RIP my dear sweet BHRR's Albert ( ? – April 11th, 2011). My heart is so heavy with pain and heart ache. You have given me almost 15 months of the most precious gifts possible and I am indebted. There are no words to tell the world just how much you have meant to us…… 🙁 🙁

Who is going to trot down the laneway with me now to get the mail and the kids off the bus? Who is going to 'trip' me each morning in their excitement in seeing me and having the front door open to begin the AM exploration? Who is going to skip and bounce outside the front gate when I come home from work? Who is going to 'scold' me if I am even seconds late giving you supper? Who is going to give me my ever so gentle 'Albert' hugs every AM and night? Who is going to be there by my side as I type on the computer to 3:30 AM trying to save all 'Alberts' of the world that I can? Who is going to steal my shoe or sock or sweater and hoard them in their 'safe' spot crate? Who is going to sneak up on me while I am folding laundry to grab something of mine and run to their crate and wag their tail at me as I race after them AND who is going to do it all over again and again as I continue to fold laundry? Who….WHO…WHO… 🙁 🙁

Today, was one of the longest days I have ever worked knowing that we would have to say our good-byes and my heart is screaming over the unfairness of such a great boy being lost to the world. I miss you so much already my dear sweet 'Ol Alberts' and today is a day that I HATE my job…..it is just not fair…..my heart is bleeding….I cannot believe you are gone and I can no longer hug and touch and kiss you.

You have given me so much these past 15 months and I can only hope that in turn, I gave you the quality of life and experiences you were so deserving of. I wish I could have fixed everything for you Albert. I am sorry that I could not.

Thank you for the gift of 'trust' you have bestowed upon me. Something so special and precious that I treated it like one of my most cherished valuables. I know how hard it was to trust again and I am beyond humbled by your show of faith in me.

One of my favourite memories of you shall forever be the one I captured on March 4th, 2011 of you running with the sheer love and joy of living! That is how I am going to remember you Albert. That is how I am going to honour your memory in my heart.

BHRR's Albert – April 11th, 2011 – His last day with us at BHRR – THANK you for being there for/with me these past 15 months

OK! As promised, BHRR's Albert PHOTOS for 'HOCKEY TICKET RAFFLE Sales'. 😉 These two were taken today and BHRR's Albert is actually running and airborne in one. NOT one foot is touching the ground and to think that when he first arrived to BHRR, he could barely stand let alone walk!!!! GO BHRR's Albert GO!

BHRR's Albert whispered in my ear, that he would be happy to allow me to take some more pictures if others might consider purchasing tickets to our current SENS VS LEAFS Hockey Ticket Raffle going on now! ONLY 5 days left for ticket sales SO do not miss out! – Excellent seats for 2, a Parking Voucher & Pre-Dinner for 2 at P.J. Quigley's on Bank Street! This is a $450+ value!!!!

Each day is a blessing to be had with BHRR's Albert and we continue to thank all the ANGELS that have donated items/funds his way as his days with us are limited. 🙁 You can contribute via PayPal(you do not need an account to pay by credit card either) or email transfer or send a M.O/Bank Draft to ‘Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services’ and mail to:

Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
CANADA

Albert's Angels:

Lynn
Susan
Lindsey
Suzanne
Mary
Alex & Karen
Brian
Nairn

BHRR's Albert – RUNNING! WOOHOO! & BHRR's Albert with BHRR's Hailey & BHRR's Potter – LOOK at that reach as he drives!

I have posted 'recent' updated pictures on all canines other than BHRR's Albert. AND I know that if anyone is truly serious about supporting BHRR be it through the Hockey Raffle Ticket Fundraiser OR in general with a monetary donation via email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org or PayPal (account is gwen@birchhaven.org); that BHRR's Albert would step up to the plate and show off his best side(of which all sides are his best sides!) for all! 😀

So, I am going to hold off posting his pictures as a possible temptation to others to please please please consider suporting GD rescue be it through our currently running BHRR/DiD Hockey Raffle Ticket Fundraiser or by making a monetary donation. Our bills are over $10,000 at this time and truly, each penny donated makes a difference!!!! I know that DiD is also in desperate need of monetary support, hence why I approached Jim at DiD to extend our support in donating 50% of the funds raised in this Hockey Ticket Raffle Fundraiser to send their way in way of contributing back to a cause dear to us; GD rescue and to support what we believe is another reputable/quality rescue organization out there. AND for those that know me, I do not say that lightly. We take our stellar reputation seriously and do not associate or affiliate lightly with other groups/organizations as we believe that the animals need to come first, it is not about 'making money' when rescuing/rehabbing animals and it is about always taking in the NEXT one in need – not discriminating against colour, age, health or injury. Deaf, blind, sick, injured, senior, dying or not; BHRR always will take the next one in need into our program(s).

If you believe in what we do at BHRR, please do think of opening up your heart to send something! BHRR would like to be around for many years to come to continue to assist those in need of a helping hand and times are very tough. 🙁

Albert's Angels:

Lynn
Susan
Lindsey
Suzanne
Mary
Alex & Karen
Brian
Nairn

BHRR's Albert went back to having accidents as of last Saturday February 12th, despite us even trying to get him out more often. Poor sweet boy. 🙁  On the amazing note, he actually ate the treatie that was brought to him from 2 of our approved BHRR Volunteers while people were here that day!! THAT is huge re: his comfort level. BIG step in his rehab.

AND AND AND, he actually came out of his crate  went outside to pee and then came in to take a drink of water when it was just us and a few strangers here. OMG! I just wanted to hug him! AND AND AND, both my kids had play dates/sleep overs that day/night and he LOVED Kinsley's friend. I was just so filled with happiness and to have it tinged with such sadness over his loss of muscle control, is just so heartwrenching.

BUT, we are still going day by day of quality for him!

If you want to be a BHRR's Albert Angel, please feel free to contact us. We do not know how much more time he has but we can guarantee that the time he does have shall be the BEST!

Albert's Angels:

Lynn
Susan
Lindsey
Suzanne
Mary

Today was a good day for BHRR's Albert. It was the first day in over a week that he did not have an accident. One day at a time…..quality, quality and more quality shall remain our number one focus and priority in our commitment to BHRR"s Albert.

