Who wants to name our newest Big Fluffies?
We must warn you!
The puppies pictured below can cause signs of cuteness overload illness. Here are some of the signs: You might gasp, you might scream, you will most certainly say “Aaaawwww…”. Your heart might even melt with this much fluffy goodness.
Meet our newest baby Big Fluffies. These 6 sisters are five weeks old and are Great Pyrenees/Border Collie mixes and these little ladies need names.
If you want to be part of the fun, make a 5$ donation to Big Fluffy Dog Rescue.
www.bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php
In space where you can fill in the company, write down the puppy name and number. A five dollar donation allows you to submit ONE name for ONE puppy. If you make a $20 donation, you can submit names for all six of them. On Sunday evening we will have a random drawing of submitted names and let you all know the winners. If you are having trouble submitting all 6 names on the company line, you can email Jessica@bigfluffydogs.com once your donation is made.
Proceeds from this contest will go toward the puppies vet care.
If you have questions on the contest, email Elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com
BFDR offer you can’t beat: buy a pound of puppy flesh and help save a puppy
This is Landon.
Landon, the adorable
Landon is a 6 month old Great Pyrenees puppy. All was well with him save for a case of demodectic mange which he has kicked until he started limping. Trips to the vet and then the orthopedic vet followed. It was finally determined that Landon’s limp was nothing to worry about. Fortunately (or depending on how you look at it, unfortunately), all those orthopedic visits and x-rays revealed a hidden case of OCD (osteochondrosis dissecans not obsessive compulsive disorder) in both shoulders which we never would have known about but for the extensive x-rays taken of all his joints. Although this is causing him no problems now, it will and it must be repaired as a puppy or he will suffer as an adult. This means two surgeries several weeks apart to repair his shoulders one at a time. Each shoulder will cost $1200 which is a deal (trust us on this – this is an expensive surgery and the ortho guy is being merciful).
To be able to afford this, we are starting the “A Pound of Flesh for Landon” fund. You too can give a pound of flesh to save a puppy. Landon weighs 55 pounds. His surgery is $1200. Dividing the cost of surgery by his weight gives you the price per pound. This means we need 55 donors to donate $22 each to fix this puppy for part 1 of the process. Basically, when all is said and done, Landon will have cost rescue about $50 a pound once we get the second shoulder done. He says he is worth it
If you would like to donate $22 to buy a pound of Landon, you can do so here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. Just remember that if donating by credit card, put the word “Landon” in the line for company name, or if by paypal, leave us a message to seller that says “Landon”.
Landon thanks you and will keep you updated with a nifty chart showing how much of his flesh has been paid for.
Ridiculous cuteness: Freckles the setter/Great Pyrenees mix
This is Freckles, a 12 week old English setter/Great Pyrenees mix puppy. As you can see, he is hoping to camouflage himself by the tree to avoid having to come inside. He is adoptable and he is headed to New England. Anyone interested can email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
I don’t think this hiding place is working out.
Introducing: Roxy’s puppies
Four weeks old today. These puppies need foster homes in the Nashville area for the next four to five weeks. If you are interested, email jean@bigfluffydogs.com. We will be fostering them out in twos and threes as they need the socialization with other puppies. With their Mom’s health issues, we have had to wean them much earlier than we would have liked, but they are eating well and drinking puppy milk replacer. They are adorable.
Baxter and Katie
Dax and Sarah
Floyd and Etta
Scooter and Stella
Roxy update: It’s definitely blastomycosis
UPDATE 5/16/12 1:28 PM
Roxy is doing as well as we could have dreamed. She now has to go for IV treatments every other day and she takes some very expensive medicine on a daily basis, but it is working. Her cough is much improved and she has a spring in her step and a twinkle in her eye. She is still running a fever which is our biggest battle, but we have that under control for the most part. Her worst problem, though, is an inability to nurse her puppies so her poor boobs are swollen and miserable. Because I am a dedicated foster, I milked this poor baby for a couple of days to get some of the pressure off of her, followed by cool, wet compresses which she loves:
Bliss for Roxy is a cool, wet compress.
For now, the routine is every other day to the vet for IV Amphotericin B and daily oral Sporanox (not generic). Each day in the hospital costs about $200 and each pill costs about $16. The vet was kind enough to donate some old meds she had to save us some money, but her first week of care ran almost $1800. Had we not taken her home every night it would have been around four times that much. We are still fundraising for her because she may go down as the single most expensive dog EVER to grace our doors and that is saying something. Anyone who wants to donate can do so here: http://www.bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php (just be sure to note it’s for Roxy in either the company name line for credit cards or notes on paypal). She will be on the Sporanox for another month before we are able to switch her to generic itraconazole at a big savings cost wise. Overall, we expect the treatment to take a minimum of four months.
