But then I went to the vet and we got some sad news.  I am heartworm positive!  I need to go through treatment to get rid of these “bugs” so please send a donation if you can to help us pay this big vet bill and soon I will be available for adoption.

Thanks to Ellen Van Buren for sponsoring Chubby Hugs!

Chubby Hugs was found stray in Lansing .  After his hold was up in the local shelter, he came to live in the Pug foster home in APB.  Sadly, at his first visit to the vet, we learned that he is deaf, mostly blind, and has a terminal heart condition.  Chubby has a lot of love to give, too much perhaps, as his heart is three times the normal size!  We do not know how long Chubby will live.  He requires daily medications in the form of three separate prescription drugs.  As Chubby will remain in his foster home the rest of his life, we are asking for donations to help offset the cost of his medication.  Chubby is sweet and loves to give kisses.  He also likes to take “power naps” as the picture shows!  Chubby will be loved, spoiled, and well-cared for as long as he’s around.

Update:
Chubby Hugs crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 1/26/08.  He had developed complications with his liver and fought a brave fight.  He is very much missed by his foster mommy and daddy. Many thanks to all of his sponsors, the kind staff of Miller Animal Clinic, and to those who sent good wishes and notes of condolence.  Best wishes little buddy – you were so loved!

Thanks to Michelle Shauger-Tuczak & Ellen Van Buren for sponsoring Booker!

ADOPTED!!!

UPDATE: Booker has had his surgery, and is recovering well. He's ready for a new home!

Thanks to Mary & Randall Terpstra for sponsoring Caulie!

I was found as a stray but they say that someone took good care of me at one time or else I am just a wonderful obedient girl because I was more than amazing with how well I cooperated for my bath and grooming.  However, once the hair was washed and groomed, then everyone could see the big mass that has grown on my belly.  The veterinarian removed it and now we are waiting for the lab to send back a report that it is benign – PLEASE SEND POSITIVE THOUGHTS MY WAY THAT IT IS because everyone who has meet me thinks I will make someone one awesome pet!

Once the report comes back, hopefully I will be available for adoption but meantime, if you want to donate something to help pay for my surgery and lab work, please help me out!  THANKS!

Thanks to John & Karen Schankin for sponsoring Brooke!

It is clear from Brooke’s mangled ears that life has not always been easy for her, yet she has one of the sweetest, most people-focused, and trusting personalities of the many dogs we have come across!  Beautiful little Brooke was an unclaimed stray that Animal Control asked APB to help with because of her extreme sweetness and because she had a visible mammary tumor that would make her adoption from the shelter unlikely. 

After scheduling surgery for Brooke to be spayed and have her tumor removed, we also learned that Brooke has additional mammary tumors that will require a second surgery.  Chest X-rays were recommended and taken to determine whether there had been any metastasis to her lungs, and fortunately none was evident.  We are hopeful that the second surgery will be the last step in giving Brooke a clean bill of health, but we are also awaiting the results of her tissue analysis to tell us exactly what kind of tumors have been growing and if additional treatment will be necessary. 

Our greatest hope is that Brooke can soon be given a clean bill of health and go on to find a wonderful family that will be hers forever, but we would very much appreciate any contributions to help pay for her surgeries and treatment along the way!

Update - June 24, 2007
WONDERFUL news! We got Brooke's lab results back, and her mammary tumors are benign!  We are planning for Brooke to have a second surgery to remove her remaining tumors, but Brooke's vet tells us that there is a high probability that the remaining tumors will turn out to be benign as well.

And Brooke says that even though she had a big yucky operation, she is feeling great and hardly sore at all now.  She loves to snuggle and get kisses, roll around joyfully on the couch, and sniff the rabbit trails in the yard!

Update - July 31, 2007
Brooke's second surgery is finished, her sutures are out, and she is feeling better than ever. The results of her second tissue analysis were not as happy as the first set, but the news is still encouraging overall. Some of the tissue removed did turn out to be cancerous, HOWEVER, it is a relatively non-aggressive form of cancer which appears to have been completely removed without spreading to another part of Brooke's body. We are thankful that the surgery was done before Brooke's condition advanced, and we have every reason to believe that she will live a healthy life from here on out!

