Betty is now part of our Set for Life Program.
Betty is getting a raise – in treats that is!
Our Set for Life Betty has embraced the work-from-home life. She has taken it upon herself to be her foster mom’s intern – reminding her when it’s break time, lunch time and when it’s time to wrap up. Betty sees herself as an integral part of the team, ensuring that her mom understands work/life balance (ie: work/Betty balance).
Her newest initiative is “Project Get the Hint.” Now, when mom gets up from her chair, Betty sits in it and won’t move. That way, mom knows work time is done and Betty time has begun!
Because it’s been over a year since Betty began her internship, she feels it’s time to negotiate a new contract – more treats and cuddles are only fair. 😂
Betty, you are definitely an asset to the team!
To learn more about Betty and our Set for Life program, visit www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/about-btrc/setforlife
The people have chosen and…it’s Betty!
Back in September, our Set for Life foster Betty was entered into a contest in honour of Remember Me Thursday® – an international social media campaign to raise awareness about pet adoption.
Moved by her compelling story, a huge number of votes were cast from people all over the world – YOU included! Thank you for acknowledging the journey Betty has travelled and spreading the word about pet rescue and adoption.
Betty sat nicely beside her gift box of prizes for a photo, but only after she spotted a ball, stole it and ran away from her mom to hide her treasure! 😂
Congrats Betty – you deserve this. ❤
Dear Diary,
Oh boy am I in a pickle! I’ve been ‘talking’ to BTRC alum Albert for quite some time (he lets me call him Bertie 🥰). On Labour Day weekend, he asked me out and we’ve been texting ever since. Recently, BTRC foster Bru DM’d me and asked me to join him for a walk downtown. I’m not gonna lie, my heart skipped a beat!
What should I do? I really like Bertie, but something about Bru makes me do zoomies. Bertie and I have been doing the long-distance thing and between Edmonton and Ottawa, it’s hard to keep the spark alive. Bru’s in Ottawa like me, so I feel like if I need a good snuggle, I can grab my leash and go. Virtual snuggles with Bertie just aren’t cuttin’ it – especially when I see all his pics snuggling with his brother Moose. I get kinda jealous because when it comes to Bertie and Moose, the snuggle is real!
Ya know, when I think about it, I get the feeling that if Bertie had to pick his one and only, it would be Moose anyway. He always asks him to join in on our dates, so it feels like I’m the third wheel. I think it might be time to friendzone Bertie so I can explore things with Bru. Afterall, he’s an only dog like me, so he truly gets me.
Thanks for listening diary. I’ll keep you updated once I sort things out.
Betty
❤❤❤❤❤
If you want to help Bru’s heart beat for Set for Life Betty, please considering donating to his upcoming cardiologist appointment:
https://www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/donate/
Dear Santa Paws,
First, I would like to say thank you, Santa Paws. When I pawed my letter to you last year, I was in pretty rough shape. My wish was for a family to love and take care of me so I wouldn’t hurt so much all the time – and I tell ya, Santa, I was in a lot of pain last year.
I don’t know exactly how it happened, but somehow, I got everything I wished for and more. First, these people who call themselves BTRC found the most coziest place for me with “fosters.” This family welcomed me, loved me, cuddled me and took such good care of me. They brought me to the vet so many times I now know the place so well that I think I could work there myself! But soon, I started to feel better and now I feel so good!
Next, an even more wonderfuller thing happened. Those BTRC people made me SFL. (They do seem to like their letters don’t they?) I’m not sure what that means either, ’cept that my foster family is my furever family now!
You came early this year, Santa Paws! I thought you only came on Christmas Eve, but you gave me my wish sooner. I guess I wished sooo hard that you decided we should celebrate the holidays as an official furever family.
I know I am just the luckiest Boston girl ever. My family loves me and snuggles me so much. I have lots of warm places to lie down, dog toys to play with, food that makes me feel good and yummy treats to eat too. So, for Christmas this year, all I could really ask for is for every rescue dog to find what I did, a family to love and take care of them furever.
Love, Betty xo
P.S. Come to think of it, these BTRC people might work for you, Santa Paws. Like you and the elves, they also make wishes come true. ❤
Betty is Set for Life!
On a frigid winter day in January 2023, a female Boston was found as a stray. In extremely poor physical condition, the shelter did not have the resources to provide the medical care she urgently needed. BTRC agreed to help.
Given that it was so close to Betty White’s January 17th birthday, BTRC decided to name this dog in her honour. Betty White was a strong woman, set on achieving her goals, and a perfect combination of sweet and spicy! Since coming into care, our Betty has lived up to her namesake’s legacy.
Betty’s beginnings were unknown, and her future uncertain – Betty was even worse off than we knew. She had pyometra, a serious and life-threatening infection of the uterus, and required an emergency hysterectomy as well as the removal of a giant mass from her abdomen, which turned out to be an enlarged ovary. She had a vaginal mass, a leg mass, a bladder infection, and was severely anaemic. Despite the multiple surgeries and the pain she must have felt, Betty only became happier with each medical intervention.
Betty has overcome impossible odds and significant health issues, but she does suffer from chronic kidney disease that will always need management and careful monitoring. We can’t overstate how big a role the dedication of her foster family has played in both her physical and emotional recovery. Sure, Betty still has some behavioural quirks, but they love her just the way she is.
For these reasons, it was decided that Betty join our Set for Life program. This means that she will spend the rest of her days with her forever foster family, and BTRC will cover the financial costs of all necessary veterinary care.
If you would like to sponsor Betty and help with the cost of her medications and prescription diet, please visit Set for Life DONATE to make your one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation.
More good news for Miss Betty!
