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A Story of Bichon Love by Ginger Nardini-McLeanMerriman-Webster defines Bichon Frise as a noun: Any of a breed of small sturdy dogs having a Mediterranean origin having a thick white wavy coat.
What Merriam-Webster doesn’t tell us, however, speaks volumes. Just ask anyone who has had even a brief encounter with a Bichon Frise, and the definition suddenly expands to include: smart, funny, endearing, lovable, loyal, entertaining, playful, cute, precious, friendly, social, curious – and a lot more. This breed will steal your heart in the time it takes you to say “Awwwww”!
Prior to 1994 I had always been a lover of big dogs, having owned a big White German Shepard who was the first dog I had as an adult. Yuma was a fantastic, smart, loyal, gentle giant who loved everyone and was loved by everyone who ever met him. When I adopted Yuma around 1969, I really knew nothing about responsible dog ownership. Over the years, I became more informed and a much better human for him. Yuma trained me pretty well, and lived to be 14 years old.
Sometime around 1995 I met a woman who had a Bichon. When I visited at her house that little Bichon decided to be my friend, jumping up onto the couch, and then right into my lap. It was at that moment I knew I had to convert to being a lover of small dogs, specifically, Bichon Frises. I have asthma, and when my friend mentioned they don’t shed, I knew I had to have one.
A month or so passed and one day my friend called saying someone had posted an ad for free Bichons. It turned out the lady was a backyard breeder and owned one male and one female who she bred for profit. She had encountered some personal crisis in her life and could no longer keep the dogs.
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Inside
A Story of Bichon Love.........1
Fall Bichon Bash......................3
Calling All Volunteers............4
Support BFK at Ralph’s.........5
Drivers Wanted......................6
Bichon FurKids Rescue Phone: 858-408-1937 Fax: 760-966-1702 www.BichonFurKids.org www.facebook.com/bichonfurkids [email protected] 6965 El Camino Real, #105-425, La Costa, CA 92009 Tax ID: 20-3652098 Marti Colwell, President
Shop at Amazon.com, and a portion of your purchase will be automatically donated to BFK.
Use GoodSearch.com, poweredby Yahoo! whenever yousearch the Internet, anda portion of your purchasewill be automatically donatedto BFK. Make sure tospecify BFK as your Cause!
Fosters Needed To get a Foster Application, please go to the BFK website at: http://www.bichonfurkids.org/volunteer
Donate to BFK
&Bichon its ytesB August 2016 Bichon FurKids Rescue
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By the time I contacted her, the male was already gone. I drove out to see the female and if she had not pasted her little body against mine on the couch, I probably would not have taken her. She was dirty, matted (with hair growing over her eyes), and a real mess. She was not a pet as she had lived in the garage. I took her home with me and called her Baby.
The next day I took Baby to my friend’s groomer. When I went to pick her up, I truly thought they had given me someone else’s dog. She looked like an award-winning show dog! That was the beginning of my love affair with Bichons. Baby was truly my heart dog, and lived to be a little over 18 years old. She charmed everybody, everywhere. I taught her only one little trick, and she entertained everyone with it. Basically, I just taught her to roll over and play dead...but the command was “Baby, would you rather be married or dead?” She would play dead to the delight of her adoring audiences far and wide.
When Baby was 8-years old, we adopted another bichon from a national rescue organization. Marcy was a puppy mill rescue and had been born with a Grade 5-6 heart murmur. The rescue organization had that repaired, and I flew to Oklahoma to adopt her when she was four months old.
It took Marcy about one minute to learn that Baby was the queen of the household, and she happily adapted. Baby and Macy became inseparable. I think Baby thought Marcy was her puppy, and I’m sure Marcy thought Baby was her mother.
This is a painting of Baby and Marcy. Baby is on the left. I have so many wonderful photos of the two of them...they had matching wardrobes. We have Christmas pictures, 4th of July pictures, Easter pictures, etc., all with appropriate dresses or fancy collars.
We lost Baby four years ago, and Marcy just before Christmas last year. We were not planning to get another dog until this coming Fall.
And then there was LuLu!
