Melanie & France with 2014 Quebec Rescue of the Year Award

Playing house with Bruno

1985 Mama France's first rescue noticed by the local newspaper at the age of 12.

Rescue of the Year

France is the founder of the rescue with her Ben. Ben died in France's arms peacefully at home when he was 9 years old.

Career Day with Jacob

Ben outshined Santa at the 2014 Santa Claus Parade in Ottawa, On.

Ben is a proud Tutu wearing Mastiff

career day with Jacob

Ottawa Sun 2014

Ben the parade superstar !

Meatball was surrendered by her owner. She had a terrible skin reaction to her food and had lost most of her hair on her back. She was our little clown and loved to make people laugh, she is a born entertainer doing her yoga pose . Now happily adopted in a loving home.

Billy getting some love. Or is it the other way around?

Meatball would sit in the pool for hours

Dizel

This dog was over 140 pounds but always wanted to jump. So we jumped.

Impact day Deloitte

Carlos, was originally named Bear. He was one of 527 dogs rescued from the largest puppy mill in Canadian History. This is him at his new family's wedding where he was the guest of honor.

Clementine as the age of 4 months getting her heart ultrasound. Our little girl has a short life expectancy but we believe in miracles. She is adopted and living 100 miles an hour.

Berry was rescued in summer 2015. She had been removed from her owner and the trauma she endured is beyond what we can speak about. We removed her punctured eye and after a 3 month rehab, she was adopted and now living with a dog, cat and chickens!

When we ask for soap, we are not kidding. Towels, blankets , this is every day.

Bruno winter 2010

Lucy was from the largest puppy mill seizure in Canadian History, she was one of 527 dogs. Our rescue helped 14 of those dogs.

Nina was amputated at the age of 3 months. Bruno's height made him the perfect stool for Nina during her rehabilitation.

Sydney made it in the local news !

Nina was born at the emergency shelter. Her mother was part of the 527 dogs seized in the largest Puppy Mill rescue in canadian history. Nina was 5 days old when she came to us with he mom and siblings. We noticed the birth defect and amputated at the age of 2 months old.

Stella

Read Stella's story here:http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/4070-rescuer-s-touching-commitment-to-helping-a-dog-when-no-one-else-would

Stella was very weak at times, we would try to feed her but she could not swallow her food. She was later diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy that was attacking her oesophagus and trachea.

My Stella had ups and downs in her short life. I was there with her for the good and the bad.

Mama France would visit Stella at the hospital every day.

This was Stella's last day playing in the field with her pack.

Stella had some really good periods where she would gain weight.

Sydney

Read story here:http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/3939-rescue-asks-for-support-to-help-neglected-neapolitan-mastiff-live-without-pain-for-the-first-time-in-her-life

Sydney the day she was rescued.

Sydney had a steel fixation for 3 months to help her bones heal after her surgery to correct a break that was never adressed by her previous owner.

Sydney's paw was deformed and painful for her.

This is Sydney upon her rescue. We were able to raise the money needed to correct her paw and bring it back to a 5 degree angle to allow her to regain a good posture and help her walk,jump and run.

I kiss the dogs.On the mouth. End of story.

Volunteers helping mama France with Sydney's daily cleaning of her fixation.

In fall 2015, Simply Pets & the Don Cherry Pet Foundation launched their new line of dental chews with no other than our Sydney gracing the cover !!

Read Gordon's story here:http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/5650-neglected-and-sick-neapolitan-mastiff-puppy-begins-journey-to-become-happy-healthy-dog<br/>

Sydney had to endure a few months of casts which we would decorate with palm trees and designs.

After coming home from her arthroscopy where they cut the head of her femur bone to alleviate pain.

Last day before her surgery to correct Sydney's paw !

Sydney &amp; Georgie were best friends forever.

Not a happy camper.

Sydney relaxing in the field after her surgery

Gordon was one of our worst cases to date, in the last stages of demodex mange, a parasite. He recovered slowly, and to this day, still suffers from occasional infections.

Recovery with Mama France's and the team's special tender loving care...and some of my home made natural cream.

Proud can only describe this.

Nala was found on a cold night in January 2012 in the back of a truck in the SPCA's yard where she had been left by her owner. She had given birth to her puppies at -25C and 4 had already died when she was found in the morning by staff. Nala and her 5 remaining puppies were brought to our sanctuary where they spent over 6 months before all being adopted.

Nala being a good mama with one of her 5 surviving puppies.

This little girl came to us on Valentine's day 2013, she passed away from stomach cancer 2 weeks later. We knew she was very sick when we rescued her from the Ottawa Humane Society, we wanted her to be loved until the very end.

