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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Our beloved Hamish was recently sent to heaven. Hamish was diagnosed with lymphoma in early August and after several months of various conventional and non-conventional treatments, we made the difficult realization that all of Hamish’s strength and spirit could not beat cancer. Words can not express the immense sadness, loneliness and sense of void that we feel, but we take comfort in knowing that so many people have special memories of Hamish. From the many beds he “ate”, his favorite toy flamingo and fox, his love of all things meat, the joy of licking the ice cream bowl, whining for walks, his donkey bounce, sitting in his favorite chair on top of anyone who sat there, his love of car rides and dislike of motorcycles whizzing by, his visit to Santa Claus, his attempt at the Mutt Strut, and various other adventures, Hamish had a personality as big as his love for steak.
Hamish was a rescue dog who was initially saved by the good people at Lone Star Boxer Rescue. When he joined our family in 2001 he was in desperate need of love and attention and we were happy to shower him with lots of it. We may have rescued him from a lesser life, but Hamish truly rescued us and showed us that a dog can be so much more than a pet. He was our best friend and our first “baby”. He never left my side when I was pregnant with Liam and then when Liam was born he never left his side. Hamish was always very gentle and protective of Liam allowing him to pull his ears, abuse him with a toy, and give overzealous hugs. Liam loved to share his meals with Hamish and Hamish was always there to give Liam lots of kisses.
Hamish was an amazing dog who lived an amazing life.
It is with a sad heavy heart, and many many tears that I am writing this to inform you that Missy, who we later named Harley passed away this morning from Pneumonia. We noticed her having difficulty breathing Saturday morning and she did not respond to the first two days of oral antibiotics, so she was taken back to the vet on Monday. They decided to keep her overnight, added two intravenous antibiotics as well as an IV to keep her hydrated. Despite all we tried to do, she had stopped eating yesterday afternoon and passed early this morning. She was with our family for the birth of two skin kids, a move to another state, and adding another fur baby. I'm not sure what I will do without her now stuck in a house full of males! She was a good dog and always great with the kids, and cleaning up their messes!! She protected the pecan's and acorns from any squirrel that dared enter our yard, she was a rock for our Oklahoma adopted Boxer rescue Cooper. And always loved unconditionally. Thank you for saving her, and allowing us to save her in turn. She will be greatly missed. The Shattuck Family
We adopted Harris from LSBR in 2008 when he was approximately 3 yo and loved him ever since! He was a special guy and will be sorely missed by us all. We found out in January that his lungs were full of cancerous tumors. He fought a good fight but finally succumbed to this horrible disease. Robyn & Patrick
Heidi is not a boxer, but like dogs of all kinds in the LSBR program, she deserved a chance. Sadly, Heidi suffered from multiple seizures and has crossed over the rainbow bridge; rest assured she knew love in her final days, and her caretakers will meet her at the bridge.
- Lone Star Boxer Rescue Volunteers
Honey came to us in 2001 when she was already an adult and passed away in June, 2008. Our first female, she loved watching birds and small critters. She was also particularly fond of things colored red. Honey was a faithful companion that was always by our side, especially when it thundered. --Missed by Alex R and Family
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