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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Hope came to me after Ike after being found in a ditch. She loved everyone and everything - sweet, congenial, loving, laid back, anything goes - never had an "off'" day.
- Debbie Lon
It is with tears in my eyes that I am letting you know that Houston has gone to the bridge. Two weeks ago this past Wednesday, a female we were fostering had to be put down because of violent seizures and assumed brain death. She had just weaned 7 puppies and had formed a special bond with Houston while she was with us. After she was put down, Houston would search the house for her, and would frequently check in on the puppies. Thursday we thought he was fine, he ate well, and played with our son and other foster boxer Libby. Friday morning we got up and found that he had gone to the bridge during the night. There was no signs of sudden illness, or trauma. He looked like he was asleep. The only thing we noticed different, was that he was in the living room and he always slept in our bedroom. The vet said he may have had a undiagnosed cardiomyopathy and threw a clot. I know that was possible. We think he died of a broken heart.
I want to thank your group for giving us Houston, even though the time was so short. Please know that he was well loved and is greatly missed. Because we were so blessed with Houston, we now foster for Legacy. We have successfully placed 2 dogs in forever homes, have one 2-3 year old and a 12 wk old boxer mix puppy still in foster.....
We will miss Houston forever.
- Jay and Sandi Walters
Hutch was a man among men who once saved 14 orphans from a burning building immediately following his 3rd running of the Kona Iron Man. Okay, not really; however, he was one incredible dog. We adopted Hutch in December of 05 and had the pleasure of his envious laid back presence for 5 1/2 years, until he passed away this last June. I would like to tell you an awesome tale of him dying from a failed parachute jump over Vietnam, but alas, it was cancer that took my buddy. Nonetheless, it wasn't before he chalked up 5 years of being the best shotgun riding, cupcake stealing, deadly gas passing, stranger intimidating, drooling, kid protecting, snoring, underwater swimming, staring contest winning beast of goodness ever to slowly saunter the earth. We miss you buddy. Sophie is still mad you haven't come home yet!
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