Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue

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Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue

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We are a 501c3 rescue that is dedicated to helping Bernese Mountain Dogs and Berner mixes in need.
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The mission of the Michigan Bernese Rescue program is to take in purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs that are in shelters, or whose owners cannot care for them, or that have become lost and abandoned, and to place them in permanent pet homes in order to help provide a safe harbor for Bernese Mountain Dogs that might otherwise be destroyed or abandoned.

10/10/2026

A big thank you to everyone who attended our 7th annual Fall Fundraiser. Through your generosity, we were able to raise over $1,000 in one afternoon! While we remembered to take a group photo, we failed to get a total number of Berners and humans in attendance. Please comment if you were there and share any additional pictures.

10/09/2026

🍂🐾 TOMORROW IS THE DAY! 🐾🍂

We’re officially just ONE DAY AWAY from the 7th Annual Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Fall Gathering & Fundraiser! ❤️

📅 Tomorrow — Saturday, October 10 at 1:00 PM
📍 Marsh View Meadows Park
300 E Textile Rd., Saline, MI 48176

Grab your Berner and come spend the afternoon with us! 🐶🍁 All friendly dogs are welcome, so bring those fluffy friends along!

We can’t wait to see familiar faces, meet new friends, and fill the park with SO MANY BERNERS! 🥰

Please SHARE so we can get the word out one last time!

👇 Who are we seeing TOMORROW?! Drop a 🐾 below!

10/07/2026

Looking forward to a great day Saturday for the fall meet up.
We’ve got great raffle baskets 🐶

10/03/2026

The countdown is officially on for the 7th Annual Heart of Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Fall Gathering & Fundraiser! ❤️

📅 Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
📍 Marsh View Meadows Park
300 E Textile Rd., Saline, MI 48176

Come spend a beautiful fall afternoon with fellow Berner lovers while supporting rescue dogs in need! 🍁

Who’s coming?! Drop a 🐾 in the comments if we’ll see you there!

10/02/2026

🐾 MEET DUDLEY! 🐾 Pending adoption!

📍 Near Columbus, OH
🎂 9 Months Old | 85 lbs | Leonberger/Bernese
✂️ Neuter scheduled for 10/8 — available for adoption pending a smooth recovery!

Meet Dudley, an 85-pound, long-legged, cheese-loving goofball with absolutely no spatial awareness. 😂 He’s sweet, affectionate, pretty calm for his age, and playful when the mood strikes. He loves his people HARD and is always ready for belly rubs, butt scratches, and a good Berner lean. ❤️

A few important things to know:

❤️ Housebroken
❤️ Great with other dogs — another dog is strongly preferred
❤️ Great with kids, but 10+ preferred because he may accidentally knock little ones over
❤️ Walks pretty well on a leash
❤️ Sits for treats
❤️ Sweet, playful & fairly calm for his age
❤️ Loves belly rubs, couches, human beds & CHEESE 🧀
⚠️ Fenced yard recommended — recall is still a work in progress
⚠️ Cats are unknown
⚠️ No chickens
⚠️ Crated when home alone — he’ll do it, but he’s not a fan
⚠️ Chew toys are a MUST
⚠️ He sheds!

😂 THE BIGGEST DERP

Dudley has long legs, a big body, and absolutely no idea how much space he takes up. He’s been known to casually counter surf on his way through the kitchen but redirects pretty easily.

He also firmly believes couches and human beds are superior to the floor. He’ll get “OFF” when told, but not without a very dramatic sigh. 😂 And while he doesn’t bark often, when he does, it is DEEP — sometimes deep enough that he seems to startle himself!

🐶 HIS IDEAL HOME

We would ideally love to see Dudley with another dog to play with and continue learning from. A fenced yard is recommended while he works on recall, and his family should be prepared to continue training a very large, still-growing puppy.

We haven’t noticed much prey drive on walks, but because chickens were reportedly a problem in his previous home, no chickens for this guy. We don’t currently know how he does with cats.

Dudley will be neutered on October 8 and, pending a smooth recovery, will be available for adoption afterward.

If you’re looking for 85 pounds of fluff, love, long legs, cheese obsession, and absolutely no spatial awareness, Dudley might be your guy. ❤️

🐾 INTERESTED IN ADOPTING DUDLEY?

