AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2021 |
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"IT WILL BE THE BEST YEAR OF HER LIFE"
SENIOR ADOPTIONS
by Mary Burke
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Since 2006 I have volunteered for ABR, helping with transports, Brittany searches on Craigslist and Petfinder, and photos for the website. I adopted Alvin from ABR in 2009, when he was between 3 and 5 years old. He became good friends with the incumbent dog, Maynard, my golden mix. In 2013 Maynard went to Rainbow Bridge, and I started looking on the ABR and As Good As Gold Golden Retriever Rescue (AGAG) websites. AGAG held a “Golden Years” event where their senior goldens available for adoption were on display. There I met 8-year-old Mildred who had been dumped by a puppy mill when she could no longer have puppies. She also had several health problems.
Because of Mildred’s age and health, I was reluctant to adopt her and kept thinking of excuses. But when I looked at her closely, I noticed that Mildred had vertical lines on her face. When I asked what they were, the foster said, “From being in a cage that was too small.” At that, I took out my checkbook and Mildred came home with me. She was timid and afraid of everything, including the laundry basket, the kids next door playing basketball, and doorways. Alvin was a true gentleman though, and seemed to understand that Mildred needed “paw” holding.
When I brought Mildred to the vet for her first exam, I gave the vet the run-down of Mildred’s unhappy life in the puppy mill. I told the vet that I was hoping for a good three years with her. Dr. Plowe looked at me and said, “Mary, even if it’s only a year, it will be the best year of her life.” At that moment my world changed. My heart was opened to the idea of taking care of this older dog and giving her the time, and love, of her life.
We had a year and a half with Mildred before lymphoma took her. While she was with us she had a great time. The kids on the block fell in love with her and became my co-dog walkers. She got daily long walks with Alvin and me, and she woke up every morning wagging her tail and giving Alvin a big lick on his face. I loved her newly found happiness. It made my heart flutter every time.
In the years since, I adopted three senior Brittanys through ABR. Melvin, 11, was a stray in Ohio. I found out quickly that Melvin liked to climb fences and was a barbarian inside the house. Then I adopted Minnie, 12, who was in a puppy mill in Rockford. She had been an outside dog with separation anxiety that used to manifest in opening the kitchen cabinets and hurling pots and pans onto the kitchen floor. And now I have Buster, who was 10 when I adopted him in 2019. He is a retired hunting dog whose owner was going into a nursing home. Buster was also probably an “outside dog” who had to learn inside manners. Our current pack also includes Lizzie, a poodle mix, who was 12 when she came here, and the latest is Bell, a Silky Terrier with cataracts, who is 10.
I don’t always know how they lived before they came here, but I do know that with all the Brittanys who have joined our household, I’ve found that they are more than eager to please. It doesn’t take long for them to become members of the family. Some of them have obviously been loved, others have to get used to patience and kind words. Whatever their previous situations, it is good to see them settle in and relax and truly enjoy their “golden years.”
It’s always heartwarming to see the dogs adapt to their new situation. It can’t be easy getting used to a new home with other dogs and new routines. It must be unsettling to meet other dogs and people in the park. But I love the idea of giving these seniors good lives until the end. I know that I’m saying goodbye to them more frequently than I would if I adopted youngsters, but I keep thinking of Mildred and my vet’s “it will be the best year of her life.” That meant everything, and changed my outlook on adopting older dogs.
As I grow older, I sympathize with my dogs’ creaking joints. We might not be able to run as fast or jump as high, but there’s still a lot of living to do with my senior canines. We appreciate the good times. Maybe I appreciate the special moments all the more, because our time together is not long enough. But life is good, and I plan to adopt more seniors as long as I am able.
This message is brought to you from BURKE RETIREMENT VILLAGE.
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THE STORY OF BRANDY
By Monica Homer
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Brandy’s journey began in 2004 on a farm near Louisville, Kentucky. She lived her first two years there, neglected and likely abused. She wasn’t fed on a regular basis or given access to enough water. She chewed her way through a wire fence to get to the owner’s chickens. As a result, the owner let her slowly fade away. She was clearly suffering, and a concerned neighbor asked the owner to voluntarily give her up. She was taken to a shelter where, unable to stand from starvation and parasites, she was scheduled for euthanasia. Her guardian angel foster mom was contacted to see if she would be willing to give her a second chance. This was the start of Brandy’s real life.
