Aiden 0, Car 1
Meet Aiden.
Aiden is heading to surgery
Aiden is a six month old male Great Pyrenees who was found lying behind a liquor store in a small town in Tennessee, injured and dazed. Aiden was matted to the skin, emaciated, crawling with ticks and unable to stand. This is a town without an animal control facility (the sheriff just shoots them if he has to), and fortunately, a Good Samaritan was able to reach us and we found a vet to get him into immediately.
Aiden’s x-rays don’t look so good:
Aiden has a fractured pelvis and has to have surgery to make him well. Currently, he is underweight at 50 pounds and cannot stand on his own. He is in a tremendous amount of pain and the surgery will help heal the break. The estimate for his care is around $1200 which is a deal. We are fundraising to cover this so we don’t have to pass up other dogs because we blew our budget with this sweet boy. If you would like to donate, you can do so here:
http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php
For credit card, just type the name “Aiden” in the company name line so we know it’s for him and if by paypal, just write us a note in the comments box that says “Aiden”. We as always appreciate everyone’s generosity.
Aiden is also going to need a foster in the Nashville TN area for follow-up care. He will have to have cage rest and medicine for a few weeks and we need a foster home without more than a stair or two where he can stay. He is otherwise quite healthy and very sweet. If you can help foster him, please email leslie@bigfluffydogs.com.
Norman and Red: looking for love after a lifetime of neglect
Some of you may remember hearing about Norman, the four-year-old Great Pyrenees whose ______________ (select your own adjective here) owner abandoned him on a farm when she moved to the city. Eighteen months later, she decided maybe she might see if someone wanted him and also, as an afterthought, his friend Red, a five-year-old lab mix had to go, too. For the entirety of their lives with this owner, these dogs got no vet care. Their owner is not hurting for cash and her yippy little dog had all the care you can imagine, but as she told us, she “could not care less about these dogs” and she “wanted them gone.” I will confess I was nearly speechless and I asked her to clarify why exactly she left them after she moved away. She informed me she had someone feeding them, but they weren’t her problem. After some choice words with her, Norman and Red came to us.
I met Norman and Red on a Friday afternoon in a parking lot. On arrival, Norman was a little shy and blinking in the bright sunlight, but he was very happy to see people. Sadly, he was limping very badly and his feet were splayed out oddly as the result of seriously ingrown and infected toe nails:
This is what Norman's feet looked like on arrival.
Overall, Norman, was in rough shape, but sweet and ready to be loved. Of course, he was covered with ticks, fleas and a million parasites as he had zero vet care in his entire four years of life.
Smiling even though his life was pretty sucky before
His friend Red was in better condition on first blush, but he needed significant dental work, too, as his lack of care resulted in major damage to his teeth.
Of course, neither Norman nor Red were neutered and they hadn’t had a shot in their life and certainly nothing like Frontline or Heartgard. As a result, both dogs now have to undergo heartworm treatment.
Guess you can see why he got the very original name "Red".
Despite having been left to fend for themselves for 18 months, and who knows how little attention they got before that, these boys are absolutely wonderful dogs. They are sweet, friendly with everyone and everything, and they are rapidly learning that not everyone sucks. They love toys, treats, petting, napping in air conditioning and being called “good boys”.
What they need now is a foster home where they can recover, be smothered with love and get perfectly healthy. These dogs have had the crappiest four years ever and we want to make it up to them. If you can foster one or both of these boys, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com. They are in Connecticut and they are wonderful, sweet dogs. Please spread the word. We want the very best for these boys.
And for the former owner of these dogs, if you are reading this, I seriously hope you pray for forgiveness for what you have done. These dogs needed you and you abandoned them. Eventually, you reap what you sow. I can’t say you don’t have it coming.
Queen Roxy needs a forever home.
Roxy came from humble beginnings, but since her arrival in New England she has decided she should be the queen. She holds court with her people and demands that they pet her, love her and dote on her. In return she promises to snuggle on the couch with you, allow you to share your snacks with her and be your companion on all of your adventures.
