The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Oliver(IW/GD) is settling in extremely well to his foster home.

Has been great with their Dane and two chi’s, the geese, the chickens, horses and even one feisty kitten! 

He is getting lots of wonderful careful slow exposure to even more new things and people and they are managing his anxiety plus shyness beautifully.

They are a quietly well balanced social home so he will never be overwhelmed by huge numbers of people or places.

I am so proud of him. I have worked my butt off with this whole litter trying so hard to set them up for success and took criticisms from more than one person who felt they knew better about what was best for them.

I have been patient and have explained so many times over how genetics and not just environment plays a crucial role in how an animal is who they are.

All puppies are not born naturally bouncy, happy, social creatures.

Furthermore, their breed(s) also play a role in their individual temperaments. Additionally, throw in temperaments bred by puppy mills.

BHRR’s Oliver, your progress along with your litter-mates we kept back has been amazing and you shall continue to keep becoming the best dog you can be, as you are in the hands of a home that ‘gets it!’

I miss you and you did not think you could do this yet, we knew you were ready for this next step and you are MORE than doing it! 

AND since you are now in great hands, I can bring in the special needs (Deaf/Visually Impaired) Dane, Miss Lily into my own home tonight.

AND as we have posted several times, our doors will then be indefinitely closed….we are battling so many unexpected Vet Expenses. 

UPDATE: BHRR’s Oliver is now safely dropped off to his temp foster and a very brave boy he was!

He did not bother with their ducks, chickens or guinea pigs and was very respectful of their two chihuahua’s! 

What a great boy he is! 

AND I am off shortly to see if this may be a right matched foster for The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Oliver.

DNA proven IW/GD.

With him being fostered, I can then bring direct into my own home, the Deaf/Visually impaired GD Miss Lily. This will also be a great experience for him! He has come a long way with his play dates and he is ready for this. 

AND gentle reminder, as of Thursday August 1st once Miss Lily arrives(Special Needs GD), our doors shall be closed indefinitely until we can achieve financial health again due to so many expenses, many of them unexpected with dogs we have been asked to assist…..

So, any consideration to our cause would be deeply appreciated so that we can continue to help dogs in need of our highly specialised programs…

As always donations for Vet care can be made direct to Eagleson Veterinary Clinic 613-383-8381

OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org

OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com

We will post an update ASAP re: BHRR’s Oliver!

 

Play Date Today!
April 20th, 2019Today, we had a play date @ our home and ONE of these dogs – our own GSD named Denali – is NOT like the others!  

Some are looking at Sean, some at me and some are looking for their friends that were driving in when I snapped this picture! 
We had a total of 27 dogs come out to play/visit! It brought me so much joy to see quite a few of our Fosters & Haven Dogs come out….

***EDITING to add as several seem to think that this GSD is BHRR’s Juneau, he is NOT. This is our own GSD Denali, a PTSD in training. 

Anyone that has been following BHRR’s Juneau would be aware that any interaction of this kind would have been disastrous.***

The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Everly & BHRR’s Oliver were at the Vet today for their annual!

BHRR’s Everly weighed a very lean 102.08 pounds and still growing.

BHRR’s Oliver weighed a big boy 124.96 pounds!

BHRR’s Everly, you were so brave and the progress you have made has been truly outstanding. You are a complete goofy over the top affectionate girl around your small trusted set up for success circle.

Today, with even more loving hands to show you just how safe and ok you are, you took yet another big step forward.

Very proud! Baby steps my dear and you are doing it!

BHRR’s Oliver, you and BHRR’s Juniper have made the most progress of all in this litter and you continue to reach your full incredible potential more and more each day!

You certainly do not have any interpersonal space issues when you are comfortable! You soaked it all up today, meeting and greeting everyone and what a social ham!

While you started off a bit ‘wolfie’ aloof, the Dane in you did not take long to come out and the leans and the loving came on in earnest!

Getting pictures was not that easy yet here are two from their well deserved run after we got back home!

Special shout out of thanks to Holly at KAH for being truly awesome in helping me with them both and with poor BHRR’s Everly’s stress bm. THANK you again from my heart Holly! 

Our 11th Annual ‘JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS’ Online Auction now has 109 amazing items up for bids!

We have just added our last wonderful 12 items!

Auction ends TOMORROW – Thursday November 29th @ 9 PM EST!

We have just added more of Kimberly’s incredible homemade vanilla and also Bailey’s fudge, kitchen towels, 3 x gorgeous The Crazy Dog House Key Chains plus a See Sawyer Run Web Master Harness!

Thank you’s extended once more FROM our hearts to Kimberly, Jan & Uta for their lovely donations!

To learn more and to bid on any of the wonderful gems up for grabs, you have to visit the Auction!

**NOTE: PLEASE note the pick up area(s) for any items you may be interested in. NOT all items can be shipped!**

For anyone that may have an item to donate, please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com It is not too late to consider our cause. All monies raised shall go to the emaciated/severely neglected GD BHRR’s Char!

We remain so devastated that we could not save BHRR’s Bane yet are hoping that you may continue to consider supporting our rescue efforts so that we can help BHRR’s Char.

 

NOTICE:

BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.

Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for over 2 decades.

Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Thursday December 13th, 2018 to Thursday January 3rd, 2019 inclusive.

Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed as of Friday January 4th, 2019!

As always during this time, BHRR is available 24/7 for requests for assistance of animals in need. We shall also network accordingly for, as the local Great Dane/Giant Breed Rescue since 1996, the welfare of the animals are our top priority. We do not wish to see any animal end up in a disreputable place of which sadly there are far too many out there.

Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team

This December 24th, 2017 picture is of Mason & his Dane, Dynamo(Cookie Dough Dynamo) 

We have now moved the Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Fletcher and BHRR’s Everly to our Haven Program.

We will continue to keep The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Oliver and BHRR’s Juniper up for adoption for awhile longer and should their right matched personality fit homes not find them, then, we will also move them to our Haven Program.

In just under 1 hour from now, 1 year ago today….I began one of the most difficult yet one of the most rewarding rescue moments of my life.

I began to whelp The Bakers Dozen – 1st puppy born 10:13 PM on September 12th, 2017 – BHRR’s Poppy & the last puppy was born 9:29 AM on September 13th, 2017 – BHRR’s Fletcher.

Tragically, emaciated, traumatized, terrorized puppymill Mama Gem(once only known as D211 to her greedy breeders) rejected her puppies. The smallest puppy, wee BB was barely even 9.7 oz. Giant Breed puppies, when healthy should be born 1-1.5 pounds each. She gave all she had to ensure that we had 13 live births.

Thank you SO much to Mason who worked with me to help whelp them and to stimulate them as several were quite blue.

From tube to dropper to bottle feeding to there being a manufacturer shortage of Esbilac, Sean & I experienced the absolute best in people yet sadly, the absolute worse in one person also during this life and death 24/7 journey for this litter/Mama.

I want to wish The Bakers Dozen a beautiful and special 1st Birthday! 

You have touched my heart and soul like no other time in my life has and while FPS tried to steal you all away; you fought hard to live. I was not giving up on this litter or Mama. So many health issues and so many battles won….and with tears in my eyes, some battles lost. 

RIP to those of my wee angels that were stolen away all too soon. I remain confused, hurt, devastated and so angry that you were taken away from so many that love you like The Boerskins do.

THANK you to every Bakers Dozen Angel that donated goods, monies & hands to help us assist them in their plus Mama Gem’s biggest times of need. Thanks also to our Vet Team that was right by their/my side every step necessary.

This is a bittersweet Happy Birthday moment for me…..I am so happy yet my heart is also very heavy with sadness.

Testimonial From The Home Who Had The Special Picnic Play Date With BHRR’s Oliver Today:

“He was an excellent guest. Very chill and loving fellow. He was quite content to follow us and receive pets. He loved Ms Sally and made an excellent companion to watch the World Cup with. 

 

AND they are getting ready for another round of play…he is blowing his blue puppy coat so looks a bit brown in places. Lord knows how much I hated showing my own blue boyz in the ring when they were not blue but brown splotched dogs during this phase! 

AND it was a fabu drop-off! A picture I took. So so so proud of the progress this gorgeous young man has made! 

New friend! This is BHRR Puppy Pile Sapphire! He loves their Pugx girl too, Sally. You can see Sally laying down!

AND BHRR’s Whisper got in on the action – she ended up having a sleepover at this home last night after her own day play date with another home.

AND on my way with special picnic play Date #4 of 5 for this weekend! Well, not a weekend for us but for others it is! ?

The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Oliver!

This is what he thinks of early AM’s!  While he loves getting up between 5-5:30 AM, he likes his routine and after going out, he slowly wakes up, he eats breakfast, and then goes for a snooze around this time…. 

Another picture of BHRR’s Oliver!

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Oliver
Almost 8 Months Old – May 11th, 2018
DNA Proven GD/IW

This is from their latest professional photo shoot! Thank you Liz SO much for doing this for BHRR. I know you are super busy!

BHRR’s Oliver remains AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION to that right matched forever loving home.

AND then there were FIVE, 4 of which are still Available For Adoption!

The Bakers Dozen had their next professional photo shoot today! 

Thank you to Elaine, Ashley & The Boerskins for helping to puppy wrangle! 

This is a candid that I took! 

BHRR’s Oliver you thrived under the quiet calm and kind touch of Ashley as I knew you would! While slightly anxious, you were so much more relaxed this time. 

BHRR’s Fletcher, while you still had some anxiety, you rocked this session a million times better than February’s and the camera was not as scary to you! Good boy! You even allowed me to take more than a step away from you for your pictures as the camera made you not as nervous.

BHRR’s Furry Murray – what can I say?! You remain the class clown and a true ham! Content to do whatever as long as I remained within your sight….while you wanted to be closer to me, you were great at being Mr. Independent overall. 

BHRR’s Everly – as gorgeous as ever and as busy as ever! You gave Elaine quite the work out!  Such a delightful handful! 

BHRR’s Juniper – the queen of selective hearing and you are quite the busy bee yourself. 

You and your sister are not for the faint of heart and to all of my GD/Wolfie Babies, you did so well today….we can see where the distraction training has greatly improved from February’s professional photo’s and where work is still needed yet as almost 8 month old puppies, I remain very proud of your emotional and behavioural development! We battle your genetics every day and use the environment to help to make you the best dogs that you can be in being as well rounded plus balanced as possible!! 

Happy Friday to all!

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Oliver
DNA Proven to be GD/IW
February 15th, 2018
*Next professional Photo Shoot and THANKS again Liz*

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

Temperament is very much genetically oriented and we have to use the proper set up for success in environment to help these dogs reach their full potential. Therefore, I am always handing off our dogs – when they are ready – to right matched people to help the doggies. So many think all puppies are bouncey and naturally social and over the top friendly and that could not be further from the truth. They are a big product of their genetics- Mama Gem’s genes live strong in these pups – and we have worked and remaining working hard to guide plus develop this litter into the Best Dogs they can be.

