Aramis

BHRR EVENTS

NOTICE: UPCOMING BHRR EVENTS:

1. We are working on a silent auction to raise much-needed funds to pay for Miss Leah’s and Mr. Ernie’s vet bills. We are hoping to run for St. Pat’s Day!
If you have any items you may like to donate, please do email

2. Saturday, July 20th – Annual BHRR BBQ, Yard & Item Sale, Nails, Ear Cleaning and Nails – 9 AM – 3 PM

3. Saturday, July 27th – Bark Bash – Gananoque

4. Saturday, September 17th – Annual Movies Under The Stars

5. ONGOING – On February 21st, 2013, I received a most delightful and touching email from a woman named Allie MacAlister that is so very active in helping others

She is extremely talented and more lovely than any words can ever be put down on paper and she has wonderfully surprised me with the very stunning and unique artful creation of an Irish Wolfhound, inspired by our Bunker Dude. She is calling it ‘Art For A Cause’.  

The Wolfhound Cù Sìth

10% of sales of her products will come to BHRR!

*You can purchase t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, totes, greeting cards and SO much more! She will be adding products regularly.

The Wolfhound Cù Sìth

Our 5th Annual “WON’T YOU BE MY VALENTINE” Fundraiser! February 1st – February 15th, 2024

Please help us give each doggie a special Valentine!

Thank you to everyone who has become a Valentine Angel to date, and to those asking, here is our email transfer address to send the vet bill part of your generous donation: contactbhrr@gmail.com

Please let us know if you would like to be a Secret Valentine!

Thanks in advance for any consideration!

These are the doggies still in need of a Secret Valentine Admirer:

  • Albar – Ronda B. will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Knox  – Amy shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Maybelle Cutie – Ronda B. will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Chrissy – Emilie P. will be her SVA  – COMPLETED!
  • Ernie – Leanne Berard McDonell & Cameron will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Leah – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • ‘Fred’ – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Aramis – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Athos – Elaine Giles will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Brooklyn  – Michele shall be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Caramel – Elaine will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Giselle – Leanne & Cameron will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • James  – Rejane shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Jamila – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Lewis  – Emilie P. shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Lilly – Tanya S. will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Olive – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Porthos – Amanda Gillon shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Romeo – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Rosie – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!

Miss Aramis! One of our Three Musketeers!

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Line up begins to gather for ‘peanut butter’ time! 
 
I am on the other side of the gate in the kitchen, so I do not get mobbed getting the peanut butter! 
 
They may be deaf/blind, yet their noses are well-honed! 
 
Mr. Romeo’s butt can also be seen in this photo & Irish’s face!

We have Porthos(3.5), Apex in the back(almost 4), Zero with his face sniffing the ground(9.5), Salt(7.5), Aramis(3.5) looking straight at the camera, and Ice(9.5).

Our 4th Annual ‘Won’t You Be My Valentine’ Fundraiser is live!

LAST CALL!

Our Annual ‘Won’t You Be My Valentine’ Fundraiser is live!

Running through until the end of the day tomorrow, February 15!

Please help us give each doggie a special Valentine!

Thank you to everyone that has become a Valentine Angel to date, and to those asking, here is our email transfer address to send the vet bill part of your generous donation: contactbhrr@gmail.com

Please let us know if you would like to be a Secret Valentine!

Thanks in advance for any consideration!

THE ONLINE FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER FOR BHRR IS NOW LIVE!

Over 200 items!

HERE IS THE LINK TO JOIN!

Post from the wonderful organizers!

“Welcome to the online Fundraiser for Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation.
A HUGE thank you to all of the local businesses and individuals who donated to make this auction possible.
100% of the proceeds raised will go to the rescue.
All the donated businesses have been linked in each item, if you are interested in an item, please consider clicking on their Facebook page and Like/Follow them.
Please read through all of the auction guidelines below.
Auction Guidelines:
1) There is a starting bid on all items
2) Please bid in a minimum $1 increment (just to clarify, you can bid any amount as long as it is a minimum $1 increase, it can be $2, $3, $4, $5 etc.)
3) The auction closes Sunday, October 9th, at 8 PM.
4) The winner will be contacted via Messenger with a pickup location, there are pick-up locations in Brockville (North End), Oxford Station, and Kanata.
5) Payment is due immediately following the end of the auction once notification has been received that you are the successful bidder
6) Payment is due via eTransfer to carol_bruck@hotmail.com
No password is required.
Happy Bidding, and thank you for your support!
Please see the album below to bid, thank you for your support and generosity for those currently in the rescue and those to come.”

