About Newf Friends

Newf Friends Newfoundland Dog Rescue is a volunteer run, foster home based rescue group for Newfoundland Dogs in need in Ontario, Canada.
We place Newfs into carefully screened homes in Ontario and surrounding provinces and states.
Established in 2008.

Follow us on Facebook for daily updates
Also find us on
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/newffriends/
Twitter @NewfFriends

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for general information about our program and our adoption policies and procedures.



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

River


River
#3666
April 26/12: I was adopted!  Yay me!


Say hello to River, a beautiful, sweet, loving 4 year old girl who is looking for a family to call her own.

Yep, I like water!
River is a total love bug, gentle and affectionate and loves to give slobbery kisses. She gets along with everyone and is a happy girl with a true gentle giant temperament, she is great with people, kids, dogs, cats, you name it--a dream! She has stolen the hearts of everyone she has met and she is going to make one special family very happy!

This stunning 4 year old purebred girl was turned over to us by her heartbroken owners who were unable to meet her health needs. River had torn the cruciate ligament in BOTH of her knees and has a luxating patella. She required multiple surgeries to correct the damage and several months of rehab. Working with an orthopaedic specialist to help River regain mobility and ensure she has an excellent quality of life, Newf Friends volunteers worked to return River to good health.

All fixed up and feeling GREAT!


Thank you to all of our supporters who rallied to raise funds for River's care. "TEAM RIVER" really came through for River and we surpassed our fundraising goal and were able to move forward with saving River.

All said and done, River's care from treatment through rehabilitation took 8 months and Newf Friends spent just shy of $10,000 after generous discounts in services from all veterinarians who cared for her, discounts on medication and her rehabilitation.  If ever there was an example of why pet insurance is so very important for Newf owners, River is the girl. 
Team River's progress--we did it! Thank you to everyone who helped raise funds for River's care!


River, the morning of her first surgery....



River's first surgery was performed on September 22, 2011. It was a success. Details can be read here.

Her second surgery was performed on November 11, 2011. Within 24 hours she was already walking around and weight bearing on the newly repaired leg. Details about her second surgery can be read here.

All of us at Newf Friends once again extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kim Facey - Apsley Veterinary Services and Dr. Michael Faessen - Soft Tissue and Orthopaedic Small Animal Surgeon for their ongoing support of our work in rescue.  We'd also like to thank Dr. Stephanie Cote - March Road Veterinary Hospital for all of her assistance with River's follow-up rehabilitation.  And of course River's amazing foster parents Erica and Andrew who loved her, cared for her and nursed her back to health for 8 months -- you guys are simply the best!  See this note from Dr. Cote about River!


River is pictured here with the team from Apsley Veterinary Services the morning after her second surgery. Dr. Facey (left) and her team have been instrumental in River's rehabilitation.
River's gait has improved dramatically and she is able to get around well now although she still has more healing to do, and most importantly needs to start building up muscle mass after so many months of bed rest. In foster care she continues to get physical therapy and acupuncture, and her adoptive family will be shown how to do basic exercises with her to help her continue to strengthen her legs.

Due to irreparable damage to her legs, River will always have some gait issues, and River's ideal home will be one with no stairs and non-slip floors. She could join a family with other dogs, but they must be respectful and not rough-house with her. She can live in a home with respectful children.
To be considered for adopting River, please complete our adoption application and return it to us. Our usual adoption donation of $500 will be reduced to $300 for River given that she will require daily medication (Metacam/gabapentin) for her life.

River is being fostered in the Ottawa area and her approved adoptive family will be required to pick her up in person.

Otis


Otis

October 7, 2011: Otis was adopted!!!

They don't get much more adorable than this! Meet Otis, a lovable boy who is the epitome of what a Newf should be. A gorgeous boy with a massive, beautiful head and a calm, gentle temperament.


Otis loves attention and his foster mom reports that he chooses to be petted over eating his meals! He is wonderful with everyone he meets and is just happy to be around people.


Well mannered, Otis complies with requests immediately and has nice house manners. An all around great boy, he will make a wonderful, mellow companion for the right family.

He gets along well with other animals, including dogs, although is not impressed with pushy males. However, he follows direction so well that he is easily managed.


Otis will be 7 this fall, and is a large boy who is in good shape. He is currently suffering from allergies and we are working to get his skin/feet/ear issues resolved. Once his infections clear he will be neutered and will be ready for adoption.


To be considered for adopting Otis please complete an adoption application and return it to us.


Otis is being fostered in York Region and his adoptive family will be required to pick him up in person.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Mimi Before and After - Adopter Update

At the beginning of October 2010 a 4 year old female Landseer Newfoundland came into our rescue from Quebec. Her name was Mimi and she was approximately 50 lbs overweight, unspayed, skin issues, poor coat and infections in both ears. She was to be a long term foster as she needed to safely lose the weight before she could be spayed and adopted. She had a gorgeous personality so her foster parents were not concerned that she'd be with them for at least 6 months. They started her on a high quality, grain free diet and a regular exercise regime, slowly increasing her endurance and fitness level. Her starting weight was 167 lbs and it began to come off at a rate of 1-2 lbs/week. Below are her 'before' pictures taken in October 2010.