As such, like any of our dogs, they will only be approved to the right matched personality fit forever loving homes. Period. We provide so much detail in their blogs about the homes we want for each of our dogs and we do not want to see our dogs set up for failure. We will not compromise on what we know is in their best interest.

The Bakers Dozen!
February 15th, 2018

They had their latest professional photo shoot today and what a shoot it was!  Here is a candid I took!

Thank you to all of the Volunteers that spent about 35 minutes with Sean & I, puppy loving and puppy wrangling! Record time! Thanks Anne, Annette, Elizabeth, John, Meaghan, Sean & Brenna!

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as their heads were ‘not in the game’ and in the clouds instead! 

Annette you get the prize – and I will find something for you!  – for the true meaning of puppy wrangling!  You rocked that wrangle tackle on BHRR’s Juniper! 

This is why I love martingale’s so much for unlike the quick release buckles, they provide security and safety. NOT that BHRR’s Juniper would have gone far – super pack oriented to her siblings she is – yet case in point about the martingale’s being a much better collar. Unfortunately, we just do not have enough of them for their current size.

Thank you also Annette for the home-made treats! These pups were really distracted today and overall I plus Liz have to express how much more calm & less busy BHRR’s Everly was compared to November!  It was BHRR’s Juniper – who is known to be a busy bee herself – that truly was everywhere and anywhere!

BHRR’s Oliver – you have come so far with your anxiety and shyness!!  You were so much more solid.

BHRR’s Fletcher -yes, well…what can I say?! You remain such a suck and this is why you remain paired up with the person who will not unconsciously enable your own anxiety & shyness. While you would prefer to be glued to my side, from the moment you were old enough – barely 2 weeks – was never allowed to happen as I want you to become the best dog you can be! 

BHRR’s Poppy – wallflower you are no longer!

BHRR’s Furry Murray – you were so in your element!

This litter has been in the hands of others consistently since they were 2 weeks of age and have gone to public education/awareness events, have had five professional photo shoots to date, have been to so many Vet visits since they were born interacting with many and experienced plenty of dates both in and out of our home.

Anyone who knows me is very aware of our BHRR play date and visitation programs – around for over 22 years now – and how much they mean in assisting to help make our dogs the most well rounded plus balanced they can be. I am always putting our dogs into the hands of others as soon as the dogs are ready and we have now seen over the past five years just how many other groups have been following our lead to do the same.

Temperament is very much genetically oriented and we have to use the proper set up for success in environment to help these dogs reach their full potential. Therefore, I am always handing off our dogs – when they are ready – to right matched people to help the doggies. So many think all puppies are bouncey and naturally social and over the top friendly and that could not be further from the truth. They are a big product of their genetics- Mama Gem’s genes live strong in these pups – and we have worked and remaining working hard to guide plus develop this litter into the Best Dogs they can be.

As such, like any of our dogs, they will only be approved to the right matched personality fit forever loving homes. Period. We provide so much detail in their blogs about the homes we want for each of our dogs and we do not want to see our dogs set up for failure. We will not compromise on what we know is in their best interest.

Five currently remain available for adoption and BHRR’s Murray could be available for adoption by April.

Thank you to Brenna for the amazing $16.20 from the returning of Empties! AND for the generous $20 donation to add to our Sunday Event total! 

We are asking people to please do consider donating your Empties to help the BHRR animals! 

Thank you again to Liz for her time and own patience to try and capture these wiggling, distracted and really amazing 5 month old Irish Wolfhound/Great Dane pups!

Any one else see the perfect ‘7’ on BHRR’s Everly’s chest?! 

Too bad she was the 2nd born, not the 7th as that would be freaky!

ISO: 4 MORE BHRR Approved Puppy Loving Wranglers!

For The Bakers Dozen’s next Professional Photo Shoot!

Date: Thursday February 15th, 2018
Time: 3 PM
Location: Nepean

Please do NOT post your kind offer here, it may be missed! Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you can help!

This photo is a throwback of The Bakers Dozen at their 4th professional photo shoot on November 24th, 2017! 

Five are curently Available For Adoption to ONLY the right matched personality fit homes and BHRR’s Furry Murray shall hopefully be available over the next 6 weeks or so!

He is doing SO well with his battling of the Puppy Strangles since November 2nd, 2017.

All the puppies were at LAH on January 19th for vaccines and re-weighs plus rechecks. THANKS to all of the approved BHRR Volunteers who helped wrangle that day!

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Oliver (Great Dane/Irish Wolfhound)
Now 4.5 months of age

At 4 months of age – January 18th – He weighed 29.2 kgs(64.24 pounds)
*This litter has Been DNA Proven to be GD/IW*
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

Photo is from November 24th @ his 4th Professional Photo Shoot

His next professional photo shoot is on February 15th.

His very detailed blog:

http://www.birchhaven.org/archives/category/adoption/puppy-10

He will ONLY go to a right matched personality fit home and we will not compromise on that requirement for him or for any of our dogs.

All of our adoption proceses, policies plus procedures can be found on the below link.

Should any home feel after reading his extremely thorough blog and our adoption criteria that they may qualify to adopt him, they are more than welcome to submit a fully completed application to the BHRR BOD for review. 

http://www.birchhaven.org/contracts-policies/application-fees

*THANK you to Liz again for the stunning photo’s!

This is Gwennie!

Many of you may not know this face for she is always hiding from the lime-light.

Today is a very special day for today is Gwennie’s Birthday! 

If it were not for this truly amazing woman, BHRR would not exist and thousands upon thousands of animals/people would not have been helped over the past 22+ years.

The truly broken physically and/or behaviourally…Danes, Giants and Honourary that have been saved thanks to her. Dogs & Horses that many others would not or could not help. 98% of the dogs that come to Gwen are special needs for this was her mandate for BHRR and are often the dogs’ last chance at having a future. AND Gwennie delivers. She gives these dogs the best of everything.

Many friendships would never have been formed if it were not for this great woman either.

She has not only brought many dogs and people together, she is the glue that keeps those links on her BHRR Chain of Success so strong and stable.

She is often giving credit to others, even when it should come to her….content to stay in the background and let others be the focus of attention. Humble, generous, thoughtful and caring, nothing Gwennie would not do for anyone she felt was worthy.

Loyal to a fault and though trust is hard earned, once earned it is steadfast and solid. Break that trust and that is a whole different story! 

Where Gwennie does not take a back seat is when it comes to the animals and people in need. She has no hesitation in standing up for what is right, takes a zero tolerance approach and will go toe to toe in any situation that there is a need.

She has never once waivered in her vision over the past 22+ years for BHRR and has kept BHRR being a highly reputable, responsible and quality filled rescue. No animal lacks for anything and corners are never cut and she has kept BHRR small, personable with having second to none success rates.

She creates miracles every day…..many have born witness to this. She has never shied away from the difficult, heart wrenching and financially demanding animals in need. Even knowing that her heart will be ripped to shreds again and again, Gwennie continues to find strength and heart to save the next in need of her.

These animals are treated like cherished family members and anyone that visits BHRR has seen firsthand how the dogs follow and look for Gwennie. People can see how they look at Gwennie, the trust, the mutual respect, the love that they have. It is a beautiful and humbling thing to witness as these animals learn to be dogs and blossom plus grow under her care.

Time and time again, Gwennie has worked magic and has successfully rehabbed dogs to either be placed up for adoption or kept safe in BHRR’s Haven Program. She has given life to so many, great life.

Gwennie does without to ensure that the animals get everything…the big joke is how Gwennie does not even own a winter coat or boots!

It would be lovely if we could come together as her village and community and donate some funds to help Gwennie continue the extremely important work that she does.

**Email Transfer or PayPal: gwen@birchhaven.org**

Do also join us in wishing her a wonderful day as we celebrate her!

HAPPY Birthday Gwennie! 

Your Loving BHRR Family/Team

**$410 Donated To Date**

6 of The Bakers Dozen were at LAH today for their latest exams, to get updated weights and for vaccines!

BHRR’s Murray while still being weaned of off his pred  from his puppy pyoderma – now getting 10 mg daily – is finally healthy to begin his own vaccine protocol! YAY!

Here are their weights from today. For those not kg savvy, just multiply by 2.2 to get their weights in pounds. 🙂

Unfortunately, there is no group photo as Sean forgot to get one and as I had to be at Alta Vista AH as BHRR’s Carlsberg(one of their litter-mates) had been admitted the night before through emerge there, I could not take one myself.

BHRR’s Juniper was noted as having some slightly swollen lymph nodes on her face and the Vet felt it was due to teething.

BHRR’s Murray is still unilaterally cryptorchid(three in this litter were – BHRR’s Fletchers dropped prior to his neuter yet BHRR’s Morty’s did not and per his Vet once he was in doing the surgery, it never would have as it was stuck in the inguinal ring). So, definitely a genetic component with three males all having an Un-descended testicle!

ISO: Human and/or Doggie Treatie Bakers!
 
Our 5th ANNUAL ‘Breaking Bills Bake Online’ Auction is coming up fast! Starts Saturday January 20th!
 
Last year we had 67 incredibly donated yummy items and $1,158 was raised to help Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson! ??
 
Monies raised in our 2018 extremely unique & 1-of-a-kind annual event shall be divided up between BHRR’s Booker(DDB Puppy with the back broken leg) & our FCE Puppy, The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Carlsberg. ?
 
If anyone may consider donating an item or more of either a Canine and/or Human baked goodie – does not need to be made until after the fundraiser is over – so is fresh! – please do EMAIL
 
We only host five planned fundraisers a year and this is our first one of 2018.
 
Thank you deeply from our hearts if you may consider their worthy causes to support!
 
More details re: our amazing fundraiser can be found in this LINK.
 

As we head into New Years Eve, here is Sean’s end of year statement.

Sean is Co-Founder and a BHRR BOD Member of BHRR. This photo is of him and BHRR’s Daffodil from our traditional XMAS Even Photo shoot – December 24th, 2017! She remains Available For Adoption!

In Sean’s Words:

‘Here we are again – at the end of another year. Time to reflect on the great, the good, the bad and the ugly and set our sights on the year to come.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t specifically take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made a positive contribution to BHRR. I couldn’t possibly name everyone – but you certainly know who you are!

The contributions you’ve made through time and effort, vet bills, food, auction donations, cleaning supplies, transport, etc. is precisely what allows us to do what we do! We are a community – and stronger because of it. I offer my most heartfelt thank-you to all of you. I count our interactions with all of you as part of the highlight reel.

So many wonderful people have come into our lives.

Together we’ve done a lot of great things in 2017. There are so many BHRR dogs in forever loving homes, there have been successful events for awareness, education and fundraising. One of the most significant and recent successes for this year is The Bakers Dozen and demonstrates perfectly how everyone came together as strong links on the BHRR “CHAIN OF SUCCESS’ when needed.

This was a huge outpouring of support!

It blows my mind to contemplate the amount of puppy formula that was donated and consumed! This would not have been achievable without the enormous outpouring of support given. Seriously – the amount of formula we went through would make several mortgage payments look like chump change!

