Hull's Haven Border Collie Rescue is a volunteer operated, non-profit rescue group located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We rescue Border Collies and Border Collie mixes in who have been surrendered, neglected or dumped in a pound and help them to find permanent, loving homes.

April 27, 2008

A huge thank you to Courtney and Jill, and Diane of Best West on St James for putting on the Best Friends Day several weeks ago. They raised over $400 for HHBCR! Thank you also to Tim Hellsten of http://www.thphotography.ca who took pet portraits, and to everyone who came out in support of HHBCR. Your support is SO appreciated!

April 22, 2008

Tusani and Volpe are two dogs that were treated like nothing more than waste. We live in a throw away society, where even living creatures are to be discarded like yesterday's newspaper. Their stories are heart breaking, but their spirit is nothing short of miraculous.

TUSANI
A rescuer named Lisa was called about a neighbour's dog. She said the dog was in really bad shape and desperately needed help. The weather was horrendous, and althoug Lisa did not want to drive, she did, for the sake of the dog. She drove into the area, but couldn't seem to find the dog in question. There was a house trailer, broken down and surrounded by trash everywhere. It was freezing rain, and miserable.

There appeared to be a blanket, or a trash bag on a table. Lisa drove closer, and was appalled by what she saw. It was a dog. Frozen to the top of the picnic table. It had been raining that night, and the temperature had plunged. The dog was not moving. Lisa got out of her car, instantly getting accosted by several other dogs. She threw caution to the wind, and ran to the dog. The dog didn't move, except to shift it's gaze and look at her, begging for help.

Lisa ran to the the trailer and knocked. The people came out, and she told them she was taking the dog to the vet. "This dog is not going to live!" she cried. They refused to let her take the poor creature. "It's our dog. You can't have her."

Lisa finally told them "If you let me take her and vet her, I will pay for it and you can have her back."

They finally relented. A young girl emerged from the trailer and moved the dog off the table. The dog was emaciated, severe hair loss from mange, and her tail was broken. It was pathetic. Lisa took the dog to the car.

"If you are going to take that dog, you might as well take this one too." The young girl pulled back a piece of tin from under the trailer, and there she was, a tiny little pup, barely any fur left on her body. The mange had been eating her alive. Lisa gasped, took the wee pup and the mother, and drove immediately to the vet clinic.

Sadly, the pup did not make it. Her whole life of three months had been nothing but misery and hell, and she finally succumbed.

Lisa named the mother Sadie, and over time they nursed her back to health. They had to get this dog out of their limited space and into a rescue where she could be rehabilitated and adopted out.

An SOS went out on the internet, and sadly nobody came to her aid. After seeing the sad story over and over again, we at HHBCR decided that although Sadie likely doesn't have any Border Collie in her, she was a very needy soul who deserved a second chance.

Ruth renamed her Tusani, which means "Beautiful". Tusani was moved up to Winnipeg on a transport, and when she arrived we could not believe how gentle and loving she is. Tusani is one of the most affectionate dogs we have ever met. We are hoping to find this dog the perfect home, where she will be loved and taught how to be a normal dog.

VOLPE (Little Fox)
Volpe's photos showed up on a Border Collie Rescue forum that I belong to, and his little face broke my heart. I named him Volpe, which is Italian for fox...he looks just like one! Just 5 months old, and a dangling useless broken leg. What I didn't know until he arrived was, the break was over two months old. Nobody had bothered to get it fixed.

We transported Volpe and Tusani together. One from Ohio, one from Kentucky. When they arrived, Volpe came to my home overnight so he could see the vet the next day, then go into foster care with our friend Cecilia. When he arrived, he seemed very lethargic and withdrawn. I took him out and had pottied, and went right back into his kennel. I chalked it up to a long trip and a scared pup. He had something to eat and drink, and went to sleep in his crate.

The next morning, he would not eat. He looked terrible. I found a huge mass on his side. I rushed him to Charleswood Vet Clinic where Doctor Steuart looked at him. "I am not going to lie to you Sally," she said. "It doesn't look good. He is in serious shock, which indicates internal bleeding."

I fell apart. This poor little guy had been through so much, only to die? No way. Doctor Steuart promised she would do everything she could to save him, but warned there wasn't a lot of hope. I went home in tears. I told everyone on the rescue forum and on the transport what had happened. They all said they would pray for our little Volpe.

As the day progressed, the news got better. He had a blood transfusion and he was even eating. There was nothing found in the ultrasound that was very bad. We believe that Volpe has a blood clotting problem, and that he likely played too hard with Tusani when they overnighted on transport, and he got hurt. A normal dog wouldn't have had an issue, but Volpe did.

We don't know yet what is in store for Volpe. Probably he will have to have his rear leg amputated, and it will be an ordeal due to his clotting problem, but he is a strong willed little boy, and he will make it.

And when he pulls through, he will be looking for his forever home just like Tusani.

April 21, 2008

A huge thank you to Rebecca Lietzau from Minnesota who made us some gorgeous blankies for our rescue dogs!

This is Volpe, who is demonstrating how wonderful and comfy they are!