Shamus Goes to His Forever Home

Shamus, our Beagle/Boston mix foster went to his new home with Jill Nailon in Wildwood NJ. She has adopted from us twice before. He has 2 boston fur siblings and kittie cat siblings.


Here is what his new mommy wrote:

"He’s taken to seashore life like a natural, with us being home all the time he’s in heaven. His personality is starting to bloom, he’s finding his confidence and getting more active. He is very funny! He’s doing great here, you’d be very pleased. Yesterday he and Duncan were playing “chase” back and forth between living room to kitchen, down on their front feet bums in the air and tails wagging madly and then one taking off after the other – and he was the instigator! He’s shown a definite liking for rawhide chewies and almost chased a squeaky ball the other day...so we may get him exercising yet.


Chloe the Angora kitty has graduated to sleeping ON him and he happily permits it. She also sandwiches herself between Shamus and myself under the covers in bed at night and he seems to find this an agreeable arrangement as well. Daisy and Sonny have thoroughly accepted him too, which in Sonny’s case is saying a lot as Shamus has basically taken over Sonny’s traditional sleeping spot. Gradually Shamus is moving down a bit on the bed and then there will be room for Sonny once again on “his personal pillow.” For now he’s decamped to the living room to sleep in his second favourite spot and just visits often throughout the night, staying for longer and longer periods of time. Daisy is my son Connor’s cat, so she’s always slept with him. She makes the odd flying visit now and then and she’s off again. Tuppence and Duncan have taken to Shamus as if he’s always been here, they are all now absolutely at ease with each other. Connor and I are so grateful to have found Shamus! He’s just a sweetie and has basically trained himself. Lisa, I kid you not! From day 2 with us, he’s gone potty without any problem, does his #2’s in the side yard (as we only pee out front, all other business is around the side). He goes immediately and then if you ask him if he’s done, he’s practically trotting back to the house for his treat (“liva snaps”). He’s better trained than Duncan...I just wish some would rub off!! LOL Tonight he actually went to bed all by himself! He’s in there now, hogging the comforter with Tuppence – they build matching “nests” out of the bedding, which I have to dismantle in order to tuck us all in. And, they look so pitiful when I make them move, LOL. "


Lisa
Allentown PA
Mommy to Hooch, Pebbles, Cleveland, Penny, Foster Goober, Foster Bowser and Tootie the cat

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.

2010: Cost to Save Lives

In 2010, we rehomed a record 93 dogs. On average, we lose $155 per adoption (the medical costs per adoption are higher than our adoption fees.) That means that we needed to raise $14,000 just to make sure the dogs received the basic veterinary care they required. Normally, people are surprised to hear that we lose money even though we have higher adoption fees but the reality is, we agree to take dogs that other rescues could not because of our generous donors. Most dogs that came to us need some sort of medical attention as well as being spayed or neutered, and your donations are truly saving their lives.

There's a Boston About

Ellie Mae Goes to Her Forever Home

Little Ellie Mae the sight impaired BT/Chihuahua mix I took in as a foster in January got adopted a couple of weeks ago. She went to Diane Emeterio in Fulton, NY (near Syracuse).

Diane and her husband and grandson all came to pick her up. Diane met her and said "I knew I would love her". Ellie Mae was so sweet with everyone and was following them and giving them kisses from the first moment. Diane was very happy to take Ellie Mae home. Ellie has a pug "brother" who is another senior dog.

Thanks to Joan for doing the home visit!

Molly Bolger

Penn Yan, NY

Macy Goes to Her Forever Home

Last weekend, sweet little Macy went to begin her new life with her forever mom,  Judy Sedita.  Macy was being fostered by a wonderful foster Mom, Leslie, who lives outside Pittsburgh PA, in Morgan Pa.  Her forever Mom lives on Long Island.  That's a long way apart for a young pup to travel!

Thanks to a group of NEBTR volunteers, Macy got home last Saturday.  She went from Leslie to Jess B to Jess C to Ellen to Eduardo to Judy.  And she traveled all the way in great good humor and style.  She got and gave lots of kisses, and everyone who helped her out fell in love with her.  Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers she made it safely!

