Jamila

RIP beautiful girl…
 
You are no longer an angel on earth yet one in heaven.
 
There are days that I feel that my already shattered to a million pieces heart cannot take any more, and today is one of those days.
 
This amazing girl….she and I were extremely connected….she may not have been able to hear nor see, yet her nose was second to none, and she always seemed to know when I was on my way home.
 
There was not enough time to show you how wonderful this world could be Miss Jamila….
 
I tried my best and packed all I could into the few years you did have with me….
 
I really wanted you to be a miracle and beat this OSCC. Yet, you poor beautiful body could not win any more battles….you survived such horrific conditions in Egypt, being bred over and over, pneumonia, tumours, having to have bilateral eye enucleations, anorexia just to name a few things…..
 
Tied up with your brother, abandoned to die and before you were found, your brother did die.
 
I am unbelievably lost without you…Miss Chrissy and Mr. Romeo are also…as is my Crush, not to mention the other dogs who respected and adored you like I do.
 
I cannot believe we shall have no more grand adventures any longer. You showed a whole community that eyes are not needed to ‘see’ the world and to reach deep into peoples souls.
 
You proved to so many naysayers how perfect you are and that special needs dogs are no less deserving or loving than any other dogs.
 
I have zero regrets bringing you into my heart and home and thank you for your spirit, the life fantastic lessons you taught not just others yet me too, and for being that one in a billion dog. A once in a lifetime Dane!
 
I shall forever hear in my dreams those sweet not to be denied ‘demanding’ yet excited sounds you saved just for me!
 
2024 can just taking a flying leap….. 

BHRR’s Jamila!

We found some masses in her mouth, and she had to have them removed. At the same time, we did a good dental clean.

She had begun not to eat as well, and I became a bit concerned.

The masses have been sent off for pathology.

Her legs are all drooled up from the saliva/blood.

I brought her home on fluids to keep her hydrated for another 12 hours, as she made it clear that she was done being at the Hospital! She speaks volumes often without saying a word….this time, she was quite vocal!

Everything crossed for good news….

I love this girl!

 

 

Our 5th Annual “WON’T YOU BE MY VALENTINE” Fundraiser! February 1st – February 15th, 2024

Please help us give each doggie a special Valentine!

Thank you to everyone who has become a Valentine Angel to date, and to those asking, here is our email transfer address to send the vet bill part of your generous donation: contactbhrr@gmail.com

Please let us know if you would like to be a Secret Valentine!

Thanks in advance for any consideration!

These are the doggies still in need of a Secret Valentine Admirer:

  • Albar – Ronda B. will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Knox  – Amy shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Maybelle Cutie – Ronda B. will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Chrissy – Emilie P. will be her SVA  – COMPLETED!
  • Ernie – Leanne Berard McDonell & Cameron will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Leah – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • ‘Fred’ – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Aramis – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Athos – Elaine Giles will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Brooklyn  – Michele shall be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Caramel – Elaine will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Giselle – Leanne & Cameron will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • James  – Rejane shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Jamila – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Lewis  – Emilie P. shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Lilly – Tanya S. will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Olive – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be her SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Porthos – Amanda Gillon shall be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Romeo – Melody Lachance & Barrhaven & Area Empties will be his SVA – COMPLETED!
  • Rosie – Anne PB will be her SVA – COMPLETED!

Miss Jamila!
Deaf & Blind Great Dane
December 25th, 2023

Our Egyptian queen! 

She is a miracle herself. She arrived at the rescue severely ill. Shockingly so.

We had to do multiple biopsies, mass removals, a bilateral eye enucleation, treat her for pneumonia and bronchitis and to spay her, etc.

She is a survivor! She has a backbone of steel while not having a mean bone in her body at the same time! She makes me smile every day and is deeply bonded to me. When she picks up my scent, she becomes super excited and makes the best sounds! My heart beats with so much love for her!

She is great with all of the dogs, is such an easy keeper, and speaks volumes without even making a sound! 

Her rescue was incredibly stressful, and we remained strong that she was the one who mattered and she was the priority. The dogs always come first.

She lacked for nothing and still doesn’t, and we sincerely hope that she reigns as the gorgeous queen she is for a very long time to come!

 

 

 

Our 4th Annual ‘Won’t You Be My Valentine’ Fundraiser is live!

LAST CALL!

Our Annual ‘Won’t You Be My Valentine’ Fundraiser is live!

Running through until the end of the day tomorrow, February 15!

Please help us give each doggie a special Valentine!

Thank you to everyone that has become a Valentine Angel to date, and to those asking, here is our email transfer address to send the vet bill part of your generous donation: contactbhrr@gmail.com

Please let us know if you would like to be a Secret Valentine!

Thanks in advance for any consideration!

THE ONLINE FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER FOR BHRR IS NOW LIVE!

Over 200 items!

HERE IS THE LINK TO JOIN!

Post from the wonderful organizers!

