In Memory of Wonderful Malinois Rescues
They are remembered by those that found them worthy of a Second Chance!
OLD DOG IN A LOCKET
That lies next to my heart
I will always love you
As I did right from the start
You were right beside me
Through the darkest of my days
It was your kind and gentle nature
That made me want to stay
Now I hold you in my arms
Your breath still warm against my hand
Our hearts still beat together
And I wonder if you understand
Through the hours that I held you
Before the light did leave your soul
I knew a way to keep you
Forever in my hold
I snipped the hair from around your eyes
So I would always see
The beauty that surrounds me
Even in times of need
I snipped the hair from around your ears
So I would always hear
Music in the distance
To quiet any fears
I snipped the hair from across your back
To bring me strength in time of need
And the power of your essence
Would always be with me
I snipped the hair from around your heart
That beat in time with mine
So I would know that love would find me
At some distant time
And so, your life slipped out of mine
On a quiet spring like day
But I knew that a part of you
Was always here to stay
Old dog in a locket
That lays next to my heart
I will always love you
Even though we had to part
Author unknown
Mimi
Rescued in 2011
Went to Rainbow Bridge: 6/04/11
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Mimi was rescued by Kay Wright while out out running as a stray in South Florida. She was being threatened by a neighbor who offered to shoot her if Kay did not come soon to "get her out of there". At about one year old, Mimi was a young waggy girl,who despite having vision issues we thought was worth saving . We hoped to give her an opportunity for a good life. She contracted Distemper while at a boarding facility in Florida awaiting a foster home to open up.
Yesterday Mimi lost her fight with Distemper after five weeks of experimental treatment from UF and extensive home nursing care. Mimi appeared to rally last Monday and spent some time outdoors exploring the backyard. She even laid in a hole provided to her courtesy of the other dogs at the house. She would often share a dog bed with one of the other dogs, especially Gina,her surrogate mom. From that day forward she deteriorated quickly losing the use of all four of her limbs. To the end she enjoyed eating baked turkey legs, and anything with butter and a little salt on it.
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With much love and sadness,
Foster Mom Sara FK
Tall Dark & Handsome, aka Othello
Entered Foster Care in August 2010
Went to Rainbow Bridge: 8/31/10
 
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Foster Angel Suzanne De Blois stepped up on an emergency basis when a striking Malinois dubbed, Tall Dark and Handsome (TDK) was facing his last hours in a Florida killl shelter. We took her up on her offer, and after we pulled TDK from the shelter and drove him to Jacksonville to board for the night, Suzanne drove 12 hours round trip by herself to pick him up the next day! She renamed him Othello, and got him settled in. He was right at home and Suzanne was working hard to get him to leave her cats alone while giving him the freedom he demanded (as a Malinois :-) Soon thereafter there was trouble, he was weak in the back, and toppled down some stairs breaking, no, shattering his leg. Xrays showed severe bone loss and the vet suspected bone cancer since there was such severe bone waste. He was SUCH a great dog we had to try to save him, so we hoped for the best and did some bloodwork and then a biopsy. The biopsy results came back as osteosarcoma, could it get any worse? We started to consider amputation since xrays did not show that the cancer had spread to his lungs. But, it was not meant to be. Othello was getting weak, unable to hold down food, and tired, oh so tired. The cancer must have spread, and Suzanne called with the bad news that she felt like we just cound not continue to try to save him. Othello was too sick, to tired to go on. Suzanne told us that there was no choice but to put him to sleep. She spent one last day with him, to spend time with him and love him and then she will let him go. We are forever grateful to Suzanne De Blois for her unconditional devotion to our beloved Othello.
