Harley 
Breed: Olde English Bulldog
Sex: Male
Age: 7 years old
Weight: 52 lbs.
12/30/2017 Update:
It is with great sadness that we have to share the news that our dear sweet senior Harley crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday. We know everyone’s first reaction is one of sadness and grief; however in our opinion, Harley’s story is one with a loving ending. Harley touched many lives is a very short time. From the volunteers that helped transport him from South Texas to Dallas, to those that donated money for his care and most importantly his amazing foster family that opened their home and hearts to a senior Bulldog that had trouble walking and had been confined to a crate for long periods of time. Even with the neglect that Harley had suffered at the hands of humans, he had so much love left, it was amazing. If it were not for each of those volunteers and Rescue, Harley would have most likely died alone in a crate. Instead, Harley spent his last months enjoying life and knowing more love than he had in a long time. He was surrounded by unconditional love. I know loosing a Bulldog is a horrible thing but Dr. Seuss said it best “Don’t cry because it is over, Smile because it happened.” So please remember to keep Harley’s foster parents in your thoughts and prayers and smile because he was truly a great Bulldog, and may he enjoy his days running and playing at the rainbow bridge. We will miss you Harley.
12/10/2017 Update: Harley here! Well, last week I spent resting a lot. That cold weather snap kinda snapped me back a bit – I wasn’t expecting it and I moved rather slow for a couple days last week and had to rest in my warm bed more than usual. FM has a nice warm heated blankie she turns on for me so I get all cozy and warm and I feel so much better when she does this. Those good massages she gives me helped out a lot too. Surprisingly, however, the best thing was that warm bath I had this weekend. Wow did I feel great after that!! I look more handsome and I smell much better. I think I stand up taller now that I am so clean…….. I also surprised FM and FD by enjoying the bath so much; I didn’t want to get out! I’m not thrilled with the dryer noise after the bath, but all the good brushing and warm towels and cuddles afterwards really made me feel special. This weekend’s weather ended up being nice and warm so I was back outside to play – I have found a couple games I like to play – I love hide and seek – I always hide under a chair or behind a bush and you get to find me! I also have become attached to my very first soft plush toy; FM lets me sleep with it, too. I am still very curious and I love to see what everyone is doing when they aren’t petting me………. and I’m working so hard to get feeling better and my strength back every day – hope I can appear at some of the Bulldog Meet n Greets soon! Love, Harley
11/27/2017 Update:Hi there. Harley here! Wow what a week I had with all that great food around me all weekend. I tried many things I don’t believe I’ve ever had before. First off, that turkey was delicious. So were the green beans I sampled and the carrots that I got to snack on. The next night FD cooked the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted – steak. I got samples of all kinds of deliciousness all weekend long because FM said I was such a good boy and she kept saying the word “holidays” around me and everything was ok and rules could be bent during the “holidays.” I think I like holidays!! However, I’m not a beggar; and I wait until my treats are offered to me. I had a good report at Dr. H’s office on Saturday – I didn’t show any more signs of any infection and I’m off all my meds now except the one for my skin, but Foster Sis takes the same meds for her skin, and I want to have good skin like hers, so I take my one medicine every other day like I’m supposed to. I even gained a little bit of weight, and Dr. H said I can have a good bath in the next couple of weeks since my skin is looking so much better!! Usually when I have a car ride, my FS rides up front, but since it was just me going to see Dr. H, I got the front seat and it was wonderful to stretch out for my snooze on the way home. Oh, I seem to have found my voice again, too. I can bark now to let my humans know when I want to go outside. The first time I barked, FM was startled and said my bark is very deep and gave me several good treats just for barking!! Last night my humans put a tree in the house and I’m rather confused about this thing. I thought trees belonged outside, and this one has all these shiny pieces hanging on it and I just don’t know if I want to sit and stare at it, knock it down, or sprinkle on it just yet, so there is a gate around it until I know what I want to do. Foster Sis ignores the tree and acts like it isn’t even there, but I’m just too curious still. Matter of fact, I am pretty darn nosey about everything – I am just so happy not to be crated anymore and roam around the house as I wish and sniff and explore everything I see. I also received so much loving this weekend I was a bit sad when my humans had to return to work. This cuddling thing is pretty cool – I’m just getting better every day!! It was a great week for me……. Love, Harley
11/19/2017 Update:
Hi it’s Harley here! I have had a pretty quiet week – I’m resting up for the holidays and all that good eating coming up. I’ve made some milestones this week – I am standing much better on my own now, I’m eating lots better (I can finish off an entire full bowl of food!!) and I’m off two of my meds as well. I’ve really learned what the sound of the “treat bag” sounds like and I am able to move a lot faster when I hear that sound……. Mmmm, love treats. FD was home a lot this week doing some home renovating and I was totally fine with that as long as I could sit with him the entire time and watch. We have also been doing a lot more walking. Of course, I like to stop and smell every single thing after each step. FD says that I need to pick up the pace some, but there are SO many new smells I can’t help myself. After all the exercising, all I want to do is sleep. My FS Queenie and I had a spat this week over FM. See, I’m new to all this loving and cuddling going on and when I want some, I want it now. FM says to wait sometimes, its Queenie’s turn, and well, I don’t want to wait because I’m just so overly excited about all that love and cuddling. Well, Queenie put me in my place with a growl and I bit her. Not bad, but enough to hurt Queenie’s feelings. I didn’t get in too much trouble because FM knows I’m just new to all this lovey dovey stuff, but she did separate Queenie and I for a day, just to be sure. I’m learning to wait now and I still have a crush on Queenie, I love to just stare at her and lay as close to her as I can, so I guess I’ll behave. Until this big turkey feast coming up, I’m gonna keep resting…… and dreaming of food and treats………
Happy Thanksgiving!
