AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2020 |
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In the Beginning: A Tale of Fear, Frustration, Failure, and Fulfillment
By Kay Crandall
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I kind of accidentally started fostering for ABR. I had my own bonded pair of females, and I heard Brittany rescue mentioned on a morning TV show. I filled out an application knowing I wanted to help and thinking I’d do a little something here and there: a transport, home visit, donation, etc.
Shortly after filling out the application I got a call that there was a male dog in a high kill shelter close to me. He only had until noon the next day. The shelter closed at 5:30. It was a little after 4:00 on a Friday and I was 25 miles away. Could I pull him? Of course! I agreed and managed to get there in time. The clerk sent someone back to get “Brice.” I asked for background info and was told that a man brought him in saying that he “found” him at a hunting preserve and that the dog’s name was Brice. I thought it was strange the guy knew the dog’s name but didn’t know the owner’s name. All I got from the woman at the desk was a blank stare and a comment that it wasn’t unusual for bird dogs to get dumped at the end of dove season.
Brice came out straining at the leash. He weighed about 50 pounds, which was big compared to my Brett at 28 pounds and Bailey at 33 pounds. He knew the phrase “load up” and rode ok in the car. When I got home, all hell broke loose. My BBs were terrified. He tried to hump both girls and hiked his leg marking the refrigerator and stove within the first ten minutes. That’s when I learned to use a leash in the house. At the time, my yard was not fenced, and walking him was a real struggle. Teaching him anything was a real struggle. He busted out of (and broke) the crate the first night and practically tore my bedroom door down trying to find me. My girls slept in a big crate together on school nights and with me on weekends. At 1:00 a.m. that first night, they moved to the bed permanently and Brice moved into the big crate in the bedroom. I almost gave up right then.
Instead of trying to walk him, I put him in the outside kennel for exercise. I got him there by attaching the leash to a belt on my body. I figured that unless the leash broke, he wouldn’t be able to pull away from me. He was miserable in the kennel, jumping, barking, howling, digging. After about 30 minutes the first day, I put the girls in and they ran straight into the barn with my alpha, Brett, guarding the dog door. Meanwhile, Brice pranced, danced, whined, cried, kicked dirt, and whirled around in circles. Finally, he laid down and Brett slowly came out. Then Bailey came out. Brice jumped up and tried to instigate play but the girls took off running to the far end of the 42-foot run. After a few seconds he gave chase. He never caught them. They were like thoroughbreds on the rail of the last few furlongs of a Triple Crown race. Thankfully, all three were exhausted afterwards.
Brice settled down some and I grew more confident. A few months later an adoption was arranged. I should have listened to my inner voice. The family had an 18-month-old female Brittany and two kids. The mother wanted each kid to have a dog and the dog to have a playmate. The husband wasn’t keen on the idea of a “non-breeder” dog. In the time it took to arrange everything, I broke my ankle. On a Saturday, a friend drove me and Brice two hours to meet the family half-way to finalize the adoption. They were all quite nice, but the husband was not very engaged with Brice. I had included Brice’s favorite toy, a blue ball, in his bag. I told them to make slow, supervised introductions and to absolutely not let him have the ball with the other dog around until they were used to one another because he was VERY possessive of the ball. This information was also on the paperwork in his bag.
The next morning, I returned from church to a phone message from the woman asking me to call right away. She said Brice had to go…immediately. She said he had attacked their female. The story unfolded that her husband brought the sacred ball out and threw it towards the female. Brice ran after the ball and collided with the female who had grabbed it. Supposedly, a huge fight ensued. Several phone calls later, another volunteer who lived closer took Brice temporarily. She told me that the female seemed fine, no stitches, gaping wounds- just a scab from a scratch inside an ear flap.
