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ABR SUCCESS STORIESE-mail stories & photos to success@americanbrittanyrescue.org PennyPENNY’S JOURNEY A SENIOR BRIT FINDS HAPPINESS
But later that Friday a family decided to adopt Penny. Great! All ABR machinery was stopped and Penny went to her new home.
Several months later, I learned that it wasn’t working out well for Penny. She was not happy. She had become incontinent. I offered to take her. No dice. Weeks passed and finally the owners relented. After checking with Michelle, I took Penny home. She was sweet, but oh, so confused and scared! Yes, she was incontinent, so I put her into doggy diapers (not a new idea to me!) so that she could have freedom around the house. I tightened her feeding, watering and bathrooming and things improved, but she still was not there. Meanwhile ABR (Michelle) spared no expense (I was amazed!). A UTI was identified and treated. She improved. Finally, I added a homeopathic treatment and lo and behold, within 2 weeks she was totally DRY!
Penny, my Brit, Chevy, and I went on long walks as summer turned to fall. Penny liked to mosey along smelling the flowers while my brit liked to be out in front checking the doggie messages--that left me hung up in the middle. Penny loved to pick up acorns along the road, and thought that was a no-no, so she would hold them in her mouth and give me that “wha? Me? No” look. After days of these laughable moments, I let her keep her damn acorns!
She
seemed to have a problem with strong sun, she squinted. So I bought Doggles and, amazingly, she left
them on...at least for a while. (Picture
of Penny in doggles with Chevy).
Herb was forced into a tough decision - keep her or let her be adopted by another. She is so sweet, so easy-going, and so loving. She bonded beautifully to me, but two dogs at my age was going to be difficult. Adoption was the best option. After negating a few candidates, Ms. Helen L., contacted ABR. She seemed to need a dog as much as Penny needed an owner all her own. Helen her new owner had made arrangements during the summer of 2015, to move to a life care community in southern Pennsylvania.. That month’s community’s newsletter had photographs of the resident dogs and comments by their owners. I had lost our last Brittany at the age of 16 in 2013 and had decided that because of my age I wasn’t going to get another dog. But when I saw the newsletter, I told myself I could do this and immediately went on the ABR web site, that afternoon and there she was - the third Brittany down the list. She was the right size (under 40 pounds), the right color (orange and white), the right age (9 ½) and the right sex. Her name was Penny – the same as the name of one of our former Brittanys. We were obviously meant to come together.
The adoption process began. I had several conversations, both e-mail and phone, with Herb, her foster, and the local ABR volunteer – who inspected a totally empty apartment prior to my move in. I went to New Jersey with my daughter on October 27, 2015 to meet Penny and hopefully bring her home. We visited for a while and I took Penny with Herb and his dog Chevy for a walk in the neighborhood. Herb hated to see her go, but he relented, papers were signed and her ”worldy belongings” were packed. After a two hour drive from New Jersey, she was home with me. My daughter remembers that the first thing she did when we entered the apartment and I sat down was to jump on the couch (still her favorite place) and put her head in my lap.
While she is still anxious around large dogs and groups of people, she has made a great deal of progress and has a number of doggie as well as people friends. Strangely, she does not voluntarily go outside without a leash. Recently she has progressed to coming out if I am on the patio, checking things out, but then goes right back inside. It was a number of months before she began to modify the game she played with Herb and we now play a ‘keep away’ and ‘gimme’ game. When I come in from even a short absence, she grabs a bone, dances around with it – tail wagging furiously all the time –until I get her to ‘gimme’. Then I throw it along the floor and we do it again – and again – and again. After some months, she began to use a tennis ball in the same way. Now she sometimes even plays this game when I haven’t been gone.
She was obviously a hunter. She is also an explorer. She is alert to everything around her and will check out anything different, even if it’s only a bunch of dry leaves. There is often a fox around, and when she sees it nearby she points, fox sits, and they stare at each other for several minutes until said fox saunters away. She has also learned that chipmunks hide in drainpipes.
A very special dog came this way. We met late in life and now she walks with me – on the sidewalks, in the woods and through the fields. Penny, Come – let’s ‘takeawalk’.
The only person who did not do well in this adoption was Herb, who lost a wonderful dog.
Copper
Here is Copper, who my family rescued back in 2014. When he arrived to us he was shy, still needed to put on weight, and was a little scared.
But now, Copper is a healthy weight, loves people, and loves to hunt little critters that roam around our house! When we pet him and stop... you better be ready to pet him all day because he nudges and licks you until you start petting him again! He is truly a sweet heart after everything he had been through and brings a smile to all of our faces.
He has a little brother who is also Brittany named, Eddie. They play outside, sleep together, and get into some mischief around the house :) Copper has been a true blessing in our lives and we love him more than we ever thought possible. We appreciate everything ABR does for the breed we love most because without them, we would have never met Copper.
Thank you ABR, The Mender Family
Marco
I mean, come on, look at those faces!! :-)
- Olivia and Cole Reichenbacker Socks
In Memory of Socks 2001-2017
We adopted Socks in 2001 from ABR. The irony of Socks' story is that I had grown up with Britts. My father was a hunter and we always had these great dogs in our lives. My partner had always had Labs. When we decided to get a dog, we always said no matter what that it would have to be a rescue. I was always searching ABR as selfishly, I wanted a Britt. One day, there was Socks...a Brittany/Lab mix. It was kismet! His coat was all brown except for his four feet and a patch on his chest. A few months later we met Socks and his foster family in Rockford and took him home. We kept his given name as it was perfect for him and why change the name he knows? Each and everyday since picking him up, I feel that I was blessed with the best gift EVER.
For us, it was love at first sight with Socks. From the beginning, he was definitely more Brittany than Lab. Man he could run like the wind and was super agile. In fact, weeks and even days before he died he would still run like all get out. He loved to swim, loved the boat, loved running, eating and begging. He was stubborn as a Brit- had his own agenda when it came to "Come", loved people, was selective with who his dog friends were, did not like going to the vet and any sort of grooming such as nail clipping, brushing and teeth cleaning were always a battle. He was the sweetest boy and a love bug. If only I could give him one more hug and kiss on the head...
There is the saying "I know love, because I had a dog." We all know the truth in that. I now know the magnitude of that love because my heart is so broken without him. For 16 years, he was my constant companion and love of my life. As he got older, when I would leave the house to run an errand or would have to leave him for a few days to travel, he would look at me with that sad face as if asking, "where are you going? " We had a deal, Socks and I. I would say to him " I always come back for you little man, and you have to tell me when its time." We both kept up our end of the deal. Thankfully, his passing was unexpected and happened super fast. I had no decisions to make, he made it for me.
The joy of having him for 16 years far out weighs the pain, at least I keep trying to convince myself of that. I miss him terribly, but know he is somewhere running like the wind and eating all the treats he can.
Thank you to ABR for the gift of Socks. Zeebo and Liberty
I read stories of adoptions that sound ideal- everything goes smoothly and everyone lives happily ever after. But to tell you the truth, when we picked Zeebo and Liberty up, and drove away with them, I was shocked, and a bit apprehensive. They were pretty wild, and rightly so, in retrospect, as we were strangers whooshing them away in a strange car! I wondered briefly if we had done the right thing. We are lucky to have an almost 2 acre fenced in yard, so at home were able to let them really stretch their legs. We had ordered two 30 foot long check lines from a hunting supply company so that we could let them be free in the yard but still be able to get them if they did not come. That did come in handy; as they needed to have the come command reinforced a lot those first few weeks. The dogs were amazed at the big mule and the sheep that live in the barn and have access to the pasture adjacent to the yard. At first they barked at them, but soon, with a few verbal corrections, they figured out that these strange new animals were part of the family. Spring is a wonderful time for birds at our country house- especially the Purple Martins and Barn Swallows. They swoop and circle low in the yard in search of insects. This was another thing that amazed Zeebo and Liberty, and they ran in circles, following the pattern of the swallow's flight. I took a week off from work dedicated to getting to know our new best friends. We tend to follow a strict routine, which worked well to settle them in and help them to feel more comfortable. They quickly began to predict when we would get up, go to bed, feed the livestock, and our selves. We fed them at the same time and place every day and used the same wording for communicating to them, and soon they were listening and following our commands. Terry told us that they liked human beds, to cuddle, and would "climb inside your skin if they could" and that is the truth. I have never had such loving and cuddly dogs. They are obedient, attentive, active, fun, funny and good natured, and I can’t imagine life without them. Thanks to Rebecca Rockwell Wallace the ABR coordinator for Tennessee and Terry Mixdorf for connecting us with these two! Angel
When we first took Angel in as a foster dog she had pretty bad separation anxiety and was stressed whenever we left the house/crated her, resulting in a few successful escapes and chewing of door frames! After a couple of months we were able to adopt her.
She has fit right into our family and loves her new brittany brother Echo. Her favorite hobbies are playing fetch, playing keep away, barking at rabbits and deer, talking back, wrestling with Echo, and snuggling. My husband and I love her so much and are very thankful she has relaxed and is comfortable in her new forever home.
With love,
Logan, Mallory, Echo, and Angel
Luna
We adopted Luna (formerly known as Lulu) through ABR on Saturday. She's from Iowa and traveled South to join our family in the St. Louis area. She's such a sweet girl, and we are so in love with her!!
She has already found her favorite places to snooze in the house and loves squeaker toys. She is a very loving girl.
Thank you, ABR!!!!! Adopted by the Stoll Family Marley
The pound holds dogs for 10 days, then releases them for adoption. I had planned to pick her up for ABR from the pound on the afternoon of her 11th dog. The volunteer called me back and did not want Marley at the pound a second longer. I picked her up as early as possible on Wednesday morning. Marley and I went home to join our other Brittany-Ruger and Finn-another Brittany we were dog sitting. I always bathe dogs immediately when they get to my house. I scrubbed Marley clean of the "pound" smell and then I will never forgot what happened next. Marley crawling onto my lap after her bath (with me still sitting on the edge of the tub), and I rocked/cuddled her for at least 10 minutes. She wanted to be held and loved the human contact. For the rest of the week (I happened to be off of work due to Christmas break), we snuggled and she slowly warmed up to the other dogs in the home. She was never scared or aggressive, just cautious. Marley had one accident in the house, but figured out where to potty right away.
We had a few health concerns about Marley, but she is perfectly health! She was drinking water non-stop and trying to eat her food, Ruger's food, our food, all food. We had her tested for diabetes due to the high water consumption. Everything came back in normal range! She still drinks quite a bit, but her excessive over-drinking has gone away. She still likes to eat (don't we all?), but she has stopped pushing Ruger out of the way to get to his food. I don't know if she needed to learn it would always be there? Either way, she is doing great! She was also nervous about leaving our side during walks. Ruger would run around in the field, but Marley wanted to be held constantly. She has finally overcome that and now runs alongside Ruger to chase birds. Marley loves when people hold her paw and will take any human attention she can get. She is also learning about the "good life" (we think she was an outdoor dog) of sleeping in the middle of Tyler and I on our king sized bed. On weekend mornings, she likes to wake us up, roll over, and receive belly rubs for as long as possible. Marley and Ruger are an inseparable pair! We also find that caring for two Brittanys is easier than caring for one. They still require several belly rubs and treats from their humans, but they also enjoy wrestling and spending time together. It was a great decision to adopt through American Brittany Rescue!