Leslie reported,  "I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all involved in Macy's transport. Just heard from Judy and they are home and Macy is exploring her new place and toys! Judy was so excited!  It was 6 weeks this weekend I had her and it was sad saying goodbye to her, but am so happy she found a home."  Eduardo, who met Judy, said that Macy was very happy with her new Mom!

Big thanks to all who participated, especially Leslie, who started Macy on her new life with loving care, and also to Andrea, who did the home check.  

Daisy the Singing Boston

Happy Gotcha Day Oscar!

June 5 was Oscar's Gotcha' Day! One year ago today we took a 2 hour drive to the McFadden's house to pick up our sweet boy! Oscar is so sweet, affectionate, smart, and the FUNNIEST dog on the planet! He cracks us up every single day. Thank you NEBTR and the McFadden family for taking care of him.Here he is sunning in the yard the other day.

Patricia Baxter-Ubellacker

Goodbye Rocco, Hello Papi

I am happy to report that Rocco went to his forever home on Saturday.  He now has a wonderful new family in Vineland, NJ, complete with 2 brothers; a boxer affectionately named "Eeyore" because he is older and mopes around, and the cutest little brown/white BT named Gizmo.  I heard from Jaime, Rocco's new mom, that he settled right in like he had always lived there and he's having a ton of fun.  He has a huge fenced backyard to get out all of that energy.  I've included a picture of Rocco in his new home.

I picked up my new foster in Rome, NY yesterday. We named him Papi, which is Spanish for "Daddy" and it really fits him this old guy. When I met the transport, Papi was shaking in his crate and covered in feces/urine. Rome is 2 hours from me and it was not a fun ride home. But I gave him a good 15 minute scrub when we got home.

He is approximately 9 years old and his age really shows. He has trouble going up the stairs and prefers to lay on the floor than jump up on the furniture. I made him a nice little doggy bed in front of the fireplace and let him dry off after his bath. He likes that. He also walks a little funny on his back legs. I have a vet appointment set up for next week and will have them check for luxating patellas.

Other than not eating yet, he seems to be doing well. He is really sweet and LOVES belly rubs. I've also attached a picture of him here. He's a big guy - approx. 32 lbs and stands just a bit taller than Chico!

-- Mary Liberty

BT Cruisers Walk

Christine Conolly's team, the BT Cruisers, is walking to support their local Animal
Control (Verona Street Animal Society)

Can you help them (and help
support the Boston love) by donating a small amount?

http://www.active.com/donate/fastnfurriest2011/VSASbtc

Hudson Valley Pet Palooza 2011 Photos

Check out these photos from the Hudson Valley Pet Palooza. The adorable BT in costume is our own Cynthia Musselman!

BT Japanese Earthquake Rescue Dog

Boston Terriers of the Past

Check out this slideshow of Boston Terriers of the past.   It is on the site of the Boston Terrier Club of America, and shows photos of how the breed developed.  It is really interesting to see how Boston Terriers were viewed over the last century.

-- Discovered by Cynthia Musselman

When your dog is your best friend

-- contributed by Evelyn Dudziec

New Foster Coco

Hi my name is Coco. I am a beautiful brown and white Boston Terrier that spent my first few years as a breeder. Whew I am glad that is done! After that I went to live with an elderly lady that had 27 cats! Needless to say, I get along with cats. When the lady could no longer care for me, I went to live with the nice people at the Tri-Lakes Humane Association in Saranac Lake. At the Humane Association they spayed me and took good care of me and decided that I would be better off with Northeast Boston Terrier Rescue. So here I am! Because of my first few years of breeding, I developed cataracts in both eyes. My vision is pretty limited but I get around just fine. My foster mom says that I am a clown and just a joy to have around. She says that I am her little shadow.

