Saved Joe!!!

[StormKatz]

I'm so sorry for all you've been threw. Please don't let this bad experience sour you on rescue. My Johnny-Bravo is a 6 1/2 year old rescue (please see Johnny's story). Lucky for me I had the knowledge & training to deal with his issues, & he was never aggressive towards children.

If you are still interested in rescue, try contacting your local ones.. Johnny was placed with me by what is in my opinion a very reputable rescue, & I didn't have a fenced yard either.

If you would prefer not to rescue again this soon, try contacting AKC & requesting a list of breeders in your area. Look for breeders that give guarentee's & health test of course.

I know when you are ready to have that new baby it seems so hard to find the right one, but you will trust me....

I wish you were closer, I'd send you Donte & Deacon's breeders...

 

[gojoe]

Thanks

I am totally not knocking rescue, but I think at this point I REALLY want to know who's been caring for the puppy and how from conception to delivery. I know good and well awesome dogs can be found through rescue but am honestly very uncomfortable with trying again. I realize picking up Joe from a shelter is a far different experience than working with a rescue group to find a suitable match but i am definitely quite nervous.

I did not know I could request a list specific to my state at AKC. I will definitely do that.

You've got a wonderful group of Boxers, absolutely adorable and glad that you have a successful rescue story. I always enjoyed reading those.

 

[gojoe]

OH CRAP! Broke a rule, so sorry. Please disregard request.

I was perusing the how to find a breeder link when i realized i had inadvertently broken a rule in requesting information concerning referalls or information for specific breeders and do apologize.

I will take the information i have gathered already and start there. I did send out a note to the AKC requesting location specific breeders and will be online often hunting down local Boxer Clubs for additional information.

Once again, my apologies for the error and thank you again for your assistance

 

[lllore]

How to be tactful...

Living here in Indy and having adopted from the local rescue organization, I can't believe they let you adopt him without a home visit and then take him out of state. Their rescue contract requests that you return the dog to them, am I completely misunderstanding, you got him through a rescue???

 

[StormKatz]

Living here in Indy and having adopted from the local rescue organization, I can't believe they let you adopt him without a home visit and then take him out of state. Their rescue contract requests that you return the dog to them, am I completely misunderstanding, you got him through a rescue???

That's not helping anything. The rescue I got Johnny from did a home visit, but they do allow rescues to go to homes out of state (within reason) & that don't fit ALL of their requirements. Not every person that wants to rescue has a huge backyard, etc. When I got Johnny I was 18, lived in an apartment, & had another Boxer. I have lived in three different states with him, over the last 5 years.

It done & over with, let's not compound her pain & confusion now.

Having said that sweetie, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were frowning on rescue. I totally understand, Johnny had ALOT of issues when I got him that took years to get past, but we did it, & I wouldn't trade him for the world. We considered rescue before we got Donte & Deacon, but decided on going to a breeder instead.

After all you've been threw I totally understand prefering not to rescue right now. Like I said, try calling AKC, you could also do an internet search (just make sure they clearly post titles/health testing, & are willing to offer proof of both), you could also consider looking in the classified's of breed specific magazines, etc. Just be patient, you'll find the baby for you. You did a wonderful thing for Joe, & you'll give your next baby a wonderful home.

 

[Kerry Jane]

Some suggestions on finding a puppy - contact your local boxer club and see if they can refer you to any breeders, another option is to attend some dog shows and meet some people that way. There is also a show boxer list which has a listed of boxer breeders, plus numerous other sites online which list boxer breeders. Of course, there is no guarentee that they are reputable - it will be your responsibility to check them out wherever you find them.
Good luck with your search for a puppy!

 

[gojoe]

To clarify

Living here in Indy and having adopted from the local rescue organization, I can't believe they let you adopt him without a home visit and then take him out of state. Their rescue contract requests that you return the dog to them, am I completely misunderstanding, you got him through a rescue???

Sorry for the confusion. I 'rescued' Joe from an animal shelter IN the Indianapolis area (actually in the county just South of the City) in the middle of NOWHERE. I had found him through petfinder and he didn't have much time left so i hopped in the car, drove down an got him.

