Rescue Report June 08 by Bruce & Linda Whiteside, Rescue Committee
We actually had almost 2 weeks without a foster this quarter!! We started off still having Benny and Chloe, and then we took in Daisy, Angel and Gracie. We were also contacted about Boots, Bear and Toby.
Benny I told you about last issue. We got really attached to Benny, he became a very sweet dog, and with him being a stray, he warmed up to be an exceptional companion. He liked meeting people and within a minute or two, he would be sitting on their feet. We were surprised on how outgoing he is especially after being on the road for up to a month we think, because of his condition when he was found.
Daisy
Daisy is a 6 month old female that was originally posted on Craig’s list. We were contacted by a club member that found the posting and went to see her. She was not right for them with her being so shy with strangers, so they notified us of Daisy needing a home. They were trying to sell her for $500 but we managed to convince them to give her to us, then 2 days later they missed her so much they wanted her back. So she was returned to them, and within a week she came back to us. We told them what was needed to make her a more confident dog, but it seemed more work than they were willing to commit to.
Once we had her to evaluate we found the underlying reasons for her shyness. Daisy was the product of an Amish breeder, never socialized, taken away too soon from her mother, put into a family that had no idea how to raise a sociable pup. So Daisy became shy and would bark at people when they came over. Her owners did not know how to correct the situation so they would just toss her into the garage. She never learned how to be a dog. Once she came here, she quickly learned what she was supposed to do and how to react.
We had a family interested in Daisy and came to visit with the whole family. The wife came to see Daisy, but fell in love with Benny, the son liked Benny too. The 2 girls liked Daisy, dad was indifferent but I think he liked Benny. So after meeting them they went home to decide. A few hours later we got a call asking if they could take them both, which would be perfect for all! Benny needed a playmate and they had become great friends playing together. Daisy needed a dog to keep her relaxed and follow his lead. So off they went!
Daisy now allows regular friends and family in without ANY barking and enjoys being a loving part of their new family. Benny loves having Daisy and 3 kids of his own to play with and both love their new parents. They both live with Kevin and Judy Maggard in Dearborn.
Chloe & Remi
Chloe, the 6.5 year old with neck issues had been with us since January 2nd. We had a few people interested in her but every time things fell apart. So we decided to take her to the annual meeting and shamelessly “troll” with her. I thought that maybe I had made her sound worse than she was at getting around. It was shameless but it paid off! Gene and Mona Williams met her and saw what a sweetheart she is. So they decided to see how she would do with their wild child Remi a year and a half old male. He was a bit much for her, but in undeniable Berner style she has told him how the world works and now she rules the roost. Now she and Remi get to roam their 25 acres and get plenty of exercise to build up her muscles. Chloe’s new family has been in touch with her old family, who are very glad for Chloe that she has such a wonderful new home and family.
Angel and Gracie have been an on again, off again item since around thanksgiving. We were first contacted about them because their owner had to relocate for job purposes and had to down size the yard by quite a bit. The new work hours were averaging 50 hours a week and she felt that the “girls" were left alone too long. She wants them to have a family that could spend a lot of time together. We found a perfect home way down in Florida with a former Berner breeder/exhibitor with a ton of fenced property. Unfortunately we had to wait until she had a hip replaced and she went through rehab. So the girls stayed at home until she would be ready. We did not hear anything after numerous attempts trying to contact the Florida home. To make a long story short, now the woman need a knee replacement at would be another 3 months at least. So it was decided that the girls come gracie.jpghere to find a different home.
Gracie
Angel
Gracie and Angel are super sweet girls and adjusted quickly to our gang. They came on 5/18 and are doing wonderfully. They have such personality. Angel is a talker and woowoo’s whenever you talk to her, come home or have food. Gracie gives great Berner hugs. They are defiantly a pair and we plan on keeping them together. They need to go on a diet which we have started; they love carrots and celery as treats.
Toby
Toby, is an 18 month old male that has bitten both his owners and they are worried that he might go after their children. From the sounds of it he is a clone of Daisy and now he is a rebellious teenager. He will be coming on May 31st or sooner.
Boots
Boots is about 10 months old and his owners no longer have time for him. He lives his day tied up unable to play in the yard. He is very over weight as you can see. As of today 5/24 we are waiting for them to decide if they want to give him up for sure.
Bear
Bear is very similar to Toby. He bit an 11 year old girl on the back. Bear seems to be “resource guarding and they let him get away with it. If he has something they know “not to bother him” Bear is 17 month old and they seem afraid of him. We are waiting for them to decide on what they want to do with him. I have given them some tips on how to start dealing with his issues and use the “nothing in life is free” method and start hand feeding to make him understand that they are in control and that if he wants anything it has to come from them.
So the last 3 are works in progress.
We put together the guidelines and application for the Foster Home Program. They should be up in the members section if it is up as you read this and they will be in the files section of the yahoo group list. We plan to start using some additional families to help us since we have gotten so busy. It used to be we had 1 dog at a time now is seems that we have 2 or 3 at all times. We plan on dealing with the dogs with temperament issues ourselves or only let them go to a foster that has had experience with that type of dog. Most of the foster homes will get the better mannered dogs. The problem with doing that is the foster home gets attached and the dog never leaves, then we lose the foster home (believe me; I can speak from experience, like Mack, Cedar, Izzy and Bob). If you would like to fill out an application as a foster home and can’t locate the application in either of those locations, let me know and I will send you one.
We were honored recently by being awarded the Winston Neff Memorial Award. It was supposed to be presented to us at the nationals but I could not stay until the banquet, and it was kept a secret until our annual meeting. There, Gary presented it to us with the same introduction that was given at the National. We were hugely surprised and honored that the BMDCA and Berner Guarde would think of us when there are so many that work hard for this breed. It is displayed with pride on our fireplace next to Geordi’s and Cedar’s urn in honor of them.For more information on Bernese Rescue/Re-home program, or the Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Club, please contact:
Bruce & Linda Whiteside
(248) 969-1960
BMDresQ@aol.com
