Happy Halloween from BTRNC

Today is a day of ghosts, goblins, jack o'lanterns and lots and lots of candy. We hope you are able to enjoy the Halloween festivities safely with your beloved Bostons. We have enjoyed bringing you our favorite dogs in costume and we hope you have laughed along with us.

Our last Boston in costume is Mindy. Mindy was adopted by her BTRNC foster mom, Elizabeth Pou earlier this year. Mindy is a senior girl enjoying her golden years with a family who loves her dearly, and a family with a wicked sense of humor...

From Mindy and all of the Bostons safe and sound in loving foster and adoptive homes, we wish you a Happy Halloween.

And we can't possibly leave you without a rendition of "Trick or Treat, Smell my feet, Give me something good to eat!" That's from Mindy, not the Bashful Boston...

Double Trouble

We revisit Tootsie (adopted 2005) and Diego for this edition of "Bostons in Costume." These photos were submitted by proud mom and BTRNC volunteer Michelle Wilson.

First, we have Countess Tootsie sporting a spooky natural underbite to accentuate this frightful costume.

Second, we have Diego O'Lay relaxing in his favorite poncho and enjoying a canine margarita.

Oh, drink fast, Diego. That margarita looks yummy!

Where's the Fire?

Oh, what has that silly Pauley gotten himself into now? Pauley must have convinced his foster mom Alex to get him that fire hydrant costume for Halloween. Have you ever seen such a thing? We love this costume and we know Pauley will be a huge hit with the kids (and other dogs) in his neighborhood.



Pauley is still looking for his adoptive home and we volunteers at BTRNC are perplexed. Here, we have a distinguished Boston Terrier with a good robust personality. Age hasn't slowed him down; he is as friendly and outgoing as a 5 year old. Pauley is a fun, affectionate companion and he LOVES his people. For months he has watched the younger dogs get adopted away while he waits, waits, waits for someone to notice him. It is disheartening that so many have turned Pauley away simply because he has a few silver hairs. Somewhere out there must be a big-hearted family who understands the plight of senior dogs and will open their doors for Pauley. Take one more look at Pauley on our Available Dogs page and think seriously about adopting an older dog. They are just as deserving, entertaining and adorable as our youngsters.

One Big Bumblebee

This Bumblebee does NOT like costumes. Nothing would please him more than wriggling out of this uncomfortable outfit and ripping it to shreds. Convincing him to sit for this picture required many tempting treats.

Griffin, you are such a cute bumblebee, thanks for sitting so nicely in front of the camera so we can all have the opportunity to laugh at your silly face. It's reassuring to know that all the money and time we spent on your training did you a little good.

Thanks to BTRNC volunteer Kate Speer for submitting this photo of Griffin.

Halloween with the Holsingers

Today, we feature one of our special BTRNC families. On the left is Pete (adopted 2004), next to him is the lovable special needs pups, Henri (adopted 2006) and on the right is sister Nanci (rescued by mom).

This is a family that consistently steps forward in times of need. We are happy to share their Halloween pictures with BT lovers everywhere!

This insider's look into this happy BT family is provided by BTRNC volunteer Jan Holsinger.

Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a ...Bee?

Oh, the joy of Halloween! It's again the time of year that dear sweet mom dresses me in funny clothes and joins others while they point and laugh. Mom says they're not laughing at me but with me. Do I look like I'm laughing?

Thanks to BTRNC volunteer Pamela Flanigan for sharing this sweet honeybee photo of Popeye (adopted 2004).

Ready for the Halloween Luau!

Bostons are known for their highly expressive faces; they wear their emotions on their sleeves. Never has this statement been truer than in the case of Samuel and his Hawaiian Halloween costume. We have no idea how Samuel's parents coaxed him into this comical get-up but we are so glad they did. Not only is this costume top-notch but Samuel's icy glare is priceless.

Thanks to Samuel's mom Betsy Neidert for sharing this photo!

If you're interested in reading Samuel's story, you may view his previous blogs

Sam I Am Part I

Sam I Am Part II

It's Bat Girl!

Do you recognize this Boston Terrier superstar? She's chosen an incognito look for the task of taking to the streets for trick or treating. The black cape offers a mysterious air to this diva, don't you agree?

Thanks to BTRNC volunteer Jennifer Swafford for submitting this photo of Suki (adopted 2005)

The Spookiest Time of Year

Are you prepared for an onslaught of Bostons in costume? Yes, those adorable black and white faces stuffed into uncomfortable costumes to satisfy the devilish and comical whims of we humans? We realize that some may view this as animal abuse but it's just so darn cute that we do it anyway. And not only do we do it, but we showcase it as well. Standby...there are 9 more days until Halloween. Plenty of opportunity to delight at the sight of a dog dressed as a pumpkin, a witch, a bug, oh you get the idea...

