Bogey's New Life! A Story of Survival and Love!

This makes all the volunteer hours, the time struggles, and the hard work all worth it. Bogey has touched everyone's hearts with his story of survival. He is such a happy soul and just enjoys everything in life.

I wanted to share these heart-touching pictures of Bogey with his new family. You can see that they all love him and have helped him be at home finally. They have experienced giving him a bath (yeah... Archie wasn't too thrilled). They have had their walls rattled with his huge bark. And they have just hung out and played with him. His new siblings (human and dog) are doing well and are having one big party in the house.

Bogey has been through so much to get where he is today and that would never have happened with the love and dedication of so many people. Thank you to the shelter that took him in, the people that found and caught him in the woods, to the doctors, to the people that organized his transport here while he was still new with his amputation. Thank you to the volunteers that hung out with him at events, to the fosters he lived with, the neighbors that gave him love and belly rubs, to an entire rescue that was at attention when he discovered he COULD still jump a fence. Thank you to the Hayfield Animal Hospital who boarded him and the techs that walked him and feed him, to the volunteers that helped with the home visit information for his new family.... I think i have made my point!!!! Mostly, thank you to his new family that has opened their home and their hearts to such a special guy! Archie (although we will always remember the him as the Bogster :)), we are so happy for you.

This is why we all do what we do!

Bogey and Lucky Dog have help!

I was contacted my a wonderful group this week that offered to help reimburse Lucky Dog for Bogey's expenses. This wonderful family started their fundraising/rescue group when they took in a pitbull named Walter, hence the name, Walter Rescue. They will be having a fundraising BBQ this month in Baltimore in his honor. Check out their site: www.walterrescue.org

Bogey's ... now known as ARCHIE!!!

Bogey has a new name! It couldn't be more perfect either. His new family decided he was more of a Archie than a Bogart a.k.a Bogie. How funny!
His first day consisted of making sure he had marked the entire yard, romping with his new dog sibling and watching an Orioles game with his Dad. Bogie... Archie... slept next to his new Mom and Dad's bed on his first night and made sure he galloped up onto the bed in the morning to make sure they new he hadn't left them!
They got a good taste for his shepherd bark and noise with his crate on the first day, but he is adjusting wonderfully despite the noise.

Bogey has his new forever home!!!

Bogey met his new family today! They drove all the way down from PA to meet him and adopt him. His mom is a special ed teacher and he will be part of a family with a human dad, a human sibling and a new canine sister!

MORE TO COME!!!!

break in the game - commercials!

If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers!!!!!! - the bogester (but credits the thought to homer simpson)

Getting ready for the Game!

yea yea basketball basketball! uhhhh look at the ball.... wait, no ball yet.

my master turned the tv on... yup yup.. its on. Check!

i got the beer out of the fridge for him.. yup yup... Check!

oh oh forgot the opener.. forgot the opener... got it .. here master. Check!

uh uh.. bone... yes.. got my bone.... Check!

ahhhhh.... the game has begun.

Life is good.

Yeahhhh! A Lucky Dog Picnic!!

So it is the one year anniversary of Lucky Dog Anniversary. 1600 dogs have been saved and counting!

Lucky Dog had a huge celebration picnic at a volunteers home in Great Falls. The yard was huge and set up as a big dog playground with pools, agility course equipment, and toys. All the dogs were running and playing and Bogey was right there in the middle of it! He ran around for hours playing and then lavished in the people hanging around him just to pet him and rub his belly. I do have to say he was quite a hog of the patios and the prime spot by all the dining people's feet! I also think it was a ploy. He looked and played the part of the big dog laying by his people after a long day of running and playing, but i'm pretty sure it was prime food dropping territory!

He had a lot of people just sitting with him rubbing his belly in the grass for long periods of time. He really was in heaven.

After getting home from the event, he had some dinner and a little time to rest before visitors came to meet him. He showed them his good manners greeting them, showed how he did the stairs without batting an eye, and his big squirrel bark! They were really sweet people and they sat on the floor with him and gave him lots of love.

I think Bogey's luck just seriously turned around. In fact, it is clearly noted that he is a chick magnet where ever he goes.... did you hear that guys??? He is a chick magnet!

DOG PARK FUN

For all of those out there who have heard Bogey at adoption events and moved your dogs clear of him, I have just one thing to say.... THBBBB!

I have taken him to the dog park 2 times now. The first time, he was a little stiff with his posture for about 2 minutes and then he figured out life here was good. Within minutes he was running, wrestling, and sharing water bowls. He wagged the entire time. Only once did he have a reason to give a bark... when a boxer mounted him.

