Looking to adopt a Boxer.

Baron11 · #1 18th June 2004, 07:43 AM

I wanted to try adopting before going the breeder route. I know there are plenty of animals needing a home. I would prefer a boxer less than a year old, but will work with what is available. I do have kids, 4 of them (6, 7, 9 and 10), and one cat. The animal will be mainly indoors but has 7 acres to run on. I just had to put my faithful dog of 12 years to sleep. Please let me know what you have available.

kindest regards,

Bryan

Baron11 · #2 18th June 2004, 07:47 AM

I would prefer the VA area. I live in Fredericksburg VA.

debbie knowles · #3 18th June 2004, 08:09 AM

Hi Bryan,
There is a wonderful rescue organization that is very near you and may be able to help you find the perfect new addition to your family. I am sorry to hear of your loss. I lost my 13 year old last December and I adopted a perfect young lady last February. Hopefully they can help you as well. Good Luck....Deb, Jack and Jaimee

I can send you the address if you are interested.

VTbxrFan · #4 18th June 2004, 08:22 AM

Hi Bryan -

I'm really glad that you are considering adopting a dog rather than buying a puppy. I grew up always getting dogs as puppies, but a few years ago, I adopted an adult dog for the first time. It was such a great experience that I immediately started volunteering for boxer rescue, and a couple of weeks ago, adopted a second dog. There are a lot really wonderful boxers who have ended up in rescue through no fault of their own. Thank you for considering giving one a home!

Rescues don't work directly through this site, so start with the link Debbie posted. To get started, you need to fill out the application (available on the website) and send it in.

I don't know details on dogs available with that particular rescue, but I will say in the group I volunteer with, puppies don't come along very often. We do get a few just under a year old, but very, very few under 6 months. We do, however, get a lot of young adults in the 1-3 year old range, so I hope that you will be open to that age as well. Rescue volunteers are really great about matching the right dog to your family!

I'm sorry to hear of the recent loss of your companion. I hope that an adoption will work out so you can have boxer love in your home again!

Susan

Baron11 · #5 18th June 2004, 09:12 AM

Debbie,

I would like the address, maybe I missed that rescue during my search. Thanks.

Susan,

I appreciate your concern, but it has been my experience that most animals, dogs especially, after about 18 months it is very difficult to untrain certain traits. Some negative traits or behaviors may not show up until a few days later. I have children and for this reason want a pet I can train and adapt to my already wonderful family. I am not new to dogs and have adopted adult dogs before. I should clarify this, "I" have found it difficult to re-train adult dogs vs, younger dogs. I don't want to make a blanket statement saying it can't be done, someone else with more experience may be able to.

thanks,

Side note,

I am also willing to adopt litter mates or friends if the animals have known each other for an extended period and you feel it best they go to someone together.

regards,

Bryan

debbie knowles · #6 18th June 2004, 09:33 AM

Byran,
I tried to PM you but you're not set up for Private Messages...hope it is OK to post it here. Here it is: Homepage: http://www.VA-BoxerRescue.org

I had a really good experience with this organization and our Jaimee is just a true blessing! Thanks BRA! Good Luck...djk

Baron11 · #7 18th June 2004, 11:10 AM

Thank you so much for your quick response. No I am not set up for Personal messages, yet. I took a look at the application, I had a hard time filing it out. Maybe I am just not ready yet, I mean so many of the questions just seemed very judgemental. I realize there is a certain duty to weed out undesirables, but I am very distraught on how and why my friend died. I don't feel like describing it or discussing it. Buster had a great home and he gave me such joy, and made me so proud over the years. Maybe I should just wait. Maybe a rescue isn't ideal for me. I guess I am taking it personal and I shouldn't. I know it must be a necessary discomfort, (did not want to use the phrase 'necessary evil'). This note probably seems wayy out there. I guess it is. I will do a-lot of thinking over the weekend. I will let you know Monday where I stand.

