Our Uncle Tucker

This is our Uncle Tucker. He is the "In Charge" Bully at the Vet Clinic. He acts like he doesn't like us, but just try to get near one of us when he's in charge :) He is way cool. He barks and growls and can even balance on three legs when he pees. He used to be a show dog, but now he spends his time going on farm calls and protecting the clinic from burglars and cats. He is going to read us The Bullmastiff Manual when we get a little older. There are very important lessons to learn such as begging, counter surfing, slobber flinging, and whacking your human with a front paw if you're not getting what you want. Once we master the basics then we move on to the art of the six hour nap, preferably sprawled on our backs with our paws in the air on a leather sofa. We will also study eating things that we shouldn't and super noxious eye watering farts, which are far more advanced than the regular fart. Once we are adopted and our humans adore us beyond the bounds of rational behavior he will send us secret emails to complete our training. He has hinted that these will include but are not limited to: If I want it I will take it, If it is yours it will become mine, If you are having a dinner party I am the guest of honor, and I will take my half of your bed out of the middle! We love him.

Move Over Anne Geddes, It's Bully Babies!

Here we are at 10 days old and not a moment too soon, the Santa suits are a bit snug. Thank godness for spandex! Hugo's is the tightest, he is a real pig and has absolutely no manners. There are six of us darling little Bully bundles, we are irresistably cute and we know it. In addition to Hugo, there is Stephan, Hero, Darla, Ruby and Rosie.

Stephan is well mannered and always has the most fashionably colored band. Hero is noble and dignified, he was named in honor of "Bubba" Smith.
Darla is definitely not as darling as her name implies. Get in her way of a warmed up rice bag or bottle of goats milk and you will regret it! Ruby is the beauty of the clan, a rich deep red and black mask. Rosie is the sweetest of the bunch. An avid cuddler, she is always the first to curl up and fall asleep in your arms.

Mom doesn't feel up to taking care of us so we have five moms (Amanda, Dana, Ginya, Kelly and Louann), Papa Reppart and Uncle Tucker. They are doing a pretty good job of keeping our tummys full and our bed warm. Mom was able to feed us for several days, but then we got switched to goat's milk, no offense mom but that stuff is great. We have these great warmies in our incubator and we get fed every 2-3 hours around the clock, thank you Kelly, Ginya, Amanda and Papa Reppart for your devotion to sleepless nights. Our eyes opened today and before you know it we will be walking, growling and barking, just like Uncle Tucker.

Day Twenty-Six: Of Course They Are Bullmastiffs!!

I am awake. They are still here. It is true I am a Mom. I am also highly offended that everyone is so amazed that they are Bullmastiff puppies, what kind of a dog do they think I am? And why is Doc walking around with that silly grin? The way he is beaming you would think he gave birth instead of me, well I guess I couldn't have done it without him and Ginya and Kelly and Dana. Oh joy, they want to eat again. I wonder how long this goes on?

Day 25 ... cont.

.....7:00 am: Now that was a dozy of a nap. If it wasn't for all that squeaky noise I could go back to sleep, and what is poking my tummy......OMG!!! Are those things puppies???? Where did they come from and why are they trying to eat my stomach, which by the way feels like crap. Oh no.... did Kelly just call me Momma? Please say it's not true...take them away, give me drugs. I'm going back to sleep, maybe this is just a bad dream. That receptionist has got to start muting that Maury show.

Day Twenty-five

It's three a.m. and I am not lonely!! My word the whole staff is here! Wholly cow Doc looks way too serious for this to be a party. Why on earth does everyone have on green suits and hats and masks, they look like martian bank robbers. Everybody is looking at me and here comes Doc with that stupid thermometer again... wow that was sharp....and I am getting super tired.......why on earth are they shaving my belly.....these people are way too weird.... I am going to sleep.

Day Twenty-two: Mood Swings

I hate pickles, I can't believe I actually ate those things. Ok I groveled and begged and did embarrassing tricks for them, but now I hate them and will never eat them again. I tore up my bed too and I'm not sure why. I really liked that bed, maybe Kelly will make me another one. She seems to like me, she's been coming in at all hours of the night just to check on me. Maybe that's why I am so cranky, my sleep keeps getting interrupted and my Doctor buddy keeps taking my temperature. He must have a bad memory because he takes it over and over. I wonder how he made it through dog school? Maybe I will feel better tomorrow.

Day Twenty-four: Still Cranky
Enough with the temperature taking! They keep saying "it's normal" So why keep taking it? I'm beginning to think that maybe these people are not so smart. I don't feel better and I don't want my food and my tummy hurts. Finally everyone went home, now maybe I can get some rest, sleep at last.

Day Seven: Too Good To Be True!

Ok I am out of isolation and ready for my big surgery, but for some reason it has been postponed and they are giving me my own room. Not a kennel...my very own room! I must be really important and just not remember.
This place is awesome. The food just never stops! I am getting the really good crunchy stuff mixed with gravy! And they give it to me constantly! Sometimes I can barely get my nap in and they are feeding me again and they weigh me constantly. I am praised for gaining weight and sleeping. The shelter said that my life would change once I came into rescue, but this is ridiculous. They also made me this huge bed with super thick padding and blankets and it has a wooden frame. They call it a whelping pen, but this is not like any pen I have ever been in. This must be how rich dogs live.

Below is the story of Pumpkin, a pregnant stray taken in by ABA rescue

Day One: No Longer A Stray

My life began on 10-31-08 when I was saved from a shelter by Bullmastiff Rescue. Prior to that my days were spent foraging in garbage and trying to find shelter. My first stop was the Harcourt Veterinary Clinic where I was given a physical, heartworm test, vaccines and ointment for my eyes. I have a condition called entropian, that is where my eye lids roll in and rub against my eyes. I will have a surgery to correct that when I am spayed. Other than the eye problem I am healthy except the Doctor said I am extremely underweight, I weigh 69 pounds and should weigh around 100 lbs. I will be in isolation for a week to make sure that I don't have anything infectious and then I will be spayed. They are feeding me a lot which is great, but I am starving all the time and I am craving these weird green things called pickles. Dr. Reppart shared part of his whopper the other day and ever since then I can't get those green things out of my mind........ what I wouldn't do for a pickle right now and maybe some ice cream too. I've got to stop eating lunch with doc, plus they yell at him when they catch him feeding me, which is bad because I like him. Nap time, I do a lot of that too.

Oh and I was given a name, they call me Pumpkin.