 | Special Feature Page |
| Special Feature Page |
"RUDY'S PARENTS!"
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Last summer Rottweiler Hope was blessed with a wonder donation from two of our former adopters. Dennis & Angela Mitchell, who adopted Rudy from us, ran a marathon and choose Rottweiler Hope as one of their charities. Prior to the race they collected donations in honor of Rudy and all his former rescues friends from many generous donors. During the race they proudly wore pictures of Rudy & Kane (who they adopted from Rottweiler Rescue of Michigan), telling people along the way how proud they were of their "boys" and how fortunate they were to have them in their family. We, at Rottweiler Hope will be forever grateful to Dennis & Angela and all our former adopters for opening their homes and hearts to our many rescues. Job Well Done!! |
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"SASSIE"
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Sassie was the victim of a blended family. She belonged to 'her' and 'his' two dogs kept beating her up. Even together they couldn't figure out how to keep the dogs separated. In the mean time, Sassie had a litter of rottie/lab puppies..10 in all. When she came to rescue, she brought her last little female puppy, Katie, with her. Her former owners told us that Sassie was born with a missing back foot, but she got around on three legs pretty well. We never found out why one ear stood up and the other laid down or how she came to have a piece of one ear bitten off. She was very affectionate and quiet, but always overlooked until the day Beth came to visit. Beth and Sassie seemed to hit it off right away and they went for a walk. Sassie couldn't walk very far at first, but it wasn't very long that Beth was ready to stop and Sassie wanted to keep on going. Beth travels around the country in her motorhome, helping out at the campgrounds where she stays and Sassie thinks it's just great. She thinks it's even better now that she has her new prosthetic foot. She seems to be very proud of it and used it right from the very beginning. Sassie has gone from being on the bottom of the heap to being quite a little traveler and good will ambassador for Rottweilers and for the handicapped. She and Beth make lots of friends where ever they go. |
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Northwest Arkansas Times |
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Sassie Has A New Bounce in Her Step By Kelly Jarrell, Times Recorder |
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Sassie has new bounce...cont. |
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Sassie was born without the lower portion of her right hind leg. That is the bad news. But there is alot more good news than bad here. This friendly Rottweiler was among the fortunate ones, because her life happened to cross paths last year in a Michigan shelter with Dr. Beth Bishop, a retired Toledo dentist in need of a traveling companion. Sassie, now 4 years old, was part of The Safe Haven Rottweiler Rescue program in that state. "When I first met her, she crawled up in my lap," said the soft spoken woman. "Since then, I have worked to keep her leg exercised. Now when we walk, she can keep up with me." This makes the third full-grown dog Beth has adopted over the years. Her last one, Portia, died of cancer. Today, Beth and Sassie live together in a 37-foot recreational vehicle parked in a scenic campground just across the Oklahoma border. Beth originally brought Sassie to the Crossover Vet clinic last October in a red van she pulls behind the RV home. And a few days ago, thanks to Crossover's lady vet's, Sassie finally got an artificial leg that is helping her bring bounce and balance to her step.  Dr. Bishop, who was forced to retire from her thriving, 26-year dental practice because of a chronic back ailment, said Sassie has become her protector and the one creature that brings the most joy into her life each day. |
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Up until late February, Sassie has made do with an almost Indian-looking apparatus Beth lovingly crafted of laced leather, a ladies "sole saver" and some duct tape. The dentist had obviously done the best she could to handcraft an artificial leg for her best friend. And the truth was, Sassie learned to make do fairly well limping on that makeshift false leg, although it was considerably shorter than her three normal ones. She only donned the apparatus outside the motor home. When Dr. Bishop visited Dr. Lauryl Hynes and Dr. Beth Stropes at the Crossover Clinic last fall, it was clear that a full-blown doggie prosthesis was what Sassie needed to ever walk and run normally again. At 4, the dog had reached the age when a false leg successfully could be attached. So the vets got on the Internet and found a Colorado company that creates artificial pet limbs from hard plastic and foam linings.  Measurements and a cast were made and within a couple of months, Sassie's new rear leg arrived. Beth said this new leg already is much more effective than the handcrafted version. But it still needs a touch of added extension to have Sassie strutting as normal as if she was on four natural ones. Those refinements are under way. "Our goal now is for Sassie to strengthen her muscles and get her a full-length prosthesis that will also protect her hip and joints," said Dr. Stropes, who has developed a particular affection for Sassie. |
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"That also should give her a perfectly normal gait and stance." The veterinarian said it is not all that common for people to get prosthesis for pets that lose limbs. "Most amputations are higher up which means it often is better to simply have no leg than one that is shortened," she said. "Actually, it can make a difference whether the dog is small or large. Smaller dogs with amputations often can do better on three legs," Stropes added. Sassie has two-thirds of her right hind leg, which provided plenty to attach to. So if you're in an RV park one day and see a silver-haired woman walking a dog with a black plastic right rear leg, it's only Beth and Sassie out doing their thing together. Just think of them as one animal tenderly looking after another.