We saw LuLu’s picture on Bichon FurKids website and knew immediately we had to adopt her. We applied, passed our home safety check and drove to Thousand Oaks to adopt her.
We adopted LuLu on May 21, 2016. Afterwards, we realized May 21st was Baby’s birthday. I really believe Baby was sending us a message that it was time to stop mourning and bring new joy into our empty household.
LuLu has done that and more. LuLu is a senior dog at 9-years old, but then we are both senior too. It’s a good match.
So, the bottom line here is don’t rely on a dictionary definition to describe a Bichon Frise.
Being owned by a Bichon Frise is an experience like no other.
Adopt a Bichon from Bichon Furkids to find out firsthand what no dictionary can tell you.
Bichons Leave Pawprints on Your Heart!
A Story of Bichon Love, continued from page 1
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Register Now for the Fall Bichon Bash!Saturday, October 1, 2016 Time: 10 AM - 3 PM Turtle Rock Community Park 1 Sunnyhill Irvine, CA 92603 Registration is already open. bichonfurkids.com/bichon-bash
Admission is $25 per person/$75 per family.
Look for more information in upcoming newsletters and on the Bichon FurKids website at: http://www.bichonfurkids.org
BUILDING ACOM M U N I T
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BichonFurKidsRescue
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Calling All Volunteers!
We are lucky to have so many wonderful volunteers helping Bichon FurKids every day. If it were not for all of you, we would be unable to save and find homes for these furkids! So a big thanks!
Now we have another unique situation: We need a volunteer to help us on a very special and unique project. Bichon FurKids was gifted a large collection of Lee Middleton and Barbie dolls. There are several hundred dolls for whom we have photos and descriptions. They are boxed and in excellent condition. We now need that very creative, organized special person to sell these beautiful dolls.
Unlike many other rescue groups who cannot or are unable to take dogs requiring additional medical care, Bichon FurKids has always done so. Because we have an amazing group of people that help in so many ways, BFK can continue to help dogs who would otherwise lose their lives. The money we collect from selling this beautiful collection will help cover the medical costs we incur for so many of these ‘special needs dogs’ that we rescue.
We have a way to earn money for these pups. Now we need to find that special someone who can sell these dolls which, in turn, will provide more funds for our furkids.
Please contact Marti ([email protected]) or Michele ([email protected]) and say “I CAN HELP!”
We need you!
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PLEASE SUPPORT BFK WHEN YOU SHOP AT
Each year Ralphs grocery store makes donations to local charities that are registered with them. We have been lucky to be one of those local charities in the past. The only ‘catch’ is that enrollment MUST be done EACH year in September (only.) Other than that, it’s a matter of shopping at your local Ralphs store and enjoying that shopping experience.
Participants can start registering for the new term on September 1st 2016. To ensure that BFK continues to receive the benefits of the program, our shoppers need to register or re-register as quickly as possible on or after that date at: www.ralphs.com
(Even if you registered as recently as June, July or August 2016, you are required to register again beginning September 1, 2016)
NEW THIS YEAR!! As of September 1, 2016 Scan Bar letters will no longer work at the registers. That makes this a great time for all adopters and volunteers to create an online account or re-enroll at their online account.
For your convenience, step-by-step website registration instructions can be found at www.ralphs.com click on Community, click on Community Contributions, click on ‘Enroll Now’.
If you don’t have computer access, please call us at 1-800-443-4438 for assistance.
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Drivers Wanted ...
... because this is what happens when our FurKids try to drive themselves!
Want to help but can’t foster? Love to see new places and meet new people? Want to make a difference for a FurKid or two?
We need your help! Every week FurKids need to be transported to groomers, vets and foster homes. We rely on our volunteer drivers to get them there—and are grate-ful for their help. We DO need more people who are willing and able to transport our fluffs primarily throughout San Diego or Orange County (and not for great distances usually, either.)
Sometimes we have days in which to plan; other times it is more immediate like when we find a FurKid that needs to be moved ‘right away’ due to a medical situation, to be exited from a shelter or who needs to be some place other than where he or she is at that moment.
If you have time and a love for bichons, we NEED you. And if you love to organize transports, we need help with that too! Please email [email protected] and say “I want to drive a furkid” and we’ll be in touch.
