We have made the decision to move BHRR’s Leroy into our BHRR Haven Program.
He shall continue be cherished, adored, spoiled and done right by for the rest of his days…which we hope is for many more years to come!
Leroy
BHRR Winter Wonderland!
February 4th, 2018
We have some of our perma/temp foster dogs over for a play date today to hang out, visit and have fun in the snow!
They are waiting for other friends that just arrived to come into the 3+ acres fenced in yard to play with! 
My Ice & Zero are also in this picture so excited to be able to hang out with their old buddies!
This is Gwennie!
Many of you may not know this face for she is always hiding from the lime-light.
Today is a very special day for today is Gwennie’s Birthday! 
If it were not for this truly amazing woman, BHRR would not exist and thousands upon thousands of animals/people would not have been helped over the past 22+ years.
The truly broken physically and/or behaviourally…Danes, Giants and Honourary that have been saved thanks to her. Dogs & Horses that many others would not or could not help. 98% of the dogs that come to Gwen are special needs for this was her mandate for BHRR and are often the dogs’ last chance at having a future. AND Gwennie delivers. She gives these dogs the best of everything.
Many friendships would never have been formed if it were not for this great woman either.
She has not only brought many dogs and people together, she is the glue that keeps those links on her BHRR Chain of Success so strong and stable.
She is often giving credit to others, even when it should come to her….content to stay in the background and let others be the focus of attention. Humble, generous, thoughtful and caring, nothing Gwennie would not do for anyone she felt was worthy.
Loyal to a fault and though trust is hard earned, once earned it is steadfast and solid. Break that trust and that is a whole different story! 
Where Gwennie does not take a back seat is when it comes to the animals and people in need. She has no hesitation in standing up for what is right, takes a zero tolerance approach and will go toe to toe in any situation that there is a need.
She has never once waivered in her vision over the past 22+ years for BHRR and has kept BHRR being a highly reputable, responsible and quality filled rescue. No animal lacks for anything and corners are never cut and she has kept BHRR small, personable with having second to none success rates.
She creates miracles every day…..many have born witness to this. She has never shied away from the difficult, heart wrenching and financially demanding animals in need. Even knowing that her heart will be ripped to shreds again and again, Gwennie continues to find strength and heart to save the next in need of her.
These animals are treated like cherished family members and anyone that visits BHRR has seen firsthand how the dogs follow and look for Gwennie. People can see how they look at Gwennie, the trust, the mutual respect, the love that they have. It is a beautiful and humbling thing to witness as these animals learn to be dogs and blossom plus grow under her care.
Time and time again, Gwennie has worked magic and has successfully rehabbed dogs to either be placed up for adoption or kept safe in BHRR’s Haven Program. She has given life to so many, great life.
Gwennie does without to ensure that the animals get everything…the big joke is how Gwennie does not even own a winter coat or boots!
It would be lovely if we could come together as her village and community and donate some funds to help Gwennie continue the extremely important work that she does.
**Email Transfer or PayPal: gwen@birchhaven.org**
Do also join us in wishing her a wonderful day as we celebrate her!
HAPPY Birthday Gwennie! 
Your Loving BHRR Family/Team
**$410 Donated To Date**
ISO: Human and/or Doggie Treatie Bakers!
Our 5th ANNUAL ‘Breaking Bills Bake Online’ Auction is coming up fast! Starts Saturday January 20th!
Last year we had 67 incredibly donated yummy items and $1,158 was raised to help Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson! ??
Monies raised in our 2018 extremely unique & 1-of-a-kind annual event shall be divided up between BHRR’s Booker(DDB Puppy with the back broken leg) & our FCE Puppy, The Bakers Dozen of BHRR’s Carlsberg. ?
If anyone may consider donating an item or more of either a Canine and/or Human baked goodie – does not need to be made until after the fundraiser is over – so is fresh! – please do EMAIL.
We only host five planned fundraisers a year and this is our first one of 2018.
Thank you deeply from our hearts if you may consider their worthy causes to support!
More details re: our amazing fundraiser can be found in this LINK.
As we head into New Years Eve, here is Sean’s end of year statement.
Sean is Co-Founder and a BHRR BOD Member of BHRR. This photo is of him and BHRR’s Daffodil from our traditional XMAS Even Photo shoot – December 24th, 2017! She remains Available For Adoption!
In Sean’s Words:
‘Here we are again – at the end of another year. Time to reflect on the great, the good, the bad and the ugly and set our sights on the year to come.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t specifically take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made a positive contribution to BHRR. I couldn’t possibly name everyone – but you certainly know who you are!
The contributions you’ve made through time and effort, vet bills, food, auction donations, cleaning supplies, transport, etc. is precisely what allows us to do what we do! We are a community – and stronger because of it. I offer my most heartfelt thank-you to all of you. I count our interactions with all of you as part of the highlight reel.
So many wonderful people have come into our lives.
Together we’ve done a lot of great things in 2017. There are so many BHRR dogs in forever loving homes, there have been successful events for awareness, education and fundraising. One of the most significant and recent successes for this year is The Bakers Dozen and demonstrates perfectly how everyone came together as strong links on the BHRR “CHAIN OF SUCCESS’ when needed.
This was a huge outpouring of support!
It blows my mind to contemplate the amount of puppy formula that was donated and consumed! This would not have been achievable without the enormous outpouring of support given. Seriously – the amount of formula we went through would make several mortgage payments look like chump change!
And the ugly…… I’m not generally one to dwell on the negative – but I think it is important to acknowledge and address what I feel is a growing and unfortunate trend. Let’s address something that is very real yet seldom openly discussed.
A trend not just with us, but across the internet, business and personal interactions all around. Over the past several years, we’ve seen an increasing amount of destructive and abusive interactions.
This year we were subjected to a new low – as at least one person out there already knows – BHRR was subject to a malicious attack. In the end, we were proven/validated to be operating a stellar, highly responsible, excellent and much needed organization for the animals. As this was not based in fact or naive ignorance, they received a cautionary warning and we are now investigating possible further legal venues.
However, our initial response from the actions of this vindictive individual was a ‘Wow – never saw that one coming…’
We have hosted regular BHRR events here – 6 a year for over 2 decades – for people’s benefit and for the animal’s of BHRR.
We open up our home to the scrutiny of strangers and, we have done so gladly, and, openly for we have nothing to hide………..
We commit to giving up what could be very precious, valuable coveted family time for the sake of our guests. We feel it is so important for people to witness firsthand what we do and, why we do it and, that we are not like ‘every’ other group or org. out there…..
We have even had people from approved Volunteers, the curious, the interested, stay here overnight, for days and even weeks at a time.
We have always remained full of disclosure and have shared the ups, the downs, the good, the bad and the ugly with all of our followers, supporters, friends and family.
But to the individual responsible for a baseless complaint – thank you so much for putting our family on edge and under the microscope. I can’t tell you how much we appreciated the surprise and shock instead of an open dialogue with anyone who may have had questions or concerns.
So much better to lob a hand grenade from the bushes and run away. This doesn’t feel constructive, or motivated by the best interests of the animals – this feels very personal and malicious. We are very proud of what we’ve done with our lives – can you say the same?
While I’m also not prone to extolling our own efforts – we have dedicated almost 22 years of our life to the protection of animals, particularly the special needs dogs and the giant breeds – those least likely to be picked up by high turnover rescues. Animals others cannot or will not assist. 99% of those we help are the truly medical and/or behaviourally broken, We are small, personal and dedicated. We’re not trying to be dramatic when we say this – even those who know us have absolutely no idea the level of personal commitment and sacrifice this has taken from our family. The sheer amount of physical work, the hours night and day, the successes and the heartbreaks.
Responsible/quality rescue is 24/7. We do not ‘dabble’ in rescue, only do the ‘fun’ things, hang out, visit and then get to go home to relax and enjoy 9 hours of restful sleep. The stress, lack of sleep, financial drain and complete lack of freedom for something as simple as a family vacation – or even a movie or dinner night out is our lives day in and day out and we have done this gladly! The cyberbullying endured, the tens of thousands of pounds of food transported and stacked. Hydro bills – OVER $1,100/ month and enough laundry – up to 12 loads daily – to choke a laundry mat.
We’re not looking for the thanks, the praise, the accolades, or parades in our honor. We do this for the dogs, not the recognition or for any ‘pats on the back’.
At the same time, we have grown even less tolerant of the abuse, the hand grenades thrown from the sidelines, the armchair quarterbacks who find it so easy to second guess and criticize – to judge, without ever actually seeking to understand or becoming involved.
Cyberbullying is a very real problem and after much research and conversations held with cyberbullying experts, professors and lawyers, note that regardless of the occupation, paid or volunteer, everyone has the right to work in an environment free from personal threat, free from worry about emotional and/or physical harm and the right to not be bullied. This is punishable by law.
Social media is an amazing thing, it is also an awful thing that so many spanning across a vast amount of businesses, non-profits, other professional venues and personal arena’s have been enduring some level/form of bullying.