ADOPTED!!!

Update October 25:  I am READY for adoption!!!  Even though I got demodex mange after the sarcoptic mange was treated, I am all better now and ready for my forever home!  I still look like a ratty-Nattie, as if moths have been eating my fur, but I don’t scratch anymore and all my sores are healed.  And even though my hair hasn’t all grown back in, I do have hair everywhere and it will get as long as it is suppose to in no time at all.

Now that I am feeling like a healthy puppy, I am READY TO PLAY with you.  I still want to be a lap dog and I am having quite a bit of trouble remembering not to jump on people for attention, but a little obedience will take care of any of my less desirable behaviors.  I will need to be crated for at least a few months because I love to chew on things and I am not fussy about what is a doggie toy and what is not.  But that is normal puppy behavior and I think I am still a big baby…..

So get your fingers ready to fill out an application for me because I will be a great dog for you!

Marcel

Sponsors: Kari Miles

ADOPTED!!!

UPDATE:
Marcel had his surgery Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at MSU.  He has a large scar on his chest and is shaved on one side of his body.  He looked rather like a Franken-dog, pretty pathetic.  He didn't move much at all and moaned when I picked him up. When I picked him up prior to his surgery I could feel his heart making a definite whooshing sound. Now three weeks later he is zipping around the house, climbing on crates to investigate and being a great loving companion and except for the extreme hairdo you wouldn't know he was so ill. He is a very special little guy and now will have the kind of life he deserves thank to the supporters of Animal Placement Bureau who are helping us assist these special needs dogs.
 

ADOPTED!!!

He was rescued by an unknown kind soul from a breeder who was going to put him down because he is not the “perfect” Golden puppy. Due to a hormone deficiency his tail is short and a little crooked and he had a defect called hypospadia.

Hypospadia is a congenital anomaly of the external genitalia, in which there is fusion failure of the urogenital folds and incomplete development of the penile urethra . The condition is rare and the etiology is unclear. A recent episode of Emergency Vets on Animal Planet featured an operation on another Golden to correct this defect. Hypospadia can lead to problems if not corrected.

Thanks to APB he had the expensive surgery required and he is now fine. He is a typical Golden. He is playful, yet very, very loving. He plays with his buddies Treasure, a Standard Poodle, or Hannah, a Labradoodle. They play tug-of-war with their toys and every once in a while they stop to come to me and be petted. He is a super, super boy. What a shame it would have been for him to have been put down! He is a joy to be around. He has had all his shots and is neutered.

Traveler is housebroken and crate trained and seems fine in the crate here as long as he has had some outside playtime. He gets along well with other dogs and loves to play in the yard and with his toys. He is fine with my 5 and 10 year old granddaughters.

His new home would, ideally, be one with a fenced yard for him to play in and maybe a companion dog for him to play with. Also, since he has to go outside a little more often than normal, maybe a home with someone who works out of their home or a retired person so he is not crated all day. This condition may get better and it may not. After all that he has been through, he really deserves a special forever home!

ADOPTED!!!

Once she is healed, she will be ready for a home – probably in late May.  This home can have other dogs because even when her leg was hurting, she was great with all the dogs and even tried to play.  She is also very friendly with people and is affectionate and obedient. 

Hazel update:
Hazel did not have her pin removed as was hoped in May.  She will be re-checked and hopefully the bone will be healed enough for removal near the end of June.  Meanwhile, we have learned that Hazel is a "runner" and will take any chance she can get to escape out the yard to go out and about exploring.  If you call her, she totally ignores you!  So Hazel is going to need some serious obedience work with a new owner so that she does not get away and break another leg!  She loves to play with other dogs but does sometime act afraid and will bark at some new dogs.  When meeting new people, she can act very nervous but she loves to sit in laps and adores attention.

Adopted!

Tiger Sez:
Ouch! Both of my front legs quit working! Da puppy doctor sez they're BROKE! I can’t use them to walk, or runrunrun or even to sit up! I'm a smaaaaaaaaaaaaaart puppy, tho, and I figgered out how to sit on my back legs, but my front legs just dangle there. I can also scoot around using my back legs and my chin. (Dat's not as fun as runrunrun, but a puppy's gotta do what a puppy's gotta do!)

