No single person represents the face of a rescue organization. It takes each and every one donating their personal resources toward a common goal. Once it is determined how best to dovetail those resources, the actual work of rescue begins. HBR depends on the commitment and can-do spirit of each volunteer.
Ariann has loved animals her whole life. She has had pigeons, parakeets, goats, rabbits, cats and her favorite - dogs! Ariann fell in love with the boxer breed when she purchased a white boxer from a breeder to keep it from being destroyed. After he passed away at age seven, Ariann and her family adopted Bear, then Tegan, then Nadia! So many dogs have been fostered over the years she has lost count. Her young children take part in rescuing and nurturing abandoned, abused, and neglected boxers as much as their mother! If they see a dog running down the street, the car must be stopped and the dog must be saved! The kids make certain of that! If you are not a dog person, don't visit here! You will be met at the door by three wonderful boxers and possibly a foster! And you absolutely will leave with dog hair on your clothes! Ariann has been involved with rescue since 2003. [bio 2008]
Cheryl has loved animals ever since she was 5 years old and had her own parakeet that would sit on her shoulder in the house. She graduated to dogs and even cats by bringing home all of the strays in the neighborhood and working to find them a home. As a teenager, she once "hid" a Pekingese in her room for weeks until she finally got permission to keep the dog. Cheryl came to rescue a few years ago and has been working to save as many Boxers as possible. [bio 2008]
Darlene got involved in rescue about six years ago, by accident. A few months after her first boxer died of leukemia, a stray male boxer (Rocky) was found in her veterinarian's parking lot. Then a few months after that, Darlene began surfing on-line in hopes of finding a playmate for Rocky. She located a sweet little girl and named her Rosie - and has been hooked on rescue ever since! Her home bursts at the seams with four boxers - Rocky, Rosie, Kayla, and Frankie. "It's a lot of work and can be heart breaking at times; but the reward is in helping these lost and abused dogs find good, loving homes. Then watching them change into vibrant, loving, companions!" [bio 2008]
Jonney has been bringing home strays and other creatures since grade school days! Then back in the mid 70's she and her new husband, Billy,took in and re-homed various dogs from a remote animal control in Montana that used a bullet to deal with unclaimed dogs. They hand raised a litter of kittens rescued after a fire was put out at a local refinery, and homed them. An unwanted three week old boxer mix, someone's backyard accident, was hand raised and homed. Over time, a wounded crow, wild rabbits, an egret rescued from a leg hold trap with a broken toe, more kittens, and various other displaced birds have been nurtured and replaced in the wild. Boxers have been in their home since 1986 when a little plain fawn pup named Copper swept their hearts away. Then came Tonka, Caesar, and Sarah. It was loving these dogs that ultimately led them toward organized rescue in 2002. Pictured above are Jasper and Penny. Penny overcame most of her fears and is a cherished family member! They have been involved together with boxer rescue since 2003. [bio 2008]
"Rescuers Need Rescue, Too"
Animal rescue is deeply rewarding yet extremely difficult work.
To survive in this realm, one must find healthy ways to cope with the emotional challenges.
Here are 10 points to ponder.
You can't save them all.
Even if you spent every hour of every day working to save animals,
You still wouldn't be able to save them all. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your efforts.
Work smarter, not harder.
Manage your rescue efforts like a business. Organize tasks to make the best use of time.
For example,
Time spent recruiting more volunteers may make more sense in the long run
Than trying to do more yourself.
If you find yourself pulled in many directions,
You might be more effective if you focus on one rescue facility,
One geographic locale, or one species or breed.
Just say no.
Many people feel guilty when they can't take care of everything that comes up.
Be realistic about how much you can handle! If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to say, "I can't right now." Delegate to others when possible, and ask for help when you need it.
You are making a difference. Celebrate victories. There are happy endings to many rescue stories. Rejoice in what is working.
Of course, seeing an animal go home with a loving family is the greatest reward of all.
Small kindnesses do count.
It's common to think that small efforts don't mean as much as large victories.
But stopping to pet an animal, even for just one minute is worth doing.
Your touch may be the only friendly attention he or she receives that day.
Grooming, holding and comforting, or intoning softly that you care,
Are activities that many shelters don't have time for.
Find outlets for emotional release.
Rescue work can be physically exhausting, emotionally draining and spiritually challenging.
Don't dismiss your feelings or think you're a wimp for being affected by it all.
Talk to someone you trust about what you're experiencing.
Cry when you need to. Write your feelings in a journal.
Channel your emotions into action...
