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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Jake came to me as a foster. He had just had his right rear leg amputated (from being hit by a car) and his right eye removed and sewn shut due to an older injury. I instantly fell in love with him and adopted him for my own. He was beautiful and had a wonderful personality. Having only three legs and one eye didn't slow him down much. He could run up and down the stairs as fast as any four-legged boxer. Jake loved camping, car rides, walks and just being with his family.
Jake had to be put to sleep on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004. He suffered a brain tumor that overtook him in a matter of days. I knew it was time -- whether I was ready to let go or not. All the "life" was out of him. We took pictures, let him know how much we loved him and told him all the things we wanted him to know and remember. With his head on my arm and my hand on his heart, I held him until the end and then some.
I have pictures of him all over the house and that is where they will stay. When everything else in my world was upside down, he was always there for me. He was my security blanket. Whenever I was sick, he would lay with me on the couch (my constant companion), and this helped nurse me back to health more than anything.
I owe Jake so much, as I do all the other fosters I've taken in over the years. Jake was my encouragement to continue fostering, and still is. He was a favorite of everyone and will always be alive and healthy in our hearts. I love and miss him so very much.
Debbie Lon and family
LSBR Archive - 2004
It is with great sadness that I write to you today to let you know that Jake is no longer with us. After the vet put him down, she performed a very minor necropsy to see exactly what was going on and she found that he had colon cancer. Jake held on as long as he could and here we thought it would be his heart to give out and in the end it was cancer. We are now at peace to know that Jake is no longer in pain and is in great company with my parents and all of the other great dogs in heaven!! I look forward to meeting up with him someday. Thank you again for sharing with us such a majestic, talkative and AMAZINGLY, LOYAL, LOVING dog! He truly was one in a million and will always be remembered fondly in our hearts!! The Mohr Family
I met Jake over eight years ago when I rescued him from a family temporarily taking care of him. Jake, about one year old, had been shot in the right leg and was literally skin and bones when I took him home. He had been rescued by the very kind family only a few days prior. All they knew was that Jake was a very loving companion and could eat twice his weight in dog food, every day. That great day I had called around and set out to rescue a Boxer. As far as I am concerned Boxers are the best breed on earth! Consequently, I had interviewed seven other potential Boxer rescues that day and was torn as to which one to take home with me. I was very close to choosing a younger .puppy., but hesitated, so I moved on to my final interview of the day. Unfortunately, when I called Jake.s owners there was no answer. It was late and well after 9:00PM. I felt sure that I would not meet the dog they were sheltering. About ten minutes later, they family called back and said that they were up and could introduce me to Jake that night.
That is when it happened! Of all the seven other dogs I had met that day, Jake looked into my eyes and .we. both knew we were meant for each other. I played with him, tested him, for everything suggested by the manuals, if adopting a new adult dog. Would he let you touch him, his face, mouth and does he seem like he is looking and listening to you for direction, really was he also looking in his case for his new master? Jake passed every test looked to me for our next step. That step was the best decision I have ever made in bringing .Jake. that night to his new loving home. With basic obedience training I held every after noon for the first few weeks. Jake passed with high marks. He always wanted to please, and how he could do just that was always on his mind! Jake was part of my family from the start, in sleeping by our bed, every night to actively participating in all BBQ's or even lounging in back of my kayak, while I was vigorously paddling in the river, lake or in the Gulf of Mexico. Jake was always a part of our family activities and that is what he and all dogs truly want and need to flourish. They want to be a part of the family or included in the .pack. and what is going on! When my son James was born, Jake just naturally stopped sleeping by our bed, and moved into my son James room and slept there, always loving him and protecting him.
Yesterday, 9/02/05 we had to put Jake down, after a diagnosis and treatment of a very quick and virulent battle with cancerous tumors in both atriums of his heart. Jake never missed a scheduled visit with the Vet as we had removed a number of subcutaneous mass cell tumors common to Boxers and kept him up on all scheduled visits, shots and heartworm treatment. This cancer was not picked up with routine any of these veterinary exams. Unfortunately, by the time the Cardiologist took the CV Cat Scan, he determined that the tumors were inoperable. Jake at best had only a few weeks at to live!
Today I rescued my next wonderful Boxer at Lonestar Boxer Rescue, and named her Peanut. She is not being rescued to replace Jake, but to give another wonderful Boxer in need, a good loving home, and begin another wonderful and amazing time spent with such a special and loyal companion. If Jake had met Peanut, I know he would approve, as he knows oh so well, that all Peanut needed, was a Second Chance!
Sincerely, Joe Clinton Winter
LSBR Archive - 2005
Jefferson, a veteran with LSBR crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, July 21, 2008. Jefferson will be greatly missed by all. Chad, his foster Dad provided him with the unconditional love, attention, and sociability he deserved over these past couple of years. God Speed, Jefferson!
With tears in my eyes, I am writing that my Jersey Belle is gone. We adopted Jersey in May 2005, I was on a business trip to New Jersey when my daughter, a Vet student at Texas A&M said she found my boxer. When she told me her named, Jersey, I knew it was fate. She was the most loving, loyal sweetest dog ever! In September 2012, we made our usually road trip to Dallas to visit our daughter and to get Jersey a check-up. Unfortunately, She diagnosed her with a tumor on her heart, with tears in her eyes she gave her 1 year to 18 months. Being a 2 time cancer survivor myself, my heart kept saying I beat it, so can my Jersey, but it wasn't to be. 14 months later---- On Nov 4th 2013 we made that long trip to Dallas, I was confused on what the vet here in Houston was saying and I needed to hear it from our daughter who loved my Jersey as much as me. Even thought she was in pain and couldn't hold food on her stomach, she still wanted to go on her long walk and kept wagging that precious nubby tail on her last day. I couldn't understand how as bad as those X-rays looked and how big that tumor had become, how she keep on. My daughter told me Jersey would alway do what pleased us. She loved us. With much sadness, we had to let her go. How I miss my evening with you sitting in my lap to watch evening T.V. Your wonderful welcomes home from work everyday. And my husband misses his walking buddy along the bayou. Racing down the stairs every morning. Most of all those beautiful Jersey cow eyes that could talked to you. Thank you LSBR for my Jersey-Belle, we will miss her Tearfully, Harold and Micky Speed Dr. Rachel Speed DVM
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