Those who want to blame, point fingers instead of learn and understand, shame on you. Those who want to take shortcuts and then foist their problems on us, shame on you. Those who want to be coddled and told they are doing everything properly when in fact they are the issue, not the animal, shame on you. Those who are turned down for an adoption and respond by spewing accusations, sour grapes and names, shame on you. Since our inception in 1996, we have retained a zero tolerance approach with the amount of nonsense, armchair quarterbacks and negativity endured.
Setting our sights on the year(s) to come – what’s next for Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services? Same wonderful people – same Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services – same strong rescue mission. Absolutely nothing will change
overnight – we will continue to do what we have always done. We continue to help the next dog in need – we continue to place adoptable dogs into their right matched forever homes and we continue to provide a safe haven for those animals that need us.
Over the coming years – we will gradually transition to our long held vision of more of a haven program (which is already a large part of what we do). We will always focus on the giant breeds and canines/horses with special needs. These are the ones that need us – these are the ones we feel we can provide the greatest benefit to with our education, experience, knowledge and heart.
As of January 2018, one of our changes shall be to our adoption area’s covered – we will adopt up to an including the Barrie and Cambridge, Ontario area’s from our location and into Quebec, we will cover up to the Montreal area. We will still rescue all across the world.
Over the next year, will also be implementing an ‘Advisory Round Table Board’ of like-minded BHRR approved Volunteers in addition to our BHRR BOD Team.
We will be adding two more BHRR approved Volunteers to our Community Education Liaison Member Team too.
I look forward to working with all of our supporters in 2018 – let us do as many wonderful things this coming year together as we were able to accomplish in 2017!
Sean
BHRR Co-Founder
BHRR BOD Team Member’
NOTICE:
BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.
Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for 2 decades.
Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Friday December 22nd, 2018 to Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 inclusive.
Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed as of Thursday January 4th, 2018!
During this time, BHRR is always available 24/7 for requests for assistance of animals in need and we shall then network accordingly for as the local Great Dane/Giant Breed Rescue since 1996, the welfare of the animals are our top priority. We do not wish to see any animal end up in a disreputable place of which sadly there are far too many out there. 
Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team
AND thank you to Xandria for surprising us so wonderfully wiith this fabu photo! 
*NOTICE*:
BHRR shall be closed for the intake of adoption applications and shall not approve any adoptions from Monday October 23rd to Wednesday November 1st inclusive.
We do not adopt out around the Halloween season and many other Rescues, shelters, pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol.
We do not believe it is in the best interest of the animals in our program, especially for dark coloured dogs.
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need and will network these requests to r/q organisations for we remain closed for intake.
This photo is of BHRR’s Navy. 
BHRR’s Leroy had his special picnic auction Day Date today.
AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
Lucky special handsome boy had one in July and now another one today.
BHRR had 23 dates for 2017 and we only have one left to do! BHRR’s Brazilian Dane Baby Jackson has another special picnic snack day date to come.
Thank you to so many in giving our BHRR dogs extra special loving and time plus experiences in your hands….truly does help them become even more well rounded and balanced and live up to their full potential. 
Special Date Auction #12 is well under way!
BHRR’s Leroy – AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
Enjoy sweet man! You so deserve this special spoiling time!
Sunday July 9th @ Pet Valu Stittsville – Our 10th Annual Microchip/Nail Trim & BBQ Fundraiser AND So Much More!
*No appointments necessary
2017 marks our 10th year of hosting this exciting event!
BHRR has been precedent setting in the community in seeing more cats & dogs microchipped to give them the best chance possible to get home should they be lost or stolen.
More information in link above and in poster!
BHRR’s Leroy
Still AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
With the truly heart warming and wonderful story ending of BHRR’s Abby’s forever loving home having finally found her, we are hoping that by asking people to share/cross-post BHRR’s Leroy, that his right matched forever home will also find him. 
Like BHRR’s Abby, he has been waiting a really really long time, has been so patient, as have we and we just know that his own home is out there too!
They just have not found him yet!
BHRR’s Leroy came to us emaciated – he has put on 50+ pounds in muscle mass and weight, and suffered from severe SA. His previous home also docked his tail as they did not wish to work through his ‘happy tail’ woes.
I know this photo is a XMAS Eve Photo yet I love it of him!
This fine man is now ~ 6 years of age, affectionate, uber handsome and incredibly loyal.
He is good with dogs of all sizes yet no small dogs would be our preference as he can play rough, unknown re: cats, and travels great in a car, is crate-trained, obedient – can still sometimes pull if distracted and is a quiet boy.
He can be an only dog in a home or be adopted to a home that has a right personality fit dog. He can be adopted to a home that works full-time, part-time or is semi-retired etc.
He has a special play date coming up on July 10th and we will obtain some new photo’s of him then to share!
Thank you in advance to all that may share this post!
It is a wild Winter Wonderland Day here! 30+ cms on its way!
Yet trying to take photo’s or video is proving to be an exercise in futility! 
None of the doggies want to get more than a few inches away from me!! None of my photo’s are anything special! Lots of photo-bombing going on!
BHRR’s Salem, BHRR’s Leroy and BHRR’s Ivy’s butt!
NOTICE:
BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.
Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for 2 decades.
Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Friday December 16th, 2016 to Tuesday January 3rd, 2017 inclusive.
Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed as of Wednesday January 4th, 2017!
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need.
Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team
Gentle Reminder!
We are at Pet Valu Hazdeldean this Saturday November 26th from 10 AM – 4 PM for our last community education and public awareness event of 2016!
We are looking at bringing BHRR’s Kaos, BHRR’s Steam and BHRR’s Whisper for our famous Red Carpet Pooch Smooch Sessions!
We will be doing nails, ear cleanings and dog baths – ALL inside too!
More details in poster!
BHRR’s Baby Kaos is getting ready for Halloween! Not Yet Available For Adoption!
Remember to have safe Halloween practises for a happy Halloween for pets & kids!
NOTE: BHRR shall be closed for the intake of adoption applications and shall not approve adoptions from Monday the 24th of October to Tuesday November 1st inclusive.
We do not adopt out around the Halloween season and many others Rescues, shelters, pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol.
We do not believe it is in the best interest of the animals in our program, especially for dark coloured dogs.
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need.
*CORRECTION: Location Address is: 5919 PERTH STREET, Richmond, Ontario*
Our next microchip clinic is being hosted with Dr. Zak at Pet Valu Richmond on Saturday September 10th!
Dr. Zak has now been with us for 8 microchip clinics to date and this is #9!
*No appointments necessary
*We are inside so rain or shine!
*10 AM – 4 PM
Our accreditation per CVO requirements to host this microchip clinic shall also be posted.
We shall also be doing dog baths, ear cleanings, nails for cats & dogs and will have some merchandise for sale! Come meet some of the big dawgs of BHRR! More details in poster.
All monies raised shall go towards helping to pay off the bills for BHRR’s Dyson’s partial tail amputation that is scheduled for September 8th.
BHRR has been precedent setting/instrumental over the past almost 10 years with our Microchip Clinics in our efforts of having more dogs/cats hopefully find their way home should they become lost or stolen by being chipped.
We are just 5 SLEEPIES away to our biggest Fundraiser Event of the year. 🙂 July 10th!
Thank you to everyone that is making this a most promising and exciting event again for 2016!
What has traditionally been the largest microchip fundraiser in Canada!
Kanata Animal Hospital’s 9th ANNUAL Microchip, Nail Trim & BBQ Fundraiser!
There shall also be ear cleaning, a silent auction table, baked goodies for humans, doggie treats, Canine Water Wellness shall be there, Pet Valu shall have our dog cooling/treat station again in 2016, Pet photography, Face-painting and so much more!
Come meet some of the big dawgs of BHRR! 😀
No appointments necessary!
Rain or Shine!
9 AM – 4 PM
440 Hazeldean Road
Here is an update on what we are still needing:
BHRR is in search of the following items for our event for 2016!!!
Thank you in advance for any consideration!!
STILL ISO:
1) Volunteers to put up posters in their local community including training facilities, work, friends, family, neighbours etc. Please email contactbhrr@gmail.com
2) Donations of pop, bottled water, & small bags of chips.
3) NEED DRAW PRIZES! Please email contactbhrr@gmail.com
4) Bags of ICE! ICE! ICE!
5) Silent Auction Items
6) Human Bakers
7) Dog Treat Bakers
8) Gift cards – please email contactbhrr@gmail.com
9) Coolers to borrow for pop/juice/ice
10) Tables
11) Chairs
12) 1 more Tent – I have three, PV Stittville will have one, CWW will have one, Doogie will have one, The Maracle Family will have one.
***This event is such a great time!***
Here is the Facebook Event Page to join and stay updated! 🙂
Coming up Saturday June 25th!!!
More details in poster!
BHRR’s Gentle Jake & BHRR’s Flame shall be with us on Saturday!
BHRR’s Salem shall be with us on the Sunday!
