!
Foster Advocate Look up Trying to find
out where a dog is? Get the FA# from the
applicable dog's page and click on the link to see who has them.
Private
AABR
has an adoption application that is detailed and meant to gather
information from a prospective adopter before contact is made. Aside
from details about their family and home, the adopter is asked
questions about what dog or type of dog they are interested in.
Note: An automatic email is generated when the app is submitted and
sent to the applicants email address.
Hello NAME
Thank you for taking the time to fill out our adoption application. We
review applications in the order they are received.
We are all volunteers and sometimes this process takes time.
If we feel we have a dog that could be a good fit for your home you
should
hear from us within two weeks. If you do not hear from us within two
weeks
it means we don't have a dog to place in your home at this time. That
does
not mean you won't be called after the two week time frame.
The more open you are to age, sex, color, the easier it will be to
place a
dog with you.
We try to get to know each dog and to make the right placement. You
might
sometimes feel like we are too careful but we have been doing this for
many
years and not every dog is right for every home.
Please be patient with us as we are doing what we feel is best for the
dogs
in our care.
Adopt A Boxer Rescue
Often and ideally there is more than one applicant for each dog.
AABR?s dogs are not adopted on a first come, first served basis.
However, all else being equal, the oldest applicant awaiting a dog
will be given preference for adopting a specific approved match. Dogs
will not be held for any applicant, and the first available applicant
will be offered to adopt a dog. Each dog successfully adopted makes
room for us to save another dog.
?Foster Advocate? Volunteers
A
volunteer ?Foster Advocate? is assigned to each boxer rescued by AABR.
This volunteer is the person who knows or learns the most we can about
the dog. This volunteer is assigned an FA# which appears on the
available dog?s page on our website. It can be used as a cross
reference to reach out to obtain info on the foster dog. The FA will
ensure that the foster dog gets a medical exam with applicable
vaccines and care. This volunteer will also advocate for their dog
for any special needs such as training or for behavioral issues. This
volunteer will also ensure that good pictures and updates are
routinely provided for the website through the online update form, and
will be key in the matching process with potential applicants.
Application reviewers
Application reviewers are assigned specific phone area codes for
applications to review. Please seek permission from the assigned area
code reviewer if you would like to review an application outside your
area.
Application reviewers are assigned user names and passwords allowing
them access to the applications. Applicant information is private and
should not be shared with anyone except for the explicit reason to
determine an applicant?s qualifications to adopt a boxer from Adopt A
Boxer Rescue.
The
reviewer should first scan the app for completion. Reviewer judgment
is encouraged. Applications that are for the most part complete with
some information missing should be read over to determine whether
additional info should be sought.
An
application is reviewed as follows: (Refer to separate guidelines for
reviewing apps)
Not
yet reviewed
Initial screening (Reviewer assigned)
Vet
check (Refer
to separate guidelines)
Personal-reference check
(Refer
to separate guidelines)
Telephone interview
Home
visit (Refer
to separate guidelines)
Conditional acceptance
Approved
Rejected (Refer
to separate guidelines)
Inactive (adopted other or withdrew)
Success - Adopted Boxer
In a
perfect world, all of our dogs would find forever homes with calm
assertive leaders, in homes that have no mortgage, with big fenced in
backyards. That said, AABR has no "requirements" for the above. Each
application stands on it own merits. We have found wonderful homes
for easy going boxers with families that are open to becoming good
leaders to their new family member. We have placed many dogs in
apartments or homes without fenced backyards.
What is required of the
applicant?
Other
dogs in the applicant's home must be spayed or neutered unless
medical exception is authorized by one of AABR's directors.
Financial ability to provide for a large dog must be considered.
Responsible dog ownership with current or past dogs must be
evaluated.
All
answers on an application must be found to be truthful and
forthcoming.
There
is NO SUCH THING as an ?OUTSIDE DOG?!
Note: We do our best to evaluate each dog rescued by AABR. However, dogs
are not ?temperament tested? in the strict sense of the term.
