THE POOP AND ROLL!

AND HERE IT IS, THE SEQUEL TO THE POOP AND SLIDE! OUR FIRST LITTER GAINED FAME FROM THEIR DAILY EXCURSIONS INTO NASTINESS WITH THE POOP AND SLIDE, AND LITTER NUMBER TWO HAS THEIR OWN VERSION, THE POOP AND ROLL! WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE YOU ASK? WELL FOR ONE THE POOP AND SLIDE WAS MASS DESTRUCTION OF THE PUPPY ROOM AND ANYTHING WITHIN ITS WALLS, REQUIRING GROUP PARTICIPATION AND A SUPERB SENSE OF TIMING. THE POOP AND ROLL REQUIRES MORE ONE ON ONE ACTION AND LEAVES THE PARTICIPANTS COVERED IN A STINKY GOOEY SUBSTANCE THAT CAN ONLY BE REMOVED WITH SEVERAL SESSIONS OF SOAKING AND SCRUBBING. THE POOP AND SLIDE INITIATED WITH EVERY PUPPY SIMULTANEOUSLY RUNNING TO DIFFERENT SPOTS IN THE ROOM AND POOPING UP A STORM, THEN QUICKLY MOVING TO ANOTHER SPOT TO PEE. ONCE THE AROMA MADE IT'S WAY TO US WE WOULD DASH IN TO THE ROOM JUST IN TIME TO SEE THEM RUNNING AND SLIDING THROUGH THE WHOLE MESS, IT THEN BECAME A GAME AS TO WHO WAS THE LAST PUP TO GET CAUGHT. THE POOP AND ROLL IS MORE OF A CONTACT SPORT WITH ONE PUP STARTING OFF WITH A GIANT POOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR, USUALLY THIS IS TOTES. NOT WANTING TOTES TO HAVE ALL THE FUN THE REST OF THE GANG FOLLOW IN HIS PAW PRINTS AND PRETTY SOON WE HAVE 8 PILES OF POO. OF COURSE YOU CAN'T DO #2 WITHOUT #1 SO THAT IS NEXT, THEN THEY JUST FLOP DOWN AND ROLL, AND ROLL AND ROLL. ONCE THEY ARE COATED IN A NICE THICK LAYER OF IT THEY START THEIR VERSION OF THE WWF. THE CLEAN UP REQUIRES FIVE ROLLS OF PAPER TOWELS, TWO JUMBO PACKAGES OF BABY WIPES, 20 GALLONS OF WARM WATER AND HAZMAT GEAR! OH, AND ONCE I SAW KELLY CLEANING OUT TOTE'S NOSE WITH Q-TIPS, ACTUALLY I HAVE SEEN HER DO THAT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. TO HER CREDIT MOMMA LOOKS THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED BY THEIR BEHAVIOR.

DUE TO GRAPHIC CONTENT PICTURES HAVE BEEN OMITTED.

SWEET AS A ROSE

Little Miss Rosie:

Out of all the poopy puppies Miss Rosie is by far the most interested in the human element around her. Always the first to seek out attention, she often passes by the food bowl at feeding time to beg for kisses and belly rubs, while the other scarf their meal. She was the first to figure out how to climb out of the whelping box, and although she is slightly smaller than the others she can still invoke a 'yip' from puppy or person when she sinks those baby teeth into whatever limb or appendage is handy. She has studied diligently from the Bullmastiff handbook. She already knows the standard Bully lean, and is the most advanced in the area of the Bully Paw maneuver and as unlady like as it is, she does indeed have down the Bully fart, never ever to be confused with the common dog fart! It is impossible to sneak anything by her, even during nap time. If the door makes the slightest squeak she pops up in a flash and is at full attention, sitting like a big dog with her baby head cocked to one side, leveling you with those beautiful puppy eyes. How dare anyone even consider coming into that room and not let her out for cuddling and playtime!