I am sure that if I had worked with a Resuce Organization and the process involved it would've been an altogether different issue and probably far better experience for all parties involved.

After demonstrated aggression toward children and small furry creatures, the animal shelter(s) stated Joe would be euthanized immediately and I felt it would be horribly irresponsible of me to turn him into a shelter and not say ANYTHING as I felt that's what had been done by the previous owners. I don't think the behaviour was a new one for Joe. Rather than put him through more stress and trauma than he'd already be through I figured the most responsible and humane alternative was to make his last few days as special as humanly possible and take him to the vet he liked and was familiar with and who he wagged his nub to see rather than drag him into another scary, cold place with no familiar anything.

I will still make myself absolutely clear. I have NO PROBLEMS or COMPLAINTS w/ the Rescue Organizations and think they do an excellent job rehabilitating and rehoming these boxers. I am certain I will probably be volunteering for one at some point in my life. I think they are wonderful and should be applauded for the work they do.

I also don't knock the rescues with the fenced yard rule. If that's what they feel is best for the dog, then that is what is best. They are the ones putting the time, effort, energy and $$$ into it before you and have the right to have any type of placement guidelines they want. They could say you need to have purple floors. If that's what they want...that's that. I will just know not to waste their time and resources applying when I know I don't have a fenced in yard.

 

[BeckyNC]

GoJoe--I clearly remember reading about your situation a year ago and feeling so sad for you and Joe. I think it's great you are ready to try again. Rescues usually test for general temperment, as well as determining whether the dog is OK with cats and children. That said, I can understand why you would prefer to adopt/buy directly from the breeder. You did go through a very difficult and stressful situation.

I think the best place to start is with your local Boxer club. I think a member suggested this above already. I know the members of my local club breed and show and are very devoted to their pups. I am sure you will find someone who is more than happy to establish a relationship with you. Since these breeders hold their puppies so dear, I'm sure whichever one you form a relationship with will be more than happy to stay in touch, as necessary. I know some breeders will keep a pup that's a potential show prospect, but eventually decide the dog has a flaw so it will not work in the ring. Perhaps you can find this type of situation. Also, sometimes people return pups to breeders, per breeder request when the family decides having a puppy is too much...

Keep us posted as to how things work out.

 

[TexasTini]

Hey Joe....I'm going through a very similar situation with my 5 month old PUPPY!

She is absolutely wonderful around us, but get her in other situations like you described and we are a law-suit waiting to happen.

She starts group training with a person who "is not afraid of my dog" this afternoon. Frankly, I don't think she's going to be anything but disruptive to the class, but the instructor said that it sounded like Abby really needed dog socialization.

My heart tells me not to give up on her, but my mind says otherwise. My family is really trying to change my mind, but after her lunging and snapping at my daughter last week....she needs to go. Like you, I just don't have the time or money to invest in the help this little velvet teddy bear needs.

A volunteer from a rescue was here on Friday for observation and it didn't go well. I haven't heard from the director as of today. Nor have I heard from the other rescue out in western massachusetts.

The volunteer says that this little girl is "scared to death of people".....

Best of luck to you. I'm so sorry for what you have been through. I had a boxer for 11 1/2 years and I can honestly tell you that they are just THE BEST breed in the world. I hope that you don't give up...because Shadow was my best friend...

 

[gojoe]

I'm Getting There

My heart goes out to Texas Tini. I am praying your local rescue group will respond favorably to the home visit and take her on. It really hurt me to have to put Joe down and wish no one would have to endure that pain, frustration and guilt.

On the good side I took the advice given and after narrowing my search from 30 to 5 breeders who had the right answers, credentials and references to pass my initial screening, was rejected (the yard thing) by one and that's A-OK. The other 2 didn't have any puppies available and the other 2 had puppies available and found me to be an acceptable parent. I swear this is harder than finding a job. Vet reference checks, availability for home visits, personal profile, etc. etc. But after going through the Joe situation I am HAPPY to be going through it. My thought process is they wouldn't do it if they didn't care. It's work for them too and in the end they'll know if I'm a good fit for their puppy as well and in the end the best match will make itself apparent. They even PERSONALITY evaluate these little guys. I am really fascinated by this process.