AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2020 |
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Hello and Merry Christmas from the ABR Board of Directors!
As we come to the end of 2020 which has proven to be a unique year indeed, I want to take a moment and reflect on this past year but also look ahead to 2021.
In 2020, as of December 15, 2020 American Brittany Rescue has taken in 169 Brittanys and adopted 100 Brittanys. While these numbers are down from years past, there are many contributing factors including people staying in place during this Pandemic, as well as education and wiser decisions being made before buying or taking in a Brittany.
In 2020 we took in several Brittanys who required expensive treatments, procedures or surgeries, but thanks to your generous donations even through these difficult times, we have been able to financially assist with their needs, allowing them to recover and go on to lead wonderful lives with their new families. THAT is always a blessing.
So where are we heading for 2021?
Well, for starters, we have a brand-new website that will be making its appearance in the first quarter of 2021. Our tech team has been working on this for most of 2020 and while they had hoped it could go live before the end of this year, there were still some areas that needed work, so it has been pushed out to 2021. I can tell you from what I have seen, it will be AMAZING and cannot wait.
We also are looking to add a new “Grant-fund” called Grayson’s Fund in 2021. This will be for our adopters whose Brittanys have an unexpected medical emergency like a broken leg, hip issues, etc. that come with a high vet/hospital bill. Grayson’s fund is in honor of my Brittany Grayson who at only two years old broke his leg and then had complications from the casting, resulting six months later in him losing his pinky. We were totally blindsided by these events, and the expenses were through the roof. A volunteer set up a fund to assist with these costs, and that is what gave birth to this idea. We will be finalizing the terms and conditions for use of this fund, so stay tuned!
May we take away from 2020 how precious life, family, and friends are to each of us. Never take anything for granted and bring in 2021 with a new sense of hope and encouragement.
Terry Mixdorf, President
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ADOPT A SENIOR!
The Win-Wins of Adding a Senior Dog to Your Family
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Senior dog adoption is an attractive option when you're looking for your next pal because of the benefits that come with it. Sure, puppies are extremely cute, lots of fun, and are likely to be around many years longer than a senior. There's no denying the great adventures that come with bringing home a puppy! However, older dogs have their own special characteristics to offer, and they should not be overlooked.
Temperament
One of the greatest attributes of older dogs is that they have already grown into themselves physically and mentally. Although there might be some changes in behavior seen at a shelter, typically, older dogs are easier to accurately assess. This is even more true when adopting from a rescue such as ABR. ABR dogs have been in a foster home that is specifically watching for personality traits, temperament, energy levels, quirks, and more. You'll know from the foster parents if he likes cats, does well with children, prefers to be alone sometimes, and how much activity he needs. One of the main reasons puppies and young dogs are returned is because their owners didn't understand exactly what they were getting into. By adopting an older dog, you have a good idea of the pet you're lucky enough to bring home.
Training
Most older dogs are already trained or need little training to get on the right track in their new homes. Most senior dogs have already lived in another home and usually have some training behind them. While senior dogs will still have an adjustment period for the first few weeks or so, most of the hard work is over and done. The time needed to adjust for an older dog is much shorter than for a puppy. Plus, adopting a senior dog helps you ease into pet parenthood without all the overwhelming care and attention that a puppy needs.
Exercise
Adopting a senior dog does not get you out of exercise; all dogs need physical activity to keep their bodies and minds healthy. That said, older dogs need much less exercise than puppies and young dogs. But this definitely doesn't mean that senior dogs don't have fun! Many are surprisingly active and agile in their mature age. A walk a day, a game of fetch with their favorite toy, or a quick swim is often enough to keep them physically and mentally stimulated.
Senior dogs want to be with their people, and they are as content to settle in their favorite spot in the house as they are to be outside in the sunshine. Senior dogs are an excellent choice for someone who is a little more laid back and looking for a cuddle buddy on the couch.
Veterinary Care
It might seem like a senior dog will need more veterinary care than a puppy or young dog, but this is not the case. Unless you're specifically looking to bring home a dog with special needs, most senior dogs are healthy and just need somewhere to call home. Usually they are already spayed or neutered, they are up to date on their vaccinations, and they are less susceptible to the many diseases that pose a danger to puppies.