And the ugly…… I’m not generally one to dwell on the negative – but I think it is important to acknowledge and address what I feel is a growing and unfortunate trend. Let’s address something that is very real yet seldom openly discussed.

A trend not just with us, but across the internet, business and personal interactions all around. Over the past several years, we’ve seen an increasing amount of destructive and abusive interactions.

This year we were subjected to a new low – as at least one person out there already knows – BHRR was subject to a malicious attack. In the end, we were proven/validated to be operating a stellar, highly responsible, excellent and much needed organization for the animals. As this was not based in fact or naive ignorance, they received a cautionary warning and we are now investigating possible further legal venues.

However, our initial response from the actions of this vindictive individual was a ‘Wow – never saw that one coming…’

We have hosted regular BHRR events here – 6 a year for over 2 decades – for people’s benefit and for the animal’s of BHRR.

We open up our home to the scrutiny of strangers and, we have done so gladly, and, openly for we have nothing to hide………..

We commit to giving up what could be very precious, valuable coveted family time for the sake of our guests. We feel it is so important for people to witness firsthand what we do and, why we do it and, that we are not like ‘every’ other group or org. out there…..

We have even had people from approved Volunteers, the curious, the interested, stay here overnight, for days and even weeks at a time.

We have always remained full of disclosure and have shared the ups, the downs, the good, the bad and the ugly with all of our followers, supporters, friends and family.

But to the individual responsible for a baseless complaint – thank you so much for putting our family on edge and under the microscope. I can’t tell you how much we appreciated the surprise and shock instead of an open dialogue with anyone who may have had questions or concerns.

So much better to lob a hand grenade from the bushes and run away. This doesn’t feel constructive, or motivated by the best interests of the animals – this feels very personal and malicious. We are very proud of what we’ve done with our lives – can you say the same?

While I’m also not prone to extolling our own efforts – we have dedicated almost 22 years of our life to the protection of animals, particularly the special needs dogs and the giant breeds – those least likely to be picked up by high turnover rescues. Animals others cannot or will not assist. 99% of those we help are the truly medical and/or behaviourally broken, We are small, personal and dedicated. We’re not trying to be dramatic when we say this – even those who know us have absolutely no idea the level of personal commitment and sacrifice this has taken from our family. The sheer amount of physical work, the hours night and day, the successes and the heartbreaks.

Responsible/quality rescue is 24/7. We do not ‘dabble’ in rescue, only do the ‘fun’ things, hang out, visit and then get to go home to relax and enjoy 9 hours of restful sleep. The stress, lack of sleep, financial drain and complete lack of freedom for something as simple as a family vacation – or even a movie or dinner night out is our lives day in and day out and we have done this gladly! The cyberbullying endured, the tens of thousands of pounds of food transported and stacked. Hydro bills – OVER $1,100/ month and enough laundry – up to 12 loads daily – to choke a laundry mat.

We’re not looking for the thanks, the praise, the accolades, or parades in our honor. We do this for the dogs, not the recognition or for any ‘pats on the back’.

At the same time, we have grown even less tolerant of the abuse, the hand grenades thrown from the sidelines, the armchair quarterbacks who find it so easy to second guess and criticize – to judge, without ever actually seeking to understand or becoming involved.

Cyberbullying is a very real problem and after much research and conversations held with cyberbullying experts, professors and lawyers, note that regardless of the occupation, paid or volunteer, everyone has the right to work in an environment free from personal threat, free from worry about emotional and/or physical harm and the right to not be bullied. This is punishable by law.

Social media is an amazing thing, it is also an awful thing that so many spanning across a vast amount of businesses, non-profits, other professional venues and personal arena’s have been enduring some level/form of bullying.

Those who want to blame, point fingers instead of learn and understand, shame on you. Those who want to take shortcuts and then foist their problems on us, shame on you. Those who want to be coddled and told they are doing everything properly when in fact they are the issue, not the animal, shame on you. Those who are turned down for an adoption and respond by spewing accusations, sour grapes and names, shame on you. Since our inception in 1996, we have retained a zero tolerance approach with the amount of nonsense, armchair quarterbacks and negativity endured.

Setting our sights on the year(s) to come – what’s next for Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services? Same wonderful people – same Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services – same strong rescue mission. Absolutely nothing will change 
overnight – we will continue to do what we have always done. We continue to help the next dog in need – we continue to place adoptable dogs into their right matched forever homes and we continue to provide a safe haven for those animals that need us.

Over the coming years – we will gradually transition to our long held vision of more of a haven program (which is already a large part of what we do). We will always focus on the giant breeds and canines/horses with special needs. These are the ones that need us – these are the ones we feel we can provide the greatest benefit to with our education, experience, knowledge and heart.

As of January 2018, one of our changes shall be to our adoption area’s covered – we will adopt up to an including the Barrie and Cambridge, Ontario area’s from our location and into Quebec, we will cover up to the Montreal area. We will still rescue all across the world.

Over the next year, will also be implementing an ‘Advisory Round Table Board’ of like-minded BHRR approved Volunteers in addition to our BHRR BOD Team.

We will be adding two more BHRR approved Volunteers to our Community Education Liaison Member Team too.

I look forward to working with all of our supporters in 2018 – let us do as many wonderful things this coming year together as we were able to accomplish in 2017!

Sean
BHRR Co-Founder
BHRR BOD Team Member’

The Bakers Dozen were at LAH tonight for their next exams, boosters and here are their weights in kgs!

BHRR’s Murray came to hang out at LAH – he is not ready for vaccines and I have two updates to do on him! After hanging out with his litter-mates at LAH, he had his own appointment, for a recheck at KAH. He weighed 16.9 kgs(37.18 pounds). 

NOTICE:

BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.

Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for 2 decades.

Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Friday December 22nd, 2018 to Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 inclusive.

Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed as of Thursday January 4th, 2018!

During this time, BHRR is always available 24/7 for requests for assistance of animals in need and we shall then network accordingly for as the local Great Dane/Giant Breed Rescue since 1996, the welfare of the animals are our top priority. We do not wish to see any animal end up in a disreputable place of which sadly there are far too many out there. 

Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team

AND thank you to Xandria for surprising us so wonderfully wiith this fabu photo! 

The Bakers Dozen BHRR’s Sprocket!
DNA Proven – Irish Wolfhound/Great Dane
11 weeks of age

She is the first of The Bakers Dozen to leave us for her forever loving adoptive home….

This is on our way in for her to officially fly Mama Gwennie’s Nest and while she did not exactly fly or race or even walk to leave me, she will be ok…..their time and love and consistency plus patience etc. will help her reach her full potential! 

I want to thank each and every Bakers Dozen Angel that has stood so solid and strong beside them and us during their intense rollercoaster of incredible highs and devastating lows. We have witnessed first hand how strong our BHRR village remains! What a heart touching and significant validation that all our round the clock efforts, our willing and enormous sacrifices of time, money, heart and sleep is acknowledged plus supported. Thank you!  

Thank you to those that have remained sensitive to how emotional this bittersweet sorrow of parting ways is for The Boerskins. These precious creatures are part of our 24/7 lives and saying good-bye is never easy.

We do what we do for the right of the animals and each one carves a deep wonderful PawPrint in our hearts and souls……no matter how long or short our journey’s are with them…. 

BHRR’s Sprocket only the best right match homes are meant for our dogs and you are in a most wonderful home and shall lack for nothing! You are already so dearly loved by your new family and I am so happy for you and them. Excited too!

Yes, I had a tear or two on my way in knowing that our chapter ends together yet in that tear or two was an equal mixture of a lot of happiness to see another one of our fabu BHRR dogs end up where they are meant to be! 

The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Carlsberg leaves us on Monday….another truly amazing filled with joy and also sadness day to come for all of us…..and we know he will truly be adored in his own forever loving home! 

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Oliver
DNA Proven to Be Irish Wolfhound/Great Dane
9 weeks of age
November 24th, 2017

He is still AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION to the right matched personality fit forever loving home.

He has this individual blog & people interested in being considered for him are strongly recommended to read his whole detailed individual blog which documents his story from before he was even born!

AND to read our adoption processes, polices and procedures. We do not MAKE exceptions. 

Additionally, he does not languish in a kennel or pound or shelter environment. He resides in a loving home, is socialised, being trained and adored!

Thank you to Liz again for taking this fabu photo at his fourth professional photo shoot!

3 Hour Count Down Reminder!

Our 10th Annual “JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS” Online Auction ends tonight- Thursday November 30th @ 9 PM EST

We currently have 136 amazing items up for grabs!

All money raised goes to help The Bakers Dozen and their Puppymill Mama GD Gem!

It is going to cost many thousands to spay/neuter and to microchip all of these special creatures….

This is a photo of BHRR’s Fletcher at KAH yesterday in recovery from his neuter. Thanks KAH for the picture!

6 of the Bakers Dozen were altered this week with more to be done next week.

To see all of the items we have up for grabs so far AND to bid, please USE THIS LINK!

IMPORTANT REMINDER: When bidding please bid per the rules with your full name and contact information AND NOTE the location for pick-up as not all items can be shipped or are available in our neck of the woods!

 

 

Today at his neuter, BHRR’s Oliver – 10 weeks of age weighed 15.6 ks(34.32 pounds)
Today at his neuter, BHRR’s Fletcher – 10 weeks of age weighed 14.7 kgs(32.34 pounds) – I noted that the one undescended testicle had dropped when I checked on Sunday and so, BHRR’s Fletcher was good to be neutered today. 

BHRR’s Fletcher – photo sent my way by KAH.

The Bakers Dozen – 5 of them!
DNA Prove To Be Great Dane/Irish Wolfhound
9 weeks of age
November 24th, 2017

This is at their fourth professional photo shoot!

Thanks so much again Liz Bradley for your time and patience as the puppies were being wrangled…

L-R
BHRR’s Poppy, BHRR’s Juniper, BHRR’s Everly, BHRR’s Fletcher & BHRR’s Oliver

These five are still available for future approved adoptions.

BHRR ONLY places per right match personality fits and each of these amazing pups have extremely detailed blogs from even before they were born!

Sadly, we also still have people not reading our adoption process/policies and procedures that includes our adoption area covered etc.

We remain patient…..

THANK you to Melissa Anne, Gracie Walker(AND your lovely mom, Ellen for stepping up at the last minute as we had two Volunteers end up not being in attendance), Kayla Baxter & Mason Ross Boers! – Thanks Mason also for stepping in when needed!

We are NOTHING without our absolutely incredible approved BHRR Volunteer team and so so so so grateful!

Liz & BHRR’s Oliver(Irish Wolfhound/Great Dane)
9 weeks of age
September 24th, 2017
Available For Future Approved Adoption!

Today 5 of The Bakers Dozen had their 4th Professional Photo Shoot!

BHRR’s Oliver took to Liz Bradley so fast and strongly! 

She asked me to snap a few photo’s of them and this is one of the pics! 

AREN’T they adorable?

I want to share this photo as Liz is a huge part of BHRR’s “CHAIN OF SUCCESS”

Her time and talent with professional photo’s has enabled BHRR to see so many of our BHRR animals’ *captured* so beautifully!