Although ABR foster mom Allison is an accountant by trade, she is also a certified canine behaviorist and lover of Brittanys and all dogs. She nursed Brandy back to health over a two-month period until she was ready for adoption. I am an ABR volunteer, and we had adopted a senior from ABR two years before. I checked the site multiple times a day and caught a glimpse of Brandy almost immediately after she was posted. It was love at first sight. We spent thousands of dollars to fence in our yard to welcome her with open arms. At the time of her adoption in 2006 when she was 2 years old, we had our dear Spencer who was 10, and our only child, Kate, who was 4. It was a match made in Heaven. Brandy fell head over heels in love with Spencer and followed him everywhere. Brandy and Kate grew up together like sisters. They were playmates. Kate even did “spa” days with her.
Soon after we got Brandy, she developed idiopathic epilepsy. It was painful to watch when she had a seizure. We only medicated her for a short time, as it made her like a zombie, and her seizures diminished in severity on their own.
Brandy was an incredibly sweet, playful, and sensitive girl. She always wanted to please and was such a good listener. She loved her ocean swims at our beach. We used to call her “our little tugboat.” And she loved the snow just as much! As Kate got older, Brandy slept in her bed at night and cuddled.
In 2011, as Spencer was beginning to fade, we got an orange and white Brittany puppy named Wilson from our friends in Maine. At first Brandy wasn’t happy, but Wilson ended up pulling her out of a serious depression when Spencer died. A part of Brandy died with him. It was a full year of pain and confusion for her.
Brandy and Wilson spent the next years playing and cuddling and getting Kate through middle and high school. During Kate’s high school years, Brandy developed canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia) but was still a happy girl. She had several bouts of canine vestibular disorder but always bounced back like a champ!
After Christmas 2016, we welcomed an orange and white Brittany pup, Lily, who was sort of a rescue at five months old. She ADORED Brandy from day one and was extremely protective of her -- almost motherly. She would lie with her, stand over her if she was struggling, and kiss her face.
By 2019, Brandy had lost most of her hearing and vision. We knew we were on borrowed time, but wow was she a fighter. She was so strong! Kate graduated from high school and went off to college. As Brandy began to decline further over the past year, we were happy to be home with her during the pandemic. My husband works 24 hour shifts as a firefighter and EMT, so Kate would come home once or twice a week to care for her while Bill and I were both at work. What a blessing.
One terrible week in July, three staff members at the school where I teach had deaths in their families. One was my friend’s son. I was at his reception when Bill called saying that Brandy had been seizing for 15 minutes. It was 5:00 on a Friday and our vet was closing. Our dear friend and neighbor, Emily, is the vet tech and office manager. She came and lovingly helped get Brandy in a crate to go upstate to the emergency vet. I left my friend’s house immediately, knowing that I easily had an hour or more trip due to commuter traffic. I prayed I’d make it in time. It was like God parted the traffic for me and I made it in 43 minutes-- five minutes after Bill and five minutes before Kate. I cried the whole way there knowing that Brandy had seized for over a half an hour and it was time to let her go. They let us go in two at a time to say our goodbyes. Bill and I were with her when she took her final breath. I miss her so much, but in my heart I know she is reunited with Spencer.
When we got home that night, Wilson and Lily were still upset, as they had been when Brandy was seizing. They sniffed us relentlessly and could feel our sorrow. They searched the house for her on every human and dog bed and looked out the window. I went upstairs and cried on my bed. Lily was with me and left to go downstairs. She returned with one of her Zippy Paws roses which she placed in my lap. I hugged her and told her what a good girl she was. She grabbed the rose gently, hopped down, and went to the other side of the bed. She then came back without the rose. I got up to look for it and found she had placed it on Brandy’s bed. I burst into tears. That was a God thing for sure.
Brandy was truly a gift. Although being her “hospice care” wasn’t always easy, it was an honor after the lifetime of love she gave us. Senior dogs are so very special, and as my friend says, “It’s all about the love of the dog, both given and received.”
