Members of the American Boxer Rescue Association will conduct themselves with honesty and openness, regardless of the location, circumstances or people involved.

American Boxer Rescue Association's goals are as follows:

1.) To identify and take into immediate care, Boxers who have been lost, abandoned, surrendered or otherwise disowned.
2.) To train, rehabilitate, or otherwise treat rescued Boxers to bring them into adoptable condition, as necessary or appropriate.
3.) To find suitable adoptive homes for these dogs.
4.) To provide all possible assistance to an adoptive home to ensure the permanent welfare of the adoptive Boxer.
5.) To make every effort to educate the public regarding our purpose and scope of our activities.
6.) To make an effort to educate surrendering owner to prevent the dog from being turned in to rescue.

Article I

Section I - The Rescue Group

1.) All ABRA affiliated rescue groups will work together and cooperate with others in a professional manner, with our common goal of helping the welfare of the Boxer breed.
2.) Rescue groups should first endeavor to place the dog in their own local area. If it is necessary to place a dog outside the local area, the rescue group involved with the rescue will contact and coordinate with the local group in the intended placement area. The rescue groups will cooperate with each other in the placement of said dog.
3.) Not everyone will have exactly the same interpretation of every situation. In recognition of differences that exist, it is essential that all ABRA recognized rescue groups represent a cohesive and united front. It is vital therefore, that all differences be settled internally. If necessary, differences must be arbitrated through an ABRA grievance procedure. Any spoken or implied criticism of other groups only serves to adversely affect all rescues.

Section II - The Surrender Process

1.) All dogs entering an ABRA affiliated rescue group, as an owner surrender, should be accompanied by a surrender contract.
2.) The surrender contract should include the dog's name, age, sex, physical condition and description, health and veterinary history, and reason the dog was surrendered. A brief summary of dog's habits is also needed.
3.) Surrender contracts should be signed and dated by surrendering owner as well as the rescue representative.
4.) All dogs entering an ABRA affiliated rescue group from local animal shelters should be accompanied by formal paperwork indicating that the dog has been "officially" surrendered to the rescue group.

Section III - The Dog

1.) All dogs that are in an ABRA affiliated rescue group should not be made available for adoption until an appropriate veterinary exam as well as a temperament evaluation is completed.
2.) An appropriate veterinary exam should include a basic physical and fecal check, with the dog receiving appropriate vaccines. When a veterinary record is available and current, no further veterinary care is necessary unless required by an unresolved medical problem.
3.) Each dog should be spayed or neutered, as soon as medically feasible, considering the age and medical condition of the dog. No boxer received into rescue should ever be allowed to breed or be bred under anycircumstances. Any known medical problems should also be treated before release.
4.) Temperament evaluation should include determining if the dog shows signs of aggression to people, as well as other dogs. If the dog shows any signs of aggression to people, it should be excluded from the adoption program. If deemed necessary, the dog should be humanely euthanized.
5.) A dog's age, sex, or previously known habits, and behavioral and medical history should never be withheld from potential adoptive homes.

Section IV- The Adoption Process