The newly betrothed, Diego and Tootsie. Submitted by BTRNC volunteer Michelle Wilson

Behind the Scenes: Micah

In late August, BTRNC was alerted by a Fayetteville area shelter that a female Boston Terrier had been turned in and was badly in need of some TLC. Within a couple of days, one of our nearby volunteers, Pamela, had aranged to pull the dog from the shelter and overnight her in preparation for travel. The next morning, Pamela drove the dog to Wilmington where she met Kate, another volunteer helping the dog along its journey. Kate then escorted the dog to Jacksonville where new foster parents, Marc and Heather, eagerly awaited her arrival. The next stop was Havelock where the dog would spend the next few weeks of her life while she waited for an adoptive home to come forward.

Although nameless along her journey from the shelter to her foster home, she was later christened Micah (prounounced Mee-kah). While Micah's foster parents got to know her better, our busy adoption coordinator screened applicants looking for the right family. The wait for the right family was not a long one as our adoption coordinator realized Micah seemed a perfect match for the Quartana family.

We recently received a joyous note from Micah's new mom.

I just wanted to let you all know that Micah (my little Meeky) is doing just great. We have all been together three weeks now and it seems like she has been with us forever. She is smart and sweet (an a little sassy now and then) and we love her dearly.

Micah has learned that she belongs with us and that she will always be safe here. She has made herself quite at home (as you can see from one of her favorite resting spots)...

Nick and I both want to thank you for putting us together with Micah. She has found her forever home and her forever Mom and Dad. We are eternally grateful to BTRNC. Micah thanks you too.

For every happy ending, there is a series of events just like this one. It's a carefully coordinated effort of multiple volunteers working behind the scenes. We volunteers live for Happy Endings. It's why we frequent shelters, it's why we transport dogs 300 miles across the state, it's why we open our homes and it's why we open our hearts. We do it for the dogs, but we couldn't do it without each other.

Camera Shy

A small bulb exploding before your eyes causing momentary blinding pain and the appearance of thousands of twinkling stars is not an enjoyable experience. We humans have the cognitive ability to understand a camera's flash. But imagine the fear and confusion this sudden flash of light incites in a dog. It's no wonder that dogs tuck and run at the sight of rectangular metallic objects.

Our Pandora is terribly camera shy. Of course its understandable, but such a shame. How are we to capture her beautiful face if she refuses to acknowledge the camera?

The following pictures were submitted by Pandora's tireless foster mom. We hope that you find humor visualizing this photo shoot between a determined foster mom and an unwilling Boston Terrier.

The determined foster mom eventually won the battle. One charasmatic pose was captured on film. You can visit Pandora's section of our Available Dogs Page to see the final result.

Tribute to a Volunteer

One month ago, BTRNC members received an email about a dog named Henri. Henri is a 3-month-old pup placed in foster care by a breeder. The breeder had turned to BTRNC realizing he had a puppy with a problem. He hoped we could determine what ailed Henri, cure it and adopt him into a wonderful home.

Henri and his foster mom consulted a specialist. The news was disheartening. Henri was born with a neurological defect similar to spina bifida. Although he can walk, run and jump, Henri is incontinent and must wear a diaper. There is no treatment or surgery that can cure this condition. Trying to find a family willing to adopt a dog that will require diapers for the rest of his life is a nearly impossible task. BTRNC decided Henri would be returned to the breeder. Henri's fate would lie in the breeder's hands...euthanasia was probable.

Before Henri traveled back to the breeder, BTRNC decided to first contact its membership and ask if anyone was willing to commit to this diaper-clad pup. It was a long shot, but we had to give Henri a chance.

Some people want it to happen, some wish it to happen, others make it happen.

One lone volunteer stepped forward and offered Henri a home.

This was the same volunteer who, a couple of years ago, responded to an urgent message about a Boston Terrier mix in a shelter facing certain euthanasia. She drove several hundred miles to save Nanci, who turned out to be pregnant. Nanci had a forever home and all of her puppies later found wonderful homes.

This was the same volunteer that adopted Pete, a BTRNC dog who had lost an eye and was not comfortable around other dogs.

And now, Henri. The playful, sweet, lovable Henri has a bright future ahead of him.

This is one volunteer who has saved the lives of three precious pups.
Three lives that may have ended prematurely had she not stepped forward.

Jan Holsinger.

On behalf of Nanci, Pete and Henri, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Why Not Take a Chance?

Our newest foster has experienced a lot in his 2 years on this earth. Chance started his life with a couple who loved him dearly. But, when Chance's elderly father passed away, Chance's elderly mom moved in with family. A child in that family tormented poor Chance. As if losing his dad and moving to an unfamiliar environment wasn't hard enough, Chance now had to defend himself against a child.

And to top it all off, Chance had to undergo a hip joint replacement. Fortunately, his recovery has been a smooth one and now Chance presents no complications.

As Chance settles into his new foster home- a quiet, structured and disciplined environment- we'll take the opportunity to sort out Chance's emotional woes. We are optmisitic that a life without fear, a life of exercise and play, a life of structure will do Chance a world of good.

If you are interested in helping Chance blossom into his full canine potential, please visit our Available Dogs Page.