By writing to the editor of your newspaper or your local representatives
About the need for animal protection legislation.
Take care of yourself.
Make time to do whatever makes you feel good. Take a relaxing bath, or go out to dinner and let someone else do the cooking.
You need to recharge your batteries in order to maintain mental and physical health.
Don't downplay your compassion.
When people ask me why I rescue animals, often I'm tempted to say,
"Oh, it's not a big deal" or "Somebody's got to do it".
When in reality I rescue animals because I care so deeply about them.
Compassion is healthy, normal, and necessary for this work.
Let people know how important this cause is to you.
You just might inspire others to become involved.
Never give up.
When you get discouraged, it is tempting to throw in the towel.
Take a break, and come back fighting.
And remember the man and the starfish.
Author
Chandra Moira Beal
Victoriaand Daniel grew up in homes full of dogs, all of them rescues. When they married they wanted a large dog but their apartment was just not big enough. So they added Dexter, a Jack Russell Terrier, to their family. Later, after having their two sons Haden & Samuel, and moving into a house, they revisited the idea of a bigger dog. One day while picking up the boys from pre-school they saw a Boxer Rescue bumper sticker on an SUV (Ariann's car!). It inspired them to start researching the boxer breed, and boxer rescue organizations in the area. They decided there was no better way to learn about boxers than by volunteering as a foster family! Two years and several foster boxers later, they became what we affectionately refer to as 'foster failures', by adopting Holly. Holly was the foster girl they nursed back to health and could not bear to part with. She fit perfectly into their home with Haden, Samuel, and Dexter too! They love working with HBR and hope everyone considering a dog for their family, will look into rescue. There is no dog more loving than the one that has been given a second chance at life! [bio 2009]
The Man and the Starfish
There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.
The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again,
threw the small starfish from the sand to the water.
He asked, "Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"
The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.
" But there must be thousands of beached and millions of starfish!" exclaimed the young man.
"How can you make any difference?"
The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand,
and as he threw it into the safety of the sea, he said;
"I just made a difference to this one."
Jane has been a dog lover her entire life. Raised in a small rural town, there were all manner of dogs around, and when walking to school there was usually a pack in attendance! She has always had a dog, but never knew how wonderful boxers were until eighteen years ago when her brother brought home an awesome boxer named Isaac! After Isaac passed away, she presented her brother with a boxer pup named Spaten, for his birthday. Spaten was the sweetest dog in the world! Then eight years ago her friend Keith's boxers, Tyson and Angel, had puppies. From that litter came her baby girl Oprah. One Sunday morning three years ago Oprah and Jane were out walking and this skinny, slap-happy, boxer puppy came running up to them. Oprah was instantly in love and insisted the pup be brought home. Oprah nurtured the youngster as if he were her own and corrected him just like any mom would. After trying to no avail to locate the pup's owners, he became part of Jane's family known as Clapton-The Blues Hound! This was her induction into boxer rescue! Recently Jane opened her home to organized rescue by taking in her first foster boxer! She relates there is nothing like the feeling you get from providing care that renews their health and seeing the light come back into their eyes as they realize they are loved! That is what rescue is all about! [bio 2008]
Jessica grew up on a 2.5 acre "farm" in Vancouver, Washington where rescuing and loving animals was so routine it seemed to be genetic! Some of her favorite family rescue memories include; the time her parents buit a handicap ramp for Silvia (the disabled silver guinea hen), so she could waddle up and roost with the other hens, and raisng Jack (the inside dwelling-diaper wearing-orphaned, billy goat)! Jessica got her first boxer, Lady, when she was a teenager and has been in love with this amazing breed ever since. In April of 2007 she and her fiance bought their first home and by May made the decision to begin their family with a "canine kid". Naturally, a boxer is what they were looking for and a boxer is what they got! They went to meet boxers in need of a forever home and instantly fell in love with their beautiful fawn female, Bailey! A year later as fate would have it, a starved and scared stray white female boxer pup wandered into their garage. Yep, you guessed it! That pup, now named Mia, is one of their beloved "fur children". Life would be incomplete without her fur babies and if she were reincarnated, would want to come back as one of her pampered pooches. Jessica's motto is: "Stop Nudity, Big Dogs Need Clothes Too!". [bio 2008]