Today we went back. He was so excited I think he thought that he had died and had gone to heaven. Bogey ran in the gate and just ran and played with everyone. He doesn't like when other dogs get too rough with other dogs. He actually was a little bit of the referee. Not only was he a referee, but the door greeter.

I'm wondering if he will be easier at the next dog event. He tend to be tentative meeting other dogs when he is being pulled back on a leash. My true feeling is that he was teethered his whole young life in someones back yard and just left to bark without any interaction.

Since he has been here, he has learned to play with puppies, pits, kids of ALL ages, how to open front doors :), figured out that cats aren't just for chasing, not to stand on coffee tables and now, that the dog park is Disney World for dogs and for getting as dirty as possible. :)

DOG PARK FUN

For all of those out there who have heard Bogey at adoption events and moved your dogs clear of him, I have just one thing to say.... THBBBB! I have taken him to the dog park 2 times now. The first time, he was a little stiff with his posture for about 2 minutes and then he went to down, running, wrestling, and sharing water bowls. He wagged the entire time. Only once did he have a reason to give a bark... when a boxer mounted him.

Today we went back. He was so excited I think he thought that he had died and had gone to heaven. Bogey ran in the gate and just ran and played with everyone. He doesn't like when other dogs get too rough. He actually was a little bit of the referee. Not only was he a referee, but the door greeter.

I'm wondering if he will be easier at the next dog event. He tend to be tentative meeting other dogs when he is being pulled back on a leash. My true feeling is that he was teethered his whole young life in someones back yard and just left to bark without any interaction.

Since he has been here, he has learned to play with puppies, pits, kids of ALL ages, how to open front doors :), figured out that cats aren't just for chasing, and now, that the dog park is Disney World for dogs and getting as dirty as possible. :)

Field Trip!

Bogey joined our family of 5 for a walk in old towne alexandria on sunday. The kids rode their razor scooters and Bogey kept up at a nice jog pace. So many people stopped and stared and you could see either amazement or sympathy in their eyes. I wanted to say "He's fine!!!, he just needs a home!!!". A bunch of dogs were also walking with their owners that day. We were practicing the "don't scare everyone with your huge bark" walk. Needless, to say, Bogey did much better. By the end of our outing, Bogey was laying in the big grassy area, just watching the dogs walk without even a care. With walking, jogging, and resting... oh yeah, and some monkey in the middle... Bogey did great. He only really showed signs of being tired after about 1 and 1/2 hours... mostly because it got warm. Starbucks made sure we had water for him with our frappaccinos :)

Caught the CAT!

So Bogey is running full speed and let me tell you... full speed is still pretty fast with three legs! The cat he had been scoping out for days made a mad dash through the yard. The chase was on! Bogey finally caught up and was about 2 feet away from the cat barking madly. The cat turned around and froze with her hair standing up and was hissing. Suprisingly, Bogey just stopped and stared. Then he dropped down on his stomach and just rested his chin on his front paw. The cat calmed down a little and Bogey just laid there and was whining quietly. Wow! I was not sure what he was going to do that close to a cat... well, we found out... nothing. But then the cat made a mad dash and ran in front of him again to go up a tree. The chase was on again! Bogey was having a blast!

Good Boy!

well I'm working from home. I've walking around with my phone in meetings grabbing items from dogs' mouths... Shoes, stuffed animals, dog beds. I'm stopping crazy wrestling. And guess what, IT'S not Bogey!! It's petey and Pixie! They are having a good old time annoying me and Bogey is just laying on the back deck making sure there is not a squirrel inasion. So I'm thinking I'm trying to find the wrong dog a good home!
oh yeah this morning, Bogey came up the steps on the deck- there are 6 of them- by running and clearing them all in one jump. It's was very cool to see!

Better everyday!!!

O.k. so after being gone all day at adoption events and training for the rescue, I come home to only one out of our 3 dogs standing at the top of the steps... Bogey. He was just giving me a gentle greeting with a wag. No other dogs bothered to get up. Not sure if that was good or bad, but I spent the next 15 minutes just hanging out with Bogey. I really think he would love to have his forever home and have his owner come home and just pet him and love him. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. (Occasionally, he has a LOUD bone with that shepherd bark of his... but not a mean one!).

After everyone went outside for the last time tonight, I told Bogey it was time for bed. Do you know what he did? He walked the other two dogs to their crate as I put them in it, then looked at me, ran down our stairs, across our foyer, and into his room where his crate is.. and went in his crate and laid down all on his own. To me, this was huge. He quietly went to bed and was happy there. I know life just got better for us, put seeing Bogey do this, really let me know that he is more content and comfortable in a home. He doesn't have anxiety or stress. He's just happy to be here and alive.

