Fable

Fable UPDATE 12/29/25<br/><br/>Fable's Journey – Illinois<br/><br/>Sweet 4-year-old Fable has truly been through the wringer, but this brave girl keeps showing us her beautiful heart. <br/><br/>She arrived to NNR underweight, anxious, and heartworm positive with signs of previously being used for breeding. Heartworm treatment is a long road — months of strict exercise restriction — which has been especially challenging for a young, active Newf who craves connection and movement. Her foster has worked tirelessly to keep her mentally engaged, but it hasn't been easy for Fable (or her foster family!).<br/><br/>The good news? Her heartworm treatment is officially complete, and multiple follow-up diagnostics—including radiographs, ultrasounds, and comprehensive blood panels—confirmed she is heartworm-free with no evidence of long-term organ damage. Based on these results, her veterinary team determined she was healthy and safe for anesthesia. After being fully cleared through these evaluations, she was able to move forward with her long-awaited spay and bilateral entropion correction (eyelid surgery). She handled anesthesia beautifully and is now recovering well.<br/><br/>Fable still struggles with anxiety, which has been heightened by all the necessary limitations on her activity for so long. We are consulting with a veterinary behaviorist at Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants to determine whether long-term anxiety medication and continued management will help her feel more secure and confident. Please join us in thanking our lucky stars that Fable's foster mom is willing to make the trip, stay for a 2-hour evaluation, and travel back home again. We really can't overstate how much we appreciate our fosters! <br/><br/>Next steps for Fable include a gradual return to normal life: more movement, more fun, and the chance to play with other dogs. We believe that once she can resume a healthy young Newfie lifestyle, we'll see even more positive changes.<br/><br/>Even with everything she has endured, Fable remains a loving, playful, affectionate girl who thrives on closeness and cuddles. She shows interest in dog play and will need some guidance on polite leash skills, like many youngsters who missed some early training.<br/><br/>We're so proud of how far she's come — and even more excited to see her blossoming into the happy, healthy companion she was meant to be. <br/><br/><br/>UPDATE NOVEMBER 2025 Fable is 4-years-old and located in Illinois.<br/><br/>She is currently recovering from her third and final heartworm injection and we are so happy she'll be able to put that difficult experience behind her! Her fantastic vet took all measures possible to make her more comfortable including laser therapy at her injection site but recovery is rough. Next up will be her spay which will be scheduled after her 30-day post injection check up to confirm her heart and lung inflammation has improved. <br/>This poor kiddo has suffered a nasty UTI, severe inflammation of her heart and lungs, long and uncomfortable heartworm treatment and now her eyes are being assessed for possible entropion. She was bred in her past life at least once or more. Luckily all of her issues can be fixed with time, patience and money but we're sorry she has endured so much in her young life. She may not know it yet but her life gets better and better from here! <br/><br/>Since she has been feeling extra crummy, she wants the comfort of her foster mama close by all the time. She absolutely adores her humans and has shown clear signs that she is eager to play with her canine foster brother once her activity restrictions post- heartworm treatment have been lifted. <br/>We will continue to update her personality as we get to know the real Fable. <br/><br/> Fable's Story: A Rescue Tale in the Making<br/><br/>Once upon a time, in a quiet corner of the Midwest, a brown-and-white Newfoundland named Fable began the next chapter of her life. At four years old, her early pages were not kind ones. She arrived thin, stressed, and heartworm positive — her body carrying the signs of having carried litters and too little care.<br/><br/>But every good fable has a turning point. And in this story, a compassionate veterinarian stepped in as Fable's fairy godmother, offering her safety and hope while searching for a rescue to help her continue her journey. That call reached National Newfoundland Rescue, and before long, Fable found her way into a loving foster home in Illinois.<br/><br/>Though her past was rough, her spirit is anything but broken. Fable is affectionate, smart, sassy, and strong willed — the kind of dog who greets each day hopeful that her happy ending is coming soon. When she discovers she can relax, it will be a beautiful sight. <br/><br/>Her foster mom now takes on the role of the steadfast hero — guiding Fable through heartworm treatment and the slow work of building strength and peace. Recovery won't be easy; it takes both resources and patience to help a hundred-pound dog through the rest and restriction that heartworm care requires.<br/><br/>But this is a tale worth telling — and one still being written. <br/><br/>Stay tuned as Fable continues her journey toward health, healing, and the home she's always deserved.<br/><br/>** Want to send this dog a gift? When you purchase a bib or bandana from our store with the code 4FOSTER they will receive it. The rescue receives the profit from the sale and the foster dog receives a gift! <br/><br/>When purchasing for a specific dog, please include that note in the comments. <br/><br/>Or, purchase one for yourself! <br/><br/>Link for Bibs<br/><br/>https://nationalnewfoundlandrescue.com/product-category/bib/<br/><br/>Link for Bandanas<br/><br/> https://nationalnewfoundlandrescue.com/product-category/bandanas/

Fable UPDATE 12/29/25

Fable's Journey – Illinois

Sweet 4-year-old Fable has truly been through the wringer, but this brave girl keeps showing us her beautiful heart.

She arrived to NNR underweight, anxious, and heartworm positive with signs of previously being used for breeding. Heartworm treatment is a long road — months of strict exercise restriction — which has been especially challenging for a young, active Newf who craves connection and movement. Her foster has worked tirelessly to keep her mentally engaged, but it hasn't been easy for Fable (or her foster family!).

The good news? Her heartworm treatment is officially complete, and multiple follow-up diagnostics—including radiographs, ultrasounds, and comprehensive blood panels—confirmed she is heartworm-free with no evidence of long-term organ damage. Based on these results, her veterinary team determined she was healthy and safe for anesthesia. After being fully cleared through these evaluations, she was able to move forward with h

Fable UPDATE 12/29/25

Fable's Journey – Illinois

Sweet 4-year-old Fable has truly been through the wringer, but this brave girl keeps showing us her beautiful heart.

She arrived to NNR underweight, anxious, and heartworm positive with signs of previously being used for breeding. Heartworm treatment is a long road — months of strict exercise restriction — which has been especially challenging for a young, active Newf who craves connection and movement. Her foster has worked tirelessly to keep her mentally engaged, but it hasn't been easy for Fable (or her foster family!).

The good news? Her heartworm treatment is officially complete, and multiple follow-up diagnostics—including radiographs, ultrasounds, and comprehensive blood panels—confirmed she is heartworm-free with no evidence of long-term organ damage. Based on these results, her veterinary team determined she was healthy and safe for anesthesia. After being fully cleared through these evaluations, she was able to move forward with her long-awaited spay and bilateral entropion correction (eyelid surgery). She handled anesthesia beautifully and is now recovering well.

Fable still struggles with anxiety, which has been heightened by all the necessary limitations on her activity for so long. We are consulting with a veterinary behaviorist at Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants to determine whether long-term anxi