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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Rufus was an old soul with a sweet, gentle temperament. Sometimes he reminded us of 'Eeyore' because he could look sad. Especially when he wanted you to pet him or dinner time was approaching. Or when a small child was riding on his back. We joked that he was Baptist, because anytime we started dancing or having too much fun, he would start barking. Wagging his little nub tail the whole time. He was a great friend, always there for me during the good times and bad. He will be surely missed.
The Odom Family
I wanted to contact you and let you know that you can take Baby Girl Hope off of your website. She is in dog Heaven and will be missed. On August 28, 2010, Baby Girl was euthanized for medical problems and had probably been in pain. Changes in the home had taken place and I had watched her struggle for several months to adjust and watched her health go up and down, and then she bit a friend and I had to watch her closer as my heart broke. Her behavior was probably partly due to her medical condition but I will never really know. With her ears cut back close to her head she may have been abused and used for unspeakable things but up until recently she was loving to her owners, and anyone who would love her. She was great company, never got enough attention and truly a joy to love. She had so many little things that she did to entertain and touch my heart. I promised her I would take care of her and I did what I thought was the right thing to do. She passed over the Rainbow Bridge while in the arms of someone who loved her dearly. She was not in my life for long but she taught me many things and I truly believe she came into my life for a reason. From the moment we took her off that pile of garbage and took her to our home my life was forever changed. Her unconditional love and many hilariously happy moments that she brought to me will be etched in my memories until I am able to see her again. But when I see her again she will feel no pain, no bad memories of whatever happened before we got her, just joy, and wide open spaces to be free. Boy, we are gonna have some fun.
Thank you, and Lone Star Boxer Rescue so much for having Baby Girl Hope on the website. When my heart heals a bit I may be back to the website to take another look.
Danita
This morning, with a very heavy and sad heart, I said goodbye to my sweet baby girl. She was full of cancer, loosing her strength, and would not eat. Her body, eyes, and mouth were yellow from jaundice, as the lymphoma had affected her liver. She came to BAPA in late January, 2009 with nine sweet puppies and we all fell in love at first sight. My true "foster failure" as she only came home to recover from a hard spay and go through heartworm treatment. Yea, right. That was March 18 last year and she has brought so much love and laughter to our home. She lost so much weight and was even having a hard time walking very far and would not stand for very long. She gave kisses all the way to the end and as Kim and Katie helped her to Rainbow Bridge, her little nub was wagging as she slipped away from me. She was the best gril, and I will miss her so much.
- Sarah Wright
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
In Memory of Mudge Elizabeth Ripkowski
The joys of rescue, they are so many….
Mudgie rescued us and our smiles were many,
She put up with us when our days were bad
She loved us through eyes in her heart
She reminded us once again, the real meaning of love.
Thank you for rescuing us sweet Mudge and I know you and Buddy Ray will be there waiting for your “Daddy Man” and I when our time on earth is done.
Sweet Mudge Elizabeth Ripkowski, “Mudgie Pudge” rescued us when her previous owners decided she wasn’t worthy of their family any longer when their neighbors cat got in the yard and she decided it shouldn’t be. Of course, we weren’t happy that happened, but it did. We all make mistakes… She was so frightened & lonely after her family dumped her and “no longer had time for her anyway with the kids ball games and all” that she became an instant “foster failure” and a permanent member of the Ripkowski family. Six years and many happy memories later, our sweet girl crossed over the rainbow bridge to be with her canine brother, Buddy Ray. When she became a part of our family, we promised her she would always be with us and we would always be with her. That promise was kept and she passed over the Rainbow Bridge with her head on her very own pillow, covered with her blanket, her mommy lying with her in her arms, her daddy with his arms around her and her 4 legged brother Skip lying with his paws over her licking her face at 9:30 PM, April 9, 2010.
Wait for us sweet angel girl, when God decides that enough puppies have fostered us, and our time on earth is done, we will all be together again, in Heaven….
Charles, Peggye, and Skipper Ripkowski
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