Update on Teddy

Story telling time. He actually looks up at like he's listening. Took advantage
of unusually warm winter day.

Hazel

We'll never, ever get enough Teddy updates. Unbelievable that is the same dog.  This is so great so see!

Teddy Has His Game On

Look at Teddy at home with Dr. Fred and Hazel!  What an amazing life he has and how fortunate he is to be loved by Dr. Fred, Hazel and his animal sibling!  This is one of our best all time success stories.

Photos of Teddy

Look at how well and happy Teddy is doing with Dr. Fred and Hazel!  It’s a dream come true for him!  Much love and thanks to his family!

 

Hazel writes, “We are very excited to share Teddy's happiness and of course our joy with having him around.”

 

And his Dad adds, “We love him - he is a feisty little fellow - very affectionate actually - he loves his back yard - he can play outdoors with the other dogs all day long.”

 

Former Foster Teddy

Former foster Teddy was in NEBTR's foster care for over year. In that time he became blind, albeit with every effort from the specialists at Cornell to keep his vision. We wondered if anybody would see the beauty in him that we did. And then came Dr Fred and Hazel in MD who saw it all too. They adopted him just over a year ago and Teddy has lived a life full of love from them and their other dogs who help him see. Funny thing was that Teddy didn't like the other dogs in his foster home. Teddy loves everybody in his new home now. Yeah Teddy!

Update on Teddy

Teddy is shown here with Dr. Fred, who adopted him almost a year ago.  Dr. Fred, you have our deep gratitude for seeing the beauty of this little man and giving him the life we so wanted for him.   Thank you so very much for all you have done for Teddy. He looks so happy.  It's truly wonderful to see that.

Dr. Fred writes, "Teddy is doing just fine.  Has the run of the house (first floor), the entire fenced-in back yard, 3 other dogs to play with, and goes on walks on the leash all over the neighborhood.  Ges along fine with the other dogs.  Everyone loves him."

Update on Teddy

Teddy is just fine. Now that he has settled in, he is getting a bit bossy. He let's us know when he is ready to go out, or getting hungry, etc. He is getting along with the other dogs very well. He lays down and sleeps next to my female pointer.

Fred Thank you for all you and your dog family are doing for Teddy. It's just what we prayed for, Dr Fred.

Teddy Has a Forever Home

You are about to read one of the most inspirational and moving stories we have ever had here at NEBTR.  Many of you have been following the story of Teddy.  He was callously dumped in an overcrowded Philadelphia kill shelter when he was going blind and in a great deal of pain from untreated glaucoma. The family who left Teddy at the shelter said they no longer wanted him because he was now too old. NEBTR was contacted and scrambled to make room for Teddy in a foster home so his life would be spared. 

He has been with NEBTR now for 1.5 years. Teddy lost his sight but his eyes are now stable and do not cause him discomfort. His foster mother was Molly Bolger, and she lovingly cared for him and took him for countless appointments with an opthalmologist at Cornell University and pursued his treatment.  The Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee donated sweaters to keep him warm.  Teddy had been with us for such a long time with all of us praying that there would be somebody who would give him a second chance at happiness and peace.

Finally, that has come through for him.   Dr. Fred Hendricks, who has given Teddy his forever home.  Finally Teddy has a family of his own!  Dr. Hendricks writes, "With patience, calmness, kindness, etc, he gradually lost his fear and realized he wasn't going to be harmed.  Now he is very friendly, completely bonded to me, and is best buddies with the other two dogs.  He jumps up into my lap while we watch TV.  He also has NEVER relieved himself in the house, chewed anything up, or bothered anyone with barking.  One couldn't ask for a nicer pet - all that was needed was to give him a chance!  So my 50+ year record of never having a vicious dog in my household remains intact."

Dr. Fred continues, "Teddy is very much adjusted to his new quarters now and is really no trouble. He really is a happy dog. He wags his stumpy little tail when his name is called. One would hardly know he is blind now. When I saw his picture and his story, it occured to me that if a dog ever needed a friend, it was Teddy. So I am pleased that he made the most of his (probably last) chance. He will be comfortable and cared for for the rest of his life."