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

HERE IS OUR BIG MAN ON CAMPUS! TOTES IS STILL THE HEAVIEST AND THE IN CHARGE PUP. HE IS ALWAYS ON THE GO, ALWAYS CAUSING TROUBLE AND ALWAYS EATING! IF HE CANNOT FIND ANY KIBBLE HE WILL SETTLE FOR PAPER TOWELS, PLASTIC FOOD BOWLS, A SIBLINGS EAR, POOR MOMMA'S TAIL, THE WALL! HIS DAY IS FILLED WITH FUN PUPPY ACTIVITIES, MOMMA PLAYS WITH THEM AND THEIR TOYS AND TOTES KEEPS VERY BUSY STALKING AND ATTACKING FANTASY INTRUDERS. FOR SOME REASON HE HAS A GRUDGE AGAINST ORANGE DOG AND WILL CIRCLE AND GROWL AND THEN POUNCE ON HIM WITH A VENGEANCE. HE TOTALLY IGNORES PURPLE DOG. HE IS DEVELOPING IN TO QUITE A LITTLE MAN! UNCLE TUCKER WOULD BE PROUD.

THE ART OF NAPPING

We all know the Bullmastiff loves a good nap and our girl Ruthie could definitely be the poster Bully for "Napping.....it's a good thing." She takes her napping so seriously we felt compelled to give her two pairs of slippers; big mistake she is now campaigning for a bathrobe. Ruthie can and does sleep through the hustle and bustle created by her siblings. Ear biting, tail pulling and body slams are not a deterrent, she just keeps on snoring. True to the breed she snaps to attention when it's feeding time!

BONO: HANGIN' 16!

Here's our super cool Bono. He is one of two males and since he can't out muscle the Toto man, he chooses to gain attention with quirky antics. He is very sure of himself and has no trouble posing for a photo op in surfer dude clothes, Totes is way to "manly insecure" for this, plus we couldn't get them over his chubby butt! Bono is already a well adjusted little guy, he can hang with the girls, fight over toys with Totes, cuddle with Momma, nap, eat.... whatever is happening at the time he just goes with the flow. Bono is the boy that every mother wants her daughter to bring home! Uncle Tucker would be disgusted with his lack of commitment to rude and obnoxious behavior. Totes is doing his best to instill the inherent values of the male Bullmastiff, so far Bono is oblivious. We think it's the U-2 music.

MEET THE AWESOME EIGHT!

IT HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND THREE WEEKS! AT TWO WEEKS THEIR EYES OPENED AND THE PERSONALITIES BLOSSOMED. WE WOULD OFFICIALLY LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE AWESOME EIGHT!

UP FIRST IS BONO: A BIG BRINDLE BOY NAMED BY DANA, A TRIBUTE TO HER FAVORITE GROUP, FOR ALL OF THE YOUNGSTERS READING ALONG THAT WOULD BE U-2. BONO WAS THE LARGEST AT BIRTH AND IS STILL HOLDING HIS OWN IN THE TUBBY DEPARTMENT.

NEXT WE HAVE TOTES: TOTES IS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE AND I CHOSE HIS NAME IN MEMORY OF MY FIRST MALE BULLMASTIFF, CH. SANBARS TOTO OF OZ. TOTO WAS BRED, RAISED AND SHOWN BY DR. REPPART AND LIVED WITH ME, WE LOST HIM AT THE GOLDEN AGE OF 12 YEARS. UNTIL THE VERY DAY HE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH TOTO WAS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE, PUSHING THE ENVELOPE EVERY SECOND OF HIS LIFE! TOTES JR. IS LIVING UP TO HIS NAME SAKE; HE IS THE LARGEST BY FAR, THE FIRST TO OPEN HIS EYES, THE FIRST TO WALK, TRAMPLES HIS SIBLINGS ON THE WAY TO NURSE MOMMA, GOBBLED UP HIS FIRST BOWL OF PUPPY FOOD WITH SHAMELESS GLUTTONY, POOPS TWICE AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE AND IS VERY DEVOTED TO PRACTICING HIS NEWLY FOUND TALENTS, BARKING AND GROWLING. DOC ADORES HIM!