“Welcome to the online Fundraiser for Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation.
A HUGE thank you to all of the local businesses and individuals who donated to make this auction possible.
100% of the proceeds raised will go to the rescue.
All the donated businesses have been linked in each item, if you are interested in an item, please consider clicking on their Facebook page and Like/Follow them.
Please read through all of the auction guidelines below.
Auction Guidelines:
1) There is a starting bid on all items
2) Please bid in a minimum $1 increment (just to clarify, you can bid any amount as long as it is a minimum $1 increase, it can be $2, $3, $4, $5 etc.)
3) The auction closes Sunday, October 9th, at 8 PM.
4) The winner will be contacted via Messenger with a pickup location, there are pick-up locations in Brockville (North End), Oxford Station, and Kanata.
5) Payment is due immediately following the end of the auction once notification has been received that you are the successful bidder
6) Payment is due via eTransfer to carol_bruck@hotmail.com
No password is required.
Happy Bidding, and thank you for your support!
Please see the album below to bid, thank you for your support and generosity for those currently in the rescue and those to come.”

Miss Jamila’s results are in! 

Her thyroid is also normal. Yes! So, it is the weather making her sluggish, and we shall have to further manage her food intake. She is not a big lover of treats yet, some tweaking will happen across the board.

It is important to be aware and on top of sudden or significant unplanned weight gain, or loss, changes in behaviour, and to monitor food/treat intake so that if medical intervention is needed, it is done or if it is only a matter of making some lifestyle tweaking.

We will work on getting her to move a bit more and shall lengthen her very early am and evening walks/play times – as those parts of the day are the coolest in this hot summer weather. She loves playing with the young pups Miss Agatha, Miss Chrissy, Mr. Romeo, and my 7-month-old Dane. 

I plan on using the scent work training I have been doing with her to have her track and move to eat her breakfast plus dinner meals over eating in a bowl.

She was just under 115 pounds(51.9 kgs) per the scale, yet she must have been leaning as when we did her spay, bilateral eye enucleation, plus lump removals – she weighed a still needed to gain 117 pounds.

Regardless of what the scale reads, there is no hiding the fact that she is a wee bit plump right now. Much better than her anorexic skinny body condition when she first arrived in rescue, yet she needs to lose a few pounds.

We want her to live her best life possible, and being a giant, the wear plus tear on her joints, heart, plus lungs are already harder.

We got this, Miss Jamila! With my foot almost 100%, time for us both to get moving more!

Guess who had her annual today?!
 
Miss Jamila! 
Thumbs up on heart, lungs, etc., and her annual bloodwork for tickborne diseases plus heartworm is negative. We will see what the rest of her blood work says when it comes back from the lab.
 
I want to specifically be sure that her thyroid is normal. She has been a bit more sluggish – it could be the weather – and has put on some weight. We have modified her eating plus treat portions, yet I want to be sure everything is fine.
 
She remains on monthly flea/tick and hw preventative, which also has a strong de-wormer proponent to it.
 
She received her vaccines and lots of love, and this is her when Sean arrived to work, and she smelt me as I opened the truck door! She immediately popped up her head and began to move towards me. 
 
She has excelled at her scent plus touch training!
 
She is simply the best!!! 
 
 
 

BETTY WHITE CHALLENGE: January 17th, 2022!

TO DONATE TO BHRR IN HONOUR OF A TRUE ANIMAL HERO: PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org OR Email Transfer contactbhrr@gmail.com

Even $5 would mean the world to the animals AND us!

Thank you in advance for any consideration to help us in 2022 to continue to help those in need of our highly specialised programs!

 

Miss Jamila!
*Deaf/Blind Great Dane
 
Merry FIRST loving spoiling Christmas to her!
 
Thank you again to the Markell Read family for spoiling her this XMAS as her special Secret Santa!
 
We removed her eye sutures several days ago from her bilateral eye enucleation, and her healing is almost complete.
 
This girl has stolen my heart plus soul. I know the feelings are very mutual.
 
Miss Jamila can ‘speak’ volumes without even saying a word! 
 
She is a thrivor, which means she has the backbone and strength that has ensured her survival from hell.
 
She is very honed/tuned into Gwen. She may not see or hear, yet she knows that Gwennie is taking this picture. Her scent training is excelling.
 

Another picture from December 11th of Miss Jamila

BHRR’s Miss Jamila!
 
December 11th, 2021
 
Four days post-op – from her mature spay, two lump removals plus bilateral eye enucleation. We also did another ear cytology and a great nail trim.
 
She went on more ear medications for chronic ear infections that we first began treating when she was still in Egypt.
 
While you see dried blood in these pictures, you mostly see bruising plus swelling with her eyes.
 
Her surgeries lasted 3 hours and 2 minutes. Those last several moments in surgery with her were very tense.
 
She came home on antibiotics along with a great pain management regime and as with Miss Rosie, Miss Jamila was touch and go post-op.
 
