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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Thomas was found wandering the streets starving and riddled with tumors. After some wonderful vet care and lovng tlc from his foster momma he became a wonderful happy boy. While not sure how old he was, it was obvious he had lived a long hard boxer life already. He managed to steal the heart of every person he met, with those gorgeous soulful eyes and that boxer grin he touched everyone. He learned to love life and find out what it was like to be spoiled and the apple of his mommas eye. It took about 4 months to finally convince him cookies were a wonderful thing, after turning his nose up at every treat known to dog kind lol . One day he saw the cute little 3 legged boxer on face book over my shoulder and fell head over heels in love with little Laila Ali a rescue boxer from a puppy mill in North Carolina. Over the year they shared many videos and he got to meet many awesome peole from across the country online. I think he had more face book friends than I did if truth be known. While I became a foster failure on my first try with Lone Star, I would never have wanted to miss this year with my boy for anything. Thanks to Lone Star , and many wonderful volunteers he was the love of my life. He crossed the bridge on June 4th in my arms with me and Abby at his side, surrounded by the love he had finally gotten to enjoy. Forever in many hearts my sweet boy until we meet again at the bridge.
Timex was a dog that anybody would have been blessed to have known. He lived only nine months, eight of which did not treat him well. He came into my life unexpectedly, but he was welcomed with an open heart. In the month that I came to know him, he was a gentle soul. Always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, standing by my side, or sitting on my toes. He loved his toys - the tennis ball was his favorite! Timex would gobble it up and sit there hoping we wouldn't find it. He enjoyed the evenings sitting next to me with his head snuggled in my lap, enjoying the cool summer breeze. Although his hard life caught up to him right before he was to be adopted, all who met him fell in love with his gentle yet strong disposition. Timex will truly be missed, for he was loved and that's more than many can say.
LSBR Archive - 2006
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
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
Tooty went to her final forever home on President’s Day 2020. She is survived by her mom, dad and Mr. Bird. We all miss her terribly since she was such a light in our lives. Miss Me but Let Me Go When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom-filled room Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little – but not too long And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me – but let me go. For this is a journey that we all must take And each must go alone. It’s all a part of the Master’s plan, A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick of heart Go to the friends we know And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me – But Let Me Go!
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