boxer rescues

[ozz321]

i have had boxers for 15 yrs now, and have always had two or more. just recently my old boy(14 yrs) died and several months after that, my young boy (4 yrs) died of brain tumor. i currently have a 1 yr old boxer that i surprisingly got from the human society. i have been wanting another boxer and thought it would be great to get one from a rescue. one that needs a home. (new puppies were also way out of my price range)
i submitted several applications to rescues and no one ever got in contact with me or denied me because i did not have a fenced in yard.(i have a 3 acre farm that my dogs run on)recently a rescue did contact me, some people came to interview me to see if i was "acceptable". then they told me that it would cost me $300 to adopt and i would have to go thru some rigorous paperwork,contacts etc. before i could get the dog.
now, i know what im going to say will probably upset some people, but, this is just my opinion. by the way, the dog i was interested in was 8 yrs old. i think that this is rediculous to adopt a dog. the human society only charges about 40 dollars to adopt and they put just as much expense into taking care of their dogs. granted, i realize they are trying to make sure they go to good homes but as far as im concerned they discourage more people from adopting than not. for a hundred or so dollars more you can get a puppy. i really think they need to revise their criteria and fees for adopting a breed. i would have 3 or 4 boxers if i could but i cant afford it and just wanted to give an unwanted boxer a great home. i desperately want to have another boxer and thought the best way was to adopt. its ashame you have to be rich in order to adopt a boxer who needs a home. i am very discouraged at rescues right now and if anyone has any info on a place where i can adopt thats affordable i would appreciate any info..jody

 

[buddy'smom]

Hmmm... all I can say is I am not rich, have adopted successfully from rescue twice and don't regret the 150.00 for Kailee or the 225.00 for Clyde, and after the fact, rescue has always been there for my questions and concerns any time I need them, even 4 yrs later. Rescue volunteers work out of their own pocket for the most part, they don't have municipal funding going into a pot to help pay expenses.
I am shocked at your perspective on rescues, maybe your feelings have somehow detered you in the adoption process. I dunno.

 

[lafsalot]

0zz321, don't be too quick to judge. I assure you that resue is not a profit making business. Think $300 is too steep?!!!!! Log on to http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/12811/90324 - Cathy

 

[LuvBxrs]

Please don't be fustrated

Ozz321 I know sometimes it can be very fustrating at the fact that rescues are very picky & that they're adoption price may seem too high but in all actuality rescues in most cases never break even with all the vetting & care that the dogs need while in rescue & they just want to ensure that all the dogs who've already been put through major life changes are insured a new leash on life. The adoption price is minimal compared to to what our loving Boxers give us in return for all the years that we're privilaged to spend with them. If your going to a petstore or a breeder who only charges $100-$200 you might very well be getting an animal that is coming from a backyard breeder & who might have a host of problems not to mention keeping these people in business. If you've ever seen a backyard breeders dogs you'd definitely be a rescue advocate for sure. I guess my point is don't give up on rescue because it is a wonderful way to bring another Boxer into your life. If you need to save up the adoption fee & look into another rescue in your area, someone will work with you. Good luck & that rescue Boxer is just waiting for you DON"T GIVE UP!!!!!

 

[adeinert]

The fee is an average of the cost to vet the boxers and get them healthy again. I see the vet bills for a boxer rescue and know firsthand that the fees don't even cover the vet bills, it takes generous donations to pay all the bills. Maybe one dog doesn't take $200 to vet, but the next takes $5000 to vet! It's about saving boxers, not picking and choosing which ones will be cheap to adopt out.

I believe in rescue. I do not believe in supporting unethical BYB's or pet shops that are only in it for a buck so I pay the fee to rescue knowing I am helping boxers in general.

Ashlie

 

[ozz321]

boxer rescue

ok, i really didnt expect to have such negative feedback here, and i am not saying that boxer rescues are not a good program, but in reply to some who say about all the medical care thats involved.....#1 do you think that there is no medical cost involved with human societies, which, who by the way is also a non profit organization,rely solely on donations, and are also involved with saving animals for the same reasons as a boxer rescue. #2 in my opinion, breed rescues portray themselves as an elite organization only available to those that can afford it, and meet their criterias(by the way, the people that came to interview me had boxers for 2 yrs, i owned boxers for 15) what makes them more knowledgeable than me in how i am going to take care of my animals?? if the breed rescues were so concerned in finding good homes for their dogs, they would make it more available to all people...the humane society does not discriminate any animal,they take all kinds...pure bred or heinz 57 and their goals are the same. to give a safe and loving home to a dog that is no longer wanted by their previous owners.
i am totally against back yard breeders and puppy mills and is exactly why i was trying to adopt. i did not want to promote the breeding of more boxer puppies...however, as long as breed rescues continue to charge high prices for their dogs, including the old and feeble, people are going to continue to think...then why not just buy a puppy....for 1 or 2 hundred dollars more....
yes, in my eyes the price is minimal compared to the love and affection i get from my boxers, but why cant everyone enjoy that love..why, because they cant afford it. they can however, go to the humane society and possibly rescue a pure bred or mutt,an organization that does not discriminate, as a matter of fact, my boxer was bound for the humane society when i got him, had i not got him prior to that i am sure a boxer rescue would have got him and his value would have went up 300 dollars.
point being, if breed rescues are trying to discourage byb or puppy mills, you dont do it by charging just as much as they do. instead, why dont these rescues evaluate someones income also, if they are good people and have a good home, why dont they instead charge them less, something they can afford...why should they have to not own a boxer just because they cant afford 300 dollars. you might say..well, let them go to the humane society and get a dog there......now answer me this? is that not discrimination and does that show genuine concern for finding a good home for a dog who truly needs one?? not in my eyes.
please do not try to argue with me, my feelings will remain the same...there is no justification in the fees they charge, and although i love boxers more than any dog i have ever owned...there are plenty of lonely dogs of all kinds who can be just as loving, who just want a good home, walking along the streets for the taking if need be. that will be my first choice....jody

 

[rog1006]

Wow...I don't even know where to begin with your post, so rather than take it apart bit by bit, I will pose some questions to you.