AABR can be held liable for
any mis-information, regardless of the intention. We cannot state or
claim that a dog is trained, good with other animals, and good with
children (of any age) or travels well. We can only provide
information ?based upon our experience?, ?to the best of our
knowledge? or ?according to information provided by the previous
owner?.
Dogs are not guaranteed.
Dogs are not guaranteed for
health or temperament. AABR will do its best to provide all available
information and assistance to adopting families. In the event that an
adoption does not work out, AABR will take the dog back from the
adopter.
Transport:
Into rescue:
Volunteer assistance is always needed and greatly appreciated in bring
dogs to safety. (From Transport Job Description)
This job involves transporting dogs from one location to another.
Usually the transport is from a shelter or kennel to a foster location
or an interim location to be passed on to another transport volunteer,
until the dog reaches it's final destination.
TRANSPORT REMINDERS
PLEASE DO NOT BRING CHILDREN OR YOUR
OWN DOGS. IF YOU MUST BRING A CHILD, THE DOG MUST BE CRATED
DO NOT HAVE A LOOSE DOG IN YOUR
VEHICLE, PLEASE CRATE OR TETHER THE DOG OUT OF REACH OF ALL PEOPLE,
OR USE A BARRIER
ONE OR BOTH DOGS IN MULTIPLE DOG
TRANSPORTS MUST BE CRATED, PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN
VOLUNTEERING
KEEP A LEASH AND IDENTIFICATION ON
THE DOG AT ALL TIMES
DO NOT FEED THE DOG. A BISCUIT IS
OKAY, BUT REMEMBER OTHER TRANSPORTERS HAVE PROBABLY DONE THE SAME.
MANY DOGS HAVE SEVERE FOOD AGGRESSION, BE CAREFUL! AVOID CHEWS OR
BONES THAT SOME DOGS WOULD SNAP OVER. LIGHT WATERING ONLY, BATHROOM
BETWEEN TRANSPORTS.
DO NOT HUG, KISS, OR OVER HANDLE THE
DOG, AS WITH ANY STRANGE DOG. THE LESS FUSS AND THE CALMER THE WHOLE
PROCESS, THE EASIER IT IS FOR THE DOG TO TRANSITION INTO THE FOSTER
HOME
BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES... WHAT
WOULD YOU DO IF THE CRATE IS TOO BIG, THE LEASH IS CHEWED THROUGH,
THE DOG GETS SICK, YOU CANT FIND THE NEXT TRANSPORTER, ETC.
IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST
TRANSPORTERS, PLEASE START OUT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. CALL THE NEXT
LEG AS SOON AS YOU ARE UNDERWAY.
PLEASE EMAIL OR LET THE PERSON WHO
DISPATCHED YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR LEG.
PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION HANDLING
INCOMING DOGS, THEY ARE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY STRESS. EVEN A GOOD DOG
CAN SNAP UNDER STRESS. BE SAFE.
THANK YOU! YOU ARE A CRUCIAL PART OF
THE RESCUE PROCESS!!
From AABR to AABR - Same as above
From AABR to adopter:
Adopters are asked to make the trip to where their prospective adoptee
is. This frees volunteers to concentrate their efforts on bringing
dogs into rescue.
Other benefits include:
Instills and helps to ensure a sense of commitment in the adopter.
A few hours to get a dog is little to ask for the life time ahead
for the adopter and their dog.
If the
match is not right, the dog is hopefully still welcomed to stay
where it is currently fostered.
Note: Under certain circumstances... either those of the dog's, or
those of the adopter, transport may be too much of a burden on the
adoptive home. If the match is right, please advise one of AABR's
directors, Dawn, Sandy or Jamie, to discuss the circumstances and seek
a solution or an exception to this policy.
Special circumstances ? Owner surrender holds on to dog until adopted.