Lauren Roemmich American Brittany Rescue Volunteer Harrison and SophieNever in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine that we would leave the Charlottesville farm. Our journey with ABR started last holiday season and ended in the DC metro area. Not quite the Brittany Hillbillies but close. The transition to urban living in an Arlington townhouse was challenging at first. To actually live in a house and follow family rules was strange to us. Instead of chasing chickens, we were on leashes chasing squirrels and an occasional rabbit. We were introduced to foods like salmon, ice cream and peanut butter. The cuisine of Northern Virginia suits us just fine.
Our new family makes a big fuss over us and shows us a great deal of love. They call Sophie “diva” and “the bossy one”. The only nickname I’ve gotten is “Harry”. That’s what I hear when I jump on my parents’ bed. We love going out for squirrel chasing, getting our bellies rubbed and eating treats. Though we have calmed down a little bit from our days on the farm, Mom learned from a neighbor lady who owns a spaniel that there are training classes in our area. It is not the same school our older teenage sister attends but one that teaches us how to follow instructions better by giving us treats. Don’t know how that works but sounds good to us. Our family said we will celebrate our adoption with Frosty Paws and peanut butter smeared Milk-Bones. We are ready! Mary and Mac Annie
Bello
Bello's Story
After being rescued by ABR from a hunting camp in Texas in 2011, fostered by a loving family, Elizabeth and Tommy near Austin and adopted on March 9, 2012, I continue to live happily in Arizona. I enjoy 3-4 walks around our neighborhood with my humans, Jim & Theresa each day.
I continue to make new friends while on our walks. I am staying trim but sometimes I do get treats from our neighbors and I remember where those special friends live. I enjoy my backyard, laying in the sun and hunting any little critters that hang out in the yard. I am so happy that ABR came into my life. Marley
We adopted Marley from ABR in April, 2007. He is now 10 years old. He has brought so much joy into our lives. He is our third Brittany and we could not imagine our lives without a Brittany in it.
Nancy Blais JackJack was adopted in March of 2016. Jack has managed to conquer both of his issues since being adopted. He has lost weight and his anxiety has decreased tremendously. Jack enjoys spending time with his sister Hazel and dad Matthias. Jack LOVES playing in the snow and is starting to enjoy hunting trips. <o:p /> Kaela
11.5 years ago I was saddened to have to have my first Brittany put down due to health issues. Friends encouraged me to find a new girl to take her place-even searching the ABR website for available dogs in our area. Through some searching, I was connected with a woman in Albequerque who had a female Brittany of about 2 years that was looking for a forever home.
Kae-la became a part of the family in July 2005. She was an energetic and loving girl--she loved her snuggle time with anyone who would provide snuggles! She also loved "the hunt!" It was not uncommon to find a starling, squirrel, raccoon, or woodchuck presented as a token of appreciation. I'm still convinced the squirrels in my neighborhood have her face on a wanted poster! Sadly, at 13.5 years and after 11.5 years of providing love and smiles to our home, she has walked across the Rainbow Bridge. I so appreciate the love that ABR brought to our lives! Thank you for all you do for such an amazing breed. Ken Schofield Max
Dad has taken him to the country to look for birds and run around in the tall grass. He is great at the dog park and meeting new people. Now, we just need to convince him that the people food on the counter is not for him Max is a great goofy addition to our family and he makes us laugh every day.
Sammy
My husband, Jeff, and I adopted Sammy, a Brittany mix, one month ago. We can not thank ABR enough for bringing such a joyous addition to our family.
This sweet pup LOVES her big brother, Doc (our 11 year old Brittany). She has brought about a new energy in Doc. He is a playful pup once more!
They enjoy hiking together in the woods, playing/wrestling in our yard, and chewing on bones. We feel we are blessed with two perfect fur babies! Thank you ABR!
Annie
We adopted Annie as a puppie almost 13 years ago.
We just lost her just over a week ago. She was a great addition to our family and are forever grateful to ABR for bringing her into our lives. RIP sweet girl. Benji
We just lost our Benji Boy he was adopted from ABR in August 2009.
Benji was a wonderful sweet boy. Such a good dog with an abundance of enthusiasm.
Always happy and always enthusiastic. So friendly.
He made our time with him so enjoyable. He was loved by all - especially small children. He had such a happy face.
We will miss him greatly. Thank you for the opportunity to have him as a member of our family, Kenneth and Susan Niles Ryder
To say that Brittanys are smart and loving is an understatement. Ryder added so much to our life. He has endless energy, learns quickly and show us unlimited love. When we recently moved to a smaller house we were concerned because Ryder had a smaller yard to play in. We were not sure how he would adapt. Quite to the contrary he made new friends with our neighbors who walk their dogs by our house everyday to play with Ryder. Everyone knows him by name and love stopping by to see him. He continues to make us laugh at how he wins over the people he meets. There are so many deserving Brittanys on this website that would make an awesome addition to your family. We are so happy we took that step to talk with ABR about adopting. It was a win win for Ryder and our family and it will be for yours. Isabelle
We recently lost our sweet Isabelle who came to us in Green Bay as Ginger from Kansas City, MO in October of 2002. It was love at first sight! She was the sweetest girl and we had almost 14 years together. She had a big yard at home and an even bigger woods to explore at our cabin in northern Wisconsin. She had many other Brittany cousins to play with through the years. I think it was a win-win for us all! Thank you so much ABR for such a wonderful match! Jean Schierl
Abigail "Von Beautiful" VerBeke
After 6 months of trying to get a younger dog (most were on the east coast) we got a pic of an older Brit but I did not "see it!" That moment when your heart goes out and you "yes!, that's mine. Then 30 minutes later, we got a picture of Abby, with a message "you might be interested in this rescue!" We'll her pic popped up at 6:30pm and by 10:30pm On April 3rd it was confirmed...B'gail had a new home! Reserved an SUV, and begain plotting our journey to IL/IN border pic up! (We were a foster - adopt situation!) We still send pictures to her "first mamma" and kids! Due to job losses and financial issues, they couldn't keep Ab's! (And yes, Abby sends mommy Amy "pup-pic's" for her b'day, Ab's b'day, Ab's "gotcha day, etc.... Sooo...hot-rod Miss A...well, her day is filled with so much activity! (I was told by ABR, that because my yard is not fully fenced we can adopt!) We actually are stomping in the woods, ravines, ponds, the Mississippi, river! We hit creeks, and lakes! Lucky Ab's...well her grandpa lives next to a private boating resort, so ya pup get's all 4 seasons! Fast forward....this pup is living "la vida loca!" JJ
Patch
In Memory of Patch, 2004-2016 First and foremost, my wife and I want to thank ABR for placing Patch in our family 4 years ago. Patch crossed over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday in a peaceful way with his human family present. Patch was a special family member who was a devoted and loving companion. His health deteriorated quite rapidly due to a nerve defect that impacted his sight and mobility; but he never stopped being the Patch we knew and loved. This special Brit will be greatly missed. Patch - August 2015 I wanted to bring you an update about Patch who we adopted a little more than 3 years ago, just before he turned 8 years old from ABR and Wayne Topa. Wayne is a breeder in update NY who was shutting down his kennel for personal reasons. His Brits were entrusted to ABR knowing his pups would receive a good home. My wife and 15 year-old daughter made the 3 hour drive to come home with a new family member chosen from Wayne's pack. Well, the adoption was accomplished rather quickly as one of the Brits came over to my wife, sat down in front of her and followed her wherever she went during the visit. It seems the Patch had chosen his new family, we had little to say in his in Patch's decision, he knew who his new family would be. The attached picture with the blanket is Patch on the trip home. As you would expect, Patch had a few skills that proved very interesting. It is perfectly normal, at least for the Brits I have owned to procure food left in a vulnerable location. However, we learned that Patch could actually reach down into the kitchen sink to abscond with food that was to be our dinner. Of course, he was assisted by his sister, Java, in dispatching the chicken, bones and all. (Note: a discussion and a vet visit proved uneventful.) But, without a doubt, Patch's most surprising feat was one of daring and cunning. A couple of years back, it was a few days after Halloween. I came down to the kitchen to have breakfast and what do I find? Mr. Patch is standing in the middle of the kitchen table "exploring" the remains of the Halloween goodies. Most interesting was Patch's reaction. He looked at me, jumped down from the table and went about his business as if nothing had happened — not a word was spoken. Please understand that Patch receives nothing but the best care possible. It is just that every now and then he simply surprises us with his creativity. Well, Patch turned 11 years-old and is beginning to slow down a bit. I must tell you that Patch is the biggest Brittany my wife, me and our vet have ever seen. He stands at about 22 inches and weighs in at— 62 pounds.Mind you that is a solid 62 pounds. Arthritis is present, moderately, and I think his selective hearing is beginning to weaken a bit. However, some things never change — he is the most loving and devoted dog you could ever hope to have, he looks forward to his 2 1/2 mile walks with "mom" each day that includes a swim in the local creek, and he is still attached to Joyce with some kind of invisible velcro about 24 hours a day. We have had 3 Brits, the first two living to the ripe old ages of 16 and 14 plus a Great Dane who made it to 12 years old. So, we expect to enjoy Patch for a few more years. He is a wonderful member of the family. Many thanks to ABR for the wonderful work you dedicate to these great dogs. Best Regards, Joyce, Brie and Ken Ludwig Brisco
Sadly, last week Brisco went to the Rainbow Bridge -- and we are heartbroken. Heartbroken, but filled with love at having had him a part of our lives for so long. We've had several breeds, but the Brittany will forever be our favorite. Thank you American Brittany Rescue for giving us the love of our lives -- thank you for our Brisco. ~ LaRay and Victor Biziewski Sarah
We moved in 2005 to a place that had much more acreage and a lot of woods that allowed her to roam as she wanted and the invisible fence contained her for the most part but I mentioned she was smart so she knew when the batteries weren’t working on that collar and took advantage of it. She sent me looking for her more than a few times and when she was able to avoid us finding her she always came back home to sleep in her bed. Well she is 15 years old now and still with us and although she has slowed way down in the past few years and I’m afraid is not too far off from leaving us but she has been the best dog I could have hoped for. She has had 4 other brothers and sisters living with her this whole time and has seen some pass on and seen new little ones come in and never once was she anything other than a perfect dog letting the puppies climb and bite her ears and never once even growled. All she wants is a good belly rub and a chance to go out and see what is still outside. Adopting her was the best thing we could have ever done. Even at her at age where she struggles to get up all she wants to do is come get a good belly rub every day when we return from work. The day she decides to go will be extremely sad but she has given us 14 amazing years and will always be loved. Thanks ABR for allowing us to have this beautiful girl and all the pleasure she has given us over the years. Annie