Sean had some curious aka nosey ‘supervisors’ while he was working on the back house renovations today! 
 
Reminds me of a similar pic when we did the front of the house many years ago.

My last post of my night!
 
As some are aware, I had a trip to emerge last night…that being said, I put some xpens around my desk to try and ensure I had some space to not get bumped….
 
Well, some Danes were not happy that they were not close enough to me! 
 
Miss Aramis, Mr. Porthos, and my Apex – laying down is my Salt(he was done ‘staring’ and was now pouting.
 
In the background is my Zero and you can also see Miss Giselle.
 
Those faces!!! 
 
From our home to all of our friends, family & supporters, the best of good night wishes are being sent!

How Miss Aramis & Mr. Porthos – 2 of our three Great Dane Musketeers enjoyed the day of record-breaking snow!
 
Both are deaf/visually impaired.
 
This is the area – a sizeable corridor from the house that leads to the three-plus fenced-in acres. 
 

Next, I shall post how Miss Rosie(in her own individual blog) much preferred and enjoyed her Winter Wonderland Day. 

 

BETTY WHITE CHALLENGE: January 17th, 2022!

TO DONATE TO BHRR IN HONOUR OF A TRUE ANIMAL HERO: PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org OR Email Transfer contactbhrr@gmail.com

Even $5 would mean the world to the animals AND us!

Thank you in advance for any consideration to help us in 2022 to continue to help those in need of our highly specialised programs!

 

Miss Aramis – one of our three Musketeers – on our way home with a thumbs up from her recheck!!
 
What a nightmare this ordeal was.
 
I reached out bright and early the next AM after having her into the Hospital, to an emergency vet, as I knew she was not right.
 
I discussed my concerns and also re: iv fluid therapy, x-rays, doing a contrast study, possible surgery, pain meds etc.
 
I will stand strong and tall once again by stating what I have said for decades, ‘know your dog!’ I just knew that she had an obstruction.
 
Miss Aramis is now doing well after a long road to recovery and while still not 100%, she is a lot more like her normal ham of a personality self!
 
Thank you to everyone that donated to her worthy cause – you are Musketeer Angels!!, and if anyone may consider supporting her Vet bills; donations can be made via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
We still have a remaining bill of almost $1,000 to pay off.
 
Happy Saturday from this gorgeous special needs Dane & us! 
 

**GROSS PICS**
 
Shortly, after I arrived home with Miss Aramis, she began straining to poop. Her attempts were unsuccessful for the longest time and then she passed a bit of dark, mucous filled loose stool. No foreign bodies present.
 
This immediately brought back my strong feelings of an obstruction.
 
She was still not interested in anything edible – not that she would be fed any large meal etc., it was to gauge her interest as that is the BIG measuring stick re: how she is feeling. She showed zero interest in a/d, recovery, gastro.
 
She also was not interested in water. Another HUGE concern.
 
The Vet had advised re: walking to move the gas – this is something that we are already known to do in rescue/our own dogs in bloat – and we did a bit of walking.
 
She mostly wanted to go and lay down, which she was allowed to do.
 
I let her be for about an hour and the checked in on her and she had taken herself to the cement floor part of our rec room and passed some watery stool with this object – a sizeable large piece of hard green rubber substance with some small bits of bone – she had snagged part of what could have been a dead deer carcass on the trails before she could be stopped. That was on Thursday and she was fine until last night.
 
This confirmed my thoughts re: an obstruction which I had sincerely hoped that I was wrong…… 
 
You could tell that she was feeling a bit better having passed these fb’s yet, that has been short lived. She is back to being quiet, subdued as her gut works to be motile and my plan is to monitor her closely for the next few hours and bring her into emergency for further medical attention if necessary.
 
Sean and I are worried. 
 
If anyone may consider a donation to her bills, donations can be made via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
 
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
*we just need to know the password
 
AND please keep her in your thoughts…..
 

Miss Aramis on our way home from LAH.
 
She is clearly not feeling well. She was so brave and such a great patient at LAH.
 
Next update shortly….
 

Miss Aramis’ x-rays.
 
Just as I was pulling into LAH, poor Miss Aramis had another vomiting episode. 
 
You can see the gas and the poop plus how inflamed things are.
 
I began to now get concerned re: bloat.
 
