Dog rescue is good for the soul

Edmontonvolunteer Allyson with Chewie, and Regina's Sheri with Leia.
Both dogs now live with their new family and two other boxers in BC.

A lot of people are attracted to specific breeds because of certain looks, temperament, or even familiarity. For example, someone’s childhood dog was a beagle, so they’re forever in love with beagles.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that you don’t need to go through a breeder to get a purebred dog. They’re constantly available through shelters and rescue groups. They’re perfectly good pets who are given up for a lot of reasons – some times it’s because their people didn’t realize the commitment it takes to have a dog, some times it’s because life has thrown the family a curve ball in the way of divorce, illness, or job loss.

The Bourries family has been lovingly fostering and adopting boxers for eight years. I asked them to share their inspiring story.

Lovely Libby was Sheri’s first rescue boxer.

1. What attracts you to the breed?

Boxers are the clowns of the dog world, they have great personalities and love to play. They are very social animals and are great with kids. Boxers are loyal family dogs and are very good protectors of home and family. They are athletic and strong, making them great running partners or agility dogs. We also like their short coats and easy care.

Sheri's family fostered the “mange puppies” Truman (next photo) and Maggie last summer. Truman is living happily ever after in Winnipeg. Maggie now lives in Regina.

2. Which rescue group are you involved with?

We volunteer for Without Borders Boxer Rescue, which is located in British Columbia. WBBR affiliates with Boxer Rescue LA, and we place dogs in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

3. When did you get involved?

We have been involved with boxer rescue since 2002. We had purchased a puppy from a breeder and fell in love with the boxer breed. When we were looking for a second dog we discovered rescue and were amazed at the sheer number of beautiful boxers who were available for adoption. We were surprised at the number of purebred boxers who were looking for homes through no fault of their own. This problem has only gotten worse with the downturn of the economy, especially in California. We adopted our first boxer in September 2002 and just adopted our second in September 2010.

Rigby and Truman share a snugly moment.

4. Why do you take adult and senior dogs instead of puppies?

We prefer older dogs as we do not have the time or energy for puppies. Training and socializing a puppy and young dog takes a lot of time and effort. With an older dog you know what size they are going to be, their temperament is much easier to determine, and they have gone through the puppy stage of chewing and being into everything!

We have always adopted senior dogs as most people prefer young adults or puppies, and the seniors can spend years waiting for home. Senior dogs have many years of life in them, and they are more settled than younger dogs. Senior dogs are so grateful for a home, and they are much more adaptable to your routine rather than you adapting to the dog's needs.

The Bourries just adopted Kady, their new lady.

5. What is most rewarding for you about being involved with a rescue group?

This is a tough question as there are so many rewarding aspects to rescue. I love placing a dog with a family and seeing how happy the dog and the family are. Education is another big part of the rescue group. Some people are not sure what they are looking for and after spending time with them we can help them decide. If a boxer is not the right dog for a family I will always refer them to another rescue - there are breed-specific rescues for every breed of dog.

We stay in touch with our adopters for as long as they have our dogs, the follow up visits and emails are always wonderful, and it is great to experience the ripple effect of rescue when people refer their friends to us. The biggest reward is to see a dog who was previously homeless, maybe neglected or abused now living with a loving family and enjoying life.

We are huge advocates of rescue, there are far too many people who will buy a puppy on impulse without spending the time to research the breed or even if their lifestyle is conducive to a dog. I encourage anyone who is considering getting a dog to get in touch with a rescue group to see if rescue is for them.

If you’re planning to bring a new dog into your home, instead of going to a breeder, consider getting a gently loved older dog. Check out your local shelter, petfinder.com, or a local or breed-specific rescue group. If you’re interested in boxers, visit the the Without Borders Boxer Rescue Web site or send Sheri an e-mail (foreverhomes@live.com). She loves living with and chatting about boxers.

A race straight for your heart: adopting a retired racing greyhound

Kim and her young family were looking for a perfect dog for their family. They thought long and hard about it, and had some very specific criteria in mind – a rescue, a bigger dog, one that would be good with young children, one that didn’t need too much extra exercise so it would fit into their already full schedule, already house trained, and with an aversion to chewing shoes – good thing she didn’t impulsively get a Golden puppy!

After looking at local shelters, nothing matched her needs. Kim’s friend recommended that she consider a retired racing greyhound. Originally, Kim thought they were high-energy and way too skinny for her taste, but she soon learned that a greyhound would be a perfect match. Retired racers are low-energy dogs who have been crated 23 hours each day, and like to sleep in soft places. They need a fenced yard so they can run for short bursts, and only require 30 – 60 minutes of walking each day. Many of them do not bark. They are even tempered. Their skin does not produce oil, so they hardly smell. They eat a lot, and may shed a great deal. They can never be let off leash in an unenclosed area, as their drive to run is incredibly strong. In spite of these potential drawbacks, Kim was intrigued. Her vet told her that because they are so calm and even tempered, U of S veterinary students often work on retired racing greyhounds – he also told Kim that they’re very sweet dogs.

Kim found Garfield at the Northwest Canadian Greyhound League. This gorgeous blue fawn dog with incredible toffee coloured eyes had been up for adoption for over three months. He was already neutered, and had been temperament tested for kids, small dogs, and cats, and was found to be safe with all of them. Kim talked with his foster mom, and as a final check NCGL arranged for a home visit from a local family who already had greyhounds. Kim’s family drove to Calgary, paid the $275 adoption fee, and Garfield was theirs.

