“He’s a nice looking dog, average size, and hyper even for a Brittany.” That’s the information we received about Jake before picking him up. We drove from Atlanta to Chattanooga in early May 2019 to meet the boy we were going to foster.

Truth told, Jake is gorgeous, a tad shorter than our last two American Brittanys, and at about two-years old, compared to our nine-month old French Brittany, Max, he’s calm.

It’s true.

A calm Brittany.

Especially so with his newly acquired black-and-white-roan puppy brother still learning manners. They rode in crates side by side on the drive home. It was dark when we arrived home and let the boys run in the backyard under bright flood lights. There were a few tussles at the first introduction, but they bonded immediately. Max was thrilled to have a buddy. We knew Jake had been sent to us and within the first twenty-four hours he had his forever home.

If you ask my husband about this orange-and-white, strong-as-a tank dog, he’ll describe Jake as well behaved, affectionate, and smart. A jackpot combo for our family. Jake’s sunniness shined on us at a time when we were emerging from deep grief. Unlike Max, who was all teen-age boy at the time, Jake wanted to climb into a lap the minute one was available. He became my instant cuddle bug.

Jake is a traveling dude. He’s been to Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and from Georgia to Tennessee with us. He loves to ride. Though he prefers the front seat over the back where he and Max have their own Tempur-Pedic mattress and toys. If allowed, Jake would drive. Even if someone already occupies the driver’s seat.

We believe Jake deserves the same opportunities as Max. They went to bird-dog camp at Lost Highway Kennels in North Carolina to be trained by Grayson Guyer, a dog guru and UKC field trial judge. Our boys deserve the best chance to hone their natural ability and enjoy what their DNA has gifted to them. Our suburban neighborhood is a sub-par training ground. Even now when we play fetch in the backyard I holler, “Dead bird. Fetch the dead bird,” when I want them to retrieve the tennis ball. I think the neighbors have gotten used to it. I hope.

It grieved me terribly to be away from Jake and Max, however, we visited them at camp frequently. Both boys did well. Jake has an excellent nose on him and pays attention to cues and commands.

Eight months after Jake joined our family we registered him with the UKC. That requires an official name. In reading a list of dog champions, the names range from a mouthful to risqué. What’s in a name? The author in me wanted something that evoked emotion.

My husband issued a hard-no veto on Cuddle Bug. Who wouldn’t melt over a name like that?

I vetoed Hard Hunter. No. And no.

Three days later. Three hundred suggestions later. Finally we reached consensus: D&L’s Southern Comfort Jake.

With an official name we applied to the UKC for a TL (Temporary Listing) Number so Jake could compete in the UKC Club Epanuel Breton-Georgia field trial event in January 2020.

Jake did not disappoint. He was so excited to find birds. He received his TAN designation which is now part of his permanent record and means he demonstrated he has natural abilities for hunting. Proud and happy doesn’t begin to capture the thrill of watching him do what comes naturally to him.

That’s right. Jake, a rescue officially registered with the UKC, is a special boy. He will continue to train, compete in field trials, and go on family hunting trips. He loves finding birds. He loves playing fetch. He loves cuddles on the couch. This smart, spunky, two-ish year-old Brittany owns our hearts.

Volunteers are vital to ABR. One person who steps up BIG is Mary Schuler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 2005 her support of ABR has included fostering, transporting, home visits, and responding to adoption applications. Currently magician Mary wears a fundraising hat. Like Merlin, the magical magician who wore many hats, her tasks include collecting Natural Balance upcs/receipts which enable ABR to receive rebates from the manufacturer.

At three years old Mary got her first dog, Jacque, a standard poodle. Since then she’s been a HooMama to Chihuahuas and terrier mixes before getting her first Brittany. Mary believes training is a life-long venture. She starts her canines with basic skills and works daily to apply those skills to everyday situations. Training: repetition, repetition, repetition, and more repetition equals success. Her Cammie received her Canine Good Citizen certificate to become a therapy dog.

A few bits of information about Mary might surprise you:

Mary’s celebrity dog crush is Lady from Lady and the Tramp. After seeing the movie as a small child, she wanted a Cocker Spaniel. When she got her first Brittany, she thought she was getting a Cocker—stay tuned for more details on this misunderstanding.

Mary shares her life with Alexa, a 13-year-old silver tabby cat, and Annie the Britt, who just turned 14. Together, Alexa and Annie enjoy birdwatching and eating. Annie provides the bed “turn down” service, loves to give kisses, and is able to tell time. Annie also enjoys hiking—skips when she runs—and bunny hunting. Alexa, however, prefers napping and is Mary’s alarm clock.

Mary enjoys crocheting, sewing, singing in her church choir, and volunteering at Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary.

Everyone who knows Mary knows she loves all animals and is a go-to person for advice about the health and nutrition of dogs and cats. And yet, what most people don’t know about Mary is she won a car when she was nineteen years old.

Mary’s dream vacation with her fur-children is anywhere they are. That makes her happy.