Round-the-clock care, trying to get her to eat, trying to get her to drink was a very worrisome time. Trying to get her up on her feet to move was equally concerning. The lack of urination and bowel movements were also troubling as she was just not eating or drinking much.
 
As of this week, she is FINALLY drinking back to her normal drinking levels, and while not eating back up to her normal, she is eating. I am getting my tail wags back – love how they start so low and her tail gets higher and faster as she expresses her affection!
 
I have also been working on her not developing SA behaviours as we have been spending a LOT of time together – most nights, I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep.
 
Her scent training is zooming along, her touch training – one can tell that she has not felt a lot of loving caring hands as her skin is very sensitive and while she no longer flinches, she still startles. We are continuing to work on that startle reflex with her and she is responding one small step at a time.
 
On Tuesday, Sean helped me remove the sutures on her two lumps, on Wednesday(2 weeks post surgeries), we removed her spay sutures and today, I will remove her eye sutures.
This amazing girl is such a mixture of strength with vulnerability, and she has bonded very closely with me, and I have to say, I adore her right back a million times over! 
 
That first week of December was a brutal one for BHRR financially – almost $12,000 in bills, and we remain owing just under $750 which we need to pay off by end of the year.
 
Any consideration to our outstanding bills would be deeply appreciated. Donations can be sent via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
Thank you also being sent out to the Markell Read family for being her wonderful special SS!!!
 

This will be Miss Jamilas first XMAS full of so much love, proper shelter, food, water, kindness, and warmth!  She resides in our home, one that cherishes her each and every day.

It is hard to get pictures of her as she literally wants to be part of me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On December 8th, Miss Jamila had her own surgeries. She now weighs 53.1 kgs(116.82 pounds). She has put on over 10 kgs(22 pounds) of much-needed muscle mass/weight pous toned up since she arrived into our rescue.
 
The pics are bloody – heads up.
 
Miss Jamila had her mature spay, had two lumps removed, was microchipped, plus had a bilateral eye enucleation. She also had her nails – they were so overgrown upon arrival into rescue and we have been working hard on getting them under control. They were affecting her ability to walk on certain surfaces.
 
An ear cytology was also done and more medication was dispensed as she has battled chronic ear infections, which we first addressed while she was still in Egypt , then several times after her arrival to Canada.
 
Her surgeries were 3 hours and 2 minutes.
 
Per Gwennie, was her surgery tech that day, she was very stable right up until the end of her second eye enucleation. Her BP then began to drop. As vascular as her mature spay was – my god this poor girl had been bred so much – her eyes were even more so. Surprisingly so per Gwennie/the surgeon.
 
Her eyes, as is extremely common with the special needs (double merle Great Danes) were deeply recessed – the right more than the left plus she had a condition called Microphthalmia, which is a birth defect in which one or both eyes did not develop fully, so they are abnormal. This is also very common in the special needs Great Danes.
 
Miss Jamila suffered from chronic eye infections, cataracts, and we had been so worried about her getting glaucoma. The number of eye medications along with meds that we were using to keep her pain under control until we could get her healthy enough for these surgeries was not just costly yet vast.
 
Her surgeon had worried prior to doing her mature spay that her other surgeries may have to be aborted for that day depending on how bad it was yet, Miss Jamila proved herself to be a continued thrivor.
 
As with Miss Rosie, Miss Jamila has battled her own post op complications…..Gwennie will address those shortly.
 
It has been a week full of long days for us, and even longer nights for Gwennie to get Miss Rosie, and now Miss Jamila on their feet.
 
Gwen, you remain my hero. I cannot function well on less than 8 hours of sleep, and you are working on barely a couple of hours each night as you are so dedicated with a heart so big.
Double Merle Danes are not ‘rare’, they are very common, and if anyone knows of any that are in need, please do not hesitate to reach out to us….this is what we do, and have for close to 30 years now. There is no reason why these incredible animals cannot live amazing quality-filled lives in the right hands yet, they need their physical, medical, emotional, behavioral, training needs properly addressed.
 
In preparation to continue to set up Miss Jamila for success, Gwennie had been working on her scent plus touch training – Miss Jamila is deaf and was pretty much blind upon arrival.
After paying off our Vet bills last week which included a big porcupine encounter for Mr. Fred – close to $12,000, we are still just under $1,100 owing for Miss Rosie & Miss Jamila. We have scrimped, we have saved, we have been blessed with donations on fundraisers, and we are almost there!
 
If anyone would like to assist two very deserving Dogs with a Christmas wish, donations can be made direct to Liston Animal Hospital at 613-591-0966
 
OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
 
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
We would be humbled…..we have until the end of December to clear our accounts, and are not able to assist any more deserving dogs in need until our financial situation is stronger…..
 

It has been a big surgery week for Miss Rosie & Miss Jamila!

Will post as we can yet here is Miss Jamila & me in the surgery suite! Ready to go this AM!
 

The reality of rescue is that you cannot save them all, no matter how much you may want to.

