Thanks to our 442 supporters! ABR's grand total is currently at $10,951.69 since joining iGive.com.
We currently have 17 ABR supporters with the iGive button.
Get your iGive button at https://www.igive.com/button/
1.2% Donation
(Purchases must be made through iGive or with iGive button for ABR to receive the donation.)
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a sports, outdoor & lifestyle retailer with 200+ stores that offers a broad assortment of quality products.
105 Supporters
$5,373.30 since joining
What is GoodShop?
We like to say that we have the most powerful coupons in the world.
Not only do we provide the best shopping deals on the internet, but we also make a donation to the nonprofit or school of your choice for almost every purchase you make. That's right: when you shop with Goodshop you don't just save. You also give, at no extra cost.
Amazon Smile has raised $4,833.46 for ABR since joining!
Do you feed your dog (or cat) Natural Balance? If so, you can help ABR! Natural Balance will issue a refund check directly to ABR for every 50 receipts with UPC's that we submit.
THIS IS IMPORTANT
 We must have both the store receipt showing the NB purchase plus the official UPC (the one that shows the flavor and bag weight, ie Sweet Potato & Fish, 28 lbs.).
For instructions as to where to send the receipts/UPC's and for any additional information you need.
COMING SOON - ABR QUILT RAFFLE
Watch Facebook and the ABR website for more information about the launch date and raffle entry opportunities.
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ANNUAL ILLINOIS ABR PICNIC
Saturday September 9th, 2017
10:00 AM until 04:00 PM
Location
: Greene Valley Forest Preserve located in Naperville, IL.
We will be at the West Shelter which is located South of Hobson Road on Greene Road.
COST for LUNCH: $10.00 per person, $15.00 per couple, $20.00 per family
ALL DONATIONS WILL BENEFIT THE DOGS ABR HELPS
Please stop by our Welcome Table to check in. The whole family and friends are welcome to attend! Dogs are also invited. The park is not fenced. You will need to provide a tie out, pen or leash your dog while at the picnic grounds. There is a wonderful dog park within walking distance of our picnic site. Please note that a day permit will be necessary to use the dog park.
This year's activities will include:
- 11:00 am - The Adopt Me Parade. The dogs in this parade will be dogs that are currently available for adoption.
- 12:00 Noon - 1:30pm - Lunch · Group Photo right after lunch
- 2:00 pm - The IL ABR Raffle will end and drawing for winners will begin, so be sure you've got your tickets! All proceeds go to ABR.
What you need to bring to the picnic:
- If you would like to donate an item or gift basket to our raffle please let Lynn Zadkovic ([email protected]) know what it is, all gifts accepted.
- Please bring chairs to sit on, crates or other means for containing your dogs, tie out and stakes are always a good thing to bring and a bowl for your dogs. We have a pump with fresh water near our site.
- Refreshments will be available for all the humans who attend. Water will be available for your 4 legged friends.
- Don't worry about bringing cash. We will be able to take checks for any donation you wish to make. We will not be able to take credit cards.
If you have any questions regarding the picnic please contact Deborah Giesler at 847-940-0977 or
[email protected]. Thank you for your continued support.
MCCANDLESS COMMUNITY DAY
Saturday September 9th, 2017
12:15 PM until 09:00 PM
Location: PA
ABR is pleased to announce that we will once again be participating in McCandless Community Day. This is a fun-filled day with live entertainment, amusement rides, lots of good food, numerous vendors and a car cruise. The day begins with a parade and ends with a spectacular fireworks display. Be sure to stop by the ABR booth for some Brittany kisses!
This event will be held at the
Town of McCandless Town Hall 9955 Grubbs Road Wexford PA.
PET APPRECIATION DAY
Saturday September 16th, 2017
10:00 AM until 02:00 PM
Location: PA
ABR will have a booth at this event. DOGS, DRAWINGS, SPECIALS -- who could resist! Please join ABR as we celebrate our beloved companions at Tractor Supply's Pet Appreciation Day. Our ABR Mascots will be looking for you!
This event will be held at
Tractor Supply 100 Tracotr Lane Gibsonia, PA.
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Pawrty in the Park held on August 12th
 ABR-PA had a fun day at the Pawrty in the Park event. We not only collected donations, but had a reunion of ABR adopters and alumni. Volunteers Karen (with Brinkley), Denise & Joe (with Mocha) and Mary (with Cammie & Annabelle) welcomed the Page family with recently adopted Speckles, Bev & Chuck Blackson with alumni Copper, and Autumn & Scott Fenton who adopted one of our "Greek" imports, Opa.