For those that have asked what can they can possibly do to make BHRR's Albert's time as special as possible, be it weeks or days or if we are so blessed, months etc.; sadly, BHRR's Albert has not yet experienced so many of the delights that the world has to offer. Due to his terrible past; many things can completely overwhelm him and we have been taking things very slowly in the integration of the big world to him. However; we do know that he enjoys the following:

1) Soft blankets, lots and lots of soft blankets, duvets, comforters and sleeping bags that he likes to use his legs to rumple up into a big thick pile to lay upon and hide in
2) Vanilla Ice Cream – especially the Nestle Drumsticks 😀 – this compliments of a 7 year old daughter!!!
3) Peanut Butter – NO nuts – he will now take it off a spoon from me!
4) His one Costco Dog bed that is his and his alone. He will only lay upon the one that was donated to him as a SS(Secret Santa) pressie for we do not allow it to be communal. We know that he will not lay upon beds that have many other smells on it from the other dogs. It makes him uncomfortable and not as secure.
5) Big Smoked Dino Bones or Smoked Knuckle Bones – He might not have the best teeth but he sure loves to try and chew on them
6) He loves treats and we have plenty of those on hand for him at this time

BHRR's Albert's pleasures are simple and he/I take a morning jaunt through the fenced in yard or to get the mail and he loves to trot. I wish he was not so camera shy for as soon as you take out the camera, he freezes like a deer in the headlights.

So, thank you in advance to those that are thinking of sending him a special 'care' package or making a monetary donation for us to purchase items for him and for keeping him in your thoughts, blessings and well wishes. My heart is going to break into a million shards when it is time to hold him in my arms and kiss that sweet face of his and watch the light in his eyes of the life he has finally begun to experience fade away…….

Albert's Angels:

Lynn
Susan
Lindsey
Suzanne

I do not have the best news for BHRR's Albert. As of last week, he began to have at least two bm accidents in his crate or on himself daily; despite being out as often as he might wish. In taking him to the Vet and then referred to a specialist, it is believed that he is most likely even older than 8+ and as with some dogs(humans too) as they age, his sphincter muscles are no longer working normally and have 'loosened'. 🙁

He is embarrassed when he finds himself pooping himself. 🙁  He will even 'freeze' as he almost scares himself that he is doing this.

So, Sean & I have had to make a very tough decision and we will be spending this next while, giving him as many of his special memorable experiences as possible. We believe that each person and animal deserves a quality filled live and to BHRR's Albert, he clearly does not feel he is having any dignity in having this happen to him.

I have added photos #18 to #21 to BHRR's Albert's slideshow. I am also adding two below from when I had him at KAH last night. He is doing SOOOO well overall. His heart and lungs are good, teeth are not so great and if there is any reason why he might ever have a need to go back under an anaesthetic; we shall clean his teeth again; his ears are only surface waxy  now as opposed to the deep gunk of filth they were when he first arrived to BHRR; his toe nails are no longer imbedded into his feet because of the regular nail trimming we do at BHRR; his eyes are less runny due to not being exposed to constant outside irritants, just a little bit of a yeast infection between a couple of his back toes and his fur is very soft to the touch except for the one area on his back along his spine that has seborrhea that we keep under control with access to sunlight plus washing with Head & Shoulders shampoo. BHRR's Albert is in remarkable good health considering everything that he had gone through when he was chained up outside for all of his life before coming to BHRR a mere year ago. Some of the staff (those who met him a year ago when he first arrived to BHRR) marveled at how much tone and strength he now has in his back end and though he was still a bit unsure about things at KAH; they commented on how bonded he was to me. This boy makes my heart just beat with such protective and caring feelings of love for him. May he live a long filled quality of life now that he is safe with us. AND his leash manners are impeccable along with his obedience. I am sooooooooooo proud of you BHRR's Albert! You are an amazing boy. 🙂

While he was not 100% comfortable with all the attention given to him at KAH, he was 'accepting' and only tried to 'hide' behind me a few times. He even 'smiled' – I swear a couple of times! 😉

What made people sad was again seeing all of his 'scars' from his past. They clearly show that BHRR's Albert had a really tough life before being rescued. 🙁

He was unsure about getting into the car when leaving BHRR and I had to help him get in yet on the way home, NO issues whatsoever! He was in my car in a flash! 🙂 He is a great traveler in the car and was more curious than worried with the trucks plus transports passing us.

AND you can see in the second photo that he is actually on a Costco Dog bed! SUCCESS! This was a SS(Secret Santa) pressie given to him this past XMAS, his first real Christmas EVER and he was surrounded by love and warmth and lots of spoiling!

BHRR's Albert – January 18th, 2011 @ KAH – @ Reception & then in one of the XXL Runs hanging out for a bit while I worked

BHRR's Albert had his annual tonight and he weighed a nicely toned 44.8 KGs(98.56 pounds). He was another BIG HIT!!! We took some pictures with my phone and will post them ASAP.

He is in as great as shape as one can hope for for a boy that went through all that he did before coming to BHRR. He has some dry skin issues yet overall, he is in fantastic shape for a GD that is at least 8+ years of age and went through hell.

BHRR's Albert's annual appointment has been booked for January 18th, 2011.

BHRR’s Albert is now feeling so much more comfortable around Sean plus the kids and that makes me so happy! He remains very much bonded to me and he is such a joy! What remains a ‘scary’ experience for him is when strangers come to BHRR. We did manage to see him come out for about 45 seconds or so late last night for a pee while BOD of BHRR member Mary was here and then he promptly scurried into his open crate again. I am going to post a picture below of Albert from June 14th, 2010. I love this boy! He will now respond to his ‘name’ more consistently and will even come outside for a very brief time when I call him and not just on his own volition. I truly wish people could see Albert as he is with me and now pretty much with my husband and kids yet he is not yet ready and so we continue with the baby steps. He will now also come out of his open crate when the TV is on and walk about the main floor area a bit!!!! HUGE! HUGE! HUGE! WTG Albert!

BHRR’s Albert – June 14th, 2010 

BHRR’s Albert is now taking treats from my hand while he is not even in his crate (though he will take them to his crate to eat in private) and he now has the routine down pact in regards to bedtime such that if he does not get his special treatie on ‘time’; he spins round and round in his crate and emits a ‘sound’ just for me! LOL AND if I am not fast enough, well, boy, he just almost comes out of his skin his body is so shaking with anticipation for his yummy treatie! He is chewing his smoked dino and knuckle bones very contentedly in his crate when we are all around not just myself! Baby steps! Baby steps! He is now coming out for a quick bit of loving while the TV is on yet then will prefer to lay in his open crate yet the success is there and it gives me great joy to see him becoming more and more outgoing plus happy. The biggest obstacle is having him do this while others are here though as he still just ‘shuts down’ and will go lay in his crate quietly. I have just discussed with Sean again that we need to get a short video clip of him running and zipping and zooming outside for people to actually see how well he has been coming along. So many find his pictures hard to believe with how amazing his hind end is now yet I want people to really ‘see’ Albert and past the scars and small stature and poor crop and really really really ‘see’ Albert for the truly magnificent boy he is by not just seeing pictures or in laying in his crate. I want people to see him in action!

