Someone spotted three golden retrievers running loose in their neighbourhood in Hamilton. The kind person was able to coerce two of the dogs into their yard, but the third dog couldn’t be contained. Hamilton Animal Services picked up the pair and they waited at the shelter for an owner to call or show up to claim them, but nobody came. It was obvious to shelter staff that the dogs had been used for breeding, as both have signs that they recently had puppies. Their teeth are rotten. One of the dogs was suffering from severe urinary infection and her legs were swollen. Their ears are infected and their fur was matted and dirty. These poor dogs were in rough shape.
Shelter staff quickly discovered that the girls are extremely bonded. They stayed close together in their kennel and when outside for bathroom breaks and exercise. If one wasn’t in view of the other, they would panic.
We were happy to get these two sweet girls out of the shelter when a foster home stepped up. We named them Bunny and Brie. At the vet appointment on their rescue day, they both had blood work done and it showed that Bunny has Lyme disease. More comprehensive testing is needed to know if medication is required, so we’ll have to wait for those results. Thankfully she is asymptomatic for now.
Brie’s joints are abnormal, hence why her legs look swollen. We’ve scheduled spays and dentals for both dogs for mid-January, and while Brie is under anesthetic, her legs will be xrayed to get a better idea what’s happening. Thankfully, Brie doesn’t have any noticeable mobility issues.
After their vet appointment, Bunny and Brie had much needed grooming at Black Dog Pet Salon. Big thank you to Black Dog for donating the grooms, and for fitting them in on a very busy New Years’ Eve day.
Bunny and Brie are now settling in at their foster home. We’re glad we can provide a safe and quiet place for Bunny and Brie to decompress and start to feel better. We know they will be wonderful companions for the right home when they’re ready.

Welcome to Ladybird, Bunny and Brie! We’re so happy you’re here!

January 4/25 UPDATE
Bunny and Brie have been doing well in their foster home. They’re getting used to their routine and soaking up all the love from their foster family. We’re trying a second round of medication for Brie as she’s still suffering from a bladder issue. She’s peeing frequently outdoors, and unfortunately inside the house too. Sometimes it will be a full pee, other times just a small amount, and she’ll often squat to pee but nothing comes out. Hopefully this round of medication will do the trick, but if not, we will run more tests to try to figure out what is wrong.
We’ve added a few things to our Amazon Wish List specifically for Bunny and Brie if you’d like to send them a gift. There’s food, toys, and several choices of washable pee pads that we know their foster family would very much appreciate.
Thank you for the shares, comments and love you’ve been sending our golden girls. We told them about all the folks rooting for them, and they both smiled and wagged their tails. 🙂

We love you, Bunny and Brie!