Yes folks it’s summer! A time to enjoy all the things that summer brings, like swimming, basking in the sun, strolling in the park, or maybe a long drive out on a country road, perhaps stopping along the way for a bite. This may all sound wonderful to you, but please consider leaving your dog at home in the air conditioning. Dogs can overheat more easily than people, and it doesn’t take very long. I am horrified to see people leaving their dog in the car. Some people think it’s okay for just a few minutes or up to a half an hour if the windows are open a bit. IT’S NOT! Even when the temperature outside is 72 degrees the inside of a car heats up quickly. When the temperature outside is 100 degrees, the inside of your car can be lethal in minutes for a dog, and the windows open a bit do not affect the temperature inside the car at all. Don’t let your car become a coffin! Please don’t hesitate to intervene if you see a dog in a car, they don’t have a voice, they are helpless. If you are planning a road trip with your dog you may want to have some supplies on hand in case you break down. A cooler with cold water and ice, and some towels are a good idea. Wet the towels and apply to your dog to bring down thier body temperature. Would you want to be in a car with a fur coat on in the summer? Would you suggest waiting in the car while your family has a bite to eat, and” hey just crack the windows a little bit, I’m in the shade, and you won’t be long.” I DON’T THINK SO! There are people who feel the need to excercise outdoors in this heat, please leave your dog at home. How would you like to run or walk in bare feet with a fur coat on! Please also be careful with swimming. Not all dogs can swim well. Most bulldogs swim like a cinderblock, that won’t be fun. If you like to bask in the sun, and you want your dog alongside you, please consider his skin tone. Our bulldogs have pink, fair skin, so please remember the sunscreen. Apply sunscreen to the belly and above the nose, this is the most susceptable areas for sunburn and melanoma. Yes, dogs can get skin cancer. Let’s stop and think about the fact that there are dogs living outside on a chain without enough water and shelter from the sun. We at ABR get calls every day, summer is so busy, we could use extra help. Please consider helping us to save the over abundance of dogs in need during this time. Without the help of good people, many dogs will die. If you can’t help, maybe you know someone who can. Please, be a part of a very rewarding and noble task. Helping a dog in need may be a wonderful life changing experience for you. Stay cool, Trish

P.S. Here’s a tip for a summer dog treat. Pour some chicken or beef broth in ice cube trays or popsicle molds and freeze!

” The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm” Anonymous

Donations:
Barberry Cabinets • The Loyal Blanfords • Bobbie G • Jan Hyer • Alexandra Binner
Tracey Rooney • The Brownyard Family  •  The Breiningers  •  Heidi West and her friends at Pepsi

We miss you Emily!! A Lot!

We Need Foster Homes:

the kids playing	Jefferson is one of our ABR long timers. He was saved at the last second from euthanasia in a Louisiana shelter. Emaciated, HIGH heart worm positive, and battling against all of the emotional damage this level of longstanding abuse can cause. Rescue tends to focus on the physical signs of neglect and abuse as these are typically easier ailments to treat. No one really knows what these poor babies have endured in their time of suffering before rescue and in such intelligent of a breed, it’s sometimes very hard for them to press on. Some, like Jefferson, instead completely shut down as their way to cope. We know for certain that Jefferson’s case was one of the very worst. As his wounds slowly healed, we (Jefferson and a huge crew of dedicated staff) worked very hard with an incredible trainer to help Jefferson reintegrate or maybe even just integrate for the first time, into what would be his new life.For the longest time, he would look off in the distance, unresponsive to all talk and signs from a handler, almost as if he were deaf (he is def not!). He would stand emotionless as you pet, touched, talked to him. We wondered for a while if he wasn’t just a little special =) I’m very happy to say that this is no longer the case…at ALL!!! Jefferson has made a complete turn around and relishes people attention. He will come sit all 100+ lbs of himself on your lap, smoosh his wonderful droopy bulldog lips on your face (because he doesn’t just kiss, he makes a full facial commitment) and just enjoy being with you. He likes to be in the company of other dogs, walks spectacularly on lead, has been a wonderful house guest at his fabulous foster home- he has made us so very proud! . If you think you are worthy of this incredible, beautiful, majestic, kind, gentle, smooshy, drooly love muffin please send in an application. Jeff has fought so very hard, now he just needs his “happy tail”! Jefferson and the kids playing video
	Mima responds really well to people. We could tell she was stressed in the shelter– she relaxed a lot when we walked her about 200 yards away from the shelter and away from all of the barking. We were able to play with her paws and ears with no problem. She knows sit. She’s a really sweet chill girl. We threw a ball for her in the play area and she initially chased it, but she really just wanted to sit and be petted. : ) Mima needs a foster home. She is in a shelter in MD.
	SPECIAL NEEDS: Poor Tulip was confiscated from a hoarding situation. She is not in the best shape. She was living in a filthy home with 8 other dogs and a lot of reptiles. Tulip has some eye issues and was seen by a regular vet, has been getting drops which have not been enough. She will be heading to the Opthomologist as soon as we can get her an appointment. She could really use a foster home. She is in boarding where is getting her drops but she needs alot of loving. She is like a little stuffed animal, very snuggly and rather calm. She is located in Bucks County, PA.
	Fancy was found by some kids and then picked up by animal control. She had really bad fly strike on her ears and is a bit thin. She so sweet she had to have been someones pet at some point. She’s around 2 years old. Fancy knows she is gorgeous and does not like other dogs sharing her spotlight. So, she would have to be worshiped as the only k9 in the home.
	Chopper is 11 months old and walks fairly well on a leash, appears to be house broken, great with large and small dogs, loves kids and cuddling, he can be a little barky when he wants attention he loves the car and is calm cool and collected for rides. He is very happy and very healthy. Poor Chopper is stuck in boarding in MD until he finds a foster family.
	Doesn’t Tango look wonderful? He’s had his eyes fixed and been neutered and now the only thing he’s waiting for is his very own home! Tango is approx. 2-3 years old and is such a fantastic boy! He definitely had a Guardian Angel watching over him when his GREAT (not good-GREAT) samaritan literally saved his life. She witnessed him falling into a canal in Florida at midnight. She convinced 2 guys to jump in and save him. This was the first miracle in this sweet boys life. He was very lucky that an alligator didn’t snatch him. He’s also very lucky Patty was there because most American Bulldogs don’t swim and will sink like a rock. His second miracle is Patty herself. Patty has taken great care of Tango and got him all fixed up and delivered to our boarding facility until a foster home opens up for this wonderful guy. Tango is going to be a big boy and now weighs a skinny 80+ lbs. I expect him to reach 90-100 easily. He pays no attention to other dogs or cats and just wants to be with people and LOVED. Tango is located in Hawthorne, FL.

STILL WAITING:

