|
Please Sponsor
Bernhard! |
|
|
12/5/11: Bernhard is
ADOPTED!!!!!
09/28/11:
NOTE:
Bernhard has developed
an abrasion in each eye
that was caused by
poking his head in some
bushes. The doctor
custom made a special
serum infused with
antibiotics which are
being placed in his eyes
multiple times a day. We
are hoping this
medication will heal the
scratches, and we are
watching his eyes
closely.
Bernhard Meets His
Foster Dad for the First
Time:
“Just thought
I'd share a couple
thoughts of my first
meeting, and, my past
few days with Bernhard.
Bernhard had a long
day this past Friday. He
spent the better part of
the day being
transported to me in RI.
It was around
8:30-9:00pm when I met
him to take the last
part of his journey to
his foster home. I was
told he slept most of
the way and was a very
good traveler. Well, we
spent a couple minutes
walking around the Park
so he could stretch a
bit and relieve himself.
Then I put him into the
car hoping he would curl
up and close those big
eyes. Not a
chance…Bernhard was
awake! and I spent the
first 20 minutes with my
arm around the front
seat so he couldn't jump
up and play.
He
found the toys in the
back seat of the car and
was flinging them all
over the place and
squeaking like a mad
man. After several
minutes, he settled down
with a sigh and
contentedly went to
sleep. I couldn't
believe how well he was
traveling after being in
a car all day.
We
arrived home
approximately 11:30
after driving through a
lot of heavy rain. Once
inside the house, he
spent quite awhile
sniffing around. I'm a
pretty good housekeeper
but I'm sure Winslow's
smell was still around
because Bernhard’s
little nubby started
going quite fast when he
went to all of Winnies
favorite spots.
Anyway, it was time for
medicine for Bernhard’s
scratched eyes. As soon
as he saw me reach for
the meds, he was
history! He thought it
was playtime!! Well, I
finally got him with a
lesson learned. Get him
first, then the
meds…he's a quick boy. I
got one arm around him
and my other hand held
the drops. I figured
this was the moment of
truth (we were both over
tired and I was a
stranger, and I was
going to do something he
didn't particularly
like). I was AMAZED!
Nothing! Absolutely
nothing, except this
gentle soul squishing
his sad little eyes so
tight, they were hard to
pry open.
What a
wonderful personality.
He is no work whatsoever
for giving meds,
feeding, giving
treats....he's just a
good boy. If I didn't
tell Winslow "gentle"
before a treat he would
engulf my hand and then
pull back until he had
the treat in his
teeth...very messy...not
this guy. He just gently
reaches out and accepts
it.
Walking is
not bad either. We can't
go very far, but he
settles right in and has
obviously been taught
well...all he'll need is
a couple weeks of minor,
positive reinforcement
(when he's clear to walk
again). He is extremely
curious and the six foot
fence rule is going to
be a must. It's not like
he wants to get away..
he just wants to explore
and play. He is a joy to
watch and play with the
squeakies. Bernhard will
bring his toys right up
to you and get you to
join him.
For all
the families looking for
a boxer, be advised. One
look at Bernhard’s sad
little eyes and you'll
be toast. If you want to
meet him, make sure you
already have that 6ft
fence in place because
he's a "love at first
sight" kind of guy and
you won't want to leave
without him.”
09/23/11: Bernhard Is On
The Mend…A Much Overdue
Update:
Bernhard had his
operation on August 25th
performed by an
Orthopedic Surgeon.
Since his leg was left
untreated and so badly
broken he needed two
metal plates to
repair/fuse the bones. A
nine hole metal plate
was put on the radius
and a five hole metal
plate was put on the
ulna. Post operative
radiographs showed that
the alignment of the
bones were good and the
doctor did not expect
that there will be any
complications.
Bernhard has been on
antibiotics and needed
strong pain medication.
Bernhard did not
tolerate pain very
well…how sad that he had
gone three weeks without
proper treatment. =(
Bernhard has been
healing at the vet’s
hospital since his
operation. Since we did
not have a suitable
foster home to meet his
needs at the time he was
recuperating he was
boarded at the Hospital.
The staff has been
giving him as much
attention as they could.
It was important to
get Bernhard out of the
Hospital so he could
continue to recover in a
home environment. A
wonderful volunteer has
opened his home and we
are finally moving
Bernhard this week but
it will be a temporary
foster home. We would
like to find him a home
where someone can be
with him during the day
to give him the much
needed attention he
deserves.
We
will be scheduling
another visit to the vet
in a couple more weeks.
He will need another
exam and additional
x-rays of his leg to
make sure his bones are
healing as expected. The
metal hardware will be
staying in place barring
any further
complications. We will
be posting another
update with new pics
from his foster dad in
the next week.
9/9/11:
NEED FOSTER
HOME!