She is a strong link on our ‘CHAIN OF SUCCESS’ and we are deeply blessed.

I love this photo! 

Thank you to all of the BHRR Volunteers that braved a windy day today to help puppy wrangle!

Thank you LIz for everything you do for so many in the community that has enabled more animals’ to be adopted from many r/q groups!

BHRR’s Oliver’s DNA Certificate. All three in the litter that we randomly did came back as Great Dane/Irish Wolfhound like we strongly suspected this litter was based upon what we were told the puppymiller was breeding.

The Bakers Dozen – BHRR’s Oliver – Great Dane/Irish Wolfhound
AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE ADOPTION!
7 weeks of age

Puppy #10 – Born Tenth – September 13th, 2017 @ 2:45 AM
Blue with White Male
Birth Weight: 501 g(1.11 pounds)

September 20th: 1 week old: 1 pound
September 29th: 2 weeks old: 3 pounds, 4 oz
November 7th: 7 weeks old: 9.8 kgs(21.56 pounds)

He is a big uber handsome boy! He is not the bravest of souls…..has some anxietty that has been coming along famously! We are seeking a proper dog experienced home for him. 

His confidence is improving daily and we are working on getting the right people to hold and love him when we are out at Vet visits/photo shoots etc…as each positive experience is making him reach his full potential.

He is not a leader….he is content to eat, be held and be loved on! He and Kinsley take many naps together! 😀

He will lay by my feet when it is feeding time…not demanding attention, yet making his presence known. He used to fall asleep due to stress for he did not understnad why he was fed some food and then he had to wait and be fed more food etc. Now, he is right in there making sure that he gets his turn!

He is learning so much and is a gentle player….he is not a rough and tumble boy….at least not yet!

Stability, routine and consistency is what he needs….and he is thriving so well.

New situations make him a bit nervous yet once he gathers up his courage and realises that he is ‘ok’, he will take the world in stride.

Just needs a few minutes to size up the world and then his off to the races!

He is so sweet….so loveable. Patient, kind, quiet, totally sweet.
This boy is so chill. Extremely quiet, calm and we have worked to make sure that he gets more than his share of love and not be overshadowed by the more ‘in your face’ puppies.

He is going to be a big boy and this litter though born emaciated and tiny is thriving! He is the biggest in the litter right now.

We did DNA testing on three of these puppies, BHRR’s Everly, BHRR’s Oliver and BHRR’s Carlsberg. We could only afford three DNA kits, did a draw and the results have come back for BHRR’s Everyl & BHRR’s Carlsberg to date and they are GD/IW pups. Based upon what the puppymiller was breeding, this does not suprise me.

We will approve a home for him that is not always on the go. He needs a stable, calm, structured, consistent home. Quietly social with smaller groups of friends and family both in the home and out, yet not flittering here and there and everywhere.Walks, strolls, small hikes are good and having a good social doggie network is important yet he is not a puppy that loves ton of action. Playful yet not overly.

He is relaxed and will do best in a home that is equally relaxed and while that home is social, there is ‘no place like home’ kind of family is ideal for him.

Rain days with a good book or a movie in front of the fireplace on after a short walk is this boyz cup of tea!

He will not be approved to be adopted to a home that has children UNDER the age of 10. Homes with more than 2 children also shall not be considered.

Homes that feel it is acceptable to have their children ride or lay on dogs, need not bother applying. This is completely inappropriate and painful to the dog.

Easy to do nails and to bathe plus clean ears!

Travels wonderfully in a car and at 7 weeks of age, knows words such as his name, good. sit, snack and boy and so many others!

He, like his litter-mates love their giant stuffies to and cuddle with. He really does. Much comfort has been given by these stuffies as their Puppymill Great Dane Mama Gem sadly rejected them shortly after birth.

He can go to a home either as an only dog or to a home that already has a right matched fit dog already in it. It is most essential that he remains having exposure to other dogs and like we have friends, he should have a few good friends too.

He is so handsome and mellow.

He is very even tempered.

Before applying to adopt him, please read our adoption processes and policies on our www.birchhaven.org

Photo is from his second professional photo shoot on October 22nd at almost 5.5 weeks of age.

He will be ready to go to his approved right match fit forever loving home by December 22nd, 2017. He and his siblings are scheduled for their spays/neuters between the end of November and the beginning of December.

He had his first vaccines November 7th.

He also has this individual blog:

Thank you to Melissa for her time/talent capturing The Bakers Dozen and to Bob for being his professional Photo/Vet Cuddle Buddy!

It has been a Bakers Dozen week and it is not over yet! 

We still have four more to be placed up for adoption and I shall continue that tomorrow. BHRR’s Murray remains on medical hold. 

All puppies(DNA Proven To Be Dane/Irish Wolfhound pups) were at LAH tonight for 5 pm for their next progress/recheck exams and vaccines, other than BHRR’s Murray due to his compromised immune system. 

It was a BHRR small yet mighty village invasion and before we went in, I snapped a quick group photo – MIA are Elizabeth & Christine who had not yet arrived. 

They are 7 weeks of age and weights ranged from(I have all of their weights and will put into their blogs) from 7.8 kgs(17.16 pounds) with BHRR’s Poppy, next smallest was BHRR’s Juniper at 8.1 kgs(17.82 pounds) and the biggest was BHRR’s Oliver at 9.8 kgs(21.56 pounds) and the second biggest was BHRR’s Fletcher at 9.5 kgs(20.9 kgs)! 

While born super tiny and emaciated, they are not any longer! They are mid to above average now for Giants. Go Babies Go! 

BHRR’s Fletcher’s dark brindling colouring is deceiving as many think he is one of the smallest but he is the second biggest. 

We will need to re-arrange the currently booked spay/neuter schedule as both BHRR’s Morty & BHRR’s Fletcher still have one undescended testicle and Dr. Liston recommends doing them last on the list – so December 8th – to give them more time to ‘drop’ if they are going to.

BHRR’s Murray had his temp taken – remains normal, had cytologies done on his ears – just skin cells, no infections and he is back at KAH on Thursday for another recheck, re-weigh and new dosing of his clavaseptin antibiotics & Pred meds. He is stronger in the hind end than he was with the strengthening exercises we have been doing and Dr. Parker, the ortho specialist will continue to monitor him as he grows as will Dr. Liston.

Dr. Liston found BHRR’s Oliver to not be as bad as BHRR’s Murray with his eastie eastie stance and ‘loosey goosey’ hind end yet noted that until he actually begins to move, he has some weakening in the hind end yet Dr. Liston did note that the slippery floor did hinder things. We will monitor and work on his own strengthening and stimulation further.

BHRR’s Poppy’s eyes were given a thumbs up so she will also be placed up for adoption shortly. 

I did all of their nails other than BHRR’s Murray as I just did them last Thursday and will do them again this Thursday at KAH.

We were in and out within 1.25 hours and none of this would have been possible without all of the amazing Volunteers who came to help me or the staff at LAH and Dr. Liston himself! 

This litter as with all that we have helped over the past almost 22 years has a village helping to raise them and thank you! Thank you for giving them different hands of love and kindness in touching and holding them.

Thank you for giving them further amazing wonderful experiences helping us help them become the best dogs they can be.

Thank you for the compliments on how calm and easy going and relaxed and social these puppies are….we have worked so hard as we do with all of the dogs we are entrusted with to do right by….

We remain truly forever touched by our committed and dedicated supporters for standing strong beside the animals! 

We are continuing to think of creative ways to pay for their mounting vet bills too!

 

 

***UPDATED WITH DNA BREED RESULTS***
Both puppies of The Bakers Dozen  – BHRR’s Everly & BHRR’s Carlsberg are: Drumroll…..
Great Dane AKA German Mastiff(Mama Gem) & Irish Wolfhound(Dad)

Guessing TIME!

DNA Results are in for The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Everly & BHRR’s Carlsberg! We are still waiting for BHRR’s Olivers’ results. We could only afford to do three out of the litter and did a draw as to which three would be done.

Some of you are going to be surprised! 

Any guesses as to what they are? Are they single bred Danes? Are they mixes? If so, with what breed or breeds? Are they dual sired?

Any guesses?

As many know, I had my own strong suspicions of what they may be…and did the DNA Results prove me wrong? 

Pictures of BHRR’s Everly & BHRR’s Carlsberg in this post for people to guess.

BHRR’s Oliver from The Bakers Dozen’s third professional photo shoot on November 5th. Between all the rain drops!

ISO: two puppy wranglers for tomorrow for The Bakers Dozen third professional photo shoot! 

Sunday in Manotick for 11:45 AM

We had two Volunteers having to cancel and please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you can assist. Please do not post here as we may miss your offer!

They are now 6.5 weeks of age. 

This picture is from their second professional photo shoot on October 22nd. 

Bakers Dozen BHRR’s Oliver wishes all of our friends, family & supporters a good night!

Tomorrow, after BHRR’s Everly’s recheck visit with Dr. Liston, we are hoping to have 7 of these amazing puppies available for future adoptions and will be back open from our annual Halloween closure for the intake of applications to consider for them.

All puppies are back at Liston Animal Hospital(LAH) on the 7th and we then hope to be able to place one more as available for a future adoption.

BHRR’s Murray shall remain on ‘hold’ as we watch him mature & develop. As some are aware he and BHRR’s Carlsberg were at LAH on the 24th of October and on the 26th of October, Dr. Parker, an ortho specialist(he was the specialist that amputated BHRR’s Angel Noelle’s leg and also did Matrix’s eye enunciation) reviewed the x-rays we did on the 24th.

The Bakers Dozen are now a miraculous almost 6.5 weeks of age (born September 12/13) and their third professional photo shoot is this Sunday November 5th.

The Bakers Dozen
October 22nd., 2017
*5.5 weeks of age

Their second professional photo shoot!

I captured this candid with my iPhone! A bit blurry I know. 

Adore them with all that I am…..what a journey we have all taken together…..I am so beyond proud of them! So beyond proud…not a day goes by that I do not think of their lost to FPS Siblings and they will forever be known as the Miraculous Bakers Dozen! 

It was a glorious fall AM with amazing BHRR Approved Volunteers, Friends, Family and so much fun!

All have names other than the first one born – the wee black beauty who is not far off from some of her siblings now and the last born – the Brindle Boy. 

We hope that the winners of their Name Game Bid Auction have names for them soon! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are at Pet Valu Stittsville to 4 pm today!

The Bakers Dozen (no touching allowed) are on hand to thank so many for helping them to date!

This is the handsome Blue Boy – Puppy #10!  They are now 4.5 weeks of age!

Thank you to so many for standing by our and their side assisting with their needs!

We are collecting Pee Pads, Giant Breed Puppy toys, Empties & Canadian Tire $!

Thank you to Bre & her fabu staff for inviting us to their lovely location today! Thank you to all of the BHRR Volunteers for your caring hands!!

Thank you to all of our amazing Visitors so far today for coming. You touch my heart deeply!

Thank you Aaron Maracle for this great pic!

