3 Saint Bernards - Vaccs & Boarding

Thank you Amy and Andrew!!!

Wish them luck, everyone, that Beethoven is able to adjust and fit in!

Ok, Beethoven is going to a temporary foster while we search for something more permanent for him. Saint rescue has not closed the door on him, but is, understandably, unable to deal with dog aggression or human aggression. While I have not seen outright aggression from Beethoven, he did growl (not a huge menacing growl with teeth showing, either, just a low rumble) when we touched his ouchy ears. This foster home will allow him to start to recuperate in a home environment, and in a few weeks, we can get a much more accurate read on his temperament.

Fortunately this very nice couple, who had absolutely glowing references, has rescued seniors before and has also rescued former puppymill breeder dogs. She understands he is undersocialized, in pain, and that he will need to be kept separate from her 2 dogs at least until we can safely evaluate his tolerance of other canines.

I have asked her to call her vet, who is very near her home, to see if they would be willing to put Beethoven's ear treatment in, at least for the first few days. This will allow the vet to see any progress, AND ensure that all of the meds are getting where they need to be in the ear canal, for proper healing. It will also be safer, while he is so painful. I am, of course, sending her with a muzzle, just in case. He is also on cephalexin and Rimadyl, for pain.

Unfortunately I had no large dog flea treatment, so had to get a box of Advantage from the vet for them.

I did receive both an email from a woman named Joy who has offered respite for the dogs. She is down near Philadelphia but may have transport for Dolly and Mo to get to her. When I am done updating here, I am going to call her to get the prelims out of the way - vet reference etc. and take it from there.

Kathy also just called me to let me know a rescue in Dickson City has offered potential rescue. I have asked her to have the rescue email me so we can discuss the dogs and what I have seen. I will keep you all updated.

Now, explaining the statement. I had told you this vet does not have a computerized billing system. So they went ahead and itemized it all on Letterhead. Feel free to call and confirm if you like. You will see that it is all marked PAID. I paid $200 with the Paypal credit card and gave them a postdated check for the remaining balance of $85.35. Since they were willing to offer the postdated check, I didn't want to deplete the funds while we are still trying to raise them, since Dolly still needs a groom and we have to pay for boarding for her and Mozart until we can sort out the details of rescue/foster for them. There are 2 bills - One with the total of $194.50 and the other of $90.85.

So, that is the update for now. Please cross paws that Beethoven improves and this foster works out for him, and that we are able to get the other 2 to rescue.

For those that did not receive the last update, a WONDFERUL rescue in DE has offered to pay for ALL 3 spays/neuters! Thank you so much! They have an appointment at my vet in Danville on 7/19. So if we do move the dogs to rescue, we may need help with transport to get them back here, depending on where everyone goes.

Thank you again, everyone for your generosity and well-wishes.

UPDATE: 7/6/10 11:00 AM

I picked up the 3 Saint Bernards this morning around 6 am after a sleepless night. They are all rather dirty, but at least am thankful that Moxart and Beethoven are short coated so there is not much matting - just a lot of shedding in clumps, and of course dirt. Mozart actually doesn't look that bad, other than needing to gain a few pounds. Dolly is long coated so is rather matted and much dirtier. She appears to have had either a broken jaw at some point or had a malformed jaw. As a result her tongue is incapable of staying in her mouth making for extreme drooling.

When they brought Beethoven out, I had tears in my eyes. He is arthritic, thin, and was shaking his head nonstop because of his ears being SEVERELY infected. What really REALLY gets me is that as we were pulling away, both Dolly and Mozart were straining on the leashes (they were tied) just staring back in the direction of their owner. It took several minutes for me to get their attention. They loved their owner, despicable as she is. And this woman shed not a tear - just handed me the dogs and their AKC paperwork and walked back into the house. Nothing. No goodbye pat or hug. Not a Goddamn thing.

So I sat in the van with them until my vet came in at around 9 am. We took Beethoven in first. He is 10 years old, and Mozart's father. Apparently he and Mo do not get along - he rode in a crate. We did have to muzzle him as a precaution only because his ears are SO ridiculously infected and he does not want you to touch them. Doc didn't mess around and agitate him - he hospitalized him and will be giving him a tranquilizer to flush the ears and see how bad things are in there, putting him on meds as necessary. He did say that his throat area is swollen. We will know more after he examines him while he is asleep. I did not see AGGRESSION out of Beethoven - I saw pain. Yes, he growled when we touched his ears. But wouldn't you? When we first went into the exam room he laid down and wouldn't budge. He looked so pathetic it broke my heart. He would not stand for a photo.

Mozart and Dolly, age 5 1/2 and 6 1/2, got their DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordatella. Dolly got gentamycin drops for oozy eyes. All 3 got Advantage flea treatment.

So Beethoven is at the vet at $12 a day until we get his ear issue under control. Dolly and Mo are at a boarding kennel. I did receive an email from someone who said that she might be able to house them temporarily and will follow up with that. I'm not sure where she is located in reference to here.

All 3 dogs are handshy and very unsure of themselves. Poor Mo shook like a leaf at the vet. Dolly was probably the most outgoing of the 3, but definitely does need some positive socialization. Dolly and Mo did NOT need to be muzzled for the exam and shots. They were fearful but not aggressive.

Doc is billing me at the moment and I will have a total when Beethoven is discharged. I should have some idea of what was spent so far later today or tomorrow, with a written summary of charges. He is old fashioned and does not have computerized records. I am relatively sure he did not charge me $69 per dog for vaccines, but Beethoven's issues may have made up for what he saved me there. If anyone would like to confirm the dogs being treated, they can call North Berwick Animal Hospital at 570-759-0397. The file is under Shannon Talanca, Rescue File. I will also have a written quote from the boarding kennel hopefully in my email box sometime today, which I will also post on the Chipin page.

Photos are attached. Sorry I couldn't get better ones of Mo (he's the one in the kennel photos) but the kennel owner was running behind and I only had a minute to try to get pics. He really is a nice looking Saint.

We are truly hoping a Saint Rescue can step in here. Whatever funds remain after paying for what we've done will follow them to their rescue. They will need to be spayed/neutered at some point too.

Many thanks to everyone and a special thanks to those that have donated so far. It has been an exhausting day! Going to work on getting Dolly groomed, but right now I need to follow up on some emails and then maybe take a nap!

I made plans to pick up the 3 Saints at 6:15 am. Their "owner" apparently has plans the rest of the day. I will post updates and photos as soon as I have them.

Boarding has been arranged at $12 per day per dog, as long as they are all healthy and not contagious with anything. Cross paws!

Received via email, 3 Saint Bernards ages 6-10, in the care of a backyard breeder who has threatened to euthanize and/or give away to the first person who contacts her. They are matted. They are filthy. They have been living in a BASEMENT their entire life and have never even had vaccines. We are a SMALL rescue and I do not have a place to put 3 extra large dogs. I have offered to house ONE and raise funds for vaccines and boarding until we can find a more permanent rescue for them.

Please. Our funds are depleted. But I simply cannot stand by and watch 3 dogs so close to home (under an hour) die or be given away to more backyard breeders. Vaccines are going to run $69 per dog at our cheapest quote. We will need money to board them. I beg you. Every dollar counts.

As of 9:20 PM Kathy, the woman who alerted rescues to this situation, has spoken with the owner who still has ALL THREE. A Saint Rescue HAS responded but wants photos and vaccs, both of which are impossible until we get them from this wretched woman. Here is the original email plea:


We cannot do this alone. PLEASE consider donating and/or crossposting. These seniors do not deserve this. They need a loving retirement home.