The Wiggle Times

The Minnesota Boxer Rescue has evolved tremendously in just a short time. We’ve grown from a small organization on a shoe-string budget, only able to help dogs in need as money became available, to a thriving rescue operation that rescues nearly a hundred Boxers in need every year.

Our evolution and success can be attributed solely to the dedication of our amazing volunteers, donors, partners, veterinarians and benefactors who make this all possible. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed, donated your time and opened your hearts and homes to help Boxers from all over Minnesota and beyond. We couldn’t have done it nor continue to do it without your dedication and passion.

I am very excited to welcome you to the first edition of the Minnesota Boxer Rescue Newsletter. We hope you’ll find useful information to help you get involved with MNBR and we anticipate this will be a great tool for communicating with our volunteers, supporters, and members of the community.

We are all looking forward to another successful year.

Thank you for your continued support!

President

Eva’s amazing rescue story

Eva came into rescue at the end of January. Since she wasn't good for breeding anymore, the puppy mill breeder no longer wanted her since she was of now use to him.

He admitted she was kept in a dark cement cell her WHOLE life. His set-up was like a hog operation-stall after stall of cement cells. She had NEVER been outside of the cell-not to a vet, not to see daylight, not to interact with anyone but her owner.

Thanks to someone closer to Iowa , she saved three retired breeders and helped transport them to safety in Minnesota .

Getting Eva was heartbreaking. She would not walk on leash or move at all in
our presence-she just crouched to the floor in fear. You can imagine the sadness
and anger I felt seeing this!

But after a few days we saw her Boxer wiggle and knew there was hope for her to become a fun loving boxer. Little by little she is coming out of her shell. She learned how to go upstairs, use the doggie door, play with toys, and play with her three Boxer siblings. She LOVES treats (the way to her heart!) and is learning that humans can provide more than just food to her.

Despite being 5-6 years old, she actually is acting like a puppy in that she will dig in a potted plant and steal socks to chew on!

On February 20th she was spayed. One week later, she started bleeding out of her female area. She was rushed to the emergency vet clinic where she had surgery to remove the blood that was in her abdomen. A few hours later, she was still bleeding. With her blood pressure extremely low, she was transferred to the University of Minnesota for a possible blood transfusion.

They wheeled her out of the clinic on a table and into the car-wrapped up in thick blankets. As we drove to the U of M, she was making rapid breathing sounds and we were so scared that she wasn’t going to make it.

Upon arriving to the U of M, they got her in on a table and off she was for an examination. An hour later they told me they were just trying to keep her alive and stabilize her vitals. She had acute blood lose and her blood pressure was critically low. They did not know if they could save her, but were optimistic that if they could stabilize her, they could re-open her up in hopes of finding the problem.

Finally they got her to a point where they felt they could open her up for exploratory surgery. They found a small tear where the sutures were not holding - probably due to her thinner uterine walls from being over bred.

She needed to have TWO blood transfusions. They fixed the tear, thoroughly checked her insides, and stitched her back up. Then, she was moved to the Critical Care Department who needed to get her red blood cell count and blood pressure in order to still save her life. She started at 45% blood count, after surgery was at 11%. Twenty one hours after her initial bleeding started they were able to finally tell me she was okay and that she would LIVE! She spent the night at the U of M for close monitoring. THANK you to the amazing staff at the U of M for saving her and for making me feel as reassured as possible.

Eva will not be ready for adoption for a couple of months, but she deserves to live the life of a princess and continue to le what it is like to be a companion pet rather than puppy making machine.

PLEASE consider donating for her vet expenses. With two major surgeries within the 21 hours, her vet bills are currently over $6,000. Our rescue is non-profit and is run by a group of volunteers who foster out of their homes. We do fundraising events monthly to be able to care for the vet expenses as well as more major care such as surgery.

Why we foster Boxers – a family’s story

Without fail when I tell friends that my husband and I foster Boxers they will almost always say ‘how can you do that? I could never do that. I would never be able to let them go.’

Since April 2008, we have let 10 Boxers ‘go’ to new homes and we are continuing to foster with our 11^thcurrently living with us. We could have easily added any of these fosters to our family, but this would in effect end our fostering.

Fostering gives back

During Hurricane Katrina, I had gotten involved with fund raising for animal rescue efforts and since then I have become much more aware of the need for rescue groups. Following my retirement, my husband knew that there was now the potential for more animals to start be added to our farm. We made the decision to start fostering dogs. Boxers were an easy and lovable choice. A friend brought to our attention that Minnesota Boxer Rescue (MNBR) was in need of foster families. We filled out the application and had our first foster within a week.