Sincerely, Fred

Bless you, Dr Fred. It's people like you who give us the impetus to keep doing what we do to help all the lost souls that are discarded by the heartless.

A Sweater for Teddy

Many thanks to Joe and the Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee who have offered to donate sweaters to keep Teddy warm this winter.

Teddy has had it rough. He was callously dumped in an overcrowded Philadelphia kill shelter when he was going blind and in a great deal of pain from untreated glaucoma. The family who left Teddy at the shelter said they no longer wanted him because he was now too old. NEBTR was contacted and scrambled to make room for Teddy in a foster home so his life would be spared.

He has been with NEBTR now for 1.5 years. Teddy lost his sight but his eyes are now stable and do not cause him discomfort. He has been thoroughly evaluated by ophthalmologists at Cornell. He just needs some moisturizing drops once or twice a day.

Other than Teddys damaged eyes, he is quite healthy. He is active for an older guy and likes to be on the move. He likes his people, but is not a big cuddler. He loves to be petted and scratched though and he likes to play. His favorite toys are his Snoopy and Woodstock stuffed toys. He plays with them during the day and sleeps with them at night.

Thanks to Joe for helping to keep Teddy warm and cozy!

The Blind Side

Every once in a while, a very special senior comes into our care and must wait a long time for that very special someone to fall in love with him and give him a home. Teddy is still waiting patiently.

Teddy was left at the Philadelphia ASPCA last year by his owners who said he was “too old.” They left him there with untreated glaucoma to live out the rest of his years in a cement cell. Glaucoma causes pressure to build behind the eye and the pain from glaucoma can be severe. If treated early, glaucoma is treatable but unfortunately, by the time we found him, he had lost vision in one eye and the vet was unable to save the vision in his second eye. Poor Teddy was likely in quite a bit of pain.

Teddy has been nursed by his foster Mom for a year and is now pain-free and ready to begin the best years of his life! He has fine-tuned his sense of smell and has adapted to his lost vision. He loves to sniff his way through the grass! Teddy is very smart - he understands if you say “watch” that there is something in front of him. He has recently learned to wear a “halo collar” which acts in the same way as a cane would, warning Teddy of oncoming obstacles. He takes lubricating drops for his eyes daily and is very cooperative.

As if he hasn’t already been through enough, Teddy has also been diagnosed with very early-stage Cushings. This is fairly common in older dogs and can be successfully managed with medication. He has no symptoms and takes no medication for this, but he will need to be monitored as he gets older. NEBTR is offering a rare incentive for that very special someone who would give Teddy a loving home. We will completely sponsor his medical bills for the rest of his life – we just want Teddy to find the love and peace he deserves in his golden years!

Compared to younger dogs that can be a lot of work, Teddy is pretty low-maintenance. He doesn’t require much exercise and enjoys just hanging around the house and yard. He is crate-trained and housebroken. He will come when called and sit for a treat. They say he has some pug in him, but just like a typical Boston Terrier, Teddy loves to burrow under the covers and create a nest for himself. He has a few favorite toys that he will bring with him and he will play tug-of-war with you in exchange for a good tummy rub! Teddy loves to remind himself that you are nearby by rubbing his head against your leg. With all that he has been through, he is still a loving and sweet little guy.

Teddy’s story is remarkable on many levels. Teddy’s loving spirit has helped him to forget that he was abandoned. He has inspired us with his strong will and determination to overcome his blindness and his sad past. He is looking for the love he deserves. His progress is also a testament to the miracle of foster care! He has come very far with the help of his foster Mom however, she fosters several dogs and cats and Teddy would like to have his very own home all to himself. It is scary being blind and most other dogs and cats aren’t very sympathetic to this. He doesn’t mind some dogs but in his foster home, Teddy is kept separate from the other pets so he hasn’t had the opportunity to fully blossom yet on his own. He would love to finally relax and breathe in some peace and quiet. We are hoping that Teddy will be one of our greatest success stories once he finds the right home.