Sean and I have spent much time thinking and discussing about what we believe to be in BHRR’s Albert’s best interest and we feel very strongly that he should be part of our BHRR’s Haven Program at least for now. He has attached himself to me and trusts me and every day, he gives me a tiny bit more of himself and to see him around complete strangers where he just ‘freezes’ and goes catatonic; we do not desire to see him go backwards and the possibility is very real that he could completely withdrawal into himself such as when he first arrived here as he would be so confused and lost and could well believe that he was abandoned once more. I try not to project on him any more ‘human’ emotions than he is capable of feeling yet he is a very feeling sort of boy and almost every person that has visited us be it at a BHRR Mini Open House etc. truly does not believe he even has legs for he wants to lay in his safe spot in his crate and pretend that the whole world of humans does not exist. He is that terrified of people that he completely shuts down. BUT, he has gotten better….he will sometimes now ‘poke’ his head out and do a quick peek and then run back to his crate and even this past weekend, he came out a bit here and there while we had 7 kids over as part of Mason’s Birthday Celebrations. Yet, when no one is around other than us and especially around myself as I am here so very much; he is now zipping and zooming and tripping me and jumping and being playful(and I keep telling Sean we need to to take a video!). He is happy here. He is content here. He is having fun here. He feels safe here. While we push his boundaries, we know his limits and they have grown so much and we will continue to work with him and bring him into the land of the living yet I do not desire to see him go back or even retreat further than when he even arrived at BHRR should we put him up for adoption too soon. The layers this boy has in depth, I am only just scratching the surface with him. AND the biggest reality is that with the way he is, so many just pass him by when they visit BHRR(it is so wrong in my humble opinion), not even noticing him BUT he notices them and it is going to take a really special home to really ‘see’ Albert and see just how special he is!!!!! IS that home out there, for sure, yet at least for now, we have moved Albert to our Haven Program and the emphasis remains on the no pressure, no undue stress on him and no expectations other than continuing to show him how much pleasure life can give him, bringing him out of this ‘survival’ shell he had to put himself in, gaining his trust and then perhaps in time, we might re-consider placing him up for adoption. So many do not understand him and I am still learning about him and him about I and I am going to do things ‘right’ for Albert and for now, that means, being part of our Haven program. We have moved many a dog into our Haven Program, such as BHRR’s Lil Linus and then when they were ready; moved them to ‘available’ and placed up for adoption and they have been adopted. Maybe that is in Albert’s future and maybe it is not and maybe he is meant to continue making me be quick on my feet so that he cannot ‘trip’ me as he races and runs and jumps all around me in his sheer happiness in living in the AMs when he gets up and in seeing me. May that day come whereby he will learn to trust others yet I know that day is a long way off and we are going to work on Albert’s schedule with minor tweaking to continue to reach further and further to move forward, step by step. We will continue to update his blogs and add photos and he is so loved by all here and I know that those that have become fans of him like us only want what is important and right for Albert too!

BHRR’s Albert has become a bit of an ‘escape’ artist. Sean got up on Monday AM and Albert was out of his crate and the crate was firmly closed. Often, we just leave his crate door open while we sleep yet with his back to the occasional(rare) ‘pee’ moment in the house; we still close him in here and there. Sean said he stood there for awhile looking at Albert who was looking at him and then looking at the crate and back at Albert who was looking at him etc. I guess Albert has decided that he does not want to be closed up in his crate unless it is on his terms! Sean looked Albert over to be sure there were not any marks, scrapes etc. and he is completely fine and looking quite smug! At our PHASE II Fencing for the BHRR animals this past weekend; Albert was all zippy and zoomy until he saw people and then he did his ‘statue’ impression. Poor thing. AND as soon as the last person left on Sunday, he was back to running and skipping and happy as a lark! Soooooooooooo, here are our June dates for possible playdates, day trips etc. for BHRR’s Albert and if any of our approved BHRR Volunteers are open to taking him for a bit into their homes, PetSmarts etc., it would be so appreciated. We do not want him flooded yet we want to continue getting him more comfortable being into the land of the living(socially). Please email if you are interested and available to help us continue with Albert’s mental plus emotional rehab.

Thursday June 10th – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Tuesday June 15th – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Friday June 18th – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Monday June 21st – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Tuesday June 22nd, – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Thursday June 24th – Anytime between 12 Noon – 2 PM

I was trying to take pictures this AM of BHRR’s Albert and BHRR’s Barkley outside in this rare glorious sunshine and neither one wanted to be ‘still’ and co-operate! LOL Yet, after Alberts’ customery 2.5 – 3 hour AM zooming and romping in the fenced in area; he was lying in his crate and I managed to sneak this one in. Though, from the look on his face, I do not think I ‘snuck’ anything by him! 😉 He almost alway has this ‘perpetual’ look of worry in his eyes yet it is becoming less and less. You can see the scars on his face from some sad ‘encounters’ in his past life. I have told Albert that there shall not be any more pain in his life, only pleasure and comfort. We are still looking for approved Volunteers per Albert’s May 12th blog for some day trips or play dates for him. DON’T you just love that white face of his!

BHRR’s Albert – 7+ years of age – May 13th, 2010

I am seeking any approved BHRR Volunteers that might be open to taking BHRR’s Albert for a day trip or play date anytime during the following:

Wednesday May 19th – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Friday May 28th – Anytime between 4 PM – 8 PM
Saturday May 29th – Anytime between 8 AM – 4 PM

If you might be interested in taking BHRR’s Albert out for some extra loving in your home or a short jaunt in a PetSmart or Park etc., please email Gwen. He is very slowly coming out of his social ‘catatonic’ state and depending on how well he does during the rest of this month(and if we have different Volunteers open to taking him out); I might be placing him up for adoption as of June 1st. How he is in our home without strangers is a 360 from when others are here or when he goes out. He zips and zooms and IS such a morning sunshine boy and I am working on his slow emotional rehab in getting him to be more accepting and less ‘shut down’ mode in social settings in that big scary world. If he is not yet ready to be placed up for adoption, that is fine and we shall work on more outings and patience and loving and time in the month of June and see how that goes. The more he knows he is coming back home, the better he is getting about being ‘ok’ with the big scary world. I am going to miss this boy if his right forever loving matched home comes along!!!!!! I also have to take some more pictures of him to post. He is just a booootiful boy!

