by Lee Juslin
Broderick had been on the mean streets for a while when he was picked up and sent to a local shelter. That’s where Col Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue found him just hours before he was to be put down.
Julie, his foster mom, says they think he is about ten years old and, in addition, he has some health issues like cataracts that have caused some vision loss. He was so matted when he came into rescue that he had trouble moving. Broderick was going to be a challenge to place in a forever home.
Broderick
Adding to his problems, Broderick does not get along well with other dogs. “He’s okay with my Westie”, Julie said, “but that’s mostly because she’s used to fosters coming in here and the two ignore each other.” However, before finding his way to Julie, Broderick was first fostered with a CPCRN volunteer in South Carolina. It didn’t work out because there were other dogs in the home. So, the all volunteer rescue group moved him to a foster home in PA where he could be an only dog. Unfortunately, when the family welcomed a new baby, Broderick had to be moved again.
Meanwhile, Judy and some of the other CPCRN volunteers began to wonder if Broderick really was a Cairn or even a Cairn mix. While he looks like a Cairn, he doesn’t have typical terrier behaviors. “Doubts were really raised when I noticed he had no interest in squirrels. Chasing the bushy tails is always high on a terrier’s to-do list.” The group decided to do DNA testing on Broderick to see just what his heritage was and imagine their surprise when Broderick turned out to be a Schnoodle, part Schnauzer and part poodle.
Now, they had to decide if Broderick would stay in Cairn rescue or if they should find a Poodle or Schnauzer rescue that might be better suited for him. “The problem”, Judy said, “is that people come to us looking specifically for a Cairn. We were afraid that by keeping him, we were limiting his chances of finding a good home.”
On the other hand, Brodie, (her pet name for him), because he had been moved around, had become leery of people. “When he came to me in May, he didn’t even want to be patted. I’ve worked with him to get him to trust us and now he will snuggle. And he definitely wants to be where the action is! I’m afraid if we moved Brodie again, it would set him back. Being a senior, he is already in the difficult-to-adopt-out category and, though he’s a good companion, he has some odd behaviors.” Chief among these is his obsession with tidying up. Brodie firmly believes that all toys belong outside, and he will determinedly carry each and every toy he finds in the house out to the backyard. “He can clear a room all by himself, and we’ve lost a number of nice toys because they were left outside.”
Brodie is also difficult when he goes to the vet. “He’s the only dog I’ve ever had to muzzle. It was an experience.”
Despite all his problems and little idiosyncrasies, Brodie behaved very well when Judy hosted a family reunion in July. “He even allowed my father-in-law to pick him up which has always been difficult.” In addition, Judy says she has had at least one family recently inquire about Brodie and she’s got her fingers crossed that he will find a home where he can be the only dog and tidy up to his heart’s content.
Col Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue Network (CPCRN) is a registered 501c3 organization and the largest Cairn rescue in the world. Run completely by volunteers, CPCRN has a network of local and regional members who stand ready to come to the aid of any Cairn terrier in need. Often, they will also aid in the rescue of Scotties, Westies, Cairn mixes and other terriers in need if there is no other breed rescue available.
Dogs are thoroughly vetted, including neutering if necessary, and evaluated as to on-going health needs and temperament issues. They are placed in a foster home until they are ready to be listed on the group’s web site and put up for adoption. If you would like to volunteer with CPCRN, contribute financially, or learn more about the organization, go to their website: Cairn Terrier Rescue.
Check out some great videos of the Cairn rescue’s adoptables on YouTube.
You can find more animal rescue, therapy animal, and other pet related articles in our pet section.
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Thank you so much for showcasing our wonderful little inmate, Broderick. He has been waiting SO LONG for his forever home…we KNOW it’s out there, but it is just taking them a long time to find him. THANK YOU AGAIN! Amy Robinson, CPCRN Board Secretary and full time volunteer.
Go Little Broderick!??we love your Schnoodle-ness!! Hope there us an angel out there that will give you your 4-ever home!
Col Potter is full of caring and compassionate individuals to make a great Rescue! Brodie will be well care for!
Great article! Very well written. This little guy deserves his own forever home and hopefully this will do it.
Broderick just needs the right home. I know that someone is out there for this little man. Paws crossed he finds that special home made just for him.
Thank you for taking care of and trying to find a good forever home for Broderick. He deserves to land in a wonderful home and I will keep my fingers crossed until he does. Good luck, Brodie !
Go, Brodie, go. Hope you find a 4 ever home soon. Love this story.
Seniors are special – it’s a ‘package’ deal w/ limited to no surprises! You know what you’re getting – they are not like a box of Forrest Gump’s Chocolates, other than they are all ‘sweet’ in their own way.
Love his coat – and he’d be a real challenge in a house w/ a doggy door and his toys all over the place — but you’d never have to ‘pick’ up before you vaccuumed! Just invest in ‘waterprood’ toys!
When any rescue groups keeps a little baby like this for such a LONG TIME, you know that they KNOW this dog is worth the wait. PLUS a benefit of any rescue group having a dog so long waiting for the perfect home, is that THEY CAN TELL THE ADOPTIVE HOME where every little blush on their health and personality might be . . . YOU GET WHAT YOU GET and that is a great thing to know. Broderick is totally adorable and quite the personality.
Thank you for a great article! Broddie is still here waiting for his forever home. If you’re interested in reading more about him, or filling out an application, you can go to http://www.cairnrescue.com.
Great story–Brodie has had a lot of upheaval, and it’s great he has found a CP angel who will allow him to adapt and get used to being in a real home for awhile. I hope he finds his “always” family soon.
He looks just like my Cairn-mix, Bacon. I love him. I hope he finds his happily ever after, very soon.
Wonderful article. I think it’s great that Kings River Magazine supports animal rescue. I hope we will soon be reading about Broderick and his forever home!
Thanks Lee for another great story. Hope Broderick finds his forever home. I think he deserves one, don’t you.
Thanks for another great article on Col. Potter Cairn Rescue! Hoping for Broderick to get his forever soon–this boy really deserves it!
This is such a great story. We’ve been following Brodie’s progress and travels on Col Potter Cairn Rescue Network’s Cairn Rescue Mentoring list. We’ve adopted two wonderful older Cairns through Col Potter. But the arrival of your new family member is not the end. It’s the beginning of being part of a much larger family of Cairn-minded folks. CRM is there for adopters to ask questions, and get answers, share milestones, and give support & care for each & every CP Cairn owner. We have a Cairn we adopted from a local rescue, and Col Potter’s CRM list even helps out with advice for him! Col Potter Cairn Rescue Network is nothing short of amazing, we are forever grateful for the Cairns we’ve brought into our family through them, and we do whatever we can to help keep Col Potter going forward. It’s ALL for the DOGS!
What state is BRODERICK-brodie in,has he been adopted yet,age is no problem.
Hi Marci,
Thanks for your interest in Broderick. He was being fostered in North Carolina but he is on his way to his forever home today. But there are many little ones and each has their own story that need a forever home just like Brodie. Please go to our website, cairnrescue.com and on the left hand side of the page you will see “Available Cairns”. We have these little ones all across the US & some parts of Canada that are in foster homes right now. Each right up will tell you everything that you want to know about all of our special furkids. If you need any assistance please email me at dolcebagley@att.net. I would be happy to put you in touch with our volunteers.