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Yesterday the lady gave me a liver and salmon snack and I knew there were pills in it but she told me I was a good dog, so I ate it anyway. When she got home from work it was different. She just opened the back door and ALL us dogs ran outside. She didn't even put the plastic boot on my splint and I wasn't on leash. That bossy little bitch came up with a jolly ball for the lady to throw and I grabbed it a couple of times because Wassail runs too far out and doesn't keep her eye on the ball like I do. I LOVE catching the ball! The lady decided to lift that camera up though, so I had to disappear and was able to go to the dog clubhouse. The lady calls it the workshop, but underneath is a cool hangout for dogs. The cats came up expecting a game of chase, but I let the other dogs run after them, 'cause I had to hide from that camera. I haven't run in a long time and was feeling pretty tuckered out and wanted to go inside. I couldn't make it up the steps onto the deck but the lady lifted me up and I opened the screen door with my nose and let myself inside. Those cats were really giving me the eyeball but I just ignored them unless they got close enough to sniff their butts and the lady told me I was a GOOD dog. She says that a lot, sounds like a broken record sometimes. Next time the lady came at me with some pills she stuck them in some ground raw chicken and I didn't even consider spitting them out. YUM. I wandered all around the house and let myself outside when I wanted. I really am a very good boy! My leg was starting to hurt like hell but that bite of chicken made me forget all about it. After the other dogs came back from their walk they lay around waiting for dinner. I don't lay around when it comes to food, I am right there sampling it with my nose. I LOVE dinner time. I think the other dogs got regular food plus a duck neck, but I got all treats for dinner: the duck neck, boiled chicken breast filets, raw chicken and lamb patties, tripe, and the kibble and cottage cheese that I didn't eat for breakfast. Well I didn't eat the kibble again, and those raw patties weren't so great compared to the chicken breast and duck neck. I haven't spent much time in the bedroom where everyone sleeps at night so I collapsed in there after dinner on a corner of bedding. That lady kept following me around with the camera; doesn't she get that I disappear when she points that thing at me? All in all, it was great having the run of the house and yard. When it was time for bed, the cats got locked upstairs since they are disruptive by nature and I went and hid so the lady wouldn't put me in the crate. It was weird. She didn't come to get me, but the other dogs got excited whispering to each other about their bedtime snack. I went to see what that was all about and saw they got a bite of baked chicken, and so did I!!! The lady slept on the floor so I went to flop down next to her but that bitch told me that was her person and to keep my distance. OK, OK, so I flop on the bitch's bed, then roll off of it so I'm within touching distance. Nyala has her own crib mattress and ignores the fuss. I must have dreamt about that good dinner and voila, it came back so I ate it again. The second time my dinner came back the lady got up to get a bag, paper towels, nature's miracle and little green. I cleaned it up myself again and kept it down because I had a feeling I'd need the fuel for a journey in the morning. Time to get up and she didn't put the leash on but opened the back door so out I went again. When it was light she had that camera out and I actually crawled up the steps on my own to escape inside. I was pretty dang sore from running and walking around so much but when she came to slip me more pills I tried just eating the chicken and spitting out the pills. That crazy lady is more stubborn than I am though and I HAD to swallow the dope. After the other dogs came back from their walk it was time for breakfast again. I only ate about half my rations, but it was good stuff. When the lady was getting ready to go I thought she'd put me back in the crate but instead she got my leash. Better still, she opened up the hatch of the subaru and I tried jumping in. I didn't come close to making it and she told me I was a silly galoof and gave me a boost. I love riding in the car. We went back to the vet which is where I spend most of my time if I'm not at home. That clumsy lady dropped a squeaking tennis ball right in the parking lot so I had to grab the thing and bring it inside. Everyone was nice to me because I am such a nice boy. We played tug with that ball for a while. That exhausted me so by the time the doctor came in all I could do was pant and wag my tail. Well, if you're reading this after 10:27 I already went on that journey I talked about earlier. Somehow I left that ball on the floor of the examining room, but I am running like in the old days now and there are plenty of balls here anyway. All the colors of light went through my body and my leg doesn't hurt and food feels good going through. My body went to be incinerated, but if my spirit comes back in a malinois puppy, I want to be with people like you great folks whose well wishes and actions meant lots to me when I was in pain. Thank you all for all you do. Tall Dark & Handsome, aka, Othello
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Sadie
Adopted in December 1998
Went to Rainbow Bridge: 4/28/09
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Sadie, our beloved rescue Mal passed on 4/28/09. Sadie was adopted in December 1998. She instantly touched us and became a positive influence in our lives. She really made everything we did better. Sadie helped us get to know our neighborhood in Philadelphia, re-discover the outdoors and discover goretex and pet friendly hotels.