I almost never thought I would say this yet BHRR’s Albert has become a bit of a turkey! LOL He is such a morning boy and his zipping and zooming has really made me look hard at him FOR you would never know that he was 7+ years of age! LOL I am adding a new picture to his slideshow # 15 and I am also going to post it below for look at that face! HE is smiling! SMILING! Come May, I would like to begin having the BHRR play dates, day trips and play trips for the BHRR dogs and I am hoping that some of our approved BHRR Volunteers will consider taking BHRR’s Albert out for it is the ‘strangeness’ of the whole big scary world out that that holds me back from putting him up for adoption. He is like night and day between our home and family and when strangers come or when he is out in public. I am hoping to bring him to our upcoming regular GD Hike/Walk scheduled for this weekend to see how he does. If he does as well as I could hope he might; then he shall be soon ready to be placed up for adoption, if not, no rush and we shall continue to take our baby steps forward in healing his spirit and not just his body. LOVE LOVE LOVE this boy! When the weather warms up, we shall bathe him again and this week is our bi-weekly BHRR ‘nail trim conveyor belt’ event and we shall try and get those nails of his trimmed further back and to train those quicks to not be so long.

BHRR’s Albert (7+ years) – April 12th, 2010

I have taken a height measurement on BHRR’s Albert and he is around 31″. I have added new pictures of BHRR’s Albert to his slideshow – #9 – #14 from February 17th, 2010, exactly 4 weeks to the day that he first arrived to BHRR! Some of these pictures have been posted for sometime on the BHRR FB Group yet I am finally getting around to adding them here! LOOK at that hind end in just 4 weeks! He continues to just get better every day and he is doing a great job on my own stay healthy regime!  😉  We are walking, well, ok, trotting up to 5 kms most days together now. LOL The big bonus was that today he layed in his crate while I was working on my computer in the sunroom and he munched on a beef jerky treatie! YAY! YAY! AND other dogs were around too! BHRR’s Albert has regular zoomies and though I have not yet posted this, he has been fully integrated with all the dogs here; successfully. This once byber Great Dane is living in complete harmony with 17 other dogs, including my own two show intact Great Danes. He has not attempted to hump a dog in ages either. My only concern for BHRR’s Albert is how well he is going to integrate into another home. When it is just the kids plus myself and Sean here(though he is still a wee wary of Sean at times); he is a completely different dog than when others come. Strangers just terrify him and he shuts down and goes to lay in his crate. I am planning on organizing another Great Dane hike/walk later this month and he is my dog of choice that shall be coming out with me to continue to try and get him into the ‘land’ of the living. He is so bonded to me and all I have to say to him is ‘I love me some Albert’ and he comes zipping up to me and boy, this ol’ man can move! LOL In the last few days, I have also begun to see that the ‘honeymoon’ period with this joyous boy is ending! LOL As I keep telling others, these dogs are ‘survivors’ for a reason and that means he has backbone and not just personality yet strength of character! Thanks to BHRR’s Dana(sigh…LOL) he thinks that he if makes sounds in his crate, we will come running and let him out…nope…not here! So, after a few days of this, this behavour was nipped in the bud. He has now gone from just taking one or two items belonging to me into his crate to making a game of taking an item from the shoe shelf – be it a shoe, glove, sock stuffed into a boot from one of the kids etc. and running into his crate and as we take that one out, he is right behind us, snatching another item and running into his crate. AND back and forth we go and when you tell him ‘no’, he sits and looks at you and then goes off as fast as he can to do it all over again! LOL Monkey! He has also taken to pooping in our sunroom if he is not happy about not getting something his way. OMG! ICK! 😛 He still rarely has the occastional leg lifting pee in our home yet outside he now squats to pee and does not lift his leg. He is almost always wagging his tail these days for me and the difference in him is HUGE HUGE HUGE! I continue to just adore this boy to bits and yet remain concerned about his abilities to be integrated into anothers home. I worry somehow that he will think that I have betrayed him and broken the trust that he is giving to me daily and those eyes, gosh, they are so deep and full of emotion of past horrors. I worry about if someone is going to be prepared to just take it one day at a time and work with him patiently, consistently and lovingly yet firmly and that they treat him with the right mixture of everything that he needs. I worry that he might go back into his shell and this time, never come out. I remain convinced that he would make someone a fantastic companion for he is just so awesome yet not yet at thie moment in time. So, at this time, I am still going to keep BHRR’s Albert status as NOT being yet available for adoption.

BHRR’s Albert – February 17th, 2010 – 4 weeks to the day after arrival to BHRR – LOOK at that hind end plus his body posture now!

I was just finishing up a few things and getting ready to go to bed(it is almost 2 AM) and then I heard some ‘zoomy’ action and I look up to see Albert! He was zooming around the hutch and through the kitchen and back to the sunroom to his crate and back around again and again! The other dogs were just sort of in a daze for this is ‘quiet’ Albert getting crazy and at this hour! LOL I was so thrilled to see him and he was so darn cute! LOL It only lasted a few moments but WOW! What a delight! The other thing that Albert likes to do is take my shoes and just lie with them. He will pull them out of the shoe rack and just cuddle with them in his crate. He has also taken a coat and a sweater of mine too at one point. I have posted some pictures of him taken on February 17th on our BHRR FB group and shall post them here when I can. The difference in his hind end and body stature plus confidence is just amazing in only 4 weeks. I am now going to begin to get him out and about in the public more, just little treks here and there to continue to build up his confidence.

HUGE breakthrough today! BHRR’s Albert ate a treat! His first! OH YEAH! It was a Mar-O-Bone treat from a box that Mary brought up to the BHRR’s Mini Open House in early February and OH YEAH! GO ALBERT! GO! He is just so happy to see me after I get the kids on the bus and if he would stay still long enough, I could get some great pictures of that hind end! 😛 He is a long way off for me being comfortable to place up for adoption and no rush. Step by step we shall go! He is also eating better now that I have him on food that is strictly fish based. I believe thos bags came up from Pam at Global Pet Foods – Ancaster and we are most appreciative!!!! We had a couple of bags donated over the past couple of weeks and I shall continue to hunt out food of this type moving forward. I could not be more happy with his progress. I say every day ‘I love me some Albert’ and he comes bouncing over to stand near me(will not come over to touch me as of yet) and I get to hug and give him his good AM kiss.  🙂 He has been fully integrated with BHRR’s Storm now that her heat has ended and everything is smooth. I still have not intergrated him with my show bluez boyz and shall be doing this with Multi CH. Bronson this week as CH. Tain is off with his handler to settle into their routine before heading to Markham to show later this week.

