Age & Sex: 9 yr old Male	UTD: No
Weight:  58 lbs.	Other Dogs: Yes
Color:  Fawn	Cats: Unknown
Ears: Cropped	Children: Under 5: Yes    Over 5: Yes
Tail: Docked	Professional Training Required: No
Neutered: Yes	Microchipped: No
Owner Surrender to Shelter	Location: Poughquag, NY
Adoption Donation $150 Medical Condition: Detached retina in right eye, blind in that eye, but it doesn't bother him at all!

4/26/10 - Rusty is doing great! We could not ask for a more loving and well-behaved dog. I can't imagine what it would be like without him, we have started telling all of our friends how easy it is to have two dogs instead of one. He and Mia get along wonderfully, they are great on walks and just hanging out in the yard. Rusty is a great help in keeping Mia in check. He keeps an eye on her while they're outside and always makes sure they are both where we can see them. You would think he had some sheepdog in him. They both go to the vet next week for annual checkups. The tennis ball is still his best buddy but he really enjoys playing tug of war with a rawhide with Mia. He is never crated and does wonderfully. He just spent his first weekend at the doggy hotel when Matt and I went away and we were told he was his usual sweetheart self. He was very good at the dog park and everyone got a kick out of him try! ing to pick up all of the tennis balls in the park. He is a wonderful dog and we are so happy to have him in our family.
Matt, Shannon, Rusty & Mia

3/7/10 - Rusty's Dr appointment went good. The Dr said his eye looked good and that he no longer needed the medicine. He's supposed to have a recheck next year. Rusty continues to amaze us with his excellent behavior. Since the weather broke we've been able to take the dogs on walks and they really seem to enjoy getting out of the house.

1/26/10 - We just wanted to send you an update on Rusty. He is an absolute sweetheart. He has no problems adjusting here and is such a pleasure to have in our family. He hasn't touched his scar on his belly and it looks good. He is wonderful about getting his eye drops and joint chew. He has claimed his new bed and we leave him out at night with no problem. We also have left him out of the crate if we're only going to be out of the house for a short time and he is never a problem. We still can't do any of this with Mia, she is still too much of a puppy. Mia is a little jealous of Rusty's ball and is constantly trying to get it away from him, even trying to steal it from between his legs while he is sleeping. He does carry the ball around a bit but has played with it more and more every day. He eats like a champ and has only had one accident, which was the first day that we brought him home. We're working on getting BAR to ok his eye appt so that we can set it up. All in all, Rusty is the perfect addition to our family and there is nothing better than listening to Mia and Rusty snoring away on their beds. Thank you so much.

1/23/10 - Rusty left today with his new family.  He was very excited to see them.  It was wonderful to see how interested he was in them.  He was leaning on Shannon and wiggling while we were talking.  Rusty is a 9 year old boxer that is blind in one eye.  How completely wonderful is it that Boxer Angels Rescue saved him and that he has been adopted into a loving family.  Rusty is a very very special boy we wish him a long and happy life filled with tennis balls and love and we send a special thank you to his new family.  Enjoy your new boy!

1/19/10 - Rusty is pending adoption.

1/15/10 - Rusty had surgery to be neutered on Wednesday.  He spent yesterday a bit groggy and tired.  Today he is wiggly and playing with his ball again.  Rusty will be traveling to his new foster home tomorrow.  We will miss him very much. Since the BAR foster TURISMO came to join our crew we just have too many dogs here.  That is the only reason Rusty is moving.  Rusty is always welcome back to our pack.  He has been the perfect house guest.  He never has accidents in the house, he is a gentleman when feeding him, he know sit, paw, wait, stay, down and his name.  He goes into his crate and is quiet and content to be there.  We love this boy very much, my daughter is especially fond of him.  She does not fall for every foster we have, she tends to be very selective.  The fabulous BAR baby Winston (now at the rainbow bridge) was the last dog she loved this much.  She has excellent taste!  Rusty is a keeper, and we hope his new foster home enjoys him as much as we have.
After reading this update, Rusty's new foster home decided to help out another bar dog instead and leave Rusty with us!  Yeah!!

1/8/10 - Rusty is doing great.  He had his eye recheck appointment yesterday.  The doctor is very pleased with how both eyes look and the pressure in Rusty's right is back down to normal.  They have put him on a tapering regime for his eye medications and don't want to see him again for 6 weeks.  Rusty has gained 5 pounds and is now up to 58lbs.  He continues to be a perfect house guest.  If I have to find a fault with this boy it would be that he is an insufferable begger.  Not a stealer mind you just a sad eyed begger.  Rusty has an appointment to be neutered next week.  Watch for more updates.

