Dear Benefactors —

Old Maggie was recently taken in by Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue and suffers from Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. All of her body fat, and much of her muscle mass, has been metabolized to maintain her basic body functions. She is now being given a daily supplement of orally administered pancreatic enzymes so that she can digest her food and absorb nutrients. Since she was started on the pancreatic enzyme supplement, she has gained 4 wonderful pounds (from 13 lbs. to 17 lbs.), which has been a great accomplishment for her.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is fully discussed here.

Old Maggie still has a long distance to go before her starved body is stabilized. She is almost blind with advanced bilateral cataracts, but does manage to navigate well with her excellent hearing. Overall, her disposition is great, and her will to survive is what has pulled, and will continue to pull, her through this health crisis.

Here are four photos taken on 2008-04-12, when she weighed only 13 pounds:

Maggie will remain on an oral supplement of pancreatic enzymes (PancreVed Powder, 12 oz.) for life at a cost of $107 per month. Additionally, she will remain on Science Diet Prescription I/D food and daily vitamin supplements. Estimated monthly costs are $150.

What can you do to help Old Maggie?

(1) You can sponsor Maggie through our Sponsorship Program.

(2) You can buy merchandise from our Boston Boutique.

(3) You can mail or drop off a contribution directly at our veterinarian's office:

Dr. Julie Grimes, DVM
Altadena Valley Animal Clinic
2898 Acton Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35243

(4) You can mail or drop off a contribution at:

Regions Bank - Any Branch Office
Account Name: Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc.
Account Number: 3010071725

(5) You can make an on-line donation through PayPal by clicking the Donate button:

(6) You can let us know that you would like to send a check or make a contribution using MasterCard, VISA, American Express, or Discover by sending an email to boston@bhambtr.org with your contact information so that we may reach you.

We will send you a signed letter to document your donation for your 2008 tax filing.

Here is some information about our wonderful organization.

BhamBTR leaves no stone unturned in assuring the best possible future for the adopting family and, most importantly, for the Boston Terrier being placed. A lengthy screening and education process is done before an application is approved. An adoption contract is completed, and post-placement follow-up is done. An adoption fee is charged to cover the tremendous veterinary expenses incurred by BhamBTR.

All members of BhamBTR are volunteers who are Boston Terrier owners themselves and are deeply dedicated to the welfare and safety of the breed. Every member of our team undergoes the same screening process that is applied to all potential adopters. Over the course of the past year, our volunteers have driven hundreds of miles across the Southeast to rescue Boston Terriers and Boston-Terrier mixes in need. BhamBTR volunteers have participated in screening potential adopters and have educated each other in the best ways to care for and train a Boston Terrier. BhamBTR volunteers have worked dog fairs and fund raisers to generate donations to help with expenses. Most importantly, though, is that each member has opened his/her home and heart to assist BhamBTR in caring for rescued Boston Terriers while they are in foster care.

All medical-care decisions are made by one or more of BhamBTR's four board members: Donna Farmer, President; Amy Sanford, Vice President; Meredith Warren, Secretary; and Austin Cooper, Treasurer and Web—all of whom have worked with various other rescue organizations prior to the establishment of BhamBTR. We have several excellent veterinarians across Alabama from which we receive counseling and guidance. In addition, we work closely with sister rescues, Southern Cross Boston Terrier Rescue and Boston Terrier Rescue of East Tennessee, among others. To date, we have individually rescued and re-homed well over 200 Boston Terriers and Boston-Terrier mixes. Our rescue efforts have been exponentially successful; and in 2008, we will likely double the number of dogs rescued just during the previous year.

We sincerely hope that you will consider becoming a member of our team.

Thank you for your generosity! We appreciate your help and so do these dogs!

Respectfully,

Donna Farmer, President
Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc.
A 501(C)3 Non-profit Organization
www.BhamBTR.org

..."He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

Author Unknown