This is Annie from Salt Lake City. I'm in Southern CA now. My Mom and Dad saw me on the American Brittany Rescue website and thought that they really wanted me to come live with them. My Dad contacted my Foster Dad, Mike Barlow, the ABR UT Coordinator, and they talked. Mike likes to meet the Forever Parents before he allows his Brits to leave his care, but because Diana Dorion, the ABR So. CA Coordinator, vouched for my Mom and Dad after she visited them, Mike allowed me to come to So. CA. Dad and John Cadia and Reyna Meenk (two pilots from Pilots and Paws), worked really long and hard to transport me to So. CA. John flew me, with Mike riding along, from SLC to Boulder, NV. Reyna was to fly me to Riverside, CA, However, the winds at altitude were so strong that she said that she'd drive me to Riverside. Mom and Dad said that they'd drive half way to meet Reyna and me in Barstow, CA. We met there and Mom took me for a walk and I had some treats and then we drove home to Huntington Beach, CA. I found a nice yard and a bed that I loved when I arrived at my Forever Home and best of all, lots and lots of love from all the family. Mom's and Dad's daughter and son-in-law live nearby and have a two year old Lab mix and a six year old Australian Cattle dog that I have a great time playing with. We run around the yard like puppies. I've even spent the night there. I've met my vet, Dr. Alison Naito. She's been my parents' vet for 30 years and all of the staff and Dr. Naito just love me. If I ever have to stay there, it's just like a second home. I want to thank everyone who helped me get to my Forever Home. I'm really really happy and have lots and lots of attention and love. Love, Annie Chuck and I want to add a little to Annie's letter. She's a lover and fits into our home perfectly. We especially want to thank Mike, Diana, Reyna and John for making it possible for us to have Annie join our family. Rest assured that she'll be loved and cherished the rest of her life. Thank you all very much. Posey and
Chuck Leech Talli and Lexi
Lexi is the ultimate snuggle bug and a complete spaz. If there is a lap, she is in it, and she vibrates with excitement when sitting and waiting for a treat! Talli is sweet as can be and keeps watch over our family and property and her little sister. In no time, she wore a path all along the fence in our backyard, so we call her border patrol! These two have brought so much love and joy into our family when we needed it most. Thank you ABR for all that you do, and you rescue more than just the doggies! - Sara Mercer Ladybug
Sadie
The last time my mom updated my story, it was a sad one. I lost both of my sisters a week apart. My mom and dad worked really hard and found me the perfect new sister! Meet Bergita! My parents adopted her through ABR. She is a Brittany/Lab mix. My mom jokingly calls her a Brittador. It took me a few weeks to start liking her. Now I love my pesky little sister. She is 15 weeks old now and we love to wrestle...all the time! My mom says we are crazy! I am teaching Bergita the ways of the Brittany; we patrol the yard and keep it rabbit and squirrel free! Someday I will teach her to point to birds, just for fun though. I am gun shy..hopefully Bergita is not! Thank you to the volunteers at ABR who took in my sister, her 6 siblings and her momma. Without them I would not have my new best friend. Don't worry, my mom will always be my favorite! Love, Sadie and Bergita from Minnesota Boo
Our plan was to double up on the attention we could provide Boo by having both my Mother and I adopt her. Mother and I are next door neighbors, each with a fenced in yard. Mother is home during the day while I work so Boo is rarely alone. Mother feeds Boo, cares for her every need and Boo lives and sleeps with her. I am in charge of exercise, vet visits and grooming. Boo gets to go to the local dog park (which is well stocked with local ducks and geese), hike on trails through the woods, explore the beaches, walk the extensive paved trails we have in our area of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. She is a dog with a loving heart, a need to be loved, a little anxious about being alone, but that has diminished over the last two years as she has learned that we will be back soon. We also have some wonderful friends who come with their dogs and stay with Boo if we have to be gone for longer than an hour or two. Because she is confident and not aggressive, she is able to meet other dogs on the trails and in the parks with great success. She is funny and smart. Even though we have had a Brittany before, Boo surprises us every day with the depth of joy she brings to us and the many friends she has made. Thank you so much to all of the ABR members who made this possible. Cooper
This fall, I found a lump on his leg and my vet found out it was a mast cell tumor. It was removed on October 14. The pathologist said it was cancerous, but it was not dividing. This was great news! Cooper has now fully recover and lives the life of a king. We adopted a cat in spring of 2014, and he is Cooper's best friend. He even sleeps in his kennel with him! We live next to the Mississippi River now and Cooper thinks this is the greatest thing EVER! Not only does he get to swim, but he gets to be disgusting and roll in the sand! I'm so glad my boy beat his cancer. Cooper is my best friend and snuggle buddy. Thank you for bringing us together! Dollar formerly Ruth
I thought you would be pleased to see what Brittany’s do what they like to do best. They love getting out in the fields. She responds very well to my whistle commands. If you recall, Ruth possessed a PA lifetime license. Since I’m a PA resident, it was allowed to transfer her lifetime license to my name. The cost was only one dollar. So I thought it was only appropriate for me to change her name to “Dollar” Thanks you ABR! Donald Barna Callie and Misty
She had never learned to play with toys and
when she would pick up one, she’d put it down like she didn’t know what to do
with it. She was beyond affectionate, as she would drape herself over
your lap for attention. In July 2014 she got sick with an auto immune
problem, and an x-ray showed she had been shot 3 times with metal bb’s.
We can only imagine just how hard her life was before rescue. She got sick again with her immune problem and passed away in our home on Dec 19<sup>th</sup> 2013. Our other Brit Callie, 14 at the time, went right downhill and passed away 3 weeks later. We were heartbroken to lose both our pets.
That following August 2015 we rescued Sammie from Ohio. She was from a family with life changes and they were heartbroken to give her up, but they couldn’t keep her. She was a very loved dog and fit right into our home. Since we’ve been Brittany owners since 1999 we just couldn’t go any longer without one.
Thank you to ABR for giving us two very loving wonderful rescue girls. We donate every year, but this one I wanted to put in both Misty and Callie’s memories.
Thanks for all you do for these wonderful dogs Mary LaClair Sadie
It has been quite a year for me. Earlier this year I lost both of my furry sisters. My Mom and Dad had to make the difficult choice to help them to the Rainbow Bridge. I was devastated to say the least. My parents have been helping me with my grief by bringing a lot of my furry friends over to play with me, but they know I need a brother or sister of my own to keep me company. They have been watching the ABR website and are going to find the perfect companion for me! In the mean time, I am enjoying the beach, the fall leaves and being with my family. I have been with my furever family for 5 years now and family loves me more than anything in the world! I continue to keep my backyard free of rabbits and squirrels and often bring them to my Mom as an offering of love! I know she loves it because she squeals and jumps up and down. That definitely means she loves my presents! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to updating you when my new fur brother or sister arrives! Love, Sadie from Minnesota Abbie
She started having symptoms in August and her Vet told us she suspected a brain tumor. Unable to believe that in spite of scans, tests etc., we explored the possibilities of a stroke and even West Nile Virus. In spite of several medications, she became progressively worse and on October 8th, after I had a conference with our Vet, she told me it was time for Abbie's sake to let her go. We did so on October 9th. She was our third Brit and we admit she touched our hearts more than the others. She overcame so much fear from her previous life and she gave so much. The love poured out of her when she looked at you. Letting her go was one of the hardest things that we ever had to do but we couldn't let her continue to go on the way that she was.
We will, in the future, we're sure, have another
Brit but there will never be another Abbie. VictorVictor became part of our family in March 2006, adopting him from a
local shelter. He was a year old and, except for housebreaking, had no manners
whatsoever. Since then we have achieved the following titles: AKC Master
Agility Champion [MACH], Master Agility FAST [MXF], Companion Dog [CD],
Beginner Novice [BN], Rally Excellent [RE], Canine Good Citizen Advanced
[CGCA], an Expert Level Trick Dog title from 'Do More With Your Dog' [ETD] and
in October 2015 began his Barn Hunt career. Victor went into the Barn Hunt ring
three times earning three first placements, with two High Scoring Team awards
and the Barn Hunt Novice title [RATN]! [picture attached]. Not bad for a
10-year old! Sophie
When Sophie arrived it was love at first sight for all of us. These two are inseparable...we're talking little, canine soul mates here. Sophie has been with us for a few months now and we can hardly remember our home without her. She is such an adaptable girl, loving and eager to please. Sophie has provided Turbo with a perfectly suited playmate, walking buddy and companion. Thank you ABR for the work that you all do to support and serve this amazing breed. We all love our sweet girl and are so grateful to have her here. Lynda and Dennis Fabrizio Selvie
As it was a warm weekend, she proceeded to dig a little nest for herself to lay in the cool sand under our picnic table at the campsite, and appreciated her cozy crate in our tent overnight. Being "leashed" to her for 48 hours deepened our bond with Sylvie, and gave us time to see patterns and preferences that would otherwise not have been noticed. Thank you Terry Mixdorf, and Lori Weaver, for your loving work with Sylvie, and all Brittanys and other four-legged creatures!
Lisa and David Sexton Lucky Luke
But on to summer in the Sierras. We have a new tradition and destination,
Yosemite, more particularly the Dimond O campground just outside the park on the
Hetch Hetchy side. It has been dry here the last couple years and the Middle
Fork of the Tuolumne has been pretty low. Well, now that Luke has memorized all
the good trails around and near the campground he has a perfect answer to a four
hour drive from the Bay Area. He leads me directly to the creek for a refreshing
swim. Last year he was such an avid fisherman he got hypothermia. This year his
efforts were crowned with success. Now I suspect the trout he caught was pretty
slow, not to say dead, but... Anyway he was so proud of himself. He pranced
ashore holding it high. Then he dropped it on the ground and prepared to roll on
it. That was not going to happen! We have a small mountain tent. When I told him
he instantly changed plan and swallowed it down in one fell slurp.
The delightful thing is how happy he is to be in the mountains. When the
stars begin to fade and the sky begins to gray I get the puppy nose in the
sleeping bag. At first I thought he was cold he was trembling so much. It wasn't
even chilly. He was just excited. I try to tell him that outside it will be cold
and we should wait for sunrise. However Luke has a different plan for the day.
If I don't listen to him he says, "Well, I've tried the genteel approach..." and
starts batting me with his paws. Pretty quick he's testing my martial skills
blocking and diverting his old one-two. It's all in fun and he knows I'll give
it up and see it his way sooner or later.
