Boxer Rescue of Atlantic Canada


Please see Brosa's Blog for updates! This is Brosa. His name means 'smile' in Icelandic. The reason he was named this is because he's going to have a special look about him as he grows up. You see, Brosa was born with both a hare lip and a cleft palate. This prevented Brosa from being able to nurse from his mom. He could not feed with his littermates and was destined to starve to death. At 4 days old this little nameless puppy made out to survive a 7 hour drive to his new foster home. We had no idea how delicate he would be until we saw him that day. He really touched our volunteers. Time was spent hand feeding him with a dropper during his long road trip. It was a terribly stressful time for everyone. So, at 4 days old, Brosa was able to be settled in his foster home. Thanks to Charlotte for sharing the drive and caring for this precious passenger during her leg of his journey. We're going to be completely honest and admit that Brosa's first few days were tough. Brosa was so small - he was the runt of the litter and he wasn't even 1/2 of the size he should have been at that age. His foster mom didn't think he was going to make it, despite the feedings every 2 hours, around the clock. This dehydrated, weak little puppy deserved a chance though. He couldn't nurse, he was getting so little nutrition, even supplementing with a dropper wasn't enough - he was dying. However, his foster mom wasn't going to give up. She started to tube feed him. Slowly things began to look up. Brosa was given a name and round the clock care. All of this seems to have paid off because Brosa has been making improvements. He's getting the best of nutrition and supplements and his foster mom has devoted herself completely to his care, feeding him every 2 hours and trying to nap in between. We hope Brosa can make it and think he has a really good chance. We think this little fighter has already defied the odds by making it this far. At the time of posting, Brosa seems to be doing well! This is miraculous in itself. But for Brosa to have a chance at life he needs to keep going. He's already fought so much and overcame the odds. But, we need help. Brosa's formula is a large expense. Before he is able to be transitioned to any type of solid or semi-solid food his formula will cost $40/week. He will also need a full work up to ensure that all of his organs and systems are developing properly. Following this we hope that Brosa will be deemed fit to have surgery to reconstruct his palate and help him to live a semi-normal life. With this surgery Brosa will be able to eat like a normal dog and reduce his risks of lifelong infections. We know he's got the spirit but he needs the physical likeness to help him succeed. Of course this is quite a bit outside of what BRAC is prepared for and able to handle at the moment. So, we're putting a plea out in hopes that anyone able will assist us in helping Brosa to get what he needs. So, if you can help at all, please do. This little guy deserves it. he's a fighter but he needs a push. No amount is too small - every little bit will help. You may donate via paypal using the link below or you can email transfer to info@boxerrescueatlanticcanada.com . Please put Brosa's name in the message field. Thank you so much.

I'm 5 months old now May 1, 2009 Has it really been 5 weeks since I last posted? I guess I'm having WAY too much fun to be in front of the computer these days. Ahh, spring is here and this warmer weather, new spring grasses and decaying winter smells are far more exciting than the snow and cold I grew up with! First the big news. I'm now 22 weeks old (that's 5 months) and as of last night, I weigh 30.5 pounds! Even my mom was shocked - I'm buff - told you so! Since I'm a big boy, I've graduated from the puppy exercise pen to the crate when mom leaves the house, and that's working out really well. Although, I do like to give her the run-around first before she leads me in there, ha ha! Nothing like making her work for it. I'm now allowed to sleep on the bed at night with my mom, sister and brother, and I sleep through the night. When mom starts to stir in the morning, I bounce on her head to help her wake up. I don't think mom is a morning person as she wakes up pretty grumpy…. she says having 30 lbs of baby Boxer jumping on you in the morning would make anyone wake up grumpy! I'm making a lot of new friends at a dog park I've started going to. I have a great Puggle friend, Bulldog friends, Pitty friends and Border Collie friends (those are just a few of the many I've met!). I really love running with the border collies - mom's friend tells her that I need a Border Collie brother or sister, but mom just says "no" to that. That's okay; as long as I can keep coming to the park to play with them, it'll be something to look forward to! I have big boy teeth now! I know you have all been wondering about my mouth and how well I'm eating. I still have the two holes in my