Today is bittersweet for me because we are sending her puppies away to a foster home. This will definitely upset Roxy, but it is for the best as the risk of an inadvertent nursing could be disastrous as the drugs she takes concentrate in breast milk and could cause kidney failure in the puppies. We want the very best for them and for Roxy. Thanks to everyone for the prayers, good wishes and donations. We would not be where we are without all of that.
**********************************
Finally, after days of treatment and sleepless nights, we know for sure Roxy has blastomycosis. This is a very serious, very dangerous and frequently fatal fungal infection which, in Roxy’s case, has caused extreme pneumonia. This afternoon, we treated her with the Amphotericin B and started the Sporanox. Amphotericin B is a dangerous drug and sadly, Roxy’s nursing days are done as the drug concentrates in breast milk and would likely be toxic to the puppies. This is making the puppies quite angry and Roxy is very confused as to why she isn’t allowed to see her puppies. However, we cannot keep them from trying to nurse and Roxy from trying to nurse her puppies. She is an awesome Mom and she has done well by them, but they must be separated immediately to save them all. Tomorrow, since they will not be getting any breast milk, we will have to give the puppies their first set of shots to protect them from disease. At almost four weeks, we are feeding puppy milk replacement, baby food and baby cereal, and they are doing OK, but I think they would be better in smaller numbers with more attention from the foster. We need local fosters in the Nashville area who can take these youngsters on ASAP, which frankly breaks my heart as I am totally attached to the little creatures. This is not what I had planned for them.
Roxy’s last day with her puppies
Roxy is holding her own. Her lung x-rays showed some improvement and she is resting a little more comfortably. She has a very long way to go and remains in danger. We are guardedly optimistic. I would like to give a huge shout out to Dr. Herd who has taken phone calls at all hours of the day and night and tolerated extreme instances of foster Mom stalking. Without her help, Roxy would have died this week. We would also like to thank everyone who has kept Roxy in their prayers and/or donated for her care. We have raised about $1200 which has covered most of her costs and we will continue to fundraise for her as the medication costs will exceed $2000 most likely. Sporanox is incredibly expensive and she will be on it for many months. If you would like to donate to Roxy’s care, you can do so here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. Just be sure to note in the company line that it’s for Roxy so we can thank you properly (or if on Paypal – in the notes section). As always, thanks to everyone for their support. Roxy could not do this without all of you.
For those who would like to foster, and who are in the Nashville area, please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com for information on fostering.
The shame of Hawkins County, Tennessee
Big Fluffy Dog Rescue takes a lot of dogs from a lot of different places across the eastern half of the United States. Some of the shelters are obviously better than others which is directly related to the funds provided for the care of the animals. We are very sympathetic to the limitations placed on shelters by local governments strapped for cash and we do understand the hopeless task they have. That said, there are some things in this world that are absolutely unacceptable no matter what the circumstances. The shelter at Hawkins County, Tennessee, is completely and absolutely unacceptable and we are calling out the county to explain why they have allowed this situation to continue when it has been brought to their attention before.
This is the Hawkins County, Tennessee, shelter building:
The Hawkins County TN shelter building
It is a small shelter and we’ve seen much worse. However, this building has some serious and not so obvious flaws. First, the building has no ventilation and no windows for the dogs. In a shelter environment, a well-ventilated building is exceptionally important to keep disease at bay. Th lack of appropriate ventilation is bad, but the real problem is the massive sanitation issue. Hawkins County has drains at the back of each kennel run into which the animal feces and urine are washed. This waste from the kennels is flushed down drains running along the back of each kennel into an open pit on the side of the building. Puppies, in particular, who rest and play near the drainage system, are exposed to disease from all this fecal matter. Too many animals, pups and even adult dogs are dying at this shelter due to exposure to disease from poor basic sanitation and the backup of all that filth in the drainage system into the kennels. A shelter is supposed to provide care for the animals, not expose them to disease and leaving them to die miserable deaths in a concrete pen.
This is where all the dog excrement goes:
This is the box where all the dog excrement washes into
This little box on the outside of the building open up to reveal a disgusting and gag-inducing stew:
Disgusting
Unbelievably, there is a person whose job it is to use the little dustpan leaning against the building to slop all that dog waste into a trash bin. When volunteers contacted the Health Department who should know better, nothing was done to correct an obvious and serious public health threat. When this little chamber of animal excrement backs up, guess where all the feces and urine goes? Right back in to the runs where the animals are held. Unsurprisingly, the animals are dying in droves.
