Month: April 2018

The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Poppy was ADOPTED today. 

This was a particularly emotional one for me yet I managed to not shed one tear at the home! 

This litter and I went through so much since they were born in September 2017 and I had a really long battle to fight to save this wee girl and she has thrived! 

She chose the home….BHRR’s Sawyer was just not interested and was quite uncomfortable which is not his norm and that is completely ok. He got confidence from BHRR’s Poppy and by the end of the visit was more interactive and his own right match fit personality home is out there! 

BHRR’s Poppy loved their 11 year old son and was totally fine with their cat. 

I want to thank this really lovely home for being so patient as we went through the detailed adoption process and for their hospitality in opening up their house to us today. Thank you for considering a BHRR dog to adopt!

Thank you to Aaron & Cherie for assisting at this home-visit – BHRR’s Sawyer was excited to see you again Cherie! 

I go home with so much happiness in my heart….some sadness too as my time with the gorgeous inside and out BHRR’s Poppy has ended yet this is what I worked so hard to give her…a future in a wonderful approved adoptive home! 

While she may look more Dane in the pic – she is very much also Wolfie with her wonderful hair and tail! 

Good Sunday AM!

AND we are on now our way to do the home-visit to see if one of these two incredible BHRR pups may be a possible right match personality fit.

The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Poppy – sporting her ‘poppy’ collar by Onepawtwopaw thanks also to Annette – and BHRR’s Sawyer. 

BHRR’s Sawyer(Saint/Pyr) had a great overnight picnic play date.

Tomorrow he and BHRR’s Poppy are coming with me to do a home-visit to see if one of them may be a right match personality fit for an application received.

We shall update as we can!

AND here is a Testimonial From The Home That Had The Play Date::

“Sawyer was a great car traveller for the drive.
He met 3 cats and was respectful of all. He got along great with BHRR’s Rain and our senior lab. He enjoyed the large backyard and exploring.
In the morning he did amazing with 3 strangers coming in to do house repairs. He wasn’t even phased with the noise and front door opening.
A great date for sure!!”

From our home to all of our friends, family & supporters, good-night wishes being sent!

BHRR’s Singe is grateful – as are we – for all of the well wishes and best thoughts being sent his way!

You can see how his ribs show in this photo….

As his story unfolds, we will post updates…..

BHRR’s Singe!

I captured this lovely shot of him during one of our walks today! 

At the Vet tonight, he weighed a skinny 58.3 kgs(128.26 pounds). This boy should easily weigh 150 or so pounds and when he puts on more weight including much needed muscle mass/tone, he will look magnificent. 

You can see from how he stands/moves that his hind end is a bit of a concern. The Vet agreed and also found that his left side was worse than his right and they wish for us to have him develop more muscle mass and tone prior to further investigation such as x-rays etc.

The Vet did not believe that he had any cruciate issues yet it is hard to truly manipulate a giant breed dog’s stifles without sedation. The plan is to let him settle in more before re-visiting. He went through a lot tonight and was AMAZING!

The one growth is as I thought, a skin tag, nothing that needs to be addressed unless it changes size, colour, bothers him etc.

The growth on his penis is not able to be determined without a biopsy and as he went through more than enough today, we will hold off until his next visit – when he has boosters. His hind end will be re-examined at that time. The Vet did not feel that it was cancerous yet no way to really tell without sending to histiopathology. 

His resting heart rate was 20! He was so chill…laid on his side and pretty much almost fell asleep! 

Heart, lungs, ears, all given a thumbs up! 

According to the paperwork that was given to me upon his surrender – he was at a shelter in November and this previous home got him from there – he had bad ear infections yet his ears look good now.

Some tartar buildup on his teeth yet nothing that is urgent that needs to be addressed right now.

The raw area on his left rump area has new hair growth and his Vet was not overly concerned at the present time. 

We did bloodwork that includes tick borne disease and heartworm testing.

Per his shelter paperwork, he was only given bordetella and so, we began his vaccine protocol. 

Tomorrow, we will begin his de-worming protocol and put him on proper heartworm, flea/tick preventative. 

When he is more settled, we will do a much needed nail trim too. 

I truly cannot believe that this sweet boy had at least 3-4 prior homes AND also ended up in a shelter in his short life to date.  I really cannot believe it….

AND we are on our way to the Vet!

Will update as I can….

I have put a new collar on him….one I have had for a very long time waiting for the right special BHRR dog meant for it. 

BHRR’s Sawyer is on his special picnic OVERNIGHT play date tonight!

