My name is Sassy!

4-11 Sassy made it through her second mastectomy and we are hopeful that her issues are over. The biopsy shows it was not cancer THANK GOODNESS--but Cystic mammary ductular hyperplasia complicated by mastitis. We will continue on with her medication for the Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (which probably caused the mastitis) but she is officially READY FOR ADOPTION!!

Sassy's Original Blog and Sassy's Barking for a Cure Blog

Sassy is doing GREAT! She started on a new antibiotic for her Lyme disease in December and that has made a HUGE difference in her recovery. We will dive in to her follow up mammary surgery in another month or so.

11-27-10 Illinois Birddog Rescue is very dedicated to the dogs and puppies in our foster care program. It's been nearly a year that Sassy has been in foster care. She is now heartworm negative and Rocky Mountain spotted fever negative, but she is still struggling with Lyme disease and in late November she had a partial mastectomy. She is a trooper however but we do need folks that believe in our cause and will help us with a donation to help with the expensive vetting costs so that we can keep saving more amazing dogs in our program. Here is Sassy's ChipIN--please give what you can.

In early December 2009, we heard about two Pointers in Oklahoma that were nearing their euthanasia date. Sassy is our newest pretty petite Orange and White gal that sadly has been diagnosed with heartworm disease, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. So far anitbiotic therapy since January has gotten her ready for heartworm treatment the week of March 29th. She's got a tough battle ahead of her--but as soon as she recovers from the heartworm, her body will be able to fight off the tick borne illnesses and she will be ready for adoption. Had her owner used heartworm preventative and flea and tick protection--this little lady would not be suffering so. Please consider a donation to help us get Sassy the care she needs.

Due to the fact that these dogs have come from shelters or abuse or neglect situations, and unless we have tested these dogs on upland birds and feel they are confident and ready to work as a hunter with families where they will be trained with kindness and patience, we will only adopt to pet homes.

All adoptions include vaccinations, fecals and deworming, microchips, spaying or neutering, collar, leash and an information adoption packet. All dogs and puppies are also tested for Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever via a $100 blood test. On average nearly 83% of our incoming dogs and puppies from the Midwest are testing positive to one, two or all three tick borne illnesses. If caught early- these diseases are highly treatable. Infected Dog and Deer Ticks are all over the Midwest and United States and these diseases often go missed yet are epidemic. Left untreated- dogs may suffer horrible painful joints, brain damage, chronic allergies, and if the disease progresses- death.

All IBR dogs in foster care are learning to be crate trained, housebroken, socialized with other dogs and loved on by their human foster parents. Adoption fees are used to cover vetting expenses and special need dogs' vetting care. Our adoption guidelines also require non-smoking homes and safe fenced in yards.

If you are interested in adopting this pet through our rescue organization, please go to the ADOPTING A FRIEND section to read about our pre-adoption policies and vetting protocols.

Please help us reach our fundraising goal so we can continue our work helping save these homeless hunters and other abused and neglected dogs and puppies! We have a long way to go and any amount --big or small--will make a huge difference especially if the dog or puppy is in an area where they use gas chambers to euthanize.
We see the worst that humans can do to defenceless animals- but with your donation- we will be able to do more to end the suffering of many frightened dogs and puppies.

Others Ways You Can Make a Difference

Shop for 2010 custom calendars, mugs and T-shirts at our Café Press fundraising website and choose merchandise featuring Pointers, Setters, Hunting Dogs or Friendly Mutts. All of our calendar stars are rescued dogs that would have been euthanized in shelters across the Mid-West had IBR not stepped in to save them. Your support does make a difference!!

Help offset the high cost of our vetting bills via the Petfinder.com Sponsor-A-Pet link. Illinois Birddog Rescue has always prided itself in not turning away any sick and injured dogs; animals that most shelters would have euthanized. We have saved many dogs with heartworm, tick borne illnesses, broken legs, missing legs, blind dogs, a new deaf puppy, dogs suffering from Parvo and especially senior dogs that may need expensive health care to help them get ready for adoption. In February of 2006, in one weekend, we brought in 20+ dogs from the Boat Mountain Tragedy, and that depleted our emergency funds.

Your donation will not go unnoticed. In addition to helping save lives, when you donate your name will be added to the Illinois Birddog Rescue Donations and Rescue Sponsor List.

Become an IBR foster home and help give a rescued dog or puppy a second chance at a new happy life. The work and dedication of the current IBR foster families can be seen by clicking HERE! You are not just fostering a dog, you are joining a birddog family! If you would like to become a foster home and join our enthusiastic group of birddog lovers, please fill out an online foster home application.

Shop and search the Internet using iGive.com and iSearch.iGive.com - Two great ways to help us raise funds while using the Web. It's free and there is no limit or hidden fees. Give them a try here:

Special Offer: Order the 2009 Entertainment Book through iGive.com and get $10 off plus free shipping. For every copy purchased, a special donation of $2.40 will be sent to IBR. This is a great way to give back while saving hundreds on shopping and entertainment, whether at home or on vacation. Simply register or log in to iGive.com and search keywords Entertainment Books. Enter your zip code or select “view all books” for a complete list of editions. Order a copy today!

Up to 26% of every purchase through iGive.com is donated to Illinois Birddog Rescue. Membership is free and over 700 online stores are registered through the site, including eBay, JCPenney, Land’s End , Drs. Foster & Smith, PETCO and Petsmart.

iSearch.iGive.com is a fun and easy way to raise money while searching the internet. The donation is $0.01 per qualified search (no limits) and if you are logged in as an iGive.com member (membership to use iSearch is free and optional) you can keep track of your individual contributions through searching and shopping. $0.01 per search may not seem like much, but with our combined efforts it can add up very quickly and make a difference for our rescued dogs. iSearch.iGive.com is powered by Yahoo! search engine. Start searching the web and download the iSearchiGive toolbar to earn every time you search by clicking here:

Shop Helping Udders, a fun place for cool and unique dog stuff not found in stores. Select “Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc” during the checkout process and 10-50% of every purchase you make will go to support our rescue. Click here to visit the home of the original Udder Tug and to find that unique gift you’ve been looking for:

Monetary donations can also be mailed directly to IBR, PO BOX 364, Wood Dale, IL 60191.

Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc is a 501c3 not-for-profit charity licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.