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Southwest Times Record
Monday, June 26, 2000
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Prosthetist Helps Dog to Regain Foothold By Kelly Jarrell, Times Recorder |
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Prosthetist helps...cont. |
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With the help of an area prosthetist, a handicapped dog is getting a new leash on life. Sassie, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, recently was fit with a prosthetic leg from Horton's Orthotic Lab Inc., of Fort Smith. The device helps the dog, who was born without the greater part of her right rear leg, to live a normal life. "It was real clear that she needed something," said Beth Bishop, Sassie's owner. "When I got her, she would try to use (her leg), and she would rub it raw. At first I made a kind of moccasin for her out of a leather glove and some duct tape," she said. Bishop, a retired dentist who travels the country with Sassie, turned to Greg Johnson from Horton's for the prosthesis. "He's what people in the medical profession call soft-handed. He has a real talent for making the patient feel comfortable, and he did a great job with Sassie." said Bishop, whose dog was Johnson's first canine client. |
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Bishop, who adopted Sassie from a Rottweiler Rescue shelter in Michigan, is an advocate for adult dog adoptions. "This is my third adult dog adoption, and (those dogs) have been the best three dogs I've ever had," she said. "Besides rescuing dogs that aren't likely to get adopted, you have a fair idea of their personality. With puppies you don't ever completely know," Bishop said. Sassie has had no problem adjusting to her new leg. A sweet, well-tempered and obedient dog, she knows that the device is to help her, said Bishop. The leg is made of carbon fiber laminate and is fitted over something similar to shoe lining. Boot tread on the bottom makes for easy use. Bishop said that once the adjustment phase is over, Sassie will drag her along for three to four miles each day. |
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Some more photos of Sassie with her new leg!
 A VERY happy Sassie & her forever, loving, Mom....Beth |
Sassie loves playing with fuzzy, squeeky toys!  Sassie standing tall and ready for a long walk with her Mom, Beth! |
 This is a close up of the prosthetic foot made for Sassie. |
Sassie Update!
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Sassie & her mom Beth travel around during the summer months, stopping at different campgrounds. When ever they are in Michigan they always stop to say hello and see what the latest happenings are at rescue. Sassie is one lucky rottie to have found a special person like Beth to be her forever mom!
Sassie's window on the world!....a special place, designed by her mom for Sassie to lay
Sassie standing in the wide open spaces of Oklahoma. |
"APOLLO"
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Dear Aunts Sue & Jan.... |
Asa Apollo von Fonvielle CGC, HIC |
Apollo & Friends at ARC 2001 National Specialty
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Part of earning your CGC (Canine Good Citizen)
Another part of earning your CGC, is Passing "Group"
Apollo and his mom enter the herding ring, to begin testing for
Apollo in action !!
A very special group of Rescue Rotties |
ARC 2001 NATIONAL SPECIALTY
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The Safe Haven Inc, Rottweiler Hope was pleased to donate a basket of goodies for the ARC raffle. Donors for the basket included Carol Fonvielle, Marie Zeak and Sue Hinkley. A special thanks to Marie for doing a beautiful job of putting the basket together. All proceeds from the raffle were donated to the Rottweiler Rescue Foundation to be used for grants for numerous rottweiler rescues through out the United States. |
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All donations are tax deductable and will be promptly acknowledged with a thank you note and receipt from our treasurer.
Please make donations to The Safe Haven, Inc.
