Bullmastiff Rescue Crisis

Homecoming Days for Teala and Crystal!

2012-01-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

Nothing but good stuff in this post. Two more of the Las Vegas Bullmastiffs have found new Forever Homes!!!

Below you can see Crystal with her new family Devon and Stacy. It's readily apparent how happy everyone is. Crystal made great strides in her condition under foster care with Linda and Bob Hyke. Her entropian is healing nicely, and she is responding to the treatment for her seborrhea, interdigital cysts and thyroid condition. She will still need a lot of ongoing medical attention but she's now with a family that can devote their full love and care toward her recovery. She's sure to get lots of affection, exercise and the attention she needs. Here's to a great long life in a new loving home!

The other homecoming announcement is for Teala. You'll recall that Teala was one of the luckier dogs in that she had no serious health maladies. She did, like a few others, suffer from malnutrition as a pup which resulted in her being dramatically undersized. Further, she was exceptionally timid due to having never experienced anything outside of the kennel where she'd spent the entirety of the first years of her life. Jewlz Lane took her under foster care in WA and has worked very hard at bringing her out of her shell. She located a family who had adopted a previous Bullmastiff rescue (Huck) who had the experience to handle a dog with Teala's history.

The Keough family has decided to change her name to Dugan and in looking at the photos below you can see that ~~Teala~~ ...er... Dugan has really made some great strides in terms of her socialization. She is engaged, happy and really enjoying, rather than fearing, human attention.

Please remember that there are still a large number of dogs requiring expensive ongoing medical treatment and who will need to be transported from Phoenix to foster homes in various parts of the country. The expenses still outstrip the available funding. If you can help in any way. Please do.

Good and Bad News - Update 01/12/12

2012-01-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

We are glad to report that some of the dogs surrendered in Nevada have been already adopted. Titan went to his new home over the weekend and is doing great with his new human and dog family and Snort (now named Guinness) is doing well in his new home. The dogs that have been moved to out of state foster homes are also doing very well. It is amazing how quickly they have adapted to their new lifestyle and are so happy and appreciative of the great care they receive.

Redmon is still in Arizona, being boarded at a vet clinic, which is a bit more expensive, but is helping with his confidence issues. Redmon was never socialized and at the clinic, he is worked with daily and meeting lots of new people. Redmon will be going to his foster home with Sarah in New Orleans soon.

The cost of this rescue has been enormous, far more than the chip in goal. If you are able to help in any way, it is very much appreciated.

Lexy the old girl with the torn ACL is also being boarded at a vets where it is less stressful for her.

Handsome EBear is being boarded in Phoenix. He is a good boy and needs a foster or adoptive home. For more information, please contact Dawn, citadelbmf@gmail.com.

Most of the dogs that are still in Arizona are being kept at a boarding kennel and are getting neutered/spayed and the other vet care they require. Nothing is easy it seems as the five that came to Arizona most recently were being boarded at a vet's so we could be sure that there would be no adverse reaction to the move, the vaccinations, etc. Unfortunately this weekend, the puppy that was being cared for at the vet hospital became sick, she was tested for parvo and was negative, but sadly died.

TT got sick over the weekend so she was taken to the vet hospital for care and is responding well. Roscoe had complications with the neuter that may require a second surgery to totally remove the scrotum. All this adds up to unanticipated vet bills that increase our need for donations. If you can help in any way we'd be most grateful.

Update 01/10/12 Titan has a home!!!

2012-01-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Huge thanks to anyone who has donated time, money or materials to this effort. Here's a look at what your contribution has done.

This weekend, another of the Nevada Bullmastiffs found a home!!!

Far from the horrible conditions in Las Vegas, far from the loud, rambunctious (but at least safe) kennel in Phoenix, Titan is now in a beautiful, loving home in Los Altos, CA. Barry, Judy and their two sons Graham & Nathan are now providing Titan with a safe and sound "Forever Home". A note from Barry begins below:

He is a really wonderful dog. The moment he met the boys he started wagging his whole body, and honestly has hardly stopped since he arrived.The boys love him and he loves the attention even follows Graham (in the picture) around the yard while they play. Graham did his first training session with Titan yesterday and had him doing sit and stay even when he went a good 40 feet away. This morphed into a game of hide and seek where titan had to sit and stay while Graham hid somewhere in the back yard then Titan went and found him. That was something to watch both Titan and Graham seemed to love that game.