I couldn’t do a lot or work on leash skills with Brice because of my ankle, but we got along ok. Then a new application came in for Brice. The lady, Angie, was very interested. She had an older female named Dusty. But she herself had some physical issues. I expressed concerns, and she assured me she had a plan. I decided to do her home visit myself and took Brice to meet her and Dusty on their territory. I also took the infamous ball. All went well. The backyard was fenced and Brice was sweet and well behaved with her and sweet Dusty, who wasn’t interested in the ball. But Angie had to use a cane so I worried about her getting him to the car for vet trips. Then she showed me her plan. She had ziplines run from the inside frame of the door. When they had to go in the car she could attach one end to the car door and his leash to the zipline. We tested it out and it worked. Staff at the vet office would get him out of the car when they arrived. So, I was satisfied that she could handle him, but I wanted her to think about it and discuss it with her ex-husband and grown daughter so there would be a back-up plan just in case. Two weeks later she was 100% sure.
Angie and Brice had some good years together. Then her health deteriorated, and she ended up in a wheelchair and assisted living. Brice, who had been renamed Rusty, went to live out his final days with her ex-husband who loved Brittanys. Just this week I saw a post on Facebook from Angie’s daughter. I know from the post that Angie’s days on earth are growing short. I’m so glad that ABR took a chance on her (and me) and that she had the foresight and wisdom to make “just in case” plans for her dogs.
I decided to write this when I learned about Angie’s deteriorating health. When I started, it was about how I was a failure in the worst kind of way all those years ago. Writing reminded me of the invaluable lessons I learned with my first foster. For those who say you can’t foster, you can, because I did. Trust your instincts. Do the best you can. If you can’t do a lot of training, just be up front about it with potential adopters. Saving the dog is the most important thing. It might take some time, but you will find the right home for each dog. When that time comes, you will be happy and sad at the same time and you will be able to let the dog go.
I learned that the perfect home for a dog is not necessarily a traditional home. Most importantly, I learned that a somewhat hard-to-manage dog can transform into a truly wonderful, happy, and loyal companion when challenged to do a “job.” The perfect home on paper was not the perfect home for Brice. The home that embraced challenges and saw strength where others only saw weakness was the perfect home for Rusty.
After I finished this article, I learned that Angie passed away. When she adopted Brice/Rusty she and Dusty were living alone. The three of them became a family because of her perseverance. Like any loving parent, she had an abiding love for her fur kids that transcends time and space. I know they are all together again. I’m pretty sure that sweet, calm Dusty greeted Angie with gentle kisses. Rusty was most likely prancing and dancing. Angie, restored in mind, body, and spirit threw that blue ball all the way across the Rainbow Bridge as she, Dusty, and Rusty entered eternity together.
Godspeed Angie Lambert Hamm
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Do you have “Foster Tails” to tell?
A foster moment you’ll never forget?
A challenge you overcame?
A funny or heartwarming story?
A tale of encouragement?
A foster who made a special impact?
Whether it's a few sentences, a whole story, or a photo that speaks for itself, we would love to hear and share your anecdotes, thoughts, and experiences. Please connect with us at social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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SUCCESS STORY
Ranger George
By Kristin Davis
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I have fostered quite a few dogs for American Brittany Rescue over the years. All of them were wonderful (and sometimes challenging) in their own way. I loved them all, but was glad they found happy, loving, and safe homes.
My third foster was a seven-month-old male who later became known as Ranger George. I received a call from ABR’s NC coordinator asking if we could take him. Although we had never fostered a puppy and had two Brittanys of our own, I agreed to take this fella. I drove three hours to meet his owner, all the while wondering what kind of challenges he may have. His owner signed the paperwork to surrender him and told me that he had been too much for their family of five; mom and dad plus three boys under the age of ten. She regretfully admitted he had been crated almost 24/7 due to work, sports, and other demands on their family. She told me he was fed in his crate and then let out once in the morning to potty and once in the evening to potty. Yet, she couldn’t understand why when he was let out those two times each day, he was so wild. She described him as uncontrollable and crazy. She said he barked non-stop. I reassured her they were doing the right thing for the dog and that he would go to a good home.
As the owner walked him around the car to me, I immediately noticed he was very thin and unusually calm for a Brittany, especially one so young. I took the leash and waited for the owner to say goodbye to him. To my surprise, she walked away without a word. I called after her and promised her I would take care of him and make sure he found a great home. She didn’t respond.