Brandy (Brandi) Bear Mackenzie Louise Homer
2004- 4/9/21 (Gotcha Day 1/28/06)
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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 share your anecdotes, thoughts, and experiences. Please connect with us at social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:
WENDY BOYCE
By Autumn Fenton
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Wendy Boyce has always loved nature, and now it proves an even more significant part of her life. A recent transplant to Florida from New Jersey, Wendy revels in the beauty of her new neighborhood. These days, you can find Wendy and her husband Larry strolling on nearby trails or tooling around the area in their golf cart. They watch the sunsets together nearly every evening. Delighted by a magnolia tree blooming in her front yard or a pair of cranes strutting down the street, Wendy says that what she enjoys changed a great deal since the move.
One thing that hasn’t changed in Wendy’s life is her devotion to American Brittany Rescue.
Board member Melissa Tapply DiLello explains. “I first met Wendy over six years ago when she reached out to me to ask if I could do a home visit nearby. Wendy has been a wonderful mentor through application screenings, transport runs, and fostering, and her insight has helped me grow so much as an ABR volunteer,” says Melissa. “She goes above and beyond to ensure that any Brittany in need lands in safe and caring hands, with the help of a fantastic, dedicated team of volunteers she brought together. Wendy has overseen the adoptions of three of my own ABR Brittanys. She cares so deeply about each Brittany she places, celebrating their milestones and sharing the heartaches with their family.”
Wendy discusses her second great passion--Brittanys and our organization:
Q: What brought you to ABR?
A: We welcomed our first Brittany into our home as a puppy in 1995. We fell in love with that adorable Brittany puppy. We never really knew what we were in for and what a ride he took us on, but he forever changed us. Someone told me about breed-specific rescues, and I thought I would see if such a thing existed for Brittanys.
Q: How did you get involved with ABR?
A: I had watched the website for a while before I decided to volunteer. I just loved reading the stories and knowing how others made a difference in these dogs’ lives. I decided, I too wanted to make a difference.
Q: What was your first volunteer job for us?
A: It was processing and screening volunteer applications for a few states that were short-handed on help. I talked to the applicants, then passed the information to the state coordinator.
Q: How long have you been a coordinator? And in what states?
A: I have been coordinating since 2006. I started with Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Then my territory extended to North Carolina, South Carolina, then Georgia, and Florida. I currently coordinate New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Q: It’s so cool that you have coordinated many states in which you don’t live. Can you explain how that came about as a New Jersey resident?
A: They asked me to take on the coordinator role, but New Jersey was covered already. There was a need in other states, so I said I would be willing to help in any capacity. I love meeting and working with other volunteers in other states, and I get to work with a wide variety of people.
Q: How would you say the position of coordinator has changed over the years?
A: It has become more intense as people have become more intense about surrendering their dogs, which is a big part of coordinating. People find it hard to let their pets go but feel they are doing it for the pet’s interest more than their interest. But some don’t trust rescue and believe they can find a better home for a dog better than a rescue organization could.
Q: How do you encourage these folks to trust us?
A: We explain that the foster family cares for the dog as if it were their own. We tell them that we evaluate the dog’s needs and do our best to match the dog with the right home. We explain that all potential adopters are screened and vetted. It’s a matter of giving them confidence that we will do right by the dog and will always have the dog’s interest first and foremost.
Q: Is there a specific rescue story that has made the most impression on you?
A: Not any particular dog, as each dog that comes to ABR has its own story. Even though I don’t get to meet them or see them, I learn about them enough through their owners and the fosters. They all leave pawprints on my heart, and they are all special in their own right.
Q: How many ABR dogs have you welcomed into your family?
A: Dewey was the dog who taught me to love again after losing our first Brittany. He also left us too early, and we miss him dearly. Our current Brittany Bailey came to us a bit insecure and unsure of the world. As he blossomed into who he is today, he showed us that anyone could overcome anything with time. In his first year with us, Bailey came into his own, and then we moved to Florida last month. I was concerned about how that change would affect him, but he showed us he was up for the challenge as long as he did it with us. We are all learning ‘new’ together.
Q: If you had to describe a Brittany with just one word, what would that be?
A: This is hard….let me think. “Expressive.”
3 Non-Dog Related Things About Wendy
- I love to crochet, especially blankets and scarves.
- I love binge-watching reality TV on various streaming services, and my favorites are Big Brother, Survivor, American Idol, and The Voice, just to name a few.
- I love Pumpkin Spice ‘everything’ and can’t wait ‘til they put that stuff on the shelves! I especially love pumpkin coffee and muffins, but I’m willing to give anything Pumpkin Spice a chance.
