Today We Rescued Your Dog
by Pat Closher
Today we rescued your dog. We don’t know where you got him from - maybe you saw him in a pet store window or maybe one of your neighbors bred a few litters a year just to make some vacation money or because they loved their dogs so much that of course they wanted to have puppies. We don’t know much about how you cared for him either, although our vet thought that for such a young dog, his teeth were in pretty bad shape.
by Pat Closher
Today we rescued your dog. We don’t know where you got him from - maybe you saw him in a pet store window or maybe one of your neighbors bred a few litters a year just to make some vacation money or because they loved their dogs so much that of course they wanted to have puppies. We don’t know much about how you cared for him either, although our vet thought that for such a young dog, his teeth were in pretty bad shape.
Did you know they were going to keep him outside? At least it was a pretty mild winter. There were no heavy snows, not much heavy winter rain and only a few days of bitter cold. But for all of those weeks he had no companionship, no care, and no love.
For some reason, your grandparents took him to the shelter. Maybe a neighbor complained about him or maybe their own health gave out or maybe they just got tired of him. You know the local shelter is a kill shelter, don’t you? You know that their own statistics indicate that about half of the dogs that enter are killed, don’t you? Maybe your grandparents thought he would be adopted quickly. He is a purebred, after all. No one was interested in him, though, maybe since he’s an adult dog and not a cute little puppy. No one contacted the purebred rescue group either. They probably would have placed him quickly, since he really is a great boy. The shelter is a clean place and they take good care of the dogs. They get good food and they’re bathed and brushed. It’s still a shelter though, and is noisy and chaotic and frightening. He spent two months there in that confusion, away from everyone and everything he had known.
One day, we saw him on the shelter web site. We called and asked about him. The shelter workers were so happy to hear from us and were delighted to agree to bring him to a local pet store where they do adoptions. Do you want to know why they were so accommodating? He was scheduled to be killed that afternoon. He didn’t know that, but the shelter workers certainly did. It hurt them and he felt that, so he knew something was wrong. All of a sudden, though, the shelter workers were happy and excited and so was he. They bathed him and brushed his coat. We think they probably told him this was it - his big chance, or maybe he just knew it somehow. When we met him, we all fell in love.
He had to go to the vet to be neutered, of course, but then he came home. He has his very own 13 year-old boy. You know, it’s almost like watching one of those old Lassie movies, seeing how well they’ve bonded. He’s got good food and his own toys. He’s taken on walks three times a day, is regularly groomed and is taken to the vet for needed care. We’ll be with him always, even if we have to make that last, difficult decision, because, you see, he is our dog and we are his family.
He has a good heart you know, but then he is a dog, so that’s to be expected. He’s probably forgiven you and, with a dog’s grace, doesn’t even remember you dumped him. He’d probably even be willing to greet you at the Rainbow Bridge. But you know what? He’ll greet us and go with us at the Bridge, and then he’ll be with us forever, because he’s our dog and we’re his family.
The way we heard the story, you moved out of state and didn’t want to take him with you. You left him at your grandparents. Maybe you thought a lively, handsome dog was just the thing for them, and under better circumstances it might have been. Maybe they have been cleaning up your messes for your entire life and an unwanted dog was just another mess to clean up.One day, we saw him on the shelter web site. We called and asked about him. The shelter workers were so happy to hear from us and were delighted to agree to bring him to a local pet store where they do adoptions. Do you want to know why they were so accommodating? He was scheduled to be killed that afternoon. He didn’t know that, but the shelter workers certainly did. It hurt them and he felt that, so he knew something was wrong. All of a sudden, though, the shelter workers were happy and excited and so was he. They bathed him and brushed his coat. We think they probably told him this was it - his big chance, or maybe he just knew it somehow. When we met him, we all fell in love.
He had to go to the vet to be neutered, of course, but then he came home. He has his very own 13 year-old boy. You know, it’s almost like watching one of those old Lassie movies, seeing how well they’ve bonded. He’s got good food and his own toys. He’s taken on walks three times a day, is regularly groomed and is taken to the vet for needed care. We’ll be with him always, even if we have to make that last, difficult decision, because, you see, he is our dog and we are his family.
He has a good heart you know, but then he is a dog, so that’s to be expected. He’s probably forgiven you and, with a dog’s grace, doesn’t even remember you dumped him. He’d probably even be willing to greet you at the Rainbow Bridge. But you know what? He’ll greet us and go with us at the Bridge, and then he’ll be with us forever, because he’s our dog and we’re his family.
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Baxter joined our family 6 years ago after LSBR rescued him from life as a stray when he was about 4 years old. Although the hard life he had before we met him was beyond our control once he moved in he had the best life a dog could ask for and his happiness was obvious to all he met. Baxter loved traveling and had many trips to Florida and California where he quickly warmed up to his extended family and friends there. Baxter was the most happy, loyal, content dog we've ever met. Fortunately Baxter's decline was swift and his period of suffering brief. Baxter crossed the rainbow bridge three weeks after he became ill and is terribly missed and lovingly remembered by dads Chris, Ken and his adopted LSBR sister, Mikki.
Bea was a precious pup that was only in rescue a few months. She was fortunate to have a wonderful foster family that loved and cared for her; she loved to sun bathe (don't all boxers!) and nap they day away knowing she was safe and sound.
LSBR Archive - 2007
December 1999 through June 2010
I got Beauty when she was 5 weeks old and fell in love with her the minute I saw her. We rescued her from back yard breeder not knowing what we were doing. She was such a sick little puppy and many dollars later she survived. Her left ear had been cut half off with something to dock them. We called this her beauty mark. She was really an awesome dog and was well loved and gave back as much if not more love. She was 10 ½ years old when she passed on. Her rescue brother Ben and sister Xena will miss her as well as her loving human family. Rest in Peace Precious Beauty.
We loved you very much, Bertha and Gail
Our “Gentle Ben” was rescued almost 4 years ago, was loved by so many and became a special part of each of our lives. Thanks to Cheryl, Aimee and the staff at the Fritz who took special care for him for many months, then Bertha and Gail for giving him a chance and a wonderful home filled with unconditional love for three years. Then by Amy and her family for loving him so very much through his final months.
“For the three years we had him he was a love sponge. We always felt really safe when because we knew Ben would not let anyone hurt us. He loved my great-grand kids so much and in return they loved him, many tears when he went away. The children would say ‘Ben loves me, he does.’ He will be missed by all of us.”
- Bertha
“At first glance Ben had a serious face and if you did not know him you would see a little mean mug. He never was mean, loved his fur friends Beauty and Xena, and he truly was a sponge that absorbed every ounce of love that was thrown his way. He will be missed and he was loved in ways that no one outside his inner circle would understand.”
- Gail
Ben’s loss leaves many broken hearts…until we meet again our special Gentle Ben, we love you!
- Bertha, Gail, Arwyn, Bobbie, Amy, Riley & Bailey
I'm sorry to say we lost our beloved Bevo on August 23, 2014. He became suddenly ill and passed away from an insulinoma. We only had him a year and a half but we loved him very much and he had a good life with us. We love him and miss him very much... This picture shows one of his favorite things to do, laying out by the pool.. David, Jan, Rachel and Sarah Henson
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