Mr. Dimitri’s ‘version’ of not being on the couch!
 
He is doing great in his wonderful foster home!
 
His weight is now 136 pounds and his neuter has been scheduled for December 20th.
 
We will investigate his hips and knees further at that time in addition re-visiting his skin, ears and eyes. Right now, he is doing fantastic with his muscle mass and toning and there is no indication of anything more concerning going on.
 
His foster mama bought some omega’s to add to his diet and sadly, due to the postal strike his thicker winter dog coat and dog bed is delayed.  He at least has the light chilly dog coat form one of my own dogs to use in the meantime.
 
I am also still ISO as of crate and dog toys for him! I will be heading to meet up with his foster mom on December 19th if anyone has any toys they may consider donating for him.

ISO: Gift Cards!

I am in search of gift cards to help raise money for Mr. Dimitri’s ongoing vet bills and care!

To date, Melody L. (Barrhaven & Area Empties) is generously donating a $50 LCBO gift card, and I am going to donate a $25 Tim’s card.

It has been decades since I did a “XMAS Winners Wreath” Fundraiser and time to re-visit this old fav.

I am still pulling together the details – stay tuned! YET, if anyone may consider donating a gift card to one of your favourite places – dining, CDA Tire, WalMart, a Pet Store, Amazon, etc.- I would be so grateful!

Please email gwen@birchhaven.org

I am hoping to begin this Fundraiser by November 28th!

Pic of Mr. Dimitri in his foster home!

Thanks in advance for any consideration!

In Search Of:
 
The following items for BHRR’s Dimitri:
 
1) Toys – Pictures of some from Pet Valu – all XL
 
2) XL Kirkland Dog Bed – Rectangular or Round, orthopedic would be best for his skinny body. – FILLED! Thanks, Cindy H.
 
3) Seeking a Colossal Crate to borrow or purchase at a reasonable cost – Pickering area
 
4) A Shedrow Coat – He has a fall/spring Chilly Dog coat from one of my own dogs, yet needs a Shedrow one for winter with his thin Great Dane coat – Black and Blue Great Danes in particular are quite bald on their underarms and bellies! – FILLED! Thanks, Sandi L.
 
***For anyone who may consider his cause to support, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org and I can share his foster homes address so items can be mailed directly to them.***
If anyone prefers to drop items off to me or send email or PayPal donations – contacthbrr@gmail.com I will be seeing him again over the new few weeks as we continue with his vetting protocol. I can then bring or purchase items to his foster home when I meet-up with them.
 
Thanks!
 
This picture is from when I had him vetted at work right after I got him off the transport.
 
He has since been de-wormed twice, is on flea/tick/hw medication, has had bloodwork done including testing for tickborne diseases – Negative, had elevated neutrophils (quite possibly as his body is still healing from his eye/ear/skin infections), has been placed on a NSAID (Deramaxx) to see if that helps with his lower back pain.
 
He had a thorough exam including his now healed broken tail, his hind end – the vet concurs that he most likely has conformation issues in the hind end due to poor nutrition, lack of proper exercise, kept in too small of a confinement area. He is weak in the hind end yet so much better than when I first saw videos of him at the time that I was contacted to assist.
 
He is getting stronger, will always be a bit ‘wonky’ most likely in the hind end and when he is healthy enough to neuter, we will x-rays his hips.
 
His eyes do not need surgery at this time – as he puts on more weight, and becomes better hydrated the slight droop should dissipate.
 
He is on 12-13 cups of food a day being spaced out of four smaller meals, is eating well, and gaining muscle mass/tone.
 
We will do regular weigh-ins.
 
I also had his boosters plus additional vaccines given. He is healthy enough for those at this time.
 
He is very flat footed and a bit collapsed in his pasterns yet that is due to poor nutrition to date, and since his arrival into Rescue, he is on a fish-based food, so this will help his coat, skin, joints plus muscles in addition to his feet/pasterns.
 
He is a dream dog!! Just so special!
 

AND he needs a Secret Santa as it is that time of the year! 

