Meet Bogart
"Here's looking at you kid"....get it, the movie Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart? See I was named after that smooth talking Humphrey, and as you can tell I'm just as handsome! Now, as well as being good-looking, I have to tell you a little something, nothing to be alarmed about but...I only have three legs. I got hit by a car and my owners at the time took me to a vet but didn't want to pay for surgery so my leg was splinted but unfortunately a week later they brought me back to the vet and said my leg wasn't healing. When the doc told them I'd need to get my leg amputated they opted instead to have me put to sleep - they didn't want a three-legged dog. So long story short, the kind doc amputated my front right leg and then I was taken in by a nice lady who I lived with for 5 months but she really didn't have the time for me so she surrendered me to the rescue. Now I'm looking for a home to call my own - forever! I'm only 15 months old and let me tell you I can do anything my four-legged friends can do, I can go up and down the stairs, I love to run and play outside, I'm all about going for a walk, I give fabulous boxer kisses and I know to sit...so don't feel bad for me - just don't forget to mention Bogart on your application!!
Our Newest Director
On December 3rd, the Board of Directors of Atlanta Boxer Rescue welcomed Claudia “CJ” Janka to the Board of Directors in the position of Director. CJ began serving her 3-year term immediately.
For those of you who have been involved with Atlanta Boxer Rescue to any extent this year, you already know that CJ brings an endless dedication to the Boxer breed in general and Atlanta Boxer Rescue specifically. She has been a dog owner for many, many years and currently owns two dogs, one of which is a loving and beautiful white Boxer named Carrie. Since her start as a volunteer for Atlanta Boxer Rescue, CJ has been one of our most-active volunteers. She has been involved in numerous transports and pulls – often at times of day that are next to impossible for anyone else, been at every event we have hosted, been a foster home, and more. She is trustworthy, dedicated, and above all else, focused on saving Boxer lives.
Each Director has a primary responsibility within the organization, and CJ will be handling our volunteer training and coordination. She is excited about setting up our first training class in the near future.
Please join us in welcoming CJ into the Board of Directors!
Thanks to Santa's Little Helpers
If you happened to walk by the new Pet Supplies Plus in Marietta on December 7th, you might have asked yourself why an army of beautiful Boxers and other dogs was running around. Well, all of those wonderful furkids were there to get their picture taken with Santa! For 4 hours that afternoon, photographer Mike Clifton, Santa, and a legion of amazing volunteers made sure that the dogs had a place to play while they waited, the parents had refreshments to eat and holiday music to listen to, and the photos were processed and printed.
When it was all wrapped up, we realized that this was probably the best Boxer event to date. And we could not have done it without the fantastic volunteers and the generous folks at Pet Supplies Plus. And, of course, we could not have done it without all of the great ABR supporters who came out to get their photographs. If you were one of those folks, you can go HERE and see your pictures – and order extras for your Christmas cards!
Thanks again to everyone involved! The money raised at this event will help us save even more Boxer lives, and make this a special Christmas for our Boxer rescues.
Last Chance
Less than two weeks remain in 2008. Since Atlanta Boxer Rescue is a 501(c)(3) public charity, that means you have less than two weeks to make a charitable donation to Atlanta Boxer Rescue and claim the deduction on your 2008 tax return!
We know times are tight right now and the holiday season puts an extra challenge on budgets. These challenges are especially difficult for non-profit organizations such as ours. Before the end of the year, would you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Atlanta Boxer Rescue? Any amount you can contribute would be beneficial in supporting our efforts to rescue Boxers and provide them with the love and care they so deserve. And, as a volunteer-based organization, virtually 100% of the money donated goes directly towards the care and health of the rescue Boxers.
Donations can be made securely via our website, www.atlantaboxerrescue.org, or can be mailed to 1248 Creekside Terrace, Smyrna, GA 30082.
On behalf of the entire Atlanta Boxer Rescue organization, thank you for your support and generosity.
I Resolve...
Hard to believe, but 2009 is just around the corner! And with the New Year comes those grand New Year’s resolutions. Have you made yours, yet? Sure, we all want to lose weight and take better care of ourselves. Another popular resolution is to spend more time volunteering and helping others, and Atlanta Boxer Rescue is the PERFECT way to succeed in your resolution!
Our organization is 100% volunteers. Throughout the rescue and adoption process, we need volunteers who can pull dogs from shelters, transport dogs from foster homes to vet clinics and more, perform home inspections for potential adopters, process adoption applications, and – most importantly – provide foster care for our rescues while they await their new forever homes. In addition, we have plenty of need for volunteers to help with the “business” side of the organization, including fund raising, event planning and staffing, and more.
To learn more about our volunteer needs, and to complete a Volunteer or Foster application, please visit our website, www.atlantaboxerrescue.org/volunteer.html.
Bringing Home a Pet for Christmas
It is a common television commercial: Christmas morning, the kids run into the living room to open presents, and they’re greeted by their new puppy – complete with red box tied around his collar. While this looks great for promoting a product, the reality is that giving a pet as a Christmas gift might be a little more complex than simply getting a ribbon for the collar.
One thing we strive for during our adoption process is to establish that the Boxer and owner are “fit” for each other. This involves an application and review process, and it insures a long-lasting relationship for the dog and the family. A surprise puppy on Christmas morning often side-steps this process and can lead to unrealistic expectations for the dog and the caregiver. In fact, the Atlanta Boxer Rescue adoption contract expressly forbids adopting a Boxer as a gift for someone else, unless it is a situation where parents are in agreement to give a Boxer as a gift to their younger children.
If you are considering a new Boxer for Christmas, we would like to suggest a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Consider giving a “pet gift certificate” along with a token pet gift (bag of food, feeding bowl, treats, toys, etc.). The certificate indicates to your recipient your intention to get them a Boxer, but allows everyone involved to plan and prepare for the new arrival. The gift certificate is really the best way to allow your recipient to choose a Boxer that is a good fit for them, and allows us to follow the normal adoption process.
- Wait until after the holidays have passed. Dogs are very much routine-oriented. Since the holidays usually bring about lots of travel, guests, and changes to the everyday, waiting until life is back to normal around your house further insures a successful start for your Boxer’s new life.
- Make sure that everyone who will be responsible for the new Boxer is in agreement before adopting. There are unfortunate stories about a parent giving a pet to a child when the other parent is against it, or giving a pet to an older child who cannot take the pet with them to college, leaving the pet without a caregiver. Remember that adopting a Boxer is an 8-12 year commitment, at a minimum. If everyone agrees to the adoption, not only will the home be happier, but the new dog will have lots and lots of folks to love him!
- Different breeds of dogs have different characteristics. Make sure your recipient is educated about the breed they want and are prepared to take care of the new dog. Just because you like a particular breed doesn’t guarantee that your recipient will. Perhaps consider a book about dog breeds as a gift along with your pet gift certificate.
- Remember that a new dog takes serious commitment for the recipient, and should be done for the right reasons and with plenty of forethought. There is certainly a perfect match for your recipient, but planning and education will make sure that your gift is well-received and the bond between pet and owner is strong and loving.
Above all else, please make sure your new pet comes from an animal shelter or animal rescue such as Atlanta Boxer Rescue. Pet overpopulation is a serious issue, particularly in the Southeast, and shelters and rescues help alleviate at least a small part of the problem. Shelters and rescues will provide all of the education you need about the pet you are considering. If you have any questions, or want further information about Boxers, please contact us. We can also provide information about other breed rescues in the Atlanta area, and can help you make this a Christmas worth remembering – for you, your family, and a rescued Boxer!
As always, thanks for your interest in Atlanta Boxer Rescue.
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