chicken right up to the end (she is allergic to chicken but loves it so I wanted to make her last moments happy ones). 

She is running free at the Bridge, probably chasing Mr. B away from her food bowl just like she did when he was here with us, too.  I am attaching a picture that I took yesterday.  This is how she greeted me every morning.  I will never regret opening my home and heart to a senior in need. 

Joan Starkey,  Ontario NY.

Happy 2nd Gotcha Day Belle

Just thinking how quickly time flies. It was two years ago today that I fell into fostering and got my forever foster Belle. Belle was a 14 year old girl who had been abandoned in an apartment in PA. A neighbor was attempting to care for her but was unable to keep it up and was about to take her to a shelter. Luckily for Belle, she was brought to the attention of NEBTR and after reading all the emails back and forth and no one was available to take her - all the fosters were full - I told my husband I couldn't stand the thought of this little girl ending up in a shelter. Another one of our wonderful rescuers, Kym, went and picker Belle up and I met them at Kym's home in Scranton PA. I them drove home in a snowstorm with this frightened little dog. She was in bad shape, bald from her shoulders back, had many hot spots, a nasty looking cataract on one eye, a grade 3-4 heart murmur and about six teeth left. After a trip to the vet, who didn't think she would last six months, Belle was treated to several oatmeal baths, a change in diet (she is allergic to chicken and that is what she was being fed) and lots of loving. Now at age 16, she is almost completely blind, having developed another cataract on the other eye and her kidneys are beginning to fail a bit. But she is a real trooper and gets around the house just fine. Her hair grew back and she has no problem eating. She is a feisty little old lady who keeps the other dogs in line. (She thinks she is a German shepherd, I think!!) She does this funny little "bumper car" thinkg to find me when she wants her back scratched, which she loves, and comes to greet me when I come home with her little tail waggin and wanting to be picked up and loved. She is quite the character and my husband and I often say that we would have loved to see what she was like as a pup. I had not planned to foster for another year or so when I retired - but guess what - I am not the least bit sorry that we fell into it like this. Belle is a gem and I would not trade her. So thanks, NEBTR for bringing little Belle into our lives. Tomorrow when I am at my home computer, I will post a recent picture of her for all of you to enjoy. Joan Stark Ontario NY

Merry Christmas from ...

Joan Stark and family, including little forever foster Belle on Joan's lap.



Aunt Aggie and the rest of the Branchville Bostons


Vivienne and the Walter Family

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?

Happy Gotcha Day Belle

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!

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.

Update on Belle

Belle after 5 weeks

Belle and her brother Duke

It has been about five weeks since I drove to Pennsylvania to pickup our abandoned little old lady, Belle. I thought I would give you and update. Poor Belle had a few problems in the early days. She was very thin, her bones stuck out, her coat was so thin as to be non existent in places. She settled in and kept to herself at first, accepting my dogs but not interacting much. I fed her the food that came with her until I transitioned her over to what I feed my gang. There was Science Diet canned food to be mixed with her kibble so I opened a can of a chicken flavored one. Shortly after that Belle broke out in a nasty rash, mostly on her hind end and back. I treated with Benedryl and anti itch spray and cream. Did not change much. I discovered the problem was an allergy to chicken when the can was finished and we switched to a beef one. Rash went away. She is now on the lamb and rice that my gang eats, with a spoonful of pumpkin and a fish oil capsule. After reading about it here, I have also added Aloe Vera juice to all the dogs' food. Belle went to the vet this week as the titer showed she needed a distemper vaccination. She now weighs 14.8 lbs! (was 12.5 at first vet visit). Her coat is coming in nice and thick with only a few bald places left. No more bones sticking out. She is obviously feeling better and more at home. She now greets me at the door when I come home and seeks me and/or my husband out for some scratches and belly rubs or cuddling. She is wagging her little stub of a tail when we pet her and she comes running and begs like everyone else when it is treat time. Biggest surprise came this week when she actually started playing with Duke the youngest of our dogs. She was doing the "you chase me, I'll chase you" game and has initiated this a couple of times since. She also does this little happy dance when I bring the leash out. She knows we are going to playgroup! She has just blossomed in the last week or so and I am so happy for her. Everyone who sees her falls in love with her and she is an entirely different little dog from the scared, skinny little old lady I picked up in Pennsylvania.

Belle 5 weeks ago

Joan Starkey, Ontario NY

Joan Stark and Belle

Belle was rescued by Joan Stark, who drove three and a half hours each way to a vacant apartment building in Pennsylvania.