Bogey is a Star!

So Bogey spent the weekend in at the vets kennel while our family was away for the weekend. I went to get him on Monday morning. When I got there, they were walking him in their grass area behind a fence. He was so happy to see me that the vet tech could barely hold him back and just decided to open the fence and let him come to me instead of trying to take him back in the building. O.k... so he loves me :)

When we got home, we had a meeting with a C-Span representative who wanted to do a quick document on Bogey's story. He was quite the show off. He ran around in the backyard, throwing sticks, chasing Petey and Pixie and rolled on his back doing what we now call his "chewie dance". (he does it when he is happy to have a rawhide bone).

She had a great time filming him because he just wanted to sniff the camera and lick her! Too funny. I was able to promote Lucky Dog during the interview which is great as well.

Hopefully, we will get a copy of Bogey's goofy antics story and post it. We'll see, the reporter was checking with legal.

Playing with the bone!

I'm working from home today and have been chuckling to myself watching Bogey. Bogey and Petey have a big, gross, hip bone that they absolutely love. Petey is chewing on it while Bogey does the "you don't see me" commando crawl up to the bone and gives it a few licks and bites. When Petey, lifts his head for anything, Bogey snags it and runs across the room to chew on it. Then Petey does the lowly commando crawl and gets it back. It has been going on for an hour! Too funny!
At one point, Petey stood up and Bogey decided to take his whole body under Petey and lift Petey off the ground making him drop the bone and then proceeded to chew the bone with Petey hanging over his back. Bogey has turned into a complete goofball.
Pixie the puppy is just sitting back planning her strategy. No movement from her side yet.

Bone score board:
Bogey: 4 Petey:3 Pixie: 0

Nice Day

Bogey was awesome today. He hung out in the backyard with the kids and the dogs and has stopped all of his barking, except for an occassional squirrel. Who doesn't want to bark at a squirrel though!? He loved the sun and lounged in it all day.
I've been working pretty hard with him with sitting and staying with his food and basic touch commands. Today, I had his food bowl ready and he made me crack up because I realized he was sitting and dancing just to let me know that he knew how to sit!
My neighbor is in love with him. He is a teenage boy who doesnt have any pets of his own and he comes over just to rub Bogey's belly. What a great treat for the Bogester!

The New and Improved Bogester

My kids are falling in love! Of course, they fall in love with all the fosters we have, but Bogey is special. They have watched him have to learn things over again. Things as simple as how to get down to a water bowl or food bowl with only one leg to lower and balance him in the front..how to lean on you for pets without falling over... how to sit and laydown with some sort of grace.

He looks so healthy right now. His fur is coming back slowly. He is listening better and is more aware of the "house rules". He is reserving his wrestling and rough housing for outside now and comes in for calmness and loves now.

He really is an awesome dog. He is really handsome with his yellow lab coat and strong shepard features. His muzzle is dark and he has those really cute black eyes that just stare at you when he wants something. He's got those cool white socks on his feet too.

Did I ever say that he is housebroken and crate trained now!!! Anyone would be lucky to have Bogey. He has the happiest, best spirit now. He is playful, but calms down in the house now.

I was actually thinking tonight... he never once growled at my dogs after Petey and he become buds on that day of running!

As for kids, he has played with 20 that live on my street. He is a big dog, so they have to be comfortable with a dog of his size and ability to graceful with only 3 legs, but he has never done anything but show love towards them. Occassionally they get a playful nibble, but they aren't fazed and just rub his belly!

Bogey's new favority movie: "How to Train A Dragon". He's seen it twice :)

www.luckydoganimalrescue.org!!! look under adoptable dogs for Bogey!

"I'm too sexy for my shirt on the catwalk"

After the chaos of the chase, I have been a little worn out. Caring for 3 kids and 3 dogs has been interesting to say the least.

Bogey has definitely made a change today. He is more responsive to voice commands, he has relaxed around the house and is laying around more letting go of the constant movement he had to have when he seemed a little more anxious. I think that he has found a reason to not run from people anymore, that he can trust them.

So Bogey still had me a little worried about his anxiety at the events and whether that would be the best place for him to meet his new forever home.

Getting Bogey into the event was a challenge with my ankle, so I got Bree to help me walk him in because he was a little barky and pulling out of excitement.

All I have to say is that Bogey made me so proud today! All week, I had been working on introducing him to new situations, driving him in the car (and YES! he can jump up and down into the back of my SUV without help now... yeah Bogey!) I think it paid off. After the intial walk in to the Reston Towne Centers Pet Fiesta with a little bark here and there, Bogey went into the new Bogey mode!

