Bert2-25-06


	Age & Sex: 2 yr old Male


UTD: Yes


	Weight: 77 lbs. & Rising


Other Dogs: Yes Cats: Yes


	Color: Flashy Fawn


Children: Under 5: Unknown


	Ears: Natural


Children Over 5: Yes


	Tail: Docked


Professional Training Required: No


	Neutered: Yes


Microchipped: No


	Owner Surrender


Location: Bushkill, NY

Adoption Donation $300
Special Needs: Diabetes medication injection, needs to be let out
every 4/5 hours & requires plenty of exercise.

4/8/06 - Bert has the most wonderful news to share with everyone, he is being adopted by a family who has one member of that family who works from home and is also a diabetic and knows the importance of lots of exercise. If we had conjured up a family with a magical spell, we could not have found a more appropriate one.

3/29/06 - With his medication under control and now having regular exercise, Bert has transformed into a super fit young man, full the joys of springtime and with a zest for life itself! Like any young healthy Boxer, Bert needs walking and playtime every day, after which he will settle down for a good ol snooze, whether in his crate or snuggling beside you. Bert is real comedian and has us entertained with his antics, he still loves his Mr Carrot toy the best and likes to throw him high in the air. Bert would like to thank Dr Bloom and all of the staff at veterinary clinic in NJ for recognizing that this special boy just needed some help to get back on his feet, even when he was sick, they saw Bert's sweet personality shining through and knew that he was a worthy cause. When speaking to the girls at the Vet's they told us that as each one took it in turn to take Bert home with them during his stay, he met a couple of cats and though he was interested, was not negative towards them in any way. If you are considering offering this wonderful boy a forever home, BAR,if needed,can assist with some of the cost ofBert's medication.

3/13/06 - Hey everyone, Bert Boxer here, I just had to share with you how great my life is now. I feel fit and healthy and have put on weigh thanks to all of the delicious food here which I sit and wait patiently for. My dark fawn red coat is super shiny and I have muscles coming, I'm looking pretty darned handsome, even if I do say so myself! I love to play with my friends here, chasing balls, rolling around in the sun or just hanging out at home, my foster buddies and I are one big happy family and one day we hope to have our very own homes. I walk very nicely on the lead, am learning to come when called, know to wait when a door is opened and I am especially good when I have to take my medicine. If you are looking for a special boy, well look no further, I'm your man! Bert We have been injecting Bert's daily meds with a simple under the skin shot ( just like a regular Diabetic) for 10 days now and are delighted to say that it has been 100% successful. He will sit or lie down while injected, showing no reaction and always gets his favorite treat, a piece of cheese after. The amount of drug used has been halved and he only needs his medicine twice a day at 12 hour intervals. This of course is fantastic news for Bert as the cost of his treatment has been significantly reduced and his new family will not have to stick to such a rigid timetable of frequent medication. This helps Bert to lead a completely normal life just like any other healthy Boxer. We feel very happy for Bert and optimistic for his future.

3/6/06 - Bert has done so well here in the Pocono's! He looks wonderful! He was quite thin when he arrived due to his Diabetes not being properly treated. Since he's been with us, he has put on a nice amount of weight and is probably only a couple of pounds shy of his target now. He is incredibly calm and sweet and just a nice boy to have around. He does the boxer dance in the morning when he wakes up and has a silly five minutes, then its back to the sofa for a snooze. Bert has leash walking training and play time with his buddies every day so in the evenings, he just takes it easy and snoozes by the fire or takes himself upstairs for a nap in the loft. Bert never passes by the invitation for a cuddle. If you want to cuddle with this boy - get your application in quick! As for the diabetes insipidus, we have recently begun injecting Bert's medicine under his skin. It is a simple jab under the skin, just like the regular diabetes injections, and twice a day. We are hopeful that this method will reduce costs significantly and/or will reduce the length of time between treatments to twice a day. Although it is early days, things are looking very promising. If successful, this will be a great advantage for Bert and his adopters as it will make his life an even more normal one and his diabetes more manageable.

3/1/06 - Bert has settled into his new routine beautifully. He is a real love and is very well behaved, he's a pleasure to have around! He sits very calmly while he's having his medication, currently in the form of drops in his eyes. Bert loves to run and play with balls, he runs like a young colt, all legs, just running for the joy of it! He knows basic commands and is learning manners, which he picks up super fast. He is very calm around the house and loves to find a comfy spot to snooze the hours away after a good play with his new buddies. Due to his unsettled life while at the Vet's, Bert's medication wasn't that effective and he couldn't maintain any body weight but thankfully now that he is in a home with three good meals a day he will be up to his correct weight in no time and looking like a fine young man. Bert has all the makings of a perfect gentleman, all he needs is a loving home and some ongoing basic training. Keep watching for more Bert updates.

2/26/06 - Welcome Bert! We picked up Bert from the Vet's office late on Friday night where he has been taken care for the last month. The vet told us that he was dropped off and the owners asked them to euthanized him. We heard that the owners said that they were tired of him and simply had no wish to keep him any longer. Of course the Vet refused, he felt that he deserved so much more and now Bert is in the safe hands of BAR.

This is unbelievable because Bert is such a sweetie! He is quite calm, easygoing and has shown nothing but friendliness towards our 4 other Boxers. He walks well on the lead, loves to play ball, is crate trained and is just so easygoing.

Like many of our beloved Boxers, Bert has a health issue, one which will be with him for the rest of his life but thankfully with his medicine, Bert can lead a normal life and his future looks bright. The cost of his medication can be a bit on the costly side, and anyone thinking of adding Bertie to their family that is concerned about the cost should discuss this with our placement director as BAR is prepared to assist with the cost of this medication.
Below is a little about Berts condition. As his foster home, we have personally owned a Boxer for 10 years who died aged 12, who had the same illness. He lived a full and normal life like any other pet and his illness was never a problem, it just made him all the more special.

Bert has been diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus, a rare condition (possibly seen in Boxers more than other breeds) where the Kidneys are unable to concentrate urine due to a lack of ADH (anti diuretic hormone) normally produced in the Pituitary gland. This leads to the afflicted dogs urinating huge amounts of very weak urine and feeling constantly thirsty, it's a miserable cycle of urinating, dehydrating and drinking. The great news for dogs and cats is that they respond well to the synthetic hormone replacement that humans take for the same condition. We wouldn't deprive a child of a loving home just because they were a DI sufferer and our Bertie boy is just the same. He will fill any home with love and loyalty and win the hearts of everyone he meets.
When we collected Bert from the Vet's, all the staff came out to say goodbye and wish him well. They had taken turns to care for and take him home each night, one of them ran after us and handed us the fluffy carrot toy that you see in the photo, "he must take this " she said "I bought it especially for him".
We waved goodbye and promised to let them know when Bert finds that extra special family out there, ready to open their hearts. If you think this could be you and would like to know more about this very special boy and what he has to offer, please contact the directors. Please note that any boxes checked unknown are simply because as yet we cannot confirm these points, Bert will soon be meeting children and we'll be checking with the Vet's office to see if he met any staff members children or cats. It was reported by his former family that he had lived with an 18 month old child, but we want to check him out with children ourselves.