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Sadie loved her machostix almost as much as she loved the chase. Sadie loved to go for walks and rides in the car, especially when we were heading up to the mountains. Sadie had a phenomenal vertical leap which never ceased to amaze people.
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In 2004, when our daughter Claire was born, Sadie never left her side and provided that extra set of eyes we needed in the house and yard for Claire and later for our son David as well.
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Sadie aged gracefully and was fairly active until recently. Sadly, in her fifteenth year, Sadie's spine and hips gave out. We did our best to keep her comfortable. She remained alert til the very end. We miss her very, very much.
Kasper
Adopted in 2002
Went to Rainbow Bridge: 2003
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I remember getting a call from Marcia the NE Coordinator about Kasper. She had asked if I would be interested in fostering him. I asked her to tell me a little about his background. His mother had died, he had been bottle fed and was with another rescue group up north. Kasper had been adopted out and they had reported him being aggressive with the adoptive family. I told her sure send him down. Kasper flew into the airport where I picked him up. Imagine my surprise to see this three month old pup laying in his crate taking everything in stride. I called my husband and said you are going to love this boy, wait until you see his color. My husband loves the "off color" malinois.
I brought him home let him out in the field to run around and see what he was like. I called Marcia laughing on the phone telling her he was anything but aggressive. Kasper loved to talk and was quite the vocal one. No aggression just loved to hear his own voice. So he learned very fast to speak on command and he learned equally as fast to be quite on command.
Kasper would go out into the field while I was working other dogs and he had an uncanny way of picking up everything that they were doing.
Then enters my husband. We had fostered several dogs for ABMC rescue over the years and Joe has loved them all but this boy was so special to him. He would take Kasper everywhere with him and you could see Joe and Kasper out in the field walking around and they were just talking to each other. You could see the love he had for him as well as the love Kasper had for Joe and there was very special bond between the two.
The decision was made to adopt him. There were many tears shead over this special boy because we knew at the time we adopted him he had a genetic kidney disorder and we would not have him long. The vet had given him a short time but Kasper being the special boy he was beat the expectations and lived to be a little over a year.
What will always be remembered in the short time we had him was the love that he gave and the special bond that he had with my husband. Even though his time was too short here he had a bond with Joe that most people only wish for in companion and we wouldn't trade the time with him for anything. He taught our family a lot. It was like he knew his time here was short and he was always the first to do anything and everything. Even when he could no longer go play he would watch the other dogs from the swing on my husbands lap just taking everything in and giving him back the love that only a dog can give. Kasper would still bark out his orders when the other dogs weren't working as well as what he thought they should and kept that amazing zest for life over seeing everything from the swing on Joe's lap. We will always be thankful to Marcia as well as ABMC Rescue for having the time with this very special boy we got to share our lives with.
Joe and Lynne Swaringen
Sheba
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Sheba, a Belgian Malinois, was seven years old when I agreed to foster her for the American Belgian Malinois Club rescue. They warned me that since she was so old I might find her difficult to place. Well, I found her difficult to place, but not because she was so old, but becuse I fell in love with her!
Sheba was a working dog, and really needed a job to do, so I started training her in agility. She loved it, and was very eager to work with me in the sport. Since I, also a senior, wasn't able to walk around an agility course, I had to use my electric scooter to train and show her. She learned to do all of the obstacles correctly, and to go on ahead of me when I couldn't keep up. We earned several titles in AKC and UKC agility, and she was still happily competing at the age of nine, as shown in the picture.
