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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Lappa was the first boxer we owned together. She captured our hearts from the moment we brought her home.
She always was so loving and kinds. On her final day, when I realized how sick she was. I sat on the floor and cried. Although she obviously had a stroke during the night, she made her way over to comfort me. She was everything a good dog should be: loving, brave and loyal. We miss her constantly.
Julie, Sergio and Sparky
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
Romeo holds a very special place in the hearts of LSBR volunteers. In fact, his foster mom, Sherri, calls him her soul mate. She cared for him through some pretty tough times, but she says his spirit and love for life never waned.
We miss you, Romeo!
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
Tommy was one of LSBR's older rescues. He had several cancerous tumors and the worst case of heartworms the vet had ever seen. Even at his sickest, Tommy always had a boxer slurp and kidney bean for our volunteers.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and older
Chili had the most wonderful personality and the cutest face you could ever imagine. I got such joy from watching her bounce around and really give my horses a good talking to on a daily basis, all 35 lbs. of her! At three years old she was the tiniest little Boxer with a Heart the size of Texas. She always had a sparkle in her eye and was ready to take on anything, NO FEAR. When Chili came to us she had heartworms, a more severe case than most I've had to deal with. She came through her heartworm treatment just fine and at the advice of my vet we waited to have her spayed and give her some time after the heartworm treatment. We took her to have her spayed and when they opened her up they found a massive tumor on one of her mammary glands. They were going to send it off to be analyzed. She never woke up from her surgery. I am so sad and will miss her bubbly personality terribly. I am glad though that I had her in my life for a few wonderful months and am glad that when I left her for her surgery, I knelt down and she gave me a big slurp under the chin and as always she put those little legs on my shoulders for a little Boxer hug. Run, play and be free my little Chili!
I miss you. Sil McCall, Chili's foster mom
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
Max and Reba were our Beautiful Boxer littermates. To us, they were our children, and kept us constantly entertained with their antics. We got them when they were 6 weeks old, and even as adults, they still slept intertwined with each other. They loved each other so much, and it was so wonderful to raise them together. One of their favorite things to do was to "GO FOR A RIDE IN THE CAR." We always took them to pick up carpools or wherever we went. It became one of the highlights of their day! It's ironic that they became ill together, both with Cardiomyopathy, and died exactly 7 days apart. It was devastasting to lose them both at the same time, but also comforting to know that they were there for each other, even in death. That helped us tremendously. They will forever be in our hearts!!
Leslie Waxman
LSBR Archive - 2005 and older
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