1/1/2010 - Rusty is a fully accepted member of our pack.  He is submissive to all- male and female.  He plays and runs some with our female Brittany and our younger boxer boy.  Mostly he still just wants to play with his ball.  Nala has given him the hardest time- she is the play police in our home- but he just ignores her and goes the other way.  I also forgot to mention how fantastic Rusty has gotten on the leash.   He will still try to pull but is quick to respond to a verbal "wait".  This is one good lookin', happy and very smart boy!  HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody!,

12/30/09 - Video of Rusty dancing:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2QYT8GooTA

12/26/09 - Rusty is doing great.  He doesn't understand why I put medicine in his eye 6 times a day but he is very patient with me and stands still each time.  Although he will never again see from his right eye the medications seem to be doing their job.  The redness is almost all gone.  When Rusty looks at you with his sweet "I love you" gaze his eye appears perfectly normal.  Rusty is a speed learner.  He has already learned that the crate is not so bad and he goes right in without a fuss.  Once in he settles quickly with no whining or barking at all.  He has also learned that only good dogs that sit and wait patiently get their food.  Rusty will sit and wait all the way across the room if that is what I ask him to do.  And he will wait until I say it's ok.....AMAZING!!!  Rusty gives tiny little sweet kisses.  He leans into you when you give him attention.  If you ask him to he will show you his belly and then if you give him a nice gentle belly rub he will fall asleep under your touch.  We have been going very slowly with introductions to our pack.  Rusty and Nala had a brief and totally uneventful, accidental meeting the other day.  Sadly, our Jessie has not been feeling the best lately and she can be a bit grumpy because of it.  We do not anticipate any problems from this boy, just want to make sure everyone is ready and the timing is right for introductions.  All is all this handsome boy is a pleasure to have around.  Rusty's needs are few and his heart is huge.  Do you have room in your heart for this sweet boy?

12/17/09 - Rusty has had a ton of adventure in the last few days.  When BAR picked him up from the shelter his right eye was totally red.  On Tuesday he went to the vet. He was such a good boy there, he brought Wilson (the tennis ball) in with him and held it through all of his exams. :)   He is super skinny and needs to gain about 15 lbs- we are working on that.  The vet was unable to see into the back of Rusty's eye to find where the blood (that's what the red is) is coming from so he reccomended a veterinary opthamalogist.  Everyone at the vet's office loved Rusty and wanted to hear his story.  They were amazed that someone would let such a sweet boy go.  And then yesterday he was off the the eye specialist.  Rusty was happy to be there as long as I said that Wilson could come too.  The doctor said that in his 15yrs of practice he had never examined a dog while it was holding a tennis ball!   Again, Rusty was a very good boy for his exams.  The eye doctor had to do an ultra-sound of Rusty's eye to be able to see to the back.  Sadly what he found there was that Rusty's eye has been damaged beyond repair.  The retina is detached and Rusty is blind in that eye.   His eye is comfortable- no tearing nor squinting.  The doctor said that Rusty's left eye is in great shape and Rusty can have a great life just like he is.  He goes back to the eye doctor in a few weeks just to be sure everything in his right eye is staying the same.  Is Rusty sad about any of this?...NO WAY.  We did't even bother to tell Rusty this news because quite honestly he just doesn't care.  He is happy and wiggly and sweet. All Rusty wants is love, kindness, food and his "Wilson".
 

12/14/09 - This handsome fella is Rusty and his is truly the story of a rescued boxer.  Boxer Angels rescue saved Rusty on the day that he was scheduled to be euthanized due to a lack of space in the shelter.   Rusty is an affectionate and happy guy.  Since arriving at our home he has adopted a tennis ball.  The ball has become his security blanket of sorts and he is never without it.  He even held it in his mouth, the whole time, walking around the block.                
Rusty is a great eater and is getting some much needed groceries.  (BTW Eating is the only time that he drops his ball.)  Rusty knows where to do his business and there have been no accidents in the house.  He sleeps in a crate at night and although he whines some at first he settles down and sleeps soundly through the night.  This boy is a gem that just needs a little polish to get him back to the strapping boy that he should be.  Check him out playing with his adopted pal "Wilson" the tennis ball.

RUSTY VIDEO # 1   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHAO_yCMEMA

RUSTY VIDEO # 2   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxRaoDva8sI