As her car pulled out of the parking lot, I stood there watching this thin, sweet boy’s eyes follow the car until it pulled onto the highway. I knew he must be confused, and possibly even scared.
After some snuggles and petting, I walked him to a grassy area for a potty break and then we headed home. The whole way home he was quiet and still. He did not make a sound.
Our two Britts accepted him right away and they all became great friends. They played and slept together from day one. It was clear the new guy was glad to have playmates and an outlet for his energy.
From the day he entered our home, Ranger George was the absolute best dog ever. He never chewed anything, never had an accident in the house despite not having been house trained, never counter surfed, never got on the furniture unless invited; he was just so exceptionally good. I assume he was so happy to not be in a crate that he just did whatever was asked of him to prevent having to go back in one.
Despite him being such a joy, I filled out his profile for the ABR website and knew he would find a great home. He was a beautiful dog, and I knew many would be attracted to him because of his markings and beauty. I also knew his personality is what would win over his adopter. He was sweet, gentle, well behaved, and fun.
He was so excited to learn what everything in the house was and how things worked. He followed us everywhere, watching everything. Like most Britts, he was curious about everything, but this boy was super curious. Because of this we decided to name him Ranger George. Ranger because he was stoic like a soldier and George because he was so curious, like Curious George. It fit him perfectly.
We had a trip planned to the mountains and made plans for a friend with a Brittany to keep Ranger George while we were gone. This was three weeks after we brought him home. We were taking our dogs with us but decided not to take Ranger George since he wasn’t ready to be off leash yet. I knew he would be in good hands and have fun while we were gone.
The first day into our trip I felt something was missing. We were having fun; hiking, playing in waterfalls, watching our dogs explore and run, so what could be missing? Suddenly, it hit me, Ranger George of course! This is when I knew he was meant to be part of our family forever.
Once we arrived home, I immediately called the NC coordinator and told her Ranger George had found a home. Thus, Ranger George became my first and only foster fail. (Not that others weren’t worthy of being foster fails, but three dogs was the limit for us at one time.) We knew we had found the perfect dog to complete our family!
Ranger George passed three months before his thirteenth birthday. He enjoyed many trips to the mountains, the coast, National Parks, and camping. He was the happiest fella ever and his nub was always wagging. He welcomed all our fosters and showed them the ropes. He remained the best boy ever and every day with him was a joy. He passed peacefully in my arms after battling congestive heart failure for a year. We still miss him but are thankful for the years we had with him and the love he gave to us and so many others. He truly was the “best boi” ever!
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Patti Tsouras
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Longtime ABR volunteer, Patti Tsouras, from Sandy, Utah has her hands quite full these days. Full of puppies! This year she has fostered four litters, a total of about sixteen puppies, in addition to several adult Brittanys.
Patti has been fostering for ABR for almost fourteen years. She has lost count of the number of Brittanys she has fostered over the years. Her region has a large number of rescues who are former “hunting dogs” taken out to hunt once a year and otherwise left outside year-round in extreme heat and freezing cold, often without shelter. They are “discarded” at age six or seven when they are deemed too old to hunt. They are not spayed or neutered so they often come to rescue pregnant. Patti recalls a particularly busy time in rescue, about seven years ago, when she had fourteen dogs in her home at the same time: two of her own, two adult fosters, a litter of puppies, and their parents!
Patti was born into a Brittany-loving family. Her father always had Brittanys. He hunted them, and they were family dogs as well. Every female Brittany he had he named “Katie.” Patti wonders if it was because he had a hard time letting go of the Katie that came before. Perhaps he just loved the name. But when it came time for Patti to get her own Brittany at age twelve, she named her… Kaydee! Since then Patti has always had dogs, mostly Brittanys.