Carol Stein, Johnstown, OH
Jolie Blanc
Adopted in 2002
Went to Rainbow Bridge: Aug 3rd 2007
 
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Jolie at Home |
Jolie Blanc came to us in 2002 and left us August 3, 2007. She came from ABMC rescue and was our first Malinois. Besides being one of the most affectionate dogs we have ever had we learned so much from her. Due to her loving, loyal ways we were sold on Belgians.
We really don't know how old Jolie was when she came to us, everyone had their opinion of her age, but it did not matter, we were just thrilled to have her. She helped to train our younger boy when he came to our home (also through ABMC) and told him what's what.
Jolie's favorite place to sleep became our hall outside of our bedroom on the cool tile. When Bear was allowed out of his crate at night in the bedroom, she became my babysitter. She would not allow him to leave the room.
On Thursday evening her breathing became a little labored, with her having allergies, I gave her Benedryl and she seemed to get some relief. Friday morning she was still having difficulty breathing so off to the vet. The Vet said she was having congestive heart failure and he would need to keep her a few days and treat her with diuretics and heart medication. Within a few minutes of my husband getting home, our vet called and said she was gone. She had had a heart attack and they could not revive her. I think she was just waiting to be away from us to let go.
It was shocking and losing her hurts terribly. We miss her tremendously. There will never be another dog that can fill her shoes.
Our thanks go to ABMC and all those wonderful "Belgian" people that took part in her rescue and foster care. The first part of her life may have been difficult for her, but the past five years that she was with us were wonderful for her. She quickly became the "Queen of the House" and will forever reign in our hearts.
Thank you,
Joe & Vickie Mediate
Kota
Adopted in 2007
Went to Rainbow Bridge: May 2007
 
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| Kota in Rescue |
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Kota came into our lives petrified of everything - people especially. It took awhile but he slowly started coming around and enjoying life. Kota blessed our lives and made everyone he met so happy with his willingness to please and can-do attitude. He learned many things in his time with us and met all challenges put in front of him. It was a joy to see him come out of his shell and a tragedy the way his life ended. We were lucky to have Kota in our lives and will always miss him.
We were lucky to have Kota in our lives and will always miss him.
Cervelle
Adopted in 2002
Went to Rainbow Bridge: Mar 2007
"Cervelle", my rescued Belgian Malinois, lost her battle with congestive heart failure this morning at the age of 12. At least she was able to live her last 3 years in the only home she never ran away from. She will be missed by her household buddies, "Raka" and "Vakt", and all of us here on the farm.
Sara, AKA Sissy
Adopted in 2001
Went to Rainbow Bridge: Feb 2007
 
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| Sara in Rescue | Sara at Home |
My Husband, Mike, and I had purchased a Malinios from a breeder in 2000. His name is Nico. At the time we didn’t have children yet and he was our only baby. We decided he needed someone to keep him company during the day while we worked. We had heard about the rescue because Mike is a police officer and had contact with Mal owners. We contacted ABMC sometime in 2001and we ended up going to pick up Sara, or Sissy, as we nicknamed her. Sara was wonderful. She was such a joy for us. She was laid back and sweet. A wonderful compliment to the Malinut we already had! Nico is so full of energy and is so mischievous. They had a time getting to know each other and a time getting along at first. They settled in together and became like brother and sister. Sometimes bickering, sometimes playing. They would have never let anything happen to the other. We all fell in love with Sara. When I was pregnant with our first child and Mike worked nights she sat by my side. It was like she knew I wasn’t feeling well. Dylan was born in 2002 and we had another son in 2005. The four year old loved Sara so much. He would play with Nico and loved on Sis.
We lost Sara February 2, 2007. We aren’t sure what happened. She may have been older than first thought. She may have been sick. Either way, it has been very hard for all of us. She was so very loved. One thing we do know is that she had a good life and a lot of love from the moment we had her. We thank the rescue for everything they did for us and for our sweet “Sissy” girl.
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