03/01/10: ADOPTED!!!!

12/20/09: No Longer Accepting Applications

12/12/09:

Update from Izzy's foster home:

 

"Little Izzy continues to grow and heal and is doing very well. She will turn 6 months old on 12/15 and weighs about 31 lbs. She was spayed on 12/3 and is currently recovering. It is a bit sad to have to put her back on exercise restriction due to the spay as she was just beginning to enjoy some freedom. Izzy had her surgical follow up just prior to Thanksgiving and she was given the green light to begin light exercise and to gradually resume life as a normal, high energy boxer pup. She thoroughly enjoyed her first holiday meal that included some fresh turkey and sweet potatoes mixed in with her puppy kibble and has adapted well to her foster home. She has enjoyed taking her first leash walks in the neighborhood and had a great day out with her pal Buster doing some light hiking and even dipping her little paws into one of our local lakes during a recent warm spell.

 

Izzy is quite vocal ( as the staff at the vet hospital where she was spayed will attest) and we are working on teaching her some basic manners. She has bonded strongly to our three older boxers and cries when one of them goes out for a ride or walk without her. Most likely due to a lack of earlier socialization Izzy barks and lunges quite dramatically at people and new dogs while out on walks or while in the car. She is friendly once in licking range but it is something we will be working on with her in the coming weeks. Her frustration and lack of patience is understandable as her early experiences have been filled with vet offices and crates instead of carefree runs and playdates. Izzy is however very bright and eager to please and we are confident that once she is able to exercise again her manners and social skills will continue to improve.

 

In the meantime she has mastered her house training and does well with basic commands such as sit, leave it and place. She loves chew toys, chasing tennis balls and is a world class sleeper. Not surprisingly she like most puppies is a master chewer and has shredded several crate pads as well as left a few shoes in her wake. We are eagerly awaiting a new crate pad that is "guaranteed" to be impervious to even the most voracious chewers... stay tuned."

 

10/28/09:

CLOSE CALL FOR IZZY - A BROKEN LEG IS NOT A REASON TO DIE

 

Izzy is a beautiful, happy, outgoing, typical 18 week old boxer puppy.  She came into rescue after her family brought her to their local emergency hospital with a hind leg injury reportedly sustained after jumping out of a parked car window to chase a rabbit.  She was diagnosed with a fractured left femur and almost lost her life.

 

The family refused to pay for the surgery and care needed to fix this poor little girl's leg and asked that she be euthanized.  The vet was unwilling to put down this sweet puppy and took it upon herself to save Izzy’s life; she convinced the family to sign this puppy over to her since the hospital had no policy in place for people to surrender dogs.

 

This compassionate veterinarian contacted NBR for help with little Izzy and we quickly made arrangements for her to be transferred to Tufts vet hospital.  This wonderful vet not only spared Izzy’s life she also drove her several hours to the hospital after working a long shift in the ER.  THANK YOU Dr. Tuffey.

 

The emergency doctors at Tufts assessed Izzy’s condition, took more radiographs of her leg, performed other diagnostics including blood and urine testing, and administered strong pain medication to make her comfortable.  She was then transferred to the orthopedic specialists who prepared her for surgery.

 

The following day Izzy was taken to surgery during which her femoral fracture was stabilized with a metal plate, screws and wires. The surgery went well and Izzy was kept in the hospital on intravenous pain medication until she was feeling better.

 

Izzy will need to be on complete exercise restriction for 6 weeks in order to allow the fracture to heal and will not be placed in a forever home until after her follow up appointment with her surgeon.  She will also need to be spayed after the doctors give the OK. 

 

She is not able to engage in physical activity but she does enjoy mouthing her toys and eating.  She is currently being fostered with three adult boxers ( 2 male and 1 female) and although she is unable to play with them due to her injury, she does like to snuggle and chew on them.

 

Izzy almost died because her family did not have or did not want to put up the money to fix her broken leg.  NBR stepped in to save this sweet little pup and we once again need your help.  Please consider donating to help pay for Izzy's medical bills so we can continue to care for those dogs who have no where else to turn.

 

Below is the first report from Izzy’s foster mom:

 

“Izzy is doing well.  My husband is already in love with her and asked me if I was taking pictures of one of our other dogs to put on the site...he was kidding of course ( but in his words "she is perfect").  Her appetite is great, incision looks good (no licking or biting at it), and our first impressions of her are all good.  She is very outgoing and confident (no shy girl here!).  I would venture a guess at this point that she is going to be a typical sassy, female.  Not even a whisper of timidness.

 

We got her a play pen and lots of chew toys to help keep her happy while being cooped up ( she is fully crated when I am not at home). I crate Otto next to her so she does not get as anxious.  He loves his crate and doesn't make a sound so I am hoping this helps to keep her calm and relaxed.  Izzy knows her name and sits when you bring out her food.  She has been introduced to all three of our dogs and appears to like them although she does bark at them quite a bit.  I am guessing this is out of frustration because she is not allowed to go outside or play with them.

 

The first night home she slept in her crate in our room and not surprisingly cried alot and was up every two hours or so.  Last night after dinner we let her sit with the big dogs on the big dog bed in the family room and she just sat with them and chewed her nylabone. I set up a bed for her on my side of the bed instead of putting her in the crate to see how that went.  She slept there for a bit and then got up and walked around to the other side and got into bed with Sadie and slept soundly through the night ( Sadie is a very tolerant old girl- both Buster and Nanji slept with her as puppies too).  I think we will give this schedule a try with her out at night when the dogs are sleepy and inactive and fully crated during the day.  That should at least give her some social interaction without causing stress or further injury to her leg.”

10/24/09: More information coming soon. This poor little girl has a broken leg she needs your financial support.