11/5/2017 Update: Harley had a very exciting first week with his foster family! FD spent all day with him on the first day and they rested and explored the big backyard. Harley met his very first pig we believe — there was a lot of sniffing and FD made absolute sure that pig left him alone at first — Harley just wasn’t ready to interact yet even though Pork Chop just really wanted to play with his new friend.
Harley rested and got fed a bunch of delicious food the next couple of days and by the weekend he was ready to have lots of sunshine and follow that pig around some. Foster sisters Queenie and Alli have been very good to help Harley stroll around the yard and they showed him where the rabbits in the tree stump live and the squirrels that like to jump among the back yard trees. It was just a great weekend to explore and watch exciting things from the porch. Harley is already walking better and getting a little pep in his step when foster sisters bark at the neighbor’s dogs and run along the fence. I expect him to be joining in soon – he does seem to want to engage – he’s just moving slow. He also had some light brushing and ohhhh he loved that. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain and enjoys being touched now that he trusts us more. He’s still cuddling with FD until he falls asleep every night. Harley sleeps through the night perfectly on his blanket and he has begun to totally stretch out when he is asleep.
Harley socialized very well Saturday night when FD had friends over to watch UFC. Harley enjoyed all the attention and petting. I even think he sweet talked some of the guys to sneak him some BBQ bites.
Harley has made a lot of improvement in a week but he has a ways to go. Eating is a little challenge – he needs some help at first. He acts so excited to have the food it takes him a bit to catch on to use his entire mouth. We are working on this. He’s still taking medicine well and has had one accident in the house but his problem isn’t as much holding it as it is notifying someone he’s ready to go out.
I think Harley has a little crush on Queenie. She’s definitely the boss with him but he just follows her around — and stares at her a lot. ❤️
11/2/2017 Update:
Please welcome Harley to the No Borders Bulldog Rescue family. Harley is a 7 year old male Olde English Bulldog that weighs 52 lbs.
Harley joined the NBBR Rescue family as an owner surrender. Harley has had a few bumps in the road in his life journey. in July of this year the family he lived with moved to Chicago and did not take him. There were two options for Harley, find another family or take him to the shelter (where he would most likely have been euthanized). Luckily for Harley, another family was found. The family stated he was healthy with no issues when they got Harley in July. Due to a change in work schedules, the family began to work long hours and Harley found himself in a crate for long period of times, which was not ideal. The decision was made to surrender Harley and let him find a new forever family.
When we met the family to get Harley it was apparent he needed Vet care, and that was his first stop. The first thing that was noted was Harley was underweight and he had difficulty walking. His back legs and hips appeared to be weak and he wobbled when he walked. With all the symptoms Harley had, we were scared that he may have something very serious happening. The “rest of the story”: Harley has infections of the skin(severe), ears, and eyes that will all require several antibiotics. Additionally, Harley has spondylosis and what looks to be congenital issue with his spine.
You would never know that anything is wrong with Harley based on his personality. Even after all the turmoil in his life he is the sweetest Bulldog EVER. He does take a few minutes to get situated when he gets up to walk, but once he gets moving, he is a curious, fun loving dog. Harley joined his foster home this week and has done very well. He may be getting spoiled already. During Harley’s first day at his foster home he was lucky enough to have his Foster Dad be at home ALL day with him. Harley definitely enjoyed the extra attention. He was able to stretch out and get out of his crate AND he even soaked up some sun on the patio. Harley takes everything in stride and takes his medicine like a champ. He is eating well he has been put on a mini exercise program. This exercise program is designed to get him up and walking and to help him build up his back legs. Harley has a several months of work ahead of him, but with the help of his foster family, he will get there. Please keep Harley in your thoughts and prayers as he begins his journey to become the Bulldog that he was always meant to be.
November is “Adopt a Senior Pet Month” won’t you consider adopting Harley or one of the other “senior” pets we have available. They may be older, but they still have a lifetime of love to give to that special family.
