Friday, May 13, 2011

Duke Manny VonFenway


'Manny' (a.k.a. Duke Manfred Von Fenway) was rescued from a puppy mill after almost nine months of being trapped helpless in a small cage day and night. Manny was taken into the MWBTR foster home of the wonderfully kind, caring and generous Pat & Day Parker.

After adopting an unwanted, very ill Boston Terrier puppy named Prince (a.k.a. Little Travelin' Prince Edward Jules) from a breeder, we immediately fell in love with the breed and soon decided we wanted another Boston. Refusing to ever buy a dog from a pet store and having very few Boston breeders in our area, we turned to the internet hoping to find a miracle.

We found it in the form of the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue site. We searched through the available dogs for adoption and immediately fell in love with Manny's sad face and even sadder story. When Manny was rescued he was so afraid of everything and everyone, especially men. Apparently the man in charge of the puppy mill was not a nice one!

Manny had been diagnosed with a bad case of mange, a very bad case on his ears in particular. Knowing full well that adopting a dog like Manny would not be easy or instantly gratifying, we started our adoption campaign.

We first met Manny when Pat brought him over to our apartment. He cowered at even the sight of our eyes meeting him, and was very shy around our rambunctious Prince Edward, who is very tenacious and full of vigor (to say the least).

We both fell instantly in love with him and absolutely had to have him. Soon we finally were granted the amazing honor and privilege to be Manny's new daddy and mommy.

We adopted Manny on a Monday, brought him home, and tried our best to make him comfortable. Prince was, of course, jumping all over him and so energetically ecstatic to play with him; Manny was definitely overwhelmed. Day after day Manny has gotten more and more outgoing, friendly and playful. Manny and Prince are the best of friends as well as brothers; they are inseparable.

Manny sleeps in bed every night, under 1,000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and jacquard satin bedding. Manny, no longer needing to eat his food while frightened in his cage, eats out in the open next to Prince. Manny and Prince dine on organic holistic dog food.

Manny has no doubt overcome many of his fears and challenges. He is much more outgoing, affectionate and playful. Our vet has confirmed that Manny is in perfect health, his mange cleared up and he is seemingly very content. He used to excrete anal gland fluid whenever he felt in danger which was most of the time. Since moving to our new home, Manny has yet to display any outward signs of that extreme reaction.

Still somewhat skittish and wary of strangers, Manny will probably always retain some special needs and attention. We are very fortunate and blessed to have Manny in our lives. It took a lot of faith and trust for the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue to entrust Manny's future and well being with us and we are forever indebted and grateful.

Joe DiMaggio & Lori Prenkert, Three Oaks, MI