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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His name was Moses.
His last day on earth began at BARC, and this is where he met Elizabeth, one of our LSBR angels. His leg was hurting him so badly, and she took him to the vet so his leg could be examined. Elizabeth tried to entice him with some pretzels, but his pain was so severe Moses couldn’t even think about eating.
The exam and x-rays revealed a very aggressive cancer. Things did not look good for this sweet boy, and even though we were willing to give him whatever time he had left in the world, the vet felt that he would be in too much pain to consider it “quality time”. This is always the hardest decision that our volunteers have to make, and even though we didn’t “know” Moses, this was no exception.
Luckily Moses had the opportunity to take a car ride, get lots of attention from Elizabeth, and was able to pass away peacefully in the care of the vet. And he no longer is in pain.
We want to be able to help all the boxers that cross our paths. We tried to help Moses, but in his case (due to his age, heavy heartworm status and overall bad health), the best we could offer was to simply “let him go”.
Rest in peace, sweet Moses.
1983-1999 She came into our lives as a very loving stray calico cat. She got her name from the song by the Police. Her dignity earned her the titles of Miss then (as she grew older) Mrs. Roxanne. She was our loving and brave girl who battled diabetes for several years.
The Spence Family
LSBR Archive 2002 and earlier
In Memory of Mudge Elizabeth Ripkowski
The joys of rescue, they are so many….
Mudgie rescued us and our smiles were many,
She put up with us when our days were bad
She loved us through eyes in her heart
She reminded us once again, the real meaning of love.
Thank you for rescuing us sweet Mudge and I know you and Buddy Ray will be there waiting for your “Daddy Man” and I when our time on earth is done.
Sweet Mudge Elizabeth Ripkowski, “Mudgie Pudge” rescued us when her previous owners decided she wasn’t worthy of their family any longer when their neighbors cat got in the yard and she decided it shouldn’t be. Of course, we weren’t happy that happened, but it did. We all make mistakes… She was so frightened & lonely after her family dumped her and “no longer had time for her anyway with the kids ball games and all” that she became an instant “foster failure” and a permanent member of the Ripkowski family. Six years and many happy memories later, our sweet girl crossed over the rainbow bridge to be with her canine brother, Buddy Ray. When she became a part of our family, we promised her she would always be with us and we would always be with her. That promise was kept and she passed over the Rainbow Bridge with her head on her very own pillow, covered with her blanket, her mommy lying with her in her arms, her daddy with his arms around her and her 4 legged brother Skip lying with his paws over her licking her face at 9:30 PM, April 9, 2010.
Wait for us sweet angel girl, when God decides that enough puppies have fostered us, and our time on earth is done, we will all be together again, in Heaven….
Charles, Peggye, and Skipper Ripkowski
How do you say goodbye to your best friend? Mugsey was the most noble and best friend anyone could have. In his youth, he was playful and mischievious at times. In his prime, he was brave, strong and protective of his loved ones. Always, he was sweet and there to cuddle with and heal my human hurts. He had the heart of a warrior and until the end, he expressed his love for me. My heart is heavy these days but I know he is whole and healthy again waiting to see me again someday. He is part of my heart forever. I was truly the luckiest person to have known this most noble of God's creations. Goodbye my boy Mugsey until we are reunited again.
My love forever, your Ed.
LSBR Archive - 2005
Lone Star Boxer Rescue gratefully acknowledges a donation made in the memory of Murphy Bryles by his daughter Rebecca Bryles and her boxer Chelsea. According to his daughter, Mr. Bryles and Chelsea adored each other and shared a very special bond.
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier
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