We always make time for some one on one rehabilitation. Sometimes, the dogs need it, and I do too.

Thalia had the honor of being photographed by the author of The Old Faithful- Pete Thorne

Esther was adopted by a local family. She once day crossed the small river behind their house, her daddy Henri went in after her and drowned trying to save Esther. Everyone was heartbroken, especially Esther. I would drive by and see her resting on the balcony where she used to lay with her daddy. In 2015, Esther left us to be with her daddy at the Rainbow Bridge.

Bear was rescued from a large scale puppy mill, he had lost most of his vision. Surgery was instrumental in healing this eye, he now has about 20% vision in this eye. Funny how he can still see the squirrels real good.

Violet was NOT allowed on the couch, can you tell?

Mama France and the gang

Ana & Billy

Both lovebirds were inseparable, they came from a large scale puppy mill.

Georgie-

Our boy was rescued from the SPCA with advanced kidney disease, he was never adopted and spent his short life with us at the sanctuary. he was loved by all.

Violet would spend hours in the water, it's the little things in life that matter.

I would bring Violet swiming every time I could, it was her favorite thing in the world.

I miss Violet more than I can explain in words. She was a natural herder, getting upset when the pack would break too far apart from each other.

Big V came to us with a severe skin rash, she was itchy and in pain. We managed to get her perfect in less than 3 weeks. Violet spent her lifetime with us.

BooBoo was with us for quite a while, rescued fall 2012. He was strong as a horse and such a baby. He would whine when you left, with enough power to make you turn around and go kiss him some more.

Azure is a Klee-Kai (miniature Husky), she weighed 16 pounds, we could carry her around like a baby. She was found in the forest with 47 other dogs tied to trees, in the last stages of starvation. They all survived.

Bernard was rescued from the Toronto Humane Society. 4 months later vets pulled out a corn on the cob rotting in his stomach, they estimate it was in there for +7 months. He is now adopted ,loved, spoiled and did I mention spoiled?

Some dogs come to us very emaciated and in urgent need of medical attention. It took 2 months for Vienna to reach a healthy weight.

Pazzo was adopted by a loving family.

Gilbert is one of the original founding members of this rescue. He was there when we started and helped us grow to be who we are today.

Blue had surgery in early fall 2015 to remove a big tumor that was attached to her optic nerve, she lost her eye that day.

We drove to New Brunswick for 18 hours and then back to get Sugar home to the sanctuary. Dogue de Bordeaux are not supposed to look like this. Sugar was emaciated, infested with fleas and tapeworms.

Our table at events !

We had a bit of everything come and visit ..Rottweiler, Boxers, Neo.

From the SPCA to this field where he learned recall and obedience.

Thalia swimming for therapy with the girls.

We Love PoopBags !

One of my favorite pics ever, you can admire the loose limbed walk of the true Neapolitan Mastiff.

Blue in her prime, as healthy as she can be.

Dog Runner Transport helped get Blue from Ohio to Syracuse where we met them.

He loved to walk anywhere and everywhere. cancer did not stop him.

Best friends.

Ben got a t-shirt made just for him.

Donations came along to help Gordon in his recovery

Started showing his white paws

Day of rescue. I didn't realize how bad his condition was until we got to the vet hospital.

Car ride home with Mama France

Day of rescue. He actually lost a nail in the truck , it just fell off.

The vets wouldnt even touch him. So I hugged him endlessly

Mange can be deadly to a dog. Gordon was rescued in time.

day of rescue

Variety comes in different colors.

We won Quebec Rescue fo the Year in 2014 plus a $2000 grant !

I miss my 2 girls.

Clemmy was rescued with mange. Notice how all her hair had fallen off her sweet face.

Ottawa help Santa Parade 2015

It took months for Nala to be adopted but she found her forever home and we visit her for some hugs and kisses.

Nala's pupps where growing and we could clearly see shar-pei traits.

Puppy

Nala's ear was frostbitten and took weeks to heal. Her lips took also time to heal.

Nice and warm in the nursery

We found many frostbite blisters on the puppies.

Stella and Mama F

career day

We love PUGS !!

Whatever you do today, make sure it makes you happy

Thor was welcomed in severe pain and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Mama France's hip powder made him all better and he has been adopted.

Lily is completely blind but enjoying life in her foster home with Maureen and her dada which she loves.

The whole ride to his new family Rush rested on my shoulder. Cute or what ?

Rosie decided it was nap time.

Duchesse

sasha

Big V & Lucy

Nursery moment with Tara