WHO'S GOT A BIG HEART AND ROOM FOR 3 ELDERLY BOSTONS TO FOSTER UNTIL WE GET THEM TO RESCUE?

OR, if you're a small dog rescue do you have room for these three old sweeties whose dog parent is in the hospital and they were given to Bay County Animal Control.  The BCAC is desperate for a foster home until we get them into a rescue group.  They are confused and unhappy and don't know why they're there.

It is crowded and noisy - a large facility.

It would be cruel to break them up at their advanced age.  It is also cruel to think that just that because they are old, and one is compromised, that no one will take them home to love, unless we get them into a rescue organization.  Can you help?

So if you can find the space, the time and the love it takes to foster three sweet dogs who of course, are small, please contact Bay County Animal Control, 850-767-3333

Bruno a neutered 15 year old

Cutie Pie a spayed female 15 year old

Starbuck a male 12 year old that has double glaucoma

BOSTON TERRIER PEOPLE (AND EVERYONE ELSE), PLEASE MEET OSCAR, WHO WILL STEAL YOUR HEART

http://bhambtr.org/assets/photos/rescues/Oscar/destination/index.htm

When I first heard of Oscar's plight and fight, he really touched my heart. You probably all know by now, my family includes five rescued Bostons, including Granny Annie who is very old, ugly, disabled (she's a tripod), and extremely beautiful to all that meet her.

All of them, particularly Granny Annie, are very precious souls. And I'm sure that Oscar will
win someone's heart very soon.

All dogs who are neglected and abused seem to know when they finally come "home". They are sensitive to their rescue, and they are forever grateful, returning your love in inestimable ways.

If you can't take Oscar home, perhaps you will be able to send a donation, however small, for his continuing care.

This particular Boston Rescue is one I have worked with many times. The staff and volunteers
are wonderful people with enormous hearts and unending devotion to the breed, and it is my pleasure to deliver this entry to you on their behalf.

Let's get Oscar a home!

Do you love Boston Terriers? Maybe you can help this one.

Cream Pie is a little girl who happens to be white. Not albino, she is not deaf, but she has cataracts. The rescue, Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue in Birmingham, AL is having a fund drive to help Cream Pie get her surgery, which now parallels what we as humans get. There is now a lens implant - but of course, it is hazardous.

Maybe you can spare a dollar or five. About half of the money needed has already been donated.

I have five Bostons. I don't know how that happened - they are all rescues. Granny Annie went around the world on the internet - a homely, in need, elderly, three-legged dog. I thought when I adopted her, she had little time to live. But I should've called her Timex, because despite her "lickin'", she keeps on tickin'.

BBTR has given you a link to contribute to Paypal, and there is a link directly to the vet, I believe.

So if you woke up this morning and hugged your dog, please try to find a dollar in your pocket and send it to Cream Pie's surgery fund.






http://bhambtr.org/html/Cream.html

HOW COULD YOU? Tissue Alert

I put this here today because as I was walking through the door from down with groceries, the phone rang asking if I could take in a 3 year-old Boston Terrier. The woman is losing her home and must move by Monday. There are two high kill shelters here, and the humane society, which is no kill, is full.

I will do my best to get her placed, but my network is also stressed. I hate this work. I wish I weren't called to do it. But I am. That's just how things are.

As more and more people find themselves jobless and homeless, and veterinary fees going through the roof, the shelters, rescues and animal controls are going to be stressed to the breaking point, and I don't have to tell you what that means.




A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full
Page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of
His community.

HOW COULD YOU? - By Jim Willis, 2001

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you
Laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes
And a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend.
Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How
Could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were
Terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those
Nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and
Secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more
Perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides,
Stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad
For dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you
To come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career,
And more time searching for a human mate.
I waited for you patiently,
Comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided
You about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings,
And when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -
- still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection,
And obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was
Fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to
Mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them,
And I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog
Crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of
Love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my
Fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my
Eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved
Everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now
So infrequent -- and I would've defended them with my life if need
Be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and
Secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in
The driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that
You produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories
About me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed
The subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and
You resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and
They will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've
Made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when
I was your only family

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal
Shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You
Filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home
For her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand
The realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You
Had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he
Screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I
Worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about
Friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about
Respect for all life. You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided
My eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you.
You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left,
The two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move
Months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They
Shook their heads and asked, "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy
Schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days
Ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front,
Hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all
A bad dream... Or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared,
Anyone who might save me.

When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention
of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far
corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the
end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate
room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed
my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation
of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner
of love had run out of days.