***UPDATE: 27 NEW Items Added Tuesday March 22nd to the Facebook Silent Auction***
The detailed rules of this Silent Auction are posted in the first photo in this album.
As many are now aware, Sean has been diagnosed with a retro-peritoneal liposarcoma.
The current size of it is 8.2 cm x 10 cm x 21 cm. This is an extremely RARE cancer – less than 1%.
A short medical summary:
His third CT scan, this one on his chest has come back at this time clear of any enlarged lymph nodes and metastasis. His MRI not only confirmed that this was a complex surgery yet was even more complicated than once thought – ONLY two surgeries like he needs has ever been done to date by his two expert surgical oncologists.
His surgical team shall be upwards to 20 people now including his two surgical oncologists, his urologist and his ortho specialist plus supporting nursing team. His surgery is expected to be ~10-12 hours in length.
We now have a surgery date set of March 23rd.
We know that his one ureter is compromised, and that he may lose his one kidney. We know that he will have part of his colon removed and that his femoral nerve is at high risk of damage and./or removal. He will need to have his Psoas muscle completely removed and his Iliacus muscle will be partially removed.
He will also need to have the hernia repaired – the mass/tumour has herniated down his thigh and into his groin area.
They will send the whole mass/tumour off to histiopathology.
While we should be celebrating our 20th anniversary of operating BHRR, instead BHRR now faces an uncertain future. BHRR does not receive any corporate, provincial or federal government support. We operate on the kindness of donations, adoption fees and we do several yearly fundraisers. However, 60% of the payment towards BHRR’s expenses comes from the pockets of Sean and myself.
All of this is to say that we are not looking for sympathy or anyone to feel sorry for us.
Instead, what we are hoping to do to help ensure the future of BHRR is raise some monies to help with bills over the next three months for BHRR that we have always covered ourselves as Sean shall not be working and I myself am taking a month off without pay from my behavioural work plus shifts at the Hospital.
One way that we are hoping to cover bills is to do at least one Facebook silent auction. If anyone has an item or items that they would like to donate to this cause, please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com
If anyone wishes to make an independent monetary donation, they can do so via email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org or via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org – Please use the ‘Friends & Family’ option so that we are not charged fees.
*The BHRR Auction will begin NOW
*The BHRR Auction will end at 9 PM EST on Sunday March 27th, 2016
*All bid prices are in Canadian funds.
*Bids must be done in $2.00 or Greater increments.
Any questions, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org or call (613) 725-4279
As many know, BHRR is a Great Dane & Giant Breed Rescue that focuses strongly on the special needs and has been around since 1996. We are federally registered and are an all Volunteer Rescue. We also work with Equines.
We have a second to none adoption success rate and also provide a safe haven for animals that are deemed unadoptable due to medical and/or behavioural reasons. BHRR also has a program that works with the homeless and their pets each XMAS – Operation D.O.G. – Donating our Goodness plus we have a Helping Haven of Hope and Happiness that works with women/children and their pets in domestic abuse situations. We have been operating these two programs for over 15 years as part of our way of continuing to help animals and people in our community.
We are a unique one of a kind program out there like none other.
While we should be celebrating our 20th anniversary of operating BHRR, instead BHRR now faces an uncertain future. BHRR does not receive any corporate, provincial or federal government support. We operate on the kindness of donations, adoption fees and we do several yearly fundraisers. However, 60% of the payment towards BHRR’s expenses comes from the pockets of Sean and myself.
With our wish to ensure that every penny that comes to BHRR goes direct to them for food and Vet bills or items of comfort like dog beds, Sean & I have been covering 100% exclusively all the rescue hydro bills -$1,040/month, Phone, Gas for transports, home-visits and vet visits etc. We cover almost 50% of all the food bills out of our own pockets – BHRR goes through almost 120 pounds of dog food a day. Vet Bills are the same.
As some are now aware, in September of 2015, my husband Sean was found to have a mass. It took until January of 2016 for the experts to diagnose said mass for he has an extremely rare cancer.
Sean has been diagnosed with a retro-peritoneal liposarcoma.
The current size of his mass is 8.2 cm x 10 cm x 21 cm. This is an extremely RARE cancer – less than 1%.
To further complicate matters, this mass has herniated down into his thigh and groin severely compromising his ureter and femoral nerve. He has had three CT scans of which his latest has shown that to date his chest remains clear of metastasis and his lymph nodes are not enlarged. His MRI has shown that his case is extremely complicated and the surgery he shall specifically require, scheduled for March 23rd has ONLY ever been done twice before by the two expert surgical oncologists assigned to him.
All of this is to say that we are not looking for sympathy or anyone to feel sorry for us.
Instead, what we are hoping to do to help ensure the future of BHRR is raise some monies to help with bills over the next three months for BHRR that we have always covered ourselves as Sean shall not be working and I myself am taking a month off without pay from my behavioural work plus shifts at the Hospital.
One way that we are hoping to cover bills is to do at least one Facebook silent auction. If anyone has an item or items that they would like to donate to this cause, please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com
If anyone wishes to make an independent monetary donation, they can do so via email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org or via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org – Please use the ‘Friends & Family’ option so that we are not charged fees.
Since Sean’s mass was first discovered in September, BHRR has remained operating with top notch quality hosting successful events such as our annual creative ‘Dine with the Dogs’, BHRR mini Open Houses, BHRR ‘Private’ Experiences, community education and public awareness events and even our annual XMAS ‘Chain of Success’ Potluck.
We have successfully rehabbed and adopted quite a few dogs and assisted many other groups also during this time.
The quality and stellar standard of care of the animals’ in our care has continued without interruption and as the date nears for Sean and I to stop work as he prepares to head into his 10-12 hour surgery on the 23rd of March, it is time to now ask the BHRR village and our community to please consider helping us continue to help those in need of our programs so that we can get through the next 12 weeks.
We want BHRR to be around another 20 years and we hope that people will consider a donation to help with the expenses of the next three months.
BHRR has only taken in three new deserving dogs since January 2016 and hopes to continue with assisting more dogs once Sean’s surgery is over etc.
Thank you in advance for reading this novel….
This is a picture of my husband Sean….BHRR would not be here today without him and please do keep him in your best wishes.
We sincerely hope we can host a couple of successful auctions on with your help!!
NOTICE:
BHRR shall be closed from Tuesday March 22nd, 2016 to Sunday April 3rd, 2016 inclusive to the intake of adoption applications for processing.
Any applications received during that time will be reviewed in the order that they were received as of Monday April 4th, 2016.
Thanks for your understanding!
This Saturday and Sunday! PV Stittsville! 1250 Main Street!
BHRR’s Flame, BHRR’s Kaos and BHRR’s Steam will be with us on the Saturday!
BHRR’s Hercules will be with us on the Sunday!
BHRR’s Winter Wonder Land VIDEO #2!
Many other dogs are in VIDEO #1 and that will be on those dogs blogs and stated as VIDEO #1. This is VIDEO #2.
50+ cm of snow received today!
COMING up in four sleepies! Saturday February 13th & Sunday February 14th!
BHRR’s Steam and BHRR’s Flame shall be with us on Saturday and Sunday’s BIG DAWGS are as of yet TBA!
This is our FIRST Community Education and Public Awareness event of 2016! We have not been out since November of 2015!
No appointments are necessary and we are microchipping Saturday and Sunday and more details can be found in the poster below.
Cats and Dogs have to be minimally 8 weeks of age.
Thanks Regan and PV Kanata for hosting us that weekend! So touched as always to have your support!
ISO: Bakers! Our 3rd Annual “Breaking Bills Bake’ Online Auction begins Saturday January 16th, 2016 and shall run through until Sunday January 24th, 2016!
We are in search of bakers for human and/or doggie treats for this unique online auction!
All items do not need to be baked until the end of the auction to ensure freshness!
Last year we had 41 amazing goodies up for grabs! We are hoping for an equally wonderfully successful fundraiser to help a most deserving dog in our Great Dane Rescue.
If anyone may consider donating a baked goodie to our creative fundraiser, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org Please do NOT post on this thread for your kind and generous offer may be missed!
All monies raised shall go towards BHRR’ Mavie’s Vet Bills. He was back at KAH on the 14th of December for a post op recheck and to exam the swelling that has begun to develop again on that left front leg of his. He was back to not eating as well and dropping weight again. Clear signs that something is brewing…..
His had swollen lymph nodes yet was not demonstrating a fever. He is back on the Baytril 150 mg – 3 Tablets BID and that is a cost of almost $300 for just over 8 days. We are also running more bloodwork.
So, our Iron Man is not yet out of the woods………..
Thanks in advance for any consideration………
NOTICE:
BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.
Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for so many years.
Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Thursday December 17th, 2015 to Tuesday January 5th, 2016 inclusive.
Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed on Wednesday January 6th, 2016!
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need and will do intake.
Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team
BHRR’s 8th ANNUAL ‘JUST IN TIME FOR XMAS’ Online Auction has now begun!
Runs through to Thursday December 3rd @ 8 PM EST!
