Many of you may be wondering why Boston Terriers? Anyone who knows me knows that these little guys are very dear to my heart. My family has had them for generations and I have continued that love. I have been lucky to be surrounded by these wonderful dogs most of my life. Currently I have three of my own Lilly, Gordon and Remy. After losing my oldest, Daisy, last July I began thinking about all the time, emotion and medical issues she/us went through. I knew that I really wanted to give something back to the dogs that meant so much to me and my family. My husband and I were at a point in our lives where we did not have children but were in a really good place to take on this challenge. Once he was on board with me there was no looking back....
Daisy the one who started it all
I applied to start volunteering for the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue this past year and within a day of passing all my interviews I had my first foster, Yoda. Luckily Yoda was simply lost and found her home and is safe and sound. My second foster was Harley who was an emergency rescue when his 80 year old owner passed away. The family wanted him put down and luckily a dear friend to the lady who passed away called the rescue. I remember after having Yoda in the house and chaos with Lilly and Gordon my husband and I were a little hesitant of taking in another. Originally we were not going to foster only temporary fostering for the last resort dogs. I was driving to do cross country practice with my horse when I read the urgent email from the rescue coordinator; it stated that Harley must be picked up by Friday or he would be put down. This was a no brainer for me I called the rescue right away and said we would take him. That evening the friend of Vesta, the lady who passed, called me in tears thanking me for taking him and me assuring her that he would be in excellent care. She explained that Harley had only been with Vesta and that he was partially blind but a very sweet guy. We were no stranger to blind dogs after struggling with Daisy's eyes for years so it seemed like a good fit. That weekend we went to get Harley and he was of coarse absolutely adorable and totally blind! The poor guy was scared to death but trusted us as we took him from the only home he had known. I looked around as we left and saw all the pictures of Harley and Vesta and it broke my heart for her knowing that her family didnt want him and for him losing his closest friend.
Once we got Harley home we did the meet and greet with the dogs and everything went fine. Gordon especially liked him and knew something wasn't right with him. They would play a stomp game where they would jump and slap their paws on the ground so that Harley knew where he was. Although things seemed good Harley just wasnt comfortable. He would pace the house until he would pass out and when he ran into things with his bulgy eyes he would yelp in pain. A week into having him, Harley and Lilly were playing in the kitchen when he lost his balance and landed on a soda can box. Lilly freaked out and here came the chaos luckily everyone seemed fine...then I heard Harley crying. His eye was huge, red and bleeding.....great. I tried to clean up his eye but he was so scared and in pain that he would try and bite me. I rushed him to the vet where all they could was diagnose a hematoma and give us some pills. They couldnt check his eye thoroughly without sedating him and since he had a heart murmur they were concerned how he would react. I got Harley home and comfortable and I was in a panic about what to do. I felt like I had failed this dog but I knew it was no ones fault including Lilly. No one was rough housing it was normal Boston play and Harley lost his way. I called the rescue to see if we could find him a better foster with dogs that were older and less playful than mine. I worried that he would never recover if he continued to play and be stressed.
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Within a day I had the name and number of a possible foster and I called her right away. She was extremely thorough asking me all kinds of questions about my dog experience and what exactly had happened. I was a little intimidated by her and it made me wonder if I was cut out for this. We arranged for Harley to go stay with her the next day and the entire drive I was a ball of emotion. What if her house wasn't nice? What if she wasn't nice, what if, what if.....I couldnt decide if I was making the best decision for him or not. I arrived at her house and breathed a huge sigh of relief, her house was gorgeous and much better suited for him than mine. Once I met her I breathed another sigh of relief, we had a instant connection and I am happy to say we are great friends. She had an entire room set up for rescue and three rescues of her own. She had been doing the rescue for years and had rehomed over 200 dogs! I was blown away with her knowledge and determination for this cause. I can honestly say that if it wasn't for her mentoring me through these rescues I don't know if I could have continued. I felt good about leaving Harley and I already had another foster coming to me the next day. (Harley sadly passed away after an extensive eye and throat surgery and a month after coming into rescue. It was a sudden an unexpected event but his fosters gave him the best of care until the very end)
Our next foster was Leftee. He was an abandoned Boston who was found and brought into the rescue. He was skinny and had not quite grown into his body but a super sweet boy who fit in with the crew right away. He was full of energy and his main issue was that he loved food way too much! He would steal anything lol. He was a very active guy and loved everyone and everything. We knew that he probably wouldn't be around for long and within a week he had potential adopter! The adopting family was in Michigan and I just happened to be traveling to a horse show three hours from them that coming weekend. As a foster I am in charge of interviewing all potential adopters and making the best decision for the dog. I had a giant list of questions which happily the family could answer. They seemed like a great fit and since I could not visit them in person they were nice enough to send me pictures. They lived in Traverse City Michigan on 30 acres of land, were super active and already had three other dogs. Apparently all the dogs loved the wife and the husband felt left out and wanted a boston lol. I felt good about this family so Leftee traveled with me to Michigan where his new family drove three hours to get him. (Leftee is doing wonderful and loves his new life. He has already been hiking, boating and enjoying his new crew)
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Leftee and his new mom
After a whirlwind of fosters we decided to take a bit of a break. I was still helping out with transports and whatever else I could help out with. About 6 weeks ago I read another email desperate for a rescue. A mom and 6 week old puppy were rescued from an unstable puppy miller and taken in by a Mastiff rescuer, the catch it was 8 hours away in Pennsylvania. I waited to see if anyone closer was willing to go and no one was able to do it. The rescue was getting pounded with dogs coming in 24 in a month! Foster homes were getting low and I felt like I needed to do this one. I made some playlists and hit the road for a 16 hour round trip to get these guys. I agreed to take in the puppy since I knew he would get along with our dogs and he would most likely be adopted quickly.
First pic of mom and pup
It was a lonnnnngggg drive im not going to lie and it rained the entire way but after going deep into the mountains I arrived to the home where the two dogs were. I loaded them up in a kennel in the back of the mini and started back home. The mom was adorable but needed medical care asap her poor nipples were huge and swollen. Despite that she was very sweet and just wanted to be held. The puppy was a puppy and seemed unphased by everything. Although the mom was full boston the puppy was a mix of something but adorable. I made it home around 11 and had to be at the vet in Mason at 9am the next morning. The dogs would be vetted and the mom would stay and be treated until her foster could come get her. Puppy(Remy) was fine and healthy and mom (olive) was going to be okay as well. Sadly she was only four but had been bred over and over. It is amazing that she was so incredibly sweet despite everything!
Remy and I headed over to my mentors house so she could see him then we headed home to meet the other two. Lilly was fine and very tolerant. Gordon took a little longer but finally gave in after a few tiffs. The rest is history with Remy. Although we said over and over we would not keep him he ended up wiggling his way into our hearts and anyone who knows him knows why. Although he is not your normal outgoing puppy we are continuing to work with him and a trainer to bring him out of his shell. He attended his first horse show with me this past weekend and did awesome. He loves to snuggle and play and we couldn't love him anymore. (Remy is doing awesome and his mom Olive is in perfect health ready to find a home)
Olive, Remys mom, today
Remy healthy and spoiled
Lilly, Gordon and Remy
-Michelle
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