Angela and Jacob met in Lubbock Texas when he was a college student and she was wandering around aimlessly looking for something different. Right away they hit it off and started dating a few weeks later. The day after they met, Angela told him she was going to marry him. He said that all the girls said that! A few weeks later, Angela decided their family should be expanded. Jacob just thought they were going to 'look' at shelter dogs. As soon as they arrived Angela saw what would be their first dog. It was love at first sight! The day was hot and he was sitting in his water bucket! While his parentage is undetermined, they learned he was found in a closet before being brought to the shelter. He was scared, abused, and malnourished. At first he refused to get in the car, but was eventually coaxed in. It took a few months, but when Sawyer realized Angela and Jacob would not hurt him, he learned to trust again. As if Sawyer wasn't enough, Angela missed her favorite breed. And since Jacob had never had a puppy, she decided to start looking for a boxer. Soon an eight week old bundle of boxer was located! When he hopped on over, she was his and he was hers! Then she called Jacob and asked him what he thought about getting a puppy, and he reluctantly said it was "her choice". She couldn't leave the pup there, so paid for him and decided to surprise Jacob at work. As soon as Angela put the puppy in Jacobs arms, he was a boxer man through and through! Gideon and Sawyer became best friends right away. Sawyer tried to be the grumpy old man, but even he couldn't resist Gideon jumping on him and licking his snout every time he saw him! Gideon is now much larger than Sawyer, and Jacob and Angela got married in October (she tried to tell him!). Since then they have added a min pin/wire hair terrier mix named Aslan, to the family. Yet still there was a desire to help their favorite breed. Knowing they could not make a thirteen year commitment, fostering a rescued boxer seemed the best option and it has turned out to be an awesome experience! [bio 2008]
Stephen has been an animal lover all his life and has been dragging animals home since he was able to walk! Over the years his house has been home to a wide variety of dogs, cats, rabbits, owls, squirrels; and even a chicken dropped in courtesy of a passing storm! These days Stephen shares his home with a shepherd mix named Shasta, a crazy chocolate lab named Lucy, and a twenty-five pound cat named Wally. The cat is in charge! While Stephen may be new to HBR and formal rescue, he has quickly grown to love it. HBR volunteer Cheryl convinced him to give fostering a try in December 2008 (through general pestering, pressure, and not a little wine), with Riley. Rilely was heartworm positive, terribly underweight, and wary of humans when Cheryl brought him to Stephen. Over the three months residing with Stephen's menagerie, Riley's health was restored as well as his loving and energetic personality, and his love of people! For Stephen, playing a part in Riley's recovery and eventual placement with his wonderful "forever family" in March 2009, was a very special experience. He has gained new friends in the HBR family and found the rewards of fostering a lost, abused, and or abandoned dog, to be a huge surprise. Stephen hopes to repeat it many times in the future and is happy to be a part of HBR! [bio 2009]
Kip and Tab always say their boxers Fred and Ginger run the house and just allow them to stay there! They became involved in rescue programs after adopting Fred back in 2005. Realizing what a tough life Fred had lived prior to rescue motivated them to help other dogs start new, happy, lives as well. Kip and Tab volunteer as foster parents and help with events. Cumulatively they have fostered seven dogs, and both say nothing can beat the feeling of placing a dog in the perfect forever home! [bio 2009]
*****
I am the bridge between what was and what can be.
I am the pathway to a new life! I am made of mush.
Because my heart melted when I saw you
Matted and sore, limping, lonely,
Unwanted and afraid to love. For one moment in time you are mine.
I will feed you with my own hand.
I will love you with my whole heart.
I will make you whole. I am made of steel.
Because when the times comes,
When you are well and sleek,
When your eyes shine and your tail wags with joy,
Then comes the hard part.
I will let you go. Not without tears,
But without a regret.
For you are safe forever. A new dog needs me now!
*****
Dawn is a single mom with a full time job that happens to love dogs! Her family includes Andy the boxer, and Kevin the boston terrier. While window shopping and dreaming about a new puppy, she stumbled onto the HBR web site. Immediately Dawn knew volunteering and fostering would put her time and energy to good use, and in the process teach her daughter by example about helping and giving back! They make quite a team and HBR reaps the benefit of their dedication and drive! [bio 2010]
Steven gets a kick out of being a foster parent for HBR! He and his lovely wife Brandi have been married ten years and they have three beautiful daughters. Steven serves his community as Captain of the Caney Creek Fire Department. His other passion is boxers! Recently their senior boxers made the trip to Rainbow Bridge and Steven was surprised at Christmas with a new pup named Lexie. They also have an adopted cat named Tabby. But this family decided they have room for more! Steven can't stand to see a boxer mistreated or to not have a home. He is right on when he states, "Boxers are like kids that never grow up, they keep you in stitches laughing, and they are a smart breed"! Steven feels a commitment to the breed and does his part by making sure the rescued boxers that pass through his home are well loved until they receive a happily-ever-after ending with a new family that will treat them as beloved children! [bio 2010]
Our dogs love to sleep on Kuranda Dog beds, but we don't have enough for everyone. If you would like to donate a bed at a special wholesale price for a another dog to sleep in comfort, please donate a Kuranda dog bed.