So, dey were taking me from da hooman rescue lady to da puppy doctor. The transport hooman put me inna car, and we went riding. Then we weren't riding normal...we was up, we was down, we was eberrywhere!!! Da hoomans said it was a "rollover car accident". OUCH! But me an' da hooman are both finefinefine, and I got to the puppy doctor da berry next day!

Da puppy doctor says - we can fix him up-up-up!  He needs an operashun! But then...my tummy wasn't feeling bery good. And then da REST of me wasn't feeling bery good, either. Da hoomans said I got something called Parvo - I didn't get the stuff that puppies are s'posed to have, and I was bery bery sick. My foster mom and the other puppy doctor took goooood care of me, and I got medicine an' stuff, and I gotted LOTS better!

Da puppy doctor that fixes legs says all my bones and muscles and stuff has to stay where it is til I get my operashun, so I have to wear these silly splints. NO FUN! I said NONONO the first day, but now I have them all figured out - I told you I was a smaaaaaaaaaart puppy!

Sometimes I eben put my head on 'em - hey, a puppy's gotta NAP!

Da foster mom says I'm gonna have an operashun soon, and then she'll take LOTS more pics of mememe. Every day they wait to do the surgery will make it harder for da puppy doctor to fix me all up, but I gots to be healthy enuf!!

Would you pleeeeeeeeeeeeease send some ob dose dollar things so I can walk on my front legs again? I's a PUPPY, and I gots lots of runrunrun to catch up on!!!

Big hugs, and puppy kisses!

~Tiger

From da hoomans (MY story is better, but dey gots to talk, too!)
NOTE:  TIGER WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION UNTIL HE RECOVERS FROM HIS SURGERY.

On March 31st, a tiny, sweet 12 week old Shih Tzu was brought to an emergency clinic near Detroit, Michigan by his human family.  The little guy's humans told the vet that the puppy hadn't been able to walk since he fell down the steps "a few days ago".

When the vet told the family that it would cost $100-$200 to do an exam and diagnostics, they decided not to be bothered and told the vet that they would just dump him at a shelter.  Somewhat stunned, the vet encouraged them to at least let him go to rescue, but that she couldn't arrange that at midnight on a Saturday.  Impatient and not wanting to be inconvenienced any further, the owners said no and left the clinic after the clock had turned March into April.

The vet contacted a local Shih Tzu rescue anyway on the hope that the family would reconsider and come back.  That smart Shih Tzu loving lady called and e-mailed all the area shelters to alert them that a 3 month old puppy, unable to use both of his front legs might be dumped in their facilities.  Sure enough, a 12 week old Shih Tzu puppy that "was found as a stray" was surrendered to a shelter on the second of April.  Not knowing that the shelter had already been warned about them, the "kind family" that dropped him off advised the shelter staff that this poor little stray puppy just doesn't seem to be able to use his front legs at all! 

When confronted with the truth, the "humans" admitted that, yes, they had taken him to the emergency clinic but they had only found him a few days ago.  Yeah.--Right.  They signed the pup over to the shelter.  Unable to take him in, the "Shih Tzu lady" called Animal Placement Bureau in Lansing, Michigan. APB assured her that they would do their best to take care of the little puppy.  So from a shelter on the east coast of Michigan, the injured boy made the trip to the state's west coast.  And just when we thought his little life couldn't get any worse?   The volunteer that was driving him to us hit black ice and was in a roll over accident that totaled her car, put her in the hospital, and believe it or not, the poor, already battered puppy came out of it without a scratch!

Dr. Wilson (the wonder vet) sent out the x-rays to a radiologist for consultation.  Both of the little dog's front legs had the humeral condyles broken off.  While the vets concluded that a genetic condition may have made the bones easier to fracture than in a normal puppy, his broken bones wouldn't have fractured on their own and were likely the result of abuse. Unfortunately, in the fast-growing puppy, the healing had begun and after being left untreated for so long—NOT in a good way.  Surgery would have to be performed.