There will be some times when an owner surrendering a dog is asked to
hold on to their dog until a home can be found. It is AABR?s policy
that the owner surrender and the adopter to not meet and do not
exchange contact info. The adopter has the right to be assured that
the past owner can not try to reclaim their dog, and the owner
surrender should have no visitation rights once they have given up
their dog. Adopters should never be sent to the home of the
surrenderer to pick up a dog.
AABR Forms
Not All Have been brought up to date!!! Any form without a Rev of
12/20/04 OR LATER must still be modified.
To make updating the website faster, we now have 3
separate forms to give status on our dogs.
New 03/31/08 rev
10/31/08
1)
New Dog
Posting Form
(For first posting of new dog or returned dog adopted over 6 months
ago.)
2) Foster
Dog Update Form
(for current AABR dogs on website)
3) Dog
Adopted/other
(to advise of adoption or other disposition status, like kept by
owner, placed by owner, or memorial if died while still in our care.)
03/24/06 - New Update Form
To update
a foster dog, please go to the AABR Contacts page. It is one of the 5
red links at the top of every page.
Use the same button to enter the volunteers site, but instead of typing in
the password 4thedogs, use the password 2post
to get to the update
link page.
Outside of the volunteers area, you can also click on the fawn boxer's head to get to the update page,
and the white boxer's head to get to this page.
Please utilize the same guidelines discussed
below for writing up your dogs. Just please do use the new form
instead of submitting them by
email.
Questions or problems - email me or call me at 631.379.3795
Volunteer Event Notes: Please send
Emails on events to Updates@
Not everything can go on our front page, although sometimes it looks like
we are trying. When you send in an event for posting, it goes on the
Events page. As it gets closer to the event it makes it to the top
right side of the home page. When the event is over it comes off the home
page and gets moved on the events page to "past events".
Note: Some events may get posted out of order because they are a big
event.
Note 2: The quickest way to get an event posted is to write it up and
submit it in a way that it can be copied and pasted. Most of you are
already doing this!
Regards,
Sandy
ps: Sometimes I forget to post things, so please feel free to remind me if
it's getting close to your event and it's not on the front page!
Keeping the website up to date is a dauntless and time consuming task.
The information below is meant to help standardize and simplify the
posting of AABR dog updates:
Directions For Updates ( 03/24/06 - Please
use our on-line form to submit updates
instead of email!)
Using the links above to the on-line forms, will automatically place AABR, NEW DOG ... AABR, DOG UPDATE .... and AABR, DOG ADOPTED
in the subject line so we can distinguish our update emails from the
rest of our messages.
Existing dogs or Re-postings - The best way to let us know who you're
updating is to go to the applicable dogs page, copy the URL address from
the top of your browser, and paste it into the
NAME field of the online update, that you send.
An example of what a URL looks like is
http://adoptaboxer.com/availdogs/Avail2004/Avail0411/KimboNY0411.htm
The format for each dog's page has key points listed next to the dog's photo. We need to choose what important info to list such as:
Name (st)
fostered in ? yr old
flashy fawn brindle white
female
Natural Cropped ears
Natural Docked Tail
Approx Weight: ? lbs.
Reported
good/bad with dog, cats young children etc
any other details you want to highlight
We need to
give details such as....
Dog's history, and/or if no history, how we got him/her .
Strays should not be placed with young children, so it is
important to say whether the dog is an owner surrender or a stray.
Do
not guess a dog?s history! Example - Do not say s/he was beaten
because s/he is hand shy. Say the dog is hand shy!
If a dog is a stray, we can't claim to know what we don't know!
Do not Guess that a wound was caused by a knife, gun, taser, etc!
Stress the positives! Instead of "he met another dog, and didn't
lunge or growl at him", say " they got along fine or they ignored each
other."
Restrictions (if any)
If in a foster home or kennel
If two dogs need placement together, and then which dog is in what
position in the pictures
Please be cognizant of safety issues and do not report how well
behaved Brutus was on his trip home from the shelter, sitting in the
backseat of your car, with your toddler, eating a pigs ear you just gave
him!!!
