On November 24th, 2004, Adopt A Boxer Rescue was born.  It started out of necessity, and it exists today for the same sad reason.  There are just too many boxers and not enough homes.

We are very proud of what we have accomplished in five short years.  We have rescued and found homes for over 1500 dogs.  That's almost one dog each day we've been in existence!  And what makes us just as proud are the vast number of boxers that we've been able to help keep with their owners by helping with behavior issues and educating boxer families on how to be better leaders to this wonderful breed.

We celebrate are 5th Anniversary and the volunteers that make this possible, knowing that our best anniversary is still to come.  That will be the year that there are so few boxers needing rescue that AABR will not be needed.  We can only hope that that day comes soon.

Of Special note:

It is with great sadness that we must report the passing of the very first boxer we took in under the Adopt A Boxer Rescue name, back on November 25, 2004.

Kimbo was seven years old when the only family he’d ever known turned him into the kill shelter – something about moving - but we can’t imagine how they could have left behind this gentle family member. 

His foster mom wrote: Having Kimbo in your home is like having your best pair of old shoes – he’s dependable, gentle, and you can’t remember your life without him.  If first impressions count for anything, love is in the air and you’re going to have to be a really special family to bring this boy home -

Well on January 1st, 2005, Kimbo met his new very special family, and that's where he lived, was cared for and cared for his family, and thrived in his forever home.

Thank you Kimbo for leading the way for countless others, and thank you to the VanDerlofske Family who along with Kimbo, have adopted other great senior boxers and given them their forever home.

12/06/09 - KIMBO - Memorial - You will be dearly missed.

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ADOPT A BOXER RESCUE

Who We Are, Why We Do What We Do – From Beginning To “End”

We thought, as a way of introducing ourselves and some of our volunteers, we’d tell you the story about ‘Baby Tommy’ hereafter to be known as LITTLE DUDE, or just Dude to his friends.  We wanted to tell you his story so that you can understand why the volunteers of the newly formed Adopt A Boxer Rescue are so dedicated and are so important to the lives of so many dogs.  Whether under the umbrella of our former rescue organization, or now with Adopt A Boxer Rescue, without the volunteers and the donations, the Little Dudes of the world would have no future.

His story: The delivery of the puppies seemed to go smoothly, except for the first born.  Dude nursed from his mom, but he apparently was unable to eliminate any stool.  The breeder brought him to her vet who determined that Dude did not have a normal anal opening.  The choice was to either have a very expensive surgery performed or to put Dude to sleep.  Not having the money to spend on the surgery, the breeder asked for help from rescue with the hope that we would help.  And, help we did!

The breeder was asked to rush the puppy to Veterinary Pet Specialists for emergency care.  Because Dude could not eliminate, his little 2-pound body was poisoning itself.  An analplasty, which created an opening at the end of Dude’s colon, was performed on the little guy, knowing that this was his only chance for survival.  Once the surgery was completed, Sandy, one of AABR’s volunteers, and at that time with our former rescue group, picked up Dude.  Joined by her adopted dog Rudy (see “Rudy’s story on our site) they transported him to his foster home where he was greeted by AABR volunteer Lisa, also with our former rescue group, and met her dogs, Phoenix, Gonzo and foster dog Piper (Piper has since been adopted to a wonderful family).

The next few weeks of Dude’s and Lisa’s life were difficult and stressful.  Would the surgery be successful?  Would Dude be incontinent? Lisa administered round the clock bottle feedings, and acted as Dude’s real mom.  For months Dude spent his days with the staff and doctors of the Meadow Veterinary Hospital, where he was immediately “adopted” by the entire staff; Jessica, Cindy, Jennison, Jamie Meadow and Doctors Triana, and Meadow.  There were a few Saturday night visits to the emergency hospital and a second emergency procedure to open the scar tissue that formed over the original surgical site. Dr Mark Meadow, veterinarian and owner of Meadow Veterinary Hospital, designed a protocol to treat Dude’s surgical site daily so that scar tissue would not form.  

And through it all, Dude continued to grow and flourish and thrive and charm the pants off everyone that met him.  Bottle feedings became soft food feedings and then regular dog food feedings.  Our fears of incontinence never panned out – his surgery and extensive follow up care was a complete success!  He developed into a healthy, plump, happy, social boxer puppy and unless you knew his story, you’d never suspect that this little boy had been so close to death.

As 2 pounds became 10 and 10 became 20, we all knew it was time – time for our Dude to begin his life in his forever home.  We received hundreds of applications for Dude – and luckily, many donations for his very expensive first and second surgeries.  Meadow Veterinary Hospital, as usual, allowed us to focus on caring for Dude, by donating all of their services.  And transport and foster expenses were paid for by the individual volunteers.

So the task began of wading through each application, knowing that when the right one was found, we’d all be saying good-bye to this little boy that brought so much hope and joy into each of our lives.  We did find the perfect home for Dude (his mom’s a vet) – and we’re delighted to tell you that he’s living life to the fullest with his 6 year old boxer sister, his human mom and dad and surprise – the family will welcome a new human baby into their lives in a few months. 

We hope you will visit AdoptABoxerRescue.com often – there may be a Dude just waiting for you.  As we grow, we will have pages that will answer many of your questions about living with a boxer, boxer/dog information, becoming a volunteer, and of course the dogs – the amazing dogs that are just waiting to enrich your lives.  We’ve attached some of Dude’s ‘baby’ pictures as well as the latest picture of him, so that you can see for yourselves what we can accomplish together.