Here's what foster mom Wendy says,  "Coco is adjusting very well.  He is getting along alot better with Chester and Jake and has pretty much mapped the house out.  We also are adjusting to having a dog with special needs.  It is amazing how both people and animals adapt.
I have attached a couple of new pictures of Coco."

Ginny With a Balloon

Check out the cuteness of Alissa's dog Ginny!

Green, Clean, Lean and Mean: Economical Alternatives to Pricey Dog Care Products

No matter what the media say, it’s still a tough economy and high cost items are out when it comes to everything in our budget, including the essentials for our precious pups. Just like with anything else, opportunities to be creatively economical without sacrificing quality abound.

First, a few facts and stats: No surprise to those of us in NEBTR, the number of pets abandoned by the wayside or left off at shelters has skyrocketed since this recession began. This has left all rescue groups scrambling to find foster homes and those foster homes are scrambling to expand already strained budgets to feed just one more mouth. The following is the rundown of the yearly expenses involved in taking care of just a single dog:

• Food and Treats $250 – 700
• Toys $25 – 150
• Beds $50 – 200
• Leashes and collars $20 – 50
• Grooming $30 – 500
• Routine vet care $100 – 300
• Preventive medications and supplements $100 – 300
• Training classes, books, videos $25 – 300
• Pet sitters/Boarding $100 - 300
  From About.com

This adds up to a whopping $700 – 2800 per year for a single dog and does not include emergency care which we all know is an all too frequent and expensive occurrence. Now multiply this by however many “kids” you have in your household, your own or fostered, and chances are you might be a bit surprised.

So, where am I going with this? This little column is hereby devoted to sharing quality, cost effective and green-conscious alternatives to providing our precious pups with the utmost care. I invite you to share your concoctions, recipes and tips so we can all benefit from your wisdom and experience. For example, Sheryl has a dinner-recipe to-die-for, and Linda Antonelli has enough “pearls” (of wisdom) to fill a very large treasure chest!

For our purposes, I suggest we stick our stuff in the following categories:

• Food and treat recipes
• Training
• Supplies: toys, leashes, collars,
• Grooming
• Veterinary care
• Emergency supplies and care

Doggie SoapLet me get the ball rolling by talking shampoo. First, even if it’s baby shampoo, human hair-care products are a canine no-no and it all boils down to the correct pH balance that will not irritate the dog’s skin. Here is one formula that is safe, gentle, and effective:

• 1 pint of Dawn or Ivory dish soap
• 1 pint of water
• 1 pint of apple cider vinegar
• 4 ounces of glycerine (find at any drugstore)

Mix all of this together and store the “leftovers” in air-tight containers. However, there is one caveat here, and that is that vinegar is an eye-irritant, so to be careful when washing around those sensitive BT eyes.

What’s Next?
In addition to sharing some of your suggestions in our next newsletter, I will also discuss places to shop to get the best deals on basic supplies. My ultimate goal is to compile everything we do here into a fund-raising booklet made available to other rescue groups and shelters.

NEBTR Member Featured in Star Ledger

NEBTR member Mike Pravec and his wife Stacey Arbeit-Pravec are the founders of Special Needs K9, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the most needy of shelter dogs. They help those given up on by everyone else, and give them a second chance.

Recently, they were featured in the Star Ledger and Bergen Record. Mike reports, "We were very fortunate today to have an article written and published about our rescue on the front page of the Star Ledger Newspaper (New Jersey section) and on page 4 of the main section of the Bergen Record Newspaper. I also received a phone call from a radio station 1450AM this morning and had the opportunity to speak live on radio about animal rescue. Here is a link to the on-line version which also includes a video of us with the Star Ledger."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/nj_couple_devotes_life_to_resc.html

Mike Pravec

SNK9

Congratulations to Mike and Stacey for this recognition of the amazing work that they do. Visit their website, Special Needs K9, as well to read more about the pups they have lovingly helped.

Talking Dog

Penny Has a New Skill

During our walk yesterday, Penny got REALLY thirsty but put her tongue
to good use!

Sara
Collingswood, NJ