AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2020
NATIONAL PET MEMORIAL DAY
In just over a month the weather will turn cooler and leaves on the trees will begin to change to bright reds, yellows, and oranges. As we welcome the coming of fall and the change of seasons, you may also want to remember the pets you have lost. September is a perfect time to do this since the second Sunday in September is National Pet Memorial Day.

The first Pet Memorial Day was celebrated over forty years ago and it continues to grow in popularity each year. It is a unique day carved out in our hectic, yearly calendar to reflect upon, celebrate, and honor the memories of beloved pets that have passed on, but still have a special place in our hearts.

Pets play an important role in our lives. Not only are they companions, but pets become part of the family, too. Pets offer unconditional love, comfort us, entertain us, help teach children responsibility, and remind us to play. When we are too serious, they lighten our mood. Plus, many reputable studies have shown pets keep us healthy by lowering our blood pressure and heart rate levels.

When we lose a beloved pet, the pain is genuine. Whether furry, feathered, or an uncommon variety, the pain is felt deeply. Everyone mourns differently and must deal with loss in their own way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Give yourself time to grieve and take actions that will help you remember your pet and move toward healing.

Below are some examples of things to consider as a way of honoring and remembering your beloved pet. These actions offer a tangible way to cope with grief. 

  1. Plant a tree or bush in your yard. Every time you see it, it will remind you of the love you shared with your pet.
  2. Donate to a local shelter in your pet’s name.
  3. Create a photo album.
  4. Write a poem.
  5. Donate a flower, garden, or tree to a local park.
  6. Volunteer your time at a local shelter.
  7. Volunteer to help keep local parks clean for other pet lovers – pick up fallen limbs, debris, trash.
  8. Design, develop, and/or build a pet exercise park. Be a part of getting it organized and built. 
  9. Donate to a local fire or police department’s canine unit in your beloved pet’s name.
  10. Have a memorial service for your pet.
  11. Make a shadow box with your pet’s collar, tags, favorite toy, a piece of their favorite blanket, photos, and other special mementos.
  12. Make a piece of jewelry for yourself using your pet’s leather collar and/or tags.
  13. Donate to a local pet bakery and ask if they would name a treat after your pet.
  14. If your pet was cremated, plan a time to scatter their ashes in a spot where you and your pet spent happy days.
  15. Create an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree or in your home. You can use a clear globe and fill it with your pet’s tags, a snippet of their fur, a piece of their favorite tug toy, or things that remind you of your pet.
  16. Take a hike at the place you and your pet hiked most often.

National Pet Memorial Day is a great day to share with others what a tremendous impact pets make and how their bond is everlasting. If you would like to share your memories, you can use #NationalPetMemorialDay to post pictures and remembrances of your pet online for all to see.

With time, memories will replace the empty space left by the loss of a cherished pet. Those memories will bring you joy and help you remember the love and good times you shared with your beloved pet.
FOSTER TAILS - BUCKEY
In August of 2018 at the age of twelve, Forever Foster Buckey, formerly known as Bullet, came to us via Pilots and Paws. His family had no patience left for him. He had been left to his own devices in the backyard even though he would escape often, mostly during thunderstorms.

Right away we noticed that he had more energy than we had anticipated! My husband and I are disabled seniors and we use our mobility scooters to exercise our dogs. At first Buckey loved running with foster brother Coco, but it didn’t take long to see that he just couldn’t keep up. One day, on a much slower run, Buckey collapsed. In a panic, my husband got the car to pick him up and get him home. It seemed to take him quite a long time to catch his breath. The breathing issue continued, even in the house, so we took him to the emergency vet. Buckey was put in an oxygen tent. After some time, the vet came out to tell us that Buckey needed to see a specialist as soon as possible to be tested for laryngeal paralysis (LP). The next day we were able to see the specialist who confirmed he had LP.