We have been in deep discussion re: finances for BHRR – as many know most of BHRR is financed mainly out of our own pockets – and, unfortunately, with the bills that we have currently at BHRR plus with Miss Jamila’s almost $10,000 in bills for upcoming surgeries, Miss Olive’s monthly almost $1,000 in bills, Miss Rosie’s to date almost $1,100 in bills with more to come – she needs to be spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, cherry eye repaired, COHAT, more bloodwork, etc., with BHRR going through almost 120 pounds of food per day and the list goes on…..we cannot take in the Mastiff.

We are posting the most current two bills for Miss Rosie; as suspected she has thyroid issues, and not just allergies. This means daily medication for her and regular bloodwork to be sure that she is being given the right dose of Thyro-Tabs.

We have blacked out her foster home’s contact information for privacy.

We will continue to forge strongly on what we can do…..as we will never compromise the quality of care, never take shortcuts on what the dogs that we are entrusted with need plus deserve.
 
We wanted to update the group as to why we cannot assist the Mastiff that we recently posted about. Our hearts are heavy yet, we know that Karen will ensure that he goes to a great place that shall do right by him…..perhaps in 2022, we can help another one of your lovely dogs Karen.
 

BHRR Doggie News Update!
 
The picture is of Mr. Maxwell sunbathing!  So freakin’ handsome.
 
1) Mr. Maxwell had a repeat urinalysis on Wednesday, October 13th has he had begun to have some inappropriate urination episodes. Nothing alarming was noted, yet his vet elected to put him on Zeniquin in case he has bacteria in his prostate(he was neutered late in age) that is causing issues. Additionally, with how brutal his past has been with UTI’s, his vet wanted to be cautious.
 
The home is working to ensure that he is in a SA free enabling environment too to assist in dealing with any behavioural causes of the urination accidents.
 
2) Mr. Brutus had his own recheck the same day – He remains on Apoquel 16 mg SID, his antibiotics have been switched to Amox-clav from the cephalexin he had been on for a month as his skin had stopped responding.
 
His eye medications have also been switched up again as his eye infections have also stopped responding to his previous meds.
 
His ear infections seem to be responding ‘ok’ at this time to the medications.
 
He has been putting on the weight plus muscle and WOW, what a gorgeous boy in temperament plus behaviour. We see no reason once he is healthy, why he could not be placed up for adoption.
 
3) Miss Jamila – she went into heat October 2nd – so unfortunate that she was so ill when she arrived as she would have been spayed that first week of September. This puts her at continued high risk of pyo and mammary cancers.
 
Her ears and eye infections continue to be treated, and thanks again to Carol Bruck for her donation to have Miss Jamila be Miss August in the 2021 Calendar being so generously put together by Katherine Bruck!
 
Last I heard there were still two calendars available for sale – Katherine will have to confirm this though.
 
4) Gwen is also working hard on Miss Rosie, the special needs redbone/black/tan houndx – Gwen has been in touch with the O., and working on getting her into our rescue on Thursday.
 
5) Mr. Rocket’s big announcement has been delayed as he had a seizure episode the night of Saturday, October 16th. He had not had anything prior nor has he had anything since.
 
6) Mr. Romeo remains soon to be making his own special announcement.
 
This past week saw over $2,100 in vet bills accumulated, and may this next week not be as expensive.
 

Miss Jamila!

BHRR’s Miss Jamila.  A VIDEO…..night-time snack.
 
Gwennie Novel coming up! 
 
She arrived in our care on August 22nd and it was not until the night of September 9th that she FINALLY began to eat better.
 
During that time, I had spent my nights with minimal sleep, made multiple Vet visits including with specialists, given her round the clock care at work/home, placed her on IV fluids/meds, tried what felt like a hundred different types of food, hand-fed her, put drops into her eyes(we still do!), treated her ears(we still are!), skin infections(we still are!), her bronchitis, her early stages of pneumonia(we still are!), bathed her, loved her, comforted her, was exposed to negativity from others, de-wormed her, did smears, cytologies, and UA, cultures, FNA biopsies, and more including x-rays and ultrasound……
 
Due to her poor health – her mature spay(may she not develop Pyo), her lump removals to go to pathology(praying that they are not MCT’s), her bilateral eye enucleation (may she not develop glaucoma) – had to be moved to December 8th – An all-day surgery that yes, I am going to be her surgery tech……I committed to her, and 100% I am going to be right by her side from start to finish.
 
The negativity that has come our way re: her, our continued zero-tolerance re: anyone not making this about Miss Jamila is unfortunate yet if Miss Jamila could talk, I know that she would be so appreciative that people cared enough to work on giving her the best quality filled of fabu+ lives that she should have always had.
 
