Month: December 2023

BHRR’s Ernie – our newest addition to BHRR!

He is a DDB, ~2 years old, and a ham!

He has a possible fractured tail, hip, and knee issues, and needs bilateral entropion surgery and to be neutered. He came into the rescue quite skinny and has been putting on the weight nicely.

We shall be doing X-rays on his tail, hips plus knees when he is under for his neuter. He is far too painful to attempt to manipulate him without sedation. We have him on Gabapentin for pain management.

He has been dewormed, is on flea/tick meds, has had his first vaccines and is back for another recheck and boosters in January.

His bills to date are over $1,200.

He has been treated for ear infections, and we have him on a fish-based food to help with his skin and any possible allergies.

Thank you to his special secret Santas for the pressies, including a Wiggle Bumz collar, leash, treats, toys, and an orthopedic dog bed.

This picture is from his foster home with some of his goodies.

 

 

 

Miss Giselle!
December 25th, 2023

In 2024, she will join a very elite club! The Double Digit Dane Club. 

She will be turning ten years old. 

She will be one of four Danes that, in 2024, will turn 10. Skor, Ice & Zero will also be ten.

AND we are determined that each of them will live their best lives each and every day!

Miss Giselle remains full of personality! 

She was living in hell before her rescue & from day 1; we knew that she only survived as she had backbone plus determination.

Thank you to her special Secret Santa angel for spoiling her again this year & for the gifts for BHRR.

 

Miss Jamila!
Deaf & Blind Great Dane
December 25th, 2023

Our Egyptian queen! 

She is a miracle herself. She arrived at the rescue severely ill. Shockingly so.

We had to do multiple biopsies, mass removals, a bilateral eye enucleation, treat her for pneumonia and bronchitis and to spay her, etc.

She is a survivor! She has a backbone of steel while not having a mean bone in her body at the same time! She makes me smile every day and is deeply bonded to me. When she picks up my scent, she becomes super excited and makes the best sounds! My heart beats with so much love for her!

She is great with all of the dogs, is such an easy keeper, and speaks volumes without even making a sound! 

Her rescue was incredibly stressful, and we remained strong that she was the one who mattered and she was the priority. The dogs always come first.

She lacked for nothing and still doesn’t, and we sincerely hope that she reigns as the gorgeous queen she is for a very long time to come!

 

 

 

Miss Aramis! One of our Three Musketeers!

This is as close as she wanted to get to the Tree this year so her photo is from a distance!

She has zero issues walking by it, giving it a quick sniff, nor using the drinking station that is right by the tree, yet she no longer has any desire to stick her nose into the tree, and try to grab a branch!

Making it crash down last year has made her respectful of keeping some space.

Thank you to her Secret Santa Angel for the goodies and amazing rectangular Kirkland Dog bed from Costco(she is presently lying on an older round Costco dog bed).

I am going to have to make a trip out to the one on Cyrville to buy a few as the beds are incredible!

 

 

 

BHRR’s Miss Lilly
Deaf & Visually Impaired Great Dane
December 25th, 2023

Sean & I cannot believe how she has literally bounced back from the brink of death & is thriving!

AND thank you to her wonderful special SS for the pressies and a super comfy amazing Kirkland dog bed from Costco!

As promised we are sharing some of our annual Xmas photos!

We hope everyone is having a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season & warmest of wishes are being sent from our home to all of our friends, family & supporters!

We could not do what we do without you! 

 

BHRR’s Knox!
 
The Bouvier!
 
He remains AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
 
We did receive an application after we closed for our annual holiday shutdown, and we will review it once we re-open.
 
Thank you to Melody and Barrhaven & Area Empties for being his special Secret Santa angel this Christmas!
 
AND thank you to Mr. Knox’s foster home for sending us this great photo with his stocking & flashy bandana.
 
 

BHRR’s Ernie, playing with BHRR’s Jack(ADOPTED November 28th, 2023) VIDEO!

What we know to date for these two amazing dogs!
 
1) Miss Leah – has mammary tumours that shall require surgery, pathology. An abdominal mass was felt on December 3rd at her recheck, and she is scheduled for an u/s with the specialist, Dr. Ibey, on December 18th. She will require x-rays of her chest to ensure that she does not have any mets before going into surgery – should surgery be an option for her depending on the u/s results. She has put on 6 kgs since her arrival on November 4th; she is now 52 kgs(114.4 pounds).
 
2) Mr. Ernie has put on 5 kgs since his arrival on December 3rd. He is now 60 kgs(121 kgs). He had a recheck on December 12th for his ears – he is now on ear meds & to further examine a mass/lump found on his tail. He has been placed on Gabapentin, and once he is healthier, he will need surgery for his bilateral entropion, to be neutered, to address what could well be a tail fracture & may require a partial tail amputation plus a biopsy – we will x-ray along with x-raying his hips/knees while sedated. We strongly suspect HD, and cannot rule out cruciate issues on one or both legs.
 
Our doors are closed to intake, as both of these incredible dogs will require many, many, many thousands of dollars to rehabilitate successfully.