Another picture of this awesome and uber handsome Big Blue Baby Boy!

Bob Levesque – here is a great photo of the two of you at their Professional Photo Shoot on the 10th!

Puppy #10 – Born Tenth – September 13th, 2017 @ 2:45 AM 
Blue with White Male
Weight: 501 g(1.11 pounds)

September 20th: 1 week old: 1 pounds
September 29th: 2 weeks old: 3 pounds, 4 oz

He is a big uber handsome boy! He is not the bravest of souls…..has some anxietty that is coming along nicely. 

His confidence is improving daily and we are working on getting the right people to hold and love him when we are out at Vet visits/photo shoots etc…as each positive experience is making him reach his full potential.

He is not a leader….he is content to eat, be held and be loved on! 

He will lay by my feet when it is feeding time…not demanding attention, yet making his presence known. He used to fall asleep due to stress for he did not understnad why he was fed some food and then he had to wait and be fed more food etc. 

He is learning so much and is a gentle player….he is not a rough and tumble boy….at least not yet!

Stability, routine and consistency is what he needs….and he is thriving so well.

New situations make him a bit nervous yet once he gathers up his courage and realises that he is ‘ok’, he will take the world in stride.

Just needs a few minutes to size up the world and then his off to the races!

The Bakers Dozen – First Professional Photo Shoot!
AND THEY ARE OFF!
October 10th, 2017

Almost 4 weeks of age! Born September 12th & September 13th, 2017

There are 5 boyz and 4 girls.

Sadly, FPS stole from our hearts/arms our two handsome black boyz and a blue girl and a brindle girl on September 20th, September 23rd, September 24th & September 25h.

They will always be The miraculous Baker’s Dozen!

The odds they and their puppymill GD Mama Gem have overcome and continue to overcome is nothing sort of amazing…..

Sneak Peek!

One of the Candids I managed to snap tonight at The Bakers Dozen’s (almost 4 weeks old) first professional photo shoot! 

There are so many reasons why I love this photo and one of the biggest is that these amazing kind generous souls represent some of our small yet mighty fabu village that makes the heart beat so strongly for BHRR!

Thank you for coming out tonight to spend 1.5 hours giving these precious wee babies a positive experience! This is so essential to their proper development and reaching their full potential as they mature!

It is not ‘I’ that deserve any credit….it is all of you that are there for BHRR for you have done & do so much!

You are those strong links on BHRR’s ‘CHAIN OF SUCCESS’ and The Bakers Dozen would not be doing as well as they are without such rescue angels giving of themselves by donating their hard earned money, much needed items and/or time to assist us…..YOU DONE SO GOOD as the expression goes! 

I am so grateful to all of you. I am blessed as are all the animals of BHRR for I cannot do this alone and my family’s belief and your belief has enabled us to be here almost 22 years later helping the truly broken, the urgent, the underdogs that others cannot or will not assist and helping them have such wonderful futures.

Each of you have helped write the next beautiful chapters for the journey’s of so many over the years….

You have my eternal gratitude, my humbled thanks and my forever appreciation….

From my home to all of our friends, family & supporters, Good Night!

 

AND we are on our way……shortly!

First a late afternoon snack on the porch of our cottage building. 

Tonight, The Bakers Dozen are having their first professional photo shoot! They shall be four weeks old very soon! Another huge milestone!

From there, we will do our name game fundraiser and begin to take applications for possible future approved adoptions when they are ready to go!

Blue Whelping Collar Boy – Is turning more into a blue fawn brindle as he grows!

BHRR Breaking News / Updates / Alerts!

1) I wanted to extend the biggest and most sincerest and incredibly humbled thanks to so many Powdered Esbilac Angels!  I have been witness to a lot of amazing and touching acts of kindness over the past 21.5 years BHRR has been around and what has come this way to The Bakers Dozen has warmed me right to my soul. I was so fearful of having our needs for Powdered Esbilac for The Bakers Dozen filled and when we posted our urgency, a wonderfully strong community of caring hearts came together to assist us. I am deeply and forever indebted to each of you….  Thank you everyone for helping us!! I have always said it takes a village to raise children and it is no different for a litter of puppies, especially those sadly rejected by a broken emaciated Puppymill GD Mama. She is doing quite well physically herself now and emotionally it shall be a lot longer to rehab. One day at at time!

Our remaining urgent needs are Pee Pads, appropriate Giant Breed puppy toys and donations towards their Vet Bills which will be into the many thousands.

PVD Essential Care Puppy canned & Kibble are also in big need – Vet Food

Accounts are set up at Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848 and also Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 under their Mama Gem.

The Bakers Dozen are all back to Liston Animal Hospital on November 7th!

2) We ONLY have 7 more BHRR Custom, One-of-kind 2018 Calendars left available for ordering! $30 each and s&h if needed is $7 Email gwen@birchhaven.org 
We will take orders until October 12th @ 9 pm.

3) I hope to get the Flash Auction up soon. I am doing my best!

4) The Bakers Dozen have their next Vet visit scheduled for Tuesday November 7th @ 5 pm at LAH and I am seeking 8 more approved BHRR Volunteers for extra puppy wrangling…..I mean loving hands to assist me at this Vet visit! Please email gwen@birchhaven.org if you can help! Please do not post in this thread for we may miss your wonderful offer!

5) The Bakers Dozen shall be at Pet Valu Stittsville – 1250 Main Street – (if all is going well!) on Sunday October 15th from 10 AM – 4 PM as part of Pet Valu’s annual Thanks For Giving Event. We will be doing nails, dog baths, ear cleanings, have cotton candy, popcorn and baked goodies for sale too!

6) YES! By popular demand!  The tickets for our 2018 Annual Dine With The BHRR Doggies are now on sale! We are already more than 50% SOLD Out! 
This is a limited registration attendee event.
Date: Saturday September 22nd, 2018 – same place BHRR! Same times – 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
We are not raising our ticket costs. They have been the same price for many years and we shall keep the prices the same for 2018! 
$45/per ticket or $85/pair
Please email gwen@birchhaven.org to purchase yours! More information found in the below link. This year’s total raised is still being calculated yet I can say we are over $3,400 and counting!! How deeply humbling! 
http://www.birchhaven.org/fundraising-2008/sept-28-dine-bhrr

7) Yes, we shall be hosting our annual popular November BHRR ‘EXPERIENCE’ Mini Open House. Please email gwen@birchhaven.org for date/times! Attendance is by registration only and this is a limited attendee event. Attendance is a $10/pp donation fee to be paid at the time of registration. Please email gwen@birchhaven.org if interested! We feel it is so important for people to experience first hand what we do, why we do it and why we are so needed in the community.

8) BHRR’s 15th Annual SS(Secret Santa) to the BHRR Doggies is coming up fast! More information on our unique and creative annual event can be found in this link. At this time, BHRR has 31 more amazing dogs in need of a special secret Santa to call their own! Please email gwen@birchhaven.org if you can help us give the BHRR Doggies a most wonderful XMAS spoiling time!
http://www.birchhaven.org/fundraising-20…/2009-secret-santas

9) Our 6th Annual BHRR’s CHAIN OF SUCCESS “THANK YOU” Potluck is Saturday December 16th from 2 PM – 8 PM. 
FREE YET PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED & You can join our facebook group for more information and all the fun details!
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php…

This picture is of The Bakers Dozen today – 3.5 weeks of age – in the ‘feed’ part of their 8 x 5 x 4 pen. They are now devouring 38.5 cups of Powdered Esbilac a day!

We have also been introducing them to ‘slurry’ once a day – two cans of PVD Essential Care Puppy Food extremely well mixed into 6 cups of Esbilac with a dollop of corn syrup etc. They are not quite developmentally ready yet they are being exposed to it as no less than two puppies are quite texture phobic!

The area on the left that you see a crate piece covering is a hole we have in the custom pen Sean & Mason built that allows us to put one of the electric fireplaces on to add additional heat if needed into their pen. We have not had to do so since they were first born as they are regulating their bodies wonderfully!

From our home to all of our friends, family and supporters, Happy Thanksgiving! We feel we have so much to be thankful for, even in the days we are feeling so much darkness….we know we have many blessings, even if we do not realise it at the time…

One Of The Bakers Dozen – October 6th, 2017
*3 weeks of age*

Puppy #10 Blue Male Born: 2:45 AM on September 13th, 2017
Weight: 501 g

On September 29th, at 2 weeks of age he weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces

I use a receiving blanket or thick towel across my lap when I bottle feed them and he likes to hang by my feet on the side of my chair.

My towel fell down as I was putting his brother – Brindle Boy down and he crawled right in it and fell asleep…

DID not have the heart to disturb him! I just got another towel and kept feeding…

This litter has me so emotioinally tied to them….ADORE them!

PS: Puppies are born with really long nails as that is what they need to ‘claw’ their way around to feed as they cannot walk. THEY sure are sharp as the marks on my arms and fingers can attest too!

Next week when they are 4 weeks of age, I will do a small trim on them as they are all up and rolling and wobbling and bobbling and getting stronger every day.

Mark Your Calendars! One Day ONLY!

We shall be at Pet Valu Stittsville (1250 Main Street) on Sunday October 15th from 10-4 pm!

The Bakers Dozen shall be there – no touching shall be possible yet they will be on hand to help us thank so many in the community for stepping up on an urgent basis to help us help them! Puppymill Mama Gem understandably shall not be in attendance.

We will be doing nails and dog baths and ear cleanings for $10 AND we are hoping to have some kind people step up to help us bake some goodies to offer visitors as this is all about The Bakers Dozen! ?? Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you would consider baking something.

We will have our signature/tradition of having popcorn & cotton candy for sale too!

We could use one more approved BHRR Volunteer for that day. Please email!

Thank you to Gail/Ryan for the spectacular poster and to Bre of Pet Valu Stittsville for inviting us to their beautiful store!

We will also be collecting Canadian Tire money, Empties, Pee Pads, Pet Valu Gift Cards at this event!

BHRR attends very few community education & public awareness events each year and this will be our second last of 2017!

ISO: Puppy Wranglers!

The Bakers Dozen shall be a miraculous 3 weeks of age shortly!!  Three pups were back at the Vet today – Liston Animal Hospital – for various reasons and all of The Bakers Dozen are doing so well….truly, one of the most exhausting and difficult top five things I have ever done in my almost three decades in rescue and also one of the most rewarding…..

As they come close to 4 weeks of age next week, we are preparing for their first photo shoot – at just shy of 4 weeks of age at that time – with the ever talented Melissa! She assisted us in documenting the BHRR Puppy Pile x 7 born into rescue in 2016 and it was a wonderful journey doing this with Melissa.

I am in need of 9….YUP! 9 BHRR Approved Volunteers to help love on and keep track of The Bakers Dozen puppies at this professional photo shoot.

Date: Tuesday October 10th
Location: Manotick – I will send the link to those that sign up
Time: 5:45 pm

Please do not post here for I may well miss your kind offer of help! Please email gwen@birchhaven.org

*NOTE: if you have a sick dog at home, please do not sign up….The Bakers Dozen are vulnerable.*

I posted this picture earlier in another thread yet this is of one of the Blue Fawn boyz(blue whelping collar) after a good feed at the milk bottle bar. 