There has only been one exception to the morning routine. This year a momma
bear and her two cubs were hanging around Camp Mather, a mile or so up the road.
Well sometime about O-dark-hundred Luke got busy waking me up. He was trying to
tell me there was something important we just had to go outside and check.
Right. I told him to roll over. It wasn't happening. Well, being the good dog he
is, he must have stayed up the rest of the night on guard. I actually had to
wake him up about 7.
Luke is an awesome traveler. Of course we start at dawn for the cooler temperatures and I give him pit stops. We go the back roads which is happier for all of us. Who knew there was still an S&W Green stamp sign at the Valley Home store? Cheers, Charles Ruby aka Cricket
Maddison and Dakota
Chris and Beverlee Duffy
Max
It is with a heavy heart that I'm writing to tell you of the passing of our much beloved Brittany, Max. We adopted Max in December of 2003 when he was 11 months old. Max brought fun and excitement to our lives from the moment he came into them. He was always happy and easygoing and even when he would run off after rabbits that would wander into our yard (before we got a big enough fence up), he never went far, thank goodness.
In 2007 Max began having seizures. We were able to control his condition for the most part with a good diet. In 2014 Max got blastomycosis in his foot and had to have one of his toes amputated, but he still didn't let it get him down. Then last summer the seizures got worse. For the last year we've experimented with various medications and have taken him to several vets to try and find "the cure" that would get his seizures under control. It finally became too much for him and his poor body.
Maggie
We shake our heads in disbelief that she could really be 10 because her energy level is off the charts. She likes to wear us out as you can tell by the happy smile on her face and the relaxed posture of my husband in this photo from about 5 miles into a hike on a Gunpowder Falls trail in suburban Baltimore, MD. Todd
When we got him home, we found out he had probably never been in a house before as he went over the furniture not around it. He was afraid of loud noises like thunder, gunshots, firecrackers, etc., so it is assumed he was dropped off by a disgruntled hunter who had no use for a gun shy bird dog. Todd had everything to learn, and in most things, he was a quick learner. I went with him for two six week sessions of obedience school and he got "Most Improved." He had to improve, he couldn't have gotten much worse. He learned all the basics rather quickly and he always comes when I call with one exception. If he is chasing a squirrel, rabbit, or other critter, forget it. He's focused on one thing, and that is whatever he's chasing. We have a large fenced in back yard and that is his domain during the day, in the house at night. I walk him through the neighborhood every day and he is known by all the kids and gets to meet a lot of the other neighborhood dogs. The kids run up and hug him and he never jumps on them or gets excited, he just stands there and tolerates the hugs and then walks on. About six years ago he was bitten on the nose and jaw by a Copperhead in our backyard and his poor head was swollen something terrible. The vet gave him a shot and antibiotics and the next day he was as good as new but with a new respect for snakes. He got where he would go around the yard and hunt for them through the day. Copperheads have great camouflage in dry leaves and pine straw and at times are almost impossible to spot, but Todd didn't need to see them, he would sniff them out. When he found one he would bark and jump back over and over. We got where we could tell his "snake" bark. One summer we killed 14 Copperheads and all, except for a couple, were found by Todd. We were averaging 12 Copperheads killed a year for several years. He hasn't found as many this summer and we don't know if he has thinned them out or if they run in cycles, but snakes are not safe in the back yard with Todd. One was escaping down a hole and Todd got him by the tail, pulled him out, and immediately slung him across the yard where my husband chopped off his head with our "snake" shovel. We have neighbors who say "we don't have snakes". They have snakes, they just don't know it. We don't have snakes because we have Todd. Tinkerbell
She came from Ohio and now lives in Maryland (DC suburbs). She is very loving and petite and loves long hikes at her weekend house in the mountains. But when she is in the city she is actually very lazy- so un-Brittany like! Katie Beach Jill
Jill died at 15 yrs,9 months, the best and loved of the rescues we've had. She smiled till the end<o:p /> Rylee
I made the trip through the winter snowstorms just after Christmas and when I arrived, there were presents for me under the tree! I knew this was the place for me but I had no idea how much fun California is!
Since then, we go to the beach about once a month and take long walks on the beach – well, they walk – I run and swim! I was pretty unsure about water when I first arrived but now it is so much fun to jump in the waves or launch into the swimming pool.
This summer, Mike took me on my first backpacking trip. I wasn’t so sure what was happening when he strapped the pack on me and didn’t understand why my food was in there but when we got started on the trail, it all came to me! Miles upon miles of forest and trails to run chasing squirrels and streams and lakes to swim in! After a 4 mile hike into camp, we settled in alongside a lake where Mike took my backpack off. While Mike took a nap, I spent the next hour swimming in the lake – it was so much fun! Check me out in this picture – is this not the best place for a Brittany? The Beach Boys said it best – “I wish they all could be California girls!” Thank you ABR! I have a smile on my face every day now. Georgia
We think her breed should be called the "Attention Hound" since she demands to petted always and often. She's quirky in that she's become a hoarder and stashes all her toys in the corner along with several socks that she seems to always find. She also loves her step-brother cocker spaniel, Brutus, and always gives him at least one cleaning by licking a day. See picture attached of the both of them in the car.
Roxie
I mean, who can resist wanting to pet a dog and we are asked constantly if she can be petted! She is a great conversation starter. We had her about 4-5 months when we noticed she followed my wife around all the time. Sometimes nudging her or jumping on her when she wouldn't with anyone else. In February 2012 we met a couple in Daytona, FL that had a Brittany diabetic alert service dog. That's when it hit us, maybe Roxie is doing this because my wife is a diabetic. From that time on when Roxie would nudge, jump, or whatever to her, she would test her blood and sure enough it was too low. She is now a certified service dog and goes with us almost all of the time. She basically works the most while we sleep and she jumps up and down off the bed periodically all night checking. She has saved my wife's life 6 different times in the last 3 1/2 years. During the day when she jumps on her, she gently blows in her face and if she is ok, Roxie jumps down and goes on her way. If not, she just stands there on her back feet until she knows action is going to be taken. She is such a blessing to us and we are so glad we found her on the ABR website!!! Thank you ABR, David and Brenda Pantleo Www.DavidPantleo.com Max
Gus is a giant schnauzer. He’s only 2 years old, but he weighs 85 lbs! We live just outside of the city limits, and Gus and I have nothing but fun in our 2-acre fenced-in yard. We’re loving, smart, and immensely talented, especially in the area of landscape redesign. Back in the fall of 2014, we pulled off one major and amazing accomplishment (and the one we think Mom & Dad will remember f-o-r-e-v-e-r). You’re really going to be impressed! Get ready . . . Here it is: One day in November we discovered that the mole tunnels meandering through our backyard had become rather lengthy, and with new ones appearing every few days, the network had become massive. We’d been digging around on them for some time, but Mom & Dad always escorted us back in the house before we could finish our project. But all that changed when the opportunity of a lifetime came along—Mom & Dad left us alone in the backyard for an entire afternoon! That was all we needed to show them how helpful we could be. We put our digging skills to work and by the time they returned we had trenched the entire network of tunnels covering nearly an acre of our yard! When they came home and began looking for us, we were proudly sitting there, exhausted, but waiting to show them both our massive “re-landscaping” project and our trophy—one of the moles (and we take no prisoners). Gosh, they were just speechless. Too proud to speak, we suspect, because it ultimately took a pickup-size load of soil to fill in the trenches. Yeah. Amazing. As great as digging is, and as accomplished as we are in the art, our absolute favorite thing to do is ride in the car. Here are the selfies we took to commemorate our one-millionth ride in the Rav4. Kansas! Where the digging is great, and the rides are even better. Annie
I want to share the success story of Annie who adopted us in 2005. With great sadness we had to let Annie go last Tuesday. She was my second Brittany to make it to 15 1/2 years. Annie had many "quirks" to work through but she was the sweetest girl. Our Emma is deeply mourning her loss which is quite something to witness. Here is a picture of Annie with 15 1/2 month old Ember Mae who loved this dog so much. I feel another Brittany is in my future......
RIP Annie Fannie, Chunk, Big Mama and the list goes on and on.... Sonny
It
is with heavy heart, that I must tell you that our Sonny dog, adopted October
2009 has been diagnosed with a large tumor on his heart and will only be with
us for a few more months most likely. His age was unknown when we adopted him,
they said anywhere between 6-12 yrs. His health was in pretty bad shape
when he was found. He has been a happy part of our family for over 5
years now! He loves our kids, our cats, and our newer two-year-old
Brittany, Colt. We just wanted to thank you for your rescue work and
keeping these fabulous dogs in good, loving homes!<p>
We would also like to look for another Brittany after Sonny is gone. Our 2-yr-old Britt will be very lonely. We would love to find another young 1-3 yr old to bring into our family and become Colt’s new brother or sister. If you have any available in the next couple months were are interested!
Here is Sonny, with his smile!
and here is his brother Colt. Thank you! Keith and Ellen Mangine Sasha
When we met her at Meghan's home Ruby walked over to Sasha and touched her. She was OK with Sasha and we knew she was meant for us to bring into our home. At first she ran around checking everything out. She and Ruby are getting along great. Sometimes Sasha gets Ruby to come in from outside. Ruby hears Sasha running around and wants to know what she is doing. Sasha has become Rick's Britt and she follows him everywhere. We are so glad we found Sasha and glad the ABR approved us. Sasha is making our home and Ruby's life alive again. We wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for giving us the opportunity to have Sasha in our life. Thank you!" Ruby, Sasha, Ruth and Rick Mowgli formerly Zach
Now that the weather has warmed up a bit, he has decided that boat rides
aren't too scary. They are just the start to his favorite thing, running around
chasing birds and fish around small islands.
Mowgli also decided that no lap is too small for him to cuddle up into. He
greets me every morning with a big hug, toothy grin, and nubby wag.
That's all for now, time for a walk!
p.s. thanks to Monica and everyone at ABR for not only caring for this little gem, but for all they do for every other fur child. Charley
Hello, we wanted to share an update on Charley (formerly Crosby). We brought him home in November, our initial concerns about bonding with our 8 years Brittany, Clementine were quickly vanished when the two met!
Although, Charley towers over Clementine he is gentle and completely submissive to the little gal. They enjoy walks, playing ball and wrestling each other.
Charley loves snuggling with the family on sofa and enjoys sniffing out the falling popcorn. Charley came to us from Georgia and has discovered his fondness for snow and is completely unaffected by the cold weather. He has completely captured our hearts and completed our family Granville
I just wanted to give an update on Granville. I adopted him from you in Feb. 2006 - his name was Sonny. Granville has been struggling through several medical issues since November 2014. Yesterday he told me it was time to leave for his next adventure. He will be greatly missed! Granville was the sweetest boy - he played hard and loved to curl up next to me on the couch. He was my first Brittany and first bird dog - he has changed my life forever. I have an English Setter as well and from here on out I will always have one of each. He was the even keel to my crazy setters - keeping the balance in life. I will adopt another Brittany from you in the future - just not ready yet. I appreciate what ABR does for all these wonderful dogs. Thank You, Kimberly Buck
Chloe Rose
Hi ABR and Happy 2015.
