The Fourth Dog of Christmas: Kendrick
Kendrick is a happily-ever-after in the making, and who doesn’t need some good news on Christmas?
This is Kendrick before:
This is Kendrick today:
Kendrick came out of a horrific hoarding case in Appalachian Kentucky and he still has a way to go, but he is nearly there. He has a spring in his step and he loves his foster family. He is ready for a forever home, but he needs one that will be patient with him and help him feel safe and sound. He will never be a life of the party dog, but he will be a loyal and wonderful pet. A special shout out is due to his amazing foster family and especially his Mom, Karen Disney. Karen quietly paid for his eye surgeries without even letting on. We are grateful for her and happy that Kendrick has had such an awesome home. Karen, you rock! Anyone interested in adopting this boy can email katia@bigfluffydogs.com.
The third dog of Christmas: William
William came to us on Saturday, December 15. He wandered up to a trailer in very rural Tennessee. He was emaciated, bleeding and as you can see, a complete wreck. The homeowner called a bunny rescue who called us (*thanks Laurie). We took him in immediately. William weighs 40 pounds and at 8 months old, should weigh 20-30 pounds more, but his growth has been stunted by malnutrition. William needs a foster and sponsors for his care as he is what we call a project dog. This dog is currently in Nashville and he needs a foster home to help him get healthy. He is very friendly and even in this condition wants to give you kisses. If you can foster William, please email erin@bigfluffydogs.com. If you would like to help sponsor his care, you can donate here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. William says Merry Christmas and peace out.
The Second Dog of Christmas: Tracer needs a forever home
All Tracer wants for Christmas is a home. Tracer is a 15 month old corgi collie mix who came to us this past summer. Tracer has had an incredibly long odyssey. He was abandoned by his first rescue who could not handle him. Initially, he was so freaked out that he could not tolerate any dogs as he felt he was under attack as the result of what initially happened to him in his first home before rescue ever entered the picture. And so he languished in boarding for many months as no one had a dog-free home. A wonderful dog trainer took him on and with a little work, he was happily playing with her dogs. Tracer is a very happy dog who just needs a home. He is great with all other people and he can be good with other dogs, although he will never be OK with cats. He is a mid-sized low-rider bundle of puppy happiness who wants to give kisses. If you can give this dog a forever home, please email jillian@bigfluffydogs.com. He deserves his own home and we very much hope he will be home for the holidays.
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas: Amadeus the poodle Great Pyrenees, the first day dog in need
This is Amadeus. At one year old, he is a beautiful, sweet and frankly dorky boy. He loves cats, other dogs and he likes to tip his food bowl sideways so he can eat off the floor. He is a wonderful dog. Who could possibly want to hurt him? Good question (and in a less than holiday spirit we would like to introduce them to the business end of a baseball bat), but someone shot this poor boy in the shoulder with a rifle some time ago and his shoulder is shattered. The orthopedic surgeons said it cannot be fixed. This coming Wednesday before Christmas, Amadeus is going to become a tripod dog. Not much of a gift, but we want him to be pain free and he is suffering at the moment. If you would like to sponsor this first day of Christmas Dog, you can donate here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. Thank you as always and Amadeus says Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and peace on Earth to men AND dogs.
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.
How Transport Really Works
Many people wonder how dogs make it to New England or from New England to other places. Transport is the answer. We use a commercially-licensed, USDA-licensed transport company to transport our dogs around. Here’s how it works.
1. The dog arrives from a shelter into a foster home. We vet the dog, we work with the dog, we take pictures of the dog and then we decide where it is going to go, either local or to parts far away. If the dog is going somewhere else, we make a reservation and we take the dog to the vet yet again for another check up and a health certificate to travel. Transport is paid and we very rarely do volunteer transports. Every dog on transport is already spayed and neutered, must have all of its shots and must be certified healthy to travel by a veterinarian. If a dog arrives and is not healthy to travel, the transporters will not allow the dog to travel.
2. Fridays are transport days. The dogs all meet in one place to get on the transport to go north.
Troy with Lucy, Erin with Millie and Eli with his ever-present leash at transport.