We hit the ground running and read everything we could get our hands on, even joining an LP group on Facebook. We didn’t wait long before deciding that Buckey needed tieback surgery to help him breathe. The surgery was performed a few days later and we could IMMEDIATELY see improvement in his breathing. The vet gave specific instructions: limit outdoor exercise in temps above 70 and make his food into meatballs to be given by hand one at a time, keeping his chin up. Because of his high energy level he was prescribed Trazodone to keep him calm. Since we live in Florida we turned the air conditioning to 70 degrees to keep him comfortable and actively played with him indoors. Thankfully, he never developed aspirational pneumonia as many dogs with LP do.

Sadly, the story doesn’t end there.

Buckey was recovering nicely, being the loving, affectionate guy we had grown to love. Gradually we started noticing some changes. One day he was walking across the living room and he stopped and peed as though it was the most natural thing in the world. He seemed to show much less interest in cuddling, and sometimes he would even pull away when we tried to pet him. He was walking around the house a lot and was definitely more hungry than usual. We thought this was just part of the progression of the laryngeal paralysis, but we were not seeing this behavior on the LP support group website. I was on the phone with ABR volunteer Becca Whitley one night and described these symptoms to her. She suggested dementia or canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). She became familiar with CCD when a friend with a senior Britt talked about her dog having it.
 
Buckey’s symptoms progressed rapidly to where he would get stuck in corners and became a wild dog at mealtime. He was pacing the house constantly, panting, running into things, and falling. Sometimes he would just sit and stare at me, or stare at nothing at all. After consulting Becca’s friend and our vet and reading all the comments on the CCD support group Facebook page, we tried many combinations of medicines and supplements to no avail. He seemed to be getting worse. It should be noted that not all dogs react the same way to the dementia or the treatments. We have finally found a cocktail that is working for him.  He is not getting up at night to pace and he is not having accidents.  

As with LP, we take it one day at a time.  He is a dearly loved old fellow and we trust him to let us know when he has had enough.  
 
Submitted by Rick and Sandi Jayne
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
By Linda Joyce
Becca Whitley, ABR Volunteer
Becca Whitley in Covington, Georgia has been an ABR volunteer since January 2017. A simple reply to an Instagram post made by a friend in the Northwest stating, "If I were any closer, I'd help!" gained the attention of the Georgia coordinator at the time. Within four hours Becca’s volunteer application was complete. “I'll do anything to help a Brittany!” she stated. Becca is on the coordinating team for the South East. She also has a hand in managing the ABR Facebook page.
 
Becca grew up with dogs. "We had a husky, a cocker spaniel, two schipperkes, and an American eskimo dog.” A Brittany came into Becca’s life about ten years ago. “You can pretty much say my husband and I are Brittany addicted!” says Becca.
 
Becca and her husband Ryan, a fireman, have two Brittanys. Bristol, the Queen, is ten years old and Baylee—part velociraptor—is five years old. Becca and Ryan are also foster paw-rents. The fur babies bring love, joy, and entertainment to the Whitley home. “Bristol is a master squirrel/lizard/rabbit/deer chaser and Baylee's favorite game is, ‘Let me out so I can come back in!’”
 
Being consistent with commands and rewards is an integral part of training at the Whitley home. “Our Brittanys are very well trained, so maintaining is the easy part. It's important to know how smart Brittanys are. All they want is for their humans to be happy! If you continuously work with them, you would be shocked by all they can do!”
 
Becca, also known as Bec or Bebe, is a full-time hairstylist and is attending school. She spends her time off at home, on the lake, or with friends.
 
This dedicated ABR volunteer says everyone knows she’s very outspoken. “I’m known to speak my mind.” But what most people don’t know is that Becca was adopted. “I was the second oldest of six children. Starting when I was sixteen my family fostered children for eleven years which resulted in over 470 children coming through our home. Maybe that’s what planted the seed for me to foster Brittanys?”
 
ABR is most appreciative of the dedication and hours Becca has given as to the organization and to the breed we all love.
SUCCESS STORY
She Is "Hope"
Her name is Hope and no other name would be more fitting. Hope loves life and everything about living. She loves walks, car rides, and wading in water up to her belly at the lake. She loves kids, snuggling in bed, and chasing squirrels and chipmunks. When her breeder named her Hope (and often called her “Hopi”) she couldn’t have known what Hope’s journey would bring, but here is her story. 8 years of Hope — shared by her forever mom, Susan Raguse.
 