Once we have the professional photo’s, we will do our name game fundraiser to help raise much needed monies for their care which is going to cost many many many thousands of dollars.

At that time, we shall also then consider applications for possible future approved adoptions. Note: We only place per right match personality fit and their temperaments have been present from birth and we have a whole range again in this rescue litter.

Puppymill Mama Gem will be with us a very long time before she will be ready to make her own special announcement…..one day at a time….

 

DESPERATELY NEED Powdered Esbilac!

Here are three of The Bakers Dozen! After a good feed at the milk bottle bar! 

Unfortunately, we are in a panic situation right now. Even though we have had several posts and/or emails of kind people offering to assist us and donate Powdered Esbilac, we have not yet had any come our way from our latest urgent request…. 

I did manage to find two large 794 g containers of powdered Esbilac in Barrie, Ontario today after doing the hv for BHRR’s Gus and that will enable us to have enough for The Bakers Dozen until Tuesday night.

This is a terrifying situation to be in and I am sincerely hoping with all my heart that some angels may help us with our urgent need of more Powdered Esbilac for The Bakers Dozen.

They are not yet even three weeks old and we need another 3.5-4 weeks worth…..

Please please please consider their cause….

**DROP-OFF – Powdered Esbilac can be dropped off to 424 Pickford Drive, Kanata – Anytime**

Email transfer or PayPal funds – gwen@birchhaven.org

First picture is Brindle Female, Second picture is Blue Fawn Boy(Whelping Collar Yellow) & Blue Fawn Female. 

Happy HUGE Milestone Birthday to BHRR’s The Bakers Dozen!

2 weeks old!  Happy Birthday!!

They are enjoying one of the last days of late summer in the rays/warmth of the setting sun getting some vitamins.

We remain taking it one feeding at a time….one step at a time….one breath at a time….

So many to thank, so many that we are deeply indebted to for the donations of everything from fitted flannel sheets, blankets, paper towels, laundry soap, Pinesol, towels, pee Pads, stuffies, toys, powdered Esbilac and monies to help us purchase what we urgently need.

We have a long road still to travel and I remain exhausted yet so dedicated/committed to doing all that needs to be done. Having been doing 12 loads of laundry a day for the last two weeks nonstop(we usually do 5-7 daily), our washer and dryer – not even that old – decided to die and to us, it is just one more thing thrown into our path as another obstacle that we shall overcome and keep going forward….we will not just lay down and give up…

This weekend, if all goes well, we can begin to introduce some soupy mush to the stronger babies.

They are currently drinking anywhere from 70 mls(wee baby black girl) to 140 MLS per feeding and I am now feeding every 2.5-3 hours with each feeding lasting about 1-1.5 hours. This means Gwennie gets to eat with the family, take a shower and nap….oh, those naps are so awesome! 

They are quickly outgrowing their latest sleeping tote and by Friday, we will have them 24/7 in their stimulation pen as they are beginning to really motor around – some more wobbly bobbly than others.

Most have at least one of their peepers now open and three remain on eye drops.

3 boys also remain on polysporin for their privates from their litter-mates sucking on them. Dr. Liston did say that this should stop once all of their eyes are open.

The one boy who is on Clavamox antibiotic drops plus yogurt as he had an aspiration during a feed on Monday is doing well. So easy for them to aspirate and develop pneumonia.

Their next Vet visit Road Trip has been booked and I shall post our Volunteer needs for it will be a wild adventure at that visit! 

AND in two weeks, we hope to do their first professional photo session with the uber wonderful Melissa and from there do our Name Game Fundraiser to help raise much needed funds for their care.

We still have URGENT Needs….

1) Powdered Esbilac 
2) PVD Essential Care canned Puppy – Vet Food
3) PVD Essential Care Kibble Puppy – Vet Food
4) Giant Breed puppy appropriate toys – we are going to need a lot!

Puppymill Mama GD Gem is eating a bit better now and drinking quite well and hopefully we can get the weight coming on her soon. Such a pretty wee thing and the little black female pup looks just like her Mama. 

Accounts are set up at both Kanata AH 613-836-2848 & Liston AH 613-591-0966 and

Email transfer or PayPal consideration can be sent to gwen@birchhaven.org

I am still slowly getting back on track with emails etc., so thank you to all that have been patient and so understanding! All urgent and emergency requests and calls etc., are being promptly handled and the rest I am addressing as I can.

From The Bakers Dozen and their Mama Gem, good night wishes being sent from our home to all of our friends, family & supporters. Please know how truly grateful I am to all…..

URGENT: I know I am a broken record yet we urgently need more Powdered Esbilac. We only have 9 days left at the current rate they are eating and that amount increases daily…..

Please consider helping us! 

Sadly, puppymill Mama Gem rejected them shortly after birth and we have had to go from tube feeding to dropper and bottle feeding with powdered Esbilac. 

9 days sounds like a lot yet it is not…they need to be on the Powdered Esbilac via bottle and then in their mush until they are on straight Kibble around 7 weeks of age. 

We need 5 weeks more of Powdered Esbilac to fill their needs….

Thank you for any consideration…..

The Bakers Dozen also thanks you…..this photo is of 12 of them on Wednesday September 20th. 1 week of age. Late summer warmth of the setting sun getting some important vitamins.

The Bakers Dozen – first road trip!

They will be turning 14 days old on Tuesday/Wednesday of this week! Big milestone. 

Off to Liston Animal Hospital!

All had thorough exams 
3 puppies are going on eye meds for a slightly goopy eye – eyes are just starting to open.
1 puppy is going on antibiotics & plain yogurt for he aspirated during a feed and is now sounding a bit raspy 
2 puppies weights are on the lower end of where all of us would like to see yet considering how emaciated they were when born….
All puppies were de-wormed 
A fecal was done on one of the puppies – clear at this time yet per their Vet, things like roundworms will not be found at this young of an age. If one puppy had something, all would as they share the same environment.
My wee black female that FPS has been trying to steal from me also was given a positive review today.  I am fighting hard as is she.
3 of the males need a bit of polysporin on their privates as their litter-mates have been sucking in that area. Dr. Liston said that will stop once all of their eyes are opened.

Here is a picture and as I have posted before those who have been stolen from our loving embrace all too soon, will never be forgotten and remain forever honoured as they are all part of The Bakers Dozen – a miracle birth story of survival for them and their puppymill GD Mama Gem.

Our URGENT NEEDS remain:

1) Powdered Esbilac – when I started to feed them, I was feeding 5 scoops per feeding and as of today, they are now getting 20 scoops per feeding. Mama rejected them shortly after birth so we have been hand rearing them. 
2) PVD Essential Care canned puppy – Vet food 
2) PVS Essential Care Kibble puppy – Vet food

Their is an account set up at Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 as well as Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848 under Mama Gem

Email transfer or PayPal gwen@birchhaven.org

 

Good AM! Or is it Good-Night?! 

The days and night are all blended into one! 

This cutie is Blue Fawn Girl – Born September 12th @ 10:56 pm. She was the second pup born out of The Baker’s Dozen. She weighed 460 g(1.03 pounds). 

All but 1 pup are reliably on the bottle now. BB – Brindle Baby Girl remains on the dropper.

Puppies are fed every 2-2.5 hours and feeding now takes me just under two hours each time. So, in doing the math…..I am always feeding. BB is offered food every 45 minutes to an hour….

So, there are times that I push the next feeding to the 2.5 hour mark so I can get a power snooze. Today, I am going to take a shower….Gwennie Goal #156 for the day to accomplish! 

Thank you to Sean for making me the best sandwich last night that I could munch at my leisure. Sean also ran out to Pet Valu Kemptville to pick up their remaining nursing kits. 

Puppies are eating anywhere from 15 MLS – 60 MLS per feeding. BB is about 5 MLS each time. She is feisty, vocal at times as she does have a bit of a mind of her own and continues to pee and poop and as long as she has fight, so do I. 

Mason and Kinsley feel that with each feeding, the puppies are getting bigger! They would be right. Three puppies were born really late on the 12th making them shy of five days at the time I type this. The remaining 10 puppies are just in the 4 day old range now. 

That all 13 were born alive and are still here is a miracle in so many ways….so many things can go wrong in such a large litter and also born without Mama having any proper prenatal care until we got her and Mama having rejected them quite fast. Yet, all are still here and I hold no false illusion that at any moment, one or more could devastatingly pass away. For now, I fight the great fight with them and can only express again my thanks to those who understand why we do not want all of these pairs of loving yet also very much stranger, germ hands here. They are so fragile, tiny and need quiet, calm and stability and they know my touch and scent and are feeding very well, reliably so. 

I know how each one wants to be held when feeding, I know how each one likes their Formula temperature-wise – some like it warmer then others and others like Brindle Boy born #13 could care less! As long as it is food, he is happy! Others like theirs cooler or even on the cold side. 

I know how much pee and poop each one is producing and which puppy tends to want to aspirate when feeding and how each puppy likes to be burped. Sean has become an expert burper and he is offen now doing that role for the harder pups so I can move to feeding the next one.

By having absolute control and consistency as to who is doing the feeding, any minute changes can caught fast and handled appropriately. Having people not love and hold them and try to assist in feeding has nothing to do with us not wanting to share! 

For those that know anything about me, they know just how much importance I stress on our dogs getting into the hands of others. Our popular and well copied play visitation and play date programs attest to that! Believe me, when they are ready, I shall be sounding the bell and pleading for people to handle them, love them, spend time with them etc. They just need time…time to get stronger and healthier. 

Feeding them is like a roller coaster…hi-lights and low-lights. My heart stops and my breath catches every time I look into their tote and does not start again until I know all are breathing and alive…..so stressful as I adore them all so much already and would give my left arm if it meant they would all thrive….

I know I sound like a broken record yet taking care of 13 vulnerable babies puts us into a position of having urgent needs….a few of them are below and vet files for Mama GD Gem 
& The Bakers Dozen are set up at:

Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 – first Vet visit is on the 25th! Sean, Kinsley & I have this visit all covered yet their 4 week one is going to be all hands on deck! We will post for Volunteers when that date/time has been booked. 

AND also set up at Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848

Email and PayPal donations can be made to gwen@birchhaven.org

Properly Vetting & caring for them shall cost easily $15,000-$20,000+ for we do not cut corners at BHRR. They all shall have proper de-worming at 2,4,6,8 weeks etc., Exams at 2,4,8,12 weeks etc., vaccines at 4,8,12 & 16 weeks, fecals, and all shall be spayed and neutered – courts wanted by 8 weeks of age and once again based upon my excellent long standing relationship with the authorities, we shall be able to alter this litter as we did with the Puppy Pile in 2016 closer to 10-12 weeks. Food, Esbilac, treats and more shall also add to their care bills. 