It’s another year and Chloe Rose and I are as close as ever. She goes with me to work almost daily and when she doesn’t she stays home with mom. She is slowing down a bit now and has trouble hearing. But, what do you expect at 11!! Her appetite is still good and she still loves to travel. Hope all is well with ABR in 2015.
Greg Penny and NickleThese are the most amazing animals and they have enhanced our lives and we
cherish every day we have with them, as we know they will not be here forever
except in our hearts.
Thanks for the opportunity to share this,
Buddy Garrett
ABR Volunteer Florida
Sarah Belle
Sarah Belle is a very energetic older dog who has taken over as Queen of the Household! Most importantly, she gets along famously with Sassy Sue and they are inseparable! We are more than thrilled to have been in touch with American Brittany Rescue and have Sarah Belle in our lives! Abbie
This is Abbie checking in again. I've posted my story before when I was adopted and on my first anniversary, but I like to keep you informed of how happy I am.
Today, December 4th, 2014, is the second anniversary of my Mom, Dad and me becoming a family.
Things were great until Mom decided to put a Christmas tree in my favorite corner. Fortunately, after Dad saw how unsettled I was, he made some adjustments and all is right again.
When I was adopted by my Mom and Dad, it was apparent that I was, as my Foster Dad, Dave Smith, explained, "a shy and sweet Brit". When my folks would inadvertently move their feet near me, I would quickly move away and I wouldn't let Dad pet my face. But, gradually my fears of new people were overcome and now whenever Dad sits on the couch, I quickly come to sit by him and let him stroke my muzzle and head. Oh, how great it is to know that I'm loved!!!
My Forever Home has been great. Dad and I take a long walk most every morning and I see friends I've made along the way. Pretty soon, the family from the East, Midwest and South will be here for the holidays and I really like that. I couldn't have picked a better Forever Home so I thank the American Brittany Rescue (ABR), Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) and my Foster Dad for working so hard to get me here. Mom and Dad send their thanks also. I'm truly a member of the family and, if I do say so myself, a very important member.
Mom, Dad and I send our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2015.
Rosemary and Chuck Leech Zooey
I have adopted Brittany No 5!!! Her name is Zooey (8). She is in the middle in this picture. Maya (10) is on the left and Kodi (6) is on the right. Zooey is a very
sweet little girl that was purchased from Craig's list and then given to ABR. She has fit
right in with the Brittany crew.
She had to have surgery to remove several growths one of which was
cancerous. The vet thinks Zooey will start training in January so she can become a therapy dog like her brother and sister. The amazing thing is that she heels so well wearing a martingale collar. She is still learning stay, wait and down. I have been so lucky and blessed with the Brittanys in my life Connery
Our awesome Brittany adoptee Connery (formerly Limerick) has been asking me
to let you all know how happy he is in his new forever home.
Connery is everything we were told a Brittany would be: loving, cuddly, smart, affectionate, curious, and very, very high energy! He's a big dopey dog who is guaranteed to get into everything he could possibly get into, then gives you this big dopey grin and you immediately forget why you were mad at him.
When we first got him, he showed some mild fear aggression, likely due to his earlier home. But we worked with a trainer and he has completely worked out of it - now he seeks out other dogs for play instead of avoiding them! We were also a bit surprised to discover that he has a severe wheat allergy; he cannot tolerate even the slightest crumb or even a taste of soy sauce without breaking out into belly sores. But, with a bit of adjustment here and there, and a bit of strict diet awareness to any friends / family who come to visit, he has been doing great. He's loving his home-cooked "puppy stew" that I make for him every 2 weeks (and freeze), full of lots of yummy veggies and protein topped olive oil.
His favorite days are spent at Ft. Funston where he can run off leash to his heart's delight, chasing birds, squirrels, or whatever else he happens to find. Connery has learned to respond to our voice commands almost 100% of the time, and is just starting to get the hang of hand signals. He also loves chasing after a chucked tennis ball, and has begun to grasp the concept of bringing the ball back so that I'll throw it again. Sometimes he can be a bit slow to get these things, but eventually he comes around!
Connery is by far one of the most emotionally sensitive dogs I have ever
met. If I am sad or sick, he will not leave my side and pushes his entire head
into my hand for cuddles and pets. He is also the biggest goofball I have ever
encountered! Whether directly asking me to play fetch with him by bringing his
favorite fetch squirrel to me and dropping it at my feet, flopping around on his
back for belly rubs, or play-attacking our other dog on the stairs, he gets a
laugh out of me many times every day. Connery has also recently been
successfully introduced to horses and loves being at the horse barn. He romps
around on long hikes, loves camping with us, and is a great Sunday brunch
partner.
I cannot believe I lived so long of my life without this fantastic, naughty, stinky, goofy, lovable dog. Big thanks for helping me find my favorite doofus, our lives would not work without him!! SadieHello my friends!
My Mom and Dad adopted another new sister for me, she is a 13 year old Westie. She is ok but I would rather hunt in the backyard than play with her. I have been in my forever home for almost 4 years now. My Mom keeps saying that she can't believe how fast time flies; I think it flies as fast as me when I am on the trail of that wascally wabbit! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your year! Love, Sadie Bear Our Year with Dublin and ABR!!!Hello ABR!
This saturday marks the day we call Dublin’s “birthdoption day”. When we adopted him from ABR last October 25, we didn’t know his birthday! So we decided that since then his birthday and his adoption day will be the same! We have been so blessed to come into the ABR family.
We have had the opportunity to foster two wonderful young dogs and look forward to fostering more and more than likely adopting our next in the near future. We’ve learned so much about not only Dublin but also about ourselves along the journey the past year. Including he will voice his opinions when our schedules change and that if there’s a bird to hunt down in the yard, he will absolutely go for it! He’s caught 2 birds so far! It’s really just been an amazing year volunteering with the rescue, and having Dublin in our lives!! Thanks so much for all that you do and we look forward to continuing working with the rescue!! <o:p> </o:p>
Thanks! Meghan, Paul, and Dublin Dog!<o:p /> Luke
I'm a lousy shot. Told you about the hunting day of my youth when the people working the old Brittany got 7 pheasant... and the golden chasing 'em down the ditches caught and brought back 5? If I take him hunting, it will be where I think an audience unlikely.
Abby and Luc
Both of my furry children are ABR rescues! Abby on the left is about 5 yrs old now and loves her nightly walks around town. Luc is about 8 yrs old and loves looking out the window. They have become best friends and don't like to be away from each other. They are extremely spoiled and have claimed our couch as their own. We love ABR and so thankful they found our Britts for us! Keep up the fabulous work you do ! Maya and Kodi
This picture was taken a couple years ago. I sort of inherited my first Britt, Allie. She was the cutest little chubby puppy. When she tried to point, she would fall over. She taught me how stubborn and sweet a Britt can be. She became a Happy Tails Therapy Dog at age 11. She was an Alpha dog and tested me every day to make sure that I really wanted to be in charge and lived to be 14 yrs old. Britt #2 was Sammy (aka Peyton) adopted through ABR and the Archers. He was around 5 yrs old. He had been named Peyton because he was so sweet. He was a “born free” Britt…he could not be trusted around an open door or gate. He became a therapy dog at age 7. He was born to this…..he was the best with special ed kids and the elderly. Around then I adopted Britt #3, Maya through ABR and Evelyn Wheeler. She was only 1 ½ yrs old and was the calmest and most cuddly Britt I had ever seen. She was certified as a Happy Tails therapy dog at age 2. She loves to lay with patients in their beds and play with the special ed kids. Maya is also certified under Therapy Dogs Inc. so she can be a Reading Paws dog. Children come to the library to read to her. She loves it since she can be petted and talked to for an hour. Maya is also certified as an AKC therapy dog. Sadly, Sammy passed away. Maya was so lonely that I adopted Britt #4, Kodi (aka Archie) through ABR and Gloria Gaffke. He was barely 1 yrs old. He is a typical energetic, nosey and loving Britt. He has completed Basic and Intermediate obedience and passed his Canine Good Citizen test. He is now Happy Tails therapy dog and is also AKC certified therapy dog. He also belongs to TD Inc and does Reading Paws. Amazingly he is the best therapy dog of the four. I cannot begin to express my deep appreciation for the foster parents of my dogs. Gloria even drove Kodi from Iowa to Atlanta. These wonderful dogs have enriched my life in so many ways. They have given so much love to everyone they visit….a smile on a sick child or a nursing home resident is a great reward. They have made me laugh so many times and no one can be lonely with a Britt on your lap or nose bumping your hand. Eleanor Hager Tango aka AspenJackie and Clark Albers Cinnamon
At the time I had a young brittany (Winchester) at home
who had been sad for quite some time over the loss of his older friend. He loved to take care of others and was missing
one that had been in his care. Also,
while we ran every day and practiced agility Winchester- being 2 was still in
need of a playmate. My husband was away
a lot on business and left me to take care of the properties and critters which
left little extra time. We had visited some other brittanys and were pondering over
them when it was suggested we meet Cinnamon. We went to Cinnamon’s foster home
to see how everyone got along. The dogs got along well and Cinnamon liked me
right away. Shelli said she had not seen Cinnamon warm up to someone so
quickly. I figured it had something to
do with the treats in my pocket but she said others had had treats as well.
Next step was for Cinnamon to visit us in our home. She jumped in our pond and would not get out
and did not want to leave. To me it
seemed to be a good fit and Shelli, her daughter and Cinnamon all seemed to
know just how perfect this would turn out. When Cinnamon first came to our home she would hide under
the furniture when you got home and wait to see what would happen to
Winchester. She was not good with men in general and was very leery of my
husband who loved to pet dogs. After about
3 days of feeding her and petting her she decided not all guys were bad. It
took her about 3 months to stop hiding under the furniture when you first came
in. We had many challenges. Winchester introduced
her to the horses and showed her they were harmless. Cinnamon “tom sawyered”
him out of the front seat of the car and many other prime spots. He really took
her under his wing and showed her everything was all right. I was not going to
do the agility with Cinnamon but after watching Winchester once she showed me
she was capable of doing everything. Cinnamon is now the happiest dog I have ever seen. Every day she is full of sunshine, kisses and
love. She not only is an agility champion but a favorite in the agility
community and all love to watch her run around the ring wagging her tail on all
the equipment and making loud laughing noises ( It’s not barking). She
entertains all and gets the whole class stirred up. She is always smiling and
people are always wanting to see her. She loves playing interactive games with
you and on cold nights she loves to snuggle and will take your hand and make
you pet her. When she wants something Winchester has such as a bone she uses
her feminine guile to make Winchester jealous and give up the bone – which she
promptly takes over. When my husband got very ill she would check on him
constantly and is now not afraid of any guy.
