Rescue Stories
BRBMDC RESCUE REPORT
- What is a Rescue?
- A Rescue is a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog (BMD) that is legally surrendered into the Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Club (BRBMDC) Rescue Program. If registration or identification of purebreed status is not available the rescue will be a reasonable representation of the BMD. For example, a rescue can come from areas such as, but not limited to, a shelter, puppy mill, or private home. It is the BRBMDC Rescue Team's responsibility to assess, arrange for foster care if necessary, and find the right forever home for the BMD.
- What is a Re-Home?
- A re-home could be a purebred BMD or a mixed breed that has a large percentage of BMD and has not been legally surrendered to the Club. The dog therefore bypasses the Club's liability. The Rescue Team may assist in facilitating placement for a re-home
- Referrals
- After doing an intake evaluation form, our team determined that we should refer the family to another rescue organization
- After doing an intake evaluation form, our team determined that we should refer the family to another rescue organization
2023
June: Lexi. She is 3 years old, spayed and weights about 98 lbs She is a COVID puppy who didn't get enough socialization as a puppy & a young Berner. She's been a Foster for close to a month and is now starting to act like a Berner should! Update! Lexi has found a loving home to a couple in Raleigh, NC. Thank you all for the interests!
January: Bella, This lovely lady is an amazing 11 ½ year old who will be 12 on May 2nd!! Bella may be a ‘lady of a certain age’ but she is in surprisingly good shape with no known health problems other than a little arthritis and a few benign lipomas. She loves people and just wants to be loved back. She’s a funny character with a lot of personality and will “talk” to you when she wants something. Bella is looking for a furever home where she can live out the remainder of her golden years with someone who will give her all the love and attention she deserves. Update! Bella has found a loving home through one of our BRBMDC member's family.
January: Bash is a 8 months old & weight 93 lbs. He loves to cuddle, other dogs and kids! He would love to have a sibling to play with in his new home. Leash walking is improving everyday and he is a great walking companion. Bash is food motivated and is getting more comfortable in the crate. Bash is SUPER smart and a quick learner per his foster family. Bash has since been adopted!
2022
November: Jackson was picked up from his surrendering home and transported to foster care on 11/25/2022. Jax is an energetic 10 months old who was rescued by a family who decided they were not capable of training him due to health issues. Jax stayed with his foster family close to a month. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, after a few meet-n-greets Jackson found his furever family, and was picked up Dec 23rd just in time for Christmas!
November: Beckett had been left to fend for himself loose on a farm until he was seized by the Madison County Shelter. He was around 16 months old and covered in mats. Everyone who met him, instantly fell in love with his sweet and outgoing personality. He spent a few days in a foster home and was then adopted by a wonderful family in Asheville with two kids and a young dog.
November: Douglas (Referrals). Referred to BWF and BARC. Angelo (Referrals). Referred to Potomac Valley Club Rescue
October: Parker was surrendered at 6 months old by his loving Mom due to her health and age, 82. After spending some time with a foster family. Parker has now been adopted by his new family in Vail, CO. Blue Ridge Rescue Team wants to give a shout-out to our wonderful fosters family, the Persons'.
August: Aspen a four year old female was rescued from a puppy mill with Maddie. She was lyme and heartworm positive and had recently had a litter of puppies. Aspen was shy at first but settle quickly into her foster home and never left.
August: Maddie was rescued from a puppy mill at 15 months and already had a litter of puppies. It was clear she had never been outside and was frightened of almost everything but gained a lot of confidence in her foster home. She has now found her furr-ever family with sister Luna in Weaverville, NC.
August: Sam (Re-home) was abandoned at a boarding facility where he spent 3 months until we were contacted to help rehome him. Sam currently resides on a spacious farm in Virginia with his new owners and new sister Berner Maggie. They say he is an amazing, smart dog and are delighted to have him join their family! Here’s Sam enjoying his morning mile long walk to the road to carry the newspaper
August: Thor (Referrals). Referred to BARC
July: Heidi (Referrals). Referred to BARC
July: Nollie (Re-home), facilitated a surrender to BFW.
July: Barley was rescued from a couple in Raleigh. After arriving at his new home, their older dog did not accept this new boy. Attempts were made with working with a trainer, but the older dog was just not having it. Sadly, they felt it best to find little Barley a new home. After a short foster period with a family in Raleigh, it was clear Barley had landed in his forever home where he gets to play with his two new best dog buds!
