How About Adopting a Senior Boxer

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I have always been an animal lover and believed highly in rescuing an animal rather than buying one from a store or from a breeder. And I have also highly believed in the spaying/neutering of animals for their safety, health and well being. I've also known about the problem which exists in finding displaced senior dogs, warm/loving and safe/secure forever homes. However, I was never an active advocate of this. At least, not until a few weeks ago- that is when Mikey came into my life.

My husband and I had decided to become a foster home for Boxers in need. With such a high need for foster homes, we had our first foster within a week. We picked Mikey up while on a road trip from Long Island. The rescue was told he was 6 years old, but upon meeting him we knew he was a few years older than that, which was confirmed by our vet. So, I was disappointed at first. I was originally thinking our home would be a revolving door for fosters with a foster coming and going every few months at most. With Mikey, I wasn't sure that would happen. After all, not many people want to open their heart and home to a senior dog. I began to think that he might be with us for a long time. That disappointment lasted for maybe a week - at the most - more like, just a few days. Having a senior dog around is a wonderful experience!! Especially, a rescued senior dog!!! The just know how special it is for them to be given a 2nd chance and they pay you back with love to the millionths!

Mikey has only been with us for about a month now and let me tell you he is the greatest! We are truly, truly blessed to have had the chance to welcome him into our home and hearts. Before becoming fosters, we were thinking of
adopting a dog through the rescue. We already had a 3-year-old Boxer and were ready to welcome a second Boxer into our family. And to be honest with you, I didn't pay too much attention to the seniors on the website. I cannot stress to you strongly enough, how much Mikey has COMPLETELY changed our minds about that. We are committed right now to being a foster home because there are so many dogs who need a safe and loving home, to buy them some time, until their forever family finds them. But when the time comes for us to adopt a dog in need - it will be a senior dog - no doubts about it! There are so many wonderful reasons why and I've listed just a few....

10. Seniors dogs usually come housebroken
9. Senior dogs know the difference between a chew toy and a new shoe.
8. Senior dogs appreciate the fine art of napping
7. Hyperactivity does not apply to Senior Dogs
6. Senior dogs already know all the "stuff" you didn't have to teach them.
5. Senior dogs are VERY easy-going and socialized
4. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks
3. They know the best place in the world is right next to the person who loves them
2. There aren't any guarantees about how long you'll have any dog - even a puppy.
1. Love & Wisdom. Senior dogs understand all and love all!
They've been there, done that and know what's important in life.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

So please, I beg you, just take a few moments to look over, really look over, the seniors on our site. I cannot put in words how wonderful the feeling is, that you will have in your heart, when you open your home to a senior dog. There are only so many tomorrow's left for us all, so become a forever family to a senior dog TODAY!

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Back in early 2000, we had decided that we wanted to adopt a boxer. We had always loved the breed, and it was time to add one to our family. We also decided that “rescue” was the way to go, as it was comforting to know that we could adopt a dog that had been “fostered” in someone’s home, been temperament tested with other dogs and children, as well as being up to date and spay/neutered. This, in addition to saving a dog that did not have much of a future, and providing a permanent, forever loving home for that dog gave us a good, warm feeling. So, with all that decided, we started looking for our “new” family member.

We found a reputable rescue, and we started looking for our dog. My initial thoughts were that the ideal dog would be approximately 2 yrs old, past the puppy stage, but still active enough to be “fun”. We looked for weeks after we were approved by rescue, waiting for “that dog”. Shotzie appeared on the rescue’s site in October 2000. She had that “look” that I wanted, and I eagerly started following her progress. I have to admit my initial disappointment when I looked and saw she was 6 years old. I thought to myself “boy, she is perfect, everything I wanted, except for her age. I followed the site everyday, looking at the new dogs that were coming in, trying to find “my dog”, but I kept going back to Shotzie’s page, and read her progress. She had several lumps, which needed to accessed, so she was going to be around for a while longer until the biopsy reports came back. I fell more and more in love with her each day…..but…I kept thinking…..”she’s too old”. More days passed and I followed the site. Still, no dog was “grabbing me”. Just Shotzie, she was moving deeper and deeper into my heart. We talked about her more and more in my house. Her biopsy came back negative, and Shotzie was ready for adoption. We decided to state our interest in her to the rescue, and were told to call the foster home. I reluctantly called; somewhat afraid that I would fall more in love with her, not really sure I wanted her because she was “old”. Well, I was on the phone for 1 hour talking about her, and falling more in love with her. Boy, was I torn. Finally my wife came to me while I was talking and said “take her already!!!, tell them you want her!!!! Well, I hesitated for what seemed to be an eternity, and the words finally came out of my mouth…”WE WILL TAKE HER!!!”