Hope was an owner-assisted rescue and I corresponded with the owner until we decided our family would be a good fit. She was born with a "persistent right aortic arch" which is genetic and that led to her developing megaesophagus (also known as Mega E). Her owner noticed that when the pups in the litter were being weaned to kibble, Hope would always go to her mom to nurse. The vet diagnosed her problem and told her owner that, unfortunately, most dogs with the condition are put down. The owner agreed to do it but when she brought Hope in she just couldn't go through with it. Three times during that visit the vet was ready to start the procedure and Hope's owner stopped him. 
 
She took Hope home and worked very hard to help her thrive, including using a Bailey chair. She went far beyond what most other dog owners would do, opting to try an expensive surgical procedure which didn't work. When Hope was about eight months old the owner contacted ABR about finding a new home for her. She had two other Brittanys at the time and they had a busy household. The owner had Hope and her mom spayed, lest the genetic flaw be passed on through other litters. After going through the adoption process, my daughter and I drove through a blinding snowstorm to Petoskey one evening to pick up Hope. 
 
Hope, like all Britts, is very smart, quite the talker, bossy, and has given us lots of love. She's our third Britt and second ABR adoption. Her biggest issue is, of course, eating. I've had to experiment with her diet and have found what worked best over the years is soaking her food in water and then mashing it up until it is soupy. I often add a small, tasty treat because she can be a picky eater. If she eats too fast she will vomit her food later. We have cleaned up countless piles of regurgitated meals. Snacks are limited to very soft food, including cheese, a pat of butter, or sometimes a tiny dog biscuit. She always looks sad after she vomits, but we reassure her every time. I feel sad that she can't enjoy some of the treats that other dogs do, but she adores ice cream and has no problem keeping it down. She also has bad breath because her diet is all soft. Having her teeth cleaned helps with the problem short term, but it’s not a big deal.
 
Hope turned eight in June. She has brought so much love to her family and we are grateful that her first owner saved her from what would have been a tragic ending.
FEATURE FOSTERS
CHARLIE #10197, Illinois
Looking for an active companion? Well then, Charlie just might be your guy! He's a very handsome, healthy 1½-year-old who is looking for a home where he can be included in lots of activities and be close to his humans. He is on the energizer bunny scale of Brittany activity.
 
Now settled in with his resident Britts , he’s so smart that he picked up most of the common commands very quickly. And like most Brittanys, Charlie really wants to please his humans. Unfortunately this gorgeous boy has not had much attention in the past, so he now likes to be the center of attention and will push aggressively to get it. Charlie can be a little defensive when he feels cornered or unsure, so we don't recommend him for a family with small children.

Charlie needs be included in an active family’s day to day life. Crated for long hours will result in a wild man with excess energy to burn. No long distance or sight unseen adoptions for Charlie. He’s in Illinois now, and we feel it is important that all family members (human and canine) meet to assure that we have a good fit.

Charlie is a sweet dog and a wonderful Brit who is excited to have your forever love and companionship. If you're looking for a constant companion, Charlie maybe the dog for you. Interested in learning more about this wonderful guy? Complete the adoption application and mention Charlie.
MAJOR #6079, Virginia
Major is a true Southern Gentleman currently living in Virginia. This good looking 10-year-old is a very easy-going boy who is loving retirement. Major gets along with everybody; dogs of all sizes and genders, cats, and kids of all ages. He's a slower pace kind of guy who enjoys shorter walks. During the time with his foster family, Major has slimmed down to 40 lbs. which has improved his mobility. Like many senior dogs, he has arthritis in his front legs and is on daily anti-inflammatory and joint supplements. 

Major had dental surgery since joining ABR and needs steady upkeep on his dental needs. He doesn’t mind his daily brushing and routine dental cleanings and he cooperates like the graceful gentleman he is. His eyesight is good, but we think he may be losing a slight bit of his hearing. Major needs reassurance during thunderstorms when he turns into a nervous nelly.

