Robin, adopted on 03/17/11, was renamed Katie even as we drove her home from her wonderful foster parent in Connecticut.   It just seemed to suit her better—and more Irish in honor of her adoption date! Her mom was a full Brittany but her dad will forever be a mystery. From Mom, Katie inherited her goofy grin, limitless energy, affectionate temperament, and freckles on her feet. We fell in love with her 3-month-old little face and set up her new home even before we visited her. Potty training was a snap because Foster Mom had already trained the entire litter to go to their potty pad when she announced Potty Time! (How did she do that!?) For those thinking of adopting through the NEBR, have no doubts:  you’ll receive a spot-on behavioral description of your potential adoptee, thorough medical records, a document describing everything you would want to know about the dog, a collar and leash, and even a toy. We had some struggles with obedience under distractions because Katie is such a social butterfly, as she is described by all the humans at our favorite dog park. She is also highly distractible; all the humans laugh at her evident joy as she bounces around chasing butterflies, falling leaves, and other things only she can see. We highly recommend K-9 University in Douglas MA, where Katie reluctantly learned to control her distractions, enabling us to take her off-leash to wonderful open spaces where she runs with abandon, but still comes back to us when we call her. At 2 years 3 months, Katie is a cherished and spoiled—but well disciplined—member of our family. She is even growing on our 14-pound rescue cat, Annie. Thank you, NEBR, for giving us our Katie. We can’t imagine our lives without her in it!

Corey, Wende and Annie-the-cat

Kimsey

Well, you SAID Kimsey was at least part Brittany when we adopted her in 2011. HA! More some kind of spitz, I’d say; and she has the “All MINE!” life philosophy of a Shiba Inu.

 

I’m from Missouri, and you have to show me! She’s from Missouri too, having traveled from there in a car caravan to her present home in Schenectady, NY.

She’s awfully cute, Brittany or not, even when she’s snarling. Which she doesn’t do very often. This photo was taken by our dog-sitter as she was becoming acquainted with a new dog, and she was a little uncertain until they decided to be friends.

Kimsey came to us probably not more than 1 year old, having just had a litter of 7 pups, 5 of whom survived. She won’t have any more.

She likes her older foster brother Leroy, also a mutt who may be part whippet. She LOVES squeaky and rattly toys! Every day she spends some time barking and tugging at her mommy’s arm (that would by my wife, Meme) to get her to play.

Really, she doesn’t have a serious bone in her body except when she watches Meme give violin and viola lessons. Then she snuggles up with student or student’s parents/siblings and concentrates on getting tummy rubs.

 

Bill

 

Gritz-our Brittany Katrina Rescue

In 2005, a few days after Thanksgiving, we had to put down our 12 year old female Brittany. As many of you know, it is heartbreaking experience. Running, which has always been a great joy for me, was now filled with memories and reminders of my loss. I knew what the solution was. Get another dog! Stop feeling bad or disloyal. It is homage to your pet. Your life is not complete until a dog is back in it.

I came across a NEBR listing for a male Brittany. My partner and I took off from Ct to New Hampshire, where he was being fostered. We were filled with doubt until I sat down and he came right up to me and sat at my feet. I found myself patting his head without realizing I was doing so. That was Gritz’s way. Before you knew it you were under his spell.

Most creatures endure hardships. It is part of life. Gritz not only endured a devastating hurricane, but a month after he was with us we had to rush him to the Animal Medical Center. For a week after he was operated on we waited for results. We were hoping that it was not cancer. Fate was once again on his side. The operation on his leg indicated an old injury, but no cancer. The leg however, did not heal in the time they told us it would. Once again he had to be operated on and this time it was successful. Gritz was back running with me again!

We had seven wonderful years with him. He has set the bar very high for future pets. Cancer did finally get him. It was very quick. Good for him. Not so good for us. He was a marvelous boy. We miss him, but our new dog of two months softens the blow and eases the pain. I now see a little bit of Gritz each time I look at my new Brittany, Buck.

Roger Grace