All of these puppies died from disease at the Hawkins County, Tennessee, shelter:
This puppy is dead.
This puppy died from disease too
This puppy died
This sweet face died from disease at the shelter
Dead.
All of these puppies and so many others are dead because of the conditions in the shelter. This is not acceptable and it must end. Complaining endlessly and forwarding this post with shocked notes attached is not enough. We ask that everyone who sees this post contact the Mayor of Hawkins County, Tennessee, and politely tell him that this is not acceptable and that changes must be made. We would ask that the Mayor meet with local volunteers to discuss ways to improve the facility which the county relies on to care for unwanted animals. Simply closing it down is not an option as there will still be animals in need and the way we care for animals and children reflects directly on us as a society. Does the Mayor want to explain to the young children of the school where he used to be a teacher why all the puppies have died? Hawkins County, Tennessee, has been made aware of the serious problems with the lack of sanitation at this facility and has ducked the issue. The time for action is now. The Mayor of Hawkins County, Tennessee, does not have a listed email address, so faxes and phone calls and letters it must be with the following contact information provided:
Mayor Melville Bailey
Hawkins Count Mayor’s Office
150 East Washington Street, Suite 2
Rogersville, TN 37857
Phone: (423) 272-7359
Fax: (423) 272-1867
We are hopeful that some positive change can come from this and we hope that Hawkins County, Tennessee, will listen to its shelter volunteers and make changes to prevent future outbreaks of disease.
Sidney is home
Meet Sidney, one of three surviving puppies who came to rescue two weeks ago with a host of health issues, including sarcoptic mange, emaciation and coccidia. Sidney is the runt and as a nine week old Great Pyrenees border collie mix puppy, she should weigh twice what she does. Sidney had to have surgery to drain an internal abscess that was killing her.
Check out Sidney walking around her new foster home.
Sidney is on the mend
Sidney does need a Nashville area foster home, and her total bill was just shy of $1,000. We are fundraising to cover her vet bills. You can donate by clicking the link here. Just make sure if you use a credit card to put the word “Sidney” in the line for company name, and if you use Paypal, just leave a note that it’s for her. Thanks as always from the big (and little) fluffies of the world.
Cuteness alert: two puppies need a foster home
Ridiculously cute
We have two boys in the Nashville Tennessee area that need a foster. These puppies are 1/2 Pyrenees and 1/2 German Shepherd. They are fully vetted as of tomorrow and need a foster home for a week. These boys were abandoned in a rural area and have been rescued by a very Good Samaritan. If you can help foster these two boys, please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com.
Ridiculous cuteness: Emily and Charlotte
File this one under “Tales of the Improbable.” 1/2 Jack Russell Terrier. 1/2 Great Pyrenees.
Charlotte is scruffy and cute
Emily practices looking sad for treats.
They are adorable and they are adoptable. In New England now. Email Elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Meet Zane the ridiculously cute puppy
I am still looking for a home
Meet Zane, a 12 week old aussie/Great Pyrenees puppy who is still looking for a home. He is friendly, sweet and the runt of the litter. We can’t believe no one has snapped him up yet. If you think you might want to adopt this sweet little guy, email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Ridiculous cuteness: Carlton the not a Great Pyrenees puppy
Meet Carlton.
They thought he was a Great Pyrenees puppy, but we're thinking albino bat.
Alleged to be a Great Pyrenees, Carlton arrived with pointy ears (my, what big ears you have!) and a sweet disposition. 10 weeks old now and a suspected White German Shepherd, he’s ready for a home. This is a very nice puppy. Email jessica@bigfluffydogs.com for adoption info. He could go from Georgia to Maine.
Ridiculous cuteness: Emmaline, Evan and Eric
Meet the trio of the terribly cute puppies known collectively as the “E Puppies” . They will wag their tails, beg for petting, lick your face, nibble on your toes and fall over asleep mid-stride. These are puppies of unknown ancestry (lab border collies would be a good guess) and they are unbelievably adorable. They’ll be looking to go home in a few weeks.
Emmaline is adorable
Evan is outrageously cute
Eric is spectacularly handsome
Ridiculous cuteness: Jemma and her puppies need a foster home in middle Tennessee
I need a foster home
Meet Jingles (*temporary name only), who is one of seven puppies who came in with their Mom Jemma last week. Jingles and her siblings are about four weeks old. They were about to be euthanized at the shelter because they had an upper respiratory infection and we took them in. They are all on the mend now and looking for a foster home for the next few weeks while they get fat and learn puppy lessons from their Mom. Right now, they need a middle Tennessee foster home. If you can help foster these guys, please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com.
