My name is Veronica Sallee and I am writing because of my little brother Percy Sallee Jr. My brother Percy adopted a dog from the New Jersey Rescue league eight years ago because he did not want to buy a puppy from the “Puppy Mills” and he felt very strongly about giving an unwanted/loved dog another chance. Percy visited the center every day for four months looking for a Boxer (his favorite breed) to take home and my sister and I watched, as he was disappointed every day. On the fourth month, my brother came home excited telling us that they had rescued a Boxer puppy about 6 months old and his name was first on the waiting list!
On the night that the puppy was supposed to come home, we waited anxiously, preparing the new dog’s bowl, and training cage, etc. Were we ever shocked when my brother came thru the door with an obese ten year old Chihuahua named “Chi Chi”. We questioned him angrily about the boxer thinking that perhaps the adoption center had reneged on it’s promise to give the boxer puppy to my brother, but he shook his head and told us the story. It seems that he had gone excitingly to pick up the dog that morning, and the rescue workers were putting an old Chihuahua in a top holding cage. They explained to him how she was rescued from a puppy breeder, and had probably never experienced real human contact. They doubted that she would be adopted because of her age, condition, and extreme fear of humans. My brother then said that he looked at the beautiful boxer puppy with five people behind him waiting to take him home, and his decision was instantly made.
My brother had Chi Chi eight wonderful years! The little dog absolutely adored him and he absolutely loved her. The bond they shared was at times almost psychic, Percy, who is an epileptic, slept with her and she even woke the family before two of his most serious seizures! Towards the end, Chi Chi lost all mobility and Percy carried her around like a little child, patiently hand feeding her and bathing her in warm water until the ache in her bones subsided enough for her to rest for the night. Chi Chi lost the battle this month, and we had to put her to a quiet sleep because she had become so frail from her courageous battle with arthritis that she softly whined in the morning even after taking her medicine. Every three months our vet would tell us “I don’t think she will make it much longer” and every year she fought on, we think just so she would not leave my brother alone.
Last week, we made the trip to the shelter again to find another best friend for my brother. We have since relocated to Maryland, and there is only one animal shelter for the whole county (Prince George’s). We were lucky to find a boxer puppy, but when we went to put our names on the waiting list, we were told that a Boxer Rescue League in Virginia had already taken him a few hours before. My sister and I have called Breeders and Boxer Rescue Leagues in Maryland, but both places charge such an exorbitant fee that we really cannot afford to buy. In fact, about the only places that are even half way affordable are the Puppy Mills with their “sick” dog discounts! I really do think that it is a sad thing that money determines who will have a chance to own this breed. My brother who is a genuinely loving owner may never get a chance to have a boxer because of the way the system works.
I hope that you will find a place in your publication to print this letter, so that responsible Breeders and Boxer Rescue Leagues will begin to remember “who and why” they are rescuing/breeding these dogs. Is it for the highest bidder or the deepest heart?
Thanks for hearing me out; I felt this story needed to be shared.
Sincerely,
Veronica Sallee
Hyattsville, MD 20784
On the night that the puppy was supposed to come home, we waited anxiously, preparing the new dog’s bowl, and training cage, etc. Were we ever shocked when my brother came thru the door with an obese ten year old Chihuahua named “Chi Chi”. We questioned him angrily about the boxer thinking that perhaps the adoption center had reneged on it’s promise to give the boxer puppy to my brother, but he shook his head and told us the story. It seems that he had gone excitingly to pick up the dog that morning, and the rescue workers were putting an old Chihuahua in a top holding cage. They explained to him how she was rescued from a puppy breeder, and had probably never experienced real human contact. They doubted that she would be adopted because of her age, condition, and extreme fear of humans. My brother then said that he looked at the beautiful boxer puppy with five people behind him waiting to take him home, and his decision was instantly made.
My brother had Chi Chi eight wonderful years! The little dog absolutely adored him and he absolutely loved her. The bond they shared was at times almost psychic, Percy, who is an epileptic, slept with her and she even woke the family before two of his most serious seizures! Towards the end, Chi Chi lost all mobility and Percy carried her around like a little child, patiently hand feeding her and bathing her in warm water until the ache in her bones subsided enough for her to rest for the night. Chi Chi lost the battle this month, and we had to put her to a quiet sleep because she had become so frail from her courageous battle with arthritis that she softly whined in the morning even after taking her medicine. Every three months our vet would tell us “I don’t think she will make it much longer” and every year she fought on, we think just so she would not leave my brother alone.
Last week, we made the trip to the shelter again to find another best friend for my brother. We have since relocated to Maryland, and there is only one animal shelter for the whole county (Prince George’s). We were lucky to find a boxer puppy, but when we went to put our names on the waiting list, we were told that a Boxer Rescue League in Virginia had already taken him a few hours before. My sister and I have called Breeders and Boxer Rescue Leagues in Maryland, but both places charge such an exorbitant fee that we really cannot afford to buy. In fact, about the only places that are even half way affordable are the Puppy Mills with their “sick” dog discounts! I really do think that it is a sad thing that money determines who will have a chance to own this breed. My brother who is a genuinely loving owner may never get a chance to have a boxer because of the way the system works.
I hope that you will find a place in your publication to print this letter, so that responsible Breeders and Boxer Rescue Leagues will begin to remember “who and why” they are rescuing/breeding these dogs. Is it for the highest bidder or the deepest heart?
Thanks for hearing me out; I felt this story needed to be shared.
Sincerely,
Veronica Sallee
Hyattsville, MD 20784