Patti now shares her home with her pups, Annie and Bronyraur, both of whom play big roles in fostering. Ten-year-old Annie, a Brittany, has been with Patti since she was born. Patti rescued Annie’s parents, Lucky and mom Zoey who was pregnant, from a horrific situation. Patti fostered and found happy homes for Lucky, Zoey, and the litter. She adopted Annie as her own. Annie recently lost an eye due to cancer, but she got through it well and keeps up her important foster-sister job of teaching the puppies to be good dogs.
Patti’s son adopted a puppy from one of Patti’s rescue litters and named him Bronyraur (a Led Zepplin reference for our classic rock fans!). When her son left home Bronyraur stayed behind, as he and Annie were too bonded to separate. Bron, a Brittany/Aussie mix, is now seven years old. He is the foster brother who teaches the puppies how to play!
In her professional days Patti worked as a nurse and then she had a medical electronic records software business. She is retired now and in addition to all the fostering she loves outdoor adventure. One particularly thrilling venture had her paragliding from a cliff and over the Tetons at dawn!
With so many foster Brittanys who have come and gone, people often want to know how she can keep saying goodbye. She admits that she cries like a baby every time one of her fosters is adopted. But she always refers back to the words of Mike Barlow, who has fostered hundreds of Brittanys in Utah over the years. Mike told Patti that she is such a wonderful foster mom, that she is so good at what she does, and that there are other Brittanys out there who need her to make room for them. So she still cries, but she lets them go and makes room for the next deserving Brittany lucky to find their way to Patti.
Patti, we are so lucky to have you on board! On behalf of all the Brittanys whose lives you have touched, we THANK YOU!
All of our volunteers are amazing! We would love to spotlight YOU or someone who has made your volunteering experience even better. Please email social.media@americanbrittanyresuce.org to share your experience or nominate a volunteer!
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CHARLIE #10197, Illinois
Looking for an active companion? Well then, Charlie just might be your guy! He's a very handsome, healthy 1½-year-old who is looking for a home where he can be included in lots of activities and be close to his humans. He is on the energizer bunny scale of Brittany activity.
Now settled in with his resident Britts, he’s so smart that he picked up most of the common commands very quickly. And like most Brittanys, Charlie really wants to please his humans. Unfortunately this gorgeous boy has not had much attention in the past, so he now likes to be the center of attention and will push aggressively to get it. Charlie can be a little defensive when he feels cornered or unsure, so we don't recommend him for a family with small children.
Charlie needs be included in an active family’s day to day life. Crated for long hours will result in a wild man with excess energy to burn. No long distance or sight unseen adoptions for Charlie. He’s in Illinois now, and we feel it is important that all family members (human and canine) meet to assure that we have a good fit.
Charlie is a sweet dog and a wonderful Brit who is excited to have your forever love and companionship. If you're looking for a constant companion, Charlie maybe the dog for you. Interested in learning more about this wonderful guy? Complete the adoption application and mention Charlie.
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JACK #10254, Idaho
Meet Jack-Jack! Jack came to us in Idaho from a rural shelter. His previous owners used him only for hunting and kept him in an outside kennel at all times. Clearly this 5-years-old boy had a very hard start, one with minimal attention and no affection.
Never having lived indoors before, he is now relishing the experience. Jack is quickly learning what it means to be a real family member where he’s spoiled and adored. And he’s loving it!
Still, this is all very new to him, so he’s a very anxious and nervous boy, but also affectionate and working hard for attention. Neglected in his first five years, Jack developed some understandable behavioral issues that his foster family is helping him to overcome. He specializes in resource guarding, growling, and counter surfing, as well as general mayhem and not coming when called. He’s been practicing walking on a leash. He has been making progress in his foster home, and it will be easier and easier to train him as he becomes bonded. He’s one smart Brittany…he just needs to learn that he’s safe and loved.
If you are an experienced dog owner who has the understanding, love and patience to help sweet Jack reach his full Brittany potential, please fill out an adoption application and mention Jack.
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HEALTH CORNER
Laryngeal Paralysis
by Christine Brennan
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You’ve probably heard of the larynx, also known as the “voice box.” You’ve almost certainly heard of laryngitis, when the voice is lost, typically as a result of a winter-time cold.