If you think Dudley could be the perfect addition to your family, please fill out an adoption application here:

https://app.sparkie.io/application?t=5c170feb96c080000420478c&m=DOG_ADOPT&a=6aa210b776bb61339f05ceab&utm_source=chatgpt.com

❤️ Already have an application on file with us from within the last 6 months? No need to apply again — just comment below and let us know you’re interested in Dudley!

09/27/2026

🐾☕ MEET LATTE! ☕🐾 Adopted!

📍 Danville/Indianapolis, IN
🎂 6 Months old | 25 lbs | Spayed & UTD on all vetting
🐶 She is half Berner and half Poodle

Meet Latte, a goofy, playful puppy who is basically comic relief on four legs. 😂 She loves toys, tiny treats, giving kisses, being outside, and playing until someone finally tells her it’s time to take a break!

Latte is only 16 weeks old and already 25 pounds, so she may be a BIG girl when she's fully grown. Her exact heritage is unknown, but she appears to be a Berner mix.

A few important things to know:

⚠️ Another dog in the home is REQUIRED
⚠️ Not 100% potty trained — still a work in progress
⚠️ Training needs to be a priority — she's a young puppy who needs structure and boundaries
⚠️ Recall is a work in progress — she LOVES being outside and doesn't always want to come when called.
⚠️Fenced in yard is STRONGLY preferred
⚠️ Needs to be crated when left home alone
⚠️ Can be startled by loud noises and unfamiliar objects
⚠️ Her long, furnished coat will require regular grooming every 6-8 weeks
⚠️ She is currently scared of cats
❤️ Good with kids of all ages but over age 10 preferred

🐶 ANOTHER DOG IS A MUST

One of the most important things we're looking for in Latte's forever home is another dog.

Latte tends to bond with other dogs before she bonds with people, and having another dog around gives her confidence and helps her feel comfortable. We believe she will benefit greatly from having a canine companion to learn from as she continues growing and adjusting.

She absolutely LOVES other dogs, but her play style is very rambunctious! Her doggy sibling needs to be comfortable with energetic puppy play while also being able to gently correct her and help teach her boundaries.

Latte doesn't always know when the party is over. 😂 A well-matched dog who enjoys playing but can also tell her when enough is enough would be perfect.

😂 THE COMIC RELIEF

Latte is stubborn, playful, affectionate, and absolutely hilarious. This girl could play ALL DAY if you let her.

And she doesn't necessarily need you to participate! If you stop playing with her, she'll throw her own toys for herself. 😂

She loves toys of all kinds, tiny treats, giving kisses, and eventually wants to be wherever her people are. Once she builds that bond, she's an affectionate little girl who loves being part of what's going on.

🎓 SHE'S STILL A BABY!

Latte's adopter should be ready to jump right into training. She's smart, stubborn, playful, and likely going to be a large dog, so establishing good manners and boundaries now will be especially important.

She is not 100% potty trained yet. She's making progress, but she hasn't mastered going to the door to let you know she needs out. Her foster has learned that if Latte starts barking and you can't figure out what she wants, it's probably time for a potty break! 😂

She's currently crated overnight and does great with no accidents, and she should also be crated when she's left home alone.

Latte is still gaining confidence with the world around her. Loud noises and unfamiliar things—plastic bags, something unexpectedly falling off a shelf or table, and especially the dreaded vacuum—can scare her and cause her to hide.

With patience, positive experiences, training, and a confident dog by her side, she has plenty of time to continue building that confidence. ❤️

🏡 LATTE'S IDEAL HOME:

❤️ Another dog — REQUIRED
❤️ A dog who enjoys rambunctious puppy play but can gently teach her boundaries
❤️ A family ready to prioritize puppy training
❤️ Children OVER the age of 10
❤️ Continued work on potty training & recall
❤️ Plenty of playtime, exercise & adventures
❤️ Someone who wants to take her places and make her part of the family
❤️ A commitment to regular grooming
❤️ Lots of toys and tiny treats
❤️ Someone ready for a goofy puppy with a BIG personality

Latte is still just a baby, which means her forever family gets the opportunity to help shape the wonderful adult dog she's going to become. She's funny, playful, loving, and ready to find her people—and her new doggy best friend. ❤️

🐾 INTERESTED IN ADOPTING LATTE? If you think Latte could be the perfect addition to your family, please fill out an adoption application here: Apply to adopt Latte: https://app.sparkie.io/application?t=5c170feb96c080000420478c&m=DOG_ADOPT&a=6a7a5e7a1fe031a4db875c3b

❤️ Already have an application on file with us from within the last 6 months? No need to apply again—just comment below and let us know you're interested in Latte!