I had one of the worst scares of my life with BHRR Inc’s Albert today. I was coming home from a Grocery run with one of my BHRR Inc BOD members and I received a call from Sean. He said that he ‘lost’ Albert. Apparently, Albert has done what no other dog has managed to do in our newly fenced in area; got through the fence just after Sean let him out to go pee and had gone walkabout. As I drove, I asked Mary pull out the spare leash I keep in the side door of the car and when we turned down our rural road; I saw Albert just leaving one of the neighbours places(they have 16 intact sled dogs and I worried about his safety) and he saw Sean who was approaching from our laneway area and I tried not to sacre him as I drove closer and I rolled down my window to call to him. I wanted him to know I was there and to hopefully not bolt in fear that a car was behind him. As soon as was past the neighbours place, who have the sled dogs(wolf hybids, huskyx’s etc.), I put the car in park and got out. I know Mary was feeling a wee bit helpless having to sit in the car for I knew that Albert would only come to me, IF he was going to go to anyone. He saw Sean and startled back my way and when he saw me, he was hesitant and then he trotted towards me and just stayed within inches out of my reach as he paced back and forth and turned about. He was cleary a bit stressed had some drool going on. I knew that if I rushed him, he would be gone to me and I waved Sean to just stay back and Mary stayed in the car behind me. Eventually, within mere moments WHICH seemed like an eternity to me; I was able to touch him and he did his ‘pause’ so I could stroke his side and then I was able to lightly get up to his neck and from there, I was hugging him and felt like I was going to cry I was so relieved. That moment of Sean calling and hearing the tone of his voice, fear just shot into my heart and I knew I loved Albert, I love them all; yet when I was hugging Albert; I just felt the most intense feelings of emotion. I ADORE this boy with everything I am and if he had been hurt or killed or lost; I just could not forgive myself, even if I had nothing to do with why he was lost in the first place. I just realised in that moment of the ‘trust’ he showed in me that I am beyond commmited to Albert. I am truly connected to him and it is going to take that super special right matched home that I am going to feel 100% ok in letting him go too. AND I looped my leash in his collar and he and I trotted all the way home AND you should have seen Albert move! The improvement to his hind end with the muscle and strength he has developed in his time here and the rehab I have been doing with him(one would think I would be 90 pounds with all the exercise the dogs here give me!) and he looked AMAZING! I wish I could have had a picture or better yet a video. He lifts his front feet up on a hackney horse type of motion when he is happy and his hind end was driving almost straight and it was so nice and strong and full of momentum. He just almost floated as he trotted. He had his head up high, ears forward and it was like sheer poetry if I could find any type of expression to explain it! In the short period of time he has been here, to see this type of massive improvement and he was SOOOOOOOOO happy with me as we jogged back to the house on our laneway in the sun(our laneway is almost a KM long) and I almost did not want it to end. He was just stunning!!!! I think people are going to be so happy to see the new pictures I am going to have to take of Albert and his hind end etc. Yes, when he stands for extended periods of time, he will begin to slouch down yet he is no longer that always shrinking, slinking, terrifed boy. He is still afraid of the TV yes. AND best of all, he has put so much trust in ME! I am humbled. I know many people at the Open House wanted to touch and love on him yesterday yet they respected his space and how he needs time.

At our BHRR Inc’s Mini Open House yesterday, I was so impressed with him coming out when our first guest arrived and he even nibbled on a bit of a large rawhide type treatie bone for a few tastes. That was a first for Albert. As more people arrived, he went into his crate and layed down. He did not attempt to ‘sleep’ to escape any overwhelming feelings he might have had over this many people coming into our home. Many dogs will sleep when they are stressed. We see it often on transports. Albert was content to lie in his open crate and watch the activities around him and I did not push him. At one time, I called him and he did come out briefly and stood with me in the sunroom for a bit, before walking back into his crate.

Albert is a survivor and he has proven to me that he is not going to be that dog that just is content in shuffling from A to B. He wants to get out more and more and to not just walk but trot and jog and yes run and that is when he just ‘kicks’ my tush! AND I love it! GO ALBERT GO! I cannot wait for Monday and how I am revamping the distance and location of our next rehab journey together. It is not just *I* that is going to get Albert into top shape; HE is going to get *me* into better shape too! Between him and BHRR Inc’s Potter, I am going to be most fit for my first marathon later this year afterall!  😛 I wonder if they can come run with me, at least part of the way!  😉 THEY both are deeply inspirational to me, just as quite a few other BHRR Inc. Dogs have been in the past.

BHRR’s Albert’s HWT came back negative and his bloodwork was good. He was neutered on Tuesday January 26th and everything went well. The one testicle that we thought was enlarged turned out to be normal and his other one underdeveloped. It was not cancerous though and a huge sigh of relief. When Sean dropped him off that morning, the Hospital had a nice run all comfy and set up with padding and blankets and my heart just feels so good about the level of care my animals receive here and I work with some of the best people there! Additionally, he had his teeth scaled plus polished, given a convenia injection(antibiotics) for his gums and his ears were flushed out four times to get them even remotely cleaned. He was such a good boy and certainly continues to charm all with his precious personality! Before I took him home that night, I gave him a subq injection of buprenorphine for comfort and his boy temp was still a bit low 37.2 degrees. I also micrcochipped him and not a peep he made. When I got him home, he was very ‘flighty’ and a bit nervous about going inside and my heart twanged for he went through so much stress that day at the Hospital. He is healing well and eating a bit better. His weight was 43.3 KGs when neutered, so down .5 of a KG from when he first arrived and on Saturday, it was the first day that he came into my bedroom to actually hang out with me and have a bit of a snooze(and he did settle down eventually and after two pees..) and I was so proud of him for being able to do that. He actually looked like he was smiling as he snoozed in the sun streaming in from our wall of windows in the ensuite. He is very rarely trying to hump the other animals these days and PPSS is one of his latest ‘victims’ which to BHRR’s Potter’s delight is NOT him! Poor PPSS, almost every dog wants to hump him and with BHRR’s Storm in heat(Day 14), BHRR’s Albert has not appeared to be be overly affected by any possible smells that might be around. From coming from a BYBER, at any given time, there was bound to be at least one female in heat at any time, so probably part of his lifestyle. The girls here are very interested and ‘excited’ over BHRR’s Storm and she remains completely segregated from BHRR’s Albert plus my 2 intact show boyz, who are pretty much clueless and I want to keep it that way! A huge test for BHRR’s Albert is going to be at our upcoming BHRR’s Mini Open House in how he handles that many people in his environment. I am prepared to give him some room and a ‘safe’ spot in our bedroom when he needs it for with the progress that he is making, I do not want to do anything to set him back. I am learning to read him better and better and his eyes tell me a lot more than they did when he first arrived. I told Sean that I honestly would not mind if someone did not open up their heart to him for he has big part of my own soul already and he is such a fantastic boy. I tell Albert every day that *I* want him and that I love him and I care and I can see past age and what abuse over time has done to his body and spirit. He is just a huge cutie and I am so enjoying getting to know him! The TV still terrifies him though.

