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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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
After seeing him on the LSBR website, we arranged with Sharon to adopt Rocky (formerly Frankie) in August 2001. We drove 4 1/2 hours from the Rio Grande Valley and met Sharon in Victoria. From the very beginning, he was a wonderful addition to our family. Terrific with the kids, a faithful companion to my wife and me, Rocky loved our home here in deep South Texas, and we loved him. He was funny, loving, faithful, obedient, playful, protective, and a member of the family.
Sadly, Rocky passed suddenly and quietly in his sleep on September 20. He was all a "man's best friend" could be, and I mss him. Attached is a picture of him and me in a favorite pose on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Thank you, Sharon and LSBR for Rocky. Though he can never be replaced in our hearts, you've shown us what wonderful companions boxers are and we will get another.
Adam Hutchison
LSBR Archive - 2007
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
Rookie was our first boxer, raised from a pup to a good citizen. His happy dance was called the "helicopter" because he would bounce around in circles as soon as we got home. Rookie was a proud handsome dog who loved playing in the surf. At age 4, he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and died a month later after many treatments and care. We all miss him dearly, including his grieving boxer widow, Gypsy.
Kasie Connor
LSBR Archive - 2005
Rosie (the little girl on the left) was my first boxer. She was truly an angel in a dog suit. EVERYONE who stayed with me (dog lover or not) would leave saying "Can I take Rosie with me". She moved across country with me, and was better than prozac could ever be when I spent a year studying in Brooklyn with no close friends or family. Just before we left Brooklyn we adopted Mickey (the big girl on the right) from a family that couldn't keep her anymore. Rosie was a little alpha spitfire, and Mickey was a big goofy beta - I couldn't have had a luckier match. Last year, Rosie at 13 just got terribly sick and crossed the Rainbow Bridge within two weeks. Last month (Sept 2003) Mickey - who had be successfully beating a cancer in her mouth for three years, lost the battle and joined Rosie. I miss them both terribly. I have two beautiful young un's from LSBR (Harry Potter and Selena), but I truly miss my old ladies.
LSBR Archive - 2003
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