8/24/11: Bernhard
Endured Three Weeks With
A Badly Broken Leg
Bernhard Endured Three
Weeks With A Badly
Broken Leg This story is
one we hear much too
often. Bernhard was
passed around from
person to person by
people who had no regard
for his well being. He
was hit by a car that
broke his leg, was
attacked by another dog,
and then tossed aside
like an old shoe. He was
facing death before we
stepped in to help.
We were told that
this handsome 2 year old
boxer boy was basically
a “breeder throwaway”
when he was still a
puppy. The reason: they
could not show him or
breed him because he was
not “show quality” so
they gave him away. The
people who took him in
kept him for a bit but
apparently did not take
care of him very well.
The condition of his
coat was poor and he was
underweight.
A
little over four weeks
ago, Bernhard was
“purchased” by a man who
lived with his
grandparents. This home
had a 3 foot fence.
Bernhard jumped the
fence three weeks ago,
ran across the road, and
was struck by a car. He
fractured his right
front leg. They took him
to the vet and were told
he needed surgery. The
estimated cost was
$3,000 to $4,000 (on the
low end). Bernhard’s new
“owners” did not have
the money for the
operation. The vet put a
temporary splint on his
right front leg to
stabilize the fracture
and they took him home.
Two days before he
was surrendered to us,
Bernhard tried to take a
piece of rawhide from
the other dog in the
home. The result was a
bad dogfight; Bernhard
was injured and had to
be brought to the vet
once again. He received
stitches in both ears,
on his chest, and both
legs. However, the
family then decided that
both of their dogs
should be killed because
of the fight and the
untreated fractured leg
injury. Since “the other
dog” was a adopted from
a Rescue, they contacted
the Organization to let
them know of their
decision. That Rescue
had them return the dog
to them and contacted
NBR to make sure
Bernhard would be safe.
NBR made
arrangements to
transport Bernhard to
one of the vets we trust
for a thorough exam. We
were concerned that so
much time had past since
the leg injury, and we
feared that his leg
would need to be
removed. Not only was
the injury not treated
but he was not confined
at all for those three
weeks after the
accident. He was allowed
to run around freely
jumping on his injured
leg. We also found out
that he jumped the fence
again and came close to
getting hit a second
time when he ran across
the road. However, like
many of the dogs that
find their way to NBR,
Bernhard seems to have a
guardian angel watching
over him.
Thankfully, our
veterinarian determined
that Bernhard’s leg can
be saved but it is a
complicated break. Both
his radius and ulna are
fractured, and the
radius bone is broken in
three pieces. A metal
plate and screws will be
needed for the repair
and the surgery has to
be done by a board
certified orthopedic
surgeon. A new splint
was placed on his leg
and he was readied for
his trip to the
specialist for surgery
which will be done on
Friday.
Everyone
who meets Bernhard
comments that he is very
sweet. We were told he
likes kids and other
dogs, is more than happy
to share his food, but
we do not know how he is
with cats. He is crate
trained and house
trained. He loves to run
and play (which he will
not be able to do until
he is healed). Whoever
adopts him will need to
have a secure 6 foot
tall fence. After his
surgery he will need an
environment where he can
be kept calm for 6 to 8
weeks.
Below are
comments from the NBR
volunteer who
transported Bernhard:
“I personally
did not get to spend
much time with Bernhard
since I was driving and
by the time we picked
him up he was pretty
tired. From what
Stephanie the other
driver we met and her
sister said, he was very
friendly to everyone at
the rest stop and he was
really sweet with them.
My mom sat in the
back with Bernhard while
I drove. He slept
cuddled up next to her
and was very
affectionate. When she
gave him treats he also
sat and took them from
her very nicely.
At one point he was
readjusting himself on
the seat, did something
to his broken leg, and
he was crying out in a
lot of pain. We weren't
quite sure how he would
react to my mom being
right next to him and
not knowing what
happened; but he just
went to my mom and
started crying and then
she tried to get him
sitting so he wasn't
putting pressure on the
leg. He was just so good
and sweet about it.
My mom cried at one
point because he is just
such a sweet dog and he
has been through so
much. His splint is
coming off and he is
covered in bad wounds
from literally head to
toe. He was such a great
sport being shuffled
around from one person
to the next; he was very
outgoing the whole time.
I will say though that
he is crazy strong for
only using three legs.
When we got out to take
him to the bathroom he
was very excited to
sniff everything and
really got around on
those three legs. I'm
forwarding pictures that
were taken in the car.”
8/23/11: Info. posting
soon - Please consider
donating to Bernhard's
medical bills...
Bernhard is a 2 year old
male boxer who has had a
untreated broken leg for
over three weeks prior
to coming into NBR -
Full story posting soon.
Please consider donating
towards Bernhard's
medical care.
|
|
|
Can you donate to help Bernhard?
You can send a check directly
to: Northeastern Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 95 Sunderland MA 01375. or use PayPal
makes it easy and secure to send
payments online via credit card.
|
|
(click pictures to enlarge)
|