te - dogs! Ariann fell in love with the boxer breed when she purchased a white boxer from a breeder to keep it from being destroyed. After he passed away at age seven, Ariann and her family adopted Bear, then Tegan, then Nadia! So many dogs have been fostered over the years she has lost count. Her young children take part in rescuing and nurturing abandoned, abused, and neglected boxers as much as their mother! If they see a dog running down the street, the car must be stopped and the dog must be saved! The kids make certain of that! If you are not a dog person, don't visit here! You will be met at the door by three wonderful boxers and possibly a foster! And you absolutely will leave with dog hair on your clothes! Ariann has been involved with rescue since 2003. [bio 2008]
Cheryl has loved animals ever since she was 5 years old and had her own parakeet that would sit on her shoulder in the house. She graduated to dogs and even cats by bringing home all of the strays in the neighborhood and working to find them a home. As a teenager, she once "hid" a Pekingese in her room for weeks until she finally got permission to keep the dog. Cheryl came to rescue a few years ago and has been working to save as many Boxers as possible. [bio 2008]
Darlene got involved in rescue about six years ago, by accident. A few months after her first boxer died of leukemia, a stray male boxer (Rocky) was found in her veterinarian's parking lot. Then a few months after that, Darlene began surfing on-line in hopes of finding a playmate for Rocky. She located a sweet little girl and named her Rosie - and has been hooked on rescue ever since! Her home bursts at the seams with four boxers - Rocky, Rosie, Kayla, and Frankie. "It's a lot of work and can be heart breaking at times; but the reward is in helping these lost and abused dogs find good, loving homes. Then watching them change into vibrant, loving, companions!" [bio 2008]
Jonney has been bringing home strays and other creatures since grade school days! Then back in the mid 70's she and her new husband, Billy, took in and re-homed various dogs from a remote animal control in Montana that used a bullet to deal with unclaimed dogs. They hand raised a litter of kittens rescued after a fire was put out at a local refinery, and homed them. An unwanted three week old boxer mix, someone's backyard accident, was hand raised and homed. Over time, a wounded crow, wild rabbits, an egret rescued from a leg hold trap with a broken toe, more kittens, and various other displaced birds have been nurtured and replaced in the wild. Boxers have been in their home since 1986 when a little plain fawn pup named Copper swept their hearts away. Then came Tonka, Caesar, and Sarah. It was loving these dogs that ultimately led them toward organized rescue in 2002. Pictured above are Jasper and Penny. Penny overcame most of her fears and is a cherished family member! They have been involved together with boxer rescue since 2003. [bio 2008]
Jane has been a dog lover her entire life. Raised in a small rural town, there were all manner of dogs around, and when walking to school there was usually a pack in attendance! She has always had a dog, but never knew how wonderful boxers were until eighteen years ago when her brother brought home an awesome boxer named Isaac! After Isaac passed away, she presented her brother with a boxer pup named Spaten, for his birthday. Spaten was the sweetest dog in the world! Then eight years ago her friend Keith's boxers, Tyson and Angel, had puppies. From that litter came her baby girl Oprah. One Sunday morning three years ago Oprah and Jane were out walking and this skinny, slap-happy, boxer puppy came running up to them. Oprah was instantly in love and insisted the pup be brought home. Oprah nurtured the youngster as if he were her own and corrected him just like any mom would. After trying to no avail to locate the pup's owners, he became part of Jane's family known as Clapton-The Blues Hound! This was her induction into boxer rescue! Recently Jane opened her home to organized rescue by taking in her first foster boxer! She relates there is nothing like the feeling you get from providing care that renews their health and seeing the light come back into their eyes as they realize they are loved! That is what rescue is all about! [bio 2008]
Jessica grew up on a 2.5 acre "farm" in Vancouver, Washington where rescuing and loving animals was so routine it seemed to be genetic! Some of her favorite family rescue memories include; the time her parents buit a handicap ramp for Silvia (the disabled silver guinea hen), so she could waddle up and roost with the other hens, and raisng Jack (the inside dwelling-diaper wearing-orphaned, billy goat)! Jessica got her first boxer, Lady, when she was a teenager and has been in love with this amazing breed ever since. In April of 2007 she and her fiance bought their first home and by May made the decision to begin their family with a "canine kid". Naturally, a boxer is what they were looking for and a boxer is what they got! They went to meet boxers in need of a forever home and instantly fell in love with their beautiful fawn female, Bailey! A year later as fate would have it, a starved and scared stray white female boxer pup wandered into their garage. Yep, you guessed it! That pup, now named Mia, is one of their beloved "fur children". Life would be incomplete without her fur babies and if she were reincarnated, would want to come back as one of her pampered pooches. Jessica's motto is: "Stop Nudity, Big Dogs Need Clothes Too!". [bio 2008]