Now instead of hiding she happily greets you in a play bow wagging her
tail. And the best thing is you know she is wagging her tail with her heart and
truly loves life. There are no bad days-
because all you have to do is go home and see Cinnamon and a bad day is good
and a good day is even better. She can make you laugh every day. I am so fortunate Cinnamon knew from that
very first meet we were meant to be her forever home. We do so many fun things
and she is a quick learner. She loves to be the star of the show. Also, I would
like to thank Shelli Ray, the ABR foster volunteer, whom I felt really put some
time and effort into Cinnamon and teaching her the basics to make her a
successful candidate for a forever home. MollyAnother Brittany Story
By Molly—as told to her Dad & Mom, Bob and Kathy Ackerman
First I got to stay with Michelle Falkinburg and family for a couple of weeks. What fun to run around with her “pack” and play doggy games all day. Then some new people came into my life—Bob and Kathy Ackerman, my forever family.
My family was living in New Jersey back then, and life was good. I had a nice back yard and also got to run on the beach on Cape Cod a couple of times a year. Then, the most amazing thing happened. My Dad and Mom packed up all our stuff and we moved to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware!
Summer is pretty great here, because we can buckle up for a ride in the car with the top down and take long walks at the state park. But my favorite time of year starts when the beach season ends. Rehoboth is doggy heaven from October to May, because that’s when we’re allowed to walk on the boardwalk. I love to greet all the other dogs, and I beam with pride when people say how pretty I am. I am a walking advertisement for my breed, because Mom and Dad always explain that no, I am not a Springer Spaniel, and that I joined my family through American Brittany Rescue.
This September I am turning 10, and it seems like a good time to stop and say “Thank You!” to the wonderful people at ABR who took me in when I needed a home and helped me find a family of my very own.
Molly Ackerman Fozzie
This is Fozzie. He is a 9 month old puppy who was adopted from ABR in January of 2014. He loves fishing and being around people. This is pretty amazing considering he was petrified of people until about 4 months ago. He's also a fun loving puppy who wears tutus (once in awhile:) Karma
Hey guys! Next month
(April) will be one whole year since the wonderful volunteers of ABR helped me
drive nearly 1600 miles from my foster Mom in Wichita Falls, TX all the way up to
Missoula, MT to my Forever Home. I'll admit, I was a little shy when I first
got there, but my Mom helped me get more confident with other dogs (even though
my husky brother is REALLY obnoxious) and now I'm even starting to play with
them! My Mom is a dog
trainer, and she thinks I'm such a good example that I even get to come to work
and demonstrate my skills! I get to meet lots of other dogs (which are OK), but
meeting all the new people is my favorite! Some of them even give me treats.
When I got here I only knew how to "Sit," but now I can do all sorts
of things, like Heel, Bow, Stay, and I'm learning more all the time! I might
even be learning Nosework soon. Oh, did I mention I'm also a hunting dog? We go out all the time and look for birds and rabbits--it's so much fun! And when I'm not doing all those exciting things, I have lots of fluffy beds to lay on, and there's almost always someone to keep me company. Mom says this summer we're going to do lots of hiking and camping. P.S. -- Even though I
was a Texas dog, I LOVE THE SNOW! All that fluffy white stuff is lots of fun!
This really is the best. Thanks, ABR! Love,Karma Luke
Hi, Well, here we are a couple months into the new year with our happy new dog, Luke, who came on New Years Eve. "Cool Hand Luke" was his pound name. Lucky Luke is more like it -
Meantime, around home he is biddable and a delight. He's loving, cute and has a
great sense of humor. We have all sorts of stories already. And how can you be
blue or cranky with such a ball of energy and joy just waiting an excuse to
have some fun? Had you noticed? Many Brittanies wear their hearts on their
forehead. Winston
June of 2013 we welcomed ABR rescue Winston (formerly Java) into our family. He immediately bonded with our 13 year old Brittany, Clementine, and won the hearts of all our family (especially our 3 and 5 year old daughters). He has been a wonderful addition to our family - he's sweet and loving and always up for play! Bailey
Bailey has been with us for 10 years he has been a joy. We had to downsize to our health but Bailey need to do that too. He is now blinded in both eyes but that doesn't stop him. He knows the house very well as enjoys just being with us. If anyone wants to adopt a Brittany you will never be sorry. Bailey lost his friend Candy about 6 months ago but they enjoyed each other for about 8 years I have attached a picture of Bailey now. He has been the spot light of the neighborhood. Everyone thinks he is handsome. Edie Hooper and Don Hooper
Ellie MaeJerry and I just wanted to let ABR that we lost our beloved Ellie Mae on March 7th 2013. We were so lucky that the people who adopted her thought she was too aggressive with her bone and surrendered her. We were the lucky humans that picked her up at OHare from New York.Ellie Mae (or Mae-Mae) was the alpha female...small but mighty! She loved her bones and you best not tease her when she was enjoying them! She would do her fake growl when Jerry would pretend to "take" her bone. We took her down south the summer before she passed at age The squirrels didn't have a chance around our home. Although she couldn't chase them like she used too, she sure did make them scarce around here. My brother bought his Pug dog over in his crate and Ellie Mae went in that small crate! When Jerry tried to get her out she was having no part of that and gave him her fake growl. That was her way of telling him she wanted to play! She loved her crate even though she hasn't been in her crate for years. When the Pug was ill she watched over him like a mother would. So many memories. So many nose kisses. She was an independent girl. Daddies growler. Thank you for trusting us to take care of her. She bought so much joy to our lives. She came to us at 7 and left us at almost 14. It was a good 7 years. We just wish it would have been longer. Nose kisses Ellie Mae. We love you. Thank You, Pam Van Dieren and Jerry Hannon Chloe Rose
Hi ABR, Just thought I would let you know that Chloe Rose and I are doing well.
December marked our 2 year anniversary together and her 10th birthday. Hoping
and praying that ABR will be even more successful in 2014. Here is a current
picture of us.
Greg
Benjamin Buttons
Here is Benji with his fish he caught while swimming. He lives to swim but his technique could use some work. He is more of a water slapper when you describe his stroke but he loves to swim all the same. Quite the water dog My husbands favorite caption for the photo is : what do you mean Brittany's are "Bird Dogs"...? Benji is also a very accomplished bug hunter. He is a relentless hunter if a fly gets into the house. Granville
Hello ABR, I just wanted to send a holiday thank you for my lovely boy. I adopted Granville (was Sonny with you) in February 2006. He has been such a joy. His is my first Brittany and not my last :) He has a new sister - Fantasia (a setter/pointer mix) and is helping her adjust to life in our home. Granville is always very helpful with new dogs. I have attached his Christmas pic. Thank you for all you do!!! Enjoy your holidays! Kimberly Osmonson, Richmond VA Abbie
This is Abbie. I wrote to you about a year ago after I arrived at my Forever Home. Today, December 4th, 2013, my folks and I are celebrating our first anniversary together. It’s been a great year for all of us. I’ve really been happy. My folks love me and I’m having a fun time. “Dad” and I go for a walk almost every morning. Mom's and Dad’s daughter and her husband have a Golden Retriever, Boomer, and we love to play together. I get to stay there when my folks are gone. I wish every dog could have as good of a home as I do. I want to thank everyone that helped arrange for me to live with my folks. You can see how contented I am by looking at the picture that Dad attached “Mom” wants to add a line to my letter now. Abbie Chuck and I again thank everyone for adding Abbie to our family. There were several people involved and they deserve mention. Tiffany Dexter, the CO coordinator for ABR arranged the adoption. Dave Smith was the Foster Dad and took Abbie and a crate, which we had bought for the transport, to the airport near Denver from where she began the trip to Southern CA. Julia Ryan-Billings, the Co-Organizer for the Animal Rescue Flights (ARF), spent hours finding pilots who made the commitment to fly Abbie to us. David Bamford flew her from Denver to Phoenix, using Doug’s (I’m sorry that I don’t know his last name) plane. And, Bob Brown completed the mission by flying Abbie from Phoenix to Fullerton, CA. The pilots showed ingenuity in disassembling and reassembling the crate to fit in the planes. Abbie’s the sweetest gal ever and definitely gives as much love as she receives. We had Brittany pups before, but never from the ABR and we encourage everyone to adopt a Brit, whether young or old, who needs a Forever Home. Abbie, Chuck and I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Rosemary Leech PS: You can see pictures of Abbie’s trip that Julia Ryan-Billings posted on the ARF website: http://www.meetup.com/aviation-95/photos/12035642/ Sam
A year went by and I was ready for another dog. However, I had just retired and moved to a much smaller home. My wife wasn’t crazy about the idea because this dog would have to live in the house, but with a little persuasion she was on board. Originally, I wanted a puppy, but the cost was much more than I could afford. During my search I came across the ABR website. I had never considered adoption before, but when I saw all the dogs that needed homes, I was moved to act. I couldn’t specify a dog that was trained to hunt, but I knew that a pure bread Brittany would have that instinct. I soon found Sam only 15 miles away. I filled out an application and was quickly contacted. After completing the process, I picked up Sam. He is a wonderful affectionate dog, who is well suited to live indoors. After a couple months of training, I took Sam on his first hunt. He ran over the first bird, but retrieved it to hand. After that first encounter, he quickly connected the scent with the bird and began pointing from farther and farther away. The picture I included shows Sam on a staunch point. You can see in his eyes that he’s doing what he loves. Even though I call him Jaque from time to time, Sam is my boy now, and a much loved member of our family. I thank ABR for the good work that they do. I have also volunteered to help transport dogs. It helps me to give back a little of what I have received. Tom Thompson Kalamazoo, MI Kipper
It was a good meeting and we decided Kipper would be just fine for us. They agreed to allow us to become Kipper’s family and to provide a “forever” home for him. Their oldest child, age 5, I will never forget. He loved his dog and as I looked into his eyes full of tears, not really wanting to give Kipper up, I promised myself I would love this dog as much as this boy did. Driving away was the hardest part. Kipper was constantly looking back as if to say “ Is he not coming along with us”? However, the transition went very smoothly. These parents had taught or trained Kipper so well, I now understood why they chose the name Kipper. (Kipper is a character in a series of books for preschool-age children by a British writer) Kipper was an English Gentleman We were not going to change his name. Kipper was smart, good looking, had good manners, was house broken, kennel trained ,had personality PLUS, and his shots and records were up to date. He is the only dog I have ever known who would wait for the command to eat from his bowl. You could put ice cream in the bowl and he would not move toward it until you gave the command OK. What a wonderful job these parents had done with Kipper. We took him home, taught him his new boundaries and wow, what an experience for us. We have had the privilege of loving and caring for Kipper over the past eleven years. He has traveled across the United States with us, up Pikes Peak, along the Grand Canyon, up the Great Sand Dunes, visited the beaches of Delaware, North and South Carolina and Florida. What a trooper! Every place we took him he acted like a gentleman and loved everyone he met, especially children. He was family!!! Kipper was diagnosed with Renal failure and yesterday we lost him. Words cannot describe the sadness and loss we have experienced nor the emptiness we feel. He brought so much joy into our lives and was so giving. His love for us was truly “unconditional”. How can I ever thank the original parents of Kipper for their remarkable gift? We gave Kipper a forever home, but he gave us a life time of memories filled with love and happiness. His parents wanted “only the best” for Kipper and they were heartbroken to give him up. We gave him our very best and we are heartbroken in having to give him up. He was, is still and will always be a part of our family. His DOB was August 12, 1999 and DOD October 25, 2013. Kipper was an American Kennel Club certified Brittany. Thank you American Brittany Rescue! Thank you and the many volunteers it takes to keep your organization up and running. Thank you for the shelter you provide, the foster care you offer, the transporting and medical attention given to many. You have brought untold joy into the lives of many by your labor of love for these precious friends. ScoutIn October of 2006, my family was blessed with a new member, Jillybean. At the time we were told that she was about 7 months old, but after another visit to the vet they decided she was actually about 14 months. My dad had said prior to her arrival that we could only get a dog if we named it Scout, after our beloved hamster. “It’s a boy and a girl name!” he had said, so wouldn’t you know it, we named her Scout (Scouty). She was originally found on the side of a highway in Virginia with her mother Celia.
