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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I just wanted to let you and everyone at LSBR know that Chance passed away yesterday. We miss him so very much! We found out that he had an enlarged heart a while back, but he never showed any signs of this being a problem. It was just a regular day,nothing wrong. My sister came over and Chance greeted her at the door. She was saying hello to him as she made her way to the living room. He rolled on his back,as if he were scratching it and then started shaking like he was having a seizure. Then he rolled to his side,taking his last breath. There wasn't any thing I could do,he was gone. It all happened so fast. I took him to the vet and she said it sounded like a heart attack. They say we rescued him...but in a way, I think he rescued us.
LSBR THANK YOU for giving us the chance to love him, thank you for Chance
WE LOVE YOU CHANCIE BOY! YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!
FOR EVER GRATEFUL,
CHRISTI FISHER
Sadly, Sherlock, a senior boxer rescued from the SPCA a few weeks ago, passed tonight at the vet clinic where he was being boarded. His heart stopped likely due to a heartworm breaking off. The vet did all she could to save him. Thankfully, he knew love and kindness during the final weeks of his life. Goodbye Big Boy!
Please say a prayer for Sherlock as he crosses the Bridge to his "forever" home.
Story was a precious yet pitiful little girl that was not yet a year old. She was dumped at a shelter with severe Demodex, terrified, shivering, and in need of immediate vet care. Even though it hurt her to move she would walk up and ask for love. Unfortunately Story’s little body and immune system was too weak to fight all that she had going on. In the short time we had her, Story knew what it was like to be loved, cared for, worried over, and safe even if for a short time. The day I decided that Story would permanently live with me someone else had plans for her.
Story passed over Rainbow Bridge and was adopted by God on January 30, 2009. She is now the happy care-free puppy she was meant to be.
Story - Mommy and Daddy love you, miss you and will never forget you!
Alicia & Terry
Precious Phoenix was rescued by LSBR from a life of a puppy mill mom. Only with us a short period of time but in our hearts forever.
I met Phoenix at 7:30 at night. A beautiful face for such a dog that was suppose to be 10 years old. Her fur was soft and she came right to me. She wanted to be lifted in the car. That's ok, I guess we all want to be spoiled.
It was a four hour drive back home but she kept me company on the console of the car and kept the right side of my face moist and sweet with all the kisses. We shared a grilled chicken salad on the way. She got the chicken. And boy was she hungry!
I took her home to Debbie at about 11:00 p.m. Debbie in your pj's kept a light on for us and let us into your boxer haven. It was hard to leave her but knew she was where she needed to be.
We only had her for a few days. Her hard life caught up with her. Debbie was with her the whole time to let her know she was loved.
Someone told me today not to be sad. He said I took joy in giving to my animals and relieving their pain and suffering. He said Phoenix took joy in being with us. While it is hard not to be sad, it is a part of life and better to help a little than not at all.
Phoenix, you are loved and missed.
-Grandma Mary
What can I say to each one of you but thank you so much for your kind thoughts and prayers for Mac. Most of you [at LSBR] I do not know but I do know Boxer owners are amazing.
I found my baby Wednesday afternoon and after 3 nights at Gulf Coast Hospital (collapsed lung) they sent him home with me Saturday to keep him comfortable for his upcoming hip surgery yesterday, sadly he passed away on the operating table. His little body just could not take all the trauma.
He was a loving, sweet, gentle boy who will be deeply missed.
-Kimberley Stanley
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