Everything I beg and plead for is for the animals….everything donated goes to them…and some our URGENT NEEDS are below:

1) POWDERED Esbilac 794 g containers if possible – I am going through 2 x 340 g containers a day. They are eating more and more with every feeding and at the present, this means I only have 6 days left of Esbilac. They will be on it until 7-8 weeks of age between now, in their mush and until they are consistently eating kibble well. 

2) Pee Pads

3) PVD Essential Care Canned Puppy – Vet Food

4) PVD Essential Care Kibble Puppy – Vet Food 

5) Pet Valu Gift Cards OR Costco Gift Cards(thanks Amy for the great idea!)

6) Pinesol 

As always, please know how much every email or text of support means, every phone message, every donation of every nickel sent our way and every item! 

My worry and stress is lessened with each kind and caring gesture shown…we are the little guys doing big things for special Giants and we cannot do it alone…

BHRR’s Chain Of Success links are being proven strong thanks to so many in our village!!  We are only at the beginning of this miraculous journey with The Bakers Dozen and not to be forgotten about Great Dane Mama Gem. I sincerely look forward to doing it with our supporters, family plus friends walking by our/their sides….

I am humbled and feeling so many blessings….

Note: I am going through 340g – one small container – of powdered Esbilac every 6 feedings. That means two small containers a day right now for they feed every 2 hours and as they get stronger and bigger, that shall greatly increase. 

They will be on Esbilac as a milk replacer and then in their mush & then kibble for up to 8 weeks of age.

My last post for tonight! Gwennie Novel Style! 

I am working hard to respond to people’s messages ASAP and please forgive for taking longer than usual for I am 24/7 on puppy duty right now. Thank you. 

We are still ISO: the items below as well as auction items, draw prizes and surprise loot bag items for our upcoming popular Annual Dine With The BHRR Doggies fundraiser coming up super fast! This year may be more about dining with the BHRR Baker’s Dozen! Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you have an item for our cause. All money raised will be going to the Puppymill Great Dane Mama Gem and her 13 puppies born between September 12/13th. 

Sean and I had our 21st wedding anniversary yesterday and we said to each other that the best celebration would be seeing all 13 babies thrive. No time for flowers, cards or dinner yet what was most important and special, we were both together last night doing something truly needed and amazing….helping Mama Gem & Her Babies. 

As promised, I am going to share the birth details and posting some of the same information shared earlier today. 

This photo is of BB – Baby Brindle Girl – #6 born weighing only 276 g(9.7 ounces) 

While Mama Gem will not feed them nor does she even have enough to feed 13 puppies even if she did….she will at least let 5 of them snuggle around her now for a bit of time. This is great for the babies. 

She is not the best herself, not eating well nor drinking well yet she just had 13 babies in under 12 hours. 

1:00 pm today was their first attempt with the bottle from tube feeding and I got at least 1 ml into each Baby with the stronger one getting 15 ml. The whole process took 2.5 hours. 

The next feeding, more progress was made and fast forward onward and I now have 9 babies strong on the bottle – I always worry re: aspiration- and 4 still not faring as well.

The more time passes, those getting stronger are pulling farther away from those not thriving as well.  I am not giving up….as long as they have fight so do I!

Gearing up for the next feeding and staying positive. Thank you to Sean and Kinsley for being the best wingmen ever in helping me! 

**’NOTICE: For those seeking to drop-off items, unless Gwennie has put you in direct contact with exact details of where items can become be dropped off to, no other place/s are approved. This is a public page for all to see. Unbeknownst until just now is that we have had someone taken advantage of and now much needed items & $225 cash has been stolen by another. Please email Gwen directly at contactbhrr@gmail.com OR gwen@birchhaven.org if you have anything to donate.**

URGENT NEED FOR DONATIONS: BHRR’s Mama Gem & The Baker’s Dozen Pups

We shall need so much and we are already incredibly grateful knowing that there are a lot of beautiful folks wanting to step up at a moment’s notice!! We promise to update as we can, when we can on their progress. 

Here is a list of our current urgent needs and we remain forever indebted to anyone that may consider our cause. Every puppy shall have their own individual blog page too. NONE of them are available for adoption at this time and will not be for a long time.

May we also ask for people not to just drop by with donations. That is equally stressful on puppymill Mama Gem and if we are feeding at that time, greatly disrupts the stability we are trying to keep here. We have a super person in Ottawa – Brenda(lives near Bayshore) that generously offered up her home for donation drop-off, Dawn in Kanata has also kindly offered up her home and if people email us at contactbhrr@gmail.com, additional arrangements can be made. Please DO not drop off items/monies to anyone that we have not put you in touch with….

Mama Gem does has a file set-up at both Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848 and also at Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 for anyone that may wish to donate direct to the Vet Clinics for the care of her and her babies. 

gwen@birchhaven.org is for email transfers AND
gwen@birchhaven.org is for PayPal Donations 

1) Flannel FITTED Sheets – Queen or Twin
2) Pet Valu Gift Cards 
3) Pee Pads
4) POWDERED Esbilac – 794 g is the better value
5) Large to XL Stuffies
6) Pinesol
7) 7 cases of PVD Essential Care Puppy canned food – Vet Food
8) 9 bags of 8 kg PVD Essential Care Puppy Kibble – Vet Food 
9) Dane sized durable/appropriate puppy play toys 
10) Auction items for our September 23rd Annual Fundraiser 

From our home to all of our supporters, family & friends, good night wishes being sent! Someone get a wee bit of sleep for me too please! 

**’NOTICE: For those seeking to drop-off items, unless Gwennie has put you in direct contact with exact details of where items can become be dropped off to, no other place/s are approved. Unbeknownst until just now is that we have had someone taken advantage of and now much needed items & $225 cash has been stolen by another.  

Please email Gwen directly at contactbhrr@gmail.com OR gwen@birchhaven.org if you have anything to donate.**

We have 13 babies born and with Mama rejecting them, all are tube fed. 5 will be ready to go to bottle soon.

URGENT NEED FOR DONATIONS: BHRR’s Mama Gem & The Baker’s Dozen Pups

First and most important, we really want to take a moment to thank those that have reached out to us after learning that the puppymill Mama Gem gave birth to 13 puppies.  Angels! Just so many wonderful people in the community! I truly do have tears in my eyes for the love that is pouring out our way in messages of well wishes etc.

Please know that each and every offer/message has been appreciated and touches our hearts more deeply than you shall ever know.

I do want to explain why we cannot have strange hands coming in – as kind as I know they would be – and handling these really small babies – wee pup #6 BB girl was born at only 9.7 ounces and her litter-mates not a heck of a lot bigger. Average Dane puppies should be a birth weight of 1-1.5 pounds. That we had all 13 born live is a miracle unto itself considering the conditions Mama came from prior to rescue. Big thanks must again be shouted out to my 17 year old son Mason who stood solid by my side from mere moments after I whelped the first pup – a gorgeous BBBBB girl – and if it were not for him helping to tag team with me – we know that at least 6 babies may well not have survived much past birth. We had puppies coming as fast as every 6 minutes at one point and three puppies in a row were not good upon birth and need much stimulation.

Thank you Mason! We have 13 babies still alive and while none are even remotely out of the woods, all 13 are still here and we are working so hard to ensure their thrival.

We just cannot have these babies exposed to germs and the stress of outside hands plus smells. They need stability and quiet/calm and to be handled by so very few people right now to give them the best chances of survival. They are extremely vulnerable and fragile right now and I hope that people can understand that we all should want what is in their best interest. 

The Boerskins are not new to Danes or whelping rescue puppies, dealing with round the clock feedings – tube feedings at that and while we do not have a crystal ball to say how many or if all of these puppies will surivive, we have almost 22 years of experience through BHRR with rescue litters and in particular litters born to Mama’s that have had no prenatal care. We want to ask to please understand and let us do what we are experienced/knowledgeable at and know that as these babies age and get stronger plus healthier, we are going to need your kind, caring plus loving hands SO much as we did in April of 2016 and December of 2015 for example for other rescue litters we have assisted. ?

Prior to the litter being born, I had already lined up the fabu Melissa Roy for their professional photo’s development journey’s like we did with Mama Marbles’ litter. We shall need many hands to make that magic happen at 4, 6 & 8 weeks etc.

We will need an army of kind souls to help me get them to their Vet visits starting at 2 weeks of age! That is always an adventure unto itself! 

We will need our community to help us socialise and expose them to the fabu wonders of the world when it is time.

We shall need so much and we are already incredibly grateful knowing that there are a lot of beautiful folks wanting to step up at a moment’s notice!! We promise to update as we can, when we can on their progress. 

I am sharing this picture of the BHRR’s Bakers’s Dozen taken last night. A bit blurry as they were moving!

Here is a list of our current urgent needs and we remain forever indebted to anyone that may consider our cause. I will update on the litter and have pictures, birth weights etc. later today. Every puppy shall have their own individual blog page too. NONE of them are available for adoption at this time and will not be for a long time.

May we also ask for people not to just drop by with donations. That is equally stressful on puppymill Mama Gem and if we are feeding at that time, greatly disrupts the stability we are trying to keep here. We have a super person in Ottawa – Brenda(lives near Bayshore) that generously offered up her home for donation drop-off and if people email us at contactbhrr@gmail.com, additional arrangements can be made. ?

Mama Gem does has a file set-up at both Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848 and also at Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 for anyone that may wish to donate direct to the Vet Clinics for the care of her and her babies.

gwen@birchhaven.org is for email transfers AND
gwen@birchhaven.org is for PayPal Donations

1) Flannel FITTED Sheets – Queen or Twin
2) Pet Valu Gift Cards 
3) Pee Pads
4) POWDERED Esbilac – 794 g is the better value
5) Large to XL Stuffies
6) Pinesol
7) 7 cases of PVD Essential Care Puppy canned food – Vet Food
8) 9 bags of 8 kg PVD Essential Care Puppy Kibble – Vet Food 
9) Dane sized durable/appropriate puppy play toys 
10) **Very Urgent: 4 x New Born Nursing Kits For Milk Replacers – PetSmart – picture in post**

 

UPDATE: 

Please know I am not ignoring calls, emails, messages etc.  I have been up since 5 AM Tuesday and after whelping puppies throughout the night/early AM then had to go to work for 8 hours, pick up some wonderful donations for the pups afterwards and have since been back home with family and puppies etc. I also spayed BHRR’s Daffodil! 

I am hoping that tonight I can get some rest between feedings and will post more re: our needs and on the pups plus Mama Gem tomorrow. 

We will be having a flash auction to help raise urgent funds for their care. 13 Giant Breed puppies to properly vet which includes de-worming from 2 weeks onward, their vaccines plus boosters, spays/neuters, fecals, food, etc…shall cost thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars. We do not cut corners at BHRR. Each puppy plus Mama Gem will receive everything they need plus more. 

I will say that right now all 13 puppies are hanging strong as can be.  Wee brindle baby girl born at only 9.7 ounces too.  Mason and I had spent a lot of time on her when she was first born and almost as much time on 5 other of the 13 babies to help them survive plus thrive. 

I leave all with a picture of the BHRR’s Baker’s Dozen taken a couple of hours ago. 

A bit blurry as they move about!