The first x-ray we did not have her stomach in it – she is a Dane! – and had to take a second picture.
 
The view is left lateral.
 
No obvious obstruction was noted – not all things can be seen on x-ray though – and my gut still felt strongly that there was an obstruction.
 
The Vet on duty was very kind to take time away from their appointments to review the x-rays and felt that there was inflammation with no obvious obstruction noted.
 
Recommendations given – Cerenia subq for nausea/vomiting, fast for today and begin bland diet tomorrow, hydrate, use sulcrate every 8 hours and begin metronidazole tonight. They felt that Miss Aramis would be back to normal tomorrow
 
Next update to come shortly – with graphic pics…..
 

Miss Aramis – one of our 3 Musketeers.
 
As I have said many times over the years, ‘know your dog’.
 
This AM, I rushed her off to the Hospital as I strongly suspected an obstruction.
 
Miss Aramis loves her food and treats. She is one of those dogs that if she ever went off her food, I would know that something was very wrong.
 
Sean says that she appeared normal yesterday yet, last night when she had supper, she did not eat it all. Her behaviour while not 100% normal, was not alarming.
 
Throughout the night, she had three vomiting episodes.
 
This AM, she was much more subdued and I rushed her off to LAH for x-rays and to take her rectal temp. From there, I was fully prepared to run blood – last bloodwork I did was in December – and then rush her to an emergency hospital for surgery with x-rays, blood results in hand.
 
With the long waits at the emergency hospitals in the Ottawa area – Alta Vista has had COVID exposure; whatever I could do in advance for preparation to avoid extensive delays; I was prepared to do.
 
He weight was 45.3 kgs(99.66 pounds) and her temperature was not abnormal.
 
Will post another update – x-rays etc. shortly.

My greeting committee when I arrived home from work!

We have a small side yard off of the recreation room – about 500 square feet (our main yard is about 3+ acres safely fenced in) and Sean let these three amigos out to greet me! 

We have BHRR’s Miss Aramis & BHRR’s Athos(AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION) – two of our 3 Musketeers and we have BHRR’s Athos’ mini me! BHRR’s Romeo.

Per Sean, these three stooges played ALL day in the glorious weather!

Tomorrow night, Mr. Romeo goes in for his boosters, a re-weigh, recheck and to pick up his next de-worming plus flea/tick/hw meds.

He has only had one accident since I picked him up on Saturday.

He slept much better the second night over the first night in his crate. May tonight be even better 

I also think they were determined to bring out all of the toys from inside!!!

UPDATE on the 3 Musketeers!
*AND BHRR’s Dean & BHRR’s Rocket*

On December 8th, BHRR’s Porthos & BHRR’s Athos were in for their pre-op exams and bloodwork in preparation for being neutered – apt.’s scheduled for January 19th.
*We had already given them their all of their vaccines plus boosters, have them de-wormed monthly plus they are on monthly flea/tick/heartworm meds etc.*

BHRR’s Porthos weighed 44.90 Kgs(98.78 pounds)
BHRR’s Athos weighed 44.20 Kgs(97.24 pounds)

Unfortunately, the blood-work for BHRR’s Athos showed an extremely elevated WBC 27.12
*Reference Range Normal: 5.05 – 16.76 x10^9/L

He was placed on antibiotics for 10 days and two Vets said that normally values like this mean Cancer yet, one step at a time and to do the antibiotics first and repeat blood-work. He is just a puppy. Per his Vet, he clearly had been brewing an infection for a very long time, long before they arrived.

Advised to recheck just his CBC in 10 days time. He was back last night and I stayed in the parking lot waiting for his results and they are now: WBC 14.22
*Refence Range Norma: 5.05 – 16.76 x10^9/L

SO YAY! YES! SO HAPPY!

BHRR’s Aramis was in for their pre-op exam and blood-work on December 10th and she weighed 38 Kgs(83.6 pounds).

Her spay was scheduled for January 22nd yet, with the newest addition of BHRR’s Rocket – he really needs to be neutered – so, he is taking her spot. He is scheduled for his pre-op exam, bloodwork including heartworm/tick borne diseases and vaccines on January 2nd. With him being super skinny – emaciated, I am not keen on neutering him or vaccinating him any sooner than need be.

