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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Liza chose us in May of 2012 and immediately became apart of our family. She loved her boy, Caleb, fiercely. They were always together. Liza was Caleb's security. If he was scared to go upstairs by himself, Liza went with him. She not only loved her boy, but loved everyone, like a true boxer. Anyone that met her fell in love. She was truly a very good girl. We could not have found a better match for our family. She was deaf but that never mattered. You couldn't tell. She knew when you were hurting or upset and needed more love. We hope that she knew we loved her just as much. Today we love and surrounded by her family she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. With love and broken hearts we said goodbye. The Pogue Family.
Lola came in to our lives a short 4 years ago as our first LSBR rescue pup but gave us a lifetime of joy. Her heart was so big in so many ways and finally gave out on her November 10, 2008. We will forever miss her in our laps, under our feet at the dinner table and always ready with a big wet kiss. Everyone was her friend and she will be greatly missed by her brothers as well as her neighborhood play pals big and small. We miss you our precious baby girl, until we meet again. Love Momma, Daddy, Claude & Oz
Lucius Clay lived to love. He loved his mommy. He loved his sister, LSBR's Olivia. He loved all other dogs, plus cats, squirrels, birds, bunnies and horses -- especially his friends at HPD mounted patrol. Plus he loved all humans. In fact, he loved anyone he laid his eyes on. He also loved to play -- which for him meant either keep-away or chewing/tearing apart toys, balls, leashes, sticks, cardboard boxes. He never touched what didn't belong to him, though. Another thing Lucius loved was food. He never turned down a treat. And he loved to walk and walk and walk and walk -- up to four hours, without flagging. He covered lots of territory, and knew all the neighborhoods in and around Tanglewood. He loved his air-conditioned/heated cedar doghouse, where he slept off his walks. And he loved to listen to comforting hymns and prayers. Lucius always was and always will be a good dog! He will always be mommy's "Big Beautiful Baby Boxer Boy." I thank God for the privilege of loving and being loved by Lucius. ~ Lovingly, Mommy
How little we knew of all of the love and pleasure that had just entered our life on that cold, wet and windy October night in 1996 outside a bowling alley when Lucky "found" us. My wife could just not leave her there and promised me that, if she could not find the owners in 3 weeks, I could take Lucky to the "animal shelter". I did not want a 2nd dog (we still had our 11 year old yellow Lab, Boo, and a cat named Spanky), but I agreed. However, Lucky "politicked" both Boo and me. After I tried for the 3rd time to take Lucky to the "animal shelter", I crumbled and succumbed to her charms. Even though it has been 16 days since we had to put her down after her 4th stroke, and we have now had Walker (from LSBR) with us for 6 days, it still hurts for us to think about being without Lucky. I cannot stop crying as I write this. She made me a better owner, and Walker and all other predecessors will be the recipient of a better "daddy" because of Lucky. Lucky was about 2 years old when she found us, and she was about 10 years old when she left. Knowing what I now know about Boxers, I knew my wife and I had to "get back on the bicycle" and find another sweet companion to share our lives. I cannot think of a better tribute to Lucky or of our love for her, but to get another Boxer.
She had her first stroke episode over Labor Day weekend and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th followed until just recently. She never stopped wanting to be near us, nor did her little "stub" of a tail stop wiggling. She would recover from each stoke as best she could and never ask for anything else but love and companionship (well, food too). I lost my job of 15 years in late July and it was tough at first. Shortly thereafter Lucky sensed my needs, and one night she crawled up onto my bed (we had never allowed her to get on the bed or couch), and I could never again tell her not to join me in sleep. She really helped me through a very tough and emotional time.
I will miss my "little girl" and I now choose to believe in the Rainbow Bridge. Except for a chance meeting, I would never have spent 8 years with the most wonderful dog I have ever known. Her name was Lucky, but we were the lucky ones.
LSBR Archive - 2005
We adopted Luke over 4yrs ago. I just wanted to let everyone know that Luke has passed away. We received the very sad news that he had cancer a few months ago and he passed away on Monday. Thank you and everyone at Lonestar Boxer Rescue for bringing Luke and Rudy into our lives. We loved them sooo much. We hope to adopt another boxer in the near future.
The Willoughby Family
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