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Charlie - Ohio #10418: Charlie is a lovely 4 year-old-female stray fostering in Ohio. She’s an absolutely stunning Britt-mix, perhaps with a bit of Setter blood. She has a gorgeous long feathered tail. Charlie’s remarkable beauty is equally matched by her sweet loving spirit.
She has many things to learn about being a member of a family, but she naturally excels at being a loving companion. This girl is truly a joy but needs someone to commit to training. She’s done well with basic commands, house training and learning other manners such as not jumping up on people or stealing food. But these lessons are a work in progress and the adoptive family will need to continue the training and positive reinforcement. It helps that she is eager to please.
Passionate about loving on humans and catching squirrels, she is living life to the fullest. As champion cuddler, she very much enjoys attention of humans. She has a high prey drive and even our dog-smart cats are terrified of this girl. She barks at both squirrels and cats.
She accepts the crate and keeps it clean. I am certain she could jump a 4-foot fence if she was motivated but has never done so. Charlie has some anxiety that comes and goes. Adaptil and a thundershirt have been beneficial and she needs restraint while in the car. Occasionally, she needs to be carried in or out of the house, or out of the car. So far, she doesn’t play with toys, but has shown an interest in squeak toys. At times, she is playful with the Brittany in the house.
Charlie will make a fabulous family member for the family that is able to work with her and train her to be a great house dog. PLEASE NO SIGHT UNSEEN ADOPTIONS FOR MISS CHARLIE. Given her stress of new situations, it is important that all family members (human and canine) meet to assure we have a good fit. If you are interested in this little miss, please complete the adoption application and mention her by name.
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Charmin - Ohio #10405: Charmin is very sweet and magnificent-looking Britt from Ohio who loves her people and wants to be right next to them! She’s an energetic 8-years young, with slight build at 32 pounds, and an energetic and inquisitive manner. Charmin was part of a five-dog intake when a formal breeder of show dogs was unable to care for them. And it’s easy to see the magnificent Brittany show beauty in every inch of her!
Charmin deserves lots of love and spoiling after being an outdoor kennel dog most of her life. She’s adjusted quickly to the indoor life although she does still prefer to be out frequently. It’s clear Charmin has had limited exposure to other people or new situations. She is timid when someone new arrives or if taken to a new environment. However, once she’s comfortable, she’s all about getting attention! Charmin prefers to curl up right next to her people on the couch to relax. She’ll actually “hold on” to your hand when petting her to make sure you keep giving her attention!
She’s all Brittany on a leash walk – not a puller, but her nose goes nonstop as she enjoys the little pleasures in life. She’s making up for lost time playing in the backyard, throwing stuffed toys around, and relaxing on dog beds. She’s very social with her foster siblings and enjoys play! Since her foster brothers and sister are also all seniors, there are lots of naps and strolls around the yard. Our girl is used to having canine companionship so a resident dog would be beneficial. Also, a physical fence, as Charmin loves explore the yard.
If you’re interested in this little love bug and being Charmin’s angel to give her the good life, please complete the adoption application and mention Charmin.
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Lady Lurlene - Missouri #10416: Let us introduce you to Lady Lurlene, or Lady Lu for short. This gorgeous 12-year-old girl is also affectionately called Frenchie, as we believe she is French Brittany. She is petite, all of 30 pounds, colored liver and white with lots of freckles.
She is active, curious, resilient, feisty, loving and lovable. Who would ever have thought that this old (no, mature) little lady would turn out to be an ardent backyard hunter! She puts her nose down and patrols the back yard fence at a pretty fast trot, stopping to explore all the interesting odors along the way. She practically flies going up and down the steps to the deck. Now, that all sounds pretty normal for a Brittany, but Lady Lu is not quite “normal.” She is deaf and she has vestibular disease, balance problems, and she falls down frequently. But she bounces right back up and keeps on going, barely missing a step. She is amazing!
Lady loves everyone! She wants to be with her people, right underfoot, and with her deafness she is definitely a tripping hazard. We have learned to look before we move our feet. Because of her deafness Lady should have a fenced yard to help keep her safe and allow her to get the exercise she needs. And her people need to be agile enough to avoid tripping over her!