09/26/2026

🐾 BEN’S BIG THANK YOU! ❤️

We have some amazing news to share, and it’s all thanks to YOU! 🥹❤️

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we have raised over $7,000 from individual donors, plus an additional $7,000 from the Bernese Mountain Dog Charitable Foundation!! 🎉

We cannot thank each and every person who donated, shared Ben’s story, and cheered him on enough. And a huge shout-out to the BMDCF for their generous support of Ben’s medical journey! Your kindness is helping make his road to recovery possible. BMDCF is a wonderful foundation that helps BMDs in need and promoting happy, healthy dogs. Check them out and give them a follow! ❤️🐾

🦴 An Update on Ben’s Surgery Journey

Ben received his CT scan this week, and we are one step closer to getting him the care he needs. His first surgery is scheduled for the end of October. Before surgery, a 3D model of Ben’s leg will be created to help the surgeons prepare for his procedure.

And through it all? Ben is still his happy, loving self, living his best life! 🥰 He continues to show us just how resilient and special he is.

🐶 Come Say Hi to Ben!

Ben will be attending our Fall Meetup & Fundraiser on October 10th at Marsh View Meadows Park! Come by, say hello, and show this sweet boy some love. We would love to see you there! 🍂❤️

Follow along to watch Ben’s progress throughout his rescue medical journey. There is still a road ahead, but with your support, he doesn’t have to walk it alone. 🐾

Thank you for being part of Ben’s village! ❤️

09/25/2026

🌸🐾 MEET MAYA! 🐾🌸 ADOPTED!

📍 Indianapolis, IN
🎂 2 years old | 50 lbs | Spayed & UTD
🐶 Berner Mix

Maya is a petite, beautiful little girl with a perpetual puppy face and a sweet but independent personality. ❤️ At only 50 pounds, she’s tiny compared to your typical full-sized Berner!

A few important things to know:

⚠️ FENCED YARD REQUIRED — Maya is easily startled and may panic
⚠️ Older, calm, dog-savvy kids only
⚠️ Loud noises & sudden movements can scare her
⚠️ A confident dog would be beneficial, but is not required
⚠️ She is still gaining confidence with the leash
⚠️ Previous owner reported she killed chickens, so no chickens

Maya is a timid girl who is still learning that the world isn’t such a scary place. Sudden movements and loud noises can startle her, and she would do best with a calm, predictable household that will allow her to gain confidence at her own pace.

But here's something important about Maya:

❤️ She is NOT your typical Velcro Berner.

Maya likes her humans, but she likes them on her terms. She enjoys pets and snuggles, but she’s also perfectly content loving you from across the room.

Her foster works from home, and while the other dogs want to stay right beside their person, Maya happily hangs out on the couch in the office looking out the window—even when she can't actually see her foster.

If you're looking for a Berner who needs to be attached to your hip 24/7, Maya probably isn't your girl.

But if you love Berners and wouldn't mind one who is a little more independent, Maya might be exactly what you're looking for. ❤️

🐶 OTHER DOGS

Maya gets along well with other dogs, although she isn't engaging in play yet. Because she can be timid and easily startled, we think she could really benefit from having a calm, confident dog in her forever home to show her the ropes.

That said, another dog is not required. Maya could also be happy as an only dog, especially in a home where her people are around frequently.

🎓 SHE'S STILL BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Maya is still learning to love the leash. She gets nervous when she sees someone approaching her with it, but once she's leashed up, she does great on walks!

She will come when called, although she's not usually one to proactively approach you unless you happen to have something delicious.

And speaking of delicious...

🧀 Treats are definitely one way to Maya's heart—especially American cheese! 😂

Maya is also wonderfully behaved when left home. She does not need to be crated and has shown no destructive tendencies.

Because loud noises are scary for her, Maya would benefit from having someone home with her during things like thunderstorms and fireworks whenever possible.

👧 KIDS & OTHER ANIMALS

Maya has not been tested with younger children, but even quick movements from adults can startle her. For that reason, we're looking for a home with older, calm, dog-savvy children only.