mouth - the one up front behind my nose hasn't closed up at all so it looks like I will probably have that fixed this summer. I have no trouble eating my food and chewing on bully stix, and I love to drink lots of fresh water to quench my thirst and cleanse my palate. So far, so good! I hope to check back in with you very soon in the near future. Again, thank you all for your love and prayers when I was a baby. I hope I make you all proud of what you're seeing now! Love Brosa xoxo May 1, 2009 Add comment Share Weighing in at 17 weeks March 25/09 Hello everyone! I wasn't expecting to write again so soon, but I have BIG super-dee-duper news this week! First off, I made a mistake in my age in my last post (well actually, mom made the mistake; I TRIED to tell her I knew my age, but she thought she knew better just because I'm a baby) - I was 15 weeks old, not 16 weeks. That makes my weight of 17.5 lbs even better then! So this week, I am 17 weeks old (yes, I'm sure!). I went to the vet on Wednesday night for my weekly weigh-in (our own version of Weight Watchers!), and I'm glad to tell you that I have reached and passed a milestone! I now weigh 21 lbs!! Mom took a picture of me on the scale so that you can all see it for yourself. I rock! You should see my thigh muscles - those body builders have got nothing on me! Some people laugh at me and call me "Bambi-legs", but it sounds like a happy laugh, not a mean one. The ladies all love me and think I'm the cutest thing to walk the earth. I'm still going to puppy class and am having a ball there! I will be so sad when that's over as there is only one more class left. I heard mom say something about obedience and agility classes - I'll bet they'll be fun because I love the puppy agility! One of my puppy classmates will be moving near me in April, so that will good times as her mommy promised to bring her over lots to play. I am having so much fun with my big sister. She loves me and I can do whatever I want with her and she lets me. She makes a good pillow too, so I like napping ON her (that way she can't go and get something I want without me knowing it!). My brother acts like a big meanie but I think he's all fluff. I like to yank on his tail now and again, and if that doesn't get me told off, nothing will, ha ha! Mom told me the other week that I really needed to stay in the x-pen when she's not home. She said I have to stop trying to jump out because I might hurt myself, and that I wouldn't enjoy being in my bed with the door closed (like at bedtime). So I've been a good boy and I'm still hanging out in the pen when she's away from home. Yesterday I decided to see what it was like to tear apart my pee pad though - mum didn't like that too much when she got home. Ha ha! It was great fun! It snowed this week and I love eating freshly fallen snow! I can't believe I waited so long to get out and enjoy this stuff. It's fun to run in and roll around in. But mostly eating it - it feels good in my mouth. I'm losing some of my milk teeth this week too - I'm truly growing up now! Well that's it from me this time around! Love you all! Brosa xoxo Mar 26, 2009 Add comment Share update from Brosa in his new home Friday, March 13, 2009 Hello my loyal fans! Boy, I have so much to tell you since I last wrote! I am loving my new home, my mom and my sister. I even love my brother, even though he's a cranky old sour-puss. I'll make him love me yet - everyone loves me eventually! Mom has a boyfriend and I love to bite his beard, and then snuggle up on his lap at naptime. He loves me too. The past month has been a really fun time! My mom takes me places to visit people and I'm making friends all over the place. She takes me to puppy classes where I get to play with other dogs my age and size - that's new for me since I've only played with older dogs up until now. The classes also have puppy agility equipment and I'm rocking that. I have no fear, you see. There is a video somewhere that was taken at my first class, and if I find out where it is, I'll let you know! It's made by my friends at the Clicker Leash Co. They're famous, you know, because the First Puppy is getting a clicker-leash from them (www.clickerleash.com). And they love me too. Mom calls me her flying-squirrel-monkey-man, because I love to jump from high places. She says I'm going to give her a heart attack one of these days. I think my brother's physiotherapist almost did when she was at the house last week, hee hee! And she loves me too. When mom is at work, I have a my own little space to sleep in. I don't like being in that pen, so I tried to get smart and climb out by jumping on top of my crate. I guess mom didn't like that too much, and the next thing I knew, the top of the crate was gone. Can't climb up/out anymore! But you watch - I'm trying hard to jump out over the pen! All of that jumping and running in the yard is making me big and strong. You thought I was buff before? You should see me now! I turned 16 weeks old this week and as of last night, I weigh 17.5 lbs. See? I'm turning into The Rock! Watch me flex my muscles! You know I'm doing good when my weight exceeds my age. I get weighed at my new vet every week. And they love me too. I am so excited that I get to see my foster mom again this weekend since she's coming into my neck of the woods for a visit. I hope she brings cookies. My mom has been a bit of a slacker when it comes to making those homemade cookies I love. She's making people cookies instead, which is totally unfair since I'm not allowed to have those. I think they will trade some. And speaking of food, I'm doing great eating and drinking! Sometimes, some food does get sneezed back out through my nose, but that doesn't happen often. Mom devised a plan to get me to eat my entire meal from my bowl - she added just a little bit of something called "tripe" to it. I don't know what it is, but wow! I love the stuff! I eat all of my food and go looking for more because I know my sister and brother also get the same. They don't leave me any leftovers though - bummer! Anyway, that's it from me, until next time. Scroll down and check out some new pictures of me too. Love to you all and thank you all for helping me live! Brosa xoxoxo Mar 13, 2009 1 comment Share One word: Amazing That's what I am - everyone says so. I went to see my vet this week and I lost count of how many times he said it. I wish I was able to work the camera so you'd be able to see the look n his face when he saw me walk in there with my giant attitude. All of the ladies in the office too - they couldn't believe what a handsome dog I turned in to. Some of them didn't see me since I fit into my foster mom's hand and she had me in her shirt to keep me warm. Well, I showed them! I walked in there all by myself and did the stairs and everything. People were in the waiting area and I went to visit every one of them. My appointment went very well My cleft palate has changed a whole lot and my foster mom told my vet that it was very recent. So, again, he asked her if we could wait a little while before doing my surgery because it may move and grow some more with me. So, she agreed since I was doing well. We have to be very careful to waitch for any sign of infection though. Since I'm eating all of this yummy food and I still have a hole in my mouth (I have 2, actually) I can get an infection very easily. So, as long s I keep doing well what we're going to do is wait until I grow some more and just watch my mouth. They mentioned something about having my mouth done when I was old enough to be castrated. I think they're just making that word up - it sounds too scary to be a real word. So, with that I have big news. I have a forever home and a new mom, sister and brother! My foster mom knows hervery well and she said that I'm very lucky to have this home. My new mom has volnteered with Boxer Rescue of Atlantic Canada for a long time and my foster mom said that she was eve ok with letting me go because I would bevery well cared for and I would still keep in touch. I'm a few hours from my foster mom but we're going to talk on messenger a lot. Then, when I'm big enough I'm ging to go back to visit my foster mom and my friends to see my vet again. He's going to do my surgery and hopefully I'll be a 'normal' puppy and eat whaever I want. I'm still going to look the same from the outside and I'm always going to have my confidence and strong personality to go with that. My new mom mentioned that maybe when I'm an adult that she will let me visit kids in the hospital with facial deformities so I can help them feel better. I hope I get to do that. I really like visiting people. I'm going to keep writng my blog and adding pictures so all of you can see how handsome I am and how well I'm doing. Thanks to everyone who supported me and helped me get this far. I love you all! XOXO Brosa Feb 22, 2009 2 comments Share Double Digits Feb. 7/09 Yup, you read right - I'm now in the double digits with age and weight. Yay me! I'm 10 weeks old and 10 pounds. I broke the kitchen scale last week so my mom has a bit harder of a time weighing me now since the gradutionsare pretty small and not all that easy to make out. But, I stood on the scale all by myself and she thinks I'm between 9 and 10 pounds but I'm an optimist and round up. I'm eating lots so I think I deserve it. My lungs are still coming along nicely too so, i think I'm doing pretty well. I've got lots of personality and get into trouble a fair amount. I still don't get into as much trouble as Forrest does though. Mom told me that I shouldn't learn anything from him and to pay attention to the girl dogs only. Forrest is fun to play withthough and is close to my size. I'm still allowed to play with him. I sleep all night and I love to cuddle. Sometimes I get to sleep in the bed but other times I sleep with my sister and brother. I'm always warm. I really like to lay in the sun too (I wish it was sunny all of the time - my mom taught me that) so I have a bed in the sunniest spot of the house for an afternoon nap. It's 2 weeks until I go to see my vet again. I miss him. I'm getting a little nervous though, I must say. I'm not going to go to the clinic in a carrier though - I'm going to be big enough to go just as I am, with my collar and leash. You know what really sucks though? The cold! Mom has been trying to get me to go outside to pee like my sisters (and sometimes brother) but it's not nice out there! I don't like it. She says it's going to be nice out tomorrow though so I hope so! Talk to you soon! XOXO Brosa Feb 6, 2009 2 comments Share it's cold outside Jan. 27/09 Hi, everyone. It's me again. I'm growing and growing and growing still. I'm now 7 pounds and I've learned to take treats to my bed to eat them. My mom makes treats for my sisters and brother and made some small ones just for me and my brother the boston because he's little too. Pretty soon I'm going to be bigger than him though and I'll get the big ones, just like the big dogs. Since they're all girls I'll watch over the harem. I'm getting very adventurous too. I like to play tug with the younger dogs and I really like sneaking up behind all of my siblings and biting the backs of their legs. By the time they turn around to tell me off I'm alrady gone, haha. I'm sneaky. I also like to run around a lot, tease the cats, and bark when we play. The other dogs get to go outside and I'm really wanting to see what it's like but am a little scared still - I don't like how cold it is at the door. I have a collar on now and it's not bugging me anymore. I'm ready for the temperatures to warm up so my mom can take me for a walk. I'm determined to skip the carrier next trip to the vet and walk in there on my own! Love all of you. Brosa XOXO Jan 28, 2009 1 comment Share It's been a while Jan. 23/09 Hi, Everyone. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in a week but my mom was a little busy with my sister so I couldn't get on the computer. She had a tumor on her head and it was really ugly so I'm glad it's gone. Hopefully she will be nicer now that it's off and she doesn't need to be self concious. I had lots of fun this week and am being a good boy and eating all of my food. I've gained a whole pound and am now 5.8 pounds. I'm all muscle, not a bit of chub :) (not that a bit of chub isn't ok, you know). You should see me beating the big dogs up. They should know better than to mess with me. I made the pitbull afraid of me but am still working on the others. The cats are pretty rude too so I need to be meaner to them. Mom says I should just get along but she doesn't understand that this house needs a man to rule it. I need to protect the ladies. It's very cold outside of the doors here. Mom and the other dogs go out but I don't want to. I go to the door to see them off but I run back when I feel the cold. I have pads inside that I pee on when they go outside. I'm a pretty smart guy. We have a boston terrier that I play with sometimes and he doesn't like it outside. Unfortunately he's what they call 'special' and doesn't understand. They feel bad sometimes that I'm much smarter than him but am a lot younger. He has a lot of fun too though and I'm going to protect him when I get bigger. This week I'm going to continue having fun and eating lots. I'm going to try to get big and strong to prepare for my surgery that will make me all better. I'm also going to stop drinking wine so my liver can develop. Just kidding - my mom won't let me have any no matter how hard I try. XOXO Brosa Jan 23, 2009 1 comment Share 7.5 week vet appointment Just like aunt Charlotte said, I went to see my vet yesterday. My big sister came with me because she needed to see him too. My mom kept me hidden until she was all finished. But when my vet saw me you should have seen his face! I made him smile a whole lot - he really was happy and he loves me to bits (I think I'm his favorite). It was only 10 days since he saw me last but he was really happy to see how much I have grown in that time. He took the cold thing out and listened to my heart and lungs and said that they sound great. My mom told him how good I was doing and that I was eating and drinking on my own. I kinda wish I still had to take my medicine because I really enjoyed it. I get to have a wormer today. Mom says I will like that too but I'm not really sure what it is. So, my surgery is delayed again but it's not because I'm doing bad, it's because I'm doing very well. My vet says he's pretty confident that I'm going to make it. It was hard work but I'm having fun and I want a chance of living in this world and showing everyone what I've got. So, since I can eat on my own we're going to let my liver develop a but more so it's safer and hopefully I can get a little bigger too. And, the best bonus is that I'm starting to look like a boxer instead of a chihuahua (no offense to all of the lovely chihuahuas out there). Well, I'm