Over 50 items listed to date and some more to come!
Please consider helping us help BHRR’s Mavie!
If anyone has any items that they would like to donate, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org FOR we would be so appreciative. We only host 5 planned Fundraisers a year and BHRR’s Mavie is going to deeply benefit from all money raised in this auction.
He has his surgery scheduled to remove that left front leg implant on Tuesday November 24th with his wonderful ortho specialist. He had a sudden rejection/infection to that left implant recently and now that the Baytril(almost $600 for 16 days worth of treatment) has worked its magic on the infection, he is ‘good to go’ for surgery!
It SOON shall be time! You have been asking and patiently waiting…..get your thinking caps on!
It shall soon be time to sign-up for our 4th(FOURTH) ANNUAL GIVE it ‘UP’ 4 Autumn Event!
The deserving BHRR doggie in 2015 to benefit from this one-of-a-kind unique Fundraiser is BHRR’s Baby Kaos. Past years have seen BHRR’s Lord Stafford, BHRR’s Breen and of course, BHRR’s Autumn benefit from the kindness of others!
This Fundraiser shall run from Tuesday November 3rd, 2015 @ 12:01 AM to Tuesday November 17th, 2015 @ 11:59 PM.
WHAT will you consider to ‘give up’ for 14 days to help BHRR’s Baby Kaos?’
Please do EMAIL us contactbhrr@gmail.com with what you are ‘giving up’ to participate! We hope you may join us in ‘giving something up’ to help raise monies for BHRR’s Baby Kaos!
In the past some have given up treats or coffee and put that money away to donate, others are giving up what the money they would have spent on lessons such as riding or tennis(or putting the equivalent in a jar to donate!) AND, others have put in their jar, donations for cravings that they have – chocolate, cigarettes etc. Feel free to be creative!
More information to be found on the poster below and here is the link with all the details!
Thank you Barry for this outstanding poster!
Come VISIT us at PV Stittsville(1250 Main Street, Stittsville) for some HOWL-O-Ween Fun!
Saturday October 24th 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM &
Sunday October 25th 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Dog Baths $15,
Nails $10,
Ear Cleaning $10,
Microchips $40 including registration – Cats/Dogs must be minimally 8 weeks of age
Merchandise for Sale!
Visit some of the ‘big dawgs’ of BHRR! Dogs TBA
*No Appointments necessary!
RAIN OR SHINE!
**BHRR is still in search of a few approved Volunteers to lend a hand Saturday and/or Sunday! Please email contactbhrr@gmail.com if you can help!**
All monies raised shall go towards paying off our current accumulated Vet Bills for amazing deserving dogs like BHRR’s Kaos, BHRR’s Raven and just this past week BHRR’s Porridge.
NOTE:
From Monday October 19th to Monday November 2nd, 2015 inclusive, BHRR will not be open for adoptions or the intake of adoption applications.
We do not adopt out around the Halloween season and many others Rescues, shelters, pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol.
………………………………………
We do not believe it is in the best interest of the animals in our program, especially for dark coloured dogs.
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need.
NOTICE: BHRR shall be closed from today to Wednesday September 23rd, inclusive. Our facebook page shall also be unpublished during that time for thanks to an incredible angel dream team network of our solid top notch beautiful strong village and community, we are making a dream come true for an extremely special young lady.
Any adoption applications that come in during this time shall be processed in the order they arrive upon the re-opening of BHRR.
ONLY urgent requests for assistance shall be replied to as we are here 24/7 to help the Danes and other Giants in need! All non urgent matters will be addressed upon the re-opening of BHRR.
Requests can be emailed to gwen@birchhaven.org or contactbhrr@gmail.com or text to 613-725-4279 or calls can be made to the same number.
For any offers of items for our September 26th Annual Dine With THE BHRR DOGGIES Event, – looking for brochures, pens, pencils, key chains, promo materials for 40 Loot bags – AND more auction items, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org We would be beyond grateful for any consideration to our cause.
We are a small group and host very few planned fundraisers a year and would embrace any gift certificates or other items for human, animal – cat, dog, horse, bird etc. – with such sincere gratitude plus appreciation. Thank you from our hearts in advance!
We are also going to stop our unique 2016 BHRR calendar sales at this time. If you have not yet ordered yours, we shall see if we have any left when we re-open to be purchased.
I leave all with this great photo of BHRR’s Salem below from her special picnic play date with the Maracle family! Thank you for the photo!
This Saturday!
Global Pet Foods – Hintonburg very kindly asked if we would do one of our popular mini microchip clinics at their location and we shall be at their lovely location
Saturday August 22nd from 10 am – 4 pm!
*No appointments necessary
*Microchips $40 includes registration
*Nails $10
*Ear Cleaning $10
*Face Painting and Feathers by the ever talented and kind Dee Dick
*Famous Pooch Smooch Red Carpet Sessions $5
*Merchandise from sale
*Some baked goodies
We are still ISO: Three approved BHRR Volunteers to help out this day! Please email contactbhrr@gmail.com if interested!
THANK you Global Pet Foods – Hintonburg for this great opportunity to see more cats/dogs(minimum 8 weeks of age) microchipped!
All monies raised shall go to BHRR’s Kaos’ mounting Vet Bills. He is the 6 week old Great Dane puppy that we were asked to assist that has a growth plate fracture and a knee concern.
AND here is the event page to join!
HERE is the poster! To our 8th Annual KAH/BHRR Microchip/Nail Trim & BBQ Fundraiser being hosted at Kanata Animal Hospital on Sunday July 12th from 8 AM – 4 PM.
*No Appointments necessary
*Dogs/Cats need to be minimally 8 weeks to be microchipped
*Bake table
*Silent Auction
*Photography
*Face-Painting & MORE!
ENDS Thursday April 23rd @ 9 PM EST – We currently have $960 in bids to date!
To read all details and to bid, CLICK HERE!
Microchips $40 includes registration – for cats, dogs – minimum age is 8 weeks
Nails $10
Ear Cleaning 410
Saturday: BHRR Dogs Attending: BHRR’s Herbie-licious, The Love Bug, BHRR’s Angel Noelle and BHRR’s Riot
Sunday: BHRR’s Dogs Attending: BHRR’s Salem, BHRR’s Liberty and possibly BHRR’s Hercules – the third dog is not yet 100% determined.
Look who is hanging out at KAH today!
BHRR’s Leroy Brown!
Since he first arrived to BHRR, emaciated, filled with severe separation anxiety, he has put on 45.84 pounds!
AND, a SA victim he is no longer!
Today’s weight is 132.22 and, in the photo is is being shown with our co-op student at KAH(with permission!)
Today, is his annual appointment.
He is AVAILABLE For Adoption!
GENTLE Reminder:
BHRR's Gretta's angels have been working quietly plus hard behind the scenes on a special Fundraiser event to help raise some much needed monies to help her with the bills from her cruciate repair surgery and rehab journey.
Thanks is appreciatively extended to Pet Valu – Manotick for helping us, AND, for hosting this event on Sunday February 15th, 2015 from 10 AM – 4 PM
This is the 'Grooming For Gretta – Sweetheart Spa' Fundraiser!
No APPOINTMENTS necessary!
BHRR is still ISO: two more approved BHRR Volunteers willing and open to helping lend a hand that day!
This is not a community education or public awareness event for BHRR yet, we will have some merchandise for sale such as our signature leash sleeves plus magnets. smile emoticon
Please email contactbhrr@gmail.com
THANKS once again MUST be shouted out to BHRR BOD member B. Cole for such an amazing poster!
Winter Wonderland At BHRR
February 3rd, 2015
It was time for a new and updated Photo!
All of them are waiting for the kids to come home from school – what they do not seem to realize is Mason was already home! 😉
Part of how I got to spend my Birthday….many of our approved temp fosters have come to spend the day to play and visit – my own car would not start – darn cold! – and, so, instead of meeting at a local 'best kept secret' walking place, they came here to play on our 148 acres!
Back in December, Fran from Global Pet Foods Bank Street (1176 Bank Street) phoned plus emailed us to inquire as to our thoughts in being the rescue to benefit from the annual Global 'Show Us Your Heart' Campaign.https://www.facebook.com/GlobalPetsBank
Fran said that they have been following some of the great work that BHRR has been doing and, wanted to direct funds raised during their annual campaign in 2015, our way.
To say that we felt humbled and deeply honoured, was putting it lightly. We feel so privileged to have been chosen by Global Pet Foods Bank Street, out of so many out there in the community doing such much needed and essential work helping animals…….
This exciting campaign begins January 31st and shall run through to February 14th, 2015
If you visit their store, you can make a donation in any amount you desire, and, you can write your name or that of your beloved pet(s) on a beautiful red heart and, it will be displayed with such pride and thanks at their store!
All monies raised shall go towards BHRR's Gretta's Vet Bills – she took a bad fall at her approved temp foster home and, we have to now repair the cruciate in her back left leg. Her surgery is January 29th at Liston Animal Hospital. It was the first surgical date we could get…….