December 16th through to January 6th, 2024 inclusive!

Total Raised: $139.10

 

 

BHRR’s Leah – 18-month-old heavily marked fawn mantle, Great Dane.
 
She was at the Vet for her recheck on December 3rd.
 
When she first arrived on November 4th, she weighed 46 kgs(101.2 pounds).
 
On December 3rd, she weighed 52 kgs(114.4 pounds). She has put on a much-needed 13.2 pounds of weight and muscle mass.
 
She is now lean and developing wonderful muscle tone. I would like to see just a bit more on her, especially heading into winter. She is presently eating 6+ cups of food, and we are gradually working up to 7.5 cups. From there, we can re-assess and adjust as necessary.
 
She is on a fish-based food, and her coat, ears, and feet look great!
 
She had a thorough recheck exam, and while her mammary chain has significantly reduced, many mammary tumours can easily be palpated now. 
 
Additionally, the Vet felt a firm mass in her abdomen.
 

We are now waiting on an ultrasound with a specialist.

Depending on what is found, sedation and X-rays of her chest shall be done prior to the removal of the mammary tumour’s and abdominal mass. They will then be sent off to histopathology.
 

We were hoping to hear something soon. I will follow up should we not hear anything.

We were not able to move on any of these diagnostics/treatments earlier as she was just too emaciated, not strong enough, and would not have survived.
 
Time is sometimes your friend, and sometimes it is not. It is a risk vs. benefit situation.
 
Our annual Empties 4 Paws drive starting December 16th shall see all funds go to her care.
 

Ottawa Rabbit Rescue has invited us to do a joint Paint event with Janet in the early New Year, and those monies shall go towards her and Mr. Ernie’s care.

Her Vet bill was $349.42

Donations to her care can be made via PayPal gwen@birchhaven.org OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com

We still have 2 amazing BHRR pups needing a special Secret Santa angel of their very own!

BHRR’s Mr. Albar & Miss Chrissy!

Mr. Albar(one of our Beans) says he has been enjoying the snow after the big storm yesterday/overnight! All of that rain and wet, heavy snow has made for some big mud puddles!

Miss Chrissy is snoozing in our small cubby on one of our fireplaces. We are doing renovations, and had been storing some of the old pieces of tile in the cubby, and she also thought this was a good place to be! All tile pieces have now been removed, so no injuries are possible.

If anyone would be open to spoiling one of them this Christmas, please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com

AND here are the drop-off dates/times/locations for our 2023 Secret Santa Event!

1) Anytime: Oxford Station – 2425 Totem Ranch Road West
*We have a donation shed at the road across from the mailbox

2) Eagleson Veterinary Clinic – 500 Eagleson Road, Kanata, Ontario
Wednesday, December 6th, 8:45 pm
Thursday, December 7th, 9 am
Thursday, December 7th, 8:45 pm
Friday, December 8th, 8:45 pm
Saturday, December 16th, 8:45 pm
Sunday, December 17th, 9 am
Wednesday, December 20th, 8:45 pm
Thursday, December 21st, 9 am
Thursday, December 21st, 8:45 pm
Friday, December 22nd, 9 am
*Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org to let me know that you are planning on coming/when!

3) For those mailing items: Sean/Gwen Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1TO

If anyone may wish to make a financial donation instead, we can pick up Santa Angel items for them! PayPal: gwen@birchhaven.org or Email Transfer: contactbhrr@gmail.com

We need to have some time to get all of the pressies to their fosters!

AND BHRR’s Santa list is as follows for those who may consider donations to help the Rescue:
Pinesol, Lysol Wipes, Liquid Fabric Softener, Garbage Bags – all sizes, Paper Towels, Laundry Detergent, Dog Shampoo from PetSmart – Top Paw Oatmeal Baking Soda Shampoo with Aloe, Laundry Baskets(Great for storing toys & dog coats!), $$$ to pay down Vet Bills

 

Busy day for BHRR today!
 
Miss Leah was at the vet for her recheck – details on her blog!
 
AND Mr. Ernie was picked up tonight from the kennel that we had him at after busting him out of the kill pound early as the worry per what we had been told is they can often kill animals earlier than the deadlines.
 
He is at the Vet tomorrow AM at 10:30.
 
His lovely foster mama said he gave kisses to her ALL the way home! We already knew he was a flirt, and he is going to steal MANY hearts! 
 
He is said to be super skinny, which we already knew, and was being fed 6 cups a day per the boarding kennel. We shall be working his daily intake up to 10 cups, and re-evaluate in 4-5 weeks.
 
Stress from being a stray, being in the kill pound, then being moved to a kennel, plus who knows how neglected/abusive his life was before he was dumped, has taken its toll on him. Not to mention the pain he is in with his eyes, ears, skin, knees, and hips. We will also be proactively plus preventatively de-worming him per our protocols and doing blood work.
 
He and Miss Leah shall have very high vet bills – both require surgeries, and our thinking caps are on to help figure out how to raise many thousands of dollars….
 
They are both incredibly deserving….
 
More soon!
 
Welcome to BHRR, Mr. Ernie!