Lots of Love
Senior dog adoption gives you the opportunity to choose the personality that fits perfectly with your lifestyle. Many senior dogs are so happy to have a home, a soft place to lay their head, and people that love them, they settle in quickly and are easy to care for. Plus, they are often very loving and want to share that love with their people. It’s as if they know they have found a place to live out their last years and they show their appreciation every day with lots of love and kisses.
Age Can Be a State of Mind
Typical veterinary guidelines consider 7 years old “senior” in dog years, although individual dog breeds age at a different pace than others. Smaller dogs tend to live longer. A larger dog’s life expectancy, on the other hand, will be more in the 10 to 15-year range. So, senior status really varies from dog to dog—it is both breed-dependent and individual-dependent, Dr. Mengel, VMD, assistant professor of clinical primary care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, says. That means that the age of a dog isn’t a great indicator of how that particular dog will behave. “Let the dog tell you,” Dr. Mengel says. “Age is a state of mind.”
Not only are there enormous benefits to bringing home a senior dog, but you can feel great about giving him a forever home in his golden years. That’s a win win for both you and the dog!
Have we convinced you? Please be sure to keep your eye on seniors available for adoption on ABR’s website.
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REMEMBERING PENNY
by Curtiss and Melba Lanham
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Have you ever had a relationship that surprised you when it started, turned out to be one of the most incredible relationships in life, and then abruptly ended for the worst possible reasons? I think we have all had this type of relationship somewhere along life’s journey. I will share with you one that began in November 2006 and ended July 30, 2020.
We received a call from our friend, Patricia, a volunteer with American Brittany Rescue. She would be stopping by our house with someone she wanted us to meet. We opened the door to find she had the cutest six-month-old Brittany pup flailing at the end of her leash. She said, “Meet Penny, your new foster!” We had been volunteers and fosters for American Brittany Rescue since the early 90’s and we thought we had seen it all. Penny was a “wild child”-enough energy for three or four young dogs. This was the reason the single parent, two kid home couldn't keep her; they had no idea what to do with her. We were learning to train dogs so we could ensure that foster dogs would not be “bounced back” because of behavior issues. So we played with Penny, trained her (she learned all of her “skills” in the span of several weeks), sought to find “just the right home” for her, fell fast in love with her, and failed fostering miserably. She became part of our family.
Penny was diagnosed with Type I (Juvenile) Diabetes when she was 13 months old. Our veterinarian told us that these dogs typically don't live a long life. We told him we would go above and beyond to ensure she had as many years as God appointed. We checked her blood glucose twice a day, gave her insulin dosing accordingly, managed her diet, and protected her eyes. We also ensured she stayed active and her weight was managed. She later developed hip dysplasia but it NEVER slowed her down.
We bought a dog training franchise and Penny became the poster child and training dog for our business. We moved from the franchise to our own branded dog behavior training business, Dogsmart, and Penny continued to be the “face” of the business and the training dog. She changed the lives of hundreds and hundreds of dogs and their families. She had an innate gift God gave her to “read’ the issues another dog was having and then do the absolute right thing to calm them down, open them to accept play and interaction, and begin the learning process. She taught hundreds of children how to properly approach a dog and what a child friendly dog does in response. She was the Dogsmart booth star at many festivals around the area and a model for American Brittany Rescue‘s impact in Texas.
Penny was not just a “working” dog, she was a brilliant, happy, energetic, and loving companion and family dog. She was bonded to her sweet Marti, another female Brittany we rescued about six months after Penny. When our grandkids arrived in the family, she trained them, loved them, and bonded with them.
In September 2019 at an annual exam, her doctor found a mass on her liver. He referred us to a canine oncologist in Sugar Land, who confirmed the diagnosis of Grade 4 liver cancer. He told us, “Take her home, spoil her, enjoy her, and help her enjoy the rest of her life.” We did just that.