BHRR EVENTS

NOTICE: UPCOMING BHRR EVENTS:

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

1) Saturday, November 30th – 9 AM – 3 PM – Pet Valu, Brockville
2539 Parkedale Ave A3, Brockville, ON K6V 3H2
Some Merchandise for Sale, Raffle Basket & Bake Sale

2) Annual “GIVE IT UP 4 AUTUMN’ – Runs through until November 21st inclusive
Please consider participating! Please EMAIL

3) XMAS “Winner’s Wreath”  Fundraiser – A gorgeous XMAS Wreath – value $30+, with gift cards – Value to date: $75
Each Ticket: $10
Can be paid by Cash or Email Transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
*Cannot take PayPal
Starts: November 28th until December 14th inclusive
IF YOU HAVE ANY GIFT CARDS – E-Cards work too! – THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER DONATING: PLEASE EMAIL

4) Annual Holiday Season BOTTLE DRIVE – All funds raised will help the newest additions to BHRR – BHRR’s Dimitri & BHRR’s Amata!
Runs December 8th to January 5th inclusive

5) Fall Event: Paint Your Partner FUNraiser for Ottawa Rabbit Rescue & BHRR – Paint your friend, spouse, bf/gf, family member
Date, Time & Location TBD
*A fun plus hilarious night to free paint, then reveal and give your masterpiece to your friend/spouse, bf/gf, or family member!
*Silent auction and draw prizes, too

6) 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

Two more pictures of Mr. Dimitri from at the Vet.

I shall post more about Mr. Dimitri yet after such a long day – and I am only in Brockville now, still on my way home…I wanted to say another big thank you to so many again for participating and/or sharing his recent fundraiser.
 
He was barely 110 pounds at work today.
 
Pictures do not truly show his level of skinny. 
 
Yet, his past is his past and we are working in the present and going to give him the best future!
 
I am already working on his next fundraiser – and if anyone may have gift cards, I would be so appreciative to be considered to have one for his next fundraiser…..
Details to come!
 
Please do email gwen@birchhaven.org 
 
From my heart to all of our friends, family and supporters, warm and good night wishes being sent! 
 
For Mr. Dimitri, this will be the first night in his life that he will not be in a pound or outside….
 
The first of the rest of his life…warm, safe and loved….
 
 

ETA to me in about 10+ minutes!
 
Feeling like an expectant parent!!
 
Soon…so soon…
 
We got you Dimitri!!
 

Still travelling well!
 
Everyone helping to transport him is in love with him! I mean, what is NOT to love?!
 
Mr. Dimitri! I cannot wait to meet you!!!
 
I know that you are worried….yet, your village is here for you! 

He is on his way!
 
Mr. Dimitri!
 
He is doing ok – a bit stressed – understandable and travelling super well. Everyone has found him to be a gentle giant.
 
He is on transport with cats/kittens and another dog. They are making him feel safe! 
 
I will be leaving shortly to meet the transport and then drive to meet up with his foster.
 
Isn’t he so freakin’ handsome!?
 
I have been having vetting done since we committed to him while he has been at the pound, and he looks SO much better already!
 
See you soon my dear boy! 
 
**PHOTO IS FROM HIS TRANSPORT**

The shelter has called him ‘Dimitri’

Deadline to find a spot was by October 16th, or he would be euthanised. Thank goodness we were able to find a foster!

He is a young man – will say ~2 years.

Picked up as a stray. The person who found him, was going to keep him, then dropped him off at the pound.

Friendly, sweet, calm, has let the shelter staff do anything with him, affectionate, excellent leash manners – does not pull on leash at all, has not destroyed anything at the shelter, not nervous or afraid of anything including men, knows basic commands, crate trained, no separation anxiety and friendly with dogs.

Cats are unknown.

Being treated for skin dermatitis, possible ear infections, may need eye surgery – entropion(and this is most likely one of the reasons why many groups cannot or will not step up as it is a $4,000-$5,000 surgery.

The other reason is that it is suspected that he has a possible neuro condition – possibly trauma-related. I did not note anything in the two short videos, so I cannot say one way or another.

Broken tail.

Calluses on legs.

Very skinny – only 52 kgs (114.4 pounds)

The two small videos I have seen shows a typical Dane – a goofy, clumsy boy….. 

We will pay to have basic vaccines at the shelter – DHPP booster, Rabies, & to have him microchipped.

The shelter has already given:

He got Bordetella and his first DAPP on October 1, 2024

They prescribed 

Prohex 4 spray for the lesions on his abdomen

Also, the diarrhea was treated with probiotics and GI food.

Also authorized fenbendazole to treat the diarrhea/parasites

Once he arrives, we will give him Letpo/Lyme vaccines, deworm him further, test for heartworm and tickborne diseases, and do pre-op bloodwork to prepare to neuter him when he is stronger. We will re-visit his skin, and check out his ears

ETA: is after October 28th