A home for every dog and a dog for every home

Star, our first, was a very nice looking female, great personality and very well mannered.

Thomas, who was very thin, came to us through the dog catcher wearing two collars and leashes to hold him in her car.

Little Jo, another female, carried unexplained physical scars and wormed her way into our hearts quickly.

Nilla was well mannered and came to us only after her owner had passed away.

Titan was surrendered with a long list of “bad dog” behaviors, none of which we ever witnessed.

Goldie was the senior girl who came with a condition where she does not always have control of her hind legs. We learned that the perfect home for her wouldn’t have stairs. Now, she loves to romp with her Boxer and Bullmastiff brothers and is enjoying life, never stopping to dwell on her infirmaries.

Sadie’s surrendering family had some issues, but she didn’t. She was a great little girl.

Handsome Hunter came to us with some aggressive behavior, a condition that is usually fear based as was his. I slept next to his crate in our living room for several nights as he would charge the wire if one of the other Boxers would get too close. When he wasn’t in the kennel he was leashed to me. Eventually the perfect family came into his life and he is doing great and is loved.

Brooklyn, another female, came from South Dakota and was rescued from an abusive situation. The evening she drove out the driveway with her new “boy” hugging her neck was very joyful.

Then came Reese. He was picked up in South Dakota , almost shot while chasing sheep. Reese took a few weeks to find his perfect home.

Jazzy is with us now. Another escapee from being shot for chasing livestock this time in Kansas . I think she was just looking for a meal. We’ll be looking for her forever home very soon.

Dogs come to the MNBR for a variety of reasons. But whatever their circumstance, they all need some love and attention before they can be matched with their forever home. Each has taught us something, usually that there is a home for every dog if the chance and time is given for the situation to work out.

Why we continue to rescue and foster

Fostering can be time consuming, energy draining, heartbreaking and house wrecking but it is ALWAYS rewarding knowing that you have made a difference to a very special boxer and their family.

Each time a boxer goes down our driveway with their new family I know we will take another. Each family has exactly what their boxer needed and wanted to take their boxer home for just the right reasons. That is what rescue is all about; helping the Boxers who just need that extra time or care to be able to get to where they belong.

The majority of dogs that need another home just happened to land in the wrong situation. Thankfully, the volunteers of MNBR have been there in over 90 cases this past year. Each boxer who is in MNBR’s foster system allows another dog somewhere in the world room at a humane shelter, giving that dog another day to find their home as well.

o learn more about fostering, please visit http://www.mnboxerrescue.org/pages/Fostering.html

Adopting an adult dog has more advantages than a new puppy

You’re thinking about getting a dog, but not sure if you can go through the whole “new puppy” thing. Puppies are so cute, but lots of work; they don’t know the potty rules in the house, they want to play all the time and they can be a little destructive sometimes. Is there an answer for the dog lover who might not want a puppy?

You bet there is – adopt an older dog. Older dogs have just as much energy and love to give as puppies. And they’ve had time to mellow out a little bit. Having a new dog in your home doesn’t have to mean having a new puppy.

Older dogs have mellowed consid erably

An older dog is more likely to settle into your home easily. They sleep through the night, they don’t chew on your shoes. Bringing home a puppy can disrupt your schedules and the schedules of other animals in your home. They need much more attention and supervision. Make it easy on you and your household. Adopt an older dog and you’ll be sleeping through the night in no time.

Bones are for chewing and shoes are for wearing

Most dog owners will recount the tales of thousands of shoes lost, treasured items chewed beyond recognition and dozens of incidents and accidents caused by an overzealous chewing puppy. They will also tell you that those behaviors are remarkably absent from their older dogs. An older dog has learned that his toys are for chewing and your shoes are off limits. As an added bonus, you can leave your older dog home alone with no fear of coming home to find a big mess.

Easy on your rugs

The potty training issue is a big factor for anyone considering adding a dog to their house. An older dog has probably learned the finer points of potty training a long time ago. Potty training can be frustrating and hard on your rugs and floors. Consider adopting a dog that is as cute as a puppy but already knows where and when to go. Again, you won’t have to worry about leaving your potty trained older dog home alone for a bit. Puppies can even have accidents while crate training, which is never fun to clean up.

Focus keeps them coming back

A puppy’s lack of focus is often interpreted as bad behavior. He’s full of energy doing other puppy things and doesn’t always come when called. Sure, he is cute, but it can be frustrating when his lack of concentration has you yelling his name. An older dog knows his name and knows what to do when you call them. There is also a good chance that your older adopted dog knows how to play ‘fetch.’ Puppies love to chase, but need lots of help understanding the ‘bring the ball back part’ so you end up chasing – another puppy favorite – instead of playing ‘fetch.’