She did not ask to be born deaf/blind, she did not ask to be bred and bred over and over again for greedy profit, she did not ask to be tied up and abandoned along with her brother when she could no longer have puppies – her brother died, strangled in what he had been tied with, she did not ask to have cataracts, struvite crystals, suspicious squamous cells, eye, ear and skin infections etc, she did not ask to be abused, neglected, and to only have felt hurting hands over loving, kind, gentle caring ones……
 
AND, I wanted to share one of the best things that has ever happened on the night of September 9th – she began to eat…as we got her healthier, as we figured out each medical issue/concern and addressed it, as we continued to do what we are experts in….we got Miss Jamila healthier, we got her happier, we got her to eat plus drink more normally – still not 100% as to what a Dane should but we are getting there!
 
Her Vets – getting vet appointments are not easy during COVID, to begin with YET, she was rallied around – knew plus shared our immense worry, stress, and concern….they shared it and fell in love with her just as we had. She has a BHRR village that includes SO many that have made this video possible AND I thank you with tears in my eyes for that.
 
Her Vet bills are over $5,000 now and we have easily another $5,000 in upcoming surgeries and histopathology to do for her come December. NOT to mention the food – her canned food is $124 plus change for a case of 24, and she is now eating three cans a day….. a/d food.
 
We have worked on scent plus touch training, AND along with those that believe in what we do, why we do it, and why Miss Jamila is worth all of the nightmarish hells thrown her/our way; this is a video I took Friday night(September 17th). 
 
I want to SHARE with all of you what you have helped make happen. We could not do what we do without her rescue angels and THANK you! Thank you! She is eating! She is gaining weight!
 
We shall continue to post updates and donations to her future bills – our Movie night will see all funds donated to her too! – can be made direct to Liston Animal Hospital at 613-591-0966
 
OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
 
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
 

BHRR’s Jamila Update:
 
On September 2nd, Miss Jamila had further specialist assessments.
 
Her right eye has a cataract and will need to be removed. The left eye was hard to say as being a DM – double merle with those deeply recessed pupils – hard to get a good look yet, with both eyes being that typical milky white, the Vet pretty much feels it also has a cataract and will need to be removed.
 
Discomfort/pain is caused by the inflammation that accompanies cataracts as the protein structure of the lens changes. Inflammation of the eye, if left untreated, may also lead to glaucoma which is very painful for dogs. She is on prednisolone acetate drops every 8 hours.
 
We figured we would have to do a bilateral eye enucleation yet not due to cataracts. We felt that as she was a DM they would both need to be removed – recessed pupils, entropion, Microphthalmia that leads to painful chronic infections.
 
She is older than the 3-4 we were told she was. 6+ maybe. Does not matter to us, never does. We stepped up to assist when asked and we have been committed to all of her needs 100%.
 
Ears were cleaned again and more meds for eyes and ears. Her ear infections are from yeast and fungal spores. Ketoconazole was placed into both ears and we will do yet another ear cytology 2 week post-treatment.
 
Heart looks ok – x-ray posted – nothing like DCM noted yet, she does have bronchitis and very early stages of pneumonia- the latter part not surprising based upon how poorly she has felt since arriving. She has been placed on Clavamox.
 
It is hard for a dog to eat and drink normally when they are feeling like crap. For those that are not aware, a Giant Breed dog can drink about 10L of water a day. Miss Jamila is currently drinking on her own 500 ml/daily.
 
She is eating some a/d and recovery wet – it costs us almost $125 a case, so if anyone wishes to be a canned food rescue angel to help us purchase this food for her; we would be incredibly indebted. She is now eating about 2 cans of food a day with some kibble mixed in.
 
We have 8 cans of food left. Each can is 156 g.
 
The x-ray also shows Arthritis in her spine – not surprising as we know she is older than stated.
 
This x-ray shows that she does have stool and gas and that night, she had her first normal-sized Dane poop!
 
Unfortunately, her mature spay and lumps removal to then be set off to pathology has been postponed. It had been scheduled for yesterday. We need to get her healthy first yet, pyo is a big concern.
 
We are anxious to have those lumps removed and to have them sent off. The needle biopsies that we did showed some squamous cells.
 
We are equally anxious to get her spayed – an overbred female of her age, also being extremely special needs, a Giant – puts her at risk and in having the big concern for pyo and mammary cancer. Yet, we will not proceed until she is stronger plus as healthy as can be.
 
We remain so grateful to those that have stood by her/our sides. With your generous donations including through our fundraisers, we have been able to pay off all of her bills to date. Her bills have run us into the thousands since her arrival, and if seeing her happy plus healthy means we have to spend thousands more, we will. Her life before rescue was horrible, and we will ensure that her life is now one of safety and happiness plus health.
 
We shall continue to post updates and donations to her future bills – our Movie night will see all funds donated to her too! – can be made direct to Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966
 
OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
 
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
Her mature spay/mass removal/histopathology will cost close to $1,500.
 
A bilateral enucleation will cost $3,500+ as this will be done by a specialist – we plan on using the same one that did our 3 deaf/blind mice(Dr. Philibert).
 
 
 

Update as promised.
 