She has not shown much prey drive in her foster home, but her previous owner reported that she killed chickens, so a home with chickens would not be appropriate.

❤️ WHY WE LOVE MAYA

She's tiny. She's beautiful. She has the cutest short little snout that makes her look like a puppy. And underneath that cautious exterior is an incredibly sweet little dog.

Maya doesn't need to be the center of attention. She doesn't need to be constantly touching you. She just wants a safe, predictable home where she can be herself and continue gaining confidence.

🏡 MAYA'S IDEAL HOME:

❤️ Secure fenced yard — required
❤️ Calm, predictable household
❤️ Older, calm, dog-savvy kids only
❤️ A confident dog would be beneficial, but isn't required
❤️ No chickens
❤️ Someone patient with her timid personality
❤️ Someone willing to continue building her confidence
❤️ A family who appreciates a more independent Berner
❤️ Plenty of treats... and maybe some American cheese 🧀

🐾 INTERESTED IN ADOPTING MAYA?

Apply here:
https://app.sparkie.io/application?t=5c170feb96c080000420478c&m=DOG_ADOPT&a=6a7b43371ed97ab79cb74374

❤️ Already have an application on file with us from the past 6 months? Comment below to let us know you're interested in Maya!

09/23/2026

⚓🐾 MEET SAILOR! 🐾⚓ Adopted!

📍 Dayton, OH
🎂 18 months old | 54 lbs | Neutered & UTD

Sailor is a sweet, sensitive young Berner who wants one thing more than anything else: to be with his person. ❤️ He’s a total Velcro dog who loves pets, snuggles, toys, and simply laying near you.

A few important things to know:

⚠️ SENSITIVE TO NOISES — unfamiliar sounds can make him nervous
⚠️ Older, calm kids preferred — younger children can scare him
⚠️ Fenced yard required — especially because noises can startle him
⚠️ Another dog could be beneficial, but is not required
⚠️ Possible food sensitivity — currently transitioning to a salmon-based sensitive food
⚠️ Can get very excited when meeting other dogs

Sailor is only 18 months old, but in the house he can actually be a pretty chill guy. He doesn't get into things and is perfectly happy hanging out near his person. He has been crated for about 4–5 hours during the day and does well, and he sleeps through the night without needing to get up.

And when it's time to play? 🎾

Sailor LOVES toys and playing fetch! He also enjoys walks and would be a great match for an active family who wants a dog to include in their everyday life and adventures.

🐶 OTHER DOGS

Sailor could really benefit from having a confident, easygoing dog in his forever home to help him feel more secure. However, we think he may also be perfectly happy as an only dog as long as he gets plenty of attention and companionship from his people.

He gets extremely excited when meeting other dogs and doesn't appreciate other dogs taking his toys, so thoughtful introductions and management around high-value toys will be important.

👧 KIDS & OTHER ANIMALS

Sailor can be scared of children, so we think a home with older, calm kids would be the best fit for him.

He has not been tested with cats, but he appears to have a low prey drive, so a cat-savvy home may be possible with proper introductions.

❤️ THE SWEETEST SIDE OF SAILOR

Sailor can be nervous about noises and new things, but once he feels comfortable, he is an incredibly sweet dog. He's affectionate, loves being close to his people, and is happiest when he can just lay nearby and soak up some love.

He's looking for someone who will give him confidence, consistency, and the security he needs to continue coming out of his shell.

🏡 SAILOR'S IDEAL HOME:

❤️ Active family who will include him in their life
❤️ Older, calm kids preferred
❤️ Fenced yard REQUIRED
❤️ A confident, easygoing dog could be a great bonus
❤️ Could potentially be happy as an only dog
❤️ Plenty of walks, fetch, toys & snuggles
❤️ Patient family who will help build his confidence
❤️ Someone looking for a loyal Velcro Berner who wants to be right by their side

🐾 INTERESTED IN ADOPTING SAILOR?

Apply here:
https://app.sparkie.io/application?t=5c170feb96c080000420478c&m=DOG_ADOPT&a=6a8b7f340bfc0ec005798f91

❤️ Already have an application on file with us from the past 6 months? Comment below to let us know you're interested in Sailor!

Address

Kalamazoo, MI
49009

Telephone

+17652332635

Website

http://www.michiganberneserescue.org/, https://linktr.ee/hmbmdr

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