Older dogs and the ‘new trick’ myth

A calmer, older dog CAN learn new tricks. An older dog has mellowed and knows how to listen, focus and react. Older adopted dogs just want to please their owners, love the challenge, and often learn quickly. Your older dog is probably also more familiar with words like ‘no.’ There is always a good chance that your grown-up dog already knows a few tricks. Try adopting a puppy who knows ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’

All you need is love

Older dogs, especially senior dogs, just want to be loved. They’ve outgrown the frantic puppy frenzy and are content to settle down and snuggle up. Adopted older dogs are often ‘thankful’ for their new life and better behaved because they don’t take their family for granted. Most older dogs can still play and frolic with the other dogs – even puppies - but they play when you want to play, entertain themselves when you’re busy and are ready to calm down for quiet time when you are.

Keep in mind that all dogs will have their eccentricities and no one is perfect. Adopting an older dog from a reputable organization like Minnesota Boxer Rescue is a recipe for success. All of our dogs have been fostered by responsible, caring foster families. Our only interest is finding the very best homes and giving these wonderful dogs a second chance at a long, happy life in a forever home.

For more information on adopting your grown-up dog contact Minnesota Boxer Rescue at www.mnboxerrescue.org.

Keeping your Boxer (and all furry friends) safe and cool as warmer weather approaches

Spring time is a great time to start working on your garden. But you’ll have to keep an eye on your Boxer (and all pets) as many plants, bulbs and seeds can be dangerous for animals.

Some common toxic plants you should keep an eye out for include:

Amaryllis, Anemone, Apple seeds, apricot pits, cherry pits, chokecherry pits, peach pits , plum pits, Bleeding heart, Buttercup, Calla lily, Cardinal flower, daffodil, flowering tobacco, Foxglove, Golden chain tree, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Indigo, Laurel, Lily-of-the-valley, Monkshood, Morning glory, Nightshade, Oleander, Onion, Garlic, Chives (any alliums) and Rhododendron.

Signs of an allergic reaction can include swollen face and throat, hives and/or ‘wheels,’ and labored breathing.

If you suspect your pet has ingested a dangerous plant call your vet or Poison Control at 1-888-ANI-HELP (888-426-4435). Take a moment right now to program that into your phone now so you won’t have to fumble for it if there is an emergency.

Once the summer arrives the dangers of the warmer months can increase with risk of heat exhaustion and heat related illness. Keep a close eye on your dogs as they don’t have sweat glands like humans do.

Dogs only sweat through their paws and remove their body heat through panting. Because of their pushed in (brachycephalic) faces, boxers are inefficient panters. In a normal dog, air passes over the tongue, the saliva on the tongue evaporates, and the blood in the tongue is cooled and circulated through the body. In boxers and other short muzzled dogs, it takes a lot more effort to move air over the tongue thus requiring more effort.

It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in your dog. The first signs of heat exhaustion are:

Excessive panting
The skin on the inside of the ears becomes flushed and red

Heat exhaustion can progress in to heat stroke, as indicated by:

Weakness
Staggering
Fainting - loss of consciousness

If your dog shows any of these symptoms, you should do the following:

1. Get the dog to a shaded area or air conditioned room

2. Give the dog water to drink.

3. Rinse the dog off in the bath tub or with a hose. DO NOT immerse the dog in a pool or bath tub as this could send them into shock.

4. While damp, place the dog in front of a fan

5. Place ice packs around the head and neck

If the dog is showing any symptoms of heat stroke, take him/her to the vet AFTER they have been cooled down. The travel time to the vet wastes valuable cooling time.

Fortunately heat related illnesses can easily be prevented. You can do so by doing the following.

1. NEVER leave your dog unattended in a car, even with the window cracked. The interior temperatures get very hot very fast.

2. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water and shade outside. If you need a drink, chances are your dog needs one too.

3. A frozen pet toy is a great way to keep a dog busy outside and helps keep them cool. Putting ice cubes in their water also helps.

4. When kenneling your dog, make sure they have plenty of water and ventilation.

5. Keep the name and number of the nearest emergency veterinarian in a convenient place in case of an emergency.

This article was composed with the help of Wayne Scanlon, DVM of the White Bear Animal Hospital and Tim Simplot. Dr. Scanlon has been a wonderful supporter of the Minnesota Boxer Rescue for many years. Tim Simplot is an MNBR volunteer and a Certified Pet First Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross.