Success Story: Mr. Bones (#1166)

February 8, 2006: Mr. Bones (now Beau) Named "Comeback Dog of the Year"

Clackamas County's Mike Moises, Mr. Bones, Adopter Linda Bertwell

Each year a dog from the Clackamas County Shelter is chosen as the "Comeback Dog of the Year." For the year 2005, Mr. Bones (a.k.a. Beau) was the winner of this honor and special guest for the evening. Linda Bertwell, Beau's proud owner brought him to the dinner and told his amazing story of neglect and abuse and how he recovered from being severely ill with a stomach and intestinal blockage, due to eating plastic and rope toys, because of his lack of food for days on end. Four hour emergency surgery was performed to remove the blockage and repair the torn intestine and then a slow and methodical recovery back to a healthy and robust hound dog began.

Once back to health he was put up for adoption and one of our own Golden Bond volunteers decided this was the dog for her. Beau is now a beautiful, healthy 90 pound hound dog. At least his fur color is Golden with a personality to match. Golden Bond's original Come Back Dog and aren't we all proud of that!

Clackamas County's Mike Moises, Mr. Bones, Adopter Linda Bertwell, Golden Bond Intake Coordinator Patsy Nolte

Adopted April 10, 2005

You also probably remember me as all bones and not much more. Well just look at me now! I am a bouncing 90 lbs. of happiness and joy. I just can't tell you all what it is like to be truly rescued by Golden Bond. That day I was picked up by a volunteer at the Clackamas County Shelter was the first day of the rest of my life. And I just know the rest of my life is going to be fabulous. I have been with my forever home now for about two weeks and things couldn't be better.

I am the only dog Linda owns; however, she is a foster home too and I have enjoyed having Brewster here also. Linda is so much fun, she plays ball with me, takes me for walks, even takes me to work and just looooooooooooooves me! She even allows big old me on her bed once in a while. But the main thing is she really thinks I am very special and loves and hugs me all the time.

If if weren't for Officer Gabby Deets, of the West Linn Police Dept. this entire story may not have even happened. I am so thankful that she picked me up, took me to a vet for emergency care and then to Clackamas County Shelter. I also have to tell you all how grateful I am to my foster home Diana, who nursed me through my starvation ills. I thank Dr. Libbi Hawkins for realizing I was very ill and took the chest x-rays to find I had that blockage in my stomach and after surgery took excellent care of me. Then there was Dr. Tamara Walker who operated on me for 2-1/2 hours to remove the blockage and repair my intestines, literally inch by inch.

I am a very lucky boy, yes I am, and I owe it all to Golden Bond Rescue who took me in even though I wasn't a Golden but just knew I needed their help. Thanks, Clackamas County for calling them when you knew no one else would help me. And a big thank you to all of you out there who made donations toward my recovery expenses; but most of all thanks for just loving me and saying prayers and lighting candles for my recovery. I promise never to eat anything like that again and that will be easy as I now am fed regularly with food and love. Is life good or what!!!

Love, Beau

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March 17, 2005: Mr. Bones Available for Adoption

Mr. Bones, March 17, 2005

Howdy, y'all! My name is Mr. Bones (#1166), but you can call me Bonsey. I'm ain't nothing' but a big, handsome hound dawg. I know what you're thinking: what am I doing with the nice people at Golden Bond since I'm not a golden?

I was brought to a shelter when I was 30 pounds underweight and very, very sick. My problems were so big that they were going to have to put me down. That's when Golden Bond came to my rescue. I was too sick to tell everyone about the things I had eaten when I was sad and hungry, but the good vets found them and performed surgery to remove them. While I was there, I heard them say that the surgery saved my life.

I've been with my foster mom since January and gained back about 20 pounds. I feel and look a lot better. Just wish my fur would grow back faster.

I'm a BIG dog — can easily look over a five foot fence — but I wouldn't jump over it. I have had obedience training, know sit, down, wait, stay and come. I walk very nicely on a leash. I alert my foster mom to people at the door and would probably bark at strangers if left outside a lot. Foster mom says I'm very smart and responsive. I like children of all ages, but I'm a probably a little too clumsy to be around the small ones. I think cats and squirrels are for chasing and free game if I ever manage to catch one. I have lots of energy and would love to have a doggie friend to play with in my new home. I love car rides and behave well in the car. Even though I'm a big boy, I have good manners in the house and wait for you quietly when you have to go somewhere without me. I'm always cheerful, although foster mom complains that I won't say cheese for my photos. Foster mom says I'm the most congenial foster dog she's ever had.

The vets told us that I shouldn't have any more problems with my tummy in the future because of the surgery and I'm no longer interested in eating things that aren't food.

I would love to find a home where I have space to run and use up some of my energy. Foster mom says I also have to be an inside dog with my family, except when they take me out to play.

Would you like to have a hound dawg to love you unconditionally? I hope so. Please call Golden Bond.

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February 18, 2005: Golden Bond takes the steps to stop the starvation of Mr. Bones

Hello! My name is Mr. Bones, and I'm a hound dog. I know what you're thinking: what am I doing with the nice people at Golden Bond since I'm not a Golden? Let me tell you my story.

I was brought to the Clackamas County Shelter by a nice policewoman who had rescued me from the place where I used to live. I guess my owners had forgotten about me, and I was feeling bad. My owners had said I was part Golden, so the shelter called Golden Bond. Well, as you can tell, I probably don't have a lot of Golden in me, but the lady from Golden Bond who came to see me thought I had a golden personality and took me in.

We went to Raleigh Hills Vet Clinic where I met Dr. Libbi Hawkins. She figured out right away that I was suffering from starvation, but she wanted to do more tests. So, I went to see the nice people at The Veterinary Referral Service of Portland. Dr. Walker performed an exploratory surgery and found some dangerous stuff in my tummy. I had been too sick to tell everyone about the things I had eaten when I was sad and hungry. Dr. Walker removed everything and after a week back at Raleigh Hills my tummy felt much better. While I was there, I heard them say that the surgery saved my life. I guess I am supposed to weigh 90 pounds, but I only weighed 60.

I am now in a foster home where my foster mom is taking great care of me. I am gaining weight, and I feel like a hound dog again. I have shown her all the things I know, like basic obedience commands. She is impressed and said she is really glad I haven't been eating any odd things around the house. I tried to tell her that I don't have to do that when someone cares enough to feed me regularly, help me when I am sick and give me lots of hugs. We are both glad that Golden Bond was able to help me because I really am just a nice hound dog who was hungry and wanted to love everyone.

The other day, I heard my foster mom on the phone talking about how my medical bills are really high. She mentioned that my treatment and care have cost over $2700! That sounds like a lot. I have been trying to let all the people at Golden Bond know how thankful I am. I give them lots of attention and kisses, but I don't know how to make that number smaller. Do you think you could help me? I would be thankful for any amount you could send their way. Thanks so much!

Love,
Mr. Bones

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