The following are the most Frequently Asked  Questions  we receive.

Should you not find the answers to your questions on this page, you may e-mail  boxerhattie@gmail.com. Please remember to include your name and telephone number with area code, for a timely response.

 Our toll-free telephone number is 1-888-612-5782. This telephone service is costly for us to maintain and is designed to handle calls about dogs in urgent situations or dire straits. Please do not use the hotline, for example, to call and ask for more information on a particular dog you saw on the website. We post thorough biographies for each dog and all the info we have at the time, will be posted online for everyone to read. If you are interested in a dog and want to speak with the foster home, you must be a screened and approved applicant (this is for the protection and safety of our dogs and foster families).

"I found a Boxer. Can you take him?"

First and foremost, thank you for caring about the welfare of an abandoned Boxer dog. FBR, Inc. is made aware of several Boxers PER WEEK, that have been abandoned, are roaming neighborhoods or are known to be starving or neglected and confined to their yards. We want to help every single Boxer we are contacted about, but in reality, we know we cannot.

If you are a person who knows of a Boxer that is being neglected or has been abandoned PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY IMMEDIATELY. If animal control investigates and takes the dog, FBR will most likely be contacted if the dog is in danger of being euthanized. We have worked extremely hard at maintaining positive relationships with many shelters and animal controls in our service area and we work together to ensure Boxers have the best chance at adoption and do not die needlessly. We do not recommend that you remove the dog from the property for obvious reasons - you may very well want to, but we ask that you take the proper steps and call animal control first, to make a complaint (which can be anonymous).

If you do take matters into your own hands anyway, please do not expect FBR Inc. to be able to assist you immediately by taking the dog off your hands. We must legally follow regulations when we come across a stray animal. We have a specific intake process and a waiting list of dogs to consider. We also must have time to find a foster home. We can say with certainty, that we are almost always "full to capacity," so if you pull a dog, and would like us to help you, you must be patient.

When you are aware of a Boxer that has been abandoned or needs rescuing, please feel free to call our toll-free number at 888-612-5782  with as much detailed information as possible AFTER you call animal control. We have volunteers in different geographic areas that can then take the information and go through the proper channels in order to best help the dog. We must reiterate that we do not recommend "rescuing" dogs on your own and then calling us to take them. If you do so, you severely limit our ability to help that Boxer as we can have difficulty making arrangements at a moment's notice.

"Do you take Boxer mixes?"

Regretfully, the answer is no for various reasons. It is not an exaggeration to say we almost always have a lack of foster home space. At any given time, we are paying a variety of kennel operators to care for the Boxers on our waiting list until foster home space opens up. Generally, when people apply to adopt a Boxer through our rescue, they are seeking a purebred Boxer. The conditions of our not-for-profit status with the government prevent us from straying from our designation as well. If you have a Boxer mix you no longer wish to keep in your family, we encourage you to contact us and we will do our very best to refer you to an all-breed rescue or shelter that may be able to help.

"Why don't you serve the entire state of Florida anymore?"

Boxers are extremely popular dogs and Florida is an extremely large and populous state. FBR, Inc. has gone through some leadership and geographic changes over the last few years. We currently only serve western and central areas of Florida. Some former FBR volunteers have formed rescue groups to better serve specific portions of the state. We all love Boxers and want what is best for this dynamic breed of dog. Please visit B.A.R.C. of northern Florida and southern Georgia.

"How do I adopt a Boxer?"

Visit our website to view all of the available Boxers for adoption. Everyone must fill out an adoption application to be considered. You can do it right online (fastest method) or print a hard copy and mail it to the address on the application itself. Your application will be reviewed by the adoption committee. We try to process your application within 7-10 days. You will receive either a telephone call or an e-mail stating your application's status. If approved, you will be contacted, have a home visit and then permitted to visit any of the Boxers within our program that would be a good match for you.  

"Why is there an adoption fee?"  

100% of your adoption fee pays for operating expenses which are primarily: vaccinations, sterilization operation, heartworm test, exam, rabies tag, microchip (when applicable) and general care while the dogs are in the rescue program. Florida Boxer Rescue Inc. is made up entirely of volunteer help; we have no paid positions or officers!

"Can I adopt an intact Boxer?"

Nope.

Florida Boxer Rescue and every legitimate breed rescue will only adopt out dogs that have been altered (spayed or neutered). The reason animal shelters and rescues have to exist, is because there is a horrendous pet overpopulation problem in our "disposable pet" society. We often do not know the backgrounds (genetic and behavioral) of most of the dogs that come into rescue. We definitely do not want to be a party to contributing to additional unwanted animals being born; therefore, ALL dogs leaving rescue will be sterilized, unless there is a medical reason to delay it.

"I have a female Boxer. Can I adopt a female?"

No.

At least not from Florida Boxer Rescue, Inc.  In fact, most rescue organizations and reputable breeders feel similarly about this topic. The most ideal placement of Boxers is male with female (spayed and neutered, of course). Opposite gender adoptions rarely fail or prove to be a mismatch. However, two or more female Boxers in the home tend to fight for alpha position, putting themselves and family members in danger. Females who appear to get along initially, may challenge each other weeks, months, or even years down the road. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and some families live with two female Boxers successfully, but this is rare and not the norm. Our goal is to find the most appropriate home for each Boxer in our program; placing a female Boxer into a home with a resident female would most likely not be conducive to a successful adoption.

* this information does not necessarily apply to only Boxers -  Male/female placements are usually a safe bet.

"Where does Florida Boxer Rescue get its Boxers?"  

Florida Boxer Rescue gets custody of Boxers in a few different ways. Many come to us from shelters and animal control facilities (in many cases FBR has to pay a fee in order to get the dog out of the shelter). We pull them out if they are in danger of being euthanized because of shelter overcrowding. FBR also gets many Boxers from families who give up their dogs for a variety of reasons. If we are given vet records  we will have them in a file for the new family at the time of adoption. We also acquire some wonderful Boxers as strays! They are found by good samaritans who in turn give the dog to us, so we may have his health evaluated, attempt to find his family, and failing that, find him a good home.  Seldom do we get a Boxer in our program that is severely abused. In such a case, we would have a trainer/behaviorist evaluate the Boxer to ensure a proper, safe, and successful placement.  

"Where is FBR located?"

FBR has no "official" location. We no longer have a kennel in Deland, FL. We have wonderful volunteers throughout the central and west coast of Florida. Boxers in our rescue program all stay in our private foster homes that can be found in Naples, Tampa, Fort Meyers, New Port Richey, etc...