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Cabo – A Rescue Success Story

By Laurie Boyle - Rescue Chair

Our rescue story begins with a flashback to July 2005, when we first learned about Cabo, who was in Urbana, Illinois. At that time, he had been surrendered to his vet by his initial owner. Calls to the downstate Illinois breeder were not returned.

A wonderful, loving, Berner family, Matt and Ali Firmand were fostering this needy 2-year-old and found him to have a good personality, congenial with people and other dogs, but lacking in training and good manners. His worst offenses were counter surfing and eating trash. He needed someone willing and capable to continue with training. The Firmand’s found Cabo to be a willing and eager Berner with a lot of potential.

Our club passed along several names of potential adopters who resided near the Urbana area and ultimately, a family was chosen where the woman was a vet tech. This was certainly someone who knew the necessity to prevent a dog from stealing off the counter or eating trash, and knew the value of having a trained dog. We all felt sure Cabo had found his forever home.

You can imagine everyone’s astonishment when we received an e-mail in July 2006 from Cabo’s owners saying the family no longer wanted him! The Firmands were stunned. They had not been aware of any problems. In fact, they had asked to be called upon should help be needed, but no calls came!

At the time of Cabo’s surrender, we learned more about the last year of his life. He didn’t go to any training classes, but he was counter surfing and getting into the trash and the laundry, eating all sorts of awful things. Within the first two weeks, he ate a corn cob and was able to pass it with the help of IV therapy. During the year, he ate 22 socks (yes, the family kept score), untold amounts of food left on the counter, including more than $30 worth of steak just a few days before his surrender. When asked what methods were used to stop this behavior, the response was simple, nothing was done!

Other responses to our basic questions of dog training quickly showed us that Cabo had gotten none of the training he so needed. He was never walked, in fact, the only time he was let outside was to relieve himself. The family may have had good intentions in the beginning, but in reality, nothing was done for this now 3-year-old dog.

Club member Mary Donahue, husband John and Berner, Kelsey, took on the challenge of fostering Cabo. At first, Cabo, who was used to getting his own way, showed his stubborn side. As the weeks passed, Cabo began to blossom. John took Cabo for 1.5 mile walks in the evenings, which Cabo thought was the most wonderful activity in the world. Mary used her training skills to reinforce the basic obedience commands and ensured nothing was stolen from the counter tops or garbage cans. With the Donahue family providing consistent, fair and firm rules, Cabo quickly learned to be a well mannered young Berner.

We knew Cabo needed a very special owner, one who would continue with Cabo’s training and provide him with a loving, stable home. Enter into the picture, Robert Ryan. Robert had recently lost his beloved Golden Retriever, Bailey at age 15 to cancer. Robert wanted another dog to love and care for, one he could help succeed. After many conversations and a home visit, a meeting was arranged for Robert to meet Cabo. The two hit it off and plans were made to finalize the adoption in a week, when the project Robert was working on would be completed and he could take some days off.

As we all know, when we have dogs, “stuff” happens. On Sunday, September 3rd, Cabo began to vomit. The Donahue’s carefully watched Cabo throughout the day and night. On Monday, Labor Day, I received a frantic phone call, Cabo was worse! While Mary contacted her vet, I drove to her house to help with the transport. Poor Cabo, he barely lifted his head in greeting, he was not feeling well at all.

Off we sped to the animal hospital. Once there, the veterinarian started an IV and gave some medication for stomach pain and most importantly took x-rays. There was an intestinal blockage. It was severe enough that we needed to do surgery immediately or euthanize Cabo. I was able to contact a majority of the board and we agreed to go ahead with the surgery, in hopes of saving Cabo’s life.

It wasn’t an easy surgery. Cabo’s intestine needed to be re-sectioned. During surgery his blood protein level fell dangerously low and he required a transfusion. You can imagine our vast relief when we learned he was out of surgery and resting comfortably. The offending object, a small corn cob, was most likely dropped into the Donahue backyard by a passing raccoon or squirrel, something that could happen in any of our yards.

The veterinarian warned us that the next 14 days were critical in this type of surgery. They were certainly correct. Late Tuesday, Cabo required another transfusion to help raise his blood protein levels which had fallen dangerously low, again. Mary visited with Cabo on Wednesday and it seemed to help him. Just as things seemed to be getting better, Thursday night he spiked a fever which halted our plans to bring Cabo home. Thankfully, by the weekend he could be released but needed to be watched closely for the following week.

On Sunday, Cabo came to stay at our house, since the Donahue’s both work full time. Kevin and I assured the vets and vet techs, who all came to love him, that he’d be crated, leash walked only, kept calm and closely monitored. We were given a complete set of detailed instructions along with his medications. The biggest concern was Cabo’s lack of interest in eating. With the vet’s approval, we tried small home-cooked meals of boiled white rice with diced chicken breast. That was a huge success and Cabo began to gain back his strength.

Each day during his recovery, Robert came by and spent a few hours with Cabo. Robert is truly one in a million, taking the time after a busy day of work to come and sit with a sick dog. It was obvious. A strong bond was forming between them. By the end of the week, Cabo was up and about, feeling much more like himself. Mary came to visit and Cabo was ecstatic to see his foster mom. The visit did much to cheer both Cabo and Mary.

On Monday, September 18, it was time for Cabo to have his stitches taken out, get a clean bill of health and have his adoption finalized. It was such a great day for both Robert and Cabo, who embarked on their life together. A new life calls for a new name and Robert has decided to call his dog Boulder. We wish Robert and Boulder a long, happy life together and look forward to seeing them at upcoming club events.

Our sincere thanks to the Firmand and Donahue families for providing Boulder with the fundamentals of being a good Berner, while in foster care. Your loving care to this very special boy made a huge difference, and we appreciate everything you did.

This rescue would not have been a success story without the generous donations made to our rescue fund. To all who have donated in the past, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your donation made a difference and saved Boulder’s life. Our thanks, also to the staff at Arboretum View Animal Hospital who gave us a 30% discount for Boulder, they are supportive of rescue and did what they could to minimize our costs.

Now, we need to begin to replenish our rescue fund. Our surrender and adoption fees would not have covered the cost of Boulder’s surgery. If you have wondered if a donation to rescue would make a difference, you now know it does. As the holiday season approaches, please consider a donation to BMDCNI Rescue. Together, we can save another Berner’s life!

Our club and the Rescue Committee are always looking for people to be foster families and to help with the transportation of rescued dogs. Please consider being a volunteer, it’s an opportunity you will never regret. Call (815-741-1430) or e-mail me at: klboyle@ix.netcom.com.

Older Dog Placement

Beginning in 2009, the BMDCNI instituted its Older Dog Placment Program. It was developed so that potential adopters could be made aware of Berners, 6 months of age and older, that are available for adoption from BMDCNI breeders.

The list of older dogs may be obtained by going to the Breeder Referral Page and the instructions provided.