The day of transport is generally madness on the Southern end of things. Each dog has to have a packet. The packet contains all the dog’s vet records, tags, information, and other things like Advantage Multi and collars. It takes a very long time to get 20 packets put together. Eli, pictured above, generally gets the dogs in the van to transport as it is very hard on a work day to get volunteers to be able to meet at 2 p.m. His day starts around 7 a.m. and goes until it is all done. Erin can be counted on to bring a couple of dogs, and other volunteers like Kelly, Ginger and Tom are frequent visitors.
We may send as many as 20 dogs to various places every week, so it is a complicated schedule. Dogs have to have records completed, vet appointments and grooming appointments made, and things get checked and double-checked. Did Lucy have a microchip done? Does Mason need a canine influenza booster? All these things have to be checked for every single dog. The spreadsheets that track who is going where and what is left to be done are mind-boggling. Plans have to be made to pick up dogs from fosters who work and we have a lot of help from people and some awesome kennels (Thank you Dogtopia and Robin’s Nest) who help us stash dogs in one place for transport. Traffic and weather are always a complication and we have to pay attention to weather events 1000 miles away. Who remembers the October blizzard last year? We certainly do.
We start’em young here at Big Fluffy Dog Rescue.
The actual drop-off is a well-orchestrated dash. Other rescues are arriving with their dogs and everyone is busy loading dogs, walking dogs, giving dogs potty breaks, water for dogs, petting dogs and carrying dogs and trying not to forget toys, packets and last-minute instructions. All the while trying not to cry. We have had these dogs, cared for them and loved them and now they are leaving us to go to new homes in far-off places.
Lucy, getting on transport and waiting her turn.
The actual transport is a converted thoroughbred horse trailer that is heated and cooled, clean and safe with appropriately-sized crates for all the dogs. Each dog gets watered immediately, and they are checked constantly on the road. Dogs get walked at various points along the route which is why a 1000 mile drive takes 22 hours. Each dog’s packet is marked with the crate number to prevent confusion later.
Lucy, making the long walk to the giant crates for her trip to New England.
By Saturday morning, the first dogs are dropped off and volunteers and on some occasions, adopters, are there to see the dogs come off the transport truck. All of us on the Southern end live for the smiles on the other end. It makes what we do worth all the trouble. And you can trust us, it is trouble. Nothing worthwhile in life ever came without some headache attached to it. By Saturday evening, everyone is home. What the New England folks do is just as much work and involves finding foster homes, ensuring someone is there to meet every dog, and handling the inevitable travel disasters that occur.
All told, every week, to move just twenty dogs from one place to another requires the combined labor of 20 people and 200 hours. That’s a lot of love and labor from a lot of volunteers, all for dogs who need a home.
Melisande needs a foster home and we need some fundraising help
Melisande is a 4 year old Great Pyrenees mix who came into rescue several months ago with her sisters. Melisande sadly escaped her foster people before the Fourth of July and we had diligently worked to capture her as she was very frightened and lost in a rural area. We saw her over the many weeks and food and water were left out for her. Today we were finally rewarded for our diligence when she was caught in a live trap. We were extremely relieved to see her.
Melisande has lost twenty pounds during her odyssey and she has a limp that was not there before. We took her to the vet to have her checked out and were shocked to learn she is now riddled with bullet fragments all over her body. Someone shot this sweet dog and more than once. We are checking her elbow thoroughly for fragments as she seems to be limping the most at that joint. We are obviously horrified and this week is going to be a very, very expensive one as we have two orthopedic surgeries scheduled as it is. We are fundraising for her initial care which we expect will run around $600. If you would like to donate to her care, you can do so here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php. If you use a credit card, be sure to put the word ‘Melisande’ in the company name line and if you use paypal, leave us a message with her name in the message to sender box so we can thank you all properly.
Melisande also needs a foster home desperately. She gets along well with others but she is a serious flight risk, meaning that she will have to be carefully leashed at all times or kept within the confines of a secure fence. She is currently in Nashville but can travel this weekend if the vet gives the OK. If you can foster this girl please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com. Thanks as always from the big fluffies of the world.