Thank you Global Pet Foods Bank Street AGAIN for selecting our small r/q Rescue to support……be it $5 or $50 or more that is raised during your annual campaign, it will mean the world to us!!! AND, to BHRR's Gretta!
Barry, thank you SO much again for working with me on this poster. It is gorgeous!
Our 2nd ANNUAL 'Breaking Bills Baking' Online Auction' starts TODAY – Saturday January 17th, @ 7 AM EST!
We will have 40 extremely generously donated and, delicious items. THANKS to all the baking angels that are making this annual event possible!!!
All monies raised in this Annual Fundraiser shall go towards BHRR's Maverick's Vet Bills. His current Bills are over $15,300.00 which includes three leg surgeries.
To read more details about the auction(those darn rules!) and, to view the items up for grabs so far….please visit the below link and scroll down the page…….Our latest new delectable array of items include Rice Krispies, Macaroons and, at least 5 l of the special pasta sauce that we served at our annual September "DINE WITH THE BHRR DOGGIES' event.
If anyone else would like to donate a baked goodie or goodies, it is NOT too late…all items do not have to be made until the auction is over to ensure freshness for the winner(s), please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com
Already 2015 is shaping up to be another extremely busy year for the special animals in need of us, as we have the Male Blue GD with the untreated broken leg and, have another Dane – BHRR's Gretta that will require a cruciate repair(Surgery is on January 29th) NOT to mention The Lord Stafford and his continued mounting Vet Bills.
We were able to assist 16 dogs in 2014, and, 24 dogs in 2013. We will assist as many as we can responsibly take on with quality and, resources in 2015.
THANK you Barry for working with me on this gorgeous poster!!!!
BHRR's Leroy's traditional Christmas Eve Photo! He is still AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
We will be out to visit around 11 AM on Saturday ourselves to get some photos' and, I am hoping to bring BHRR's Ichabod Crane, BHRR's Zayna and BHRR's Salem for their very first XMAS photo's!
I heard a rumor that BHRR's Mav 'could' also put in a celebrity appearance!
NOTICE:
BHRR does not adopt out during the XMAS season due to our position that it is not in the best interest of any new addition being added during such a busy, exciting and somewhat stressful time for many.
Quite a few other Rescues, Shelters, Pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol to what we have been doing for so many years.
Our XMAS Shut down period for this year is from Monday December 15th, 2014 to Tuesday January 6th 2015 inclusive.
Any applications received during this time will be processed/reviewed on Wednesday January 7th, 2015!
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need and will do intake.
Thank you for your continued understanding – The BHRR Team
How blessed are we that Chuck Desjardins Photography and, Pet Valu Innes & Belcourt(3838 Innes Road, Orleans, Ontario) chose our group as one of the two(Collie Rescue Network is the other r/q group) to benefit from their Christmas Photo's Fundraiser!
Photo's $15 Each OR 2 for $20
Date: Sunday December 7th, 2014
Time: 11 AM – 4 PM
***This is not a community education event yet, we shall be heading on our to just hang and bring some of the BHRR dawgs to thank people!
TOMORROW!
BHRR's Stafford will be ready on his red carpet with roses in paw to hand out to his first 24 smoochers! I even heard that he may wear a bow tie!
BHRR's Maverick and BHRR's Ichabod Crane are also coming.
BHRR's 3rd ANNUAL unique 'GIVE IT UP 4 AUTUMN' Fundraiser shall benefit BHRR's Stafford!
WHAT will you 'give up' for 14 days to help BHRR's Stafford?'
Please do EMAIL us with what you are 'giving up' to participate! Some are giving up chips, wine, coffee, another is giving up chocolate, AND, one person is going to even put in their jar, donations for cravings that they have for the chocolate they are giving up. Feel free to be creative! 🙂
UPDATE: We have 21 participants so far!
Starts November 4th! Please consider 'giving something up' for a 14 day period and, then donating the funds saved to BHRR's Stafford's bills!
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BI-WEEKLY AUTOMATIC DONATIONS OR EVEN MONTHLY DONATIONS – HERE (You do not need a PayPal account either)
A file is set up at Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of ‘Birch Haven Rescue’ for ‘Stafford’. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services C/O Gwendilin Boers 2425 Totem Ranch Road West RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal to gwen@birchhaven.org (please use the ‘gift’ option OR the ‘friends and family’ option) OR we shall have to pay service charge fees
Please consider going to the Helping Ottawa Fur Kids Facebook Page and, 'liking' our photo and, then putting in the comment section 'this amazing rescue gets my vote!' Contest ENDS Wednesday October 22nd at NOON and, each of the 6 rescues participating will receive a monetary donation, based upon where they rank upon the close of the contest. THANKS in advance for your consideration!
NOTE:
From Monday October 20th to Monday November 3rd, 2014 inclusive, BHRR will not be open for adoptions or the intake of adoption applications.
We do not adopt out around the Halloween season and many others Rescues, shelters, pounds etc. have also begun to follow a similar protocol.
We do not believe it is in the best interest of the animals in our program, especially for dark coloured dogs.
During this time, BHRR is available 24/7 as always for requests for assistance of animals in need.
BHRR shall be attending our THIRD of ONLY four community education & public awareness events for this year, on October 4th & October 5th! The last community education/public awareness event that we attended was in May!
Pet Valu Stittsville so very kindly has invited us back in 2014 to be at their locale on October 4th & October 5th for their 'THANKS FOR GIVING' Event and, shall help us host some great activities!
AND, we will have BHRR doggies in attendance! Please visit the below link to find out which amazing BHRR doggies are coming which day!
From October 1st – October 16th, Pet Valu Stittsville will be selling 'Paper Pumpkins' for a donation and, your name and/or that of your pet(s), will be proudly displayed on said pumpkin put up at Pet Valu! Pet Valu will also be collecting material donations for BHRR during this time – we are in need of xpens(36" & 48"), Pinesol, Paper Towels, Lysol Wipes, Costco Dog Beds and, bath mats!
BHRR's EVENT PAGE For The 'THANKS FOR GIVING' WEEKEND AT PET VALU STITTSVILLE!
BHRR is still seeking 1 BHRR approved Volunteers to hang with us and zee big dawgs on the Saturday and one to hang with us on the Sunday! Please do email contactbhrr@gmail.com
Thank you's must be extended from my heart to Bre and her fabu staff at Pet Valu Stittsville, to Melissa of Groomingdale's who is donated all nail trims and grinds(Friday/Saturday/Sunday) to BHRR AND, also to Ashley of AMB Photography!
AND, last but never least, thank you again to BHRR BOD member Barry for working with me on this great poster!
HERE is our poster for our NEXT Microchip Clinic! PV Innes & Belcourt, Orleans contacted us months ago to see if we would host one of our established Microchip Clinics at their locale. Honored again to be able to have the opportunity to chip more dogs & cats to help ensure they have a better chance of finding their way home if they are lost or stolen. SO important to microchip!
PV Innes & Belcourt, Orleans, Microchip & Nail Trim happening on Sunday September 21st, 2014!
*NO appointments Necessary
**Cats & Dogs – as long as they can comfortably be held
*RAIN OR SHINE – We are indoors that day!
HERE is our poster for the PV Kemptville Microchip & Nail Trim happening on August 16th, 2014!
*NO appointments Necessary
*RAIN OR SHINE – We are indoors that day!
BHRR's Leroy is AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION again! After being under a pending adoption for 8 weeks as of today, and, doing a home-visit on July 17th, all members of the BHRR BOD, plus the two approved BHRR Volunteers that came to do the home-visit, are all in unanimous agreement that, this home is not meant for BHRR's Leroy after all and, so, he is staying with us. This means, that he is once again available for adoption to that right matched forever loving home that is meant for him.
BHRR's Leroy needs to go to a home that is not going to be away from home a lot. He needs a home that understands that consistency, patience, understanding, routine, rules and, obedience are going to be required to keep him being the amazing dog he is. He is a dog that now has wonderful manners, does not exude severe SA behaviours, is calm and, comfortable, social and, affectionate to all his friends plus loved ones. A home that knows that behaviour is not changed, it is modified and managed is what is necessary for BHRR's Leroy for set-up for success.
BHRR needs to approve homes that are going to be honest with us right from the beginning of the adoption process that shall enable relationships to be built up of mutual trust, respect, open communication and, what is in the best interest of the dog and their home. We need homes that are going to listen to us as the experts on these dogs and, understand that, it is not 'I' and, a BHRR dog, it is a BOD plus the BHRR Village/Community and each BHRR dog. There were 6 of us involved in this possible adoption process and, we are not desperate to adopt our dogs, never have and, never shall be. Nor, are we about bringing them in and pumping them out. We are a CHAIN OF SUCCESS family, and, we shall continue to be that way. We do all that we can to work towards a successful new chapter being developed, and, in this case, I went out of pocket over $600 to do the travel time, use of gas, hotel rooms for myself plus one for the BHRR approved Volunteer that traveled with myself from the Ottawa area, we spent a whole afternoon plus into the early evening doing this hv and, will gladly do so again, to best determine if a home is meant for one of our BHRR dogs. We spare nothing for any of the dogs under our authority.