If you are interested in providing lovely Lady Lu with her dream retirement home, please complete an application on our website
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Buddy - Ohio #10404: Buddy is a very sweet Britt gentlemen who is learning all about the good life of indoor living! He is a spry 11-year-young boy fostering in Ohio, where he’s hanging out inside a house for the first time in his life. And, he appreciates this sweet life! Don’t let his age fool you, he is still very active and inquisitive. He’s fascinated by stuffed toys and dog chews and he’s even learning to toss them around.
Buddy was part of a five-dog intake when a breeder of show dogs was unable to care for them. In Buddy’s past, he spent a lot of time in a kennel and crate outdoors. Understandably kenneling is not his favorite place, but the good news is that he really doesn’t need it. He will circle for a time then settle down, but much prefers to be able to roam outside of a crate. He is trusted in his foster home outside a crate with no one home having been the perfect gentleman outside his crate.
He is just starting to learn basic commands but does have good recall when outside. He’s excited that you want him to come back and be with you! Buddy is a laid-back dog with an easy-going personality that fit right in with his foster friends from day one!
He enjoys running and playing in a fenced back yard, so a fenced yard is a must for his adoptive home. His entire life has been spent with other dogs, so a companion dog or a family at home most of the time will be the best fit. He can be somewhat independent preferring to stretch out on the cool tile kitchen floor rather than hang with his foster siblings in the carpeted living room. However, he is slowly starting to gravitate towards curling up close by!
If you’re interested this handsome boy and being Buddy’s angel to live out his days surrounded by love, please complete the adoption application. Please no sight unseen adoptions. We feel it important that all family members (canine and human) meet to assure we have a good match.
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Bella - Virginia #10408: Bella is a sweet 5-year-old Brittany who loves adventures! She enjoys running, hiking, and swimming. Bella successfully lived with young children and a mid-size male Shepherd mix since she was a puppy. At 50 pounds, Bella considers herself to be a lap dog (she is working to lose a few pounds).
Bella was loved and well-cared for by her owners and was surrendered to ABR because they wanted her to be in a safer environment as she kept escaping through their invisible fence. In typical Brittany fashion, if given the opportunity to run and explore, Bella will seize it. Bella’s ideal home would have a six-foot privacy fence so that she can run to her heart’s content, and she would also thrive in an active family with multiple long walks per day. She is house- and crate-trained and is used to being crated during workdays. Although, a family at home much of the time or one who wants to take their dog along on adventures would be great, too.
Bella is in search of a forever home or foster-to-adopt home as she is stressed in her current foster placement. There are two dogs currently in the home and it is not a “match made in heaven.” With slow introductions and patience, Bella should be able to successfully live with another canine sibling. She has not had any exposure to cats but does have a high prey drive.
Since in foster care, a vet has prescribed a very small dose of Trazodone as needed to help her anxiety with the sudden transition to a foster home and to help her deal with the other dogs in the home. The need for this med should be revisited once she has settled into her new home.
Bella is a sweet and active Brittany who loves all people and needs a home where she can have more freedom and attention. If you’re interested in adopting (or foster to adopt) Bella, please fill out an adoption application and identify Bella and her ID#.
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Are you looking to adopt a Brittany but don't see one available in your area? |
We welcome you to complete an adoption application to start the approval process, so you will be ready to adopt when the time comes!
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Attention, long-time volunteers! We need help from our dedicated adopters, fosters, and coordinators, who have been with us from the very beginning. We hope to publish a special print newsletter dedicated to ABR’s 30th anniversary. We are looking for your stories and photos focusing on those first Brittanys rescued way back in the early to mid-1990s! Once a Britt is part of our family, they always remain in our hearts, so we hope you have access to a photo or two and wish to share their story or your own experiences as a volunteer. Let’s make this special issue happen! Please email newsletter@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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A huge and *heartfelt* thank you to Buster’s supporters! In less than 12 hours, you helped us exceed our goal for his life-saving surgery to repair his heart. We raised a total of $6180. Thank you for your donations big and small!
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Please consider helping the American Brittany Rescue by visiting our Giving Grid and making a donation of any size so we can continue to "do good" and help Brittanys. And be sure to watch for our special edition eNews, "Where Are They Now?" in your in-box.
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Keep up-to-date on dog food and treat recalls on DogFoodAdvisor.com. You can also sign up to have recall alerts delivered to your inbox! |
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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
Jeanette Seely, Interim Treasurer
Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair
Diana Doiron
Nancy Hensley
Bobbi Tolman
Melissa Tapply DiLello
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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