Update on Lionel, our tripawd Pyr
For our fans who have asked how our young three-legged wonder is doing, here is his report from his foster Mom Sheila, who is by the way, totally awesome. A huge thank you Sheila from all 20,000 of us!
Lionel, looking good!
August 8-12th, 2012
I met my foster mom and dad today. One of the first things foster mom told me was “It’s better to hop on three legs than to limp on four.” She said some of her friends had come up with that. And she called me a tripawd. I liked the way that sounded!
I’m Lionel from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue. They saved my life and took care of me for a few weeks. I came to stay with my foster family on Wednesday, August 8th after having amputation surgery on August 7th. My left leg & hip were shattered when I was hit by a car and my rescue group and vet decided it would be in my best interest to spare me possible repeated surgeries attempting to repair the hip by amputating the leg. Amputation is a major surgery, but I feel so much better now— the pain of a shattered hip is gone, and I’m able to balance better with the leg out of my way. Dogs don’t worry about 4 or 3 legs like humans do. We’re just happy to be alive and loved.
My foster mom was so happy when I arrived bright-eyed, alert and very mobile for 24 hours post-surgery. I have no problem with the 3 steps off of her porch, but I do not like the hardwood floors inside. They are scary. But I figured it out—I can jump from rug to rug to avoid the slick floor. A friend of my foster mom’s who has a tripawd has said that her pyr eventually learned how to safely navigate slick surfaces. Until that happens area rugs or pet-specific gripper socks can be used to prevent falls and further injuries.
My foster family is cool. They treat me just like a dog. They do not pity me, nor do they allow anyone else to. They understand that yes, a bad thing happened to me, but I will be just fine. They are being careful that I do not fall or over do it, but the only “babying” that is going on is me getting petted all the time!
It’s important that my forever family be confident in my ability to live life as a “normal” dog.
I spent the first day and evening quietly in my crate, which I enjoy, or resting on the living room rug. I kept my walks to just the front yard for potty breaks, which were normal. I did whine just a little off and on, but I settled down quickly each time. Foster mom said it was important to take it easy, rest and she made sure I had my medicine when I needed it. I slept through the night like I usually do. The first night was so much fun—foster dad “camped” in the living room with me. He & foster mom did not want me to be alone. That was fun! He still sleeps with me in the living room just in case I need him at night.
Foster mom says I’m being a very good boy. I love my crate and after we go for walkies, I always lie down to rest in my crate. I’m housebroken, too.
I am on 100mg of Tramadol every 8 hours for pain for the next 7 days. Foster mom keeps the dosage very consistent, but I do not appear to be in any pain and the whining from the first day has stopped. Foster mom has not seen any signs of phantom pain or symptoms.
Foster mom & dad are feeding me well. She says I should gain about 10 pounds and gain some muscle. I am eating 2 cups of Purina One Salmon Kibble twice a day and she is giving me 1 can of tuna fish with my kibble for breakfast. She is concerned that the Tramadol is affecting my appetite. She is also starting me on 1500mg of glucosamine and 1000mg of salmon oil every night at dinner. It’s to help my joints, especially now that they have a bigger job to do. The salmon oil is for my skin and coat. It will help my incision heal quicker and all the Omega 3/6 are so good for me.
I do seem to have a possible grass or seasonal allergy. While on walks I love to sniff the grass maybe too much and I begin to reverse sneeze, sneeze and shake my head. Benadryl may be enough to manage the allergy, but foster mom wants to start slowly so we don’t impact the pain medication. Once I’m off of it I can take a larger dose.
I went to work with my foster dad on my second day post surgery. It gives my foster brothers time to spend with foster mom. I was able to maintain my balance in the back of the Envoy with ease—it’s a lot like surfing! And I can jump into my foster dad’s truck easily. On my second day I was able to walk around a small block and then later that evening I walked/jogged about ¼ mile with foster dad. I have great balance and mobility for a recent tripawd. My gait is very natural and strong, even when running.
