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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A donation to Lone Star Boxer Rescue and this memorial were submitted in loving memory of Ginger, who crossed over to the rainbow bridge on Sept. 17, 2002.
My days are so lonely without you. No more kisses, one hundred at a time. No more butt wiggling when I get home. You blessed me with your unwavering devotion for almost 10 years.
From your mischief filled puppy-hood to your gray-haired last days, I could not have loved you more. I know you felt the same. Although I often cry, I can't help but smile and laugh when I think of the things that made you so special. The way you howled when I came home. The way you would roll and scratch your back when you were happy. Your facial expressions when you heard a familiar word or phrase. The way you would paw at me if I didn't share my food. But most of all the way you always had to be near me. I still catch my self looking for you and wondering what your doing. I always knew the day would come but I never imagined it would be this hard. Please forgive me if I held on too long. You were my heart and soul.
I know you are looking after your bubba at the rainbow bridge. Daddy will be home soon.
Steven and Julie Smith
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
We don't know much about Cooper, but what we do know is that he was a sweet, loving boxer who was delight to be with in the few weeks he was in our program. Cooper came to us with a degenerative disease that affected his leg and spine. He was in a tremendous amount of pain, and had to be euthenized. Those of us who met this gentle 5-year-old soul are delighted that he entered our lives, even if only for a short period of time.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
Rocky
Lone Star Boxer Rescue gratefully acknowledges a gift made in memory of Rocky, a proud boxer who was rescued from a shelter. He was deeply loved and will be missed by his friend and rescuer, Max Adams.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
Lone Star Boxer Rescue gratefully acknowledges a gift made in memory of Rocky, a proud boxer who was rescued from a shelter. He was deeply loved and will be missed by his friend and rescuer, Max Adams.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
I knew that Tookie was meant to be our girl from the moment I picker her up. I brought her home when she was 6 weeks old as a birthday present for my husband. I never wanted a boxer, but fell completely in love with her the moment I met her.
Tookie was our sunshine. She always was there with her sweet face to make us feel better when we needed her. She was an exceptional girl. We have so many wonderful memories of her. From her 360-degree turns she make when she was excited to her race-car track turns she would make in the backyard when the weather turned cool to her hugs, kisses and burps in the face!
We had to put our sweet girl to sleep on March 27, 2002, just 21 days before her 10th birthday. She had cancer that had spread and was in enough pain that we could not let her suffer anymore.
Words can never express how much we loved Tookie. What a tremendous void there is now that she is gone, but we eternally are grateful for the 10 years she was a part of our lives and family.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
To Draco: Baby boy you will always be in our hearts and minds. Part of us has gone with you. Till we meet again, be good and take care of yourself. Love you, dear son.
Draco was adopted from Lone Star Boxer Rescue on the Aug. 26, 2000.
He entered our lives and changed it completely. He gave us unconditional love and happiness. Draco's skin sister was born in June 2001, and his world was complete.
Then, a month later Draco started showing problems. He had blood in his stool, and underwent a lot of tests. After a trip to New Orleans, Draco's condition worsened. He was throwing up constantly and was not eating. We took him to a specialist who did exploratory surgery on him on Sept. 27. He was diagnosed with a rare and fatal fungal disease called pythiosis.
Pythiosis had taken full control over his intestine and they wanted to put him to sleep. We brought him back home and started doing holistic treatment on him. He was showing slight improvement, but he had lost a lot of weight and was continuously having diarrhea.
When we came back home from a trip to India, Draco looked slightly better. Our spirits were high and we thought Draco was on his way recovery. From Dec. 31 when we returned until Jan. 27, 2002, (four months from the day of surgery) Draco was doing well.
On the evening of Jan. 27, however, he stopped eating, and began drooling and panting. We thought he was sick and next day planned to talk to the vet and make him better, but later that night, he woke me up to go out.
The last time he woke up, he stood on the porch, looked up at the sky and sniffed the night air. It was 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., I heard woo-woo cry and rushed to him. While I cradled his head on my lap, he passed away. He was only 3 years old.
For one year and five months, Draco gave us sheer joy. He is so loved and his absence has been so hard for us to accept.
Babu, Juno and Royina
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlierClick a letter to find an animal or view all.
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