TO CALM THEIR FEARS

My last rescue was picked up by animal control on the streets at the ripe old age of 8 weeks. He is two years old now and I still ponder daily about his first 8 weeks of life. He was not underweight so somewhere he had a Mother who nursed him. How did he end up on the streets so young, and why is he so afraid of loud noises, frying sounds in the kitchen and of the music the ice cream trucks makes. The car, forget about it. He sits motionless in a bed in the back seat, never moving. He doesn't shake any more when he goes in the car, but he still goes rigid as you lift him toward the open car door. He is more than capable of jumping in a car, but that won't happen. Despite his fears, he LOVES all people and animals, and will throw an absolute fit if we pass someone on a walk if he is not given the opportunity to say hello. He's gorgeous and he's mine so I'll get off of him now.

Jasper's story may have been similar. And talk about gorgeous. He's 15 months old and still hides at noises and had to work through his fear of the leash because that meant the scary outdoors. Most dogs are giddy with excitement at the sight of a leash, but not those who learned too young that the world outside is not always a safe place. He has also found comfort next to the big dog in the house.

Jasper underwent surgery for a luxating patella the first of September and is now recovering. Don't you be afraid of that. Once the patella is fixed, it is fixed. BTRNC has paid for the surgery and took on the fun chore of keeping him still during recovery.

He is learning to trust and to receive pats and love. He may be skittish at first meeting but is learning quickly that he need not be afraid. He is so young and in time we hope that his fears will be all but forgotten and the scars of his youth will be completely healed. The family who is lucky enough to become Jasper's forever people can continue down the path of recovery and he will know that he is home and safe.

Jasper's life has just begun. If you would like to join him in his journey, please let us know.

REFORMED ESCAPE ARTIST SAYS HE IS HAPPY TO BE SAFE

I have learned a lot in my short year and a half of life. I remember what is was like to have a family that did not have any time for me and how boring it was there. I tried to fill my time by chewing up things I should have left alone and by eating things that were not good for my tummy.

Then one day, a lady from BTRNC came and took me to her home. It took me awhile to understand that this home would offer me more activities and that I did not have to try to escape. Now that I get to go for walks, I know what is on the other side of the fence and I am not so eager to go exploring on my own. I will admit to an occasional dig just to find out if China is really down there!

I am very afraid of certain things like big dogs and those small dog looking things with sharp feet. I think they are called cats. Whatever they are called, they make me cower in a corner. That may sound silly, but I bet there are some things you are afraid of too. I only weigh 15 pounds after all. I hear a lot of humans are afraid of snakes. Heck, they don't have sharp feet and most of them will leave you alone.

I am house broken (gee, I don't feel broken) but if a big dog or sharp footed monster scares me, I hide in the corner and if they don't go away, sometimes I have to let go of my bladder. I don't like being afraid but I'm working on it.

They say I have a luxating patella. I'll let the Boston Blogger provide some background on that one. ...... Thanks Raleigh. ..... A luxating patella is a condition where the patella can slip in and out of place over the knee cap. It can cause temporary or prolonged pain and therefore a reluctance to use the impacted leg. There are many degrees of this condition - all do not require surgery. Here is a link which much more information about this fairly common condition: http://www.dogcustomer.com/veterinary/canine_luxating_patella.htm

I am ready to be somewhere forever and I know my forever people are out there. Please help me find them.

It's Been Such a Long Time for Echo!

Won't someone please take a second look at our boy Echo? He has come such a long way since being in foster care. Although he has to take two medications daily, he is stabilized wit his thyroid and Cushings disease and is enjoying life. If you have ever had the privilege of caring for a senior, then you have probably gone through periods of 4 different pills, special food, special supplements and have become a walking reference guide for food items to hide pills. By the way, my favorite standby last plan is and always will be Gerber Graduates Chicken Hot Dogs. Stuff a pill down a piece of one of these and it and the chicken are swallowed whole. Anyway, back to Echo who takes his 2 pills a day very easily. When you think about it, 2 pills a day is not a lot in the grand scheme of companion pet care.

Cushing's disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much of a hormone called ATCH. Please type Canine Cushings Disease into your favorite search engine and you will get more information than you would ever have time to read.

Echo is such a sweet boy who loves his 3 boston siblings and is particularly fond of his youngest brother. Echo is also a talker. Her sits at his foster Mom's feet and makes a variety of sounds to engage in conversation. Echo may be a dog that you can teach to talk like the famous You Tube clips of dogs saying Yi Rove Ewe and I Rannntt Wit!

Echo would so love to have the stability and permanence of a forever home. You can tell from these updated pictures that he feels good, has a beautiful coat and a happy face. If you are looking for a snuggle bug with a few issues but with lots of love and none of the puppy madness, you may be the one that Echo has been waiting for.