I enjoy several short walks daily. I’m up to about ¾ of a mile daily (5 days post surgery)! I do have a little bit of a pull on walks. I walk on both sides of the leash holder. Foster mom is starting to work with me teaching me to walk on the left side & not pull (although I think she is secretly pleased that I am that strong!). With a proper exercise plan and core strengthening with balance ball work, I will have no trouble with endurance.
I am very quiet. So far no barking, but I am a pyr so that behavior may present itself once I feel better. I have seen my 2 foster cats through the baby gate and they seem cool – 1 is even a tripawd like me! Foster mom says that I can meet them this week, but I have to wear my leash. I’m going to go for a walk with my foster brother, Zeus, too. He seems nice and friendly. Foster mom says I have to wear my leash then, too.
Foster mom knows that I may decide that I don’t like cats and other dogs, but she wants me to try to be friendly. She says friends can be fun. I may decide that I want to live in a “one dog” family, but I can learn to be polite when I see other dogs in public.
I’m learning what a clicker is. I get hot dogs if I do what foster mom asks me to do. She says she insists that my forever family continue positive reinforcement training. I agree. I listen very well and I understand well, too. If someone was mean or forceful, I would not like that much and I would be afraid. I’m smart and eager to please!
I love attention! I do not mind strangers and children meeting me and petting me. I do prefer to be petted instead of not when people are with me. I do not exhibit the famous “paw pat” of most pyrs, but I will nudge your hand or arm, at times quiet determinedly, for attention! Don’t tell anyone, but I also enjoy a good ear rub!
I have a short coat without the thick undercoat that pyrs are famous for, but I do shed just as much as my furrier friends. A furminator and sturdy vacuum will be required for my forever home! I had a lot of fleas at some point (foster mom put Frontline on me Thursday) because foster mom says I have flea dirt on me. She is doing her best to brush it all off. Since I can’t have a bath until my incision heals completely. I even got furminated yesterday—that felt good!
My incision is healing right on schedule too and once my fur grows back I’ll be even more handsome!
I think I would do best in a home with older children who can handle my size and understand what being a tripawd pet means. I am happy lounging while you watch TV, but with proper training I could enjoy hikes and maybe even runs. I am a sweet boy with lots of love to give.
I should have no problems navigating life as a tripawd. Since I am a pyr mix and pyrs bark, I would not like an apartment. I will also need a securely fenced yard. I will love my forever family with all my heart. I will protect them, snuggle with them and play with them, well, forever. I can’t wait to meet them!
For more information on tripawd health, nutrition and gear visit the awesome site Tripawds.com.
Woofs & Licks!
Lionel
Yoda, the TBUD, needs a home in New England
In April of this year, a long time foster for us found a dog in her neighborhood and asked for our help. It seems his owners kicked him to the curb when they moved and he was living on his own, slowly starving to death. When asked what the dog was, we were told a “retriever mix”. We said of course we will take this poor dog. Imagine our surprise when this walked into our doors:
Yoda, who is pretty much not a retriever mix.
We immediately recognized that what we have is a “TBUD”, otherwise known as a Tennessee Brown Ugly Dog. Big Fluffy Dog Rescue has a long and rich tradition of TBUD tithing as we understand that we have rock star gorgeous dogs and some dogs are not so genetically blessed as to catch the eyes and hearts of the public at large, but are still really awesome dogs. 10% of our dogs are not rock star fluffies and this is our way of using our supermodel dogs to find homes for the less aesthetically blessed. Yoda is a TBUD.
Brown and short haired? Check.
Non-descript with mutt heritage? Check.
Yes, it’s a TBUD.
Bless his baby heart, Yoda needs a home. We know he’s not going to blow anyone away with his sparking white fur or perfectly sculpted form, but he’s a doll and he needs a home. Yoda is around 2, perfectly charming and good with everyone and everything. He has excellent manners and he wants to please. This dog would love to grace your couch, fetch some tennis balls, crash on your bed at night and generally be a total bud and companion. He is a friend to all and just a wonderful dog. If you would like to adopt Yoda, email jean@bigfluffydogs.com.
Rudy says “Yes, I know I’m beautiful and eye-catching, but Yoda needs a home”.
