AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2022 |
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APRIL IS CANINE FITNESS MONTH
By Brittany Vester Boler
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Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time to rethink your Brittany’s fitness. Keeping your dog active year-round helps them stay healthy and happy, but spring is a great time of year to get outside with your pet!
As we all know, our Britts are high energy dogs that need plenty of exercise to maintain a healthy body weight and muscle condition. Don’t forget that mental stimulation is just as important to keep our Britts happy! There are many activities you can do with your dog that provide both physical and mental stimulation while strengthening the bond between you and your Britt. Here are some ideas and resources for exercising your Brittany:
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Hiking / Trail Walking - Getting out on the trails provides good exercise for both you and your Britt. It also gives your dog new and exciting things to smell and explore. Check out Bringfido.com to find dog friendly locations. If you decide to go for a hike, remember to consider the current fitness level of your dog and bring water and a first aid kit. Consider a hands-free leash (waist or cross-body strap) to make the hike easier on you. See more tips from the AKC.
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Off-leash dog park or Doggie Daycare - Off-leash dog parks are a great option for those in urban areas or for any Britt that needs to burn extra energy and loves to play with other dogs. With the increase in popularity, there are many options for both dog parks and daycare facilities. Be sure to do your research first so you know the rules and regulations. When trying out a new doggie daycare, take a tour of the facility to ensure it is clean and safe, and that there is adequate staff for the number of dogs.
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Canine Good Citizen Program was designed by the AKC to help build the bond between dogs and their owners and to help instill good manners in your pup. It is often the starting point for competition training, like agility, and it is often a requirement for therapy dogs. Even if you don’t go on to competitions, it provides the foundation for a well-adjusted dog inside and outside the home.
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Agility is basically an obstacle course that a handler leads the dog through. It is open to all breeds of dog. It consists of a series of obstacles such as weave poles and ramps and requires good coordination between the dog and the handler. There are several organizations that oversee the sport that offer articles to help you get started, including USDAA and AKC. They can also help you find a local training club.
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For our working Brittanys, Field Trials are a great way to show off their hunting skills. They provide great physical and mental stimulation by tapping into their instincts. Many AKC clubs offer classes to help you prepare, or you can talk to an experienced field dog trainer.
Whether you find a structured activity or just spend more time training or exercising your Brittany, you are bound to see benefits for both of you. Remember, providing enough access to exercise and mental stimulation will make your Britt be an even better pet inside the house and help keep them out of trouble!
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APRIL SHOWERS FEATURED PHOTOS |
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SHARE YOUR MAY FLOWERS PHOTOS! |
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HEALTH CORNER
HEARTWORM DISEASE
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April is Heartworm Awareness Month. Prevention is key. Please share this vital info with your dog-loving friends!
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HEARTWORMS are parasitic worms that spread through a mosquito vector. The disease is not contagious between dogs.
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SYMPTOMS: Once a dog is infected, as the juvenile heartworms continue to grow and multiply within the dog, symptoms will develop, starting with a cough, fatigue, lack of appetite and weight loss. If not treated, symptoms may progress to heart failure.
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TREATMENT: Treatment is expensive, painful, and difficult on the dog (and the parent!). It involves oral medication, a series of injections, at least one day of hospitalization, and very strict exercise restriction for several months.
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PREVENTION: The best way to treat a heartworm infection is to prevent it from ever happening. Keeping your pet on a heartworm preventative is key, and it is best to do so year-round.
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TESTING: Dogs should be tested prior to receiving heartworm preventative and yearly thereafter. It is common practice to do this test at your pets yearly exam.
For more information:
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
KRISTIN POSPISIL
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For over twenty years, ABR has been fortunate to have Kristin Pospisil dedicating her time to helping Brittanys find safe and happy homes. Around 2002, Kristin moved to New Jersey and befriended Michelle Falkinburg. When the New Jersey coordinator position opened, they stepped up together to co-coordinate. They’ve been working as a team ever since. Kristin also screens application for New Jersey and the Carolinas. She especially loves being the first voice of ABR when someone applies, and then seeing on Facebook that they’ve adopted.
Volunteering is a family affair for the Pospisils. Kristin’s husband Todd helps with transports, and fostering was a great diversion for her kids when their dad was deployed in the Air Force. They fostered seven dogs during that time. Sarah Kate, then 15 years old, was the walker, and Will, then 12, was in charge of feeding. They also took in a hospice foster who helped the children understand the circle of life.
Prior to volunteering, the Pospisils adopted from ABR. Their first Brittany was Jack, a 65-pound boy whom Kristin found at the local Humane Society. The kids were small, and they moved frequently for the military. They wanted the kids to have something consistent in their life. Kristin saw Jack and it was love at first sight. She researched Brittanys, took a breed test, and knew Jack would be a perfect match. When she called the Humane Society to ask about adopting, they reported he had just left the building. Kristin’s heart sank. “No, don’t worry! ABR has him,” they told her. After three rounds of interviews, ABR approved them to adopt.
Three ABR Britts followed Jack. Bo also came to ABR through the Humane Society, and his fosters knew sight unseen that the Pospisils were perfect for him. Bo was Todd’s heart dog and a fabulous ambassador for the breed. Two neighbors adopted Brittanys because they loved Bo so much. Annie came next as a foster failure. Kristin scooped her up from a shelter saving her from euthanasia. Annie wasn’t the prettiest Brittany, covered in bite marks from living on the street, but she was a sweetheart. Bo loved her as if he had been waiting for her. Annie relived her puppyhood and had four great years with the Pospisils. Winnie Cooper is the current resident Brittany, a member of the family since 2019. She was an owner surrender when her former dad and hunting buddy found himself living in a condo with two Brittanys and a new baby. Winnie Cooper was a wonderful walking partner to Todd as he healed from surgeries. She even slowed down for him!