A mother had written to NEBTR, saying that a woman in her daughter's apartment building moved out in the middle of the night, leaving the dog and a kitten behind in the apartment. She left a note on my daughter's door stating that she would not be coming back for the animals. The daughter, a true hero, is a full time college student and does volunteer work with the Hillside SPCA in Pottsville, PA. She cared for the animals until NEBTR came for the dog and found a cat rescue group for the kitten.

Joan writes, "Belle saw the vet today and weighs in at a whopping 12.7 pounds. Her left eye had a mature cataract and an obvious old healed ulcer on the cornea. The other eye is blue and has a beginning cataract that we can watch for now. She does have a significant heart murmur and the vet said we have to watch her carefully as she could experience heart failure quickly if the symptoms are not caught early. (This is very similar to what happens in humans, so I do know what to watch for). Her skin is very dry (some fish oil should take care of that. They did a titer and we went ahead with the rabies and Bortadella and I got her heartworm meds. She also had a senior blood panel which I have done for my seniors and it was good. The only real concern is her rectum that is close to prolapse. Vet feels this may be due to not enough fiber in her diet and suggested that I add some to her food. It is not a surgical candidate right now but could be if diet is not attended properly. Overall in pretty good shape. She is missing a number of teeth but the ones remaining are in pretty good shape. And it certainly does not affect her eating. Vet feels she may be a little older than thirteen. Wish we could get the vet records but, Oh, well, we will deal with whatever needs to be done. She is eating well and socializing with the other dogs more each day. I bought her a lovely purple harness today because all she had was a collar that was too big and her little head kept slipping right through it. She walks well on the leash and appears housebroken. Being a senior she just can't wait as long as a younger dog. She comes and tries to get your attention when she has to go out. If she can't wait she finds the potty pad and goes on it. She is settling in very well and appears comfortable with us. I left her home with hubby today while I went to get my stitches out and he said she never left the front room by the door til I came home. When I did she ran right up with the others to greet me with a real tail wagging and kisses. She is not a snuggler and I haven't found a toy she wants to play with yet, but she is happy to climb up on the couch and snooze on a pillow off and on through the day.

She is settling in nicely and is a real little love. But sure can snore!! I think she is louder than my boys are. She is eating well and goes out to potty and is even snuggling up with my 12 1/2 year old Gidget.

I think I will just call my house the BT nursing home! My Gidget is 12 1/2, Missy will be 10 in April, Boston (Mr,. B) will be 9 tomorrow. Now Belle is 13. Poor Duke is the youngster at not quite 4! Since my hubby and I qualify for the senior citizens discount, we all fit rather well together."

Pictured above are Joan and Belle on Valentine's Day. Joan has decided to keep Belle because of all she has been through in the last few months. Her original owner gave her away to the woman who abandoned her. Belle certainly deserves all the care and love in the world, and Joan will certainly give it to her! Thank you Joan, for taking Belle into your heart and home.

Joan Stark

Belle Rescued from Vacant Apartment

Belle and a companion kitten were left in her apartment building. Their owner moved out in the middle of the night, leaving the dog and a kitten behind in the apartment, with a note on the door saying she wasn't coming back. Fortunately, one of the apartment's other residents found it and cared for the animals until they could find foster arrangements.

Joan Starkey, her foster mom, made the trip (3 1/2 hours each way). Joan writes, The trip was completed with good weather until the very end when I ran into snow for the last 20 miles. Since it was so late, we did not try to make friends with my gang last night. Belle was put in the front room with the baby gate between her and my bunch. There was lots of nose sniffing through the gate and some barking from my boys. Belle growled at them if they came too close. You see, I think Belle is blind or nearly so. I am sure that one eye has a cataract on it and the other doesn't appear clear. She is also a tiny little thing at about 13 pounds on my bathroom scale. My twenty + pound monsters seem huge next to her. Her nails are horribly long and I can't do them right now due to my finger being in a splint. She appears to be house broken as when I holler "potty time" to my gang she comes right along. This morning I kept them separated until after breakfast, then let her come in and explore. My gang pretty much ignored her as they are used to visiting dogs. She spent the day sniffing and exploring the kitchen and living room where she is allowed for now and the front room (the dog's room). She follows my voice and right now is sitting at my feet while I am on the computer. No more growling at my gang unless they get too rough. I am not sure how much she is eating, she appears a little thin."

Joan also indicated that Belle was pretty spunky for her age, and attaches these adorable photos of Belle.  Joan noted that Belle has made herself right at home and even pushed one of the boys off the chair she decided was hers!

The kitten is being placed into foster care as well.

How could someone do this to animals?