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This is a story about Miracle Rescues, Gotcha Days, & Collars!
Remy’s “Gotcha Day” for me was October 6th 2022. His entry into my life began the day before when I was contacted by Terry Mixdorf, President of American Brittany Rescue. There was a neglected, starving Brittany in Indiana. The challenge was to get to him before he possibly did not survive. Bill Schmoker, our ABR Volunteer Pilot, planned a round-trip flight to fly Remy from Indiana to Minnesota. I would meet them at the airport and bring Remy home. “Remy’s Army” came to life!
When he landed, we got Remy out of the plane and into my car. Bill and I both had tears in our eyes over the bad condition of this boy. So frail, thin, almost no fur, he stunk terribly, his skin was covered with sores, and he had a head tilt. He would not quit crying.
I comforted him all the way home, and after more than an hour-long drive, he was so happy to get out of the car. He ran and sniffed all around our yard. My two girl Brittanys, Trill and Dixie, rescues from Brittany Rescue AZ, welcomed him into the household.
This is where the collar comes in. Before I went to the airport to pick him up, I bought a whole new set of dog supplies for Remy, including a new purple collar and name tag just for him!
When he arrived, he had a collar on which ironically said “a very spoiled dog.” At bath time, that collar came off, never to go back on him again. This was the first step in the journey of Remy’s collars. After his bath, I put on his new collar. It didn't fit well- almost too big- but he looked amazing, all cleaned up with a new collar with his name on it.
We quickly got him a vet visit. He weighed 24 pounds, had multiple infections, and was in distressed shape. The veterinary staff was amazing. We got him on medicines for the infections and for his skin, we developed a good feeding and medical treatment plan, and a follow up plan to get everything checked at two week intervals.
Our first weeks were challenging for everyone, but we all rose to them, no one more than Remy! Remy was the most spirited, happy, wonderful boy. At his next vet visit, he had gained six pounds and his labwork was improving. His head tilt was due to bilateral vestibular/ear infections. He is also blind in his right eye, so he tended to tilt his head and look with his left eye.
As fall gave way to the colder days of winter, he outgrew his first coat. At his next vet visit he had gained a couple more pounds and he was well enough to be neutered. By mid-December he outgrew another coat as his weight was up to 40 pounds. He had fur! He was gaining muscle mass and body fat. Nothing excited him more than going for walks. He wanted to go everywhere and explore everything. The girls were GREAT with him, showing him the way that walks happen in this pack! Walks became a great joy for all.
The Brittany Rescue Retirement Ranch pack was coming together beautifully. Trill and Dixie took him in and he became a solid part of the pack with their amazing motherly guidance. He responded so very well with his wonderful, amazing spirit. My pack was now a solid Brittany Rescue pack.
By mid-December he was healing very well. His weight stabilized at 38 pounds. Everything about him was turning into a normal Brittany, including somewhat of a strong, stubborn, independent, “I'm going to do it my way” streak! For Remy’s Christmas, under the Santa Paws Christmas Tree there was a new extra large coat and a new blue collar! My girls also had new collars! It was a great way to end a year of much change for all of us, and a great way to start a new year full of blessings.
By the end of January his vet visits were excellent. He still had a minimal head tilt but most other things were resolving.
In January, I came home after a day of errands. Remy and the Girls were in the Britt Condo downstairs. Remy was so happy to see me that his stubby orange tail wagged so fast and he wiggled his butt so much I thought he was going to fly apart! That was the moment! I contacted Terry that evening and told her that I was going to be a foster fail, and I wanted to adopt Remy.
The Britts and I have a tradition each year when the old collars come off and the new collars go on, the old collars get cleaned and donated to a rescue. This year I took three collars to Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton. The gal at the desk was wonderful. I told her stories of the Britts’ Christmas collars. When I gave her the three collars, I told her the story of Remy and my Girls and about this amazing rescue, and that these collars represented all the blessings from all my Britts that wore them, this year especially. She promised to find just the right dogs to give them to!
Remy made his ABR Ambassadorial Debut on Feb 18th at Pheasant Fest 2023 at the MPLS MN Convention Center. He was simply amazing; loving, energetic, engaging— a GREAT ambassador and a GREAT example of what ABR Rescue is all about!
-Submitted by Randy Deters, with editing assistance from Debra White
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