Our friend and dog behavior specialist, Michael Baugh, wrote a blog post recently on “Anticipatory Grief.” In the post he discussed how when we know we are going to lose a loved one at some point, we grieve ahead of the loss, often with as much agony as if it were occurring in those moments. It’s a real thing. We did that. Yet, as the months ensued, we thought maybe, just maybe, she would live for years. But in the last week of July 2020, Penny took a hard decline. We hoped she would bounce back just as she had many times since September. She woke me at 12:30 am on Thursday, July 30. She wanted to go out...very unlike Penny...she had always slept through the night since a puppy. She went back in and sacked out, but was up again at 5:00 am...again unlike her...she is a 7:00 am dog. She remained in horrible distress all day. We left at 1:00 pm to take her to Dr. Eckermann. On the way we stopped at a hay field near Cross Creek Ranch, freshly mowed, to let her out. She strolled a healthy stroll into the hay, faced south into the breeze, and soaked up the smells of the day. She seemed to be saying, “I’m on my way...see you soon...” At 2:00 pm she “crossed the rainbow bridge” as legend has it.
Melba and I wish we could stop crying...we wish she were sitting right here with us...barking at us for her late evening snack. Marti misses her sweet lifelong buddy and McGee doesn't know what to think (he has been with us since last April). We are grieving in a healthy way, with all the fervor we have because we loved her that much and we know it is healthy for us.
Penny, aka “Pen-Pen,” “Peanut,” “”Peanut Butter,” “Pickles,” Penny Dog,” “Penny Girl,” “Bitty Girl”...we miss you and we hope Jesus enjoys you as much as we did.
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BEAR'S LEGACY
by Christine Brennan
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About eight years ago ABR Volunteer Chris Youngs found himself in a bit of a dilemma.
He and his daughter Amanda, then 16 years old, were doing a multi-dog transport from Appalachia to the east coast when they were asked to pick up a last-minute customer: a scraggly, growling little thing the shelter in Kentucky had named Sid Vicious (of British punk band Sex Pistols fame).
“Talk about off-putting,” Chris said of the name recently. “We could see how sweet he really was beneath the fear and growling, and that the aggression was clearly due to the physical abuse he had endured.”
Chris recalled Sid’s sorry state at the time: he was covered in open and festering sores and his teeth were falling out. “He was just a wreck,” he said. “He sat in the front seat and insisted on being on my lap the whole time. He just wanted to be held.”
Chris and Amanda dropped off their other two charges in Maryland and planned to head for New Jersey, where a temporary foster was going to take Sid for a few days. As fate would have it, a snowstorm developed and they were way behind schedule. They decided to stop at their own home in Pennsylvania overnight and finish the trip the next day.
“Well, when we arrived after midnight, the entire family was up and fawning over him,” Chris said, noting that George, their resident Britt, was not amused by the attention the newcomer was getting. “We gave [Sid] a much-needed bath and saw how much vet care he needed and asked if we could get him treated by our vet before taking him to New Jersey. He was at the vet for a few days and when he came back we knew we couldn’t let him go. We were, clearly, transport failures.”
Chris and his wife Sue promptly ditched the “Sid Vicious” moniker and renamed the dog Bear, whom they estimated to be about seven years old at the time. Bear went on to spend eight wonderful years with the Youngs before passing away in July of 2020.
But Bear’s story doesn’t end there.
To make up for Bear’s sad early years, the Youngs showered him with attention, love and, of course, toys. Over his eight years with his new family Bear amassed dozens and dozens of stuffed animals and other toys. Bear would play with his many toys but was careful not to damage them.
“We think he truly appreciated having a second chance at life, including having the toys which he treated with great care,” Chris said.
After Bear passed away, the Youngs debated what to do with his toy cache. George, their other Britt, is now 11 years old and “isn’t really a toy fan,” Chris said. The Youngs saw that the toys still had a lot of life in them and decided they could serve another purpose. They set about washing and disinfecting them.
“They’re in great shape,” Chris said. “We thought it would be good to pass them on to rescued Britts, so that Bear could be a part of each saved dog.”
Recently, three ABR Britts were the delighted first recipients of the toys that are part of Bear’s legacy. Working with Rebecca Wallace, ABR’s State Coordinator for several southeast states, Chris recently traveled south again and was able to provide new ABR rescues Pen, Boots, and Sweetie with their first toys in their new lives.
“Each dog arrived with a lovely toy,” Rebecca said in an email. Interestingly, she said, “none of the dogs has harmed their ‘gift’ — though other toys in the homes have met sad fates.”
Chris now stocks the “go kits” he takes along on transport runs with freshly laundered stuffed animals and presents them to the dogs awaiting him. “It’s nice for them to have something to just lay their heads on.”