	Sweet and wonderful Daisy has waited a very, very long time and hasn’t had one single person interested in making her a part of their home forever. I had the pleasure of spending the entire day with her yesterday (her foster family has to move out of state) while bringing her to a new foster home and shopping at Petsmart for a new bed and manicure and then lunch at a wonderful Mexican restaurant. She greeted her new foster family with wiggles and smiles and lots and lots of hugs and kisses. They are absolutely smitten with Daisy as is every person that stopped to tell her how beautiful and well behaved she was. Daisy truly is an easy going and fabulous dog. I don’t understand why no one wants to adopt her. She’ll never be anyone’s jogging partner but seeing her greet you at the door with a huge smile and lots of wiggles is so much better in my eyes. She really is the perfect dog.
	SPECIAL NEEDS: Roxy is doing well. Saw Dr. Darko on Monday. I was giving Roxy a car ride to pick up more homeopathic remedy (and I wanted to weigh her), but when Dr. D learned she was with, he wanted to see her. She is the same with the pneumonia. No better, no worse. I am hoping this new remedy helps loosen up some of the stuff in her lungs. She is still on the doxy and cipro, but we can’t begin her heartworm treatment until the pneumonia gets better. We go back on Wednesday, so I will be sure to ask him what he thinks. She’s been playful this week and no bad days. The last few weeks, about once a week, you could tell she didn’t feel very good. She didn’t want to play and wasn’t as active. So I am hoping the new homeopathic in combination with the meds are working their magic. She was still 77 lbs, so no weight gain, but at least she hasn’t lost any. She’s still eating well. She has low iron.
	Sassy is a approximately 2 yr old spayed female who is up to date on all her vaccinations. This bundle of love was dumped at a shelter with two other bulldogs and needs a home to learn what it is like to be loved. She is a friendly, very sweet, small for her age and QUIET. She is working on her house training after never being allowed in a house or getting any real attention. She is a fast learner and eager to please! Sassy walks great on a leash, no pulling, just happy to have someone to walk with her. Sassy tends to be submissive and does better on a grain free diet. This is a dog who clearly finds the joy in her life just having someone to care for her, a simple thing she has never had. Sassy is in Delaware Sassy Movie
	Tiny is a quiet, shy 3 year old who came to us when her family relocated and could not take her. She misses them very much and seems sad at the kennel. Tiny is housebroken, walks nicely on a leash and is a well mannered girl. She lived with teenage children and enjoyed playing with the neighbor’s dog.
	HI! I’m Piper and trust me, I am as cute in real life as I look in these pictures. I am super happy, fun, love my tennis balls & rides in the truck, and most of all I love my people and my doggie buddies. Cuddling up is my favorite past time. I play nice with kids and other big dogs but, not so good with cats ( they’re really fun to chase though). My foster family said my obedience is coming along nicely and I am working hard at being a good girl. I guess I won’t get away with my good looks all my life so I better shape it up. It’s kind of hard since I have had such a rough time so far. I know sit, wait, and come and we are working hard on my kennel training. I am still a bit of a work in progress but I am soooo worth it, after all I’m still a puppy. I’m very thankful for lots of love, good food, and tons of belly rubs and even though I’m tan and white, I promise you I am true blue!
Percilla is overcoming her fears with the help of Blitz Pet Pros and is making great progress. She needs to go into a home with a male K9 companion.	PERCELLA is just 12 months old now and was found virtually blind. Her eye lids turned under and she wouldn’t open her eyes since it hurt her so much. She has since had surgery and can see, a whole new world opened up for her and she’s like a BABY. She loves to play and always has a sqeaky toy in her mouth. She treats her toys with much respect and handles them gently. She’s very frightened of new things and people but will warm up after a time. She needs lots of socialization but discovers new things every day and once she knows you will become your good friend. She was most likely a back yard breeders dog who saw her problem eyes and just left her outside to fend for herself. She finally escaped and was found at the young age of 7 months by the ACO and when brought to the shelter, she was skin and bones, had mange on her upper body from trying to dig her way out (which she did) and of course couldn’t see. She Loves, just Loves others dogs, especially male dogs. She also loves to go for car rides so she can see the world.
	Remember the 4 beauties that came in together as “strays” but were amazingly bonded….hmmm. Well Rainbow and Sheriff went to Texas and Duke and Rambo remained in Florida. Duke and Rambo were finally sprung from boarding and have a wonderful foster mamma that couldn’t believe the ease of introducing 2 more dogs to their 2 other dogs. They are that good and well behaved. Bo came to us from a high kill shelter, as part of a group of 4. He’s a stunning bulldog who has wonderful AB physical traits (extremely muscular- large build) as well as alot of the typical personality traits…he is VERY proud and quite stubborn when he wants to be. He is very loving and sweet though and likes to be the center of attention. Bo seems to be happiest as an only dog. I am hanging out in Tamarac, FL
Rusty is cool. Rusty knows he is cool. At 18 month he went from being an adorable puppy who was allowed to do whatever he liked because it was probably very cute and very funny …to a 100 + pound puppy who doesn’t understand why anyone it telling him what to do! Lucky for Rusty his foster dad is an amazing trainer and he is learning how to do everything he is supposed to without a treat. He is housebroken and crate trained. He does not chew or ruin anything, when left alone and will go to his new family with training classes for life. He should live in a home as an only dog. He is located near Quakertown PA.