BOGEY MADE A HUGE TURN AROUND TODAY!!!
Bogey was pleasant and loving at the event! By the end he was playing with all the other dogs! He made a great friend named Sully and was laying side by side with him on the ground chewing on each other and getting their belly's rubbed together.

He even took on the fashion show up on stage with 15 other dogs and a nice beach towel ensemble to show off with his handler. He has his life as a rescue story told and received applause! I hope someone at that event saw Bogey and is considering him for their home and to be part of their family.

What a great day for Bogey!

the chase!

There's a really bad part to this and a really good part....Bogey has figured out how to open the front door (and he has no thumbs). Lukas, my 3 year old, did the "Bogester, STAY!" and backed out the front door and shut it behind him. I was actually very impressed that my son was so dog saavy! Well that thought went out the door as Bogey jumped up and pushed the door knob to open the storm door... and this was the bad part... the chase had begun.

Picture this... a 3 legged dog running pretty darn fast (no, I could NOT catch him), 5 kids ages 3 to 14, and me chasing him so he does not get lost. We are running through pricker bushes, poison ivy, and fun insect things that I don't want to talk about! I'm yelling at the kids to go back and not chase him... Bogey is about 1/8 mile in front of us, having the time of his life!

Well somewhere in there, I fall and sprain my ankle. I get up, because all that is going through my head is "Bogey, has no idea where he is going or how to get back" and "oh great, Ive got to be the one that loses Bogey, why me!?", well, yeah, the ankle was definitely sprained, I fell again.

So I had options... I chose the one where I sit on my butt and hope for the best. I was sure Bogey was gone. I sent my daughter to get my cell phone to make calls for help. But here's part one of the good part. Bogey decided to just walk back to me and sit down next to me. I thought I was going to cry. Part two of good and happy: Bogey, has no idea that he only has 3 legs and he definitely has not been slowed down by it.

Exercise, Frustration, and Injuries

Bogey has found a great way to "sit". We have been working on it. He had to figure out how to work the tripod biomechanics with as little sliding as possible. With our hardwood floors, the sit has been turning into more of a slow decline to laying down, but he can definitely do it on the carpet and outside! Yeah Bogester!

We walked to the bus stop today... about 1/2 mile. He only tripped once on the way up, but did a great job on the way back. I'm searching for a solution to his pulling on the leash. He has a martingale that is not bothering his surgical site, but he is definitely a puller. Some I believe is because it helps him balance a little better and allows him to go a little faster. The other part, because I don't think anyone ever took him for a walk on a leash.... or anywalk for that matter.

I tried typical techniques for healing, but am weary of doing anything that may pull on him too much.

O.k. I even broke out the sewing kit. If you knew me, you would realize that lightening will be headed my way soon. I attempted to make a 3 legged harness solution. Well, the sewing... not so good. He leaned into it and it popped in 2 minutes flat.

Bogey is snuggling with Pixie right now and they are .... ready for this???... sharing a marrow bone together! Just call me Caesar-a :)

The News, The News!

I get the call from Director today, Mirah! Fox 5 wants to do a story on Bogey. My crew of three kids LOVED today. They got to throw all the crap they could find, under, in and behind anything that would hide the mess!
Then.... Fox 5 cancelled. :(

Speaking of TV... the movie "UP"... that is what Bogey reminds me of. The dog that goes around saying "will you be my master" in that goofy voice! That is so him!

Bogey's First Adoption Event

Chris, my husband, decided that he ight with it. So Bogey pulled his bark, lurch and growl mode today, until, drum roll please! Chris had a bag of dog treats and just hung out with him in a little corner and made him comfortable (and full!).

Needless to say, Bogey was a little isolated today, but it was a great first experience for him. He slept for 3 hours this afternoon from all the excitement.

Our oldest daughter, weighing in at 60 lbs, took Bogey for a 1 block stroll today with me lagging behind just in case. She said it was "easy peazy".

Right now, Bogey has his chin in my lap and is begging for me to keep petting him. Oh no... he's growing on me!

Stairs and the House!

Things just got lively here in my house! What have I done???? I now have 140 lbs of dog wrestling in my living room having the time of their lives. Was that my couch that just fell over on its back??

So I'm thinking that I have just taken on the job of housing referee. Even Pixie is in on it. While Bogey and Petey are playing and wrestling, she's on one or the others head chewing on them. I'm not sure if they even notice her at this point.