July: Fiona was surrendered at 12 weeks old (along with Higgins). The owner had bought the puppies the week before and quickly found herself overwhelmed with her health issues and two puppies. Fiona was fostered for a week and adopted by a wonderful family with two kids and a friendly dog in Asheville.
July: Higgins was surrendered at 10 weeks (along with Fiona) after only a week in his first home. Higgins was fostered for a short time as he was a happy typical puppy. Unfortunately, his first replacement wasn't a good fit. After being brought back to his foster home at 12 weeks old, he was adopted by his foster home.
April: Bennett a five months old male puppy was surrendered by a young couple who was not able to provide the veterinary care needed for his chronic diarrhea. After making diet and supplement changes and getting the veterinary care he needed, he is a health boy. Benny was adopted by his foster family.
March: Newman an 8 years old rescued from Animal Control Shelter in VA. He was horribly matted, intact and had an eye issue, which required surgery. He has since passed all his Vet checkups and currently resides with his new family in Asheville, NC.
January: Chief was a 7 year old Bernese, who was surrendered due to a death in the family. Members of our rescue team evaluated Chief and he was sweet, friendly, and good with children. He is a happy and healthy boy in his new home.
2021
December: Bob
Bob weights 125 lbs and was neglected, living in a garage with a bad ear infection and matted skin. Bob is now loved and welcomed to a new home in NC.
Bob weights 125 lbs and was neglected, living in a garage with a bad ear infection and matted skin. Bob is now loved and welcomed to a new home in NC.
September: Banks
Rehomed, his family has a new baby and lives in a 3-stories townhouse. Family can no longer give him the attention he deserves. Banks is now living in NC Triangle-region with his new family.
Rehomed, his family has a new baby and lives in a 3-stories townhouse. Family can no longer give him the attention he deserves. Banks is now living in NC Triangle-region with his new family.
August: Romeo
Rehomed, Initially bought as a Christmas gift just prior to COVID therefore had received no training or socializing. Romeo has found a loving home in NC.
Rehomed, Initially bought as a Christmas gift just prior to COVID therefore had received no training or socializing. Romeo has found a loving home in NC.
August: Tobi
Rehomed, Family has a new baby and is unable to give him the attention he deserves.
Rehomed, Family has a new baby and is unable to give him the attention he deserves.
June: Bohdi
Rehomed after his military family relocated to the US from Korea. He remained in Korea for 6 months before he could join the family, who then had a baby and was unable to give him the attention he deserved. Bohdi is now living with his new family in Charleston, SC.
Rehomed after his military family relocated to the US from Korea. He remained in Korea for 6 months before he could join the family, who then had a baby and was unable to give him the attention he deserved. Bohdi is now living with his new family in Charleston, SC.
May: Zuri
Rehomed after his dad suffered a traumatic brain injury and his mom could no longer care for him. Zuri is well loved in his new home but has since passed. 5/5/2013-11/27/2021. ♥
Rehomed after his dad suffered a traumatic brain injury and his mom could no longer care for him. Zuri is well loved in his new home but has since passed. 5/5/2013-11/27/2021. ♥
Marley, aka Pepper
Marley, a 1yr old female Bernese Mountain Dog, has found a forever home in Wilmington, NC😊.
Marley, a 1yr old female Bernese Mountain Dog, has found a forever home in Wilmington, NC😊.
Odin
After working with the Chattahoochee Club, Odin has found a forever home in Virginia😊.
After working with the Chattahoochee Club, Odin has found a forever home in Virginia😊.
Bruno/Raleigh
Bruno is a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog we rescued on Christmas day. He was 10-months old and a pretty tall guy for his age, but very underweight. He came from a home that was not prepared to raise a growing Berner boy. He lived with his foster family for several months so he could be neutered and have corrective eyelid surgery. He got along very well with his two human foster brothers. He was a little timid around men when he first came, but quickly developed strong bonds with everyone.
A family in New York adopted Bruno in early March. They renamed him Raleigh. Raleigh joins canine sister, Summer, another rescue Berner, and they have been enjoying running and playing in his new 2 acre backyard. He will also be spending time up in his Vermont home on 37 acres.
His new mom shared the following funny story about Raleigh:
I was out in the yard cutting and pulling down large vines that were taking over one of our evergreen trees. I was struggling with this very thick vine. Just couldn’t pull it down by myself. All of a sudden Raleigh runs over to me, grabs the end of the vine and gives it a good tug and between the two of us we were able to pull the vine down. My husband watched in amazement. He helped me with two other vines too. He actually knew he was helping me.
