RIP Sweet Murphy…

Our baby Murphy crossed over the rainbow bridge. He had a tumor on his heart and was experiencing cardiac failure and his health declined very rapidly.

I wanted to thank you for bringing him into our lives. There will never be a boy as incredible as he was. When Addy gets a little older we will get another dog and hope it will be from bulldog rescue.

We’ll always remember the dogs we tragically lost in the fire at Val’s home last year.  We miss you every day sweet babies.   Run free.

A message from one of our adoptive homes…

RIP Beasley

Dear Skip and So Cal Bulldog Rescue,

I wish to thank you everyone and especially Skip for making my life a lot more interesting , fun and livelier by rescuing Beasley from your organization.

Over 6 years a go Skip came to my place in Laguna Beach and approved me for a bully adoption.

Months later Skip called and Beasley was picked up for a trial weekend and immediately jumped into my car started smiling , looked around as we drove the % south and then laid down in my lap and started snoring… or fate together was sealed at that moment. 

Leading up to and even days before  Beasleys passing over Christmas weekend due to lymphoma , the So. Cal. bull dog rescue group was very helpful and gave excellent advice from all thing related to Beasley’s health and what is normal Bullys habits during the 5 + years.

Skip also directed me to Dr. Kraemer of Grand Pet Car center, Santa Ana. Dr. Kraemer turned out to be the best Bully Dr. one could hope for in So. Cal.

When your dog is in great health any Vet is helpful.

However,  a world class  Vet is one who takes care of both you and your bully when there is tough disease to deal with.  

Dr. Kramer had compassion , interest and help us with special medication which made Beasley’s last few months both quality and a happy one.

I won’t go further other than to add we spent many, many dollars with a Vet in Dana Point who did not care care about Beasley’s quality of life at the end and only wished our credit card.

A heartfelt thank you Skip and the So Cal Bulldog rescue.

JRC

This week I lost a friend….

Old Mr. Wally breathed his last on this earth on Monday August 1, 2011.

He came to us just over a year ago after being dumped on the streets of Orange County.   From his appearance it was apparent that he had a hard life – no doubt neglected and possibly abused for all of his estimated ten years of age.  When I first saw him in ICU at Dr. K’s, he was recovering from surgery to remove multiple tumors, on medication for demodex mange, and was skinny as a rail – he looked like a train wreck!  I opened his crate and he tried to crawl into my lap – that was the beginning of what was to be an intimate relationship, in more ways than one!

When I first brought him home he was so weak he could barely walk, and over the ensuing year, there were many visits to Dr. K’s for bandage changes, re-stitching and re-stapling of incisions (he had another surgery to remove a malignant mast-cell tumor), bouts of vomiting and diarrhea as we tried to stabilize his diet and put some weight on him, and a battle with anemia.   Each time I feared he was losing the battle, but Wally came back stronger every time – this boy was a fighter!

Wally was always a “skinny old man”, but in his heart he was the “leader of the pack”.   He made himself known with a commanding, trumpeting bark that let you know who was in charge!   He immediately asserted his “alpha-ness” over our two pugs Ruby and Bosley, and became their “lord and master.”     With other bulldogs, however, he often found that others were more than willing and able to answer his challenges, hence he wasn’t easy to place for adoption.   On the other hand, he did love humans of all ages, and especially enjoyed getting out and meeting new people – he was truly a “social butterfly.”  That under-bite and “snaggle-tooth” face were always sure to draw a crowd!

Over the past year I have had the honor and privilege to care for this special guy, and through it all I have learned so much.  Our daily routine of feeding, cleaning, medications – and of course wiping his wrinkled butt – was also a bonding ritual, and I learned his rhythms just as I know he tuned into mine.   But I also learned for myself about patience, commitment, and most of all “living in the moment.”

When Wally collapsed this past Sunday – he was staying with another foster home at the time – I rushed to him and realized that this was a setback from which he would not be fighting back – by this time I knew him so well.  His old heart was failing, and we all knew his time with us was growing short.  I took him home and he spent the night with me and his old bunk-buddy Bosley the pug.  The next day, with Skip and I at his side, he crossed the bridge ……

May you rest in peace my “Wally-Boy-Man” – you will always be in my heart!

Joel B.

Pearl, aka Hula Girl

Pearl (aka Hula Girl) came into Rescue from the animal shelter in January 2009. They estimated she was 7 years old. Pearl was crated her whole life and used as a puppy machine. Her legs and elbows did not develop properly since she was crated and was unable to walk. When touched, she cried in pain… but that never stopped her tail from wagging! Pearl went directly to our vet for an exam and spay and it was discovered that she had a softball-sized tumor on her ovary. The doctors determined the tumor was cancerous and gave her 4 – 6 weeks to live.

Pearl enjoying her stroller and some sunshine.

A dedicated Rescue volunteer took her home for hospice care. Pearl was very sick and took quite a long time to recover. She would try to stand, only to tumble over. But, as the days turned into weeks and then months, Pearl seemed to get stronger and was able to take a few steps.  She continued to progress and lived a very happy life with her foster mom.  Pearl enjoyed spending her days bathing in the sun, playing with her toys, and most recently, being a companion to Paris, another puppy mill survivor and her fellow foster dog.  Pearl always brought a smile to anyone’s face when they saw her and melted the hearts of all that she met.

Hula Girl and her foster sis Paris

Pearl represented what rescue is all about – giving a dog a second chance.  The beginning of Pearl’s life was in the horrors of a puppy mill and her prognosis when she came into rescue was grim.  2 years and 8 months after coming into rescue, we are so very sad to see her go, but remember all the wonderful times that she had and the great life that she enjoyed with her foster mom and all of her extended family that loved her so much.  We know all our other bulldogs at Rainbow Bridge will be welcoming her and she’ll be running free with them. RIP Pearl.

Sweet Hula Girl.

Kenny had a hard life wandering the streets as a stray before SCBR found him at the shelter.

He was a special boy with a really big heart that loved his snacks and his warm bed that he would sleep in all day.  He got along with all dogs, cats, and other critter friends.  He was very social and loved to sit near your feet when it was TV time. He also enjoyed his kong in the morning after breakfast and would chew it for hours on end.  His foster mom Kathy bought a red wagon for Kenny so he could roll around the neighborhood even when his arthritis would act up so he could smell the wonderful smells that the outdoors have to offer.  We were glad to have made his stay in rescue a warm and special place where he could call it home.  He now has crossed over to Rainbow Bridge and is able to run and play without the pain and suffering he endured.  We would like to thank everyone that was there for him in his final hours and prayed for him.  He will definitely be missed and more importantly remembered for the wonderful furry boy he was.

This little girl was an owner surrender, she was one of 3 dogs in the family, they got a puppy and decided that Sugar had to leave since they were only allowed 3 dogs. The owner told us that the dogs had to jump in and out of a window to go potty. This little baby dollie was only 38 pounds and her legs were a bit crooked. She would get on a roll when walking and then tip over and get right back up. She spent her last months in rescue with Kim, a friend of rescue, where she was loved and pampered. Sugar had a hard life but the ending was the best. I will miss this little baby girl and her strength to keep going. She was a very special bullie.

Rescue pulled “The Hulk” from the Downey Shelter on 14 November 2008. He was an owner surrender to the shelter. We were not sure of his age but figured he was around 4 or 5. We could not miss the massive tumor on the right side of his mouth. Hulk needed help moving as his head was unmanageably heavy due to the tumor. With the help of the shelter people we all lifted him into a wagon to get him to the car. He was brought directly to rescue’s vet. The doctor told us it was most likely cancer but he could remove the tumor and do a biopsy to make sure. The mass was removed completely but it was discovered that not only was it cancerous, but it was a very fast spreading form of the disease. We were not sure of his age but I am think maybe 4 or 5. After recovering from his surgery, Hulk was welcomed into a foster home. This sweet boy was spoiled, pampered and loved by his foster family. Sadly, just a month after he came in to rescue, due to the aggressive nature of his cancer, it was time for Hulk to go over Rainbow Ridge. Hulk’s foster mom and another loving volunteer were by his side to see that he passed over gently and peacefully. We were so happy to be able to be part of his life such a special boy.

Miss Bonnie (aka Bon-Bon) was found as a stray in East LA. The man who found her turned her over to rescue a few days later. Bon Bon was take immediately to rescue’s vet and a huge mass was discovered on her left breast. The vet removed the mass on February 23rd. We saw her immediately after surgery…totally out of it but managed a wag of her tail when we spoke to her. Results came back as a Grade 3 tumor. Bon Bon was moved into a foster home and made herself part of the family instantly, loved all of her foster fur-siblings straight away. She always found the most comfortable spot in the house…a dirty pile of clothes, beds in the garage or the sofa. Bon Bon obviously made someone a ton of money as it was evident she had many, many litters in her life. Did they just dump her once she couldn’t make them money and knew she was sick? Miss Bon Bon lived out the rest of her days in the warm embrace and love of her foster family. Rest in peace sweet girl.