AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - JULY 2021 |
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IT'S SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMERTIME!
SWIMMING TIME!
by Brittany Vester Boler
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Taking a nice dip in the pool, lake, or ocean is a great way to cool off and get some much-needed exercise for us and our Brittanys this time of year. Swimming is easier on the joints than other forms of exercise so taking your senior Britts for a dip can provide extra benefits for their joints. Here are some tips to help your Britt feel confident and stay safe in the water, no matter where you are.
Basic Reminders
- Always supervise your dog when swimming.
- Bring fresh drinking water for your dog. Swimming water is not a substitute for drinking water.
- Watch for signs of exhaustion- some dogs will push themselves beyond safe limits.
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When swimming away from home, bring a first aid kit for your dog and have it handy. (See our May 2021 eNews for tips on how to put together a first aid kit for your dog.)
- Dry your Britt’s ears after swimming to help prevent infections. If you have a frequent swimmer with ear issues, talk to your vet about properly cleaning and drying their ears.
Introducing a Brittany to Swimming
- Find a location where there is walk-in access to the water. Keep a harness or life vest on your dog and keep a leash attached. This gives you quick access if your dog starts having trouble, and it prevents him from getting too far away from you.
- Go slow and let your dog explore on his terms. Never force your dog into deeper water or throw them into the water. This method may make them scared of swimming.
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Learn more about how to choose the right doggie life vest and how to train your dog to swim from the AKC.
Pools
- Pools are generally safe for pets.
- If you use a pool cover, make sure it is able to hold the weight of the dog if it were to walk on it (not floating covers).
- Check the chemical balance of your pool water regularly, and check your skimmer more often. Your dog will bring more debris and hair into the pool. Keep their nails trimmed to minimize the chances of ripping the pool liner.
- Many community pools will have an end-of-year dog swim—a great opportunity for them to swim and play with other dogs!
- Ingesting too much pool water can be dangerous- provide fresh drinking water and do not allow them to drink the pool water.
- A baby pool is a great alternative to a backyard pool. Just be sure to drain and refill the water when it is dirty.
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The Spruce Pets provides more great tips on maintaining your pool and pool safety with dogs.
Lakes, Rivers, and Ponds
- Freshwater areas can be a great way to cool off during a hike or to play games of fetch for experienced swimmers. Remember to bring fresh water for drinking. Too much lake water can lead to tummy upset and diarrhea.
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Always avoid areas with blue-green algae as it is toxic to dogs. If your dog encounters blue green algae, seek veterinary care immediately. Learn more about blue green algae.
- It is best to swim in areas where there is some water movement (not stagnant) but not fast currents. If you are fishing, keep your equipment (hooks, sinkers, fishing line) clear of your dog.
Ocean
- Yes, dogs can safely swim in the ocean, and if you are lucky enough to live close to a beach or are visiting one, spending time on the shoreline can provide great exercise for your curious Brittany.
- Bring fresh water for your dog to drink and stop them from drinking too much ocean water as the high salt levels can be dangerous.
- Rinse your dog with clean freshwater after swimming to remove the salt water (and sand) in order to maintain their coat and prevent dry skin.
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JULY IS NATIONAL PET LOSS PREVENTION MONTH |
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National Pet Loss Prevention Month is dedicated to raising awareness of one of the biggest problems facing pets and their owners. According to the ASPCA, more than 7.6 million cats and dogs enter shelters every year — and many are lost family pets. In the U.S., 80 million households have at least one pet and 94% of these individuals consider their pet to be a member of the family (according to a recent survey done by Rover.com). We know that pet lovers everywhere want to do what they can for their furry family members, but 1 in 3 pets will get lost in their lifetime.
July is a particularly risky month for pets as more dogs are lost on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. Whether startled by fireworks or a thunderstorm or simply drawn by the scent of the neighbor's barbecue, even well-behaved pets have been known to wander off.
Plan for summertime risks and avoid long days and nights spent searching for lost pets by following these simple prevention tactics:
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Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an updated ID tag — a collar with an ID tag indicates that this dog is lost. The ID tag serves as the quickest way for anyone who finds your dog to contact you, but it also informs good Samaritans of your pet's name, to make the experience less scary for your dog or cat.
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Join a microchip registry — ensure that your pet has been microchipped and that the information associated with their chip is current. While microchips require someone to find your pet and scan for the chip's information, it's an important safeguard to help bring your lost pet back home.
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Prevent loss with a reliable GPS tracker — to be alerted when your pet wanders off, look for a GPS tracker that lets you set a custom virtual perimeter, provides reliable coverage through a nationwide cellular network, and has a rechargeable battery to minimize the time the device is off the collar.
