Thomas is now part of our Set for Life program.
Dear Valentine,
You have been with me since I arrived in my forever foster home a year-and-a-half ago. I travelled all the way from Ontario to New Brunswick and when I entered my new home, there you were. It’s like you were waiting for me all my life.
My life hasn’t always been easy and for a long time it was hard for me to be the best boy I could be. But when I met you and my forever mom and dad, things started to change.
When I have a bad day, you patiently wait for me to feel better so we can play. When I’m excited, you let me chase you. When I’m tired, you quietly lay beside me. As my eyebrows grow whiter, you still stick by me. As my vision gets fuzzier, you allow me to find you over and over again. You love me unconditionally.
Mr. Squeaky, I know they say it’s wrong to play favourites, but you’ll always be my favourite toy. Will you grow old with me and become my Set for Life Valentine? Then, we can be together forever.
Love,
Thomas
❤❤❤❤❤
If you’d like to help dogs like Thomas spend the rest of their days with the toys, blankets and people they love, please consider donating to our Set for Life program here:
Dear Santa Paws,
Am I too old to be writing to you? My mom says no – that Santa Paws loves dogs of all ages.
Santa, I’ve been a very good boy this year. Remember before when I used to be bothered at the vet? Now, when I go, I see other dogs there and I just watch them instead of telling them to leave. The vet (he’s one of my BFFs now), can look at my eyes and I don’t fuss like I used to. This takes hard work, Santa, but I’m doing it.
I wanna be honest, so I’ll tell you one thing that might get me on your ‘naughty’ list. I give mom the royal run around at eye drop time. It’s all good though cause Mom says she still loves me.
Dad and I like to play ball together, so I could really use some new tennis balls this year. Dad is good at getting a basket in the wrong net, which I like because I get all his points. I’m down to my last clean ball, so if the elves can make me some, that would be great. I’m not picky about colour, but I’d prefer if it wasn’t red, white, yellow, pink, purple, brown or green.
By the way Santa, I am free on Christmas Eve if you need another reindog to help pull your sleigh.
Love,
Thomas
Sunbeams and blankets are a Boston’s best friends!
Thomas is a guy who knows what he wants, and what Thomas wants is to be warm and comfortable. So, when he saw his mom lay a fluffy and fresh blanket down, he dragged it to a large sunny spot to catch some indoor rays. ☀
One of the reasons Thomas joined BTRC’s Set for Life program was because he has glaucoma. There is no cure for this eye disease, where fluids build up in the eye and increase pressure to dangerous levels. This condition must be carefully monitored to ensure Thomas receives the right medications at the right dosages. On his most recent visit, his veterinary ophthalmologist had some good news: Thomas’s eye pressure is stable and in a safe range.
As long as this remains the case, Thomas doesn’t need to return to the specialist and can have his eyes rechecked monthly at his local vet’s office. Thomas is very happy to hear this because he has become increasingly chummy with his regular vet – they go way back. 😉
Thomas, you continue to make us smile! We are all so proud of how far you have come since arriving into BTRC’s care a little over two years ago.
Thomas lives in New Brunswick and as a Set for Life dog, will stay with his wonderful ‘forever foster’ family. You can read more about the Set for Life program here:
Thomas is Sending Good Boy Vibes!
The rumours are true – our Set for Life Thomas has been a good boy and we decided he needs to be celebrated!
On a recent vet visit, Thomas shared the waiting room with five other dogs. He paid no attention to two Chihuahuas, which is a big deal for Thomas who has been known to be reactive to dogs. He visited with two other dogs and while they sniffed each other, his tail wagged the entire time! He whined a little when he saw a small dog on its owner’s lap, but who knows, maybe he thought she was cute. 😉 On his way out of the vet, he encountered a large Golden Retriever and Thomas barely batted an eye. Based on his last update and this most recent one, it seems like Thomas might be putting his only dog loner ways behind him!
Thomas also recently celebrated his 10th birthday. Happy Birthday, Thomas!
You can learn more about Thomas and our Set for Life program here.