For the next few days, I worried if I had made the right decision. I had read a lot about boxers, and saw that their life expectancy can be shorter then some other dog breeds. What if I only have her for a couple of years, I wondered? Our cocker spaniel only had a few months left with us with cancer, could we put ourselves thru this again? Boy, I was torn. Well, we followed thru with our adoption, and brought Shotzie home. Things did not start out so great. She bit our cocker spaniel, who did nothing wrong but just lay around and get up for a drink now and again. She and my younger Shar pei got into a pretty nasty fight, and this was all in the 1^st week. We were committed to making this work, and we worked on the issues. With lots of love and patience (and a few strong corrections) this story has a very happy ending. Shotzie has made this home a very complete place. She has brought so much love and happiness here. She is soooo appreciative of what she has. Her tail is always going a mile a minute, and she gives the most completely loving kisses to anyone who will let her. Her face is the most expressive thing I have ever seen. She has found her “forever” home. With proper intro’s, she has allowed us to become a foster home, and after a few days, she interacts beautifully with our foster dogs.

Shotzie fits in great with us. I could not love a dog any more then her. This just proves to “go with your instincts”. It was love at 1^st sight, and I almost let it slip away for something as silly as age. In fact, Shotzie has more energy then most of the dogs less then half her age. We have fostered dogs as young as 1 year, and she keeps up with them easily. I think it is that she is a “boxer”, and as we know, there is no other breed like it. At 8, she acts like a puppy. She runs around the house, grabs toys and gets the others to follow. She chases the other dogs and engages in very spirited boxer play. She is just a total and complete love!

I sometimes think what would have happened if I had let her slip away, and honestly, I can’t imagine. This girl has brought me so much joy and love, I can’t image what life would be without her. She has now been with us for over 2 years now (she is over 8 and doing great), and I can honestly say, if god forbid I lost her today, I would NEVER regret the decision to adopt her. It is, without a doubt, the best decision I ever made, and I am grateful I was TOLD to do it. I would not EVER trade in these last 2 years, and god willing, I will have many, many more years of love from this girl. As we know, there are no guarantees, and unfortunately, people adopt or buy young dogs and lose them way to young for one reason or another. So, give that “senior” dog a chance….trust me from 1^st hand experience, you will be rewarded with the best gift you could ever ask for in life. Don’t make a mistake like I almost did, open you heart to an older dog, they are definitely the BEST!!!

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In January of 2001 we agreed to foster Cocoa (later named Mrs. Cocoa) at age 11, Mrs. Cocoa couldn't do a kidney bean dance anymore, but when she tried she did what we called "The two Step". Her feet would lift off the floor one by one. She would lift our hearts with this dance, we would laugh hard every time she did it.

In March of 2001 we adopted her. At age 11, we just couldn't see her going to a third home. Mrs. Cocoa gave our family much much joy. Although she couldn't always get up, she still greeted us no matter what. She always had a smile for us. She was wonderful with my other dogs. She was hugable by our young daughter, she was just one big mush face.

Unfortunately, in August of the same year, Mrs. Cocoa was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her aggression towards outsiders worsened, she could hardly walk anymore. Our decision to guide her to Rainbow Bridge was inevitable.

Anyone who fosters/adopts an elderly dog .........my hat's off to you because you couldn't get much more joy out of life. They are the Sweetest most gentle babies I have ever encountered.

My husband and I would do this again. We would foster an older dog and probably end up adopted him/her too.

How could anyone leave the elderly behind, after all, they need TLC just like we do.

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