But the larynx does more than give us a voice – or, when it comes to our Brittanys, a bark. It also acts as a gatekeeper to the respiratory system. When we eat or drink, the larynx closes so food and liquid are prevented from entering the lungs. That’s a pretty important function. If food or liquid is mistakenly inhaled – colloquially referred to as “going down the wrong pipe” – it can cause choking, or more serious problems like pneumonia. Even worse, a dysfunctional larynx can mean a potential crisis (if repeated attempts to take a deep breath fail) by leading to throat swelling and airway obstruction.
As it turns out, Brittanys are prone to a condition called laryngeal paralysis, or “LP.” With LP, parts of the larynx become paralyzed over time and essentially collapse over the airway. Why does this happen? We don’t know, but some research suggests it may be part of a broader neurological problem. What we do know is that LP shows up more in certain breeds, tends to be diagnosed in older dogs, and affects males two-to-four times more than females.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that a successful surgical procedure exists to help improve the quality of life for dogs with LP.
Peggy Adams Russell, a longtime ABR volunteer who at one point served as the group’s secretary/treasurer, has first-hand experience with LP. She first learned about it when Riley, the first of her several “foster fails,” was diagnosed with it in the mid-2000’s. Surgery wasn’t an option then. Years later, when her adoptee, Bella, began to show similar symptoms – excessive panting, noisy breathing – Peggy and her husband suspected they were dealing with another case of LP. (See a video of a Labrador with LP)
“It was most apparent in the summer,” recalls Peggy, who was living in California at the time. She and husband were physically active and liked to take Bella along. “She had such trouble getting her breath.”
Sure enough, Bella was eventually diagnosed with LP. Surgery was an option this time, and even at Bella’s advanced age of thirteen the Russells decided to pursue it.
The procedure is called unilateral arytenoid lateralization, more commonly referred to as “tie-back surgery.” It involves replacing the laryngeal muscle with a permanent suture on one side to hold back cartilage that has essentially flopped over the airway. With the cartilage permanently tied back, the airway is opened back up.
“Patients undergoing arytenoid lateralization have instant relief of the airway obstruction and demonstrate a dramatic difference in attitude and respiration within minutes of anesthetic recovery,” according to Ethos Veterinary Health, an organization with hospitals across the U.S. Ethos says their overall client satisfaction rate for the procedure is greater than 95%.
Peggy remembers being concerned after the procedure. “It seemed like she was still having trouble breathing,” she said. “What we learned is that there’s a lot of swelling with the surgery itself, so we needed to be patient.”
As with any surgery, there are risks and post-operative complications to consider. With the larynx now unable to close on one side, there is a greater risk of food or liquid entering the lungs. Certain food precautions must be taken, and medications may be given to prevent acid reflux. It’s also strongly recommended that dogs don’t go swimming in order to avoid swallowing too much water.
Peggy considers Bella’s surgery a great success despite her having had fluid in the lungs a couple of times and occasionally coughing after drinking water.
“I don’t think she would have survived very long without it,” she says.
According to Veterinary Partner, which manages the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), signs and symptoms of LP include:
● Excess panting
● Exercise intolerance
● Voice change
● Loud breathing sounds
● Respiratory gasping or distress
If you suspect LP, talk to your veterinarian. The most common way to diagnose LP is for a vet to examine the larynx under light anesthesia. If your vet determines that the LP is mild, lifestyle changes may be suggested as a first line treatment before surgery.
Even if your Britt needs surgery, it’s comforting to know that tie-back surgery exists and has a strong track record.
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In only a few days, we reached Russell’s Giving Grid goal of $5000, and now he will have the surgery he needs to finally run pain-free! A huge thank you to everyone who donated!
THANK YOU to all our supporters who have chosen ABR for their Amazon Smile charity. Haven't signed up yet? Visit smile.amazon.com to learn how a percent of your Amazon purchased can be donated to ABR - at no extra cost to you!
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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
Debbie Clark, Treasurer
Diana Doiron, 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
Melissa Tapply DiLello
Debra White
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