In memoriam: Ranger
Ranger, 2002-2012
Ranger came to us from North Carolina in February of this year. He had lived his entire life on a chain behind an auto repair shop in Charlotte when a very nice lady decided it was time to rescue him from a life without people and managed to talk his owners into letting him go. Ranger was taken to a vet where he was diagnosed with heartworms and a condition the vet thought might be self-mutilation brought on by boredom. Ranger had chewed his legs literally to the bone. After several weeks of IV therapy, steroids and antibiotics, Ranger was on his way to a better life. Sadly, by April of this year, Ranger had deteriorated and it was discovered that he was suffering from a very painful and damaging autoimmune disease that caused him to bite himself to alleviate the pain. Ranger had a really good six weeks with us before the medications stopped functioning and his quality of life began to deteriorate. Ranger could not have had a better foster Mom than he did and Linda and her family gave him everything they had to make him comfortable and happy and for that, we owe her and her family a deep debt. (We also need to thank Warren and his family for their care of him as they, too, cared for Ranger for several weeks before he went to Linda.) As Ranger continued to decline, the decision was made that it was time to let him go. In rescue, the hardest thing to do is say ‘enough’ and let the dog go because it is not in our nature to give up on a dog. We always want to do one more thing to try to make it work, but every dog is only on loan to us and we have to return them when their time is at an end, no matter how much pain this causes us. Ranger went to the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday and he had his foster family with him as he left this world. Ranger was loved and his life had worth and that is all we could hope for. If there is a dog heaven, we know he has heaved his 120 pound bulk on a sofa with a big, fat bone to chew on while he waits for someone to pet his head. We’ll see you on the other side, Ranger.
Ranger in happier days
Trained killer seeks new home
My name is Charlie. My people tell me I’m an honorary big fluffy because I am allegedly really small at 20 pounds. Whatever. I am a trained killer waiting to defend my home along with my Great Pyrenees friends. So far, only friends and the mailman have been by to visit, but I am waiting for my big shot to come. Mom says fat chance because she thinks I’m a miniature pinscher mix of some sort and not very terrifying, but I know better. She said something about me showing burglars the silver.
Yes, I am tiny, but in my heart, I’m a big, fluffy white dog guarding my people from all kinds of imaginary threats
I like everyone and even though I am clearly killer material, I enjoy being petted, taken for walks, and being cuddled like a baby. Don’t tell my Great Pyrenees brother because he’ll make fun of me. I am fine with cats and all people. If you need a new member of your home protection team, email my coordinator Elizabeth at elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Beckham has the luck of the Cherokee
This is Beckham, who found his home on Saturday with a wonderful family.
Beckham contemplating the meaning of life. Or maybe just chewing on a nylabone.
If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all, because within 24 hours of going home, Beckham found himself unable to pee and at the puppy ER. The nice vets determined that Beckham was suffering from bladder stones which blocked the urethra. In short, this poor boy has stones big enough to keep him from peeing. This is a bad thing.
Beckham is slated for surgery tomorrow morning. Because we as a rescue do not suck, we are absorbing the cost of this as we would have if he was still one of ours. It’s not fair to hand over a dog and 24 hours later have to handle a major surgery before there is time for the insurance to kick in. We expect a total bill in the $1600 range which is fiscally painful in light of Roxy’s continuing saga.
We are fundraising to keep us in the black so we can pay bills and rescue dogs. If you would like to donate, you can do so by paypal or credit card here: http://bigfluffydogs.com/pay-online.php (just be sure to note in the company name line it’s for Beckham or in the notes if using paypal so we can thank you properly).
As always, we thank everyone for their kindness for all our dogs.
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.