This year we have 16 dates and as he is one of two dogs that could be a possible right match personality fit for a home, that we are doing a visit with on Sunday, he is having his date tonight. 

I hear that the BHRR Saint that is being perma-fostered by this lovely home LOVES him! WHAT is not to love?!

My last post of my night – going to spend time with this handsome brindle boy – BHRR’s Singe – for the rest of the night.

He is scheduled to see the Vet on Friday.

We need to do a thorough investigation on his hind end – hips & knees, do bloodwork, check his teeth, exam two growths – one on his penis and one behind a front leg – plus a raw area on his rump, do bloodwork, check heart/lungs/eyes run a fecal and when he is healthy, vaccines, de-worm and put him on proper hw/flea/tick preventative etc.

He is quite skinny. A good 20+ pounds more needed on him plus he needs to develop muscle mass/tone.

He is a super sweet boy who likes to sit on my lap and gently paw me for more love when I stop. 

He also loves looking out of the windows and with a house built for passive solar heating, our whole front of our house is wall to wall windows for him to enjoy.

He is currently hanging out with me by my computer on a Costco dog bed donated to BHRR with such genuine kindness from BHRR’s Cagney’s Mama/her friend’s. 

From our home to all of our friends, family and supporters, good night wishes being sent!

Welcome to BHRR BHRR’s Singe.

We got him!! 

We are now on our way home!

He will need to see the Vet for a few concerns and he is booked for Friday.

He is ~37″ at the whithers, quite skinny, has a skin tag and another growth on his penis that we will get investigated, He has a raw area on his back left rump and his hips plus back knees need further investigation.

He needs an Accuplex – heartworm and tickborne disease testing, those teeth checked out, and he has not had all of his vaccines from the paperwork we were given. He will go on flea/tick and HW preventative also. We will de-worm him plus do a fecal on him too as part of proper proactive/preventative Vet Care. 

Thanks again to Elizabeth for coming with me to pick him up! 

Sean has named him ‘Singe’. 

Just waiting for Elizabeth to arrive and then we will be on our way to road trip to pick up this handsome brindle boy we were asked to assist……

We shall post an update once we have him!

We now have an ETA! 

This handsome brindle boy will be arriving April 25th!

Here is his story – copied from a previous post:

The next in need of BHRR! 

He is only the 4th dog that we have been able to assist to date in 2018 as we work hard to be able about quality, not quantity. 

We have been asked to assist an ~3 year old Male Brindle Great Dane.

This is his third known home plus at one time he had ended up at a Shelter.

This home has an 18 month old child and has had him since just before XMAS and while he has proven to be so patient with her, the home does not wish to set him or their small child up for failure. He is currently living with a friend of the family and has been for the last while as the home worked to find the best solution for him. 

Said to be good with dogs – lived with a female pug and cats are unknown and said to weigh about 150+ pounds.

***NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION**

Our 2018 Annual BHRR Doggie Date Auction is NOW Closed!

I will be in touch with all Winners by end of my day(night) on Sunday. Please bear with me and please be patient! 

In 2018; it looks like we will have 16 Dates and over $1,300 raised to help the BHRR Animals! I shall confirm final total raised once all the monies have come in. 

This is BHRR’s Calla on our way home from her spay today….a wee bit drugged still!

Thank you to Chelsea, Holly, Cailey, Nadine and Dr. Wright for all of the love and care given to her today at KAH! 

She has had a big pee, gotten her Gabapentin and Deramaxx for the evening and is now all tucked in for the night…I will be joining her shortly….

From our home to all of our friends, family & supporters, good night wishes being sent!

BHRR’s Bookers’ HV for a possible approved adoption is Sunday May 6th. 

We will post an update as we can.

Everything went well and here is the BBBBB in recovery. 

This gorgeous BBBBB pup is in for her spay plus Microchip today.

BHRR’s Calla! 

She has put on another 3 kgs and is now just shy of 85 pounds.  Lean, muscled and looking so beautiful. She is putting the weight on nice and even and yay!

She was totally fine with the cat that was there too – a staff members kitty hanging out!

She is Ms. Kanga-Dane and her drop-off went great! While she initially bawked at going into her run, she then trusted me and went in calmly. After a small amount of anxious whining, she stopped and all was then quiet. I am so proud of her!!! Beaming proud! She has done so so so well with her SA and will need a home to help her to keep thriving and not allow the SA Monster to read its ugly head.

Once she recovers from her spay, she will be ready to make her special announcement! 