He also has been getting along great with Lavender (their Bullmastiff/Pitbull mix) she is clearly letting him be in charge but he isn't domineering at all so they are having lots of fun together.

So far his appetite has been great. He'll eat as much and as often as anyone is willing to feed him. We took him downtown to grab coffee and walk around, which is something we do every weekend with Lavender. He loved it and wouldn't let a single person go by without making it clear that he wanted them to stop and pet him. He had a chance to meet a few other dogs there as well and did very well, his sheer size makes some of them a bit nervous but he was as calm as could be.

...and here's a photo of Titan with his new best buddy, Graham.

In other news, here is an update on Prancer from Katie who is providing his foster home in Oregon:

Prancer is doing great!! He has the cutest little pep in his step! Prances around just like a raindeer. The last few days he has had this wonderful smile on his face, it is soooo cute! He has been eating really good too! He licks his chops as I'm getting is food ready. He really enjoys his walks and is doing a great job on the leash! Having a hard time getting a good photo because he like to be right next to the camera, and I am home alone today. He is such a sweet boy!!

His eye is still touch & go and it might still need to be removed but he sure looks much happier than when I first met him in Phoenix!!!

Jewlz has started a blog just for Boy and Teala. Check out their progress here ----> http://boyteala.blogspot.com/

Update 01/03/12

2012-01-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

First of all is a HUGE thanks to all who have donated money, time, food, materials, veterinary care, assisted with transportation or simply helped to spread the word about these dogs. They lived under indescribably atrocious conditions and despite that all of them are sweet and affectionate and on their way to recovery and forever homes. Below is an update on a few of the dogs.

More help is needed though. There are still many dogs who are under ongoing and expensive medical treatment and there remains the daunting task of getting the dogs distributed to foster homes throughout the country for further care and therapy before they are able to move to adoptive “forever homes.” If you can help in any way, please, PLEASE do.

Teala and Boy have moved to a foster home in WA state with Jewlz Lane and are doing well. Teala is a very undersized 18mos old girl. She’s very affectionate and likes to snuggle but she’s quite shy and timid. It probably won’t take much for her to turn around and be a great girl. Boy is about 18mos old and definitely needs to put on some weight. He’s sweet and responds well to affection. Both he and Teala will be spayed/neutered this week.

Teala

Boy

Crystal

Crystal is in a foster home in Portland, OR with Bob & Linda Hyke. She is the girl with hypothyroid, interdigital cysts and bad skin. She is on the highest possible dosage for treatment of the thyroid condition and will be checked again on 12 Jan for possible adjustment and the antibiotics and soaks are getting her feet on track to healing. According to Linda;

“Every day since Crystal has arrived she has shown improvement. She no longer requires pain meds. Her dry eye is getting better. She is more active, coming out of her crate without assistance. She has had visitors and recived gifts of toys, nylabones and food. She loves the visitors. With many offers of help coming in she is thriving on the visits and toys and loves the attention, and is looking better all the time. What a sweetheart of a girl she is!”

Prancer is in Corvallis, OR with Dan & Katie Peretti. It looks like the untreated entropian that he had might cause him to lose the sight in one of his eyes. He’s under aggressive medication schedule now but if it doesn’t work he may need to have the eye removed. He is eating now though and getting lots of walks and is enjoying positive attention for the first time in his life.

Prancer

The puppy, Sader, is in Sacramento, CA with Rebecca Kreisher. This foster might turn into a “forever home. He’s doing very well and has gotten comfortable enough that he’s attempted to join Rebecca in the shower.

Cece is in a foster home in Palmdale, CA with Toni Rocca. She’s doing well and it’s looking like she may get adopted out very soon.

My wife Kathy and I have adopted “Snort”. Despite his awful background, stunted growth and complete lack of training & socialization he is a terrifically sweet little guy. He is extremely timid and you can tell that he has spent little if any time out of a kennel in his 18mos of life. He is very scared of big spaces and he is struggling with coping with all the room now available to him in our back yard and home. The scale of things is so new to him and the act of going through a doorway is terrifying to him…because he’s never done it before. We’ve been told and agree with the premise that a rescued dog should get a new name along with their new life and since it’s better that a dogs name be two syllables to contrast with single syllable commands we have decided to change his name to “Guinness”.