Roxy’s life is hanging by a thread
UPDATE 5/8/12 AT 12:04 PM
Roxy came home last night and we mastered the art of running an IV. She fed her puppies just before midnight and then we brought her into our room to rest. Around 3:30 a.m., after a very fitful night, Roxy began hacking and could not seem to catch her breath. Off we went to the ER. Her oxygen rate was around 92% which is not awful considering how badly her lungs are functioning, and it appears she had a mucus plug she could not expel which caused her problems with her breathing and scared her. (For local readers, this is a huge shout out to the nice people at Nashville Veterinary Specialists on Sidco – they are wonderful and very reasonable). Some time with some oxygen, a nebulizing treatment, and another IV with some antibiotics and we went home around 6:45 a.m. and she seemed much better. I am, of course, half-crazed from lack of sleep, but she was resting much more comfortably on our return. She is now back with the vet for the day getting IV antibiotics and oxygen and we will bring her home again tonight. We are waiting on the lab results to determine conclusively whether this is blastomycosis or a bacterial pneumonia gone wild. The puppies are doing fine. More to follow.
UPDATE 5/7/12 AT 7:20 PM
The vet has had a slight change of plans. She will not start Roxy on the Amphotericin B until urine tests come back from the lab tomorrow to confirm the diagnosis of blastomycosis. This is a seriously dangerous drug and one not taken lightly. She was allowed to come home to us with IV in tow with the strict promise that the slightest hint of respiratory distress will result in an immediate trip to the ER for more oxygen. She is currently resting comfortably and frankly, her breathing scares me as she sounds as if she is choking which of course she is. She is far more comfortable here than she would be in a hospital. It appears we have made it through the first twelve hours of crisis. We have a very long way to go. I have not calculated how many donations have been made nor are we up to date on thank yous, but we want everyone to know we appreciate your prayers, donations and offers of help. The puppies are safe and not at risk and they are currently quite angry that their Mom was gone all day. Let’s just say the supplemental bottle feeding was somewhat of a challenge. To provide some cheer, here she is laying at my feet:
Laying next to me and her puppies.
UPDATE 5/7/12 AT 2:22 PM
Roxy has started intraveneous injections with Amphotericin B, which is a very strong, potent and at $500 a bottle, expensive, drug. This is the best hope to save her life and if there is any justice in this world at all, she should show improvement within a few days. She will be coming home with me this evening as I think she will be more comfortable with us than in a hospital. Should there be any signs of acute distress, we will take her to the ER. Many of you have asked about the puppies who got bottle fed for the first time today. They are not at risk and they are fat, healthy and frankly angry at their lack of Mom. The vet is checking and hopes to allow her to nurse them tonight a little bit for her benefit. Their first bottle feeding went somewhat badly, but we are working to get the hang of it. Thanks to everyone for their donations and prayers. Both are definitely going to be needed.
This Monday is not a good day and I post with very sad news. Roxy who is our star Mom of eight three-week-old puppies took a serious turn for the worse on Sunday. Roxy came in to rescue as a very pregnant and emaciated Mom with what we thought was a standard case of kennel cough. On arrival, we began treating her with powerful antibiotics and trying to put weight on her to help her safely deliver her puppies
Roxy 15 minutes before the first puppy was born.
Roxy had eight very adorable puppies – 4 boys and 4 girls on April 15, just in time for the IRS. Her cough continued and we tried different antibiotics, but with an eye to the puppies’ needs as well. Yesterday, Roxy became very ill and the coughing spiked out of control and she developed a very high fever.
Roxy is in the hospital now fighting for her life with an extreme case of pneumonia. It is suspected that she has blastomycosis which is a very serious and extremely dangerous fungal disease caused by inhaling a spore and which in her case has landed in her lungs and spread exponentially. Under the best of circumstances, this disease kills a third of the dogs that develop it and Roxy is very critically ill.
Roxy is being treated with drugs that cost a small fortune so we will be fundraising for her care. Her puppies are now three weeks old and they are healthy and happy and she has been an outstanding mother to them. We will care for them and have already begun bottle feeding today. A local dog day care – Dogtopia – has offered to help bottle feed during the day for us so we can manage in the nighttime hours. Please say a prayer for Roxy. Modern medicine has its limits and it is up to the universe and Roxy herself as to whether she will recover.
Even yesterday morning, Roxy was still trying to care for these babies.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
Some dogs are lazier than others
We have seen dogs slower than Emma, and lazier than Emma, but they were dead.
Emma is hoping to make the 2012 Olympic napping squad. She's a serious contender for gold.
Sometimes, just getting the energy to get up off the sofa is so hard:
So. Much. Effort. Must. Reach. Food. Bowl.