Another amazing dog that I am going to miss something fierce….she is incredible.

This pic is a sneak peek preview from her recent professional photo shoot. Thanks so much again Liz Bradley!!!

The next in need of BHRR! 

He is only the 4th dog that we have been able to assist to date in 2018 as we work hard to be able about quality, not quantity. 

We have been asked to assist an ~3 year old Male Brindle Great Dane.

This is his third known home plus at one time he had ended up at a Shelter.

This home has an 18 month old child and has had him since just before XMAS and while he has proven to be so patient with her, the home does not wish to set him or their small child up for failure. He is currently living with a friend of the family and has been for the last while as the home worked to find the best solution for him. 

Said to be good with dogs – lived with a female pug and cats are unknown and said to weigh about 150+ pounds. 

ETA being worked on now.

Happy 2nd Birthday wishes being sent to the BHRR Puppy Pile x 7!

BHRR’s Granite & Cookie Dough Dynamo. Being engulfed in the snow storm going on today – yes, April 14th, 2018!

Mr. Squishie (BHRR’s Booker) is moving under a Pending Adoption!
6 month old DDB

We shall update things as we can.

This BBBBB had her professional photo shoot today!

BHRR’s Calla! 

She is such a character! A Kanga-Dane, smart, beautiful, loving and a really happy girl! 

We were done our session in 10 minutes as she was so amazing!! 

She was to be spayed this week yet I would still like to see a few more pounds on this once incredibly sadly skinny, now an 8 month old still growing giant puppy so I rescheduled her spay to next Thursday instead.

From there, once she heals from her spay, she can make her special announcement! 

Sean & I both agree that if we were in the search for a new addition, BHRR’s Calla would be the type of Dane we would loved to have had….she is the total package and her SA is virtually non existent as she has learned so much about confidence, comfort, security and safety. In that right matched fit forever loving home she will continue to thrive! 

I adore you to the stars and back BHRR’s Calla! 

Mr. Squishie!
6 month old DDB

He says it has been a really wonderfully busy day and time to go to bed….he can barely keep his eyes open!

Being this cute is hard! 

He remains AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION to that right matched personality fit home!

He has an extremely detailed blog and all of our adoption processes, policies and procedures can be found on our home website, including an application for those that then feel they may qualify to adopt him.

From our home to all of our friends, family and supporters, good night wishes being sent!

 

AND we have a pic of Kinsley photo bombing with The Mav! 

Here is his face on the way in to KAH and Rachel, you posted a picture of him yesterday – in literally the same pose from his Freedom Ride five years to the day earlier.

He has more frosting now! 

BHRR’s Maverick – Our Real Iron Man
April 6th, 2018

Last night – April 6th – he had his annual at KAH and he had a fantastic Vet visit.

He weighs a magnificent 55.9 kgs(122.98 pounds)!

When he first arrived to BHRR April 6th, 2013, he weighed an emaciated 95.92 pounds.

He had to have a total of 4 leg surgeries on his front legs and he is now a happy, healthy, super affectionate, butt nipping if you ignore him and really life loving boy!

Several told us that he should have been killed – their words – and that it was not humane to give him what we felt strongly was the opportunity to have a great future.

Well, we believe in the dogs we assist…it was not BHRR’s Mavericks’ fault that others failed him….and, 5 years literally later, LOOK at him?!

MY heart just pounds with so much love and excitement for the life that this boy now leads!

He has human and canine friends. He has a 3+ acre fenced in yard to romp in, he has 148 trails to explore on, he gets to go for car rides to visit all of his favourite people and places and WINS hearts all over.

His name is legendary, his journey miraculous and we remain honoured to have been asked to assist him.

BHRR’s Maverick – you represent so much in goodness and heart plus soul!

You are literally an almost $25,000 dog and WORTH every penny, nickel and dime.

AND he is now sporting a new collar thanks to Julianne from onepawtwopaw who generously sent an extra one with the one I bought for my Wolfie Torin.

As soon as I saw the planes on the collar, I knew…I just knew that BHRR’s Maverick had to have it.

This boys’ soul sours…..and well, his brain is often in the clouds!  

BHRR’s Maverick will need to go in for a dental and he has a lump on the top of his head that we need to biopsy – Vet was not overly concerned – and received a thumbs up for being a model patient!

Don’t you just love the frosting he is developing?!

AND he is also available for a special picnic snack play DAY date in our 7th Annual ‘1-on-1’ Special Date With A BHRR Dog Online Auction that is going on right now!