Raleigh has gained 20lbs since joining his new family and is loving life!
Bruno is a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog we rescued on Christmas day. He was 10-months old and a pretty tall guy for his age, but very underweight. He came from a home that was not prepared to raise a growing Berner boy. He lived with his foster family for several months so he could be neutered and have corrective eyelid surgery. He got along very well with his two human foster brothers. He was a little timid around men when he first came, but quickly developed strong bonds with everyone.
A family in New York adopted Bruno in early March. They renamed him Raleigh. Raleigh joins canine sister, Summer, another rescue Berner, and they have been enjoying running and playing in his new 2 acre backyard. He will also be spending time up in his Vermont home on 37 acres.
His new mom shared the following funny story about Raleigh:
I was out in the yard cutting and pulling down large vines that were taking over one of our evergreen trees. I was struggling with this very thick vine. Just couldn’t pull it down by myself. All of a sudden Raleigh runs over to me, grabs the end of the vine and gives it a good tug and between the two of us we were able to pull the vine down. My husband watched in amazement. He helped me with two other vines too. He actually knew he was helping me.
Raleigh has gained 20lbs since joining his new family and is loving life!
Theo
Theo is a 7-8 year old Berner who we pulled from a kill shelter near Asheville.
Not knowing much about him, his new family picked him up and took him back to South Carolina. They reported that Theo appeared quite neglected and started his new life anxious and cowering in the pantry. His nails were so long, he had difficulty walking and he had an abscess in a cracked molar that hindered his ability to eat. He needed to gain weight and was sad and disengaged.
Theo received a thorough exam and a lot of care from his new vet. His abscessed molar was extracted and a growth removed from his eyelid was thankfully benign. He began eating more and started to gain weight. He is now very engaged with the family, often placing himself at the center of the action.
His new mom says "He now barks when the door bell rings and when any of us walk through the door, he runs to greet us with his tail wagging which is incredibly gratifying! He even accompanied us on a Spring Break road trip to NY and did outstandingly well".
The family's 12 and 15 year old boys are just as invested in Theo’s recovery as their parents are, with the entire family celebrating every little milestone of progress and appreciating the rewarding feeling that comes with rescue.
Theo joined Lili, a 1 ½ year old Berner and they are hoping he learns to play with her. This is the family's first rescue and Theo's mom says they are deriving more than Theo from this experience!
Theo is front right with Lili
Theo is a 7-8 year old Berner who we pulled from a kill shelter near Asheville.
Not knowing much about him, his new family picked him up and took him back to South Carolina. They reported that Theo appeared quite neglected and started his new life anxious and cowering in the pantry. His nails were so long, he had difficulty walking and he had an abscess in a cracked molar that hindered his ability to eat. He needed to gain weight and was sad and disengaged.
Theo received a thorough exam and a lot of care from his new vet. His abscessed molar was extracted and a growth removed from his eyelid was thankfully benign. He began eating more and started to gain weight. He is now very engaged with the family, often placing himself at the center of the action.
His new mom says "He now barks when the door bell rings and when any of us walk through the door, he runs to greet us with his tail wagging which is incredibly gratifying! He even accompanied us on a Spring Break road trip to NY and did outstandingly well".
The family's 12 and 15 year old boys are just as invested in Theo’s recovery as their parents are, with the entire family celebrating every little milestone of progress and appreciating the rewarding feeling that comes with rescue.
Theo joined Lili, a 1 ½ year old Berner and they are hoping he learns to play with her. This is the family's first rescue and Theo's mom says they are deriving more than Theo from this experience!
Theo is front right with Lili
Copper/Meekah
Copper was a 10 month old purebred Bernese Mountain Dog who was surrendered to the club by her family, who realized an energetic, large puppy can be a lot to manage.
Copper was quickly rehomed to a family in South Carolina. She has been renamed Meekah. Meekah has two human children, two other dogs and one cat to play with. She has gotten very comfortable in her new home, surprising her family by asserting herself as the alpha of the pack. Meekah is the family's first Berner.
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Copper was a 10 month old purebred Bernese Mountain Dog who was surrendered to the club by her family, who realized an energetic, large puppy can be a lot to manage.
Copper was quickly rehomed to a family in South Carolina. She has been renamed Meekah. Meekah has two human children, two other dogs and one cat to play with. She has gotten very comfortable in her new home, surprising her family by asserting herself as the alpha of the pack. Meekah is the family's first Berner.
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