Birdsboro Pointers

 Our Rescue “Oz”

About Oz

DOB: Our best estimate is sometime in 1996-1998, we call it 06/18/1998 so he can share Boone’s birthday (but a year earlier)

Breeder: Unknown (Oz is a rescue from Kansas)

Color: Lemon and White

Color Genotype: bbee

Height (at withers): 26"

Weight: 62 lbs

Breeding Status: Neutered (Rescue dog)

Meaning of Name: Oz means “strength”, which is rather fitting considering everything this boy has been through

Nicknames: Uncle Oz, Ghostdog (due to his range in the woods), Swampdog (since he is usually brown and covered on algae on our runs from his trips into the muck)

Special Talents: The most genuinely happy dog I have ever met; squirrel hunter extraordinaire; professional fly catcher; fireside napper

Songs: U2 “Beautiful Day” and Bob Marley "Three Little Birds"

Oz’s Story

I rescued Oz from a Manhattan, Kansas shelter in March 2001 where he was known by the shelter staff simply as “Boy”.  I didn’t know much about Kansas, so I looked up the word Oz (from the Wizard of Oz) in the dictionary and it meant “a mystical magical place”.  I figured for Oz, being a stray dog with no history, it would be a fitting name.  He was my fifth foster dog (and first foster Pointer), and was supposed to be adopted out like those before him.  But, Oz had other plans, and the personality to make it happen. 

On the fourth day I had him (and the first day he got to run off-leash), Oz tore his cruciate ligament in his right knee.  It took Oz quite a while to recover from his surgery, and by the time people were interested in adopting him, he had found a forever home with me.  Oz was the beginning of my rescue group, Pointers From Oz, which has now fostered and adopted out over 150 dogs… and only Oz has stayed.  Oz has since had another knee surgery for a ruptured mensicus (on the same leg) and two lump removal surgeries.  Both of the lumps were malignant (cancerous).  The lump between his shoulders was able to be removed with large enough margins, but the lump on his front leg required either radiation or amputation. 

Oz’s favorite activities are running, cuddling, and playing with his dog buddies.  Oz was only five years old at the time and already had arthritis in his right knee.  Whenever I have to make veterinary decisions, I make them based on what the animal would do if they could speak.  I decided that if Oz could decide for himself, he would elect radiation over amputation (especially considering the front leg with the tumor was on the same side as his bad knee).  Although it was pretty tough on Oz at the time, radiation proved to be the right choice.  Two years post-radiation Oz is still cancer free and has plenty more years of running.  I want to thank all of the doctors and technicians in the Tufts Veterinary School Oncology Department that have helped to keep Oz’s quality of life so great, and have given me some more time with the happiest, goofiest dog I’ve ever owned.

Pictures of Oz

Oz at 4 years flying in the air with his stuffed dog which he threw in the air himself.  This is Oz after his first knee surgery (on his right knee)… as you can see, it didn’t slow him down.

Oz demonstrating his unique frog-leg sitting style that he developed due to his knee surgeries.  It has gotten somewhat better in time as you can see on the picture to the right.

Oz chewing on his bones

Oz at 6 years hiding under the blankets with his cone on during his painful radiation treatment.  That is his tail sticking out on the left.  In the picture on the right, you can see one of Oz’s bald spots – that was where they radiated his lymph node.  He is also bald on part of his right leg as you can see in the next picture of him in the snow.

Oz at 6 years showing that radiation therapy for his cancer won’t hold him back

Oz showing off his sweet face

Oz cuddling with his dad.  Oz and I have always had a close bond, especially with all that he’s been through.  I cannot even begin to count all of the times I carried him up and downstairs because I knew he wanted to be with his dog buddies and me and not left downstairs alone.  But, when Kyle came into his life, they had an instant connection.  I say it was as if Oz had always wanted a boy of his own.  As you can see, Oz adores Kyle and they were definitely made for each other.  The two of them are sort of kindred spirits you might say.  The last few pictures are of Oz at 7 years old just hanging out. 

Oz at age nine.  Oz is the only one of our dogs that really needs a jacket.  He's a wild man in the winter, gets cold.  This slick black jacket is the best one we've found yet, and Oz would definitely say this one is his favorite.  It is from www.k9topcoat.com