"Burt chilling in his Comfy Cone. His bacterial infection on his jaw is healing well and today we took the cone off. Paws crossed he continues to improve."
Leave a bone for Burt BlackPearl Nicknames: Ol' Buddy Burt, Baby Boy, Burtee-Burt, Furtee-Furt, Chicken Legs, Chicken Pot Pi Doggie Dynamics:
Energy
sleepy
energetic
Intelligence
silly
genius
Friendliness
aggressive
affectionate
Playfulness
not playful
very playful
Disposition
anxious
calm
Badges:
Quick Bio:
-pound dog
Gotcha Date: September 29th 2009 Birthday: February 21st 2006 Likes: Food, a warm bed, belly rubs, sitting next to the Mom or the Dad, rolling around on his back in wet grass and chasing squirrels and Ozzy the cat.. Pet-Peeves: Burt seems to be really, really, REALLY easygoing. No pet peeves that we can see. When Dr. Mullings first examined Burt, she said his heart rate was very low, that he was a very calm dog. Favorite Toy: soft little stuffies--his "babies"--that he nurses on until they're sopping wet. He carries them from room to room, and has just started "retrieving" them if they are thrown. However, he DOESN'T bring them back once he picks them up. BOL Favorite Food: Skinless chicken breast, BilJac Liver Treats, USA-made Chicken Jerky, Liver Sausage Favorite Walk: Pasteur Park beats walking around the neighborhood, but anywhere with SQUIRRELS! Best Tricks: Burt does a very nice "sit" and a pretty good "watch me". We finished a beginners course with Trixie, our trainer, and now Burt does a very nice sit, paw, down and come Arrival Story: We were checking out the website for the shelter that Dixie came from, the Humane Society Calumet Area located in Munster, Indiana as the HSCA is participating in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter Challenge. We "just happened" to click on the available dogs button. ;) The first available dog picture was a picture of our Dixie BlackPearl! But the caption said "Burt". We were stunned that two dogs could look so similar... but it wasn't just the black fur and brown eyes. It was the expression--the bewilderment, fear and loss at being in a shelter. Dixie had spent 6 months in the shelter; Burt only 3 1/2 months, but those months had taken their toll on both of them. We decided that Burt needed to come home. NOW. Bio: Burt was born at the HSCA, and adopted out as a puppy. After living for three years with his first adoptive family, his owners called the shelter right before close and said they wanted to return Burt due to "allergies". They were told they would have to come in the next day as the shelter was closing for the day. The next day the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge called to tell the HSCA that they had "one of your dogs here". The "owners" had taken Burt to the League when they couldn't come that night to the HSCA. Boy, oh boy, those "allergies" must have really been something... right... Forums Motto: Shelter Dogs Deserve a 2nd Chance The Groups I'm In: "Canadian Golden Retrievers" who want to be Friends with other Goldens..., ♥All Fur Fun♥, FANCYPANTS CAFE, Black dogs, Chicago Dogs (and Cats), Da Mitey Mitey Buh-ens Club!, Dyson Dogster/Catster, OnLy PuPs, P*I*F (Paw it Forward), PAWS Angels WAGS for Kindness, ~~~*♥Dog Park USA♥*~~~ The Last Forum I Posted In: The Mitey Mitey Buh-ens Party!
How scary! Took Burt in at 5 a.m. to the Emergency Vet because he was walking through the house in the middle of the night all hunched over. Have once lost a beloved dog to bloat, we feared the worst. Rushed Burt to the E Vet and he was diagnosed with a strain in his leg/hip. Hubby related seeing Burt jump off the bed after Ozzy and "doing a Bambi" when he hit the hardwood in the hallway. Some Rimadyl and a day later Burt's as good as new. He's become such a big part of our lives and we're so glad he's here to stay.
Burt INITIATED PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!
He usually sits in front of us and whines when he has to go outside.
When we ask him" what do you want"
he spins around and runs for the back door.
This time he just sat there, whining some more.
"What does he want?" I asked. Hubby said "I don't know."
Then I realized Burt had his baby, his small stuffed squirrel, in his mouth.
He wanted us to grab it and throw it for him to chase.
Burt wanted to play!!! (only took 1 1/2 years... )
I was born at the Humane Society Calumet Area, and adopted out as a puppy. Three years later I was returned because of "allergies". I was very timid and afraid of most people. Whenever I felt most afraid, I would drop down onto my belly and pull my head and legs in, like a turtle. The shelter staff worked very hard with me to get me to overcome my fears. I stayed at the shelter for over three months. Nobody was interested in adopting a 3 yr old Black dog with "issues".
Then one day, Dixie came back to the shelter to visit. She had been abandoned at the shelter, and she had been very timid too. Alex and the other volunteers worked for over six months with her to overcome her fears. She was adopted by a family in Chicago who had lost two of their dogs to illness. Three weeks after she came to her new home, the family lost their third dog after another long illness. Dixie saved the family from their grief.
So, I met this family a year ago. They had been very patient with Dixie and she was much better--much less timid. She paid me absolutely no attention at all. She was just excited to see everyone and excited to be with her family. So the shelter thought I would be a good match for this family too.
It has been a year now. I still go down like a turtle when I'm very, very afraid. But I walk around the park and pass people now without breaking my stride. Just this past Sunday I walked a 4k with over a thousand other dogs and over 3,000 people! How's THAT for progress? And now I play with my stuffy "babies" and run through the house doing my happy Labby dance, It's good to have a home with people who love me.
The moral of my story? Take a chance on a Black Pearl shelter dog. My family did, and I make them smile each and every day!
