IMPORTANT ARTICLE ON BLOAT

      NOTE: Before going further, please take a look at this. The following article was originally found on the Irish Wolfhound Association of New England's website, but as the condition of Bloat is quite common in other large breeds, particularly Newfoundlands, and having just experienced this devastating and often fatal disorder with our own Newfs, Abagale Evenstar, in early December of '04, I was compelled to share it with as many Newf owners as possible as quickly as possible.

(Click here Newf Haven TOC, and take a look at the Newf Haven web site table of contents.)

  To begin, I'd like to introduce the members of our crew, past and present.
Our first boy, Theodore, we adopted from his original family, who for no good reason that we can discern, gave him up because they were having a human baby. I cannot think of a more loving and gentle companion for a child to grow up with than Theodore, or any Newf for that matter! He had the most tender and beautiful face I have ever seen on a Newfoundland before or since. Though by today's conformation standards, I would be in the minority.
He was too tall, unfortunately; cow-hocked, with a serious degenerative joint disease. His last sevral months with us, he began having neurological problems in the rear, losing feeling and bladder and bowel control. He was with us only four plus years, and we had to make that dreaded but merciful decision all of us have to face sooner or later.
We said goodbye on 26 August, 2002. He'll always be our first!
  

  Our second, a girl. Omeeren Cara Brianna (Cara) came to us in February of 1999, at five months. A classic beauty with wonderful conformation, good bone and a massive, strong head. And she moves like a breeze. I only wish we had decided to show her! Ah, well. We have settled for just loving her. And she's very good at that!

(We're so, so sad to say we lost Cara to Lymphocarcoma on the 5th of October, 2004.)

Our third, another little girl, was Tess. We called her "Mouse". (It's a long story.) She came into our home at twelve or thirteen weeks. Our first "real" baby Newf. What a treat! Even though we have other pictures, this one has always been MY favorite. She was only about four months old at the time. You can almost see into her soul here.
She was smart, bold, and very curious. Never destructive, she nonetheless was always "there", making it quite clear that EVERYTHING was her business.
We lost our Mouse tragically to a serious heart problem. She was two years and two months old when she left us. A short life admittedly, but never a moment went by that she wasn't bent on living her life to the FULLEST. And that she did!
 

Now, that brings us up to of July, 2002. Another little girl, Abagale Evenstar. She joined us at about thirteen weeks on the Fourth of July Weekend. This is a picture of her a day or two after she came home. Cool green grass under the big silver maple. She looks very comfy. Now there are times when this little lady (well, about 90 lbs. at just under 11 months) reminds me of Tess. These two do not look alike, but Abby is very much like Tess was in some ways.
Both curious, bold and assertive. Abby however, likes to "do laundry". She doesn't chew or destroy it, but she has a grand time redistributing it around the house for us. She just likes to carry things. Maybe some Water work for her this summer?
 

By the Bay, 09/05.

October of 2005 has brought another girl to our home. Her name is Homeport's Voyager.
She's a "retired" girl who delivered a fine litter of pups to Homeport Kennels late this past summer. She was just 4 years old on 19 May of this year, so she should have many years to enjoy herself and her sisters here on Little Bay.

(BTW, she is our dear Cara's neice. We can see a bit of her in those lovely, brown eyes.)

And that's it for introductions...for now.
 
Click here Newf Haven TOC, and take a look at the Newf Haven web site table of contents.
 
       Thanks for visiting.
                  Bert McGrath
 
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