Thomas Update – May 2023
Our Set for Life foster, Thomas, has been making some big strides! Known to be reactive towards other animals and strangers, Thomas has shown much improvement. On a recent outing, a person (with permission) pet Thomas with no issues. After their cordial exchange, Thomas was described as a “beautiful dog.” Though Thomas already knows this, he humbly accepted the compliment. 😉
On a trip to the pet store, Thomas encountered two dogs. Thomas calmly stood still and just watched them. It was only after they started jumping and barking that Thomas reacted. This makes us wonder if, with the right introductions, Thomas could be okay with other dogs. Thomas has been full of pleasant surprises, so this is something we will monitor.
Thomas was diagnosed with glaucoma when he first came to BTRC. This is a chronic condition requiring him to have daily drops and vet checks. Like many dogs, he isn’t a fan of his eye medication and vet visits (or nail trims for that matter). His mom has worked diligently with him and he now allows her to give him eye drops and nail trims. Thomas is sedated and muzzled for veterinary checks, but on recent visits, he has had no issues. He was so comfortable that he even fell asleep during a check-up! Because he was such a good boy, his vet has requested that he takes no sedatives for his next visit.
Congratulations, Thomas, on a job well-done!
You can learn more about Set for Life program here.
Thomas joined his Set for Life foster family on July 23, 2022.
A Year for Thomas
July 21 will mark a full year in rescue for Thomas. That’s a long time, and time is something we are running out of.
When Thomas arrived to BTRC we knew he would be a challenge. Having met little success with previous attempts at training, Thomas was spending his days anchored to a wall in a separate area of his owner’s home. Anxious and aggressive to other animals, the family did not trust him around their young children. Wanting to give him his best chance, they reached out to BTRC.
Upon arrival to rescue Thomas stayed with a trainer to get a better understanding of his behaviours and to begin to work on rehabilitation. Although he remained wary of strangers, he became comfortable and affectionate with those he knew and trusted. Very food motivated, he loved to learn! But Thomas continued to be barrier reactive with other dogs, and as he encountered many dogs at the training facility, and hated to be crated or confined, this led to the need to move him into a foster home with no other pets.
About the same time, Thomas was diagnosed with glaucoma. This is a chronic condition requiring daily drops and rechecks every three months to monitor. Like many dogs, he isn’t a fan of the eye medication at home. And he must be sedated and muzzled for veterinary visits.
Thomas lived in a no-pet foster home for several months. One-on-one with his human, he is a happy, well-behaved boy. He is affectionate, playful and a bit of clown! He loves food, giving kisses, cuddling and sleeping in the human bed. He’s a bit of a bulldozer, but listens well when play gets a little too rough. He isn’t vocal and pushes at the door when he needs to go outside. He enjoys car rides and just hanging out with his person.
Thomas is anxious when strangers come to the door or into the home, and so he is blocked from the doorway with a tall gate. Introductions to new people must be slow and carefully supervised.
Thomas celebrated his 9th birthday on June 8. He’s fully up to date on all routine vetting, on heartworm/flea/tick preventative, and weighs approximately 36 lbs.
There is a lot to love about Thomas, and Thomas has a lot of love to give. That’s what makes his situation all the more difficult. Because of his aggressive reaction to other animals, and the neighbouring dogs, it was difficult for his foster to manage Thomas in the yard. Thomas needed to be moved again.
Attempts to find Thomas a “Set for Life” home were unsuccessful. (Our Set for Life program places the dog in a permanent home, but BTRC remains a partner in the dog’s ongoing care, overseeing medical treatment and expenses for the rest of the dog’s life.)
Now, Thomas is back where he started, with the trainer. He is living in his trainer’s home, but this is only a temporary measure. His time here is coming to an end.
Rescue is hard. And decisions like what to do with Thomas heartbreakingly so. But we can’t sugarcoat it. Thomas is a reactive dog with a chronic medical condition. His needs in a forever home are very specific and hard to find. We are not looking for a place to ‘offload’ Thomas. We need to ensure that he only goes to a home where he, and everyone else, can be happy – and safe.
It will be no life for Thomas to live in a boarding facility, where he will be stressed, anxious and unhappy by both the confinement and the proximity of other animals. Some will say that there are things we have left untried – another trainer, another behaviourist, another medication. But at this point we feel we have explored every single reasonable possibility for Thomas. If his quality of life can’t be guaranteed, at this point the kindest thing to do would be to let Thomas go with dignity.
And so, this update. Both to be transparent with our supporters but also, and most importantly, to make one last plea for a Set for Life foster home for Thomas.