We believe that each r/q group operates in the best interest of the dogs under their authority and, doing r/q rescue right is not about winning any popularity contests, never has been and never will be. We can only hope that the right matched home meant for him, has not been missed out on with him being listed as 'unavailable for 2 months'. 🙁
Below are some photo's of him plus a Video – BHRR's Leroy VIDEO July 17th, 2014
First picture is from May 31st, 2014 & second is from the hotel in London, Ontario in the wee early hours of July 18th, 2014
BHRR's Leroy – ADOPTED!
Photo taken, wee hours of the AM July 18th at the amazing Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre Best Western Plus in London, ON, where thanks to Tracy 's amazing recommendation – had a great few hours rest before pushing home from London!
BHRR's Leroy is moving to an ADOPTED STATUS and, he shall go to his new home in August 2014.
I will get a family photo of him then to post!
This was a very packed 24+ hours! Thank you to Margaret Aris for roadtripping with me, thank you to Lindsay Barbosa for meeting us in London to do this HV, thank you to the home for spending the afternoon with us, once we found your home , thank you to Kathy Rader-Cahill and Terry, Jacob and Tracy for hosting Margaret and I, the evening of the 17th with an incredible dinner plus dessert and, the great visit!
Thank you again Tracy for this fabu recommendation of a place to stay as Joyce at their reception, was so absolutely kind to me and my dogs. BHRR's Leroy had a great trip as, did my Oatmeal and, the weather was fantastic to drive in over the last 24+ hours!
BHRR's Leroy and Oatmeal rocked the trip and the hotel experience! We even had our own small courtyard to share with a few other rooms. WHAT a lovely trip!!! 🙂
HAPPENING TODAY! Sunday July 13th!!! DO not forget mark your calendars!!! 🙂 RAIN OR SHINE!!!
BHRR ONLY hosts 4 planned Fundraisers a year. This is our 2nd one of 2014.
We know and accept that for the first time ever, that we shall be seeing some showers in 2014. BOO! 🙁
AND, we are prepared for the weather to make your day a blast! 🙂
AND Microchips, Nails per our protocol plus the Silent Auction & BOW WOW Butchers shall be inside the Hospital.
We have 8 tents with a spare on hand to keep everyone dry for ALL the outside activities! 🙂
Microchips for cats/dogs & Nails for cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits etc! 🙂
Rogers Community Cruiser shall be in attendance 9:30 – 11:30 AM with complimentary coffee/timbits
Dr. Amy Jewiss shall be present from 10 AM – 2 PM to discuss acupuncture and other services she now offers at Kanata Animal Hospital
Daryl of BOW WOW Butchers WILL also be in attendance!
Facebook 'PRE-EVENT' Mini Auction – 7 For 7! – AUCTION ENDED JULY 12th AT 12 NOON EST!
FaceBook Online Auction Album can be found HERE
There are 7 items(in honor of this being our 7th YEAR hosting this one of a kind Fundraiser) AND, shall be hosted for 7 days, that shall be available for bidding as of Saturday July 5th!
*The BHRR Auction will begin at 6:00 AM EST on Saturday July 5th, 2014. Unfortunately, bids submitted prior to this time cannot be considered.
*The BHRR Auction will end at NOON(12) PM EST on Saturday July 12th, 2014.
*All bid prices are in Canadian funds.
*Bids must be done in $2.00 or Greater increments.
*S&H is available on all but one Item – Item #3
Any questions, please do email gwen@birchhaven.org or call (613) 725-4279
COMING up Saturday July 5th, 2014! Thank you to Critter Jungle for asking us to come back again in 2014!
Microchips $40 includes registration
Nail Trims $10
Dog Wash $10
*NO appointments necessary!
BHRR's Leroy's Home-Visit has been scheduled for July 17th. 🙂
Unfortunately, the HV for BHRR's Leroys' possible adoption has been rescheduled from today. Thank you Lindsay(BHRR's Apollo's fabu mom!) for being willing to do this one with me. 🙂
We shall reschedule for mid-July when the home is back from their own commitments.
BHRR's Leroy's home visit is now scheduled for Sunday June 15th. We will continue to update his blog as we can.
Here is BHRR's Leroy's 'reality' slide. We are still working through the adoption process to best determine if this is that right matched forever loving home for him. We promise to keep his blog updated as we can!
BHRR's Leroy is moving under a PENDING ADOPTION! We will update his blog as we can.
This boy has put on almost 40 pounds since he first arrived to BHRR on April 5th, 2014!
May 31st
BHRR's Leroy is NOW AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION! Good for him!
He absolutely loves his crate and, will actually paw at the crate, quite enthusiastically to get in! This is his safe spot and, at this time, we still have not tested him for any length of time out of the crate, when we go out. With everything we had been told about him having severe SA(I have not witnessed any form of major SA whatsoever), this is what works for him and, it works for us and, is safe for him and home.
He does have a slightly OCD behaviour that he will lick this one bar on his crate at times. Just the one bar and leaving a small drooling mass of slippery goob on the floor. We passively ignore and, make no big deal of it and, it stops within seconds. It is an intermittent thing, about 3 times a week. This started about a week ago and, looking at what may have changed in the home that, would have 'triggered' this. BHRR's Flint was adopted around that time and then returned. We shall see how things go. BHRR's Jetta is now adopted and, we will see if that has any impact also.
He can go to a home that works pt, ft, from home, semi-retired etc. He can go to a home with another right matched dog as he is playful and, social, yet, as long as the home has a strong network in place for him to be able to continue to interact with other dogs(dogs need their friends too!), then, we will consider a home that does not have another dog at this time.
He still exhibits behaviour when out and about that, if he feels another dog is, getting too close to one of his doggie friends, he will still do the slight lip curl. He is positively corrected and then re-directed. Not with all dogs, yet more than a handful that we have seen to date and, this is something we want any possible future adoptive home to be aware of. He has not done this to any humans since his arrival to BHRR and, we continue to work with him on this. So important for each dog to have the full picture painted of them from good, to bad and great and ugly. This is an area that he shall continue to require consistent, positive routine and structure of acceptable demonstrations of behaviour.
He has never exhibited that behaviour at all in our multi dog home. Only out in public.
He is such an affectionate and playful nut here. He can really get the dane lean going and, you better brace yourself! 😀
He is 100% housebroken, is now down to eating two good meals a day, is happy and uber gorgeous!
I do not want him in a home with cats. While he was fine with the cats at the PV Stittsville PAWS Event, he gets excited over fast flighty movements. So, as long as the cats were in the cage and, not running around the floor, he paid them no mind or attention. Yet, we have seen at BHRR, that when the BHRR Flower Girl's run and race, he gets all excited and wants to chase. Better than he was yet, for comfort sake, no cats, in the home at this time. I will always remember the rabbit that raced across the parking lot at KAH and SOOOOOOOOO, glad I saw the rabbit first!
He travels great in the car and, he has been a joy to have here! He will definitely require more obedience(we have that in our adoption contract anyway for all of our dogs) for as much as he has bombed along here and shall continue to do so yet, if he sees something he really wants to visit, he will forget all of his distraction training and, prepare to do some skiing….Not as it was when he first arrived yet, still present at times. Considering where he started to where he is now, he is an angel….a gooberhead one right now! He will just get better and better with continue work. We have not even had him 8 weeks and, he has make amazing progress! 🙂
May 31st
I had BHRR's Leroy scheduled to come into work with me on Wednesday yet, his one ear – right – seemed to be 'flaring' up on the outside, on Sunday and, I monitored and, decided that he should come into work with me today. We did an ear cytology on both ears yet, no yeast in either ears were found and, just some few cocci on the outside of the right ear. We are going to put him on Burrow's for the next while and, I plus his Vet are wondering about possible seasonal allergies.
The Vet did find his eyes to be very slightly 'weepy' and, in one of his arm pits, fairly red and when rubbing his back, seemed to really enjoy the rub. I have some medicated shampoo to help with any possible Seborrhea brewing issues.
He is eating very well – he was up another 14.3 pounds and weighed 58.4 KGs(128.48 pounds) today. I would like to see another 10 on him or so. I am still feeding him three times a day.
He showed the Vet how he could sit, lay down, give one paw and, stay. He also showed all that if he really wants to visit, he still wants to just 'go' more often than staying focused! LOL His leash manners continue to improve!
He also had a mani/pedi today! 😀 AND, I think the hi-light for him was having Auntie Margaret come and visit him…me too! 😉 He was loved on and snuggled and cuddled and smooched by her!
