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.
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.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce Delmira has crossed the Rainbow bridge. She came to us with extremely critical issues that would require surgery but while trying to stabilize her, the internal bleeding became too severe for her body. We are glad that LSBR had the opportunity to take her off the streets so she did not die alone and she could experience the love she so deserved if only for a short time. RIP sweet girl....run free!
Diamond and I met nearly 6 years ago at the Houston Lone Star Boxer Rescue. Sharon Reitman helped me as I patiently met about 20 boxers that April Saturday afternoon. There was an instant connection as we were introduced when she crawled right up into my lap and looked at me with those gorgeous brown eyes. Even at 60 pounds she was truly a lap dog. Our relationship developed into something that few people are lucky enough to ever experience in a lifetime. You see our family consisted of just her and I. We did everything together and were literally inseperable. I could never have found a more well loyal, accommodating, and lovable partner. Diamond knew when I was happy, sad, sick, or even just having a bad day. She would tilt her head sideways as if she was listening to ever word I said and grunt. She brought me so much joy and happiness... She truly was a Diamond! It has been just over 1 year since Diamond has left me. I know that we will meet up again someday and I know that she is looking down on me hoping that I find another Rescue Boxer to love and share my life with!!!
Les
I just wanted to let everyone know that today, May 26, 2007, Diego passed away. What we first suspected was to be a very mild case of kennel cough bloomed in to what we now believe to be distemper and his poor little, heartworm positive, body wasn’t strong enough to overcome it. He was a really sweet young boy, he had the softest, thickest coat, and was very friendly....but it was obvious he never really learned how to play and was cheated out of the chance to learn. It REALLY breaks my heart, trying to get him to eat anything, watching him deteriorate, and knowing that there is little you can do but try to keep him comfortable — all the while hoping and praying he’ll get better. Macy, Hazel, and Diego all had their short lives cut even shorter due to this easily preventable disease. They did not come in together, nor were they all in our program at the same time....
To Draco: Baby boy you will always be in our hearts and minds. Part of us has gone with you. Till we meet again, be good and take care of yourself. Love you, dear son.
Draco was adopted from Lone Star Boxer Rescue on the Aug. 26, 2000.
He entered our lives and changed it completely. He gave us unconditional love and happiness. Draco's skin sister was born in June 2001, and his world was complete.
Then, a month later Draco started showing problems. He had blood in his stool, and underwent a lot of tests. After a trip to New Orleans, Draco's condition worsened. He was throwing up constantly and was not eating. We took him to a specialist who did exploratory surgery on him on Sept. 27. He was diagnosed with a rare and fatal fungal disease called pythiosis.
Pythiosis had taken full control over his intestine and they wanted to put him to sleep. We brought him back home and started doing holistic treatment on him. He was showing slight improvement, but he had lost a lot of weight and was continuously having diarrhea.
When we came back home from a trip to India, Draco looked slightly better. Our spirits were high and we thought Draco was on his way recovery. From Dec. 31 when we returned until Jan. 27, 2002, (four months from the day of surgery) Draco was doing well.
On the evening of Jan. 27, however, he stopped eating, and began drooling and panting. We thought he was sick and next day planned to talk to the vet and make him better, but later that night, he woke me up to go out.
The last time he woke up, he stood on the porch, looked up at the sky and sniffed the night air. It was 2 a.m. At 3 a.m., I heard woo-woo cry and rushed to him. While I cradled his head on my lap, he passed away. He was only 3 years old.
For one year and five months, Draco gave us sheer joy. He is so loved and his absence has been so hard for us to accept.
Babu, Juno and Royina
LSBR Archive - 2002 and earlier