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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On May 6, 2010, Bosco will be euthanized for a variety of medical problems and just plain old age. We have watched him struggle for several months, and seen the quality of his life go down, and we just decided it had to be done to end his suffering. I honestly don't remember when we adopted Bosco, but it was a lot of years ago. We had just lost Fritz, who was our first rescue Boxer, to cancer, and our other LSBR dog, Ginger, was not coping with Fritz's loss very well. I have had a pair of Boxers almost all of my life - over 6 decades - and so we decided to replace Fritz, to provide Ginger with companionship. Bosco was unusual for us because he had not been abused that we know of. A guy got him for his girlfriend, and then they split up so he didn't want the dog, so he left it with his elderly parents (apparently older than we are!) and they couldn't cope with a rambunctious dog, so they got LSBR to help place him in a better home. And so he came to North Texas and has lived the life of a King ever since. Bosco was probably a California Surfer in a previous life - just a laid back, easy-going, friendly, loving dude. He didn't really care if he was the alpha dog or not - he was just happy to be loved, and loved he was. He was a big old boy, even for a Boxer, but never mean, never aggressive. Just a plain joy to be around. Ginger was replaced with another LSBR female, Allie, and quite frankly Allie is a Diva and I don't think she will miss Bosco for a minute. Now she will get all the attention, which is what she wants. So for the moment, we will give her that spotlight, but we will dearly miss our big ole chunk of chocolate, Bosco. And time will tell whether we get another male Boxer, but if we do, it WILL be from LSBR - you guys are the best!
Roger and Barbara Alexander Garland, Texas
Sebastian came into our lives has he was recovering from a rough beginning to life. He was also a little rough around the edges in the behavior category. With a little help from LSBR and Dean Miller we got him back on track. He became the dog every kid on our street wanted to see and every parent complemented. At the beginning we thought we were rescuing him but little did we know he was actually giving more than we could give back. Sebastian was truly a great dog, friend, and companion to all that has the pleasure of meeting him. We lost him last week after only 4 short years and we miss him dearly. Although we know he is resting peacefully we still think of him often and the corky little things he did. We miss them all. Thank you LSBR and Sebastian for all that you have done for us. Rest in peace Mr. B we love you very much.
-Jennifer and Adam Walker
“Maggie Mae showed us the exquisite sweetness of comfort; the pride and elegance of being, the power of forgiveness, and the joy of strutting your stuff.
Maggie, you are loved.”
Thanks to everyone at LSBR who helped this magnificent friend come into our lives; especially Sharon Rheitman.
Maggie is survived by myself, her other daddy--Jim, and her Uncle Rogers; and Lucy Lou, an eight year-old fancy fawn boxer.
Love your way... you are Brilliant!
Alan Davidson
This thank you is long overdue – too long, in fact. On Sunday, our family lost our sweet, sweet “Annie girl.” She was rescued about 8 years ago from LSBR and from the minute she got into the car, we knew she was special and we had no idea that all our lives would be changed forever; definitely for the better!
Annie meant so much to my two girls and to me. Over the last 8 years our lives haven’t been easy. Annie has been with us through 2 divorces and 2 marriages. While I am now in my LAST(!) marriage, my current husband came to me as a self-professed dog hater! (You know how some people just love cats…? Well, that was my husband.) He told me, “I hate dogs, and dogs hate me.” Of course, I said, “well, you are going to LOVE our Annie girl; she is the best dog EVER!” He said, “well, even if I like her, she’s not sleeping with us!” –Background, my husband and I had a long-distance relationship for years prior to getting married. –30 minutes after he was in Houston for the first time, Annie was laying in the bed with him! He said, “wow, I don’t know why but she likes me – dogs don’t ever like me!” I said, “well, that’s Annie, she can tell your are special.” From that moment on, she slept with us, every night! But, that was the thing about Annie; she didn’t just give her love to everyone. She would snap at some people who came to the door, it was almost like Annie had a sixth sense about people. Some people, Annie just didn’t like (and, those people didn’t stick around for long).
Through good times and bad, Annie was our companion and our friend. No matter what mistakes we made, she loved us. On the days we just wanted to lay in bed, eat popcorn and watch movies, she wanted to be right there with us. On the days we wanted to go for a walk around the lake, she wanted to be right there with us. One thing that we never questioned was her love for us – she loved us, we loved her, and she died with us. She died with her family around her and she went peacefully. After 8 years of unconditional love from her, that is what she deserved. She didn’t deserve the life she had before us – the life before LSBR. Annie was lucky that LSBR found her and we were extremely lucky that LSBR came into our life; and picked Annie to be with us.
We will forever miss the jingle of her “bling” when we walked in the door and she greeted us. She loved her “bling” with her heart name tag and lifetime rabies license – she absolutely love it. When she didn’t have it on and you would jingle it, she would come running to find you and you would swear she was smiling a Boxer grin! It’s almost like she needed it and us to feel complete!
Annie gave us an unconditional love we could never have imagined and can never be replaced. It is in her memory that I write this letter. Thank you LSBR for what did for us 8 years ago and for what you continue to do for all Boxers and their forever families!
Sincerely,
Julie
Hope came to me after Ike after being found in a ditch. She loved everyone and everything - sweet, congenial, loving, laid back, anything goes - never had an "off'" day.
- Debbie Lon
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