And every time he gives one of these gently used, deeply loved toys to a new rescue, he sends along a little bit of Bear.
“It took years of de-conditioning, and he never fully lost his fear of certain situations or human motions,” Chris recalled. “But he was the sweetest, snuggliest, happiest Britt we've ever seen.”
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Do you have “Foster Tails” to tell?
A foster moment you’ll never forget?
A challenge you overcame?
A funny or heartwarming story?
A tale of encouragement?
A foster who made a special impact?
Whether it's a few sentences, a whole story, or a photo that speaks for itself, we would love to hear and share your anecdotes, thoughts, and experiences. Please connect with us at social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Paula Perry
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Paula Perry met her first Brittany in 2010 while on a family walk through the neighborhood. Linda McKnight, her co-worker and an ABR volunteer drove by and spotted the family without a dog so she pulled over. “Your family needs a dog,” Linda said. “I’ll be right back.” Minutes later, Linda brought back three-year-old Remmie. Paula, her husband Ian, and their boys Connor and Sean, fell in love with her.
But, their adoption application was denied. Paula grew up with dogs who lived outside. They were working dogs, and their job was to protect the house. They only came inside when it snowed or a thunderstorm came through. That’s all Paula knew about having dogs.
The Perrys had already spent a weekend with Remmie in their home and they really enjoyed having her. ABR volunteer Monica Rutt arrived on the scene to teach Paula how to have and train an indoor dog. Paula calls it “boot camp”—she learned how to crate train, how to teach a dog that nothing in life is free, and how to keep a dog leashed in the house for a few weeks to keep them in control.
Paula’s family reapplied to adopt Remmie, promising to keep her as an inside family dog. In March of 2010, Remmie officially became their first family Brittany.
In April of that year, Paula went to the ABR picnic and experienced the most amazing dog party ever! There were 100 Brittanys running like maniacs. Remmie had a blast. Paula met Nancy Hensley McCullough there and they became fast friends, along with many other volunteers on the California team. Paula signed on as a volunteer, and so began her days of fostering.
Paula began pulling Brittanys from the Bakersfield shelter. Remmie was the start of at least ten Brittanys that came through in that time period. A man was breeding and selling them, and they were getting dumped at the Bakersfield shelter. Paula, with the crucial help of Ian, Sean, and Connor, fostered all kinds of Britts, from angels to the misbehaved. She sequestered dogs with Bordetella and nursed them back to health. She taught them all how to socialize. The hardest job, she says, is teaching a dog to be a dog when they’ve been outdoor dogs all their life.
Paula has endless stories about the Brittanys who have come through their home. And yes, a few were “foster failures,” including Chuck who passed last year just three months after Remmie. Barney, a foster from Spain, has now taken up permanent residence with Paula’s family, as they understand and manage his resource guarding issues. And Reggie, a former foster, came back after his owner went to work full time and Reggie didn’t do well alone. Paula found another family for him, crying as they said goodbye. But he kept escaping to chase the neighbor’s cats and one of the children had allergies, so they surrendered him back. Three times was truly the charm for Reggie, when Paula took him back and became his forever mom.
In addition to fostering, Paula now does the adoption application processing. She receives every application submitted and forwards it to the fosters and appropriate state coordinators. When she sees a puppy posted for adoption, she knows she will be busy. One puppy posting generated 27 applications over a 48-hour period!
In addition to dedicating her time to ABR, Paula is a physical therapy assistant. In whatever free time is left, she puts her creative energy to work with card-making and paper crafting. She also loves to travel and bring the Brittanys to the beach.
The moral of Paula’s story is that Linda McKnight was right. The family needed a dog. And ABR needed Paula! How fortunate we are to have you, Paula, thank you!
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ABR Social Media Ambassador
from
11/14/2017 to 11/4/2020
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HEALTH CORNER
Diabetes 101
by Brittany Vester Boler
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Glucose is the main source of fuel for nearly every cell in our bodies (and our Britt’s!). Foods we eat are broken down into glucose or we can use other nutrients, like proteins, to generate glucose internally and distribute it throughout the body through the bloodstream. Insulin is released by the pancreas in response to increases in blood glucose levels, which then tells cells to bring in the circulating glucose to use for energy.