So, if he is not ready, we may move BHRR’s Aramis back to that spot – the Hospital is booking into March now and the Hospital that I am working at is booking into April – or we will move BHRR’s Dean into that spot. His neuter apt. along with boosters were rescheduled from yesterday – sent in Mason’s Tango instead for his own neuter – as he has a brutal happy tail right now. We asked his own wonderful foster to bring him in to the Vet and he is on antibiotics.

Dean will now be heading in shortly for his own recheck plus boosters. We already did his pre-op exam plus bloodwork (including pre-op and heartworm/tickborne diseases) plus initial vaccines and de-worming.

It is our hope that BHRR’s Athos, BHRR’s Dean and BHRR’s Rocket can all be successfully rehabilitated and placed up for adoption at some point.

Here are the 3 Musketeers(two are deaf/visually impaired and Mr. Athos has a slight visual impairment) enjoying the recently expanded side yard! 

 

Three Musketeer BHRR’s Athos says:

“ONLY 2+ hours to go and our 13th annual “JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS” Online Auction ends tonight – Thursday December 3rd @ 9 PM EST!”

‘Get your bids in before it is too late!’

We now have 112 incredible items up for grabs!

We have handmade dog collars, luglife items, a handmade wreath, doggie treat bags, BHRR Cottage Cabin experience, Bombay items, BBQ items, kitchen goodies, shower item, a gift basket, handmade wallet, pendant, exercise equipment, jams/salsa, chocolate, cinnamon buns, king duvet, 2 & 3 plys face masks, a photography session, a custom stitch portrait, Starbucks, Tupperware, a wallet, a special one-on-one date with BHRR’s Symba, homemade fudge, jewellery, nail trims, Pampered Chef items, Tupperware items, COVID-19 Boxes/Pail, Doggy Treats/Toy Tote, a George Foreman item and a LOT more!

**This is our last Fundraiser of 2020 and COVID-19 has greatly impacted our fundraising efforts for 2020 and we are at a very REAL serious risk of having to permanently close our doors.***

We have been in operation since 1996 and are the local Great Dane/Giant Breed rescue whose strong focus are the special needs.

Here is the LINK to view all of the WOW items and to bid! Come back to check your bids often and GOOD LUCK!

*TAKE NOTE RE: PICK-UP LOCATIONS AS NOT ITEMS CAN BE SHIPPED** 

My last post of my night…..

I want to extend the most sincerest of thanks to all that came together to make this rescue transport happen today.

This was a rescue that I first began working on over 4 months ago and today; in spite of further blips; they have finally arrived safely.

The 3 special needs Great Danes that we have affectionally dubbed The Three Musketeers are finally here!

Special additional thanks to Lucy Moye, Jane Smith, Theresa Penfield, Rochonne Simons(and her mom!) plus Jo-Anne for everything. Any ommision of names is not intentional and please do forgive me….it truly has taken an army and a village to make this rescue plus transport happen.

From my heart; I am deeply grateful to everyone that gives of themselves in so many ways and in stepping up to make rescue magic occur…….

NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!

After the brutal day that I have had, I am now calling it a day….and going to spend the rest of my night with my family and animals!

From our home to all of our friends, families and supporters, the warmest of good night wishes are being sent AND appears tomorrow shall be our first big BHRR Winter Wonderland Day! 

My last post of my night!

Time for folks to think about what they plan on giving up for 14 days in our 9th Annual ‘Give it up 4 Autumn’ Fundraiser! 

Starts Thursday November 5th and we already have 4 people signed up to date! Be creative! Some people have even done a swear jar in the past putting money each time they or someone in their office swears and then donating the monies raised at the end of the 14 days.

All money raised shall go towards helping BHRR’s Symba and BHRR’s Coupe!

More details in the poster and please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com if you would like to be part of our 9th annual event!

Here are the blog links to BHRR’s Symba:

AND for BHRR’s Coupe

For those who wish to consider making a financial donation to their worthy causes, you can do so via PayPal gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com OR you can do so directly to Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966

We have many many many thousands of dollars to raise and we are now set back even further as sadly, BHRR’s Oslo has needed emergency care today…..

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

 

As some are aware we have been working on assisting three Great Dane Puppies – we had an amazing suggestion to call them our Three Musketeers!

So, we have BHRR’s Porthos – white male Great Dane, Deaf/Visually Impaired.

BHRR’s Aramis – female white Great Dane, Deaf/Visually Impaired

BHRR’s Athos – male mantle Great Dane

ETA being worked on.

More details to come and all three have amazing special Secret Santa’s and they are NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!