Update: another puppy born 9:29 AM 

That makes 6 girls and 7 boys and 13 puppies so far.

This is a Baker’s Dozen and they are going to need their village as are we to help ensure their survival. 

Mason and I had to spend some working on 6 of the puppies born and the smallest is only 276 g and so tiny….all the puppies are small. 

I am worried about all surviving….. 

UPDATE: we are now at 10 puppies and this photo is of when we had 8. 
FINAL PUPPY COUNT: 13! & all born alive!

Individual pictures and weights to come later.

Mama is doing well….Mama Gwennie also and to think I have to be up in a few hours to go to work! This was not the night I wanted them to be born! 

Do not think Mama Gem is done and the smallest is only 276 g a wee female

Puppy #10 Blue Male Born: 2:45 AM

Weight: 501 g

BHRR’s Gem Update:

The stunning BBBBB once known a D211 – puppymill Dane #211 and we have called BHRR’s Gem is getting closer and closer to giving birth.

Yup…she was just a number to track how much money was made off the babies they forced her to pump out. 

She is barely picking at her food, nesting and Annette – one of the toys you sent our way, a Stuffie Penquin has become her ‘baby’.

She is finding it harder to get comfortable, doing some pacing, a little panting from time to time and has decided that instead of the 8 x 5 x 4 custom whelping box Sean & Mason made for her comfort( BHRR’s Marbles was made 6 x 5 x 3), she wants the futon bed I have beside her whelping box and have been sleeping on to be by her side. I am trying to have some casual dialogue with her that this would not be my preference! 

BHRR’s Marbles had wanted to have her own rescue litter in April 2016 under my desk and she & I had a few conversations about that not being ideal!

BHRR’s Gem’s wounds have been healing wonderfully yet her spirit, soul and heart shall take much longer to heal. While she still does some flinching when my fingers trail gently across her mid-back when she walks by me – she will now want to be around me, not too close yet she does watch me – she no longer drops to the ground or cowers. I just go about my day and passively ignore her and she is getting used to me being around and the trust earned is slow yet rewarding….

She really feels comforted with the three night lights to help her feel a little more safe at night.

Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson still ‘watches’ over her and she does derive peace in having him around.

Per a couple posts made, we have been busy working quietly behind the scenes as we ready everything for the litter of babies she is expecting soon.

She is only the 15th dog for us to assist in 2017. She most likely shall be the last we can assist in 2017 along with her unborn babies for we have to remain about quality, not quantity. Unless, we have more approved adoptions, our doors shall remain closed for intake until 2018.

In going through the list of items we still need for her and her puppies, I am posting an update of what we still need in case someone may have what what we are looking for or may consider our cause: 

1) Flannel FITTED Sheets – Queen or Twin
2) Duvets/Comforters/Sleeping Bags
4) Pet Valu Gift Cards 
5) Pee Pads
6) POWDERED Esbilac – 794 g is the better value
7) Large to XL Stuffies
8) Pinesol
9) 7 cases of PVD Essential Care Puppy canned food – Vet Food
10) 9 bags of 8 kg PVD Essential Care Puppy Kibble – Vet Food 
11) Dane sized durable/appropriate puppy play toys

BHRR’s Gem has a file set up at both Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 as well as Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848.

Email Transfer: gwen@birchhaven.org 
PayPal: gwen@birchhaven.org

We will keep everyone updated as we can….

Thank so in advance to all for any consideration as always! 

This stunning BBBBB was once known a D211 – Dane #211. Yup…just a number to track how much money was made off the babies they forced her to pump out.  

She is safe now and while D211 was her identity to her horrific puppymillers, to us we have called her *BHRR’s Gem*. For she is one…precious and valuable.

Terrified, not even 100 pounds – and this is while heavily pregnant, covered in wounds/scars – you can even see some of them along her side, chest and neck in the one photo I will post in her thread, oozing infection, horrible overgrown nails plus has Giardia and is petrified of the dark.

She now has three night lights to help her feel a little more safe at night.

Yesterday, we were finally able to trim her nails back – her first nail trim in her life. Yesterday, we also managed to give her her very first ear cleaning.

Scared and ranging from catatonic to major flight mode, Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson has not left her side since I made the 20+ hour round trip to assist in this bust and then took her home with me as she needs us so badly right now….AND It took two days before she finally rested. He is her Guardian Dane and he is going to help her heal a lot.

She paces a lot less now than she did upon arrival and depending on the time of day, either wants to stay outside or refuses to go outside.

Per another post, we have been busy working quietly behind the scenes as we ready everything for the litter of babies she is expecting within 7-10 days. The object you see to the right is her custom whelping box that Sean’s & Mason made – 8 x 5 x 4. The one made for BHRR’s Marbles was 6 x 5 x 3 and BHRR’s Gem needs more room to feel comfortable.

We did an u/s the day after she arrived and I quickly saw ~5 babies and the Vet when they looked up, caught at least 3 before she became overwhelmed and we understandably stopped. We also attempted after giving her a break to get x-rays to gauge just how many babies she is expecting & to get a better idea of due date so we could best prepare yet in her fear, this was not possible. She lost control of her bowels, anal glands and urinated herself and I asked for the x-ray attempts to stop as nothing is worth seeing any dog that way. We know she is pregnant and will have to take things as they come. The x-rays that they managed to take were not useful and so be it. Her stress level needs to be lowered not further raised. I worry about her needing a c-section as she is so tiny yet her belly is so huge. Yet, one step at a time….I have been lining up my ducks in a row and several Hospitals, depending on time of day are aware that we may be calling upon them for their surgical assistance. We would also Spay her at the same time she had the c-section.

We did run a fecal and she is on treatment for Giardia and being proactively de-wormed. She is on antibiotics for her wounds.

She is only the 15th dog for us to assist in 2017. She most likely shall be the last we can assist in 2017 along with her unborn babies for we have to remain about quality, not quantity. Unless, we have more approved adoptions, our doors shall remain closed for intake until 2018.

In going through the list of items we still need for her and her puppies, I am posting here in case someone may have what what we are looking for or may consider our cause:

1) Flannel Fitted Sheets – Queen or Twin
2) Pillows
3) Blankets/Duvets/Comforters
4) Pet Valu Gift Cards
5) Pee Pads
6) Powdered Esbilac – 794 g is the better value
7) Large to XL Stuffies
8) Pinesol
9) 7 cases of PVD Essential Care Puppy canned food – Vet Food
10) 9 x 8 kg bags of PVD Essential Care Puppy Kibble – Vet Food 
11) XL Costco Dog Bed
12) Dane sized durable/appropriate puppy play toys 
13) Laundry Soap
14) Fabric Softener

BHRR’s Gem has a file set up at both Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 as well as Kanata Animal Hospital 613-836-2848.

Email Transfer: gwen@birchhaven.org 
PayPal: gwen@birchhaven.org

We will keep everyone updated as we can….

Thank so in advance to all for any consideration as always! 

She is naturally camera shy so pictures are not easy to get….

UPDATE: we now have an 8 panel plastic playpen to arrive Thursday(2 panel extension) & the 6 panel play pen to arrive Friday!  Thank you again Brenda! 

We are still ISO: wire/metal xpens in height from 34″-44″. 

ISO: a 10-panel Super Yard Play Pen.

We have one that we bought 17 years ago and it is done. Sadly, it will not stand another pack of rescue Dane Babies! The BHRR Puppy Pile x 7 did it in!

We truly did not expect that 18 months after assisting Mama Marbles, we would be asked to assist so soon another cruelty/neglect case pregnant Dane. 

We are working hard behind the scenes to get everything in order for the puppymill Mama Dane and her soon to arrive Babies.

The cost for a 6 panel pen at Babies R Us is $139.99+ tax and so we are hoping someone may have one they no longer need and would consider our cause for a reasonable price.

Seeking a 10 panel one preferably yet 8 panels would be ok.

We are also seeking wire/metal xpens in height of anywhere between 34″ – 44″ in height once the puppies are big enough.

Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you can help us out with either request above.

We are in the big countdown…puppies should be arriving within the next 7-10 days max. Mama Dane Gem is doing well…getting some weight on her and building up much needed muscle mass and tone to help her become as strong and healthy as possible for her sake and her unborn babies.

Her awful wounds are healing as she remains on antibiotics and today we were actually able to do her nails. The very first time they have been done in her life. She also let me clean her ears which is also the first time they have been done in her life.

 

ISO: Auction Items!

Our popular Annual one-of-a-kind unique ‘Dine With The BHRR Doggies’ is coming up in September!

We are in need of auction items for both our live & silent part of our evening. Gift Certificates, Gift Baskets etc., would be so appreciated!

We are also seeking draw prizes and items(40 of each) to place in our surprise loot bags.

Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org if you may consider our cause to donate to. Please do not post here for we may miss your most generous offer. 

This is always a SOLD out night and one that we love hosting! BHRR has only five planned fundraisers each year and this is #4 for 2017.

All monies raised in this year’s event will go towards helping another deserving Dane in need of our highly specialised programs. I will post more about her shortly.

She is a puppymill Dane, riddled with so many wounds and scars. She is emotionally and physically beaten. Even after almost 22 years assisting in busts and helping these beautiful animals, I am still shaken to my core with how cruel and neglectful people can be.

Where once she was just a number to produce as many babies as possible to line the greedy pockets of others, to us we have called this lovely girl – BBBBB ‘Gem’. She has an identity now and she will learn she is important and valuable and not disposable trash.

In honour of BHRR’s Sambuca and my beloved Bronson, we will help the next one in need of us. She is only the 15th dog we will have been able to assist in 2017. We remain about quality not quantity with our efforts.

She is precious as is the special ‘cargo’ she is carrying. In just less than 2 years, we have now been asked three times to help a New Mama with her surviving pups(BHRR’s Eve) or a Mama-Soon-To-Be(BHRR’s Marbles) and now BHRR’s Gem. Breaks my heart as to how so many animals are used for profit instead of being altered and cherished as beloved family members…. 

Your donations enable us to continue in these rescue trenches, helping those that have no voice and cannot step up to protect themselves.

We hope that you may help us assist BHRR’s Gem by donating an item to our upcoming Fundraiser. We would truly be so grateful…..

This is how special Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson is….

The BBBBB that is with him was once known a D211 – Dane #211. Yup…just a number to track how much money was made off the babiesthey forced her to pump out. 

She is safe now and while D211 was her identity to her horrific puppymillers, to us we have called her *BHRR’s Gem*. For she is one…precious and valuable.

Terrified, not even 100 pounds, covered in wounds – you can even see some of them along her side, chest and neck, oozing infection, horrible overgrown nails plus riddled with parasites (we will post more on her story on our Facebook page shortly). We will share with everyone just how special this girl is and that Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson knew instantly how special she was….for he is super special himself!

Terrified and ranging from catatonic to major flight mode, Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson has not left her side since I made the 20 hour round trip toassist in this bust and then took her home with me as she needs us so badly right now….AND after two days, she finally rested. He is her GuardianDane and he is going to help her heal a lot…..

Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson wishes all a good night…..he is so fabu!