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Check your fence system regularly. Do a perimeter patrol to know exactly what the state of your fence is. Look for loose boards, bent wire, and holes dug near the fence line. Don’t forget to check the gate, too. If you have underground fencing, always check the batteries in the collar and regularly walk the yard to look for wires that may have been dug up, broken, or otherwise compromised.
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Keep your dog on a leash. Anytime you are not in a fenced area your dog should be on a leash. Even the best-behaved dog can get spooked, see a squirrel or cat or pick up a scent. Even with the best recall, your dog may not always come when called if they decide a scent or critter is more fun to follow.
OK, so you did everything right, but your dog still went missing. Maybe you were on a leash walk and he pulled after a squirrel so hard that you dropped the leash, or while you went inside to make your coffee he dug a hole under the fence. Yes, it can happen that quickly. If your dog is missing, follow these steps immediately:
- Search your home and alert neighbors.
- Work the phones. Call local shelters, animal control, and local rescue groups. Keep calling them daily.
- Notify veterinarians in your area. Someone may bring the dog to them to have their microchip scanned.
- Tell your social media networks.
- Create a “Lost Pet” flyer and post it in your neighborhood, in local veterinarian offices, at dog parks, on your social media networks, and at local shops.
- Notify searchers not to chase your dog if they see her. This may cause the dog to run, thinking it is a game or because he is frightened.
- Place food and familiar items in the area where the dog was lost then check the area daily.
- Hire a handler and tracking dog.
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Last, but not least, Don’t Give Up!
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:
NANCY HENSLEY McCULLOUGH
By Autumn Fenton
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“I live and breathe ABR,” says Nancy Hensley McCullough,
“it’s part of who I am.”
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For anyone who knows Nancy, it’s evident that she always speaks her truth. An ABR volunteer for nearly fifteen years, the Montana woman immerses herself in many different aspects of our organization.
Nancy serves on the Board of Directors, fosters our Britts, and mentors new volunteers. She also transports dogs and conducts shelter pulls.
If you have been fortunate enough to welcome one of the international dogs into your family, Nancy coordinated that adoption. She served as the sole director of the International Program from its inception. She acted as the liaison for various overseas rescue groups and established the protocol that accepted each dog into the program. In addition, Nancy coordinated the travel group that brought the dogs to the United States. Even after the program’s discontinuation, Nancy continues to oversee the follow-up team. She also remains available for questions and concerns about the overseas dogs.
ABR adoption application processor, Paula Perry, chimes in about her best friend’s contributions. “Nancy is just the best ‘sister’ I never had. She is extremely intelligent, level-headed, and kind,” says Paula. “Her devotion to the Brittany breed and ABR (both National and International) has been unwavering, and always has the dog’s best interest, safety, and care at the forefront. She amazes me with all she does!”
These two women met in 2010 when their two dogs were involved in a minor scuffle at an ABR event in California. During their introduction, Paula’s Remmie decided to give Nancy’s heart dog Gilbert “a hard time.” In typical Nancy take-charge fashion, she promptly intervened by tackling Remmie to the ground. Immediately after that incident, according to Paula, all of them “became fast friends.” And needless to say, “Remmie forgave Nancy and loved her very much.”
In addition to her extensive involvement in rescue work, Nancy is a well-regarded breeder of Brittanys. She also participates in canine competitions. Many of her Britts have earned dual championships.
Nancy certainly has her choice of dogs to enter in those competitions. She and her husband Glenn own nine Brittanys. They also share their lives with two Italian Greyhounds, a half-Labrador/half-Mastiff, and a Chiweenie. And if that isn’t enough, they currently foster a Brittany, bringing the current total to fourteen dogs!
Their dogs enjoy life in a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor facility. Glenn, Nancy’s husband of two years, had it built next to their home because he knew the best way to please Nancy was to please her dogs. At 14,000 square feet, the building houses everything from a grooming salon to a studio loft where Nancy indulges her second passion of crafting wreaths.
Nestled in the mountains and surrounded by pine trees, the McCullough homestead boasts various wildlife including deer, geese, and osprey. Every morning during breakfast, Nancy and Glenn watch from their kitchen window as an elk and her calf wander along the creek bank and drink from the pond.
Nancy has lived abroad and in various towns and cities throughout the United States. Life in Montana is her happy place. Life is “wonderful” because she shares it with Glenn and her beloved Brittanys while reveling in nature.
“This is the first place in my whole life that I feel at home, and I’m at peace,” she says. “God walked that man into my life. He’s the one who knows where I belong.”
THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT NANCY:
- Nancy developed her wreath-making hobby into a thriving business. She sells her creations and teaches classes on the craft.
- When her family lived in Saudi Arabia, Nancy attended boarding school in Italy.
- Canning proves another interest of Nancy’s. She preserves a variety of jellies and jams and puts up pears, cherries, and tomatoes. She loves most fruits and vegetables, but she hates asparagus. (“I’d rather eat dog poop!”)
