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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Our precious girl Finley crossed the rainbow bridge on March 15, 2012. We were blessed to spend 6 ½ short but wonderful years with her. Our time with her started as “foster failures” because we fell in love with her and couldn’t give her up. She made us smile and laugh with her antics even when we were having a horrible day. She thought everything was a wonderful fun game – chasing the vacuum cleaner, playing with her toys, chewing up expensive text books, chewing up Christmas ornaments hung on the bottom of the tree, disassembling the Christmas tree skirt, opening Christmas presents left under the tree… Finley had a fascination with everything new – each day was a day to see something new and exciting. She had a true joie de vivre and it was contagious. She would race to the window when she heard the garage door to see if it was true – are they home? She would bark with excitement!! – Hooray for a walk! Hooray for treats!! Hooray mom and dad are home!! She was an “all natural” boxer with floppy ears and a tail. She would wear her heart on her shoulder with that tail which was a window into her sweet soul. She, like any boxer, would do the “boxer” wiggle and would turn her butt to the side so much that she hit herself in the face with her tail. She was also a professional drooler – we still find her drool in our car, on our walls – a happy reminder of our girl. She holds a special place in our hearts and is with our friend Chance now waiting on the other side of the rainbow bridge for us to arrive. We miss you!
- Holly, Jerimy and Onyx
We only knew you a short time but you were loved! LSBR Volunteers
Rueger Adopted 6-4-2011 Crossed the bridge 3-2-2012 Our dear sweet Rueger: You will absolutely be missed. You were loved as much as any human member of our family. It was such a blessing to have had you in our lives; although it was for too short of a time.You loved going on car rides, especially those with no destination other than to make you happy. You lit up when we would take you on long trips with us. You snored like your daddy, I sometimes couldn’t tell if it was you or him it was so loud and cute. I will miss you waiting at the door for me everyday with a toy from your box ready to play. Long walks were also one of your favorite things to do, you loved to know your surroundings and being outside. You loved the times you were able to go back and visit your Vicki and knew how much she loved you too. You showed us how you could love and protect us without wanting anything in return. You even defied odds and proved that you could behappy sharing your home with another dog who was in need. The short time we hadwith you was a true blessing and you have inspired us all. You will be missedand we know you are chasing that big cat in the sky. Someday we will meet againsweet boy. Shannon and Brian Everitt
6/28/2008 (adopted) – 1/25/2012 (left for Rainbow Bridge)
Our Xena came to live with us after being rescued from someone’s back yard. Apparently they fed her if they thought about it so she was a skeleton with skin and demadex mange. She had no friends on this planet and did not know what to expect.
She was so afraid that she would not even go into the kitchen for a drink of water. When she was given food she was afraid of the thing that came with it (the bowl) and would try to dump it on the floor because that was how she ate.
The first night was spent on a leash because it was the only way to stop her from slamming into the sliding glass doors. After all, her home was outside in the rain and thunder. She just knew she was going to be in trouble for being inside where there was a warm and dry bed for her.
There were these things all over that squeaked when you stepped on them but she was afraid to touch them. Then Beauty (our bull boxer) came over and picked it up, shook it and then put it down in front of her. Xena began to relax.
She learned how to go up and down the stairs that took her to a nice yard with balls and rattles to chase. She loved running with Beauty and Ben. Ben would try his best to catch her and succeeded when he took the short cut!
Xena was not in the best of health because she was not fed during her puppy years (months for us). She had a few issues but she learned what love was. She loved us and we loved her.
It was hard to let her go because she was so young and still small, she did not grow as big as most boxers because of her not so good start, but her soul was bigger than the grand canyon with all the love she had to share.
She will be missed in so many ways, but it is good to know that she is waiting with Ben at the bridge for me.
We miss you: Bertha, Gail and Bobbie
My sweet baby boy, my boy Val. I loved you so much. I remember the day I met you. Miss Ann brought you to the house to meet us after she had picked you up from a shelter in Dallas. A shelter worker there saw something in you, saw something in your eyes I suspect, that revealed what was inside of you. A sweet, tender, gentle boy that just needed someone to keep him safe. You had been through so much already at the hands of humans who didn't love or care for you but you were still brave enough to trust this kind lady. And then Miss Ann and then me. You gave us all a run for our money, bit everyone at the vet clinic you could get to that first night. Sorry Dr. Sartor! But over time, with a little love and basket of you own toys - FINALLY your very own toys! - you came around. You soldiered through your heartworm treatment and all the little surgeries to remove growths from your skin. Getting braver and braver every vet visit. Eventually Dr. Sartor declared you "the most reformed dog at the clinic". Good boy Vallie! I remember meeting Ann and Chloe at the the clinic to pick you up and bring you home like it was yesterday. We drove down Champion Forest Drive with you in the passenger seat beside me and I watched you the whole way home. Watched your sweet face, your turned up little nose and your torn ear and thought how lucky I was to have you. From that night on you slept beside me, every night, pressed against me until morning. You were MY dog. I was YOUR person. Right from the start. You delighted everyone in the house with all your bouncing up and down, just like a pogo stick. A bouncy, bouncy, boy just like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh! You claimed the leopard print loveseat in the living room as yours right away. Napping there everyday with one white leg ALWAYS hanging off the edge. You never did quite make the grade as "dog park material" but never mind, you found your first and very best friend in a dog named Hank. He taught you how to play, just like a regular dog. Playing pull and chase and the perennial favorite "bite your face". I never could understand that one but you guys loved it. Teeth clacking together, tails wagging, heads and ears COVERED with slobber. That might be the thing I'm happiest for you about, that you found a friend, a real true dog friend. I grieve for Hank too today. I wish I could explain to him what happened, that you didn't leave on purpose. That your heart just couldn't work anymore. That we had to make one more trip to the clinic, with you right next to me in the passenger seat. It was a beautiful day and we opened the sunroof and rolled down the windows and listened to music on the radio. And we sang our favorite song, the one we always hummed on walks. The one about "the little houses all made out of ticky tacky with the people that were all the same". And I would tell you "but not you Vallie. Not you. There's never been a dog like you! You're such a special, good boy and I love you so much!" I whispered that in your little torn ear when Dr. Sartor was helping you sleep too. I said "good boy Vallie. Good boy." Hoping that by now you had forgotten all the bad things that happened to you and only felt the good things. Felt being safe and warm and loved. I'm shedding tears as I write this now and I'm sure there will be more to come before I'm through. But when I am, I promise I'll pick myself up and with Miss Ann's help I'll find another boy or girl…. or both! And I'll make sure they have everything they need. And every time I ache for you it will remind me of the ones that are still out there. I'll do my best and work as hard as I can to help them because I know that's what you would want me to do. After all the love and loyalty you gave me it's the least I can do. I will miss you forever my sweet boy. Love, Mommy
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