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
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 raccoons 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 rescues, but Bernese Mountain Dogs have always had my heart. They are such gentle giants with the sweetest personality. So far we have welcomed 3 Bernese into 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!
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 & 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 & 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, have helped me provide some guidance as we begin the journey as a 501c3 organization..
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, & 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 & I foster when we can, take pictures of shelter dogs when we can & do anything else we can do for homeless animals. I first found the 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 & 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 & write in a way that makes everyone fall in love with them.
KATALINA-MARIE KRUSZEWSKI
BIO COMING SOON ;)
ALEXANDRA
Hi, my name is Alexandra! I have always had a passion for animals since I was little. My parents would take me to the zoo & they gave me notecards with animals on them that I would study every day. I have always wanted to be involved in a rescue, but I didn't have time until now. Last year, I got my first dog, & of course, she is a Bernese Mountain Dog. She was 7.5 yrs old when we got her. Her name is Strike, & she has only ever known that name. She was a breeding dog until she came to the rescue we got her from. Now she is such a loving and playful girl, you wouldn't even know she is 8.5 yrs old! I found out about the organization when a BMD was running in the area. We chased her for days, but no one could catch her. Finally, she got tired & ended up with someone who could not keep her overnight while the pound was closed. I offered to take her in, and NBMDRN reached out to me to help find her a home. I now volunteer pretty much full-time when I can. I help with casework, intake, transporting, fostering, & anything else I can. I love this breed so much & am happy to help every dog I can!
ASHLEY
Hi! I'm Ashley and am one of the caseworkers for NBMDRN. I have volunteered/ fostered with local shelters for a few years before find this amazing rescue on instagram in 2023.
Bernese have always been my dream breed, and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of rehabilitating and finding the perfect homes for these pups. Through this organization, I found my Mindie girl. She is my gentle giant with the kindest heart.
I love this rescue because it's filled with such compassionate and committed volunteers, fosters, and supporters. These dogs deserve the world, and it's beyond rewarding to assist with that!
SHELLEY BENEFIEL
Hello, my name is Shelley. Rescuing dogs has been a passion for my husband & me for many years now, & we have rescued several dogs over the past 15 years or so. A couple of years ago, we came across a Bernese when we were looking at adding another rescue dog to our household & fell in love with the breed. These dogs have the most loving personalities and are just such gentle giants. Unfortunately, we lost our Berner less than a year after we rescued her, which is what brought me to NBMDRN. To cope with the loss of our sweet Bernese, we resolved to make a difference for these lovely dogs & help in any way we could. I put in an app & was contacted pretty quickly by Terri, & we took in our first foster a few weeks later. We are enjoying fostering & being able to be a haven to the pups that have come through our home, & it has been so rewarding getting updates from their adopters & seeing them thrive in their forever homes! Putting my background & skill sets to use, I’m also doing some volunteer office/administrative tasks for NBMDRN. When we have a new foster in an area where we are not clients of a vet clinic nearby, I help get us established with new clinics so we can get our foster pups the care they need. I’m so thankful to be a part of this amazing organization & to have a part in helping this wonderful breed of dogs!
LYN
Hi, I’m Lyn. I was introduced to Bernese Mountain Dogs in 1999. I brought home my first Berner a year later, Von Engel’s Regarding Henry. “Hank” was a perfect 10-week-old chunky, fluffy bear & it did not take long to realize my love for this breed,& I knew then I would always have one (or more) in my home. At that time, most Berner breeders were reputable preservation breeders requiring prospective buyers to undergo a thorough application process with signed contracts preventing unauthorized breeding, offering health guarantees, and committing to take back any of their dogs for any reason. Sadly, that changed with the explosion in their popularity, resulting in overbreeding by puppy mills, irresponsible breeders & designer Berner mixes. This is why Berner Rescues became necessary, & tragically, this beloved breed’s health & temperament suffered, along with declining longevity. I heard about NBMDRN when they posted a Facebook plea for help when a newly adopted rescue was lost in Fancy Gap, VA. My husband & I became part of Holly’s search and rescue for 11 days, along with some amazing volunteers. NBMDRN’s dedication & support in finding Holly was unwavering. Thankfully, it had a happy ending! That was the start of our relationship with NBMDRN. We were approved as fosters and transporters, & with my background in finance for over 30 years, I became Treasurer in the fall of 2024. We are thankful to be able to support NBMDRN in its mission to help surrendered BMDs find the loving, forever homes they deserve.