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Sage #10342: Sage is in Washington State wishin' and hopin' for a forever home where he can retire in style. He’s an ABR alum who was returned to us due to unforeseen circumstances. This gorgeous 14-year-old boy got a good report from the vet, and he still has spunk and plenty of love he'd like to share with some special people. He doesn't hear well, so he needs a fenced yard where he can explore safely. Sage still has good lovin’ in him for some lucky people!
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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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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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HEALTH CORNER:
Leptospirosis
By Christine Brennan
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Rabies, heartworm, and bordetella: These are diseases most of us have heard of and go to great lengths to keep our Britts from getting. Another lesser known — but very important — disease you may want to ask your vet about is canine leptospirosis.
Often referred to simply as “lepto,” this bacterial infection may be serious and even life-threatening if not recognized and treated. Once relegated to tropical and subtropical climates, veterinarians are increasingly seeing cases here in the United States as well as in Canada.
Lepto can potentially infect any mammalian species, including humans and dogs. In terms of domestic animals, dogs are at greatest risk due to the fact that the disease is typically contracted via exposure to the urine of infected wildlife. The bacteria can survive in the environment for long periods of time in warm, stagnant water or moist soil. It can potentially gain access to the dog via soft lining of the nose, mouth, and eyelids, or through open sores or wounds.
“Common risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs residing in the United States include exposure to or drinking from rivers, lakes, or streams; roaming on rural properties (because of exposure to potentially infected wildlife, farm animals, or water sources); exposure to wild animal or farm animal species, even if in the backyard; and contact with rodents or other dogs,” according to the American Veterinary Association.
Lepto can present with a number of non-specific signs that may vary in intensity, including:
● No signs of illness whatsoever (asymptomatic infections)
● Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
● Jaundice
● Organ failure (kidney or liver failure)
“One of the most dramatic signs of leptospirosis, associated with acute kidney injury, is decreased urine production, even up to the point where dogs stop making urine,” according to PennVet, the veterinary arm of the University of Pennsylvania.
Obviously, if your Britt is exhibiting any of these signs, call your vet right away. If he or she has been hunting or spent a lot of time in rural or wooded areas, make sure to relay that information and ask if testing for lepto is appropriate.
Even without symptoms, lepto can be of concern since dogs can also be carriers of the disease. If you live in an area where lepto is of concern or your dog spends time in the sorts of environments where lepto might exist, speak to your veterinarian about whether it makes sense to test for it.
While rural dogs may be at greater risk, all dog owners should be lepto-savvy. Since squirrels, raccoons, and skunks can also carry the disease, “...dogs that live in urban environments may at first seem to have a lower risk, but are in fact the most frequent patients in veterinary hospitals that are diagnosed with leptospirosis,” according to the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
Fortunately, antibiotics are usually very effective in treating the disease. If the infection is mild or a potentially more serious case caught early, there’s a very good chance of a full recovery after a lepto infection.
Now that we’ve gone over all of this scary information, is there anything you can do to help your Britt avoid lepto?
The good news is there is a vaccine against the most common forms of the Leptospira bacteria. The bad news? It’s not 100% effective. The most severe cases of lepto occur in unvaccinated dogs, however, so having the conversation of whether you should vaccinate your Britt against lepto is worthwhile.
In general, veterinary experts recommend that the vaccine be given annually in areas where lepto is known to exist and/or if your dog’s activities, such as hunting and spending time in marsh areas, suggest he or she might be at risk.
“It is best to have it administered in early summer so that the peak efficacy of the vaccine will occur in late summer/early fall, when the disease is most prevalent,” according to PennVet. “However, due to shifting weather patterns and a lack of a consistently cold winter, that timeframe may be widening, starting as early as April and lasting into late November.”
Finally, another good reason to be aware of leptospirosis is that we can contract the disease too, and the most common method of transmission is from our pet dogs. For more information on how to handle your Britt if he or she may be infected, click here.
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We are partnering again with Three Rivers Wreath & Plant Company to offer a unique variety of bulbs to help us earn the funds we need to save more Brittanys. Our group earns 50% profit from every package of bulbs sold!
An online ordering form will be available on August 1st, and your order will be shipped directly to you in mid to late September — just in time for fall planting.
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ABR Masks are now for sale at the Brittany Boutique for $5
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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
Michelle Falkinburg, Secretary
Jeanette Seely, Interim Treasurer
Diana Doiron, Co-Treasurer
Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair
Nancy Hensley
Bobbi Tolman
Melissa Tapply DiLello
AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM
Brittany Boler
Christine Brennan
Jeannine Connors
Judie Cutting
Kristin Davis
Autumn Fenton
Lori Gartenhaus
Patricia Gillogly
Linda Joyce
Melissa Tapply DiLello
Debra White
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