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.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Click a letter to find an animal or view all.
Smylie was a female boxer that LSBR and a Good Samaritan named Regina tried to save. Regina found Smylie roaming the streets in a busy area. Smylie was extremely emaciated, would not use her left rear leg, and was suffering from skin problems, which were later determined to be due to road rash, poor health and poor nutrition. Regina contacted LSBR, who then took Smylie to a vet who confirmed her leg was broken. The break was assumed to be a few days old due to the amount of swelling involved. LSBR and Regina approved the surgery to have the leg plated so she could hopefully regain full use of the leg. This poor girl hung on through this not so gentle surgery and did so well. Unfortunately, while in recovery, Smylie passed away. It was very sudden. The vet and staff administered CPR, but Smylie had passed on was no longer in pain. Smylie was cheated out of a happy, healthy life in a loving home, but we can be thankful that she was able to spend a night or two with her caring rescuer. Smylie was a sweetheart that quickly stole the heart of the kind woman that found her.
Soleil was a dear friend and family member and was deeply loved. I hope other boxers may find the joy she had with her family in a forever home. Soleil may be gone from sight, but never from our hearts.
To Sweet Sophie, "God sent me a special angel when he blessed me with you." - Carrel Knee
A donation to LSBR has been made on behalf of Sophie.
I knew Sophie was a very special girl when I first met her, she "woed" at me to take her home as my foster. She was a trooper through her health problems and got along GREAT with my 2 dogs and gave me all the loving I could take! She was nothing but sweetness to everyone she met. She was adopted out to the BEST home that gave her the love and care she deserved. Sophie, we will miss you and you were truly loved.
LSBR Archive 2003
Story was a precious yet pitiful little girl that was not yet a year old. She was dumped at a shelter with severe Demodex, terrified, shivering, and in need of immediate vet care. Even though it hurt her to move she would walk up and ask for love. Unfortunately Story’s little body and immune system was too weak to fight all that she had going on. In the short time we had her, Story knew what it was like to be loved, cared for, worried over, and safe even if for a short time. The day I decided that Story would permanently live with me someone else had plans for her.
Story passed over Rainbow Bridge and was adopted by God on January 30, 2009. She is now the happy care-free puppy she was meant to be.
Story - Mommy and Daddy love you, miss you and will never forget you!
Alicia & Terry
Summer, our foster failure, was a street tough scrapper. She chose us, instead of the other way around, and she fought to stay in our family when we thought she was going to be adopted to another. Summer was a nanna to Kali, Zach, Grant and Brooks, always gracious even when they weren’t. But, true to her nature, she would have fiercely protected her family. Thank you, LSBR, for taking a chance on her. Summer, we miss you and we hope you and Karma are playing on The Bridge.
---The Davis Family
Click a letter to find an animal or view all.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z