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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Mikki (aka Nickel) Our beautiful, loving Boxer girl transitioned from earth on January 16 2016. Mikki came from LSBR to join our family and live with us in January 2008 after she had two unsuccessful attempts at finding forever homes since her birth in 2005. From the moment we first met her we knew she was a very special girl - - happy, playful and eager to please. With a little professional training she became a perfect lady. She wiggled and loved being petted by total strangers and she was a perfect ambassador for the boxer breed. She also got to travel all over the country! Fun places like South Padre Island, TX where she loved splashing around in the water, Orlando, FL where she would visit family, and Palm Springs, CA where her favorite sunbathing spot is located. Despite being diagnosed with significant arrhythmia last year, her medication seemed to be keeping it in check and Mikki was her usual happy playful loving self right up through when she went to bed Friday night. She was sleeping on the bed with her LSBR brother Boris and was near the humans she loved when her struggling heart gave out. She peacefully passed away while sleeping. Mikki leaves behind her LSBR brother ‘Boris’, her two loving Dads and many friends and family around the country who love her very much. Mikki joins her other LSBR brother ‘Baxter’ (aka Chaucer) who crossed the rainbow bridge in May 2013 after 13 years on earth.
Minnie, one of Libby's pups, has passed away. She did not live long but she was safe and loved while she was with us.
Mollie, one of Libby's pups, has passed away. She did not live long but she was safe and loved while she was with us.
Monk Our family is mourning the loss of our beloved Boxer, Monk. He passed away early Saturday morning 6 January 2007 and we are devastated by the loss. He was 75 pounds, and he was a stately, handsome, clever animal with an equally remarkable bark. He was just a "big baby" and lap dog who needed the love and attention we gave him. He is still all over in our home but he is not with us. How do you repair a heart with a hole so large? I do not think that we will ever get over losing him, but we are happy that we had the honor of having him in our lives. He touched us in a special way.
LSBR Archive - 2007
Dear LSBR, It’s with a heavy and bittersweet and loving heart that I’m here to say I lost my first LSBR adopted pup, Moose, after nearly 8 amazing years. He was, as everyone nicknamed him, The World’s Greatest Dog. He was my very best friend and became the absolute best brother to my second LSBR adoptee last August, Blue. He is leaving a huge hole behind, and he’s also left us with full hearts and memories, and I am so thankful. I may have rescued Moose on paper, but boy did he rescue me and everybody else in love and spunk and then some! Happy to have loved him, and so grateful for LSBR and the amazing work y’all do for the Boxer community. Looking forward to Blue’s next sibling sometime in the future.
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