off to raise some hell! xoxo Brosa Jan 17, 2009 2 comments Share My 6th week Jan. 12/09: Tomorrow I will be 7 weeks old! I have lots to tell. It's been a full week since I went to see my vet last and I got to eat solid food. I will see him soon and I know he's going to be very proud of me because I did something remarkable - I doubled my weight! You should see me now - I'm so buff. All of my foster sisters are sweatin' me, I know. I don't even try to pretend I'm modest. I'm now walking around the place like I own it. And, proper thing - I'm the man of the house now so I have to walk tall and stick my chest out to protect these girls. I'm going to keep on eating lots and growing before my surgery because the stronger I am the better I will do. I'm having a lot of fun though. I'm playing with toys and chasing the little cat and climbing all over the big cat. I also play with my foster doggy siblings. They're great fun and all but one are nice to me. Mom says the white one isn't nice to anyone though - she likes me to leave her alone and doesn't bother me. I keep picking on the pitbull instead. She's the nicest to me and I really like her. She's very fun. The boston terrier is a little scary though but I'll be bigger than his soon. Uh oh... I see a pant leg coming my way - I better catch it (it's my new favorite pass time). TTFN! XOXO Brosa Jan 12, 2009 2 comments Share I'm 6 weeks old Jan 6/08: You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Yesterday was terrible! I went to the vet to see my doctor. I was having a pretty bad time for the past week and getting sick a little bit. It's because there was some fluid in my respiratory system. So, I wasn't growing any more and got a little bit dehydrated. My lungs were a bit aspirated too so I have some new antibiotics. So, my mom and the vet cooked up a plan and got me some small dry food to see if I could eat it. I have teeth now so I could try. So, mom found some itty bitty food and I did eat it. I quite like it, actually. It's already coming out the other end ok. Haha. The bad part, though, is that I had to stay still for an x-ray. Then, to keep me hydrated, mom and the doctor said that I needed to have 'subcutaneous fluids' given. I was ok with that until I saw that they had to be given under my skin with a needle. WHOA! So, I protested and then when I got home and was eating the solid food, I cooked up my own plan. I decided to drink water on my own. It was weird at first but I'm getting used to it now. So, that's what's new in my life. New things every day. My foster mom is calling me a chiwoxer. She thinks she's funny but I don't - she's making fun of me. I can run and play and talk just like other dogs my age. I run so fast now that I trip myself. Now I can eat and drink too. I'm just in a small package but I hope that eating on my own will help me. I'm going to take a couple of weeks now and try very hard to heal my lungs and gain some weight. Then I'm going to go back to see my vet so he can fix my mouth like a normal dog. I can't wait! Love, Brosa xoxo Jan 6, 2009 3 comments Share Older Posts »
Brosa's journey Phew! All this play is tiring! Lookit me - I'm buff Sleeping wit my big sis Playing with my pal, Pearl. Flying Brosa! Can't anyone get some sleep around here? I know... too much cute. Good times... good times! I'm a big boy now Me and my mom Delta is a great pillow too! mmmm - this is yummy boxers make the best pillows a lip would come in handy about now. I'll take you down! lazy afternoon leave me alone - I'm comfortable I'm scary, huh? tucked in I love yogurt. I found a sunny spot :) 7.5 weeks old, cute as a button looking like boxer! helping with the chores a new fun game My big sis is here to occupy me I do own the place... see? mmmmmmmm you picking on me? Go ahead, make my day. I'll drink if it means no more needles! I'm writing updates for all of you. XOXO Boo! Happy 25 days old to me! zzz... I'm pretty sleepy Don't make me come over there. 25 days old - strong and standing up 25 days old, walking confidently 3 weeks old. wobbly but getting there. Brosa's midline cleft shown 20 days old 20 days old 20 days old, wide awake 20 days old I made it to two weeks. My friend, Chimera, has helped. My eyes are open. I'll be able to see you soon. Flaaaaash! Well, Hello! 15 days old. peek-a-boo I can hold my own head up for a short time getting stronger. 2 weeks old This is why I can't nurse. I need surgeries soon to fix it. close up of my cleft lip having a little nap stretching just relaxing. 13 days old Sleeping - 10 days old sleeping - 13 days old I hope to be a good little christmas elf 12 days old, being sniffed by foster sister, Bora 10 days old, curled up 10 days old, getting a little scratch yes, I'm cute. I know zzzzzz my big tootsies One week old raaaar! let me sleep. 8 days old 6 days old. Struggling to hang in there 4 days old and tired no more pictures, please!
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Brosa's journey