Fecal smear – tons of rods, some cocci – should be more balanced for bacteria, so an overload of rods and not enough normal range cocci – waiting to hear back for parasitology for things like Giardia and Coccidia. She was de-wormed with strongid in Egypt.
 
She has been de-wormed again here.
 
UA – lots of struvite crystals, some WBC’s – all dogs should have some struvite crystals, she has an overabundance.
 
Very concentrated urine – >1.050.
 
Eye and ear infections, heart murmur.
 
Donations can continue to be made direct to Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966
 
OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
 
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
She is just not eating nor drinking enough on her own and the last weight we took was 42.2 kgs(92.84 pounds).
 
 

A copy of her two x-rays.

As much as I wanted to post a positive update re: BHRR’s Jamila, this is not possible.
 
When I picked her up yesterday, she was quiet and after getting her home, she remained quite quiet. I had been made aware that she was not eating and this meant that she had not eaten since she left Egypt on Friday.
 
While she had been drinking with her lovely overnight foster, she was not drinking at our place, and with these extreme temps, this was concerning. She did at least urinate and had one bm with her overnight foster, yet nothing since.
 
To all that have seen this Dane since her arrival to Canada, they would say that she was a ‘hot mess’. From her eyes – left one, in particular, is quite swollen and has a discharge and they are both white-coated, to the condition of her coat – she has fur missing on her tail, etc., her fur is stained, she has terrible callouses and scars, her ears were still bothering her – we were able to get them addressed in Egypt and they still require further attention – not to mention the lumps that she had.
 
We addressed all that we were informed was possible in Egypt and the plan was to address everything else, including a mature spay upon her arrival to Canada.
 
Yesterday, in doing an assessment, her temp was well over 40 and she became quite flat.
 
We went to emerge and then today, she was admitted again, this time to the Hospital I work at where she remained on fluids for dehydration, we gave her a cerenia injection, we did 2 x-rays, we did another CBC and a comprehensive blood panel. We also attempted to fine needle biopsy two of her lumps – very little material was able to be extracted due to how hard the lumps were. Some debris plus squamous cells were seen and the next course of action, and as planned is to have them removed at the time of her mature spay. We will send them off to pathology.
 
This poor girl has been bred many times over too. Her poor vulva and mammary glands/chain.
 
Pancreatitis was ruled out as was pyometra. The Vet mentioned an odd ‘boney structure’ seen in one of her x-rays that we can investigate further, at a later time. Something, he was curious about, yet did not feel that it was the cause of anything.
 
The immense heat, the long travel, all of the changes, the fact that she is a special needs dog, that she is a Dane – quite sensitive they can be and that she has quite a few medical conditions – we are still doing diagnostics, has not been great on this sick Dane.
 
She still has not had a pee nor a bm since I picked her up. The x-rays show that her bladder is small.
 
Sadly, the monies that we raised on Saturday have already almost completely been consumed with her bills over the last 24+ hours. 
 
Her bills are now close to $1,500 and rising.
 
Donations to her Vet care can be made direct to Liston Animal Hospital 613-591-0966 OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
We are sorry to beg and plead, yet, we shall soon be tapped out with the money that we have raised to date……
 
Thank you in advance for any consideration to her cause and please do keep her in your thoughts. She is truly a gem of a girl. She has been a model patient………
 

Got her!
 
Miss Jamila is the sweetest wee thing ever! 
 
Thank you to Jane Smith for safe harbouring her overnight and meeting me in Kingston.
 
Thank you to all of her lifesaving rescue angels that made this rescue even possible!
 
More soon!
 
Making our way home now!!
 

For those who have not yet seen Tamee/Jane’s post, BHRR’s Jamila is in Canada and being safely housed plus loved with Jane until I can meet up with her tomorrow.
 
I am beyond indebted to so many that have come together to assist us in saving her. We were her last hope and this is an honour to bring her into our Rescue.
 
We will now investigate her eyes further plus those lumps due to the limitations of the vetting in Egypt. We will recheck her ears and also assess her heart as DM’s Danes are prone to heart concerns too.
 
I am so in love with her already…..I am very excited to meet her. Jane says that she is super sweet!
 
Such a pretty little thing! 
 
We will post the grand total shortly of what was raised today – yet, I must extend heartfelt thanks to Cherie, Aaron, Loralei, and Sean for being such troopers in this 43-degree heat/sun that we had today! It was brutal, yet, they were incredible and I can say that the grand total raised between the $650 in donations received from generous folks not able to be in attendance to the amount raised today at the event; is over $2,000! WOW! Tears of such humbled gratitude have welled up more than once…..
 
Despite the weather, people came out and bought and ate and chatted and laughed and we could not express enough thanks to all for their life-saving support!
 
We cannot continue our important work without our village and we are filled with immense thanks to each and every kind, caring, and loving soul!!! 
 
We will announce grand total along with detailed thanks once we are showered, rested, and recovered….the temperatures out there today were insane! 
 
 

At the airport!!!! 
 