kindest regards,

your friend

Bryan

debbie knowles · #8 18th June 2004, 11:27 AM

Oh Bryan,
You are still grieving and I do understand, I really do. The rescues do have to make judgement calls and make hard decisions as their first and foremost obligation is to that dog and to find him or her the very best home they can. I can understand why that question bothered you, as your loss is still so fresh...but, I have to tell you this Bryan....having a two year old die from heartworms is very very different from having a 12 year old euthanized due to incurable health problems after living a wonderful long life with people who obviously loved him with all their hearts and cared for him in everyway they possibly could, as your family did. 12 years....What a wonderful long life...dogs do not make it that far without lots lots of love and care...and yes, Bryan...that is exactly why the death question is on there...rescues are looking for families like yours whose dogs do live long long wonderful lives...not dying young because of lack of love or care. I know you may not be quite ready just yet, but don't give up on the rescue idea just yet...take some time to heal and grieve and then re-consider when you are ready. Good Luck in whatever you decide. djk

VTbxrFan · #9 18th June 2004, 11:29 AM

Bryan -

I absolutely respect your feelings and your desire to think it over. It's not a decision to make lightly, and I commend you for giving it serious thought. I did want to address one of your concerns about the application coming across as judgemental. With many of the questions that rescue groups ask, there aren't right and wrong answers, and not all of the questions are about judging you as a candidate. A great deal of the information rescues ask for is used to help make a good match between the right dog and the right family - rescue dogs live with families who evaluate their personalities and what type of environment is best for them. A home that could be absolutely perfect for one dog could be completely wrong for another one. (I'm not involved with rescues in your state, so I can't speak for that group or their application in particular, but I did want to offer that general explanation in case it helps at all!)

There are also a lot of great dogs in shelters, so that's another avenue you can consider. Until I got involved with rescue, I didn't realize so many purebred dogs end up in shelters, but they do. Boxer rescue groups frequently work with shelters and pull dogs from them, but we can't help all of them. Lots of times it's the younger, healthy dogs that are left in the shelter because they stand a good chance of getting adopted quickly without rescue involvement. If rescues have to choose between dogs (and we usually do because of limited resources), we'll usually pick the ones that are sick or less likely to be adopted on their own and hope that the younger, healthier ones will get adopted directly from the shelter.

In any case, there are different avenues to pursue when the time is right for you, and only you and your family can decide when that time is.

In any case, I wish you luck and healing for your heart.

Susan

Baron11 · #10 18th June 2004, 11:49 AM

Susan, Debbie, all,

Thank you so much for your heart felt condolences. I don't think I am ready yet. It wasn't until reading your letters that I realized how much a part of me Buster still is. I came home yesterday and could have sworn I saw him. (Then I remembered.) When I had to put him to sleep I took care of everyone elses needs and tried to be the stoic one. I write this last letter, feeling with eyes swell with both happiness that people like you exist and sadness that I haven't really taken the time to grieve. I appreciate the thoughtfullness. I think the bottom line is I am simply not ready yet.

Thank you so much!!!

Bryan

MollieRalphi · #11 11th July 2004, 02:29 PM

Hi Bryan,'
First sorry for your lost. I just pulled a BOXER mix from a kill shelter in Smithfiled, NC. They gas there. I brought him to the vet and he got all his shots and he's HW negative. He is a living doll. He's probably 2 years old or younger. He loves children, dogs , cats and is getting very attached to my family. He is not your typical "good looking" dog. If you could look past that, and see him inner beauty, please email me at edited by moderator
He would be free ofcourse, but he does need to be fixed!
Melissa

BoxerMomof1 · #12 17th July 2004, 10:27 PM

Hi. I just was going thur some of the post about adopting. I see you are thinking of adopting a boxer again. I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I adopted a boxer that was 6.5 and he has been very easy to retrain. You can teach old dogs new tricks. When you are ready if you haven't already look at all the dogs a boxer over 2 is not as jumpy with the childern and you see what the dog is really like. My little girl didn't grow up until she was over 2. Boxers are puppy for a long time. They mature later then most dogs. Also rescues only ask those questions due to years of adoption and knowing what questions need to be asked to help them help you and to find the best and forever homes for the boxers in their care. Good luck and be open and make it a family project when and if you are resdy.

Debbie
www.boxerfriends.org