After 7 great years, we have accumulated a bunch of different nicknames for Scout (i.e. Scouty-Badowty, Scooty-Batooty, Pups MaGups). After years of spoiling, Scouty prefers to sit in her own seat in the car, sleep in a human-sized bed, and spend hours of relaxation in the lake. She is an avid fisherman but after many head dunks she has never come up with a fish. Where ever we go, everyone is interested in Scout, from the way she swims for hours to the way she points her paw when she sees a squirrel. There are no words to describe how perfect our Scouty is. Thank you ABR for giving us an amazing dog, but really another family member. "My Libby"
Libby was a shy baby right from the start. When the doorbell rang, she would run and hide. When our other two dogs would bark she would hide. Her favorite safe place was behind our bed in our bedroom where she was out of sight. She would occasionally sleep on the bed with us but she preferred her little dog bed behind our bed where she was safe from all loud noises and the commotion of the other dogs. I quickly feel in love with my dear sweet Libby. When the call came that a family in Atlanta wanted to adopt her I just couldn't send her half way across the country. I knew that she would be scared and I couldn't bear the thought of life without her. So we kept her. As our daughter told us, "you guys suck at fostering". She loved to go for walks but even on her walks she was timid. She seldom would use the whole leash length, preferring to stay next to me. Lee took her out hunting but it was clear she was not a hunter. She had that Brittany nose and a couple times she pushed some pheasant out but she wasn't a pointer and just liked going for walks in the fields. She was the sweetest dog I have ever known. She wouldn't hurt a soul. She seldom barked and never showed any aggression to anyone. One time I had her at the farmer's market on a Saturday morning. I didn't see the little girl who came suddenly at her from the side. All of a sudden there was a three year old hugging her tight and squealing "doggie"! The little girl's mother was horrified, scared that the dog would bite her little one. But Libby didn't even flinch. She just stood there and let the little girl hug her and pull on her ears. Many people around me commented, "that is a great dog, most dogs would have bitten a kid coming at them suddenly like that". I said, "I know". About a year ago she started to slow down. We knew she about five when we got her so we thought she was just starting to get old. I took her in for tests and our vet found her thyroid was low. We put her on thyroid medication. Then last summer we had her clipped for summer and I noticed that her hair was growing in and she seemed to be panting a lot. I started googling her symptoms on the internet and it seemed to match "Cushing's Disease". I called the vet and he said to bring her in for tests. He tested her adrenal function and sure enough she had Cushing's. Cushing's is a disease where the adrenal gland produces too much cortisol. Most likely in her case it was caused by a tumor on her pituitary gland. The symptoms are increased thirst and feeding, hair loss or failure to grow, panting and fatigue. We started her on a medication called Veteryl that can lessen the symptoms. She did better for a little while, she got a little bounce in her step and this spring she was actually chasing things in the field again. Her hair wasn't growing but we didn't care. The past two months she had started to go downhill again. We had her tested for diabetes, which can be caused by Cushing's, but she was negative. She was losing weight and pacing incessantly. It was hard for her to sleep at night. We started giving her Melatonin. She started having accidents in the house. Libby never ever had accidents before this. She could go twelve or more hours without peeing. She was such a good dog. When we left her for long hours she never peed in the house. We would be standing at the back door with her legs crossed, but she would never go. Then yesterday she seemed really restless. She was panting and all of a sudden her legs went out from underneath her and she couldn't stand up. I took her right into the vet. They did x-rays but couldn't find anything. She had developed a massive infection in one of her mammary glands. The vet said that Cushing's causes a compromised immune system that can lead to devastating infections. She had IV fluids and three antibiotics last night. The vet wanted her to stay overnight but I couldn't leave her there. She came home last night. She was walking some but she wouldn't eat. I sat out on my deck last night with her laying next to me. I thought she might be ok. I took her back into the vet this morning for more antibiotics and fluids. Mid day the vet called me. It was the call I expected but dreaded. He said that she might be doing a bit better but that given her condition we should consider letting her go. Of course this was already in my heart but I knew the time had come for me to make the most painful decision of pet ownership. I knew that I couldn't put her through any more. I had to let my baby go. Lee met me at Rockbrook Animal this afternoon. I held her and told her how much she meant to me and how much I loved her. I told her what a great dog she was and how much I would miss her. I told her that I hoped she was going to a better place and that I would be with her one day. Then I let her go. She died just as she lived, no sound, just gentle silence. I was so lucky to have her in my life. I think that dogs are just another reason I believe in God. They bring so much joy to us. They bring a love that is so strong and so unconditional. I am blessed to have known Libby. Sweet dreams my Libby Lu. Jesse
We soon reached
out to ABR. One day, our rescue coordinator emailed me a picture of an orange
and white Brittany that was a local stray and had just come into a local
shelter. He was holding a huge blue toy ball in his mouth and I swear he had a
smile on his face. We were smitten instantly and upon meeting him, knew we had
to have him. It was rough at first, despite our immediate bond, we had some hurdles to overcome. He had to undergo heartworm treatment. Not fun for him and not fun for us. Limiting exercise for a one year Brittany puppy is a challenge! Crate training was a disaster. He would claw himself to the point where he was bloodied and cry endlessly. Upon opening the door, he would jet out to drink excessive amounts of water. It was as though someone previously threw him in a crate with no water and never let him out. He was initially very frightened of large men and kids. He refused to let my dad let him out to use the restroom when we were at work. He would go in a corner and start to shake excessively. After heartworm treatment, we were able to start obedience training. By this time, I had become pregnant and was struggling a lot with nausea. In training class, Jesse would pull me nearly to the ground, increasing my nausea from being moved too and fro by this little ball of energy. After a few weeks of this, the instructor suggested the gentle leader collar. I guess she figured I was no match for his nose! The gentle leader became a life long friend to Jesse as well as us:) As the months rolled by, Jesse began to settle down. With sufficient exercise, he was calm when around us, his people and extremely friendly with all people and dogs. When I was at the end of my pregnancy and would lay on the couch on my side, he snuggled up behind by legs and laid his head on my hips. It was a precious tradition we continued for years. When we had our
first daughter, I experienced severe postpartum depression. Many days and nights
I would be crying in despair, so tired and unsure how to properly console my
colicky child. Jesse was there for me, every moment. He would place his head on
my lap as if to so "it's okay. You're a great mom". As the years went by, Jesse mellowed. At a checkup with the vet last year, the vet commented "he's turned out to be such a good dog. He was WILD when you first got him. I didn't know if you all would make it!" 9 years later, I had forgotten what a ball of fire he was at first. All he needed was some exercise, love and attention. By last year, Jesse lost nearly all of his hearing. When I would return home after being out, he would be curled up in a ball on the rug by our front door. You could see the nose marks on the front window where he'd been watching us, probably thinking "come home soon! I'm much happier with you here". I would gently wake him and he'd greet me with a vigorous tail wag and a kiss on the nose. In November, we
lost Jesse in a tragic accident. It was so sudden. Even today, when I arrive
home after being out, I occasionally tear up when I see that rug by the front
door, looking so empty without his sweet orange and white body curled up in that
ball. Our girls still pray for him every night when they do bedtime
prayers. I will forever be indebted to ABR for the joy and cherished memories you made possible for our family through introducing us to Jesse. If anybody sees this story and is considering a Brittany through ABR, all I can say is that your life will be so much richer for it. Several months since Jesse's passing, we have already adopted with ABR again. We discovered our home is just not the same without a fuzzy friend - or friendS. We adopted two Britts this time (which we highly recommend)! Thank you ABR
for the beautiful gift you gave us through Jesse. GeorgeWith apologies to H.A. Rey…This is George. He is a good little monkey, and always very curious.Jennifer Maguire Turbo
He likes to cuddle, go on walks and to ride in the car. He has also made it his duty to guard our yard from all birds and small animals that try to come in and invade. He works so hard that in the summer he gets really hot. We had a water feature in our yard that he tried to take over as his own pool. We could not believe he could even get in and out of it because it was only slightly bigger than him! We ended up buying him his own little pool, so he would stay out of our water feature! He loves laying in his pool on a hot day. We also have a place in northern Michigan which he loves to visit with us. We were worried about the car ride up there at first, but he is so good. He sleeps the whole way there and back. Up north there are a whole new set of smells and animals. He has encountered a skunk, deer and even snakes up there. We do a lot of jeep riding up north and he is always the first one in the jeep. We took this picture and really feel that it says it all. We truly love having Turbo as a part of our family and feel like he is truly happy with us as well! Sadie
I am sorry it has been so long since my last update, but boy have I been busy! I took my first road trip last fall, we went up north to see the beautiful fall colors. I was so excited I just couldn't contain myself! I met some new friends along the way and really enjoyed my first time in a cave. Yes you heard that right, a cave! It was really dark but my mom and dad had a flashlight, so I wasn't scared at all. A few weeks ago I took my first road trip out of state. We went to Wisconsin where I met my cousin Murphy; he is a Weimaraner. My mom said she couldn't believe that two dogs could run all weekend and never get tired! We had so much fun and I cannot wait to go back. My mom adopted a new sister for me, a kitty named Mia. I really love Mia, at first I wasn't sure I liked cats but she is a lot of fun. Sometimes I get a little too excited and I play a little rough, so my mom and dad have taught me that "if she squeaks leave her alone". Sometimes I make the kitty squeak...ooops! While I love my travels, my friends, and my sisters my favorite spot will always be anywhere that my mom is! I hope you all have a great summer! Love, Sadie Charlie