So much to update on blogs, especially with BHRR’s Dana, Shiva, Albert and Mindy yet I just have to share this! Today, when I came back from putting the wee ones on the school bus, BHRR’s Albert actually ‘skipped’ in joy when he saw me! YAY! YAY! YAY! He was very ‘flighty’ after he was neutered etc. earlier this week and this is HUGE! I so adore this ‘ol man. 😀 With the plunging winter temps, needless to say; he had two accidents in the house this AM and he has not had any in quite some time. Understandable the more that he gets used to having comfort including blankets(which we are still looking for more comforters/duvets if anyone might be so kind as to consider helping BHRR’s Albert) and fresh water and plenty of food plus love and warmth, that he shall be reluctant to go outside on days like this. What a huge step forward for BHRR’s Albert with that level of emotion being demonstrated.

I took BHRR’s Albert to work with me Friday night and once again, I had to ‘lift’ him into the car as he was just ‘paralyzed’ with fear. He traveled really well and his weight was 43.9 KGs(96.58 pounds) and I would like to see him around 100 or so pounds. Yes, he is a small male yet nicely porportioned for his size. I still need to get a height on him yet I am thinking no more than 30″ maximum, most likely less. I was very impressed with how he was around all the new sights, smells and people and blood was drawn(I did not get a chance to do this at home earlier this week as I wanted) for a HWT and CBC. He received a full exam and his heart plus lungs sound great and honestly, he is in fantastic shape, considering his past life. He was not comfortable enough to want to pee at the Hospital though. Many dogs are that way. We brought out a rubber mat for him to stand on for the slippery floor is hard on his feet plus the longer he stands, the weaker his hind end becomes BUT it is so much better than when he first arrived. YAY! GO ALBERT! The Vet felt so sad over his history and that he had not even been given a name. He has his share of ‘battle’ wounds to his face and feet. Oddly, enough for a BYBER dog, his front dewclaws had been removed yet it was not a ‘pretty’ job with the scars they left behind. He had begun to shake his head a bit in the week hours of Friday AM and so the Vet looked closer at them and understandably they were filled deep down with black/brown gunk. When I bathed him last Sunday, with all that he had gone through to get to BHRR plus the nail trim I gave him; I only surfaced cleaned his ears. The ear cytology did not show any mites and when he is under for his neuter; scheduled for Tuesday January 16th; barring any abnormal bw results; we will clean his ears really well at that time. I have not been ‘forcing’ or ‘pushing’ Albert with handling and therefore had not as of yet, looked closely in his mouth yet tonight(and boy does he have bad breath the poor soul), I lifted up his lips slightly and his teeth are not so lovely; something we expected. He will need a dental at some point in his future. We will take a closer look at his teeth etc. while he is under for his neuter. What I also had not had the opportunity to look closer at was what I had thought was a skin tag and one other Vet thought the same and it turns out that upon much closer examination(as I have not really pushed his boundaries with too much touching/feeling this week in examination) is that Albert has two of his nipples really out of normal shape. Nothing the Vet was concerned about or felt needed to be removed. He won over a few hearts tonight at the Vet Hospital with his gorgeous ‘white’ face and demeanor. It was also noted how he would stay ‘around’ me and would come up to stand behind me if he was unsure. PROGRESS! We are bonding. Tonight when I got him home, he also was quite content to allow Sean to pet him until Sean’s arm was feeling tired and then he would look at Sean with a slight head turn but avoiding looking directly at him and this is Albert’s way to ask for some more petting! Which Sean obliged by changing arms! He is more flightly around Sean and is much more comfortable around me at this time yet I work with him daily and for long periods of time. The Vet also agreed with me that Albert is going to make a great companion to a home that has very few steps or lives in an apartment and is happy to take him for some strolls out and about and just to enjoy Albert’s company for Albert makes a wonderful creature to be around. I am very confident at this time that Albert will make a really good recovery emotionally in time, lots and lots of time and patience plus consistency. I could see in his eyes that he was nervous about leaving here and he got into the car much better on his own when we were leaving the Hospital(with some tush boosting as his hind end is weak) and was almost ‘relaxed’ coming home and when we got home, he was ‘happy’ in only a way that Albert can express himself right now yet it was in his eyes. He was not so ’emotionally’ detached and shut down as he was at the Hospital. It almost broke my heart to put him into one of the large runs for he did not wish to go. YET, I came back and came back again and then we came back home and that was a very positive thing for Albert. As I told Sean tonight, it matters not to me if a right matched home does not come along for Albert for he has a deep piece of me and he can snooze in the sun along with our almost 11 year old Kona throughout the rest of his days if that is how things work out to be and he can enjoy the country life as he does like to explore when we go for our short walks. BHRR is not about bringing in dogs and pumping them out to homes as fast as we can. It is about doing right by each and every dog that comes into our program(s) and knowing that if they do not ever have a right matched home come along; that we are content and thrilled to have them stay with us or in a perma-foster home living a great life. Though, we have to be honest that it is hard to see some dogs like BHRR’s Dana plus BHRR’s Shiva still here due to them being ‘black’ for they truly do not ‘need’ us anymore and while we are thrilled to continue to have them here with us; it would be lovely to see them being Queens in a right matched adoptive home. BHRR’s Albert is now snoozing in his crate and we send out a plea once again that if anyone has any gently used duvets/comforters they would not mind donating to BHRR’s Albert, we would be grateful. It is going to take some time to get him to feel ok on a Costco dog bed and as for a Kuranda bed, we are not even going down that road right now with how it makes him shy. I cannot wait for people to meet him at our upcoming BHRR’s Open House and in less than a week, I cannot believe the physical plus mental improvement Albert has done, so much more than I could have hoped for! I am sure many are going to feel the way I do when you meet him, just want to pull him close and just hug him tightly. AND Shawna, you could not have picked a better name for ‘Albert’ suits him beautifully! On a side note, if I did not mention it in another blog, he met the two bluez boyz CH’s last night and things went well. Nothing I was going to force and Albert was very aware they were not altered and they were aware that something was ‘different’ with him yet all lied down and napped quietly. During the height of an excitement filled day, I  would not allow such interactions between them all yet at night when things are settled, all is peaceful. Once Albert is neutered, I am sure things will be great. I also know that BHRR’s Potter is quite enjoying that ‘he’ is no longer the ojbect of Alberts affection…it is BHRR’s Porridge and as short at Albert is and as tall as Porridge is(almost 40″ at the whithers); Albert tries to make it all work. Porridge is none too happy that ‘he’ is the new target of love in Albert’s life but Potter is much happier now! Albert does not attempt to hump all the dogs all the time anymore and he is also interested off and on on spayed BHRR’s Mindy too right now. We continue to work on that de-programming.