The following dogs from the original rescue trip are still in Phoenix;


Titan

Titan is doing very well. He is big, mellow adult and has weathered this mess without apparent harm. He will be neutered today and will go to his new home in CA this weekend.

Ava is a very gentle, sweet, but undersized girl. She was adopted out this week to a new “forever home” in Phoenix with a member of the Law Enforcement/Corrections community.

Izzy and TT are still in Phoenix as well. Their condition is improving and they are awaiting transport to foster homes in other parts of the country.

Izzy

The last batch of dogs that were rescued is Roscoe, Ebear, Lexy, Brindy & Clyde.

Roscoe is being treated for a nasty prostate infection.

Clyde is in quarantine until his treatment for Parvo is complete and he is out of the woods.

Ebear and Brindy are getting their veterinarian assessment this week. We’ll know more about their condition soon. Brindy was isolated outside and her skin and coat are in bad shape.

Lexy has a torn ACL tendon. Due to her age it will likely not be repaired. With a bit of care and rest it should heal enough to make her as comfortable as possible.

I'll add photos of the other dogs as they become available but I wanted to get this update out as quickly as possible.

Update 12/23/11

2011-12-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's report was good. Snort who tested positive for parvo but whose symptoms were mild is doing great, he is being moved today from one vet to another for the weekend. They have to keep him in isolation for the ten days period while he still could shed the parvo virus.

Sader, the four month old puppy who also was hospitalized out of an abundance of caution because he was not eating and seemed under the weather is doing much better. He never tested positive for parvo so Dawn was able to return him to Amy's house where he is being fostered. He is eating and doing fine today.

As of this writing, all the dogs currently at the kennel are doing fine. Though many will still need surgeries for entropian and interdigital cysts along with being spayed/neutered. Dawn took Cowboy TT and Crystal to the vet yesterday so they can be vetted and will return to the kennel today after they have been spayed/neutered and get any other vet care they may require.

God bless Dawn Hamilton! She took off all next week so she can leave Monday and deliver dogs to CA OR and WA foster homes. One her way back, she will go by way of Nevada and pick up the remaining dogs on Friday morning. She will pick up the remaining dogs at that time - could be as many as five.

The upcoming spays, neuters, and other vetting expenses including possible parvo treatment, along with long distance transport for this many dogs will be VERY expensive. We are so grateful for the donations received already and thank you in advance for your continued support!

Bullmastiff Rescue Crisis

2011-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

The American Bullmastiff Association Rescue Service's (ABARS) mission is to find homes for unwanted Bullmastiffs that come from shelters or are owner surrenders from people whose lifestyle or financial situation has changed. Occasionally ABARS will get Bullmastiffs that have been abandoned at a local veterinarian's office or from a good citizen that has found the dog and exhausted all means to locate the dog's owner.

Redmon

My Bullmastiff, Roxy, who passed away earlier this year was adopted from ABARS, ( Click here to read about Roxy ) ABARS typically handles about 500 rescues per year across the National network of Voulenteer Rescue Coordinators and Volunteer Foster Homes. The last few years though have been especially taxing for the organization. Economic conditions have caused an increase in owner surrenders and abandonment and the organization has been pushed to it's limit. The organization historically maintained an operating budget, amassed through donations that has been completely depleted by virtue of a near doubling of the number of dogs in the system. The organization was struggling but is now in serious crisis.

An amateur breeder/hoarder in Nevada can no longer care for the 27 dogs on his property and ABARS has stepped in to get the dogs out. Some of the dogs were living in kennels that were full of a month or more of excrement. Some were living in the garage, in kennels inside or loose. Some were in the house in rooms, and as you might imagine, the house is trashed. Carpet has been ripped up, puppies were eating sheet rock in their room, the place smelled so bad that the rescue volunteers had to struggle not to vomit and refused to go inside. The owner bathed the ones that have been removed thus far, but they still all stink as the fecal bacteria is embedded in their skin & hair.