To make matters worse, on April 8, the pup became very, very sick and was diagnosed with Parvovirus.  The surgery would obviously have to wait, on the hope that the injured puppy might survive the Parvo.  Of course, had he been properly vaccinated by his careless owners, he probably wouldn't have caught this disease which can be deadly in puppies.  He was taken home by his caring foster care giver who kept close watch over him, dosed him with Tamiflu, administered subcutaneous fluids to make sure he didn't dehydrate and prayed, and the tough little Tiger SURVIVED!

Now that Tiger has recuperated, immediate surgery is a MUST!  He's clearly feeling better as he has begun to use his head to pull himself along, but we need to make this tough little fellow whole again.  Tiger's surgery is will be very, VERY expensive and far more than APB can afford for one single dog.  Please help this little guy to get made whole and to have the long and happy life he deserves!

Tiger's Sponsors: Sharlene Ridguard, Karen Parker - in memory of Gabriella, Sandi Tygar - in memory of Dusty, Amber Doyle, OSLF, and Robert and Leslie Nason!!

Ernie

Thanks to OSLF for sponsoring a large portion of Ernie's surgery!!

ADOPTED!!!

Brando

It is going to be a little while for you to wait for me to be your dog.  I have to stay in foster care a little longer than most dogs.  You see, when they did a blood test on me, they found out that I have heartworms and so I had to stay in the clinic to be treated with a special medicine to get them to go away.  The treatment wasn't so bad but I sure was ready to come back to a home!

I may have already had enough problems in my life -- once I am cured of the heartworms, the vet wants to take some pictures of my jaw with the x-ray machine because it seems like my jaw was possibly broken at one time.  Since I was found as a stray and never claimed at the shelter, my old owners can't tell anyone what happened.  And I can't tell anyone, either whether I fell a long ways or got hit by a vehicle or maybe I was born this way.  But I am not in pain or anything.  I am just missing some teeth and my smile is a little crooked.  Some people think that it gives me extra "character"!

Brando needs help with his heartworm treatment - just look at that face! How could we say no? Please help sponsor him and help him find his forever home.

Wolfie

ADOPTED!

WARNING: Additional pictures of Wolfie, shown here, are graphic and may not be suitable for young or squeamish web visitors

Thanks to the American Humane Association for supporting the cost of Wolfie's surgery so APB could help put our funds into helping other dogs with serious medical needs.

This is what a dog that should be about 90 pounds looks like when he is about 10 pounds underweight.  And he is underweight because he is does not feel good.  There is a growth from his ear -- inflammatory cells from a chronic ear infection -- and it is so putrid, that when you are in the same room with him, you almost gag from the odor.

He has been in pain for so long that he walks with his head at an odd angle.  He takes a long time to lay down because he is not sure how to lay down without causing more pain.  In spite of what he must feel like, you can still see that big tail wag and hear the "thump" of it against his cage when you talk to him.  As hard as it is to give him attention while holding your breath, you are drawn to him because he obviously enjoys human companionship and attention.

A month later, he is almost all healed from the surgery where the growth was removed.  While he still likes to rub his head on soft things to "scratch" the healing ear, he is holding his head up higher and has gained 6 pounds!  Already his eyes look brighter and his tail wags even more than it did before. 

Wolfie is looking for a home where he can have the affection he so deserves.  He is gentle and sweet and gets along great with other dogs of all ages and sizes. 

The medical bills for Wolfie have been a lot higher than expected.  Even if you are not in a position to give Wolfie a permanent home, maybe you have a soft spot for senior dogs or Irish wolfhounds or Airedales?  If so, please consider donating money for his expenses.

Jake

ADOPTED!

UPDATE 2-6-07
Jake had his surgery 1-31-07, thanks so much again to his sponsors who made it possible.  In true Jake fashion, he's already using his leg, trying to wrestle with dogs, doing stairs and just doing great!  He didn't let it get him down one bit and when he came home the next day, he went right back into his routine.   He visited the vet 2-5-07 and they thought he looked wonderful and were very excited that he was already using the leg so much. He goes back again next week for another check up and then...he has a pending adoption to a wonderful family where he is sure to be loved and appreciated as he should have been all along!!!  Thank you again to all involved in his success story!

Andy

ADOPTED!