BHRR’s Albert has been integrated with all the dogs except BHRR’s Storm naturally plus the two blue CH’s. He did think BHRR’s Porridge was a mighty ‘fine’ dog to want to try and mount yet Porridge was not too keen on that AND poor BHRR’s Albert was the recipient of both BHRR’s Mr. Parker Paws plus Porridge wanting to play with him and their big ol’ paws almost knocked him right off his feet. All is going well. He is still not eating great yet day by day. Tomorrow, we are at the Vet and we will see what all of his tests results shall show. If he proves healthy, I would love to neuter him plus remove that skin tag soon. He was also very brave today and went right into the bedroom and up to the two bluez boyz, who I had put in crates and all was really good. I will try to take some new pictures of him shortly. THANKS to everyone that hads donated over the past week to THE OTTAWA DOG BLOGS BHRR FRIEND TO THE ANIMALS DRIVE and if anyone has gently used duvets/comforters that they would not mind passing along to BHRR’s Albert, it would be so appreciated. As mentioned in his previous blog, he is scared of the dog beds plus the Kuranda beds just terrify him right now and I have four nice big blankets in his crate at this time and some piles around the house yet we could use more if anyone would not mind donating some for BHRR’s Albert.

I think tonight was HUGE for BHRR’s Albert FOR he would not let me go to the bathroom by myself, he was right in there with me and for anyone that owns a Dane, you know that this is ‘DANE 101’! 😀 He has followed me for the past day going into the same area that I have gone in the house or outside yet not too close yet he keeps me within his sight. He even will now turn his head if I stop petting him to just look towards me yet not directly to say ‘I like what you are doing yet am not sure how to ask for more’. The TV just sets Albert to running. It is so sad. I try to not talk to him too much yet just enough so that he feels ‘ok’ yet not overwhelmed. Night times are very special for Albert and I for when all the other dogs are tuckered out; he will just sit next to me as I sit quielty on the couch and I just lightly pet him. He still paces and paces at times and wants to get back into his crate yet today I did the ‘tough’ love and locked the crate closed so that he could not retreat in there and hide from the world. While I am quite content to work at baby steps and at his own pace, we have to start somewhere and that means getting Albert into the world of the ‘living’ and while I am not going to set him up for failure; I am going to work on those boundaries. The new ‘out’ I have given him is leaving my front door open, chilly I know, yet it gave Albert a place to go and come at will and that must be a first for him. Right now, he will come in and go near me and then go into the main area and then go to the open door, down the few steps and then back in and repeat over and over and over again; learning that he can come and go and while he cannot get into his crate at this moment; he has a place to ‘escape’ to be it into the main area or outside. He is not fond of the dark outside and he is going to need a coat yet I would not attempt in putting anything like that on him(one his balance and strength and two; his mental state) right now. He will have his crate back shortly and every day, I shall take it away from him twice right now for a period of time, building up his confidence that nothing is going to hurt him AND this is not going to happen overnight. 7 years is a long time to overcome and in that, patience, time, consistency, love, obedience are going to be my best allies in showing Albert that there is much pleasure and joy in this world and I am determined that he shall be given the best lives possible now that he is at BHRR. For those that have been asking, I see no reason at this time, at some point in the future NOT to put him up for adoption yet even if that does not happen, BHRR’s Albert is going to have a safe spot at BHRR for the rest of his days. I am quite protective of him and he is going to take me on such a journey and one that I am going to feel really blessed and lucky if he ever truly ‘lets’ me in to what you can see deep in his eyes. Survival has forced him to ‘shut down’ and may his new life at BHRR rehab him to the best that he can be and open him up to such joys that lie within his reach. I am really smitten with this dear sweet old man and I am sure he is going to teach me a bundle too. THE other great news for today is that he has not had one accident in the house NOR humped a dog and though new dogs have been introduced to his world; that will come.

BHRR’s Albert has now been integrated with BHRR’s Mindy, Hamilton The Newf and Mr. Parker Paws. ALL is going well. Just 5 more to go. 🙂

Before I went to bed in the wee hours of this AM, I introduced BHRR’s Albert to PPSS last night and other than one attempt to hump him(PPSS is over 36″ tall and Albert is around 30″ – will measure), did not bother again. Though, he kept looking at BHRR’s Potter who made a fast beeline for my couch and me! So, other than 8 dogs here; BHRR’s Albert has been fully integrated. He has obviousy not met BHRR’s Storm and has not been introduced to BHRR’s Parker, Porridge, Hamilton The Newf, CH. Dyceman, Multi CH. Bronson nor CH. Tain and now BHRR’s Mindy. When we have a dog come in like BHRR’s Albert, it really brings to light, what we just ‘take’ for granted. Things like the TV do not ‘scare’ me yet it terrifies Albert. 😥 The sound of the dishwasher, a rocking chair rocking, the telephone ringing are all so foreign to sweet Albert and he rushes to his crate and safety. My heart strings are really being wrenched with this dear old man. He does get very animated when he sees his reflection in the oven door or in a mirror and wags his tail and will bump the mirror or oven door with his nose in animation. It is so CUTE! I am a wee bit worried about him as he has not eaten today at all. He did have a normal poop, just inside the door AND he did ask to go out. SO that was huge. I gave him a really yummy knuckle bone and a treat yet they have remained untouched in his crate. He wants to spend the majority of his time either pacing or sitting way back in his crate. 😥 While I refuse to feel pity for Albert as that is not in his best interest; my heart is definitely pouring out in understanding of all that I can imagine that he has gone through and why he is the way he is. I keep telling Albert that there is no rush and that he is now safe.

BHRR’s Albert had a good day. Took him most of the day to finish his breakfast and his crate has turned into his ‘safe’ spot and if a noise frightens him, he will go into his crate and sit at the back of it. 😥 If you tell the other dogs to not play so rough, Albert also tends to react and go to his crate. Poor boy. He has been successfully integrated with Guinness, Windsor and Kingston today and has shown no interest in mounting them but poor Potter, man, Albert sure wants to ‘love’ on him. 🙄 Today, BHRR’s Potter also developed a bit of this ‘tude of ‘my mommy is watching, you can’t touch this’ and that is not to his benefit at all. The number of times I have run outside barefoot in the snow to ‘save’ him and one time I did not get there before Albert did and Albert’s one nail caught on Potter’s stump as he was trying to mount him and as Potter’s Vet told me about his own Boxer; the healed skin just tore like paper. Apparently, Boxers healed skin can take to re-injury quite easily for some time after it has healed. Now, Potter is sporting about 2.5″ of injury on his stump as the freshly healed skin just tore right open in one area. I have pictures to post of BHRR’s Potter’s stump from before XMAS and January 13th and now I will also post pictures from today. Albert did nothing out of meanness, he is just doing what he has done his whole life. Potter on the other hand, is much more subdued with his ‘tude and is close to my side. I had not taken Potter off his antibiotics as of yet and we shall continue that course. Tomorrow, we will integrate Albert with another couple of dogs, except of course, BHRR’s Storm due to her being in heat. He is a nice old chap, quiet and the really sad part is that he has no concept of a treat. He just leaves them in his crate. 🙁 He did poop in his crate overnight. I took him out around 3:00 AM before I went to bed and when Sean was up by 6:00 AM, there was an accident yet he has not had another accident in the house since. You just want to hug and squish him yet while he wishes to be ‘around’ me, having not had touching or affection, he is not sure what it is all about and it makes him ‘flighty’ or he will lower his head and tremble. Baby steps Albert. Baby steps….one moment at a time dear old man. I cannot wait for people to meet him at the Open House and will have to take things slow so that he does not become overwhelmed with all the people and our dogs milling around. I might have him out first and then when things get busy, just let him go to his ‘safe’ spot and take in the sights and sounds from there. We will see how things go. The next Open House is not until February and a lot can happen with his progress and I will let Albert call the pace.

