Tail #4   Hannah’s Story

 

Hannah is my sixth Boxer, so I was well aware of the cheerful disposition, playfulness with children, and high level of energy they come with.  When my last Boxer died of cancer, I quickly wanted another.  I began searching Boxer Rescue for a female about 2 years old.

 Hannah was one when I got her.  I believe I was at least her fourth home in that short time, including her Boxer Rescue family.  She had apparently been abused because she was terrified of everyone and extremely skinny.  I adopted her on August 1, 2002. 

 I took a week off from work for us to get to know each other and for her to feel comfortable in my home.  She was not interested in eating and afraid to roam throughout the house.  I had to sit on the kitchen floor and feed her for weeks.  She finally began eating by herself around November.  

Hannah was realizing what love was and how good it was but she was not adjusting to being left alone.  It seemed that the damage done to Hannah when she was given away a few times, had left her with separation anxiety.  Hannah was terrified of a crate and destructive when loose in the house.  I tried idea after idea to safely contain Hannah so that I could go to work.  Time after time, a well laid plan was foiled by Hannah’s sheer panic when she was left alone.  By February of 2004, I had found the best plan yet!  I installed an air conditioner in the garage by framing in the outside door.  I bought a used couch to put beside the large garage window.   This became her apartment.  On occasion she would get into something in the garage, but not too often. Within a year, we had this system perfected.  She was calm enough that she also stayed in the house for half day periods at times.

In December of 2005, I moved for work purposes.  So we started over.  She had become so good at staying in the house, I tried it in my new house.  After only a couple tries, she had pulled down and destroyed most of the metal window blinds and scratched the front door severely.  I bought a portable air conditioner for the garage and had it installed. 

 

 

Hannah is the sweetest of dogs.  Always when I get home, wherever she is, she is thrilled to see me!  Because she was so afraid of everything when I got her, I was not great at disciplining her, so she still has a few bad habits like jumping on people when they come, and getting on couches.  She is extremely lovable, and is friendly with newcomers nowadays.   She loves my grandchildren, and as most Boxers, is exuberant and tolerant of anything.  She is happy 100% of the time, and we have learned how to cohabitate.   I am able to leave her alone in the house again at times, depending on her mood.  Sleepy is OK; happy and excited is risky, so she stays in her garage apartment.

Hannah has been a challenge.  I believe my experience demonstrates the harm that can be caused by mistreatment at an early age.  People who adopt adult Boxers as well as those who buy Boxer puppies should be aware that they are a high-maintenance dog!  Boxers need training and lots of attention.  We find more cases of true separation anxiety in Boxers than other breeds, even those raised in a loving home.  Their nickname “the velcro dog” is a great example of how much they crave quality time with their humans.   But there is not a sweeter breed, which makes it worth it if you are willing to handle their various needs.  When unprepared people give a pet away the result is often similar to what Hannah went through.  Often, free pets are given away several times before they “land" in a forever home, if they ever do.  Pets are not disposable and Hannah is now home, where life is finally safe and full of love.

 

 

 ~Cindy

 

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Tail #5  Freeda Finds a Family

 

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Tail #6  A Success Story

We begin by thanking Florida Boxer Rescue, Inc. and especially Sandy and Hattie for enabling Roy and I to locate one another. Also, Roy's first family that so generously, although with much personal sacrifice and stress, released him to me.

            

I hope our success story will serve to inspire others who may be seeking a Boxer dog companion, to seriously consider the rewarding experience of adoption that Florida Boxer Rescue provides.  In the past, I was fortunate to adopt a Boxer mix named "Buyer" (based on my career in purchasing). He and I shared a loving and warm life together for nearly nine years until cancer separated us. As my best friend, near constant companion, and "lifemate," Buyer's death was a very devastating and painful experience for me and life no longer seemed to have the joys and happiness he and I shared together.                                                                                                     We were fortunate enough to have nearly twice the length of time together than his doctor had projected following Buyer's diagnosis, and we definitely packed each day with all the love and adventure possible. I always knew another Boxer would come join me some day, but somehow I felt the new dog would not be a replacement nor could I possibly share the same level of intense feelings for a dog other than my Buyer. How incorrect those feelings were! LOL!

                                                                             A friend here in my senior community, had told me years ago about the Boxer Rescue program in his home state of Maryland and how he successfully adopted three Boxers in the past. I should add here, that his current Boxer companion Kelly is a wonderful friend for Roy and I, and is a frequent guest in our home. I assured my friend Keith that I would remember Boxer Rescue when it was time to adopt and I did.                                                          .                                      

Following nearly nine months of lonliness and despair, I took the initial step to contact FBR, Inc. via their excellent website. I found it difficult to view the available Boxers page; it was truly unbearable and it took me several months until I could read the website information, view the Boxers and read their individual bios without intense emotion and painful memories of Buyer.

Unable to sleep one evening, I felt drawn to my home PC and went to view the FBR website once again, except this time, in addition to viewing the available Boxers pages, I thought "why not?" and clicked on the owner surrender page too. Oh, how fortunate for me that I did. When I saw the photo of Roy and read his biography I knew - I just knew "here is the Boxer for me." I didn't sleep for the remainder of the night. I concluded this was good criteria to use to determine my readiness to adopt and that marvelous day did arrive in June 2006.

      

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Tail #7  Chatham's Happy Ending

 

Hi,

Just wanted to send you a few pictures of the BEST Boxer in the world!  This is Chatham and we adopted her from FBR about 6 years ago.  When we got her she detested all other animals but as you can see, time heals all wounds.  She never lets her best friend (Timmy the Chihuahua) out of her sight.  Just wanted to say thanks and let everyone know that Chatham has had a lot of years of love with us and we don't know what we would do without her!

 Warmest Regards,

Diane P.

 

 

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Tail #8  Jasmine's Happy Ending

Jasmine was one of the Boxers in this picture, dumped at a Florida shelter. A message from her new family is below:

 

~Patty"