02/23/12: Is Otis the luckiest dog in the world ??? We think so this sweet senior won the hearts and home of his foster family.  OTIS IS ADOPTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

01/24/12: Otis Treatments Completed

I know it has been quite some time since our last update on Otis. Otis completed his 3rd and final HW treatment in October and has amazingly pulled through. Otis had a few setbacks throughout his treatment (extreme coughing, ongoing vomiting and weight loss) but despite all that Otis had the boxer strength to get him through everything. Otis is now enjoying long walks with my other boxer (Mya) and has even joined in on the rough and tumble romps between my boxer and pit. Otis is enjoying the activity, but is also just as happy to take a nice long nap on the sofa. Otis is one of the nicest/easiest dogs I have ever met. He gets along with everyone (dogs/cats/kids) and all he ask for in return is a good meal and a soft/warm place to sleep. He has adjusted nicely to our home and I cannot say enough good things about this boy!

Otis is due back to the vets office in April for a final HW test. Fingers crossed.

09/16/11: Please keep Otis in your prayers:

"Odie ended up at the vets office today. He started with some coughing Thursday 4am and it continued through today. Last night he could not get comfortable enough to sleep through the night. The vets office did a chest x-ray, which did not look good. I will be starting him on prednisone along with 2 other medications to help clear this up. Poor Odie!"

09/15/11: Quick Update From Otis's Foster Mom:

“Otis is doing really well! His first treatment was last Tuesday and he did wonderful! Only side effect was a good amount of swelling around the injection site, but that went down within 2 days. No coughing or vomiting, no loss of appetite – we were very happy with how he handled it. My fingers are crossed that it goes that well in October. Once that is complete, this boy is on the road to bouncing around again! He so wants to play and go for walks…it’s hard to keep a good man down! I can’t wait to just let him romp with the girls.

He is one awesome dog! Mya is watching over him and Curi really has taken to him as well (she cleans him every night). Love my seniors : )”

07/28/11: An update on Good ol' Otis!

Otis (AKA: Odie) has been settling nicely into his foster home. From the moment Otis arrived he immediately made friends with the resident cats, dogs and skin kid. Otis is the most loveable, laid-back, yet spunky boxer we have ever met. Otis has been with us for a month now and he is loving life! Odie is eating well and putting on some much needed weight, enjoying relaxing on sofa’s, dog and people bed’s, and just spending time with the family. Odie is an all around joy to be around. As he gets stronger and healthier the Boxer spirit has started to emerge!

With Odie’s rejuvenation of strength we are hopefully that will help him to pull through his HW treatments. After a visit to our vets office and the necessary tests were performed to determine the level of HW+ Otis is, unfortunately he was ranked at a Level 3 (level 4 is the highest rank). With this level of severity and due to Odie’s poor health, underweight, and age the vet’s decided that the best option to treat his HW would be a “slow” kill. This process will take approximately 6 months, but will hopefully be easier on his system. The slow kill process consists of 3 monthly treatments of Heartguard and then 3 injections of Immiticide (2 within 24 hours of each other and the final one a month later). Odie received his first of three treatments of Heartguard the beginning of July which he did well with. The second treatment is scheduled for the second week of August.

Please keep Otis in your thoughts and prayers as he battles this disease. This wonderful boy deserves a second chance at a happy and healthy life! Heartworm treatment is costly, please consider donating towards Otis’s care!

06/24/11: Otis Was Minutes From Losing His life

Meet Otis! Otis came to us from a high kill gassing shelter in North Carolina. NBR was contacted the day he was to be killed. Although many follow-up e-mails were being sent saying that he was out of danger, there was no verification that he had been rescued. An NBR volunteer contacted the shelter to confirm that Otis was safe, and learned that he was not! It was only 30 minutes before Otis was scheduled to die.

NBR immediately put a Rescue hold on Otis and he was sprung from the shelter in the nick of time to save his life. Since this shelter does not do any "vetting", we immediately secured a vet appointment for Otis. The doctor's exam revealed that he is Heartworm Positive. The vet said that he looked great otherwise and estimated him to be between 5 and 7 years old. He also received the necessary vaccinations required to transport him.

Since being freed from the shelter Otis has been staying at an in-home boarding facility until a foster home opened up for him. Below is a report from Otis’s boarding Mom:

“Otis is doing great! The crate barking has pretty much gone now that he has settled into the routine and he gets along great with everyone (I have an older, intact male and 2 girls, 7 and 3 - all Rotties - I have not had him out with my 9yo male, NOT because of Otis but because mine is a putz!

Otis is sweet, affectionate and getting more playful by the minute. He LOVES his dog bed in the living room and can be found on it napping or chewing on a bone anytime we are all just hanging out or watching TV.

Again, the only down side of him I have found so far is that he is an "up with the sun" little man, and I am NOT!!! <grin>

I still say that I am shocked that no one came looking for him at the shelter; he is obviously used to being an indoor dog, and being around people. He gives kisses and looks for attention but not obnoxiously so. He is not a beggar for food (but LOVES his treats) is crate trained and house broken.

He was so skinny that I wonder if he was on his own for a long time BUT he is a great eater and will be back in great weight within a short time.”

More to come about Otis once he is settled in his foster home this weekend. We will also report back after he is taken to our vet for tests which will determine the extent of his Heartworm Disease. Treatment for heartwom infection is costly. Please consider donating towards this boy's medical care so that we can help him get healthy, and one step closer to the forever home he so rightly deserves!