We made the decision to move BHRR’s Dickens into our Haven Program and he now resides in a great match fit perma-foster home. 

These pictures are from his professional photo shoot that I had done on February 8th. 

This boy is what I call a ‘mirror image’ reactive dog and he has made leaps and bounds with his rehab journey. He will be what I also call a wonderful ‘lifetime labour of love’ and we will ensure that he lives the best quality filled life. 

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Furry Murray Update!
**$690 Donated To Date**
**$2,500+ Vet Bills To Date**

Unfortunately, as can happen with Puppy Strangles, BHRR’s Murray had a relapse and the relapse was worse. 

He was back at the Vet February 26th when he had the relapse and first picture is of his tail. So, we had to increase the Pred(he has been on it since November 2nd) back up to 25 mg BID from 5 mg EOD.

He was also losing weight.

His lymph nodes were still swollen. So, he is not able to be neutered at this time. He also remains cryptorchid.

Second picture is from March 6th at one of his recheck visits – the wee hamburger!  He thinks the benches are for him as it is an Animal Hospital after all.

AND once he gets into the exam room, he tries to jump and climb on to the exam table as this is where he has been examined since he was a wee squeaker.

Tried telling him that at over 75 pounds, perhaps the exam table is not ideal for being examined any longer yet, he feels differently!  So, on the exam table he continues to go! LOL

He is responding well to the increased Pred and every two weeks, the dose has been dropping by 5 mg and as of tonight, he can go to 15 mg daily.

Since November 2nd, 2017 –

He was first rushed into Kanata Animal Hospital on Thursday November 2nd, 2017.

Then he has had appointments:
Liston Animal Hospital on November 7th
Kanata Animal Hospital November 9th 
Kanata Animal Hospital November 16th
Kanata Animal Hospital November 21st
Kanata Animal Hospital November 28th
Kanata Animal Hospital December 5th
Kanata Animal Hospital December 18th
Liston Animal Hospital January 18th, 2018
Kanata Animal Hospital February 12th
Kanata Animal Hospital February 26th
Kanata Animal Hospital March 6th

We have made the decision to move Monsieur Furry Murray to our Haven Program. He has had medical issues since he was born and has overcome much with his hind end and to all that meet him, he is not conformationally built like his siblings.

We adore him and his fan club adores him and we are committed to him and he will be given the best of lives….. 

For anyone who may consider helping us with his ongoing care:

Donations can be made direct to Kanata Animal Hospital:
613-836-2848 
*Murray has an extensive file under the “Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services’ account

OR

Via Email Transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org

OR

Via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org

UPDATE: Well, we now know for sure that she has raging eye infections. Here is a picture that Lindsay just sent…..

I have advised Lindsay that if for any reason she needs to take her to the emergency, to please just take her and we will get her seen sooner than tomorrow. 

I will not see any dog suffer….

Lindsay has been gently cleaning them. 

Poor girl…

An Easter Sunday Rescue happened this AM.

People talk about the Easter Bunny coming….well for this sweet Harlequin Great Dane, it was an Easter Angel that stepped up and came to her rescue.

Lindsay – I have said this several times already yet I must say it again, thank you deeply from my heart for offering to help us save this girl. What should have been a smooth owner surrender turned out to be a bit bumpy and I am so grateful to you in picking her up. So so so thankful to you.

This girl already has a Vet appointment scheduled tomorrow for 2:15 pm and will have a thorough exam – heart/lungs etc. – and we shall begin all proactive plus preventative Vet Care.

We want her eyes looked closely at – yes, she has heavy haws yet I am also suspecting possible infections – have skin, feet, hydration levels, those poor nipples(she was used for breeding) all checked. The daughter of the O. who is moving back to Slovakia today – said they were breeding for over 40 years. 

She is underweight, lacks muscle tone/mass, has calloused elbows and needs a nice pampered spa day when she is ready.

Undersocialised and skititsh yet already following Lindsay around – who wouldn’t follow such a caring soul?! 

She is only the third dog that we have been able to assist in 2018 to date and she is the perfect example as to why BHRR was founded back in 1996….for all the special needs animals just like her.

98% of those BHRR helps are the truly broken physically and/or behaviourally. Why we are here….

I cannot wait to meet this pretty ~5 year old beauty and in the meantime she could not be in more excellent hands with Lindsay. 

From our home to all of our friends, family & supporters, we hope that everyone is having a safe, happy and wonderful Easter Sunday.