BHRR’s Albert has arrived and I have added 8 pictures to his slideshow from today. He has such a ‘junkyard’ ear crop, the dear sweet old man. 🙁 He had his nails trimmed and considering that he had not had this done his whole life; he was really good and I got more off than I thought I could. He had a bath yet will need more for he was so smelly(he also pooped in the crate that his transporter had him in) and poor Mason and I drove home with our windows open for poor BHRR’s Albert was the worst smelling rescue we have had in a long time. My heart went out to him. 😥 Sean calls him ‘Mr. Mazda’ and his sole goal is to ‘mate’ with every animal he can find. He is a ‘tiger brindle’ Great Dane and I love love love the white that age has brought upon his face and coat. He is so handsome! He has been successful integrated with BHRR’s Dana, BHRR’s Shiva, Cherokee, BHRR’s Potter(who is not too impressed to be thought of as a girl by BHRR’s Albert) and our Kona. He is quite submissive at this time yet very persistent in wanting to breed. Not surprising considering his history. He has a skin tag that I shall also be removing, full of pressure sores, callouses and he has another growth like tumour that I will also biopsy on his one front leg. I have yet to get in his mouth and I have put him on Sentinel plus am deworming him. He is lacking complete muscle tone in his hind end, has something really wrong with that right back hock and foot(more so than the left hind leg) and has no clue about love, play or affection in interacting with humans. He had no name his whole life. 🙁 Well, NOW he has an identity and we will work on the rest. TONIGHT, he shall sleep on his first soft bed in almost 7 years of living, he has had something small to eat and he has drank some and puked it all up and we so look forward to getting to know you! His intergration with the rest of the males here shall be very slow. He has already poooped and raised his leg to pee on our dining room table and let the housebreaking begin! When I first saw BHRR’s Albert in his crate on the back of the open flatbed truck; he ‘had me at hello’ as it is said. I looked into his slightly cloudy eyes and just wanted to scoop him up and hold him close to my heart. He walks so slouched and obviously has been kept quite confined. He is slightly nervous of Sean, ‘flighty’ and we have a long way to go. I will draw blood tomorrow and have Sean bring it in to do a full CBC on him plus a HWT and also a stool sample. His overall body weight is not too bad. A little thin yet he also has ‘old man spread’ as I call it and with some proper exercise, he should tone up much better. His hips are not as bad as they could be and right now he is quite emotionally ‘shut down’; which has allowed me to get those nails plus bath done and after a battle of wills, I won and he was showered and so was I a bit 😛 and then after another slight struggle, into a crate he went, had a snack and had a bit of a rest. He has had so much excitement since he arrived and I am sure he will konk out for the night really well. I think he feels like he is in spayed harem heaven right now with the altered females here! Unfortunately, none of the girls are putting him in his place, so he continues to want to hump them and yes, poor Potter who is quite vocal in expressing himself about how he feels about this kind of attention. The spray bottles are out in full force as we work on de-programming him and neutering him is going to help. He is going to make a home a great companion and this is one of those dogs that we would consider in an apartment(no stairs) for he is just quite mellow. He is most taken with BHRR’s Dana, much to her chagrin and giving her full credit, she is handling him and herself beautifully. I do wonder if he shall ever be able to stand completely upright with that poor hind end of his. 🙁 I have added to pictures of BHRR’ Albert below. HOW could anyone say that a dog like BHRR’s Albert is not worth assisting truly is a loss to me and how could someone say that he is any less deserving of having funds donated than any other dog in our program is a bit shameful. He needs just as much help, if not more than many dogs out there and I hope that people will continue to donate so that BHRR will be able to help many more ‘Alberts’ out in the world for there are thousands of them in need of reputable/quality rescuing.

BHRR’s Albert – Day of Arrival – January 17th, 2010 *please consider donating

I have BHRR’s Albert booked for exam etc. on Friday January 22nd, 2010. Cannot wait to meet him tomorrow!

We finally made contact with each other and due to schedules; we will be unable to hook up to collect BHRR’s Albert until Sunday January 17th and we will be meeting in Renfrew. We have also received another call to assist a female GD in Sherbrooke, QC and I am going to try and find out more details on her.

I was unable to make a connection with the contact person for Albert on Saturday night and then yesterday, with an emergency; our paths still did not cross. I left another vm at 8:00 AM today with this person in the hopes that we can meet-up for BHRR to assist this Great Dane. If I do not reach this person today; the next opportunity for BHRR to bring in this Great Dane(which I am told is still at the puppy miller) would be on Sunday January 17th. I hope I hear something soon for we would love to assist him.

I was to meet the ‘contact’ person for BHRR’s Albert today to pick him up yet I have not heard word. I left a vm last night and shall try again a bit later this AM as it is only 7:30 AM right now. They did not wish to bring him to their shelter so he would be coming directly from the puppy mill and hopefully, I can make a connection as BHRR would love to be able to assist here as we do have a spot available.

BHRR’s Albert is arriving on Sunday January 10th, 2010. I will be driving to get him on Sunday. He is from the recent relinguishing of dogs from a Puppy Mill in Quebec. We were contacted by the Western SPCA of Quebec to see if we would assist. He is estimated to be around 7(we will age him when he arrives) and had no name.  😥 THANKS so much Shawna for helping me come up with a name! As BHRR believes in rescuing the next one in need and it is not about gender, age, colour, health status; BHRR’s Albert is coming into the BHRR family! I have been told that he is a very light Brindle type of colour, so not sure if he is a Tiger Brindle or a Fawn Merle but we will find out! He will require lots of vetting including microchip and neutering. NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!!!