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| HEALTH NOTES WITH DR. HEATHER |
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HOLD IT: A Story of Urinary Incontinence
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The ability to urinate voluntarily and store urine in the bladder without leakage requires many complex parts of a dog's anatomy and nervous system to work together.
The bladder is a vesicle, an innervated muscled fluid filled storage sack that receives urine from both the right and left kidneys. The bladder's job is to hold urine until there is an urge stimulated by being full and then a voluntary decision to urinate. The bladder is lined with smooth muscle that when stretched tells the spinal nerves to signal the brain that it is time to make the decision to urinate.
When the dog decides that it is the time to urinate the abdomen contracts, and then this pressure activates the involuntary nervous system to squeeze the bladder upstream and relax the muscles downstream to allow urine to flow out the pelvic urethra. In other words, if anything interferes with the structure of the bladder, urethra, the peripheral or central nervous system a dog may not be able to hold urine or urinate normally.
The most common cause for urinary incontinence in dogs is Primary Urethral Sphincter Mechanism Incontinence.1 The specific cause is unknown but it is theorized that urinary leakage occurs because there is an affect of estrogen on bladder control. Incontinence like this usually is found in larger breed spayed dogs that leave a small wet spot behind when lying down.1,2
Treatment for urinary incontinence typically involves the medication Proin to increase the tone of the musculature between the urinary bladder and the urethra. When the junction between the bladder and the lower urinary tract is "tighter" less urine can leak out of the bladder. This medication is used to help both male and female dogs that have decreased tone at the junction of the urinary bladder and the urethra. Estrogen supplementation can be used in female dogs or in refractory cases that don't respond to Proin alone. These medications can have side effects such as high blood pressure for Proin and bone marrow suppression for Estrogen, so they need to be used judiciously and under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Urinary tract infections can also cause a spastic type of incontinence due to inflammation.1 Urinary tract infections also occur more frequently in dogs with abnormal urinary control
. Common anatomic causes of urinary incontinence include ectopic ureters, prostatic disease in males, vaginal abnormalities in females, and cancer of the urinary tract.1 Ectopic ureters are a congenital defect where the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys skip the bladder and go right to the urethra. Medications that help with symptoms of primary incontinence may help in these conditions as well and a lack of response to medications for treatment for incontinence means time for some advanced imaging of the anatomy of the urinary tract such as abdominal ultrasound or contrast radiography
References:
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| PLANNED GIVING OPPORTUNITY |
American Brittany Rescue
is a
501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation, and to ensure their health and placement into new homes.
Check our website to find more giving opportunities...
We would be honored to share your love and appreciation of our mission through your gift to our general fund, Brittany Buddy fund or a specific fund in keeping with our mission and/or location.
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We want to hear from you and your Brittany! ABR uses your success stories for our website. It helps people visiting our website "hear and see" about the work we do for the Brittany breed directly from our adopters. Your submission can be a detailed story or a quick update. We find it really fun when our Brittany alum "writes" the story or update. We all know our Brittanys have a personality, right??!! Be creative!
SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION OF SAMMY
My husband and I adopted Sammy, a Brittany mix, one month ago. We can not thank ABR enough for bringing such a joyous addition to our family.
This sweet pup LOVES her big brother, Doc (our 11 year old Brittany). She has brought about a new energy in Doc. He is a playful pup once more! They enjoy hiking together in the woods, playing/wrestling in our yard, and chewing on bones.
We feel we are blessed with two perfect fur babies! Thank you ABR!
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It was a metal pole barn. Unheated. Dark. One bare bulb dangling from a rafter. Her whole world was a small cage until everything changed. Learn more about Lori's journey in the Fall/Winter Brittany Tales: For the Love of Brittanys.
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Marley relaxing after a busy Fourth of July weekend
- Submitted by Lauren R.
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"Rescuing one dog will not change the world.... But for that dog the world will be forever changed."
These wonderful Brittanys are currently available for adoption.
Benson (New York): A good and playful boy with a Brittany heart of gold... if you like to play and cuddle and have your best friend right by your side, 7 year old Benson is your guy
Hank (Nebraska): Meet Hank, a 5-year-old boy with a true zest for life! Hank has a condition affecting the chewing muscles of his jaw, but since going on medication he has been doing great. He LOVES being outside, car rides, and attention from his people!
Cooper is a 10-year-old boy with the heart and energy of a puppy! His life was not a happy one until he came to ABR, but it's bright skies ahead for this gentle and loving boy. Can you give him the chance to meet his potential? He will be a wonderful friend and companion!
 CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF AVAILABLE DOGS...Â
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MEADOW: FOSTER FAMILY HELPS SPECIAL GIRL FIND HER FOOTING
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| Couch time for Meadow (left), Gwen, Jim and Ruby |
It is the nature of rescue that some dogs come to us needing a little more than just a place to call home. ABR's mission to provide Brittanys in need with rehabilitation, healthcare, foster care, and forever homes includes all Brittanys, even those with special medical or behavioral needs. Of course our Brittanys benefit greatly from ABR's dedication, but we've also learned that our foster families and adopters who open their hearts to dogs requiring extra TLC are often exceptionally rewarded as well.
ABR volunteer Jim De Knight is one such foster dad who is enjoying the rewards of caring for a special little girl named Meadow.
One-year-old Meadow was found as a stray and taken into a shelter in Northern New Jersey. When Jim received the call about Meadow, he finished his workday and that night he and his daughter Gwen drove six hours round-trip to pull Meadow from the shelter. Jim just wouldn't have it any other way for a Brittany-not another night at the shelter. A very grateful Meadow slept with Gwen in the back seat all the way home.
Jim knew nothing about Meadow or her background when he picked her up at the shelter. He was presented with a skinny 19-pound Brittany with a wild look in her eyes. She walked a little funny, as though she was injured. He took her to the vet who wasn't sure what was wrong with her. They thought that perhaps she had been hit by a car, and they hoped that in time her legs would get stronger.
Some time passed and her legs did not get stronger. Jim still noticed the faraway look in her eyes. She never barked. She walked into things. ABR State Coordinator Michelle Falkinburg suggested taking Meadow to a neurologist.
The neurologist diagnosed Meadow with a brain disorder called cerebellar ataxia. It causes Meadow to be unbalanced and clumsy. Her front and back legs seem to disagree on which direction to take. To help her manage, Jim makes sure that stairs are gated, and he uses throw rugs and carpets to help her keep her footing. Meadow also relies on her Brittany foster sister, Ruby, to help find her way. She takes cues from Ruby about going outside and eating.
Meadow is also being treated for seizures, which were quite severe until she started on phenobarbital. Since being on the medication, the incidents and severity of her seizures have dropped significantly.
 There is no known cause for Meadow's condition. Sometimes cerebellar ataxia exists at birth. Sometimes a blow to the head will cause it. Unfortunately there is no cure. Usually within the first 5-6 months of diagnosis it will be apparent whether the condition will worsen. The great news for Meadow is that she has surpassed this time marker and she has shown no decline whatsoever. While Meadow will always need special accommodations to help her manage her day-to-day business, she has a chance at living a long and happy life. She is now a healthy 23 pounds. Her disability does not affect her personality, and she has adjusted well to her physical limitations, hopping around to get where she wants to go. She is an active girl, and although she tires a little more easily, her energy while she is on the go is like a typical one-year-old Brittany. At the end of the day, Meadow loves to shower her people with affection and cuddles.
Jim says that Meadow is really no extra work. Now that he understands her condition and limitations, she is a very easy dog-in fact one of the easiest fosters he has had. She never needs crating and can stay home alone for the usual amount of time. She is an easygoing girl and a true angel-with broken wings but an unbroken spirit.
 Meadow is ready for adoption! She is looking for a family with another dog who can help her make her way, and humans who will take just a few extra steps to adjust her surroundings where she might have difficulty. In return, she will be your forever sweetheart.
For more about Meadow and to complete an adoption application, please visit our
website here
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Thank you to the De Knight family for all you do for ABR and especially for the guidance and love you give to Meadow every day!
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Questions & Answers from our ABR Community
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Dear Brittany,
I have an older incontinent dog and am having difficulty getting my carpet clean. I feel like I have tried all the store bought cleaners, so I was wondering if there are any home remedies that members of our ABR community use for this issue.
Thanks,
Still Love My Old Dog
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Dear Still Love My Old Dog,
We had an elderly, incontinent Brittany. It was recommended that we use a solution of half water and half vinegar. That was the most helpful.
- Lori
I use a good bit of straight vinegar on the urine spot (soaking it completely) so it goes all the way into the carpet pad then blot with towels. I also use a mixture of hot water and vinegar in my carpet cleaner. We've trained 11 dogs over the years and the carpet has no odor (per my friends, family and neighbors).
- Allene
Not a home remedy but totally works!! "Poop off 911". It is available at Petsmart.
- Yoshie
After first blotting up the pee, I use white vinegar, dribbling or pouring enough to wet the pee area. Then when it is wet, take paper towels newspaper: newspaper under the carpet, and paper towels over. Blot by STANDING and STEPPING on it, meaning thoroughly pressing it CLEAN AND ALMOST DRY. This, with additional use of Resolve crystals which you can vacuum later, will help with stains and smells and repeat usage by dog of same spot.