I'm pretty sure that I was told to keep his activity to a minimum and am trying, but Bogey's not buying it. His incisions are closed and healed and his sores on his back are closed and have lost their scabs at this point. The hair that was shaved for his surgeries has started to come in.

In all the fun and excitement to play with the other dogs, Bogey forgot he couldn't go down the stairs! His "dolphin" walk he does isn't even slowing him down.

3 Days of Non-Stop Action

I'm termined to make this work!!!! Bogey has been happy, waggy, and kisses us every chance he gets. He loves my 3 year old and just wants to sit on his lap!
I have started to see him calm down a little... he isn't frantically panting today, he isn't tearing through the house trying to find other dogs (that are in there crate behind closed doors).

I was brave enough to test him with his food to see if he had any food aggression with people. He passed with flying colors. I think he even wanted to share his bowl of food with me :)

o.k... back to the chaos of eating dogs though... I have kept Bogey on a leash attached to me for 3 days. I don't think that I would ever do this if I didn't know Petey so well. As Bogey was dragging me across the house barking and growling and lurching towards Petey, Petey just kept to himself. Of course, occassionally he would get a little close and I would panic a bit, because Petey can definitely hold his own... but it takes A LOT to provoke him.

Today, I let Petey do his thing though. I took them out in the backyard together. Petey had his ears farther back then I think I have ever seen them! He did a couple flips on his back at a distance, I guess to let Bogey know he was thinking "whatever, dude!" After putting my plan that involved a hose, a phone and 911 together (just kidding), I let Bogey go.

I sat on the porch for an hour watching and hoping that I had done the right thing. Petey ran around Bogey for over an hour full speed. Bogey was barking, "running", growling and trying anything he could to intimidate. Bogey was mad! Petey was having a blast! After about an hour, Bogey gave up. He laid down and watched Petey, the moron of a dog, run around and around taunting him in this fun game. At about an hour and a half, Petey came up to Bogey to sniff him, and Bogey did the "the jig is up, roll over on his back".

I'm a little nervous at this point, but realize Bogey was all bark and no bite. Bogey almost looked relieved. His stress level just dropped to almost nothing! Life just got better. AND, I realized that Bogey just did an hour of activity without a problem!

Bogey's First Night in VA - Bogey meets Petey and Pixie!

OH... we had an interesting first experience with Bogey.
I knew that we would have to introduce all of the dogs to one another. Our two dogs that are part of our family are Petey, a CGC and Therapy Dog Certified Pit who is 1 year old and Pixie.. our little "schmorgie" who is weighing in at about 7 lbs at 3 months old.

Because we didn't know a lot of Bogey's background, Chris and I were very carefule and started with the "walk by" as we call it. Well, not so good... so we tried the side by side... oh even worse! We tried the "be on the same block without trying to eat Petey" approach. egh, not so good either. Let's just say, Bogey was a little stressed and decided that eating Petey would be his decision for the next few nights. Luckily, after seperating them in the house, the only thing that Bogey ate was his brand new bed that was donated to him.

Bogey went to bed peacefully in his own office with his enormous crate with lots of blankets and chew toys... and foam pieces left over from his bed :)

Bogey's Background

Bogey was followed and coaxed by a good samaritan for over a week as he struggled in the woods in rural Virginia, limping and bleeding forcing himself to survive a gunshot wound to his right leg and shoulder blade. After a week, Bogey gave in and allowed himself to trust this good samitan. He was rushed to a local animal shelter to be evaluated. Unfortunately, Bogey had damage that could not be repaired. His front right leg and shoulder blade had to be removed by undergoing extensive surgery. He also had care for the areas on his back that were also damaged at a superficial level from the gunshot resulting in some minor scars on the center of his back.
Once he recovered from the surgery, he struggled to walk and balance and endure the pain and changes in his body.
The bills from his medical care were extensive and pleas went out to rescues to take him in to help with his care, bills and possible adoption. That is when Lucky Dog Animal Rescue stepped in full force and decided to take him in. Lucky Dog coordinated his transportation via multiple legs of driving to have him received in Fairfax, VA by me, his new foster and caregiver.
When he got to Fairfax, he was lifted out of the car and placed on the ground. He stood there trying to take in his surroundings and catch his balance. When I knelt down and spoke to him, he wagged his tail, and clumsily walked over to me doing his 3 legged hop. The shelter had sent him with a bed, so we packed up Bogey with his bed and wagging tail and brought him to our house.
We will never know why someone did this to him or what kind of person would do such a horrible thing. I would like to believe it was a mistake of a hunter in order to avoid thinking of the alternative. However, having worked with rescues and seeing the worst case scenarios, I know that it could have been the result of something less "humane" and just pure evil.