For Liability reasons ? We must be very careful about saying things
like ?Good with all dogs, cats, kids, etc.? Please state only what we
actually know! This means we can say:
Reported to be good with?OR
So far Bowser seems great with? OR
He?s met and/or is staying with ? and is well behaved?
Adopt A Boxer Rescue Contacts for posting on dog's page.
Foster's name and email address (will not be used for posting on
site).
You will be asked to tell us where the dog is fostered, who the
contacts are, the estimated age, color, sex, estimated weight or size, and restrictions (if any).And the pictures should be attached.
Please be mindful to send write-ups with reasonably good grammar:
Capitalize the start of sentences. Use whole sentences!
Put 2 spaces after periods, and 1 space after commas.
Please ensure accurate spelling; take the time to proof read what you
write (and what the foster home or surrendering owner sends you) and to run spell
check.
Please do not hit "return" at the end of each line of an update, (only
between paragraphs). Most email and word processor programs wrap
text automatically. Hard returns must be removed manually prior to
posting on the site.
Note: Sending updates which need corrections will delay our postings to
the site, or cause double work for the volunteers posting the information. Taking a little time in the beginning will get us faster results
in the end.
All pictures sent in more than a week after the last posting, should
come in with a new write up.
Send no more than 3 to 4 different shots per update. (Not all of the same
pose, please.)
No choke chains or prong collars, please.
Take multiple poses ? Front, right side, left side, sitting, standing, sleeping & a cute shot, but no costumes.
Try not to take the picture from an angle that is above the dog...
If applicable take a picture with another dog, or with a kid.
Keep background as simple as possible. We are trying to see the Boxers, not the foster homes.
Use a light! And hold the camera straight!
Focus the camera (If it?s blurry when you take it, it doesn?t get any better by emailing it to
us.)
Again, No choke chains!!!!
Try not to take shots through bars or crates.
If the picture is lousy, no one will want to adopt the dog!!!!!
Follow-up pictures should be noticeably different and better than
original pictures to be considered for posting.
Please put AABR in the subject line of all emails, including those with just pictures.
Do's
Don'ts
Crossed paws look adorable or regal
Try to take shot with light from behind camera, not
dog
Happy face
Mean or scared face...
Try giving treat or toy
before taking picture.
Picture taken on slight angle to dog's head or with
"Red Eye" function on.
Try to use "Red Eye" function if your camera has it.
Below is a simple listing of
area codes, the related states and locations, and related area codes.
Related area codes are area codes that have been split, overlayed, or
otherwise relate to the area code.
AREA CODE
STATE
LOCATION
RELATED
201
NJ
N New Jersey: Jersey
City, Hackensack
973, 551
202
DC
Washington, D.C.
203
CT
Connecticut
860
204
MB
Manitoba Canada
205
AL
Alabama (including
Huntsville and Birmingham; excludes only the southeastern corner
of Alabama and the deep south.)
From an email - AABRFostersAndVolunteers@yahoogroups.com,
"Dayna"
> <phillydayna@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all! I am a CGC evaluator. If you feel your foster dog can pass
> > the test, let me know and I'll evaluate him/her for free! It's A
> LOT
> > easier than it seems. Dogs must pass all 10 tests...
> >
> > Here is what is entailed:
> >
> > Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
> > This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger
> > to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday
> > situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets
> > the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator
> > and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must
> show
> > no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not jump on the
> evaluator.
> >
> > Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
> > This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger
> > to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting
> > at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets
> the
> > dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog
> > throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is
> petted.
> > The dog must not show shyness or resentment.
> >
> > Test 3: Appearance and grooming
> > This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being
> > groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a
> > veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also
> > demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility.
> > The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and
> > groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e.,
> > proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply
> > the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then
> > softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly
> > examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not
> > necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the
> > examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and
> give
> > encouragement throughout.
> >
> > Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
> > This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog.