Mom is skinny and needs dinner and spa day and she'll be gorgeous again
If you would like to sponsor Jemma and her puppies, you can donate here for their care:http://bigfluffydogs.chipin.com/jemma-and-puppies
Ridiculous cuteness: Oscar needs a home
Oscar is not a grouch
Meet Oscar. Oscar is a 12 week old border collie mix puppy that some jerk literally threw in a dumpster. One good Samaritan brought him to us and he is a happy, healthy puppy now looking for his forever home. This puppy is perfectly wonderful and is social, active and outgoing. This is a perfect family dog for someone who wants a smart, active medium-sized dog. If you are interested, leave a comment or email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Jared is looking for a foster or forever home
Jared is 10 weeks of puppy cuteness
Meet Jared, a 10-12 week old border collie/Great Pyrenees mix puppy. What can we say? He’s adorable. He is looking for a forever home in New England, but he needs a foster home for now. If you are interested, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Ridiculous cuteness: Conner, the aussie mix puppy
Conner is 12 weeks of puppy cuteness
Conner is one of seven Aussie mix pups in rescue with Big Fluffy Dog Rescue. He does well with everyone and everything. He weighs in at 20 pounds and is a happy sassy boy. If you are interested in adopting Conner, you can email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com or leave a comment here.
Esme and Emma are looking for a TN foster home
- Esme is 7 pounds of cuteness
Emme is just as cute!
Meet Esme and Emme, two 8 week old sisters who are ridiculously cute. These two girls came from Georgia and are tornado survivors. Trouble seems to have followed them as their foster home was damaged early this morning by a falling tree in yet another storm. These girls are looking for a short term 1 week foster in the Nashville area as they are booked for transport north on June 3. We think they are aussie beagle mixes. If you are interested in fostering these two girls, email jean@bigfluffydogs.com.
Just for fun: Rose, the bat dog puppy
- Part dog, part bat
My what big ears you have. Meet Rose, a 7 month old husky mix with enormous bat ears. She is friendly, sweet and perfectly well-mannered in the house. She is on the small side at barely 30 pounds and will not be large. She is gorgeous AND is good with cats, dogs and kids.
Olivia and Oliver need a foster in the NJ/PA/MD area
Olivia needs a foster home
- Oliver needs a foster home
Meet Oliver and Olivia. These two adorable siblings need a foster home in the Delmarva area by this weekend. If you can help, please email Jennifer at jennifer@bigfluffydogs.com. Of course, they are both adoptable, too.
Molly: a very special puppy needs a very special foster home
Molly has rickets
Meet Molly, a German Shepherd/collie/Great Pyrenees mix. This little girl is 12 weeks old and has some significant health hurdles. Molly came in to rescue with her Mom and both had suffered terrible malnutrition. As a result, Molly has rickets and her front legs are deformed. She also has demodectic mange (not contagious) and her poor little autoimmune system is struggling to get her healthy. Molly is slated to see a surgeon to address her front legs. She needs a foster home in Tennessee that can manage a puppy who requires care. She is very sweet, outgoing and friendly, but she is likely facing surgery. If you are interested and can help, please email Tina at tina@bigfluffydogs.com.
A side view of her legs
Jasmine the mastiff mix puppy needs a home
It’s pretty hard to believe this girl has been waiting for a home for 5 months. Jasmine is a 7 month old mastiff mix and she came from an Alabama shelter. No one wanted her so she was rescued by our Delmarva wing and is in foster in Elkton Maryland. If you are interested in adopting this adorable puppy, leave us a comment and we’ll put you in touch with her coordinator. Any dog who can play patiently with seven week old puppies without wanting to eat them is a gem.
Ridiculous cuteness: 7 Great Pyrenees mix puppies need fosters
A passel of passed-out puppies
Meet the A-Team. There are seven of these puppies in the Nashville area: Ariel, Arthur, Alice, Abigail, Annabel, Albert and Astrid. They are 10 weeks old now and they are in the process of being vetted. They need foster homes immediately in the middle Tennessee area for the next 10 days. These two need foster homes today:
Abigail needs a foster home
Astrid also needs a foster home
Sneak preview: Atlas, the Great Dane puppy
Not a fabulous picture, but look at those paws....
Meet Atlas. He is one of two 8 week old Great Dane puppies we have. They are ready to go.
Caesar the Old English Sheepdog/Great Pyrenees/husky mix
Caesar at rest
Meet Caesar, the 6 month old Old English Sheepdog/Great Pyrenees/husky mix puppy. He is absolutely gorgeous and very friendly. He is up for adoption.