BHRR’s Jamila (deaf/blind) Dane is leaving Egypt and is Canada bound! 
 
Safe travels sweet girl!!! We are so excited to see you!
 
Thank you Bilkes, Tamee/Jane Smith & Lynn for your assistance, and thank you to her life-saving rescue angels in helping to raise the much-needed monies to get her to Canada!
 
We will update as we can!!
 

We are ONLY short $439 from our goal for BHRR’s Jamila(AKA Angel)!
 
She is the deaf/blind Great Dane that had been tied up, abandoned along with her brother once she could no longer produce puppies. Sadly, her brother did not survive, he was found dead, having been caught up in the line he was tied with.
 
This is her at the Vet office in Egypt.
 
She is on medications for her ear infections and finishing up antibiotics for another infection.
 
Her ETA to Canada is ~August 21st – as we know more, we will post, and we may need some help getting her picked up from the airport as that is the day of our big fundraiser event at BHRR.
 
Here is the gofundme link to donate to her very deserving cause!
 
It will cost ~$1,230 USD to just get her to Canada(crate, airfare), and then we have a lot more vetting to do upon her arrival – her eyes may require an unilateral or bilateral eye enucleation and we need to investigate the lumps that she has. This is not possible where she is presently located.
 
We remain deeply humbled by the support shown to her cause to date and even $5 is not too small to donate to help!
 
Donations can also be made via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org or via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
We are SO close to meeting this initial fundraising goal and thank you for that! 
 

What a beautiful day to be at Leanne’s lovely home with her equally beautiful young daughter for our latest driveway event! THANK YOU! 
 
We are still expecting an email transfer, plus we need to return some empties and then we shall announce the grand total raised today!
 
All monies raised shall then go towards assisting BHRR’s Jamila – AKA Angel!
 
She did have a Vet visit today, and she is battling ear infections that require antibiotics. In the videos that I was sent, she was always shaking her head, so I suspected that she might have ear concerns.
 
Bloodwork has been done (blood chemistry), and she does have high globulins plus a low BUN reading.
 
Her tickborne disease plus heartworm bloodwork came back negative, and tomorrow we should receive her CBC results.
 
This is her at the Vet Hospital, and thank you to Bilkes for all that she is doing to get her ready for travel!
 
The tentative date to fly is August 21st, and we will then have her immediately seen at our Vets in Canada to investigate her eyes plus several lumps. They do concern me, yet there are limitations where she is in Egypt as to what they are able to do.
 
Here is the gofundme link to her fundraising page! Thank you from our hearts to all that have shared and/or donated to date! Even $5 is NOT too small!
 
Our next driveway nail trim/ear cleaning event is not until August 15th in Brockville at Katherine’s location, and on August 21st, we will be hosting a huge fundraising event at BHRR!
 
 

Tomorrow! We are at Leanne‘s home for our next Nail Trim/Ear Cleaning Drive-way Event!

All monies raised shall go to help Miss Angel AKA BHRR’s Jamila, the special needs Great Dane!
 
We had hoped to be able to post an update re: the $300 USD in bloodwork that she was to have last Tuesday, yet, we just learned that this has been postponed.
 
We do promise to keep all of our supporters and her fans updated as to her progress.
 
Possible ETA to BHRR is August 21st.
*we know that she will be flying into TO and as things fall into place, we may be posting for assistance having her picked up and brought closer to us. Gwen is working two Careers plus going to school ft and is trying so hard to fill the shortfall hitting our rescue since COVID hit.*
 
Here is the link to BHRR’s Jamila’s gofundme page that we have been incredibly humbled by all of the support shown to date.
 
She is going to need a lot of care/vetting upon her arrival – her ears, eyes plus several lumps will require deeper investigation due to the limitations of the Vets where she is presently located. She will also have a mature spay at a cost of ~850+tx CDA.
 
Even $5 is not too little! As always, thank you in advance for any and all consideration to her cause!
 
She will be only the third dog that we will have been able to assist in 2021 due to the immense food/vetting bills that BHRR as a specialised Great Dane/Giant Breed Rescue has.
 
 

We are almost 60% of the way to our goal to help *Angel* aka BHRR’s Jamila!
 
With all that we are, please accept our biggest heartfelt THANKS for your support plus kindness!
 
Your consideration of a donation to help us reach our goal would mean the difference between life or death for her.
 
We are her last resort……..
 

Please assist us in surrounding her with a village of support and love!

Here is her GOFUNDME PAGE!

 
 

This is the GoFundMe link to BHRR’s Jamila(AKA Angel’s) Fundraiser.

We will update as donations come in and please do accept our truest of thanks for any consideration to her cause.

Even $5 would be so humbling to us.

We are hoping to bring this beautiful deaf and blind Great Dane to Canada by mid-August.

You can also donate by PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com

I had posted briefly last week re: an ~4 year old deaf/blind Great Dane that had been tied up and abandoned with her brother and by the time the rescuers were notified of her plight, her brother was dead(caught up in the tether). 
 