New Arrivals:

	Little Gifford was an owner surrender to a kill shelter by a breeder!!!! He was only 5 weeks old when dropped off in very bad shape. The shelter originally thought he had water on his brain (hydrocephalis) and was going to euthanize him. As it turns out, this little cutie appeared to have been attacked by a large dog and the attack left him with a large abscess that,(as you can see), disappeared with good medical care and antibiotics. Unfortunately, one of Gifford’s beautiful green eyes was too badly damaged and will have to be removed. But this doesn’t stop this little guy from wanting to hang out with the ‘big dogs’! He wants nothing to do with playing with the other little tykes at his foster home….no, not Gifford. He goes charging out the door to play and run with all of the adult dogs. He is such a little stinker….lol Gifford is located in S. Florida
	Ginger is just the sweetest most grateful girl, she came to us emaciated without a muscle in her entire body. We can promise you she will eat well, get lots of exercise and will look shiny and fit in no time. She loves other dogs and does not have an ounce of animal aggression. Every person she meets is her best friend. She is aprox. 2 years old and she is totally crate trained, good on a leash and a real lady.
	Franks description: Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy Happy as you can see from his happy face, what you see is what you get!!! This 7-8 month old pup is everyone’s best friend; pigs, dogs and humans ants, birds and bees. Frank came to us emaciated, without a muscle is his entire body, but that is the past. Frank can get his exercise just greeting all of the new friends he makes. Frank is crate trained, perfect on a leash, he smiles (really) and has about 5 different faces all of which make you smile.
	Nola is 44 lbs and approximately 5 mos. old. She is very behaved and highly intelligent. She is going to make some family very proud Nola was confiscated and spent over 30 days in a shelter before ABR was able to save her. She is in a wonderful foster home with her foster sisters Mojo and Pumpkin Head. Mojo and Nola are in love with each other. They are running and playing and are inseparable. As you can see, she wasn’t overly thrilled with her first bath….Nola is located in New Orleans. If you’re interseted in finding out more about her, please contact Carey@AmericanBulldogRescue.org

Happy Tails:

	Little Julie is home with her new daddy after her heart worm treatment this week. I’ll never understand how people can’t spend $10.00 a month to prevent this horrible and deadly but preventable disease. Lucky for Little Julie, now called Jules, she has a fantastic daddy that just adores her and will keep her quiet and comfortable for the next 6 weeks.
	This brings tears to our eyes. We are soooo excited for you and Mo! This is her wonderful foster mom Mary introducing Mojo to her new momma. Mary did a fantastic job turning Mojo’s life around. She started out with a feral puppy and turned her into a lovely lady.
I must cut this missive short. The Master whom I currently control must leave to go to work. More later… Please, I beg of you, stop this madness. Calliope (Callie)(Cowie)(poop-eater)	Finally, I have been able to convince the jail keeper to allow a call for mercy. You don’t know the conditions that I am being forced to live under.   The terms of my captivity are not for the squeamish. I am under a strict diet of no grain food of the worst quality. (I think I even saw the term “dog food” on the bag, made by a cruel person so scared to own up to it that he calls himself the “Blue Buffalo.” If I ever find him…   I am forced to sleep in an orthopedic bed in “the Master’s Bedroom”, as my cell mate has displayed hip problems and my constant attempts to confuse him by switching beds  has forced “the Master” to buy two of them.   While I have lost my edge and have soft pink paws now, with short nails you couldn’t hurt a flea with, I attempt to maintain my fitness with daily outings with the other inmate in “the Yard”. However, they keep me on a leash when we go for our daily walks, or I would be forced to defend these putrid beings, as is my nature.   The one called mother-in-law has cute feet. I like her for some reason, and lick them whenever possible. Maybe she can aid in my escape. The cell mate is big, but he’s soft, and I can take him. I constantly keep him in line by chewing on his face and paws while he makes pathetic attempts to push me away by batting me with those same paws.
	I don’t know if you remember me or not, but about a year ago I adopted a scared little boxer-bull dog cross from you named. Lucy. I wanted to send you a couple of pictures and send you a short note to let you know that we has re-named her Lola not too long anfter having her and that she and I have become inseparable. She is growing up into a beautiful girl with the most loving heart and is so wicked smart that at times it almost scares me. It is odd to think that at one time I rescued her, because now most of the time she rescues me. She is the love of my life and I still remember the day I met you and brought her home. I always have you to thank for her. I hope things are well with you. What you are doing for these dogs is a gift from God and there are many days I wish I had the finances to walk away from my job and do what you do. Take care and thank you again for my Lola Linda

IN THE NEWS: http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/newsletter/2010-09/bully.htm

Awesome video of the week

Gunther’s video Gunther’s mom says: This boy is my heart!