Fast forward to August 2011, 10 months later. Mimi is a completely different dog, almost unrecognizable from when she came to Newf Friends. Over the course of the Winter and Spring Mimi shed almost 50 lbs through regular daily exercise and a carefully monitored diet. She ate only her high quality dog food (Acana Pacifica to be exact) and received no treats except vegetables. She loves cucumbers, cabbage, celery and peppers!


A healthy 120 lbs!
Look at the shine on her coat!



Mimi loves to fetch her big ball

At the beginning she could not walk more than 5 minutes without stopping for a rest. She can now trot at a brisk pace for over an hour. She runs and plays with the other dogs and has learned to fetch her big ball. Her coat is glossy and full and her skin is in great shape. She is the picture of a healthy Newfoundland dog! She had lost the weight by the end of May but went into heat so her surgery was postponed a few months to give her hormones and blood vessels  time to get back to normal.

Here's Mimi playing with her brother ~ look at her go!!



Mimi was finally spayed on August 18th. She sailed through her laser spay surgery and woke up perky and not at all drowsy. Her vet (Kingsdale Animal Hospital) was amazed given her size and age (now 5). He attributed her speedy recovery to her great health and fitness level.

Throughout Mimi's transformation her foster parents knew they had a special girl on their hands and they decided they could not let her go. They adopted her! She has been a wonderful foster sister to many other Newfs and all breed dogs in need, always gentle, always kind. Losing the weight has added years to her life so she can continue to give back to other dogs in need for years to come.

Rescue dogs aren't always perfect but with time, patience, love and effort they can be the best dog you've ever owned. Please consider adopting a Newf in need.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Update: August 20, 2011

There's been lots happening over the last little while.....

New arrival Otis entered our foster program yesterday. This gorgeous purebred Landseer will be in the care of Dr. Janice who will work to resolve his skin/feet/ear issues over the coming weeks. Details about this adorable boy are coming soon! Look out ladies, he's a real charmer.

Yogi needs a family to love! Yogi the Saint (who we are fostering for our parent group HART) is still waiting for a family to love - please spread the word!!! This sweet boy loves people and is friendly and social, he really is a wonderful Saint. Read all about him here. Yogi is a loving boy and will make a wonderful companion for the right adopter.
Because Yogi's needs are unique we WILL consider placing him into a home outside of our catchment area. Please cross post his bio to help us find him a perfect home!

Handsome boy Duke is a super friendly boy who is playful, fun loving and cute as can be. He is having a blast playing and being a total goof ball in foster care. He's a great boy for an active family who wants a playful dog to accompany them while they are out having fun. Read about him here.

Adorable purebred Newf, Luke is an awesome boy who is gentle, well mannered and just about perfect! He's a sweet boy who is gets along with everyone, 2 and 4 footed.
Details about this cutie can be found here

Adorable Pandora, a young purebred Landseer, is making steady progress in foster care. This sweet girl is affectionate and wants nothing more than a family to spend all of her time with. Read about her here.

Beautiful Jade is still waiting for the right family to come along. She is all healed up from cruciate surgery and is now ready to find her perfect family. Gentle, easy going, well mannered Jade is an all around awesome girl. She gets along with everyone! Read all about her here.

Valerie has been adopted! She hit the jackpot with an AWESOME family! Can't wait to hear updates!

See us at S.D.& G. Dog Show Aug 26-29, 2011
Held at Woodlands Campground on the Long Sault Parkway

Check us out at PoochPalooza September 24-25, 2011 in Caledon, ON.

Newf Friends gives a "shout out" to Megan, since we hear you check us out daily!

Our new line of Newf themed merchandise is ready to go! Our Online Store is updated and we are ready to take orders!

Our parent group HART has dogs of all shapes and sizes available for adoption. If you know of any loving families who are looking to adopt a dog, please direct them to HART!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Adopter Update: Molly

HI folks – Molly and I were swimming in the lake near my house on the weekend. Pictures of her extraordinary cuteness are attached. She has taken to sitting on (rather than under) a bush in my back yard. It is killing the plant but it makes for a beautiful picture!






Sunday, August 14, 2011

Adopter Update: Jazz

Hi Allison,
Just thought I would give you an update on our girl. It is hard to believe that a month has past already, it seems as if she has been a part of our life always. After only 3 days with us we were able to take her off the leash and let her run free with her brother Benson. The two have become inseparable, swimming in the river, hanging out with mom or just lounging around the house. Jazz and Benson start their day with a walk to work, they hang out in my office with walks around the farm to say hi to the horses, people and dogs that come through, then we walk home. The kids have taken to Jazz and love to play with her, yes play, she does get going sometimes and it is sooo cute to watch. She also enjoys drinking out of the horses water troughs or the hose itself. All the horses seem to understand that she does not want to hurt them and they are her friends too.
After a visit to the groomer. Notice the pretty bows in her hair!
Dual drinkers!! Jazz at the bidet and her brother Benson takes the toilet. Ha!
Relaxing on the porch
We would like to say Thank you to Newf Friends for helping us find our girl and should we ever decide to get another dog we know where we are going to head.
Sincerely,
Allison, Craig, Arielle, Kyla, Cole,  Benson and Jazz Park