Set for Life Foster Needed: Thomas
Thomas has been with BTRC since July of 2021. His owners had tried several things to deal with his anxiety and reactivity. On the advice of their trainer, Thomas was spending most of his day indoors on a rope anchored to a wall, to keep him separate from their children. Once the children were in bed, he was allowed to roam but would urine mark. Walks were short because of his dog aggression.
The family realized this was not the life for Thomas. BTRC moved him into board and train so that we could get a better handle on his behaviours. His issues were serious enough that he posed a bite risk, and it was decided he should continue living with his trainer to work on them.
Slowly but surely, Thomas made progress and while he will always be a dog who must be managed to some degree, he was moved into a pet-free/child-free foster home in November. Thomas has a lot of wonderful qualities. When he’s one-on-one with this foster mom, Thomas is a sweet, affectionate boy who craves attention. He loves his toys, and belly rubs. Couch cuddles are the best! He quietly goes to the door when he needs to go out and is not destructive when left on his own, although he would of course prefer someone who is around more often than not. He is, however, living in a neighbourhood full of different dogs, and neighbouring dogs who bark when outside. And this makes him anxious and stressed.
Unfortunately, on top of his anxieties, Thomas has developed glaucoma in both eyes. A painful, chronic condition it requires daily drops and frequent vet visits. It may also lead eventually to him losing one, or both, eyes.
Because of his special needs, Thomas is now a part of our Set for Life program. This means that BTRC has made a commitment to Thomas to forever support his needs and pay for his care for the rest of his life.
We are looking for a very special foster home to partner with rescue so Thomas can live his best life. The journey ahead will have its share of challenges, but we know that there is someone out there who can provide Thomas with the home he needs and love he craves. If you open your heart and your home to Thomas you will be providing him with his last chance at a happily-ever-after – and will be a true rescue hero.
If you are interested in learning more about our Set for Life program, and how you can help this deserving dog, please email board@bostonterrierrescuecanada.com
THOMAS • 8 YEARS • 30 LBS. • NO PET/NO CHILD HOME • FENCED YARD • RURAL OR QUIET NEIGHBOURHOOD
Thomas is presently in the Peterborough area of Ontario but transport will be considered for the right fit.
Update: September 2021
When we introduced Thomas in early August, we explained that he came to us with a lot of baggage. Rescues are often criticized for turning away challenging dogs. It’s never an easy decision. Rescue volunteers want to save them all, too. Fortunately, BTRC was able to give Thomas this chance. It’s more than the question of whether a dog will ever be suited for adoption. It is also the resources required to try and help them become the best dog they can be.
Thomas is wary of new people, and if he feels cornered or threatened, he will lunge out. He is leash reactive, and not good with other dogs. At all. His basic obedience is lacking too.
As BTRC doesn’t have a sanctuary or shelter to house dogs like Thomas, and a foster family isn’t appropriate at this stage, he is at a board and train facility. Here he can continue to be assessed and work on his issues. Even with a generous rescue discount, this will cost about $600 a month. And we have no idea how long he may need to stay.
It is always important to rule out medical causes for behaviours. Thomas has seen the vet – twice. Because we knew how he might react to some poking and prodding from strangers, he was given a mild sedative for the first visit. No go. A second appointment was scheduled with stronger sedation. So even routine vetting is more costly.
It’s not all bad news. Thomas appears to be in good health. And he IS showing improvement in some areas already. BTRC is cautiously optimistic that with time, patience and the right training Thomas can make someone a good companion someday. And by sharing his journey with you, Thomas will help everyone get a better understanding of the challenges – and the joys – of rescue.
Talking about Thomas
There are no bad dogs. But there are dogs whose baggage is packed with some challenging behaviours. And seven-year-old Thomas is one of those dogs.
We can’t sugar coat it – Thomas is travelling with a steamer trunk. His behaviours could be due to a whole host of reasons: an undiagnosed medical condition, a past traumatic event, or to paraphrase Lady Gaga, “put your paws up, ’cause he was born this way”.
Our number one priority is to investigate and evaluate. Thomas will start his journey with Rescue in a “board and train” environment, where he can decompress, be professionally assessed and work with a trainer. Thomas will also undergo a complete veterinary workup.
