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.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Click a letter to find an animal or view all.
It is with great saddness we announce that our beloved DOG passed away this past Thanksgiving holiday. It was love at first sight and DOG (pronounced DeeOhhGee) very quickly became a constant companion and cherished part of our lives. He will be forever loved and missed.
January 2001 – October 27, 2009
Abbey joined our family in July 2001 when she was approximately 6 ½ months old. We adopted her through Lone Star Boxer Rescue (Houston). We want to especially thank Sharon for mentioning Abbey to us as she was a perfect addition to our family!
Abbey was an exceptional dog--really more like a person. She brought many years of joy to our lives. Abbey has crossed the rainbow bridge is now gone and will be missed forever. She has certainly left her paw prints all over our hearts!
Abbey was diagnosed with Spleen Cancer on October 20, 2009. She had an enlarged heart along with fluid in her lungs. Abbey’s days of suffering were short as she passed away in her sleep the morning of October 27, 2009…just one week later. We gave her unconditional love up until the day she passed away!
We know that our special pets are extraordinary gifts that we believe are given only to those of us who can truly appreciate them and hold them close to our hearts. Abbey was one of the special ones - friendly, loyal, a real sense of how to best own a human, courage to train that human, and a great heart. Each day was enriched just by having her near us. We know that Abbey had a good life with a couple of the best of humans she could have lived her life out with here on earth. Like all dogs, she loved unconditionally and was loved unconditionally. That's the highest any of us - human or canine - can really hope to achieve in a lifetime. God gained a beauty of a spirit and soul yesterday.
Good Bye our sweet Abbey and enjoy your times romping around with your friends in Heaven!
Hugs,
The Brasell’s (Angie, Martha & Dave)
It is with tears in my eyes that I am letting you know that Houston has gone to the bridge. Two weeks ago this past Wednesday, a female we were fostering had to be put down because of violent seizures and assumed brain death. She had just weaned 7 puppies and had formed a special bond with Houston while she was with us. After she was put down, Houston would search the house for her, and would frequently check in on the puppies. Thursday we thought he was fine, he ate well, and played with our son and other foster boxer Libby. Friday morning we got up and found that he had gone to the bridge during the night. There was no signs of sudden illness, or trauma. He looked like he was asleep. The only thing we noticed different, was that he was in the living room and he always slept in our bedroom. The vet said he may have had a undiagnosed cardiomyopathy and threw a clot. I know that was possible. We think he died of a broken heart.
I want to thank your group for giving us Houston, even though the time was so short. Please know that he was well loved and is greatly missed. Because we were so blessed with Houston, we now foster for Legacy. We have successfully placed 2 dogs in forever homes, have one 2-3 year old and a 12 wk old boxer mix puppy still in foster.....
We will miss Houston forever.
- Jay and Sandi Walters
I wanted to let you know that we had to put Mack down yesterday. He had intestional cancer. We had a large growth removed 3 weeks ago from his back leg and it was cancer. He got sick as soon as we had it removed. In 2 weeks he had lost 16lbs., could not eat, drink, etc. keeping nothing down-thankfully he weighed over 100lbs. or he would not of been able to hang on as long as he did. We were hoping he'd get better but he just got worse, we took him back to the vet and they said that he had cancer all in his intestions. We could not watch him suffer anymore. A part of our family is now gone and will be missed forever-Mack was an exceptional dog--really more like a person. I can't explain how upset we are......he was my baby. But there is Trooper to help us through this.
Trooper is doing good. He is such a good boy and VERY smart. He helps us when we start missing Mack-he could sense something was wrong yesterday-every now and then he would whine. It is so sad, I know that's life but heaven sure received a very good boy (Mack)--I know God will take care of him.
Loree & Clint Forman
I want to thank LSBR, and all the volunteers, who saved Meisha Marie 9 years ago; and thank Sharon for talking me into just coming to look at her :)
January 2007 began the worst months of my life. Meisha Marie had an episode of back pain, and had to be examined by the Neurologist I work for at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Dr. Randall Longshore. For the next 20 months he helped Meisha Marie and I stuggle against a recurrent tick borne disease that caused her spinal and nerve pain. In June 2009, she became increasingly painful and began panting, pacing, and started vomiting. She underwent a myelogram and further imaging to try to find a cause; I prayed it wasn't cancer like the Doctors suspected. Dr. Longshore and Dr. McAlister from Gulf Coast Veterinary Internal Medicine treated her again for the tick borne disease after they found no abnormalities in any of her testing. She continued to get worse, despite the medications this time, and we decided to try acupuncture as well. Dr. Harris helped make Meisha Marie comfortable and playful again for the next few months, until she became increasingly exercise intolerant. I started noticing nasal discharge, and even though she had chest radiographs and echocardiograms every 6 months, and had just had one in June, I asked to have them repeated when a mild murmur was heard during her physical exam for a high fever. The echo showed that both valves between the chambers of her heart, and the muscle of her heart itself, were in 30% failure. An EKG showed a conduction issue, along with an arrhythmia. She also had a severe UTI again, with a resistant bacteria. I couldn't help but cry when I took her for her last acupuncture visit with Dr. Harris and she told me not to worry so much about giving Meisha Marie her medications, or about the special diet for her heart. Alas, Meisha Marie had Boxer dilated cardiomyopathy and Dr. Harris expressed to me the importance of her happiness. She told me to feed her anything she wanted, let her go where she wanted nd do what she wanted, and she would let me know when the time was right. Sending her to the Rainbow Bridge was much like the day I first brought her home. A few treats (french fries, chicken which she hadn't had since she was3 because of her allergies, and an oreo McFlurry she'd always begged for) and a lot of love. I was blessed to have her in my life, and I can not thank all of the great LSBR volunteers for bringing us together.
Thank you,
Lari Brown AKA Meisha Marie's Mom
Click a letter to find an animal or view all.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z