Diabetes mellitus is a condition whereby the body is unable to get glucose into cells to provide fuel - due to either a lack of insulin production or insulin resistance (i.e. more insulin needed to get the same result). These are often referred to as Type I or Type II diabetes, respectively. Type I, or insulin dependent, diabetes is the most common form in dogs. In this case, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are often damaged and cannot produce enough insulin on their own. Getting a diabetes diagnosis can often seem overwhelming at first, but with simple treatments we can ensure a full, healthy life for our Britt’s.
What are the early signs of diabetes (AVMA)?
- Excessive thirst and urination (your Britt may start having accidents in the house)
- Weight loss and possibly increased appetite (the body is not able to convert the food into energy)
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Cloudy eyes (Diabetes is a common cause of cataracts in dogs (Pet WebMD))
- Chronic or recurrent infections
Diagnosing diabetes is often relatively straightforward with evaluations of blood and urine glucose levels. Often, however, vets may request further blood work or urinalysis and/or urine cultures to help them determine the diabetic severity or to ensure there are no other underlying health conditions.
Managing Diabetes
The first few weeks after diagnosis will be especially difficult for everyone as you and the vet determine the best insulin dose for your Britt in order to stabilize their blood glucose levels. Newer technologies are helping make this a less painful and easier process with small glucose sensors that stick to the skin and track glucose levels for several days.
Diet can help with control of diabetes (AAHA)- talk to your vet about the best approach for your Britt:
- Stabilize at ideal body weight- if a dog is overweight, helping them reduce body weight while maintaining lean muscle mass will help prevent other issues associated with diabetes. If a dog is underweight, get them to their ideal body weight and muscle mass and stabilize their blood glucose needs.
- Minimize post-prandial glucose spikes- feeding a high-quality diet with appropriate ratios of soluble and insoluble fibers will help blunt the glucose spike following a meal.
There are several risk factors for diabetes (AKC), only a few of which you can control to help reduce your Britt’s risk. Some of these risk factors are:
- Age - the risk of diabetes increases with age.
- Intact females - spaying your Britt, especially if she is not a breeder, can help reduce her risk.
- Obesity - keeping your Britt at a healthy body weight is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent many chronic diseases.
- Chronic pancreatitis.
- Long-term steroid medication or Cushing’s disease.
- Genetics - luckily our Britt’s are not predisposed specifically, but purebred dogs have a greater incidence compared to mixed breeds.
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What about Diabetes Insipidus?
While they share a name, diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetes insipidus (DI) are different diseases.
Dogs with DI have normal blood glucose levels, but the kidneys are unable to balance fluids properly. Diabetes insipidus is rare in dogs.
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END-OF-THE-YEAR ABR AUCTION FUNDRAISER!
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 1, 2020 at 9:00 AM
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ABR has received a generous donation of beautiful Brittany collectibles that are now available for purchase on our new online silent auction site. These collectibles include antique and modern figurines in a variety of sizes and material, a wonderful collection of out-of-print collector plates, and many framed prints in a range of sizes.
Background on the Collectibles: Harry and Sally Scolton, began their involvement with Brittanys in the mid-1980’s, as a retirement hobby. They bred several litters under the Scolton Kennel name and Sally finished every puppy she kept. During her years of involvement, she proudly finished 16 Champions as an owner-handler. She was very competitive and proud of each accomplishment.
According to Harry and Sally’s daughter, Peggy Zionts, Sally was a collector of all things Brittany. She amassed a gorgeous collection of collectibles and it was her desire to donate to American Brittany Rescue to help raise funds for the breed she loved, and which had brought her so much enjoyment. When Sally lost her fight against ovarian cancer in March 2020 at age 84, Peggy arranged for her mother’s collection of Brittany material to be donated to ABR.
We hope our supporters will enjoy seeing and perhaps purchasing items in our online auction. All proceeds go to American Brittany Rescue treasury.
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ABR Masks are now for sale at the Brittany Boutique for $5
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ABR received a quarterly donation of $1,475.72 thanks to YOU shopping at smile.amazon.com!
To date, AmazonSmile has donated a total of $16,506.26 to American Brittany Rescue.
THANK YOU to all of our supporters who have chosen ABR for their Amazon Smile charity. Haven't signed up yet? Visit smile.amazon.com to learn how a percent of your Amazon purchases can be donated to ABR-- at no extra cost to you!
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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! |
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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
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