OUR FIRST GIRL IS BUBBA: NOT VERY FEMININE, BUT SO APPROPRIATE! SHE IS JUST A FEW OUNCES BEHIND TOTES IN THE RACE FOR PUPPY PLUMPNESS AND IS NAMED IN HONOR OF KELLY'S FIRST BULLMASTIFF, A HUGE FAWN NAMED BUBBA. LIKE KELLY'S BUBBA OUR BIG GIRL CARRIES HER IMPRESSIVE GIRTH WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY, AND IF IT MOVES SHE EATS IT!

OUR NEXT GIRL IS RUSTY: NAMED FOR AMANDA'S FIRST BULLMASTIFF RUSTY IS FEISTY AND NOT AT ALL INTIMIDATED BY THE BIGGER PUPS. RUSTY IS KNOWN FOR HER ABILITY TO PIN DOWN HER SIBLINGS AND KEEP THEM DOWN.

ROSIE IS NEXT: NAMED AFTER MY FIRST FEMALE BULLMASTIFF, I KNOW THAT'S TWO FOR ME BUT I'M THE BLOG WRITER! AND IN REAL LIFE TOTES AND ROSIE LIVED TOGETHER AND WERE BEST BUDS SO YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. ROSIE IS BEAUTIFUL, SWEET AND KIND. SHE IS NOT ONE TO PUSH OR SHOVE, ALTHOUGH SHE IS A BIT PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE, USING THE GRAB THE EAR AND TUG PLOY WHILE A SIBLING IS IN DEEP SLEEP.

RUTHIE: THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL WAS NAMED BY GINYA. RUTHIE IS THE CALMEST AND MOST LOVING OF THE LITTER. SHE IS POLITE WHEN SHE PLAYS, NO TAIL GRABBING OR NASTY EAR PULLING AND PATIENTLY WAITS HER TURN WITH MOMMA. I THINK IF WE GAVE HER A NAPKIN SHE WOULD WIPE HER FACE WHEN SHE FINISHED EATING. RUTH IS GINYA'S MIDDLE NAME.

MAVERICK: OUR FIFTH GIRL IS NAMED IN MEMORY OF ONE OF THE PARVO PUPPIES THAT CAME IN TO RESCUE LAST SUMMER. ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD, SKIN AND BONES, FULL OF PARASITES AND VERY SICK FROM THE PARVO VIRUS; AND THEY HAD NO NAMES. WE NAMED HER MAVERICK BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A FIGHTER. IN THE END SHE LOST THE BATTLE, BUT SHE LOST WITH DIGNITY AND COURAGE.

OUR LAST GIRL IS ZOE: ZOE IS A GREAT LITTLE GIRL, SHE IS THE EXPERT NAPPER OF THE LITTER. ZOE IS ALWAYS THE FIRST TO FALL ASLEEP AND THE LAST TO WAKE UP. I THINK THE ONLY REASON SHE WAKES UP IS TO EAT, NOT A BAD LIFE! SHE IS NAMED ZOE BECAUSE NADIA SMITH LIKES THAT NAME :)

AND SO NOW THE PARTY BEGINS. UNCLE TUCKER ISN'T HERE TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS OF THE BULLMASTIFF MANUAL, BUT I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION HE IS CHANNELING EVERYTHING THROUGH TOTES!

End Of The First Week

The morning of day 5 begins on a sad note, puppy #4 does not survive the night. The first week has taken a tremendous physical and emotional toll on everyone. Dr. Reppart, Kelly and Ginya have assumed the responsibilities of the overnight care, everyone is exhausted. When you take on the responsibility of raising a litter the emotional investment is all consuming; you hold them close as you give them their bottles and feel tiny little paws kneading your hands, you watch the milk dribble down chins as they greedily suckle in more than they can swallow and you laugh hysterically as they perform feats of gymnastic wonder while jockeying for nursing positions with momma! Like human babies you enter the room and all is serenely quiet, you quickly tip toe out fearing the worst; they will sense your presence and demand to be fed! And then there are the peaceful moments when momma and puppies are cuddled together, everyone is asleep and the only sound is eight little snores and an occasional grunt. This is what keeps you smiling.