When she first met him, Kim was intimidated. Garfield is incredibly well muscled, was scared in general, but more specifically of crowds and children, lacked confidence, and needed time to adjust. However, it didn’t take him long to decide that Kim was his. He wanted to be close to her – affectionately putting his head into her lap.

Shortly after, Kim and her children looked into getting a second dog. They turned to NCGL again. The group was looking for a foster home for Dawson, who didn’t like jumping on furniture. This time Kim’s family drove to Medicine Hat to pick up the pathetic looking Dawson. His coat was dull and he had a lot of dandruff. He was so skinny his ribs were sticking out. He had no muscle tone, and very little energy. Yet he leaned against her son, wanting to be petted. He didn’t know how to jump into the van, so Kim lifted him. They took him home, and put him on high-quality food. He was so loving and gentle, they fell in love with him, and decided to keep him. He still doesn’t jump up on couches or beds, but he has learned to enjoy car rides. Unfortunately, he enjoys getting into garbage and counter-surfing, things Garfield doesn’t do – so they have to be careful. He is very gentle and calm, and has been a good influence on Garfield, and he is very good with the kids.

Reading about retired racers really doesn’t prepare a family for one. According to Kim, Greyhounds don’t sit, and you really can’t teach them tricks. They are quietly affectionate – Dawson barks or leans into people when he wants to be petted. Garfield sticks his head in your lap or armpit. Garfield is very curious. Dawson is more inclined to let the world go by and trust that everything will be fine. They eat a lot, and need high quality food because their metabolisms are so fast. Kim gives them raw bones every week to keep their teeth and gums healthy, which is easier than brushing their teeth every day. She can leave them for 10 hours without accidents, and doesn’t crate them. Garfield waits on the stair landing, so he can see her come home. Both love running at the off-leash dog park. She finds them beautiful, inside and out – very different from the image of a competitive racing machine.

Kim and her family did everything right. Dogs are long-term commitments and they didn’t pick one up on impulse. They did their homework to get a temperament that matched their lifestyle, and they rescued rather than going to a pet store.

When you’re considering bringing a new dog into your home and into your life, take your time and do your homework. If you don’t find one that matches your family’s needs at your local shelter, check into breed-specific rescue groups. There are lots of them out there with thousands of beautiful dogs who are waiting to find their perfect new families, families just like yours.

A special thank you to Kim for providing so much rich information for this post.

- Louise

Helping cats and dogs by fostering

Louise and her husband Kev fostered the "Dumpster Babies" – Murphy, Moggy and Mona – kittens who were found in a dumpster. These furry little babies were so young that their eyes weren't even open – likely less than a week old. Without a foster family, they would certainly have died. Louise loaded up with kitten milk, tiny kitten baby bottles, and an armload of clean laundry, and brought the young kittens home. After two months, the little fur babies were growing like weeds, using a litter box and ready for adoption. All three were adopted very quickly. Louise was extremely proud when she saw one of them months later still growing, happy and thriving.



Fostering is a good way to try a new pet for those who can’t make full-time pet commitments. Louise and Kev didn't have any pets at the time and she had never had a pet cat before, so it was a good way to test the waters. (She now has Jake dog and Daisy cat of her own.) Likewise for frequent travelers, it’s also a great option to have pets around during the non-traveling seasons.



The hardest part of fostering is knowing that despite your best efforts and all of the resources available, sometimes very young kittens and puppies aren't strong enough to make it. Foster parents become very attached very quickly, and for the primary care giver, it can be heart wrenching when they pass away. The consolation is in knowing that their last days were spent, warm, fed and very loved.



There are also health factors to consider especially for households with existing pets. Animals needing fostering may have been exposed to diseases that can be communicable to other animals and difficult to treat. It’s definitely something to keep in mind.



Success is what keeps Louise fostering. “Although it is tough to let them go, it is the most satisfying feeling in the world to see how happy the pet and their ‘forever family’ are during the adoption process. It is a fantastic feeling knowing that you’ve made a difference, not only to the lives of the animals but to the lives of those people.” Louise and Kev will foster for rest of their lives.



If you’re interested in fostering dogs or cats, contact the Regina Humane Society. They’ll do a home check, discuss health protocols and legalities to set you and your foster animals up to live safely and happily ever after.

Looking for a really special companion? Who needs cupid or lavalife anyway?

Tekko is an energetic and playful three year old Miniature Pincher who loves to please. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, he was taken from his first family by the Humane Society because he was not well cared for. Lucky for him, a friend of mine wanted a small yet active dog to fit his urban condo lifestyle. He found Tekko on petfinder.com, drove to Minneapolis one weekend to adopt him, and they've been inseparable ever since. Tekko has adapted well to living with an 11 year old cat, and loves to run at the dog park and snuggle under a blanket on cold winter days.



Rescue groups are great places to find your new dog. Typically volunteer-run, rescue groups are very organized and very professional. They work with shelters and individuals to find animals in need – mixes and purebreds. They often have transportation networks set up to drive dogs from province to province (or state to state). They have an adoption process and you typically have to sign a contract stating that you will return the dog to the rescue association if ever you cannot care for him or her anymore.

If you’re looking for a truly compatible companion, check out your local shelter. If you’re hooked on one specific breed, give a rescue dog a second chance. Both are far better options than buying one from a pet store. Visit your local shelter or petfinder.com, or Google the breed of your choice and “rescue”.