Roxy has the manners of a queen and all she asks in return is that she be your one and only dog. She enjoys greeting other dogs on the street, but in the home she would like to be the star of the show. For being a cattle dog, she is on the lower energy scale. She would rather take a walk and then get back to the business of you adoring her that run around chasing things.
Roxy is a divine little lady.
Email Colleen@bigfluffydogs.com if Roxy is the treasure you have been looking for.
Roxy wants you to adopt her and buy her a tiara.
Dog to be named later needs a New England foster or forever home
Meet the dog currently known as “Truck”. If ever there were a more unfortunate and less-fitting name for a dog, we’re not sure what it would be.
Don't I deserve a better name?
This boy came to rescue as an honorary big fluffy dog and we want him to find that perfect home. Because he is a nondescript, average black dog, he stood no chance of adoption where he was, so we took him in with us. He is 2 years old, very sweet and outgoing, bouncy and active and at about 45 pounds, he’s a nice size. He is generally good with other dogs, but we would suggest that he go to a home with dogs that are not dominant and that are tolerant of bouncy dogs. No one hates a bouncy young dog more than a lazy old dog, so think about your current dog when contemplating this boy. We have never had him with cats, but we suspect cats would be fun to chase as he is simple a ball-chasing fiend. This boy is in Connecticut and he needs a foster or forever home. If you can a) name that dog! and b) provide a safe and happy home for him either permanently or temporarily, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
I am a happy dog
A farewell to Katie: 2005-2012
Katie, 2005-2012.
Katie came to me in the winter of 2007 as a foster in dire need of care and attention. Initially, all I knew was that Katie was alleged to be a three-year-old Great Pyrenees and that she had been taken out of an Amish puppy mill where she had been bred repeatedly. On arrival, her appearance was nothing short of shocking and this sad waif of a dog weighed a shocking 52 pounds. She was afraid of everyone and she wanted nothing to do with people who had caused her nothing but misery over the years of her life. Of course, Katie immediately wormed her way into my heart and I knew we were in serious trouble when my husband began singing songs to her. With time and care, this shell-shocked dog became a beauty and her quirky, kind disposition charmed everyone who met her. By June of 2008, Katie was a different dog and she was clearly ready to go to a home all her own. With those many months of care and love, not just any home would do for Katie and to say that I was selective does not do justice to the rigors of my placement search for her perfect home. Eventually, a very wonderful adopter named Ellen Fedor proved too wonderful a home to pass up and with much sadness, I sent Katie to her new life. I checked in on Katie now and then and I loved the updates I got of Katie bouncing in the snow, or walking around the lake or lounging in the grass. Pictures of fosters who suffered all manners of horrors in new happy homes make all the suffering fosters parents endure with their foster dogs worthwhile. We do this for the dogs, pure and simple.
Last week, I received the call I always dread. Katie had metastatic mammary cancer. The plan Ellen and her veterinary oncologist had worked on was to treat her with chemotherapy to give her a good quality of life and Ellen wanted me to know how my beloved Katie was doing. We talked about our shared love for this amazing dog and it hit me that Katie had the extraordinary good luck to find that one in a million love of a lifetime in Ellen. Katie had lucked out. Today, however, Ellen called to let me know that Katie had taken a sudden turn for the worse and that she had let her go to spare her more pain as the disease had spread far beyond what had been initially believed. The tragedy of all this is that Katie died much too young and too soon because humans used her as a cash cow to whelp puppies and the result was mammary tumors which are so easily prevented with a simple early spay surgery.
Katie left us too soon and I will mourn her loss for many years to come. I am grateful for the time I had with her and I especially thank Ellen for making such a wonderful home for this amazing dog. I will continue to work to put an end to the brutal and inhumane use of dogs like Katie as living machines to crank out puppies for sale in her honor. Words are inadequate at times like these, but I want the world to know that Katie’s life mattered and that she was loved by many. So long Katie and thanks for all the smiles and kisses. You were well-loved and we will miss you until the day we meet again.
Hailey the sheltie mix needs a home
Meet Hailey.
See my mesmerizing smile. You will adopt me. I command you!
Hailey is a 2 year old sheltie/smooth coat collie mix. She is a typical herding dog and at 32 pounds, is a big fluffy in name only. Hailey is a lovely, active girl who needs an active family to take her on hikes and for jogs around the neighborhood. She is friendly and sweet and needs a home to call her own. She is in New England and is still looking for a home. If you are interested in adopting Hailey, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Harley needs a special foster home
Harley has a heart of gold.
We first got word of Harley, the Pyrenees mix was going to be euthanized at a shelter because he was too shy. When Big Fluffy heard his story, we knew we had to save him.
Harley has clearly been on his own for most of his life. He and his companion, another dog, had been fending for themselves and were very bonded to each other. Once sad day, Harley’s buddy was hit and killed by a car. Harley was so distraught and would not leave his friend. He sat there for two days keeping vigil for his lost friend. Harley was actually injured by a car during this time because he would not leave this busy traffic area. A good Samaritan finally lured Harley into a car, and brought him to a shelter.
The shelter fixed up his eye, cut out his mats, but emotionally Harley was terrified. He had no interest in going near people and the shelter workers thought he would not be adoptable due to is extreme shyness. Harley also is heartworm positive. They thought it might be kinder to put him to sleep.
BFDR firmly believes in the power of healing and love, and wanted to give this boy a chance. Harley is now in a temporary foster home and doing well. While this sweet boy is shy, he adores their resident pyr. He is beginning to learn that people are ok, and is beginning to accept attention and love.
We are now looking for a long term foster home for Harley to finish his treatment and continue his socialization. We think he will do best in a home with another calm, stable dog who he can learn from. He will need people that are willing to be patient with him as he learns to trust.
Harley is a truly gentle soul and we think he deserves to live a long happy life where he adored.
If you have room in your home and heart, email Elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com for more details.
Harry needs a home
Meet Harry.
Harry is a 1 year old male Great Pyrenees. He has wonderful manners, and is a happy, friendly and drop-dead gorgeous dog. He is good with all people and he loves other dogs. He is, however, completely prejudiced against cats and needs a cat-free home. That lone fault aside, this is a wonderful dog. He is in New England and is looking for his forever home. If you are interested in adopting Harry, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Gracie and Scarlett need a foster home
Meet Gracie and Scarlett, the Keeshond/Great Pyrenees twins. These two girls are 18 months old, are incredibly sweet, and at 40 pounds, they are fluffy pocket pyrs for those who want the fluff without the mass. Gracie and Scarlett are fine with other dogs and have been fine with kids and cats. They are active dogs with a sweet disposition and really good indoor manners who will do well in most homes who want active fluffies. If you are interested in fostering or adopting this pair, please email liz.bartek@bigfluffydogs.com
Gracie and Scarlett like to play. A lot.
They have matching fluffy butts.
They also are adorable:
Gracie at rest
Scarlett
Coach needs a home in New England
Coach would like to hang out on your sofa
Coach is a 5 year old collie/English shepherd mix. This poor sad boy lived his whole life on a chain. When his owner died, the hospice worker who had cared for the owner called us to get help for this boy. We are very glad she called. Coach is an awesome dog. At 55 pounds, he’s a nice size. He is incredibly well-mannered, friendly and sweet. His lack of care before he came to us is evident, though, as he really needs to be in a home without stairs as he has some difficulty walking up and down flights of stairs. He is a very nice dog who does well with other dogs and people of all ages. This is a very sweet, very wonderful dog who deserves the absolute best for the rest of his life. If you would like to adopt this dog, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Who could resist these sweet brown eyes?