I had wanted to place him up for adoption after the Vet visit tomorrow, and, with the reschedule and, now perhaps needing to determine if he 'may' have some mild seasonal allergies, he is going to stay unavailable for another week or so. I just want to be sure that we can give any possible future right matched home the best medical full disclosure we can. We are not like other groups for we are very proactive plus preventative in our Vet care. We do heartworm testing, put the dogs on heartworm preventative, de-worm, give vaccines including boosters and rabies and, not just the first set, we spay/neuter, we do all necessary and emergency surgeries that include amputations and dentals and cruciate repairs etc. We also do proper behavioural and temperament assessments/evaluations plus start obedience training so, we are not pumping the dogs in and, out. We want the best for each and every dog that comes under our authority.
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BI-WEEKLY AUTOMATIC DONATIONS OR EVEN MONTHLY DONATIONS – HERE
(You do not need a PayPal account either)
A file is set up at Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of ‘Birch Haven Rescue’ for ‘Leroy’. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal(please use the ‘gift’ option OR the ‘friends and family’ option) OR we shall have to pay service charge fees. 
BHRR’s Leroy’s Angels $105.00* donated to date & Bills are $674.90
*Before PayPal fees
Susan
Nairn
Andrea
Pam
Geoffrey
BHRR's Leroy shall be coming into work with me one day within the next week or so, for a re-weigh, re-exam etc. He is putting on the weight really nicely and, it shall not be long now before he will have his own special announcement to make! 🙂 His lymph nodes etc. have all checked out clean to date! YAY!
He is down to eating three meals a day.
He also has the best in 'selective' hearing other than HQD that I have experienced in some time! LOL What a goofball!
Here are a couple of photo's from him the PAWS event on April 12th with Sean at the BBQ right by the truck. When he was tired, he just went into the back of the truck on the pile of dog beds and 'supervised'. What a ham!!! He is fully integrated with everyone here and, for a dog that was suppose to have severe SA, I have had no issues and, in fact, really should take a video of him 'pawing' and 'scratching' to get INTO his crate! LOL
Sean and I were just talking about that yesterday. In the right hands, this dog is going to make a home very very very very lucky! He still has a tendency to want to 'watch' over all of his friends at BHRR, especially BHRR's Angel Noelle and, she just thinks he is 'cramping' her style! LOL
AND, this Dane is no more than 3 years of age….no doubt!
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BI-WEEKLY AUTOMATIC DONATIONS OR EVEN MONTHLY DONATIONS – HERE
(You do not need a PayPal account either)
A file is set up at Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of ‘Birch Haven Rescue’ for ‘Leroy’. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal(please use the ‘gift’ option OR the ‘friends and family’ option) OR we shall have to pay service charge fees.
BHRR’s Leroy’s Angels $60.00* donated to date & Bills are $423.17
*Before PayPal fees
Susan
Nairn
BHRR's Leroy – April 12th, 2014 – photo's courtesy of AMB Photography
GENTLE REMINDER!
We are at PV Hazeldean – 457 Hazeldean Road on Saturday May 3rd from 10 AM – 3 PM!
This is s ONLY our second Community Education & Public Awareness Event for 2014 and, we are ONLY doing a total of 4!
MORE Details HERE!
In attendance representing BHRR shall be:
BHRR's Ethel
BHRR's Groves
& I will be bringing my own GD Matrix – I am neutering him on Friday and, so, he is going to be on Gwennie watch!
UPDATE: Below is the lovely board that Bre of PV Stittsville has put together in support of PAWS for BHRR!
Total of PAWS/Event Sales/Donations as of April 30th, 2014 – THANK YOU to all of the supporters: $5,140
*The goal that PV Stittsville has set for the month that includes the April 12/13 activity weekend: $5,000
We shall be bringing: Saturday April 12th, – BHRR's Flint, BHRR's Noelle and BHRR's Leroy
We shall be bringing: Sunday April 13th – BHRR's Torque, Mr. Bubbles and BHRR's Treasure
AND, the councilor shall be at PV Stittsville for around 11 AM – 12:30 PM along with the paper!
AND, we will be doing doggy tattoos for a $5 donation!
**Blow pens and stencils and non toxic materials to be used
ON Saturday April 12th – BHRR will be at their Store from 10 AM – 3 PM with BHRR Dogs TBD!
ON Sunday April 13th – BHRR will be at their Store from 11 AM – 4 PM with BHRR Dogs TBD!
MARK your calendars! HERE is the poster for PV Stittsville's annual PAWS Event! BHRR was so incredibly touched to have been chosen again in 2014 to be the recipients of this event! 🙂 If anyone wishes to have a copy of this poster to help crosspost and share this event, PLEASE EMAIL
We would be so grateful for all the assistance in getting the word out!
For the whole month of April, PV Stittsville(1250 Stittsville Main), for your kind and giving donation, will have 'PAWS' that your name OR your pet(s) name will be written on and put up in their store in BIG appreciation. Funds from this Event will be used to help pay for BHRR's Purse Puppy, Coach who has been diagnosed at this time with at minimum, a congenital heart condition AND BHRR's Porridge, diagnosed with a nasal tumor.
BHRR shall only be making a maximum of 6 Public Awareness & Community Education appearances in 2014 and this is our first! 🙂 We are booked for four to date, and, one more is in the works! COME on out, visit with us, some of the BIG DAWGS of BHRR and, have some fun! 🙂
BHRR shall be at PV Stittsville on Saturday April 12th(10-3 PM) & Sunday April 13(11-4)!
FOR more details of this MUST ATTEND Event, please visit HERE!
Thanks to BHRR BOD member Barry once again, for hammering out with me this incredible poster! So talented!!! AND, thank you being publicly extended to our much loved extended fam at PV Stittsville for inviting us back again in 2014!!! 🙂
HERE is the poster for our 3rd ANNUAL BHRR 'Special 1-on-1-Date' With A BHRR Dog Online Auction –
ENDS Thursday April 24th @ 9 PM EST! Details HERE!
- The BHRR Auction will begin at 6:00 AM EST on Saturday April 12th, 2014.
Unfortunately, bids submitted prior to this time cannot be considered. - The BHRR Auction will end at 9:00 PM EST on Thursday April 24th, 2014.
The highest bid on an item will be determined based on the time of the email sent as recorded by the time marked by our ISP
Winners to be located in the Ottawa, Kanata, Gatineau, Orleans, Kemptville, Prescott, Brockville, Kingston areas ONLY
THANK you BHRR BOD member Barry AGAIN for this awesome poster!!! So talented!
If anyone would like to help us crosspost this event and share this poster, please EMAIL!
BHRR's Leroy's HWT is negative and his bw is normal…no sign of any underlying medical concern for his weight to be the way it is and, thankfully, no anemia due to be so emaciated right now. So, his weight loss/body condition is very sadly due to inadequate care.
We will take care of that!
He came to the PV Event today and did really well. He did have a tendency to want to pull one of our lovely BHRR approved Volunteers all around and, mannerisms 101 and boot camp shall continue. He did great will all people yet, one big and tall man scared him. He also had a tendency to want to resource slightly when another dog got to close to BHRR's Angel Noelle…interesting. He would lip curl a bit and, so he was positively corrected and, really enjoyed hanging out in the truck with all windows down 'supervising' Sean BBQing! The people that made the trip to hang around the truck, feed him treats and love on him was so special, while they ate their own yummy BBQ meals! HE was another HUGE HUGE HUGE hit! He thrived on all the loving MEANT for him!
One of the families that came to visit, currently own a Dane and, they are very interested in him and, shall follow his blog. 🙂 His story really impacted many and, I continue to have to say 'I do not know' in regards to when his tail was docked and, why…..happy tails do sometimes need amputation or a tail injury yet, he had his tail in the original photo's and, now does not.
I also cannot explain why he is so emaciated upon arrive to BHRR when those original photo's from the shelter show him in quite good body condition.
All we can do is move forward and the photographer today GOT some awesome photo's of him!! One I just have to have with him being 'King' in the truck like a regal boy! 🙂
BHRR’s Leroy came to work with me last night and his weight is now 52.90 KGS(116.38 pounds). Since Saturday he has already put on 7.38 pounds. I meant to scan him for a chip and, will do that later as I want to keep bringing him on a regular basis to monitor that weight gain.
I had the Vet also look closely at his lymph nodes for the one on the right side of his neck is swollen. It is not hard, yet soft and, his other lymph nodes – including shoulders areas are fine. We will monitor and see what his bw says. I want to rule out any medical reasons for why he was so emaciated when I received him. Yet, in having put on 7.38 pounds in just four days, he clearly was not getting enough to eat.
We did blooodwork including a HWT and, despite having three pokes, he rocked! He is becoming more and more playful and, has an issue even, if I try to go to the bathroom without him – as with many dogs – he seems to think I am going to jump out some imaginary window and disappear! He just snuffled and huffed and puffed under the door until I came out and then, was like ‘Oh! There you are! I was fine, nothing to worry about!’ LOL He was awesome in his kennel run all day, not a peep!
He quickly won over all clients and staff alike! He is uber sweet and, I got a small video of him with his Vet tossing him treats and him catching them in his mouth.