Emma is coming up for adoption soon. This is a 180 pound, 5 year old English mastiff. She needs to go to an only dog home as she has decided she dislikes the resident dogs in her current home. They hog the sofa. Emma is fine with cats and great with people of all ages. She is an English Mastiff. This dog is super special to us and she must go to a fabulous home. If you are interested in adopting Emma, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com.
Chloe the American Foxhound is looking for a home
Chloe is a two year old, beautiful, purebred American Foxhound.
Poor Chloe has been bounced around far too much in her short life. Chloe was originally adopted from us as a puppy and then was returned due to family illness. She was again adopted and returned – this time due to allergies.
Since then Chloe has taken up residence in several of our fosters’ homes – you see Chloe is somewhat of an anomaly for a rescue, and for fosters, that primarily handle big, fluffy dogs.
Chloe the American Foxhound is a near perfect embodiment of the breed… and all that entails. Getting to know her has been a new and rewarding experience for our team. Chloe is very sweet, gentle, loving, and cuddly. She is housebroken, has impeccable indoor manners, and is a total daddy’s girl. She is smart, responsive, and friendly to all.
But like all Foxhounds, Chloe is an active girl with a propensity to bay. Foxhounds were bred to be working dogs and as such require physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Chloe would love nothing more than a large rural property and a warm loving family to call her own.
Chloe needs a cat-free home and an owner with previous hound experience who will love and appreciate all that she has to offer.
This special girl has been patiently waiting for her forever for far too long. If you want to give Chloe the home she so deserves, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com or jessica@bigfluffydogs.com
- Chloe with her foster siblings. One of these things is not like the other…
Jean Claude van Dog is looking for a home
Jean Claude is a happy dog
Jean Claude van Dog came to us in May of this year as a completely emaciated shell of himself. We honestly had no idea what breed he was because he was all bone and his face had more hollows than Kate Moss on a diet. Despite the fact that he was neither big nor fluffy, we brought him in as every dog has value and this one needed us.
What he looked like on arrival
After months of treatment for skin infections, parasites and emaciation, Jean Claude is ready to go. He is happy and exuberant and he loves to play. At 40 pounds, he is a nice medium-sized dog. He is perfectly crate-trained and has good indoor manners. He is fine with kids and he gets along well with dogs that don’t mind being around a bouncy dog. We think he would chase cats so we suggest a no-cat home. Given his size, body and head shape and general disposition, we think what we have here is a terrier/border collie x, so he will need a home that wants a jogging companion as he needs exercise and lots of it. This is a very sweet, very cuddly boy for the right, active home. If you are interested in Jean Claude, please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com.
Molly, the senior flood survivor, and our longest resident needs a home
Molly has been in rescue for 18 months
Molly has had quite an odyssey to get to us. Molly was found tied to a tree treading water trying to stay alive in the May 1-2, 2010, floods in Nashville, Tennessee. Her people left her behind to die, but she was rescued in the nick of time. Molly had been bred repeatedly and the vet estimated she had probably had 8-10 litters or more in her lifetime and she was absolutely exhausted and worn out on arrival. She was underweight and infected severely with heartworms. Even though she has been through the ringer, Molly never lost her spirit.
Molly is far from big and fluffy. We could probably claim ‘big’ as she is now a chunky 60 pounds, but fluffy she is not. We think she’s a shepherd mix of some kind and we estimate her age to be close to ten now. Molly has spent eighteen months with us as a foster and she deserves a forever home of her own. We love her, but we think she would do well in a home all her own. She is good with other dogs and she could care less about the cats. She is not much of a kid dog as she’s just a bit long in the tooth to be rough housing with kids these days, but she is absolutely a wonderful and devoted companion for pretty much anyone. We can’t believe no one wants this dog but she has had no applications in over a year.
Someone out there must want a sweet, funny, chunky girl whose legs are just oh so slightly shorter than they should be to spend some quality time with on the sofa. If that could be you, please email jean@bigfluffydogs.com. Your dog is patiently waiting for you.
Pick me! I'm fabulous.