Angela and Jacob met in Lubbock Texas when he was a college student and she was wandering around aimlessly looking for something different. Right away they hit it off and started dating a few weeks later. The day after they met, Angela told him she was going to marry him. He said that all the girls said that! A few weeks later, Angela decided their family should be expanded. Jacob just thought they were going to 'look' at shelter dogs. As soon as they arrived Angela saw what would be their first dog. It was love at first sight! The day was hot and he was sitting in his water bucket! While his parentage is undetermined, they learned he was found in a closet before being brought to the shelter. He was scared, abused, and malnourished. At first he refused to get in the car, but was eventually coaxed in. It took a few months, but when Sawyer realized Angela and Jacob would not hurt him, he learned to trust again. As if Sawyer wasn't enough, Angela missed her favorite breed. And since Jacob had never had a puppy, she decided to start looking for a boxer. Soon an eight week old bundle of boxer was located! When he hopped on over, she was his and he was hers! Then she called Jacob and asked him what he thought about getting a puppy, and he reluctantly said it was "her choice". She couldn't leave the pup there, so paid for him and decided to surprise Jacob at work. As soon as Angela put the puppy in Jacobs arms, he was a boxer man through and through! Gideon and Sawyer became best friends right away. Sawyer tried to be the grumpy old man, but even he couldn't resist Gideon jumping on him and licking his snout every time he saw him! Gideon is now much larger than Sawyer, and Jacob and Angela got married in October (she tried to tell him!). Since then they have added a min pin/wire hair terrier mix named Aslan, to the family. Yet still there was a desire to help their favorite breed. Knowing they could not make a thirteen year commitment, fostering a rescued boxer seemed the best option and it has turned out to be an awesome experience! [bio 2008]
Stephen has been an animal lover all his life and has been dragging animals home since he was able to walk! Over the years his house has been home to a wide variety of dogs, cats, rabbits, owls, squirrels; and even a chicken dropped in courtesy of a passing storm! These days Stephen shares his home with a shepherd mix named Shasta, a crazy chocolate lab named Lucy, and a twenty-five pound cat named Wally. The cat is in charge! While Stephen may be new to HBR and formal rescue, he has quickly grown to love it. HBR volunteer Cheryl convinced him to give fostering a try in December 2008 (through general pestering, pressure, and not a little wine), with Riley. Rilely was heartworm positive, terribly underweight, and wary of humans when Cheryl brought him to Stephen. Over the three months residing with Stephen's menagerie, Riley's health was restored as well as his loving and energetic personality, and his love of people! For Stephen, playing a part in Riley's recovery and eventual placement with his wonderful "forever family" in March 2009, was a very special experience. He has gained new friends in the HBR family and found the rewards of fostering a lost, abused, and or abandoned dog, to be a huge surprise. Stephen hopes to repeat it many times in the future and is happy to be a part of HBR! [bio 2009]
Kip and Tab always say their boxers Fred and Ginger run the house and just allow them to stay there! They became involved in rescue programs after adopting Fred back in 2005. Realizing what a tough life Fred had lived prior to rescue motivated them to help other dogs start new, happy, lives as well. Kip and Tab volunteer as foster parents and help with events. Cumulatively they have fostered seven dogs, and both say nothing can beat the feeling of placing a dog in the perfect forever home! [bio 2009]
Dawn is a single mom with a full time job that happens to love dogs! Her family includes Andy the boxer, and Kevin the boston terrier. While window shopping and dreaming about a new puppy, she stumbled onto the HBR web site. Immediately Dawn knew volunteering and fostering would put her time and energy to good use, and in the process teach her daughter by example about helping and giving back! They make quite a team and HBR reaps the benefit of their dedication and drive! [bio 2010]