We told Betty that we were sharing news about her positive medical report, and she insisted that we take a photo of her “good side” for her fans. She tried multiple angles and versions of the Boston head tilt and just couldn’t decide. We think it is fair to say that all sides of Betty are beautiful!
Earlier this year, Betty was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Her recent blood work shows that for the most part her levels have remained stable and within normal limits. Betty also had an additional test to measure her kidney function called symmetrical dimethylarginine (SDMA). SDMA is an amino acid that is produced when cells break down protein. Since it’s primarily removed from the body by the kidneys, an elevated level of this marker can measure kidney function. Betty’s SDMA remains high, but she is responding well to her special R/x kidney diet.
Betty also suffered from anemia, likely caused by her untreated kidney disease. Betty will remain on B12 supplements because, in combination with her renal diet, her anemia has now been resolved.
Betty has improved so much since coming into BTRC’s care. The love and care she receives from her foster family, in combination with her fighting spirit, has truly turned this gorgeous girl’s life around. ❤
Betty is enjoying some R&R as she recovers from surgery.
Betty recently had two masses removed – one from her vagina and the other from her leg. The masses were sent to the lab for testing, and we are happy to report the results are in and the news is good!
Betty was diagnosed with a completely excised, grade I soft tissue sarcoma from her perivulvar region and a completely excised, low-grade II mast cell tumor from her lateral thigh.
So that means the vet got it all and since both tumours were low grade, the least aggressive kind, the chance of either coming back in the same location is slim, only 0-3%. The chance of total cure, on the other hand, is high, 80-90%!
Of course, Betty will always need to be watched for any new lumps or bumps, but no further treatment is required.
We are overjoyed at Betty’s diagnoses and so is Betty! As you can see, she has chosen to celebrate the good news in her favourite way – basking in the sun for a nice, long snooze!
New BTRC Friends!
BTRC foster Betty is enjoying her March Break vacation visiting with alum Johnny. Johnny was so excited for his new friend’s arrival that he dressed up in his good sweater and bow tie for the occasion. ❤️
Oh Betty!
Spring is just around the corner, honest! 😂
Betty really is a remarkable soul, and such a loving, affectionate and cuddly girl. With all the poking and prodding from the vet treatment she’s receiving, if her one main complaint is about fashion footwear, that’s just fine with her foster mom!
Although surgery number one to remove her ovarian tumour is done, Betty still needs to have masses from her vagina and leg removed and biopsies performed. Her kidneys are still not functioning as they should, and signs may point to chronic kidney disease. She’s on a new diet to attempt to further manage things, and medication will be added if required.
Speaking of meds, Betty has finished treatment for giardia and a recheck will follow. She still needs to gain some weight, and her coat is still patchy, but all and all, this brave lady is doing remarkably well and has already come a long way from the condition she was found in.
Betty is a treasure, but her care is costly. If you’d like to donate to Betty’s ongoing care, she would be would forever grateful!
The Indomitable Betty!
What a few days for our Betty…
On Friday the results of her blood work were so alarming that her condition was upgraded from urgent to critical. In the middle of a snowstorm, her amazing foster bundled her up and rushed her to the veterinary ER.
Severely anemic, the vets could not understand how she was walking, let alone trying to play. Betty was diagnosed with pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus. She had a kidney infection and x-rays showed a massive growth in her abdomen. All this in addition to her poor overall condition and the obvious mass on her leg, which turned out to be the least of her troubles.
It was time for a difficult choice. Could Betty survive?
All we could think about was the resilience Betty had shown. Her loving, trusting nature. And the fact that she was already demonstrating just how tough she was.
Was Betty worth the money it would take to give her even the slightest chance?
YES!
An abdominal ultrasound didn’t give the answers needed; the only remaining option was exploratory surgery. Betty underwent a blood transfusion to ready her for the operation. The vet did not offer any false hope; there was a real chance that Betty would not be waking up. Her foster came in to spend more time with her before the procedure began, and to let her know that people cared. She mattered.
Then the wait began.
Finally, we got the call. Betty made it! The mass, the size of a large grapefruit, was her ovary, which along with her uterus was successfully removed and sent off for biopsy. Shortly after surgery she was already standing up, and the staff are all in awe of her strength and sweet personality.
Betty stayed in hospital an extra day until her kidney values showed improvement and came home yesterday. She still has a long road ahead of her and will be back to the vet every few days to monitor her progress. With your support, we are committed to giving this amazing girl every possible chance for a pain-free and love-filled life. 
If you’re able to donate to Betty’s care, please visit www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com/donate. THANK YOU!
P.S. If you’re squeamish, photos of Betty’s tumour are disturbing so we’ve elected not to share them here but they are available at this link: https://bostonterrierrescuecanada.online/betty-mass
Welcome Betty
Found as a stray and ending up in a shelter, we have no idea what this sweet girl may have gone through. We’ve named her Betty in honour of Betty White, and are happy to tell you that she is now settling into a BTRC foster home.
Physically, Betty is in very poor condition. She has a large tumour on her rear leg, but more concerning is a vaginal mass with purulent discharge. Her hair loss is extensive, her feet are sore with overgrown nails, and she is painfully thin. She has already been to one urgent care veterinary appointment to prioritize her medical needs. She’ll need more testing, x-rays, and fine needle aspirate of the growths just to start.
Personality-wise, Betty is lovely! She is bright, affectionate and, despite what you might expect, very trusting. Her first night’s sleep in her foster home was deep – cuddled in her warm and fluffy blankets she was comfortable and felt safe. ♥️
Betty’s long-term prognosis is unsure. But this brave girl is an inspiration as she celebrates the positive in every day – good meals, yummy treats, and lots of love.