If you don't have criteria, how can you be certain that the boxer isn't going BACK into the same abusive situation you just rescued him from? How can you be sure that just because someone has had 15 years worth of boxers, that they've been treated well and not neglected? How can you make certain that the dog won't be running wild, with no shelter or security? How is a rescue going to stay afloat FINANCIALLY if they don't require a donation for a dog? We have vet bills that are right at about $7,000 a month and we MAY adopt out about 10-15 dogs a month (on a good month) at a donation of $200--that totals at the most $3000 in donations so you can see that it is NOT enough even at $200 to stay afloat. What would your solution be? If someone cannot afford a $200-300 adoption fee, what will the family do when the dog gets sick and needs $500 worth of vet care and medicine? It's not discrimination--it's just common sense.

Regarding the Humane Society comments---- While they do the best they can, they are not in the same boat as rescue organizations, so to compare the two is silly. We work with them on a daily basis, taking dogs with medical issues, etc. because they do MINIMAL vet care and if the dog is deemed ill or has some issues, they EUTHANIZE the animal. They are a KILL SHELTER, so they don't HAVE to deal with the dogs that cost them thousands of dollars, like the ones we get in rescue. If they deem the dog unadoptable, unless it's some media story, they don't put money into the dog--they call us and if we don't go get them, they put the dog to sleep.

Going through an application, interview, and home inspection are worth it to rescue-minded families because they know we're doing it to find the "best fit" for their household. People that adopt a rescue boxer are wonderful, kind people who understand that adopting a boxer saves a life. It's about giving a piece of yourself, giving time and energy to watch a broken boxer turn into a beautiful, thriving member of the family. And that's why we keep doing it. That's why we give time and energy and love to these dogs day in a day out, even when we have full time jobs and families. I'm sorry you are upset and I am very sorry that you decided to vent your frustrations this way. If you did more research, you'd see that much of what you said is very flawed.

 

[Smooshie]

Ozz...

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum on this subject. You wonder how rescues get away with charging so much??? I wonder how they get away with charging so LITTLE. I know the $200 I paid for my babies just BARELY covered basic vet expenses and care...and my two were among the lucky ones. They came into rescue relatively healthy and in no need of medical treatment other than altering.

If you think the price of adopting from a Boxer rescue is too steep and the rules too strict, that is certainly your prerogative, but just know the rescues are putting every cent of it ( as well as their time...hard work and tears) into saving, caring for and finding the best homes possible for these wonderful dogs...

As far as a solution to your problem, I don't know if it is the same where you live, but here in the County Animal Services shelter, they allow you to put your name on a waiting list for a particular breed. Then if one comes up for adoption they call you and give you the option to adopt. This might be an option for you. It may take some time before a Boxer becomes available, but the adoption fee at the county shelters are minimal and it would be worth the wait if you could find the perfect dog

 

[kerry001]

Rescue costs

I was happy to pay $300 for my Chloe. She was an expensive dog for the rescue because she had a broken leg, and was spayed before we took her. She was rescued from a pet store at age 6 months, and had she not gone into rescue, I have no doubt she would have been euthanized. I have also never seen a boxer for sale either in a pet store or in the newspaper for under $800.00 so $300 was MUCH cheaper, and didn't support the puppy mill industry. IMO, if you can't save up $200-$300 for a dog, you are not in a financial position to adopt one. I agree that trying to compare a kill shelter to a rescue organization is ridiculous, rescues often take in senior dogs, and other "tough luck" cases that are not only difficult to place, but expensive to care for, due to high vet bills. I hope you don't think I'm flaming here, but there are some very big differences between the two, and reasons that the adoption fees are different. I did not like having my life scrutinized by the rescue, it was a hassle to fill out the paperwork, arrange for a home visit, drive for hours to pick up Chloe, but at the end of the day, I am SO happy I did it. She is a great dog, I feel good about supporting the rescue, and I also saved some money! I am positive that if the rescue organizations were able, they would charge less for the dogs, but in today's world, that is just NOT possible, not until back yard breeders, and crappy, irresponsible pet owners are a thing of the past. A dog is a tremendous responsibility, and adopting from a rescue, can be a rewarding experience, but it just can't be free, or almost free.

 

[Zannie]

i think you should stick with the humane society, theres no changing your mind about rescues..maybe if you worked with a rescue and seen all the money, time, love, hartache and where and tear on your home and yard you might think differantly...did you know humane societys get alot of grants and have alot more fund raisers than a rescu and our society its 220.00 to adopt a pure breed dog ,15 years does not make you any better than anyone else i know people who have had dogs all there life and it does not mean they are the best dog people in the world......
good luck!!!

ann