For his first nine years, he was very energetic and everyone in the family did something with him. My wife would walk him early each morning, the kids would play with him in the afternoon after school, and he was always happy to see me each night when I got home from work. I'd chase him around the backyard, then feed him, pet him, and talk to him about my day. When I was outside doing anything, he was always right there with me. He was absolutely the most enjoyable dog we could have ever dreamed of. In all his years, he never barked. He never growled. He never bit. He was, I believe, a slightly atypical Brittany but in every other respect (energy, intelligence,) he was all Brittany. In 2009, we noticed he seemed confused and before we knew it, he'd become blind. He also developed a liver problem and canine Cushing's disease. Yet through it all he was still an awesome dog. He easily learned his way around the house and around the backyard even though he couldn't see. We did a few precautionary things around the house to protect him and very quickly he adapted to his vision problem. And fortunately, for about 21 months, his Cushing's disease didn't cause any problems. But, as we'd feared, about three months ago it did start to get the better of him. As his health declined, he still retained his dignity and his spirit. Then about three weeks ago, he went downhill rapidly. The weekend before he passed, I sat with him in the backyard and told him how much he'd meant to me and to the rest of the family. I also promised him I wouldn't let him suffer just so that I could selfishly have a few more days with him and I promised him I'd be with him at the end. On May 16th, 2013, at age 11, we had to have him put to sleep. After all he'd done for us; my wife and I were there at the end with him. I held him and petted him as he took his last breath. As we drove home without him, my wife said "I lost my walking buddy" and I responded "And I lost my outdoor buddy." Without a doubt, I think this Brittany was the perfect choice for us. He fit our lifestyle and he made us all extremely happy. I'm so happy that ABR linked us to this wonderful dog and I hope that lots of other families have the same experience we did. I miss Charlie every day and I'm always thankful for your help in making my life better by giving him to us. Bill Kugel, Dayton, Ohio Rusty - A Final Letter
Rusty trained himself to awake me whenever my Oxygen failed during the night. He would be insistent by my bedside until I sat up—I soon learned when he did this that there was a problem with my Oxygen. Late 2011 he was diagnosed with a most horrible disease—Canine Cushing’s. The process caused rapid declining health and many issues but Rusty –the gentleman he was—retained his dignity and stature through it all. Yesterday on May 20, 2013 I told Rusty it was OK for him to go the Rainbow Bridge. I didn’t want him to suffer more and more. I learned that to be a responsible pet owner who loves the animal deeply --as I did Rusty—that you must know when it’s time to let go. To hold on any longer would have been my own selfishness so I knew I had to do what was best for him. Rusty, indeed, touched many lives while we had him. When word got out—Rusty had about a dozen visitors who came to say good bye to him. What a tribute to a most awesome Brittany. Rusty enjoyed his last ride with us on a bright sunny day. Then passed peacefully in my arms. As most pet owners will understand, I am simply lost. I would like to thank Terry from the bottom of my heart for all the help—which allowed me to have him as long as I did. I sincerely thank the ABR for what you do in rescue and placement work—and I do hope others will realize how much the Seniors have to offer. I may have not had Rusty the many years I would have liked but the years I had were certainly quality ones. DECISIONS Today is a new day for decisions to be made. They will be mine to make and mine alone— Good or bad –I will be responsible. As the sun sets in the evening shadows I will reflect back on the decision I made and know it was best. Thanks to the ABR—and Terry –for enriching our lives. Rusty left many memories behind and will never be forgotten. Linda & Merrill Ritchie Indiana
Memphis
Memphis was adopted in the beginning of December by Don and Pattie and went to go live in "puppy paradise". Don and Memphis soon became inseparable. Recently, Don had to have a full hip replacement and spent 4 nights in the hospital. Memphis missed his dad terribly, but it gave Pattie and Memphis some bonding time. When Don was released from the hospital, he couldn't get upstairs so they made him a recovery room on the first floor of their house. Not only was Memphis happy his dad was back, but he stayed with Don downstairs. One night Don and Memphis were asleep in the recovery room at the house. Twice during the night Don was having problems. Memphis ran upstairs, woke up Pattie by barking and ran back downstairs. When Pattie went downstairs, Don did indeed need help. Needless to say, they are so proud of Memphis. Don and Pattie are looking into getting him registered as a service dog so he can assist Don through the recovery process. It just goes to show what natural instincts dogs have when they are really bonded with their person. He hasn't had any "assistance dog training" from them, but he sure saved the day that night! Riley
One more happy ending. I lost two beautiful loves of my life in early 2010, my wife and first Brittany, Jake. His passing was no surprise, he was 15 yrs & 5 mos. They passed away 5 wks apart and on the same road. Needless to say 2010 was not a good year. I found ABR on the In my retirement community he is a very popular dog. We all know how good they are with kids and people. I think there size, beauty, and personality make them one of the best breeds for family pets. I now have great friends at ABR, Thanks to every one. Rick & Riley Lucy
She was a typical Brit active and loving. She drove me crazy dead heading perfectly good tulips all the while staring at me as I was yelling no. As the years went she mellowed as Brits do but her love for me and the family didn’t. My youngest child (my son) learned to stand grabbing hands full of Lucy’s fur to pull himself to standing. This past weekend I had to make the difficult decision to have a her put down as a tumor was affecting her ability to walk. When the time is right I will once again start searching this website again. Thank you for bringing her into our lives. Stephanie McDonald Annie
Abbie
Chuck and I want to add our thanks for bringing Abbie to us. She's our third Brittany and our first rescue baby and we couldn't be happier or love her more. She's a real sweetheart and gives as much love as she receives. Jesse
I've been with my forever family for about 1 year. It's been great, so many new things to explore and chase. My family doesn't hunt, but that doesn't stop me. I've caught rabbit, mice, and much more. Once I chased a turkey straight towards my big sister and it almost ran into her ( I didn't catch that one). When I'm not out in the woods I love to get belly rubs and snuggle. The only thing I don't like so much is that I still have to get my nails cut......that's the worst, and such a waste of time. The thing I like best though is hiking in the woods with my big brothers and sister. Good hunting, Jesse JakeOur family acquired our first Brittany, Lizzie, as an 8 week old pup. She grew up with our kids and was totally devoted to our family. When Lizzie was ten, she developed an aggressive form of bone cancer; the disease progressed so quickly that we had to put her down within a few weeks. Our hearts were broken. Several weeks after we lost our Lizzie, I found American Brittany Rescue on line. I fell in love with the picture of a four year old male Brittany from TN. There was just something in his face that made me know he was "the one." Jake had many issues when he came to us. His first owner, of two and a half years, was so physically abusive of the dog that another family intervened and offered to adopt Jake. For the next year and a half, Jake was kept tied up outside this family's home and was not fed very often. As a result, he became an escape artist and frequently broke away, only to come home again a few days later. Jake was rescued by his ABR foster mom, Jennifer. When she picked him up, he was skin and bones, fur matted, covered in ticks and fleas. He cowered at loud noises and was terrified of men, particularly those wearing baseball caps. Jennifer cleaned him up, fed him, and took him to the vet for a checkup, neutering, and heartworm check. When we met the ABR coordinator who drove Jake from TN to MI, Jake was cowered in the front passenger seat. He rode home in the back of our car, turning his back on us during the entire trip. Our German Shepherd, Emma, met him when we arrived home, letting him know who the alpha was around our house. Within three weeks of his adoption, Jake managed to escape and ran away with our neighbor's dogs during a snowstorm. We put up flyers all over the county and after six days of numerous "Jake sightings", we managed to track him down about 15 miles away. He seemed very glad to see us and other than having lost a few pounds, was none the worse for wear. Even though Jake was wearing a collar with new ID tags when he ran off, nobody had been able to get close enough to him to read the tags. About a month after his arrival, we were dismayed to discover Jake growled at our children when they petted him any time he was laying down. After Jake nipped our youngest son in the face several times, we enlisted the help of a dog trainer to help Jake successfully overcome his alpha issues. A few months after his adoption, Jake was hardly recognizable. He stopped cowering after a month or so and started joining our German Shepherd in chorus whenever they heard a strange sound. They became the best of friends; the two could always be found sleeping near each other. Eventually I started to take Jake to work with me. He greeted everyone at the door and found a comfortable place from where to observe their music lessons. He became known as the "pet therapist" and proved he could be trusted around children of all ages. Jake loved to ride in the car. He was my traveling companion; I took him everywhere with me. He loved sitting in the front seat and sniffing all the delightful smells along our country roads. He was equally fond of running in our woods, followed by a delightful swim in our creek and a roll in the leaves. Last June we had to put down our 11 year old German Shepherd. Jake missed her, but was also in failing health. He was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis and even with treatment, it was evident that his days were numbered. Jake's breathing became a struggle by mid December and I knew we had to let him go. We called our vet and took him in; he died peacefully in my lap. We have just submitted an adoption application to ABR and are awaiting our next adopted Brittany. Home just isn't home without a dog. I am attaching one of my favorite pictures of Jake. He looks so regal and content; thank you for the nine years of happiness and love he brought to our family. Sincerely, Susan Raguse Cedar, MI Ceil
My name was Nick I was adopted in January 2012 my new name is Ciel A.K.A Chunky Monkey, I have been with my forever family since. I'm spoiled rotten, I love sleeping in my new bed with my mom and dad and my new brother Bobby. But I really love my new friend who is a squirrel and we talk to each other by the fence and or the tree. I also love my big sister who shows me a lot of love by hugging, kissing, and nibbling on me. I REALLY love my moms cooking its better than dads and big sisters. I'm in puppy heaven with all the good food and love!!!!!!! I was adopted in Denver and live large in Colorado Springs. MERRY CHRISTMAS! and I hope every Brittany finds as nice a home as I have. Breaker
Our Brittany spaniel Breaker was not a rescue through ABR, but ABR was part of his life. Shortly after getting him as a “State Fair Special” because he didn’t have the “characteristics” his breeder wanted, Breaker became a part of our family. We enjoyed camping, hiking, sleeping and trips to the dog park for many years. After we saw so many dogs being abandoned by their owners due to natural disasters or economic distress, he and I wanted to give something back to less fortunate Brittany spaniels who needed help while looking for their new “pack.” So two years ago we began donating monthly to ABR. Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Breaker suddenly and unexpectedly but we will keep up his good work with ABR and someday when we are ready, we will look to ABR for the next love of our lives… |
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Though she
still squints some, she no longer wears her Doggles, and she is in good health,
with no problems at 11 ½.