He is still slightly dehydrated yet, getting there. He makes a great car companion also!
He is so nice. Such a nice boy. He had no issues with a cat being walked by him in a carrier yet, the bunny rabbit that ran across our path as Sean, myself and his Vet were talking after work in the parking lot, almost had him taking my whole arm off. NO exotics for him! He does not bother with our gippers though yet, he is still settling in!
BHRR’s Leroy is coming to work with me tomorrow to get a current weight, have a thorough exam, do blood work including a heartworm test etc.
Latest dogs that he has been integrated with are BHRR’s Torque, BHRR’s Potter and BHRR’s Nessie. He still does avoidance in any situation that makes him uncomfortable.
The counter surfing is in full swing and he has begin to nudge and bump quietly for affection while I am working on the computer. He has also begun to show me some spunk(WHICH I love!) for when it comes time for him to go back into his crate, he will play bow and trot away and then bounce, turn and face me and play bow some more…..He is fairly good with his manners and while he may trot away, he will let me take his collar and lead him to his crate.
He does yawn a lot right now to de-stress and, he is so good in his crate. Still not one sign of any SA. From the moment he came into our home, into the ‘Gwennie Boot Camp’ and the rules and, he has been so mindful and respectful. He did see HQD use my coffee table as a stepping stone to get to the couch(GOSH Forbid, it was in her way! – rollings eyes) and, he thought, ‘hey, she does it, I should try also.’ That was nipped in the bud pretty fast.
He LOOKS nothing like the photo’s that I originally were sent. He is easily 50 pounds less than what those first photo’s show….and, we shall rule out any medical reason for his current body condition.
He will be coming with me to the PAWS Event – just on the Saturday for people to see why it is so important for BHRR to exist AND, why your donations and support mean the world to us! He could use some bath mats for being soft and cushy plus stable(do not slip and slide like sheets and others materials do), I put them over the dog beds and piles of blankets for these emaciated dogs to help prevent hygroma’s and pressure sores.
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BI-WEEKLY AUTOMATIC DONATIONS OR EVEN MONTHLY DONATIONS – HERE
(You do not need a PayPal account either)
A file is set up at Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of ‘Birch Haven Rescue’ for ‘Leroy’. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal(please use the ‘gift’ option OR the ‘friends and family’ option) OR we shall have to pay service charge fees.
BHRR’s Leroy’s Angels $60.00* donated to date & Bills are $423.17
*Before PayPal fees
Susan
Nairn
BHRR's Leroy is NOW at BHRR! Thank you to the ever wonderful Judy and Gracie for the assistance! Part of their reward….being chauffeured by me in our truck with off roading up and down our spring thaw lane way! LOL
While I was at the end of our laneway waiting for them, and, I saw him come around some of the other parked cars for our BHRR "EXPERIENCE" Mini Open House, I was taken aback by his body condition. This boy had been with this particular home since September as a foster dog for the shelter and then adopted in November of 2013 and prior to September (confirmed he was a stray via the shelter paperwork), had been adopted out several times also by them. It never crossed my mind to find him emaciated. 🙁 The Vets gave him a BCS of barely 2 out of 5.
There was more than one gasp from an attendee at our BHRR 'EXPERIENCE' Mini Open House upon his arrival to BHRR and, witnessing his poor body condition.
I would peg him closer to age 4 yet, when I can get better into his mouth, I will see…the masking on his face means nothing to me in respect to aging him as if it is a masking gene, he could have had that by the time he was 1 year of age, or even younger. He has been quiet, is not drinking well but is eating really well. I am feeding him up to 8 smaller meals a day right now.
He has been integrated with a few of the gang here. The BHRR purse puppies, BHRR's Gretta, Mr. Bubbles, BHRR's Bloom, HQD and BHRR's Rain to date. He has shown no signs of aggression or fear. He does 'avoidance'. He did not like the exuberance of my one own GD, Sir Maestro. He was fine with seeing my other two blue boyz GD's of TAIN and Big Blue Bronson.
Below is a photo of BHRR's Leroy(keeping his name for he has had so many names prior to coming here, to give him some consistency) on his transport to BHRR and two of his ribs as of April 6th, 2014(today).
He has started being de-wormed, has been put on heartworm/flea prevention and we will do bw, including fecal and heartworm testing.
He has not shown m3 one sign or symptom of SA to date. He has rested well in the colossal crate and, he lets me know when he has to go out. He did show lots of interest in counter surfing while I was making supper and, we watched carefully, and, corrected well. Being beyond skinny, can, explain at least part of this possible interest in counter surfing.
He showed mild interest in Mason's 2 gpiggers(very sadly, his third gpigger Burn passed away one day shy of his 3rd birthday on April 1st, 2014 – stroke and abdomen mass), yet, no prey drive.
The days are early yet though, and, lots of time to get to know him and, see him get into his own and out of the honeymoon period. 😀
AND, in those photo's posted(March 31st blog post) – they were from late summer/early fall of 2013 – HE also had a tail plus had a fairly good body condition. I am not sure why his tail in the end had to be docked yet, he is sporting a very small tail now.
YOU CAN ALSO MAKE BI-WEEKLY AUTOMATIC DONATIONS OR EVEN MONTHLY DONATIONS – HERE
(You do not need a PayPal account either)
A file is set up at Kanata Animal Hospital (613) 836-2848 and they will take Visa, M/C and AMEX over the phone under the account of ‘Birch Haven Rescue’ for ‘Leroy’. They will take Debit or Cash in person at 440 Hazeldean Road in Kanata, Ontario
You can also mail donations via a Bank Draft to:
Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services
C/O Gwendilin Boers
2425 Totem Ranch Road West
RR#1 Oxford Station, Ontario
K0G 1T0
OR email transfer to gwen@birchhaven.org
OR via PayPal(please use the ‘gift’ option OR the ‘friends and family’ option) OR we shall have to pay service charge fees.
BHRR’s Leroy's Angels $50.00* donated to date & Bills are $423.17
*Before PayPal fees
Susan
BHRR's Leroy – April 5th, 2014 – you can see how slim he is on face/body
*above photo courtesy of Judy
BHRR's Leroy's ribs – Body April 6th, 2014 – Mason is holding his collar/head so I can try and snag some photo's
**these photo's are taken after him having 8 meals over the last 24 hours also**
NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
This GD first came on our radar back in November of 2013 – I believe it was November 13th to be exact. My understanding of the story was that he was picked up as a stray and, had been adopted out by this US based HS several times and, each time came back, as he has severe SA. His name had been changed often lending to his continued confusion and with each return, his SA increased.
We were contacted for possible r/q Rescue assistance, stepped up to the plate and, the week he was to come to BHRR, we were informed that the current temp foster home that had him, was going to adopt him themselves. He was apparently in need of someone with him 24/7 and, had a tail injury and, had been making progress with this home and they, loved him. He was said to be ~2.5 years of age.
We wished all the very best and, moved onward to the next dog in need of our programs at BHRR.
Fast forward to March 19th, then I received an email from the Director of the HS with the following information – SEE below in bold. We then responded that we would step up to assist and do a formal evaluation upon arrival to BHRR. His ETA to BHRR is on April 5th.
The last dog BHRR committed to was on December 24th, 2013 and that was BHRR's Angel Noelle. This is the first dog for 2014, that BHRR is bringing in. With the heartbreaking loss of two dogs in our Haven Program(BHRR's Breen & BHRR's Zara), one dog moving under a pending adoption(BHRR's Reese), and, another dog possibly moving under a pending adoption(NYA), we are comfortable assisting one more dog in our programs at this time.
I spoke with you a few months back about a Dane we had here at our shelter. The dog went into a few foster homes, and then the last foster mother decided on keeping him.
She has done a lot with him and we have seen a lot of improvement. However, she would now like to rehome him. It is very hard for her to do so, but she has a small Chihuahua and she is afraid that he might hurt her.
Working in rescue I understand that space and resources may be very limited (and I am sure you get this all the time).
The person who adopted him gave me this information about him:
"Mr. Leroy Browndog"
1.) He answers to "Leroy" or "Mr. Dog"
2.) Knows commands: sit, stay, down, and come
3.)Will wait (sitting) for food until release word "ok".
4.) He does not like to stay outside.
5.)He does not guard his food with people but will with other dogs.
6.) He is very mellow in the house.
7.) He needs a training collar or prong collar on leash. He is not for first time dane owners.
8.) Gets along well with other Danes.
9.) Enjoys his toys
10.) Is a counter, table, and trash can surfer
11.) Wants to be the dominant dog
12.) Can be protective but once meeting someone he is fine.
13.) Could be aggressive with small dogs.
14.) Probably not good around farm animals (she has a small farm and has not felt comfortable letting them interact)
15.) Does not bother cats when on leash, but probably would chase and chew if loose
16.) Can be left in house with other Danes when gone (just move the trash can keep food off the table & counters).
The owner does not want to bring him back into a shelter environment, but each day is getting harder for her.
Thank you very much for all that you do!