On the weekend of December 10/11 the South-Western US Rescue Coordinator (Dawn Hamilton of Citadel Bullmastiffs in Phoenix) made two round trips to Las Vegas and pulled 15 dogs, and two 4 month old puppies. A complete assesment has not yet been completed but what is known is as follows:

The owner was feeding these large breed dogs every other day. Thus, several dogs are very thin, Titan, Teala, Prancer, Repo, Snort, Cowboy, Boy are all underweight. Some of the dogs may never achieve "normal" Bullmastiff size due to malnutrition as puppies.

None of the dogs have had vaccinations. Many have lived their entire lives on the same property and their immune systems are at minimal strength. Because of this many are contracting Parvo as a result of being exposed to the modified virus in the vaccine.

Crystal is overweight, probably has thyroid (hypo-thyroid), has entropian eyes, inter-digital cysts, seborrhea, horrible callouses, and lots of hair missing on her tail.

Cowboy is completely deaf, needs entropian surgery and thyroid checked (possible hyper-thyroid), not keeping weight on.

Remy needs her eyes fixed, entropian, but other than being bred to death, isn’t too bad.

Izzy the old 8 yr old is surprisingly in the best condition.

Titan is thin, goes off his food, needs his eyes checked, might need surgery.

Teala is thin but otherwise healthy.

TT is very thin but otherwise healthy.

Prancer was neutered and had one entropian eye fixed, he lived outdoors in the kennel and has some scars, rough callouses from not having soft beds.

Ava might have some dental issues but otherwise isn’t in too bad shape.

Boy is a MASSIVE young Brindle male. He has interdigital cysts like Crystal above, minor entropian and he is very thin. His coloration makes him tough to photograph. He is very sweet, but his size, strength and lack of obedience training will require an experienced new owner with the time to dedicate to training.

Cece had both eyes fixed for entropian, was spayed, has callouses, and just in general rough shape.

Snort is underweight but overall wasn’t in bad shape, got neutered, currently under treatment for parvo.

Repo was underweight, he was neutered but succumbed to parvo and died on December 17th.

Violet and Saber were underweight and small for their age, they were the 3-4 ms old puppies. Both contracted parvo. Violet has died as well. Saber is under treatment, is improving but is still at great risk.

My wife Kathy and I flew to Phoenix last weekend to begin looking at the dogs to determine which one (or two) we would adopt. Despite the horrific condition they are to the last very sweet dogs. They are highly adoptable. Many are timid, and have never been on a leash on but they have sweet temperaments and should be very adoptable to the right homes especially if we can get them into foster homes. None are apparently aggressive and all stand an excellent shot of having good, long lives once they get past their health issues and this is where things are getting tough for ABARS. Housing the dogs is normally done in a "foster" format, but there are far more dogs than foster homes so the dogs are being housed in a commercial kennel and the fees are adding up very fast. Further, the medical bills are skyrocketing.

The kennel has graciously given a heavy discount to this cause but the costs are currently $90.00 per day.

As of this writing, the transportation & medical costs are in excess of $11,000 and rising rapidly.

If that isn't enough, there are still 5 dogs, and two or three 4 month old puppies still in Las Vegas. Dawn gave the owner a couple bags of food to ensure that at least their nutritional needs were met until they can be removed to a better facility. The owner is supposed to be putting one sick dog down, and another dog went to another rescue due to his history (serious aggression issues). The four month olds, and several adolescents have never been vaccinated and have never left the property and will likely have many of the same maladies and associated expenses as those already removed.

ABARS is a 501c7 and has set up a Chip-In account on Paypal to accept donations to help offset the rapidly mounting expenses. The Paypal Email address is abarescue@gmail.com or use the Chip-in bug below. Please help get these dogs out of their horrific situation, avail them of the medical care they need and get them into foster homes and on their way to new, loving homes where they can enjoy a life they've not yet had the chance to have. I know the economy is lousy and that you are probably deep into your Christmas / Holiday spending but these dogs desperately need your help and if they get it, they can go on to have excellent lives in their new homes.

I'll add more photos of the dogs as I receive them but I wanted to get this posted as quickly as possible.