> > The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog's position
> > should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and
> > is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction.
> > The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not
> > sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted
> > course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions
> or
> > commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn,
> > and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at
> > the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the
> > dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may
> sit
> > the dog at the halts if desired.
> >
> > Test 5: Walking through a crowd
> > This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in
> > pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog
> > and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least
> > three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should
> > continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-
> > exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog
> > and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should
> > not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.
> >
> > Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
> > This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to
> > the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place
> > commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the
> > handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the
> > owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior
> to
> > this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long.
> The
> > handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one
> > command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must
> > determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The
> > handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog
> to
> > offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the
> handler
> > tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line,
> > turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain
> > in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until
> the
> > evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be
> > released from the front or the side.
> >
> > Test 7: Coming when called
> > This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the
> > handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face
> > the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get
> > the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay"
> > or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to
> > the dog.
> >
> > Test 8: Reaction to another dog
> > This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around
> other
> > dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a
> > distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange
> > pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should
> > show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should
> > go to the other dog or its handler.
> >
> > Test 9: Reaction to distraction
> > This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when
> > faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select
> > and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include
> > dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a
> > jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The
> > dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear
> > slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show
> > aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and
> > encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.
> >
> > Test 10: Supervised separation
> > This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted
> person,
> > if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners.
> > Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me
> > to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The
> owner
> > will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to
> > stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace
> > unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or
> > nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage
> in
> > excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, "there,
> > there, it's alright").
> >
> > Equipment
> >
> > All tests must be performed on leash. Dogs should wear well-fitting
> > buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain. Special
> > training collars such as pinch collars, head halters, etc. are not
> > permitted in the CGC test. We recognize that special training
> > collars may be very useful tools for beginning dog trainers,
> > however, we feel that dogs are ready to take the CGC test at the
> > point at which they are transitioned to regular collars.
> >
> > The evaluator supplies a 20-foot lead for the test. The
> > owner/handler should bring the dog's brush or comb to the test.
> >
> > Encouragement
> >
> > Owners/handlers may use praise and encouragement throughout the
> > test. The owner may pet the dog between exercises. Food and treats
> > are not permitted during testing, nor is the use of toys, squeaky
> > toys, etc. to get the dog to do something. We recognize that food
> > and toys may provide valuable reinforcement or encouragement during
> > the training process but these items should not be used during the
> > test.
> >
> > Failures - Dismissals
> >
> > Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a
> > person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed
> > from the test.
> >
Logos and Display items
Meet Adopt A Boxer Rescue
AABR is a collective
effort of savvy volunteers working together to rescue, rehabilitate, and
re-home unwanted and abandoned Boxer and Boxer-mix dogs.
AABR
concentrates its efforts in the tri-state area and Pennsylvania, generally
within three to four hours of NYC. The group provides hands-on rescue and
medical care, as well as educational outreach to enlighten people to the
realities of pet guardianship and the importance of spaying and neutering.
The
group focuses its expertise on pure breed Boxers and Boxer mixes, but its
volunteers have been known to rescue Frenchies, Bulldogs, and even a Bassett
Hound or two. All of the group's activities' are performed by volunteers who
operate out of their homes in the Northeast, and, except for medical cases
that require hospitalization, almost all AABR dogs are cared for by
foster
families.
"Without volunteers, there is no rescue," co-founder Jamie Meadow exclaims.
"We have the best, most devoted group of foster homes, transporters,
application reviewers, and case workers around.
Adopt A Boxer Rescue is a non-profit,
charitable 501(c) (3) organization, and a member of the NYC Mayor's Alliance
and the
New York Breed Rescue
Network (NYBRN) from their inception.
To
find out more information on how you can adopt a boxer, or to help us help
this great breed, please visit us at www.AdoptABoxerRescue.com
To update
a foster dog, please go to the AABR Contacts page. It is one of the 5
red links at the top of every page.
