Who are we, you ask?
We are a 501c3 organization who has been working within another organization previously, in the best interest of the purbred Bernese Mountain Dog. Collectively, this group of founding members has gained expertise and wisdom over the years in all areas of raising, fostering, caregiving, rescuing, training and loving this breed. Not to mention the fact that there are many of the members who have a background in veterinary medicine, organizational work as business owners, managers and board members in previous organizations.
In the summer of 2023, this group of women connected with concerns about the safety, movement and general care and decided to create a rescue that reflected their own values and addressed these concerns. The National Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Network was formed and we have hit the ground running with numerous requests for surrender and help with this lovely breed.
Why us instead of another organization?
We are committed to working in an outreach as far as there is a need and welcome other clubs to join us in committing to saving this breed. Our commitment to purebred BMD’s is highlighted below:
Our mission is to educate the public as much as possible on the breed being treated as livestock and overbred in the market for profit without regard to their health, safety and welfare. To educate the public, when taking them into foster care from these situations, in decompression, training, care and selection of a proper forever home.
Our goal is to work collectively to try to dismantle as many breeding facilities as possible who do not have the best interest of the breed at heart. This means that we will work to seek out sources of “backyard breeders”, “mills”, and those who mistreat or abuse the privilege of owning one of these amazing animals.
We will diligently work with foster placement to ensure we understand the personality of each of our animals. This allows us to find the perfect adoptive placement for them when they are ready for that part of their journey.
We will do everything in our power that is humanly possible to reduce further traumatic experiences to these surrenders by securing them as quickly as we are able and moving them directly to their foster home. They will remain with their foster for their stage in learning to be a dog and that they are safe. Our fosters are committed and understand this process is different for each animal and that it may take days or weeks. During this transition, we require that vacations and extended weeks be put on hold for fosters, so as to not further stress their placement with sitters, boarding or kennel stays.
Placement in foster care of each animal that comes into our custody is crucial. We are extremely selective in the foster process as it is difficult to understand the incoming dog until we have had it in our care for some time. This is done with the help of the foster and it is extremely important to assure there is a bond within that home and a trust is built. A quiet environment is preferred and our foster selection process is one of the most important pieces of our rescue.
We assure a great fit is made prior to allowing the final adoption to take place. Trial periods are not part of permanent placement. We assure a great fit is made prior to allowing the final adoption to take place. This happens with proper interviewing, selection and education with the adopter, along with meet and greets with the new family and its own furry friends.
We do our very best to take in every single purebred dog that is brought to our attention, as long as we have proper foster placement, funding and clinical care in that area. We realize that at times, we will have to make the hardest decisions to say no or to make another choice in the area of aggression or injury, but that will be a last resort and on an individual basis. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with other BMD rescues and clubs and will work with integrity to maintain the values that we have established in the National Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Network.
Meet The Team
TERRI McDERMOTT
Hello, I'm Terri. 15 years ago my husband brought home a chubby little bear aka. fur ball, that was the cutest thing I'd ever seen and she changed my life. Since that day, I've been a BMD momma. My love of these animals runs deep as I see their beautiful souls through their eyes shine with happiness and connection upon their rescue. To see them evolve from "livestock", which we often do, to learning to be that fluffy, snuggly, lap dog is what I long to see in every dog. My years of experience as a board president, vice-president, secretary of multiple organizations over the years, has helped me provide some guidance as we begin the journey of this organization as a 501c3
BETH PAYNE
My name is Beth, I’ve been in love with Bernese since I was little! I dog sit full time and have been blessed with a mostly Berner based clientele. I’ve boarded more than 250 in my home over the past 10 years and have also fostered a couple dozen. I am a fully trained animal cruelty investigator and in addition to being euthanasia certified through the Ohio Animal Welfare Association. My life is devoted to dogs!
TAMMY CONDEELIS
Hello, I’m Tammy. I have been involved in animal rescue since I was old enough to walk. I was always bringing home those that were hurt and needing help; from baby racoons and skunks, to young hawks and other baby birds, to stray dogs and cats that crossed my path.
Over the past 30 years I have volunteered and fostered for several different rescues, but the Bernese Mountain Dog has always had my heart. They are such gentle giants with the sweetest personality. So far we have welcomed 2 Bernese to our pack and there is nothing better than snuggling with one of these furry cuddly bears.
To know that you have had a hand in helping to rescue these amazing dogs and allow them the life they deserve is the BEST FEELING EVER!
CARYN CASH
Hello, my name is Caryn. When I met my husband is when I met my first BMD. I remember after a long day’s work, I would come home, and Cody would greet me every day, with a smile on his face and a sock in his mouth (or a towel, whatever was close by when I came home.) He was such a gentle giant. My husband and I foster when we can, take pictures of shelter dogs when we can and anything else we can possibly do for homeless animals. I first found National Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue network on Facebook when they sent a plea for fosters. I thought to myself, how amazing it would be to have another Bernese in the house, even though I already have three rescues. I filled out a foster application not knowing when the opportunity would present itself. I was contacted the next day by Terri!! Our foster girl was so wonderful, it was amazing to have her with us and watch her blossom. It was hard to let her go but she found an amazing forever home through this foundation. Since being a foster, Terri has reached out to me to write biographies for other BMD’s needing a forever home. For, each “assignment” I hope to pick out key details and write in a way that makes everyone fall in love with them. I am honored to take part in a foundation such as this one.