We Have Sick Puppies

Days 2-4:

The 2:00 a.m. feeding began as they all do, twelve hungry bellies, a very good momma ready to take care of her babies and the Mount Vernon crew standing by to supervise and supplement with bottle feeding. All the puppies ate like champs except for one little girl; she was very lethargic and had no interest in the bottle. There were small traces of blood noted in the stool of a few puppies, everything was charted for the 6:00 a.m. crew and our lethargic girl continued to show signs of anorexia. She was tube fed and wrapped in flannel for extra warmth. Fifteen minutes after her 10:00 a.m. feeding she passed over the rainbow bridge.

By mid afternoon we have another lethargic girl. Amanda drives in for the day to evaluate the situation, puppy #2 has an almost non-existant blood glucose and a very low body temp. Amanda places a jugular catheter to administer fluids, dextrose, and a fresh plasma transfusion from her own bullmastiff, Charlie. She is also placed in the incubator. A feeding tube was placed to allow for feedings directly into the stomach. When this was placed a large amount of bloody reflux was removed. Four hours later we lose her. Based on fecal exams and necropsy on both the deceased puppies, Dr. Reppart and Amanda are confident that we are dealing with a salmonella outbreak. The entire litter is placed on antibiotics. Considering Momma's unfortunate past and lack of prenatal or any other veterinary care, it is not surprising that we are facing this battle. Poor Momma is also heartworm positive.

At the 6:00 p.m. feeding our first boy starts to show signs of decline. A jugular catheter, fluids, plasma, and antibiotics are also administered to this boy. By 2:00 a.m. he is crossing the bridge to join his sisters. It is the end of day four and we have another little boy we are concerned about. They have had 5 doses of the antibiotic, hopefully it is enough to help him make it through the night.

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies!

Day 1: Road trip!

It starts out as just another day in the world of ABA rescue volunteer Sherry Boldt, keep in mind her days are not quite like most of ours! She's on the road at 8:00 a.m. to pick up two owner surrenders, a 5yr old pregnant female and her 18 mo old daughter. Upon arrival Sherry realizes the pregnant girl is in labor, she is enormous, 67 days into the pregnancy and panting heavily. According to the owners she had been panting for two days. Sherry quickly hits the road, swings back to home base for supplies and her own dogs and starts the 4 hr trip to Harcourt Veterinary Clinic in Ohio. One hour into the trip and big momma just can't wait any longer and pup number 1 arrives! Sherry is now pulled over on the side of the road wondering if momma will let her take the pup. Fortunately momma cooperates and Sherry is tying off the umbilical cord and prepping the make shift nursery when number 2 enters the world. Sherry aborts the trip to Harcourt and heads back to home base, stopping to take an international conference call and deliver pup number three.

Seventeen hours later we have an exhausted Momma, 12 pups and a slightly frazzled Sherry Boldt. During this time Sherry not only delivered 12 puppies but resuscitated 2 that were compromised at birth, kept an exhausted momma going, handled multiple conference calls, texted and called me numerous times and took pictures and posted to the list.

Twenty-nine hours later and Sherry is once again packed up in the Sprinter and headed to Ohio. She rolled into Harcourt at 5:45 p.m. with big momma and the dirty dozen. The whelping box, heat lamp and dedicated volunteers were ready for action. Sherry got everyone organized and an hour later was headed back to Indiana.

I am convinced this woman's theme song is Born to Be Wild! Just like the songs says...Get your motor runnin'...Head out on the highway...Lookin' for adventure...And whatever comes our way!

High Five Sherry! You Rock!!