The best thing about Major is that he loves to cuddle on the couch with his people. Major would be a wonderful addition to a family looking for a dedicated companion and "lover" of all! If you are interested in reading aloud to this perfect listener, or maybe just adding a lot of extra love in your home, mention Major when you complete your adoption application.
MAGGIE #10216, Georgia
Hello! My name is Maggie. I'm here in Georgia checking in to see if you could be my forever family! I am 10 years young. I am mellow, but I'm also an active girl and I love to spend time outside so I can chase squirrels and hunt lizards! And here's a bonus-- I know how to use an invisible fence!

I love my humans as much as they love me, so I want to be with them always. I am enjoying several walks a week and I do pretty well on the leash. I even know a few tricks and commands! My foster family thinks I am a very smart and well-mannered girl. I repay them with all of the kisses and snuggles they deserve.

There is only one thing that does scare me more than anything: Thunderstorms. I mean, they TERRIFY me! In 2012, I was found as a stray during a flood and that may be why I get so scared during storms. Over the years, my previous family tried EVERYTHING to help me work through it, but nothing ever worked. My foster mom and I have been working together a lot on this thunderstorm thing, and I feel a little better. All I need is a human's help to get through it!

Now the time has come that I find my forever family. I want someone to be with me most of the time. We could be home together, or I can go where you go! And I would really love to live in a place that either doesn't have a lot of thunderstorms, or has thunderstorms that can be well predicted so my family can help me work through them! Is there such a place like that?
HEALTH CORNER
A Vaccination Primer
Vaccinations
Unfortunately, due to Covid 19, this is a word we are quite familiar with today. We hear or read the word vaccine in the news almost daily. Drug companies race to produce a vaccine as governments attempt to gain access to the ones with promise.

Despite our world being turned upside down this year, we must not forget that our pets need vaccinations too. Just as your body must fight off viruses and diseases, so must your dog’s.

Understanding Vaccines
Vaccines help prepare the body's immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system but don't actually cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune system is mildly stimulated. If a person or pet is ever exposed to the real disease, his immune system is now prepared to recognize and fight it off entirely or reduce the severity of the illness.

Vaccines help prevent many illnesses that affect dogs. Vaccinating dogs has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help them live a long, healthy life. Not only are there different vaccines for different diseases, there are different types and combinations of vaccines. Your veterinarian can determine a vaccination regime that will provide the safest and best protection for your dog.

Importance of Vaccines
Vaccines are particularly important to managing the health of your dog. Vaccines may even save your dog’s life. For example, approximately 91% of untreated parvo cases result in death. With those odds, why not protect your dog by vaccinating?

That said, not every dog needs to be vaccinated against every disease. It is important to discuss with your veterinarian a vaccination protocol that’s right for your dog and his or her lifestyle. Factors that should be considered include age, medical history, environment, travel habits, and lifestyle. Most vets highly recommend administering core vaccines to healthy pets.

Core Vaccines and Non-Core Vaccines
Core vaccines are considered vital to all pets based on risk of exposure, severity of disease, or transmissibility to humans. Vaccines for canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies are considered core vaccines. Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira bacteria.

Timing and Frequency of Vaccinations
Your veterinarian can best determine a vaccination schedule for your dog.

For puppies: If the mother has a healthy immune system, a puppy will most likely receive antibodies in the mother’s milk while nursing. Puppies should receive a series of vaccinations starting at six to eight weeks of age. A veterinarian should administer a minimum of three vaccinations at three-to four-week intervals. The final dose should be administered at 16 weeks of age.

For adult dogs: Some adult dogs might receive certain vaccines annually, while other vaccines might be given every three years or longer.

Risks Associated with Vaccination
Immunizations should mildly stimulate the animal’s immune system in order to create protection from specific infectious diseases. This stimulation can create mild symptoms, ranging from soreness at the injection site to fever and allergic reactions.

There are other, less common side effects like injection site tumors and immune disease associated with vaccination. That said, it is important to realize that vaccines have saved countless lives and play a vital role in the battle against infectious diseases. As with any medical procedure, there is a small chance of side effects. In most cases, the risks are much smaller than the risks of disease itself. But it is important to talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s medical history before he is vaccinated.

