Boxer Rescue San Diego

P.O. Box 1227

San Diego California 92040

(619) 328-0792

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS

I am late in getting this letter out this year as I was awaiting word on whether I would be a 501(c)(3) for those of you who might be interested in a donation tax write-off! IT IS ACTIVE!! If that is what you have been waiting for please make your check out to Rescue Alliance and send it to Boxer Rescue, P.O. Box 1227, Lakeside CA 92040

Well believe me when I tell you it has been a roller coaster year for the dogs and Boxer Rescue! There were many months where it has been uncertain if rescue could survive but miraculously it seems each time things got so dark a good Boxer lover would come along with a donation and save the day! Never doubt how important you are to this rescue and how very grateful I am for all the donations you have made (hopefully you all received an appropriate thank you although sometimes I get so harried I may drop the ball) and how much real help it is to the dogs. We received some donations of food (6-10 bags at a time), money, dog pens, crates and actual help in the form of a yard sale to bring some money for the rescue...friends in need are friends indeed!

To add to the financial woes my job was dissolved across country so since March I have been looking for a job and of course because of so many responsibilities it has to fit into a schedule around the dogs...not an easy thing to do. Somewhere around August I had a serious talk with myself to get me out of the doldrums and I convinced myself to just do what I can...sounds simple enough. Although not much has changed, my attitude has and that has helped a great deal.

So the final tally thus far (Dec. 19) of dogs rescued in 2008 is 127. Certainly this is a figure to be proud about but are you aware that there was a two week period wherein I TURNED AWAY 22-25 dogs who needed help! This housing crisis is worse that you know and so many dogs are displaced due to it...I've hated to answer the phone for knowing it would be another person I could not help with their dog...a far cry from what I have been able to do for them over the years...and it is not just Boxers in this fix it is everyone.

At the same time there was such a need, adoptions nearly came to a complete stop...so many afraid they were going to lose their homes or jobs too...it's been a tragedy.

Well every dark side has a bright side and so has this year. I have never received more timely help from so many in my life! My wonderful vet, Dr. Flores, and his staff at Lakeside Veterinary Hospital (619-390-2342) have put on TWO yard sales this year to benefit Boxer Rescue, Labrador Rescue, and Spaniel Rescue! Wow how many vets have ever done that?!! I really got lucky when I moved to Lakeside and found Dr. Flores. Aside from having a good heart he is a great vet and diagnostician and has solved some mysteries for Boxer owners this year. If you are looking for a vet you can trust and work with I say try him, he is well worth the drive.

It's been an interesting year medically as we have had the usual HUGE array of mange dogs, spays, neuters etc but we handled some prolapsed uteruses, cherry eyes, broken legs, an amputation and a new one for me: hyper osteo dystrophy! Simply put the dog is in such pain as to not be able to walk or sleep and it's pretty horrible although with care and proper diet it does clear up relatively quickly
(a month for my dog)...strangely enough the dog whose leg was amputated then came down with this too and the owner was advised by TWO vets to put the dog down!!!! Fortunately I was now familiar with it and advised her to check it out with my vet and of course the dog was saved! Whew! You are welcome to call me if you get advice from your vet you aren't sure about...sometimes I can be useful if only by recommending my vet as a second opinion!

Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) has called on me several times this year to work with them on Boxers with broken legs...happy to say all have recovered nicely and all have found homes! It has been an absolute pleasure dealing with both Kathy Hensley and Tonya Leavitt.

For years and years Darrell Weber (Companion Dog Obedience School 619-738-0626) has graciously given rescue dogs a discount in his obedience class and anyone who has talked to me knows that is where I want you to take your dogs for training....he handles all the tough ones as well as the "easy" ones and he really works miracles with some of them...if the people are trainable that is! Can't say enough about how I have enjoyed his friendship over the years. I also feel very strongly we need to have polite dogs so they do not get discriminated against by insurance companies nor should they make the neighbors grumpy! You are all ambassadors for this breed so please control your dogs!

I wish to thank those of you who are absolutely wonderful to support this rescue with no thought to any profit for yourself and as I have long since admitted I am not perfect I want to apologize in advance if I leave your name out! It is my personal nightmare that I will omit someone from lack of organization, not appreciation. I begin with Keith Wohlfarth and the students of Franklin Elementary School who year after year have supported this rescue. Keith has been invaluable in so many ways and I know he wouldn't want me to shine the light on him by listing what he does but he is a wonderful human being and we can be grateful that our schools have such a fine teacher.. and Keith has four Boxers.

Big time thanks to Craig and Pam Nielson of AARF who have organized some food runs and made it available to rescues at very low cost and have saved us all on some level this year. What a friend to this rescue you have been! I guess I'll add Helen Woodward in this area too as they also contributed food to the rescues and my thanks to Brande Stampli as well!

Al and Susan Holcomb of Friends of Rescued Animals have been constant supporters of this rescue and help in every way they can. They've been great to so many in rescues and individuals over the years and I so appreciate them.

Can't thank Ron and Brigitte Miller enough for all they have done to help both the rescue and me! They are always trying to think of ways to help and it is Brigitte's artwork you see so often on my site. If you would like an animal portrait please call her and discuss it at (858) 613-0279.

Pat and Nancy McNulty have been no less than lifesavers this year and I'm proud to have them in my corner along with their friend Dana and daughter Lacey who pitched in to save the days as well... cannot thank you all enough.

The Gillis family (daughter Tanya is the creator of my website) who thought they were rid of me, pitched in when it came computer time...I know so little and understand so slowly when I am stressed that it was a challenge to communicate properly so thank you Dana for your help and patience.

Kristin Washington and daughter Taylor have become great friends, and it is a pleasure to continue our friendship long distance. I think they are trying to rescue everyone in Oklahoma now! Bless their big hearts!

And while we are in a thankful state of mind the rest of our Boxer angels this year who have kept the rescue alive: David and Ruth Allsbrook, Jane Archibald, Bruce Barker, Bonnie Tincup, Ashleigh Barton, Donna Betancourt, Ken Cartern and Lisa Haws, Robert and Catherine Coleman, Thomas and Tamara Cook, John and Sandy Cunningham, Dan and Heidi Dague, Dennis and Sally Dunn, Scott and Gina Eliason, Kimberly Elliott, Don and Shirlee Fagan, Ken Fairlie, Jacques Guillotin, Martie Henry, Robert and Lisa Herman, Gary and Kathy Holden and Estella, Lorna Hood, Brenda Houser, Jeffrey and Terra Jones, Evelyn Kirkley, Joseph and Marja Long, Janet Mance, George Mendoza, Kevin and Ulrika Messer, Sandra McNulty, Bill and Elizabeth Mounsey, Alex Munoz, Michael and Diane O'Neill, Shadley and Carey Pastor, William and Allison Pigg, Frank and April Roethel, Murray Ryan, Brian and Kara Schenk, Walter and Muriel Schuette, Tim and Debbie Schmidt, Sheryl Shadoan, David and Judy Steck, Karan Tarallo-Lizarazu, Lauren Villareal,and Jay and Christina Walker.

My best wishes to all of you and hoping the new year brings you great joy!

Alice Via
and The Boxers