- Laura
This is not a home remedy, but with 2 dogs and 2 cats this is as good as it gets - it's called "Get Serious." I used to be able to buy it at Petsmart but for the past few years I have only found it online. It comes in quart and gallon sizes. It's worth its weight in gold!
- Kim
We successfully use Nature's Miracle from the store.
- Anonymous
Thank you for your submissions to Dear Brittany and we hope that many of you can benefit from this information. If you have a question for our Dear Brittany section, please submit it to
[email protected]
Opportunity
Are you an artist or graphic designer? If so, we would love to have an image for the Dear Brittany section. Please submit entries to [email protected] for consideration.
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Congratulations to these Brittanys who joined their forever families over the last month!
Alain, GA
A-Jay, CA
Bona, WA
Duke, NJ
Freckles, CA
Guinness, MD
Hank, OK
Jack, MI
Jackson, VA
Jason, CA
Lacy, CA
Leo, WA
Luke fka Rusty, NC
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Luigi, CA
Madison, PA
Maia, CA
Mika, WA
PD, CO
Percy, UT
Raylan, MI
Rocco, NC
Ruby Rose, KS
Sally, CA
Spinner, FL
Zeus, FL
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 As we move into the "Dog Days" of summer and the early days of hunting season our dogs can get pretty heated up running, playing and following those amazing noses. While the "frozen smoothie" recipe of banana, yogurt and peanut butter* is familiar to many, there are other options. Treats can be frozen in the traditional ice cube tray, a cleaned Styrofoam egg carton (what a great repurpose idea!), muffin tins, bundt pans (more about this later) and other food grade containers in your home. Of course, if you have a countertop ice cream freezer, these treats can be frozen and stored like any other ice cream to scoop into cones or food dishes.
FIRST, A FEW SUGGESTIONS...
Consider the environment where your dog will enjoy their frozen treat. These recipes contain good things for your dog, but not such good things for your carpet, the heirloom quilt on your bed or the new hardwood floor. Shape can be important.
Be sure to make your treat large enough that it does not create a choking hazard. Adult supervision is suggested as dogs do not always use the best judgement when chowing down on tasty treats. Strive for a treat large enough to lick and soften a bit before it is swallowed.
Finally, a hard dog biscuit can be added to provide a handle and a final bite or two of crunchy tooth cleaning. (Don't worry about picture-perfect centering of handles. A muffin-sized treat will disappear quickly and, unlike like your children, the five-second rule does not apply if it hits the ground.)
FROZEN PUMPKIN DOG TREATS
Pumpkin is good all year round and good for your dog, especially when you blend a can of it with a cup of yogurt, a teaspoon of honey and a banana, then spoon into ice trays.If you are heading out to the field or a fall festival, treats can be frozen is a lidded container and kept in your cooler. Pop it out when you need it. A four- to six-inch disk is great for holding in dog paws and licking.
FROZEN APPLE DOG TREAT
Core and slice two apples then chop up and throw in a blender. Add a cup of plain Greek yogurt and a splash of water, then blend, pour into container, freeze, and enjoy! Add blueberries, chunks of watermelon, strawberries or the crumbs from the treat box for variety.
PB & FRUIT ICE DOG TREAT
This one is fun because it's not just a frozen dog treat, but it's also a clever game.
Blend together peanut butter and water, pour into a
bundt cake pan
(silicone is suggested), then sprinkle in
flax seeds
and mixed berries. Freeze, then toss on the lawn for the dog to gnaw on! At last, it's appropriate to play with your food.
* Avoid peanut butter containing glycol
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Lacey is 13 and has been with us for almost 14 months. She continues to do very well. After she was with us for a few months, she still seemed quite anxious. She pranced around and around, and never really sat down. I did not associate her behavior with pain. I took her to a behaviorist thinking that her odd behavior was somehow related to some difficulty or trauma that she may have suffered before she came into rescue. The behaviorist rather quickly suggested that she was likely in pain and that she was possibly suffering from some canine cognitive disorder.
I took her immediately to her veterinarian, Dr. Barbara Ramos Rivera. We have had several older dogs over the years and I knew that Dr. Ramos was exceptionally good with pain management. She immediately started her on laser therapy as well as medication. She has been getting a laser treatment once a week since February and has improved remarkably.
The prancing has practically ceased (except when she is waiting for food!). Although we do not allow her to negotiate any steps without one of us, she has become much more mobile. She loves her walks, which are now longer than before, and now she even occasionally chases rabbits and squirrels at a high speed for short distances! She is now a much more "normal" 13 year old, better able to enjoy all of the pleasures and treats that we try to provide for.
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