If you think you may have some room in your heart to take in this sweet senior looking for a second chance, please contact us and we will arrange a meeting! Trust me – he will steal your heart.

Teddy Needs a Home

Teddy is a Boston Terrier/Pug mix estimated to be 8-10 years old at the most. He is a stocky 26 lbs. and is built like a pug, including floppy ears and a curly tail, but he wears the black and white suit of a Boston Terrier. He's adorable! Teddy was turned in to a shelter by his callous owners because he was getting too old. He arrived into foster care with untreated glaucoma with vision totally lost in one eye, and the second eye in such bad shape that our vets were unable to save his vision in that one too. Teddy is on medication which is working to control the pressure in the right eye, although he is now totally or almost totally blind. He needs to take this medication twice a day which he takes quite happily with a bit of peanut butter or cheese. How very sad that had treatment when the glaucoma began he would still be able to see.

Our vet has diagnosed him with very early stage pituitary-dependent Cushing's, but he does not yet show any of the typical symptoms. Because of this, he has not been started on any treatment but he will need to be monitored.

Teddy has been through so much, it is understandable that he is scared. His recent blindness makes it difficult for him to interact with other dogs (and cats) because he is easily startled and will act defensively. It would be best for Teddy to be in a home with no other dogs or cats. It is also recommended that he goes to a home with no very young children.

Even with all of that he has gone through Teddy is a loving and sweet boy.

He is crate trained and house trained. In general, Teddy is pretty low-energy and does not need a lot of exercise. He enjoys hanging around in the house and wandering around the yard. He will go for a walk on a leash, but he is eager to get moving, even without his sight, and will pull to go. He will need some guidance on leash manners.

Teddy's favorite things so far have been chewing on bones or bully sticks. He likes to press up against your leg and get lots of head and tummy rubs. Oh, and treats. He will sit very nicely for treats. He recently started enjoying digging through the toy box and selecting a stuffed toy to play with and suck on. He wants nothing more than to have a quiet home where he can be settled in with those few things and be loved for the sweet and special guy that he is.

Because Cushings can be an expensive and life threatening disease if Teddy doesn't receive treatment, we are offering a special incentive for anyone who would consider giving him the life he desperately deserves. Northeast Boston Terrier Rescue will completely sponsor his medical expenses throughout his life in the same way we would any other permanent foster dog. All we want for him is to find a home where he will be relaxed and will have happiness and love for the rest of his life.

Foster Thunder/Teddy

I met up with Mary Liberty who transported Thunder from Philadelphia. Thunder is doing well, he seems pretty wiped out from his big day and he is currently snoozing in his ex-pen. He is a really sweet little guy, built kind of like a stocky little barrel. He seems to have a lot of pug traits but is black and white like a BT. Cute! No pictures yet, I've been too busy with getting the dogs settled (so far so good) but I will soon.

His eye does not look good at all and his vision is definitely impaired. I am not quite sure how much he sees but he does run into some things and he is nervous about stairs and things like that. The shelter notes say possible glaucoma in that eye. It looks painful.

I'll keep you all updated. Thanks so much Mary for giving him ride!


I brought him to the vet yesterday and the news was not too bad - his bad eye is an old injury or disease (possibly glaucoma), but it is well past being an active problem. It looks bad but it doesn't seem to cause him pain. Obviously he can't see out of that eye. The vet said there is nothing that needs to be done, and surgery to remove the eye would be possible but it would only be for cosmetic reasons now. His "good" eye is not without problems though. It is pretty red and he does have a cataract in that eye. His vision is maybe 30-50% in that eye at best guess. Thunder was not letting the vet measure his eye pressure or really look at his eye - he tried to bite. So I have an appointment to bring him back next week after giving him a little sedative beforehand. The vet really wants to make sure he doesn't have glaucoma in that eye.

Thunder is just a sweetheart! He reminds me of a teddy bear with his little face and ears and his round body. I've taken to calling him Teddy part of the time .

-- Kathy Vander Werff