Whatever - it doesn't matter because I am happy and friendly and, even though I say so myself, I am a pretty good looking dude!

Need a buddy?  I like to go for walks, car rides or just to hang around at home.  I am housebroke and I listen really well to commands.  Even if I am a quite a ways away, if you whistle, I come RUNNING.  If you fill out an application for me, I can come running to you, too!

Rose Tzi

ADOPTED!

Can you help Rose Tzi work towards her new life outside of a cage?

Morgan

Before

After

Sponsors: John Schankin, Salah and Leila Merhi, John Groen, Joyce Fogden
and Gord Foss

Adopted!

After spending several months of patient recovery in her foster home, Morgan has been adopted into a wonderful forever home!

Norah

Sponsors: Robert & Leslie Nason, Mary Louise Wotring, Norah's newfie sister Hannah along with Hannah's mom Chris N, Christine Nemecek, Audrey Marcinkiewicz, Virginia Levsen, Erica Zokvic, and Denise Berthiaume

Adopted!

Max

Before

After

Sponsors: Robert & Leslie Nason, Mary Louise Wotring, Norah's newfie sister Hannah along with Hannah's mom Chris N, Christine Nemecek, Audrey Marcinkiewicz, Virginia Levsen, Erica Zokvic, and Denise Berthiaume

Adopted!

“What is that?!” was the question everyone at the shelter asked when poor Max came in. The vet who saw him speculated that he was possibly a Shar Pei. Now that Max is healing, we can see that he is a little Pit Bull baby.

Max had a very severe case of demodex mange, commonly called “puppy mange”. It happens mostly to puppies raised in unsanitary, unhealthy conditions. Once they get in a good environment and kept on good food, their immune system can take over and help them heal.

After some months of care from his foster home, Max was adopted by a wonderful family!
 

Jerry

Sponsors: Pauline from up north, Jeffrey Fleming, Cynthia Borgman

Adopted!

Wit

Sponsors: Karen Karppinen & Kylan Marsh, and Sydney & Gary Covert

Adopted!

Snowball was picked up as a stray in July 2007 and entered foster care with APB at the end of that month.  She was severely emaciated and had an extensive skin infection.  She also had no bladder control.  We got all those problems taken care of and then, just when we thought she might be almost ready for adoption, we learned that she has advanced and untreatable cancer of the spleen.  So far she is comfortable and happy, and she will be staying in hospice care with her foster family as long as that remains true.  Snowball is a sweet girl who gets along with everyone and has very good manners.  She likes to chase squirrels in the yard and go for walks.  Donations to assist with her care would be greatly appreciated!

Unfortunately, Snowball passed away in hospice care December 2, 2007. Rest in peace, sweetie...

Jackson

Sponsors: Stacy Goodman, Vicki Van Tassel, Christine Clark, Lisa Gray, Margo Kondela,
Gloria Carpenter

Rainbow Bridge

December 14, 2003 - Jackson's foster family is sad to report that Jackson has left us. On the 14th, he laid down just before bed, and with his head in his foster mom's lap, he made his trip to the bridge. His passing was very quick, and painless. 

Jackson spent his last day doing his very favorite thing....meeting new people. He went to Pet Parade, got to show lots of old and new friends his goofy golden grin, and got some great new pictures taken. This, for him, was a perfect day - Jackson loved everyone, all the time, and never met a stranger. 

Jackson's family would like to thank everyone who prayed and sent good thoughts for their sweet "puppy boy" - those are the reason he made it longer than the doctors thought he would. Remember him with a smile, and please share his story with anyone who is tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store.

Lieben

Sponsors: Donald & Jane Hagner

Rainbow Bridge

Qeela

Qeela is grateful to her sponsors: Raymond Green, Brenda Truett, Lisa Jurczak, James Dorris, Jane Hagner, Mary MacDowell, Cindy Maleczka, Craig Palmer, Ardath Wagenborg, Thomas Bork, Anne Summers, Holly Reilly, Sharon Osborn

Rainbow Bridge

Qeela needs medical sponsors for needed heart medications, and for funds to have fluid drawn from her abdomen to make her more comfortable. Unfortunately, given her limited lifespan Qeela is not available for adoption.