NOTICE:

Unfortunately, we find ourselves having to address the below issues once again. Every few years it seems we must re-visit this despite being very clear on our website, Facebook and Petfinder as to how we operate.

This last 24 hours we have had not one yet, two extremely unpleasant moments.

Let us be extremely clear that if people continue to disrespect what is openly stated; we will involve legal and take the necessary action(s).

Our camera’s are running.

1) we are a foster based rescue that operates out of our home and our approved fosters. NOWHERE does it state that you can just drop by, visit or ‘get’ a dog because you want one.

It is NOT even ok to leave a voice message as a ‘courtesy heads up’ that you are on your way or will be on your way shortly to our PRIVATE property which is our home.

We would never do this to you; so do not expect it to be ok to do it to us. We get so little quality family time as it is and your blatant disregard for being mindful of our family time is not going to be tolerated.

We have a very thorough adoption process which is and has been posted over and over and over again in the last shy of 25 years.

All of the steps to be considered for a BHRR approved adoption is found on our websites and even in the application. We have done our job to have the information there. It is now up to you to read and follow the instructions.

We have posted many times over that only completed applications shall be considered/reviewed. We are NOT going to respond to ANY inquiries sent via email, text, voice message, Petfinder or Facebook. This is and has been posted many times over. So Stop. Spamming via email, text, phone, and/or Petfinder is not going to receive a response. They will be deleted and if you continue, marked as spam/junk/blocked.  It is equally NOT acceptable for you to come uninvited; to our home, private property with or without any completed application in hand.

As we also post, if a dog is listed on Petfinder, on our Website or on Facebook page as being ‘Available For Adoption’, YES, that dog is still available. We directly state that we work to keep everything up to date.

We have equally posted many times over that we are not going to make exceptions to our adoption contract, processes, policies and procedures.

2) the steps to surrender a dog is also openly stated on our website.

Do NOT leave a message and then only a couple of hours later show up at our home expecting us to drop everything and put your request above all of the other needy dogs that are equally ‘urgent’.

This is our home. This is private property.

AND do not say to one of us that you left many emails or voice messages re: said dog when we communicate closely with each other and know that this is a lie.

YOU are making our work more difficult that it ever should be and trust me, operating a highly r/q Rescue is damn hard.

BHRR is not about you; it is about the animals and please allow us to do our jobs; our non paying, 24/7, 365 days a year jobs.

We have been doing this since 1996; know what we are doing, are the experts in what we do from rescue to transport, to rehabilitation to adoption, from feeding to vetting, to training to behavioural modification and so much more.

If you want to adopt; please follow the process. If you have a dog in need; please follow the process.

The Boerskins
BHRR

BHRR UPDATE!

1) In having a discussion with several members of the BHRR BOD; we shall be open as of Septermber 1st – subject to change if need be – for the intake of completed applications ONLY to consider for approved adoptions.

BHRR ONLY places per right matched personality fits and has an extremely thorough adoption screening process.

2) Unfortunately, again….in 2020 we will not be doing a BHRR Calendar. The cost is too high for what comes out of our personal pockets when that is monies that are desperately needed to keep BHRR open.

3) ISO: Auction Items for our upcoming 9th Annual Dine with the BHRR Doggies Event. Human, dogs, cat, gift baskets, gift certificates etc. ALL are welcome!

We also need draw prizes!

Please do not post your kind offers here, please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com

4) It is that time again! Time to think about being a special Secret Santa to the BHRR doggies! 2020 marks our 18th year doing this!!

As of today, we still have 21 deserving BHRR doggies in need of a special SS to call their very own!

To learn more and to sign up, please do visit the link!

5) BHRR is in urgent need of the following items:
Garbage bags – all sizes
Laundry soap
Fabric Softner
Fabric Softner Sheets
Giants Sized Dog Toys
XL Costco Dog Beds
Blankets, Duvets, Towels
Paper Towels
Pinesol

6) Please do reach out if you or someone you know has a Great Dane/Giant Breed Dog in need. We are also a highly/strongly focused special needs rescue so take in other breeds as we can that are also: Deaf and/or Blind, Sick, Senior, Neuro, Injured, Pregnant, Palliative, Nursing, Other Medical, Orphaned & Behavioural

It hurts our hearts to see dogs being put to sleep when there is an organization – we have been around since 1996 – OR to see these dogs end up in disreputable places.

Please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com if you or someone that you know needs assistance.