As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she
bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew
your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as
a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used
to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic
needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing
through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and
murmured, "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said, "I'm so
sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make
sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused
or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light
so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of
energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How
could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My
Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait
for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so
much loyalty.

A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your
eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because
it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets
who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use
this to help educate, on your web sites, in newsletters, on animal
shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the
decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life,
that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another
appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local
humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice,
and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and
encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.
Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad,
but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet. Remember...They love
UNCONDITIONALLY.

Now that the tears are rolling down your face, pass it on! Send to
everyone in your address book and around the world! This IS the
reality of dogs given up to shelters!

This is Granny Annie - A true case of beauty being skin deep...

This is the dog I rescued two days ago. She is clean, flea free, resting, eating, and enjoying her Milk Bones.

Three legs, covered with cysts; one dangles and swings, and it's been taped until the vet can remove it. Old scars from two gashes on her other side. Her eyes are a little dim, though she can see. She wags for the cats, the other dogs. She can...jump on the bed! Her favorite spot is a folded sleeping bag against my dresser. She is nothing but sweet.

Please consider an older companion. They demand so little...a safe place, you, some loving, good food and clean water. Patches of sunshine when it's not too cold; a cool place when it's hot. Shelters are full of dogs like Granny Annie. Chances are their stories are long and sad, because why else would they end up there? Tossed on the roadsides? Given to home after home? Their owner dead and the kids didn't want such an ugly thing around?

Let me tell you...Granny Annie has a heart of pure gold. She loves and appreciates everything.

You can't have her. You have to get your own. Visit your local shelter. There are magnificent animals, young and old, waiting to rescue YOU.

A friend sent me the following:

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels.

I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage.

I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today.

Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past.

I only have the future to look forward to and want to make

a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.

I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.

I would promise to always be by her side.

I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.

So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors.

So many more to be saved.

At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Author unknown.

TODAY I RESCUED A DOG...

Ever notice that changing photo widget on the left sidebar which are adoptable dogs from the Bay County Florida Animal Control facility, not too far from me?

It is, unfortunately, a high kill shelter, but the staff and the director, Jim Crosby, love rescuers and rescue organizations. Anyway - I saw this little Boston face, and called about her because she is a tripod - somewhere in her past, she has lost a front leg. Well, that's ok. Someone would want a five year old with a disability - a perfect therapy dog, especially working with amputees. Maybe at the veterans home off Star Avenue.

I made them promise not to euthanize her, and I went today to see her. She's not five. Maybe 50 or 60 but certainly not five. Her owner is incarcerated. I guess he gave her to someone to care for, and they weren't treating her well, and she was confiscated. She had absolutely NO chance in heaven or hell. She has a growth on one hind leg that hangs and swings on a small attachment. That will come off. She is homely. She has a gray face. She is a little heavy because she must rest. Walking is tiresome. I suspect she has heartworm. Why not? She has old scars on the left flank. Big scars. There may be a bb in the middle of her face just above her eyes. An old wound. She's had skin problems - probably a severe flea allergy. I bathed her in medicated soap and she got the Adams spray treatment. But she's a tail wagger, and tonight she barked at a passing car on the street. She has rested on a clean sleeping bag all day. I think I'll call her Granny.

If you are reading this post and live in the Panama City, FL area, the Bay County Animal Control has some wonderful dogs available. My heart broke because there are two absolutely beautiful male purebred Boston terriers there. One looks like a big version of my Sophie. The other is smaller. They are in perfect condition.

There is what is listed as a male Lab mix. HE'S HAUNTING ME. His coat is lush, thick and wavy. He's black, which makes his chances of adoption slim. There's white on his chest. He bounced and bounced so high and hard, begging me to free him, that I think his exuberance could be channeled into frisbee or flyball - something athletic. He looks to me like more of an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix. Less like a Lab. He doesn't deserve to die. If you read the beginning of this blog, you will find an entry on black dogs. Black dogs are never adopted. The best dogs I've ever had were black. And one was a Border Collie. I have an Aussie, and she is faithful, smart and great to have around.

There are purebred Chihuahuas, a Dalmation, and a terrier with whiskers - maybe wire haired fox terrier and JRT cross or maybe some rat terrier thrown in. So cute. Still looks like a puppy. So hopeful. All of them are so hopeful.

If you have the time, please go see these beautiful dogs, who will, if not adopted, be euthanized and incinerated. They don't deserve this. If you know someone in rescue in Bay County, or even in Alabama - please tell them that this facility is rescue friendly.

The number of the BCAC is 850-767-3333. You can leave a message. You can save a life and you can enrich yours.