As she could no longer produce puppies, she and her brother were tied up and left to die.
 
She needs to go to the Vet – more than once in order to prepare her for travel to us – and the needed bloodwork alone is $300 USD
 
We are currently waiting to see what the cost of the transport to and from the Vet shall be.
 
She will require a lot more vetting to get her ready to travel plus the cost of her ticket to get to Canada. She will be flown.
 
She currently weighs 40 kgs(88 pounds).
 
We had an extremely generous donation sent our way by Tamee & Jane of Just Paws Rescue
 
*They were the rescue angels that reached out to us to advise us re: this Great Dane that was saved by another rescue angel Bilkes.
 
We have raised $169 CDA at our July 10th Nail Trim/Ear Cleaning Fundraiser
 
We have raised $296.10 CDA (just waiting to find out the Empties raised to post final total) at our July 11th Nail Trim/Ear Cleaning Fundraiser
 
All monies raised tomorrow at our July 17th Nail Trim/Ear Cleaning Fundraiser shall also go to her care.
 
She will need vaccines, further de-worming, is being treated for an infection right now, we need to do biopsies on no less than two lumps, requires flea/tick/hw meds, she may require unilateral or bilateral eye enucleation, we need to investigate her shaking her head, she needs her flight paperwork including her ticket plus quite possibly a custom crate.
 
She will also need to be spayed and being a mature female – pyo is a great concern – until that can be done and the cost once she arrives will be ~$850+tx
 
For those who stood by our sides while Maíra and I worked so hard to save BHRR’s Jackson and his siblings – deaf/blind Dane puppies dumped on the streets in Brazil – you understand that dogs do not understand borders or have countries. An animal in need is an animal in need.
 
Tragically, in the end we were only able to save 1 of the 5 Dane puppies from Brazil(1 was killed on the streets, 1 was picked up to be used for breeding and 2 of the 3 that we were able to get died of distemper in Brazil), yet, we are determined that this gorgeous girl will be saved.
 
Right now, her name is ‘Angel’. We are going to change it to BHRR’s Jamila(Arabic for ‘Beautiful’)
 
Things that we will need for this stunning girl who has never known kindness, love, a full belly, health and safety until she was picked up by Bilkes:
 
1) A collar – Wiggle Bumz – FILLED Thanks! Cassy Montgomery
2) An XL Costco or ortho bed
3) We urgently need financial donations for her mounting bills:
Donations can be made via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via email transfer to contactbhrr@gmail.com
 
Once she arrives, she will be vetted at Liston Animal Hospital
*I have not yet set up a file for her at LAH and this will be done next week when I am back to work.
 
4) We need comforters, sleeping bags – no sheets, no pillows
5) We need Pinesol and Fabric Softener – Gain or Bounce
6) Fish based kibble for her – Acana, Fromm
 
BHRR is mostly funded out of our own pockets – Sean/I are two people, and we are greatly limited as to the fundraising that we can do thanks to COVID.
 
We remain humbled for any support shown towards this stunning girl who should have always been a cherished family member and not a ‘breeding machine’ for greed.
 
All I want to do is scoop her up and let her feel all of the love I have beating from my heart to hers……
 
ETA to Canada TBA

Today, an incredibly generous $169 was raised which includes $20 in Empties! 
 
AND these monies shall be going to help the next one in need of us.
 
Tomorrow’s funds as well and we will be thinking of more creative/unique fundraisers to help raise urgent funds.
 
Late last night I was contacted by a wonderful fellow rescuer who told me about a ~4-year-old special needs female Great Dane – Deaf/Blind.
 
Without hesitation, we stepped up. They then put us in touch with another really lovely rescuer – the original rescuer of this beautiful Dane – and the three of us conversed for some time re: this Great Dane.
 
We will share more as things unfold and this picture is taken from a video sent my way of this beautiful creature.
 
What we can share at this time is that she was abandoned by her Breeder when she could no longer produce puppies. She and her brother were tied up, exposed to the elements, and sadly, by the time rescuers learned of their plight, her brother had died(caught up in the tether).
 
She is currently on antibiotics to treat an infection and we have inquired re: doing a full bloodwork workup and this shall be done including testing for tickborne diseases plus hw.
 
She is also shaking her head and we asked for this to please be investigated further.
 
Due to the limitations of their Vets; the lumps I noticed on her sides will be assessed in depth upon her arrival to BHRR. I am trying not to worry re: mast cell tumours. 
 
She is a light-marked harlequin Great Dane and her pupils are as per the DM dogs, horrifically recessed. We will have to determine if she requires unilateral or even bilateral enucleation.
 
She will be spayed after arrival as right now, everyone wants to see her become stronger and healthier.
 
Vaccines, microchipping etc. will also be done. She has been de-wormed.
 
Per the above, we will share more re: her & about her other rescue angels that saved her plus reached out to us; as things fall into place.
 
She is going to need some serious love from the BHRR village……