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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4 years ago I visited Tracy (Tulsa Boxer Rescue) at her home to meet a Boxer she had called Wrigley. He was 25 pounds, 2 years old and had a bad case of mange. I adopted him anyway. I had him for 4 great years and believe I gave him a great life (he made mine greater). Regardless of how much I gave him, he gave more. Sadly, Bogey passed away today due to a heart attack. He had been diagnosed with a heart murmur, then heart failure a month and a half ago. Rescuing him and providing the life I did for him was easily the most rewarding thing I have done. Bogey had a significant impact upon everyone who ever met him. He is and always will be missed by all, but fondly remembered as well. - Brian P. Hatcher -
6 years ago, I received a call from my veterinarian, a white boxer had been abandoned at his clinic with a broken leg, he suspects from a beating. He was unable to set the leg, but referred the clients to another veterinarian. 3 months went by, they did not pick up their dog. I went to the clinic, took one look and fell in love with her. I did however have a houseful of dogs, so decided she would be better placed with a boxer rescue in Houston. The arrangements had been made for 1 week. In the course of that week, my daughter, my husband and I all fell head over heals for Fluke.. she could NOT go to boxer rescue, she was a part of our family now. Fluke had to be treated for heartworms, she had to be spayed, she had been used a puppy mill. After all this was taken care of the vet had said in order to fix the broken leg, he could only at this time do an amputation. I made the arrangements for this procedure and she started using the leg. The vet refused to do the amputation. She had a limp, but could run like the wind. Over the course of the years, Fluke was always by my side, helping care for orphan pups and kittens being brought in. Every where I went, Fluke went to.She was my shadow, sidekick, best friend. She had the most gorgeous crystal blue eyes you've ever seen. She had such comedic ways about her, every one loved Flukey. Last April 2006 she woke up and was falling down, stumbling. We joked with her, that she had better stay away from the liquor cabinet. I actually thought she may have had a stroke as the day went on and her condition worsened. If only that had been the case. Fluke was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Needless to say I was grief stricken. I took her to Gulf Coast Veterinary Clinic in Houston. Her oncologist, Dr. Glen King is WONDERFUL. ( He called her the " Kid" ) Fluke immediately started radiation therapy, 21 total. I had my Flukey back!! She was home, running and playing in the yard, aggravating what ever dog in the house she could, just being her old self again. She continued receiving accupuncture and chinese herbals from Dr Harris at GCVS. In April 2007, we had another CT scan of the tumor ran to make sure all was still going well a year later. The scan showed the tumor had shrank somewhat, but the mass was less defined. Dr King was very pleased. . Sadly, Fluke took ill again in June, vomiting for unknown reasons. After many trips to ER Vet and her own vet, she was diagnosed with Mega Esophagus, in the course of that, the brain tumor reared its ugly head again. She was in and out of the vet clinic and had started radiation treatments again. She fought very hard to be strong and keep living, and I fought right along with her. Despite all the love and care from ALL her docs, the staffs, and us, Flukey just could not fight any longer. She went to Heaven on July 18, 2007. We will all miss her til our dying days. Rest In Peace My Gorgeous Girl, I love you.
Lucius Clay lived to love. He loved his mommy. He loved his sister, LSBR's Olivia. He loved all other dogs, plus cats, squirrels, birds, bunnies and horses -- especially his friends at HPD mounted patrol. Plus he loved all humans. In fact, he loved anyone he laid his eyes on. He also loved to play -- which for him meant either keep-away or chewing/tearing apart toys, balls, leashes, sticks, cardboard boxes. He never touched what didn't belong to him, though. Another thing Lucius loved was food. He never turned down a treat. And he loved to walk and walk and walk and walk -- up to four hours, without flagging. He covered lots of territory, and knew all the neighborhoods in and around Tanglewood. He loved his air-conditioned/heated cedar doghouse, where he slept off his walks. And he loved to listen to comforting hymns and prayers. Lucius always was and always will be a good dog! He will always be mommy's "Big Beautiful Baby Boxer Boy." I thank God for the privilege of loving and being loved by Lucius. ~ Lovingly, Mommy
Sammy was an exceptional Boxer. Our favorite memory of Sammy was at bedtime. He would dance like a whirling Dervish near the cabinet where the dog cookies were kept. He then would run full throttle into his crate, eating the cookie and promptly going to sleep. We loved our “talk” session. All you had to do was give him a rub behind his ears and neck. He would love you back with the most bizarre high and low pitched moaning, then give you “kiss” licks. Sammy could be ferocious when it came to cats and green frogs. Within seconds he could be across our acre after a cat, which he finally learned to leave alone. He promptly disposed of green fogs stuck to the side of the house by squashing them with his nose. When he did not like a command or something you did, he would sit and look at you turning his head back and forth, all the while keeping you in sight. He was always curious about what we were doing. It was a joy to watch him prance with both ears up and head held high as he set out to investigate his world. We miss his active participation and companionship that he brought into our lives. James and Pat Abney
Sweet Macy. You won our hearts! You were by far the best foster we ever had. We will always miss you! Kent, Ariann, Ethan, Wyatt, Bear, Tegan & Nadia
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