Oh, we could go on about the Brittanys, but back to the volunteering! Rescue work is not always easy. So, twenty years later, what keeps Kristin going? She loves the stories of the ones who get their break. Ordo, affectionately known as “Little Man,” is one such Brittany, and his story has impacted her most. Kristin helped bring Ordo back from Spain. His anxiety level was so high, all she could do was hold his trembling little body while she journeyed with him to his new country. To see Ordo, now known as Charlie, blossom in foster care and then continue to flourish in his forever home . . . that transformation is what keeps Kristin going.
The people also keep her going. “Michelle Falkinburg has been a beacon of guidance and confidence throughout volunteering,” Kristin says. “Michelle is always answering her phone for me and is very calm and level headed. People are just as important as dogs and results. Everyone takes it seriously.”
The sentiment is shared. “I am truly blessed and thankful that rescue brought this wonderful woman into my life!” Michelle says. “We have developed a special friendship that started of course with our love of the breed. I am so appreciative of all Kristin does for New Jersey and the Carolinas for ABR but most of all for always being such a very good friend and supporter through all the highs and lows... Thank You Kristin!”
Three Non-ABR Kristin Fun Facts:
1) In 32 years of marriage we have moved 14 times. Life of a military spouse!
2) I am deathly afraid of snakes.
3) I volunteer 15-20 hours a week with a local animal rescue which has a thrift store to raise money. Along with a good friend, I set up fun merchandise displays to increase sales. We are known as the "display fairies." Our efforts are really starting to pay off with a substantial increase in daily sales. All to raise money to rescue and re-home deserving dogs and cats in Huntsville, AL.
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Brownie has had a long and bumpy road in his short life. Luckily he escaped the hoarding situation he was born into and hitched a ride to the Good Life. This sweet pup will take some time to learn the ropes, but he will make a wonderful addition to patient and loving families willing to show him the way. For more information, email the foster dad.
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Callie is a "play hard, sleep hard" kind of girl. She loves walks, car rides, people, playing ball, destroying toys (!), and snuggling! You'd never know she was a senior except when she settles nicely at the end of a fun day. Are you an active family that would like to include Callie in your daily activities? She will pay you back with lots of kisses!
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Watson (#10505) - TX - 11 months: Sweet, curious, active, Brittany puppy through and through! Watson is still learning all of the things that will make him a Very Good Boy. He's doing a great job with the basics, and even his leash walking is coming along. Watson loves to go go GO all day long, and when the day is done, it’s all about the snuggles. His ideal home will have another dog to play with and a family devoted to helping him be all that he can be!
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Are you looking to adopt a Brittany but don't see one available in your area? |
We welcome you to complete an adoption application to start the approval process, so you will be ready to adopt when the time comes!
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"Charlie (an ABR rescue going on 11 years now) and I had gotten up about 4:30 a.m. to make our bi-weekly trip to Walmart in Laredo, Texas and were almost back to the ranch about four hours later, Charlie being dead asleep in the back seat of the pickup. The truck windows were down, it being a cool, pleasant day in early March. As we were riding down an isolated gravel road, I spotted a white-tailed doe cross the road about 100 yards down. It disappeared into the brush, but when we passed through its path across the road, Charlie jumped up and went on full alert, his head jerking right and left to spot the deer. Obviously, the lingering scent had been received and registered in his Brittany brain. I was amazed, and it was a good reminder of just how acute our furballs' noses are and the extent to which their surroundings are experienced through their noses, even when asleep! I also realized how expansive their worlds are in ways completely different than ours. Charlie and I both experienced the deer but in totally differing ways."
Randy Fleuriet
Harlingen, TX
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Please drop us a line at
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BULBS FOR BRITTANYS
ENDS APRIL 25!
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Our spring bulb fundraiser is on! We are working with Three Rivers Wreath & Plant Company again to provide you with the opportunity to support ABR and make your garden beautiful. ABR receives 50% of all sales! This year the money raised will once again be directed into the "Grayson's Fund" which provides grants of up to $1,000.00 for orthopedic surgery for ABR adopted dogs.
The sale ends on April 25th!
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Thanks to our great ABR family, we reached our goal of raising $3,800.00 to pay for Taylors tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery (TPLO). He also had to have the meniscus removed because it was torn. He has started physical therapy and is on his way to moving pain free again! Thank you again to everyone who helped Taylor get his surgery!
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PAMPERED CHEF PARTY RAISED $600! |
THANK YOU to everyone who joined our PAMPERED CHEF PARTY this month! And a big thank you to Wendy Boyce for hosting the party. We hope everyone had fun and is enjoying their new kitchen gadgets! |
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Do you have “Foster Tails” to tell?
A foster moment you’ll never forget?
A challenge you overcame?
A funny or heartwarming story?
A tale of encouragement?
A foster who made a special impact?
Whether it's a few sentences, a whole story, or a photo that speaks for itself, we would love to share your anecdotes, thoughts, and experiences. Please connect with us at social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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Keep up-to-date on dog food and treat recalls on DogFoodAdvisor.com. You can also sign up to have recall alerts delivered to your inbox! |
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE
American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.
THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION
ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.
ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry Mixdorf, President
Terrie Johnson, Vice President
Joe Herslip, Secretary
Jeanette Seely, Interim Treasurer
Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair
Diana Doiron
Deb Grove
Nancy Hensley
Michelle Falkinburg
Bobbi Tolman
Melissa Tapply DiLello
AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM
Brittany Boler
Christine Brennan
Jeannine Connors
Judie Cutting
Kristin Davis
Autumn Fenton
Linda Joyce
Melissa Tapply DiLello
Debra White
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