Most dogs show no ill effect from vaccination. Vaccine reactions may be minor and short-lived or require immediate care from a veterinarian. Clinical signs include:

  • Fever
  • Sluggishness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Facial swelling and/or hives
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Pain, swelling, redness, scabbing, or hair loss around the injection site
  • Lameness
  • Collapse
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Seizures

If you suspect your pet is having a reaction to a vaccine, call your veterinarian immediately.

Anti-Vaxxing Beliefs Are Affecting Dogs
The human anti-vaccination movement is affecting whether or not people have their dogs vaccinated. As a result, veterinarians are seeing an increase of dogs with parvovirus, rabies, distemper, and adenovirus 2. And in the case of rabies, this can be especially dangerous for human health as well. Veterinarians still consider the core vaccines to be medically necessary.

Titers as a Possible Alternative to Vaccines
An antibody titer is a measure of the concentration of antibodies in the blood, as determined by a test involving repeatedly diluting a blood sample and exposing those dilutions to an antigen. The shorthand is to refer to all measurements of antibody concentration as titers.

Dr. Richard Ford, emeritus professor of internal medicine at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, said factors inside and outside the profession are driving the increase in antibody titer testing.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, AVMA, and American Animal Hospital Association released guidelines on vaccination suggesting that core vaccines have a longer duration of immunity than one year. The AAFP and AAHA guidelines recommended vaccinating every three years. Dr. Ford said many practices began measuring titers “to provide evidence to themselves that in fact the vaccinations are lasting longer than one year.”

Part of the impetus for the guidelines was concerns about the potential adverse effects of vaccines. Recently, Dr. Ford said, concerns about adverse effects of vaccines in children have spilled over into veterinary medicine.

“For those clients that are reticent about not having a distemper vaccine every single year, for example, those are a great indication to go ahead and do a titer,” he said.

The AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines state that “despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody testing,” the testing is useful for monitoring immunity to canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus type 2, canine adenovirus type 1, and rabies virus. The guidelines note, “Some clients are now having titers performed for CDV and CPV-2 in lieu of revaccinating.” 

As a dog owner, you’ll always wonder if a vaccination is necessary because you don’t want to put your dog through any unnecessary discomfort. Consult your veterinarian for advice if you find yourself overwhelmed. You and your vet should be able to make the appropriate decision for your dog to be happy and healthy.
FALL BULB FUNDRAISER BEGINS AUGUST 1, 2020

American Brittany Rescue will receive 50% profit on all fall-planted, spring-blooming flower bulbs ordered! Place your order by September 15, 2020, and it will ship directly to you in late September - just in time for Fall planting.

Click the link below and use group code SWZ5XG!
FUNDRAISER NEWS
Our CoZZZy Comfy Sheet fundraiser brought in $988.00 for ABR, plus a $50.00 bonus for 50 “shares” of our Facebook posts! Thank you and sweet dreams to everyone who participated in this fundraiser!

Luck Penny had her heart surgery and is recovering well! A huge thank you to our generous donors on her Giving Grid we helped us reach our $5000 goal to cover her medical expenses.
DOG FOOD RECALLS
Keep up-to-date on dog food and treat recalls on DogFoodAdvisor.com. You can also sign up to have recall alerts delivered to your inbox!
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE

American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.

THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION

ABR's 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 assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.  
 
 
ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Mixdorf, President
Terrie Johnson, Vice President
Michelle Falkinburg, Secretary
Debbie Clark, Treasurer
Diana Doiron, Co-Treasurer
Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair
Tiffany Dexter
Nancy Hensley
Bobbi Tolman
 
AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM
 
Brittany Boler
Christine Brennan
Jeannine Connors
Judie Cutting
Kristin Davis
Autumn Fenton
Lori Gartenhaus
Patricia Gillogly
Linda Joyce
Melissa Tapply DiLello
Debra White
American Brittany Rescue, Inc. | 866.274.8911 | Visit Our Website