People come to volunteering through different routes. Mary’s story can’t be told without sharing about Ginger. Mary opened her heart and home to Ginger when her owner couldn’t keep her. Mary was told Ginger was a Cocker Spaniel—you know, like Lady from Lady and the Tramp. At a veterinarian visit Mary was told Ginger was a Brittany. A Brittany? Mary was unfamiliar.

However, as we Brittany lovers know, these dogs capture human hearts faster than they can point a bird, or in Annie’s case, hunt bunnies. As Ginger reached her most senior years, Mary realized she could not live without being a Brittany mom.

Her research led her to ABR. And through information on the website she found her fur baby and ways to volunteer to help the canine breed she loves. 

ABR appreciates the dedication and support from this vital volunteer, Mary Schuler!

In Deerfield, Illinois, a Northern suburb of Chicago, is where you’ll find ABR volunteer Deb Giesler. She’s been generously giving her time and support to ABR since 1999.

Currently she serves as Coordinator for Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and is co-coordinator for Kentucky. Deb is responsible for distributing Owner Surrender Applications to these states. She and her husband, Ted, maintain the email forwarder list for ABR. They also foster and transport Brittanys for ABR. They are poster-parents championing beloved canine companions.

Recently Deb coordinated the rescue of 10 seniors from a backyard breeder in Illinois. She quickly got them to safe foster homes throughout the country and coordinated their medical care. Her devotion to Brittanys is second to none.

Deb grew up in a feline family. That changed forever when her brother brought a Golden Retriever puppy home from college. Later, after Deb married, she and her husband expanded their family to include a Brittany named Griffin, which means winged hunting dogs of Zeus.

A good pet parent, Deb believes in training her fur children. That started with basic obedience with Griffin and has continued with all canine family members since.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways is not reserved for Romeo and Juliette. Long-time lovers of Brittanys, Deb and her husband have countless memories of sharing their life with Griffin from 1993 to 2007. Lady was the family’s first ABR adoptee. Then came Dixie, Annie, Morgan, and Ladie—all ABR fosters who convinced Deb and her family they WERE home. Currently, Hoss is their only child. He is a ten-year-young charmer and another former foster.

Deb’s former Britts were great swimmers and frisbee fanatics. Hoss is an extremely mellow boy. And at the same time—think Sam Spade and Clark Kent—he’s an excellent neighborhood watch member and house investigative reporter. Anything that happens at home, viewable from the windows, he sounds the alert. For example, recently a neighbor had a surprise birthday sign installed on their front lawn in the wee hours of the morning. How did Deb know this? Hoss started barking at 4:30 a.m. Hoss takes his duties SERIOUSLY.

Things you might and might not know about Deb:

Deb’s favorite celebrity dogs are Star of Great American Dog and Eddie from Frasier. She says both are smart, personable breeds.

Additionally, Deb volunteers at Frank Lloyd Preservation Trust and enjoys gardening. She can’t quite decide if ABR is a hobby or an avocation.

 

Everyone who knows Deb knows she’s a coffee and dog fanatic. Something most people don’t know about Deb—she dropped from a plane (skydiving) for a milestone birthday.

Her dream vacation with fur children is a long RV road trip. No place per se, but the event. Making memories.  



ABR is most appreciative of the dedication and hours that volunteers like Deb give to the organization and to the breed they love. When Deb and her family adopted Lady from ABR they learned about the great need for volunteers and how vital volunteers were to the organization. The rest, as they say, is history. Deb signed up. She’s given twenty-one years of caring support. Many thanks, Deb!

These are pictures of our fosters who have been part of our family along with our two dogs. All of these fosters have touched our hearts. We ended up being our last foster’s forever home. Fostering has been a wonderful experience and we have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people through fostering.

It is hard to believe the dramatic impact the outbreak of the coronavirus has had on our lives. The state of California has asked its populous to limit gatherings to no more than ten people, and a great portion of the major metropolitan areas have been mandated to shelter in place for the next three weeks at minimum. In light of all of this, the picnic has been rescheduled for September 26, 2020.

We hope this date will work for everyone. We look forward to a wonderful fall day together. Please mark this new date on your calendars!

We hope all our dear friends stay healthy during this time of uncertainty.

For Questions Contact Diana or Terrie:

Diana Doiron: [email protected]  or (562) 690-3139

Terrie Johnson: [email protected]  or 707-477-2718 

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE

American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.

THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION

ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.  

 

 

ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Mixdorf, President

Terrie Johnson, Vice President

Michelle Falkinburg, Secretary

Diana Doiron, Treasurer

Debbie Clark, Co-Treasurer

Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair

Tiffany Dexter

Nancy Hensley

Bobbi Tolman

 

AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM

 

Brittany Boler

Christine Brennan

Jeannine Connors

Judie Cutting

Kristin Davis

Autumn Fenton

Lori Gartenhaus

Patricia Gillogly

Linda Joyce

Monica Rutt

Melissa Tapply DiLello

Debra White