I was very lucky to have been raised with Boxers in the house all my life. My mother was a boxer breeder. Our first was Toro; he lived till he was 14yrs old. I remember going to pick out our second boxer Cleopatra “Cleo” as a young child. Cleo once had a litter with 13 healthy puppies. When I was an adolescent I found myself alone a lot and no matter what my mood I was always comforted by my dogs. When I was with my dog(s) I always felt safe. I’ve had 7 Boxers in all. The last two, Otto & Greta I had to surrender because of life changes. It happens to the best of people with the best of intentions. Fostering now offers me an opportunity to be on the receiving end for folks who have to make this difficult decision.

 

I made a promise to never have another dog until my lifestyle could accommodate it. Here I am 13 years later fostering. I can do it now because I’ve been in school (due to a career change). So I’m home a lot more than I ever imagined I would be. I actually thought it would be a great time to actually buy a dog.  I had not idea Rescues existed for Boxers. Thank goodness someone gave me a pointer to  www.boxerbuddies.org website. I’ve had 4 fosters since I joined at the end of March ’04 (three have been successfully placed in their “forever homes”) and I have one more now.

 

Someday, I will adopt my own Boxer (but he’s got to get along with others). I can’t ever imagine not fostering. I’ve met some great people and have developed life long friends. I’ve never felt better about myself in my life. I walk everyday now. I figured if I got a dog – not walking wouldn’t be an option. I’m a very passionate individual. I love people, animals, learning and educating people about Boxers and volunteering. Fostering, offers me an opportunity to laugh everyday. It’s something my son and I get to do together. I’m going to school to be a Nurse. I love knowing they’ll always be a dog in my home waiting for me to arrive.

 

I will always be eternally connected to every dog I foster. I will love them to pieces regardless of how long they stay. 

 

Authored by Jody.

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I prefer to foster the seniors.  Many people don't understand why, after all, they could be gone tomorrow or maybe they have health issues which require extra effort on my part.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming.  What I have discovered, however, is this: 

1)  The seniors fit my lifestyle.  One 30 minute walk a day is all
that is required for exercise.  That makes them happy and keeps me a
little more fit than I would be without them.  An all-day outing
knocks them out for a 24 hour period.  YAY!!!   

2)  They appreciate EVERYTHING!!!  You can look into their eyes and
see how much they love that beef marrow bone or that scratch behind
the ears.  They are warm, they are loving and they become attached to
their caretakers so much quicker than the youngsters. (JMO)

3)  I will probably be the last home they see.  They come from places
where most people have loved them for years and years and suddenly
that boxer baby finds that their loved ones no longer can/will care
for them.  It's not an easy path to choose but it's one I'm willing
to share with them.

4)  I don't have to put up with "puppy antics".  No chewing the
furniture, no testing my authority, no housebreaking issues.  An
absolute plus in my book.

5)  They educate me.  They teach me to research.  They make me look
at the world differently.  My very first foster sent me down paths
that I never knew existed.  My fosters have broadened my horizons in
ways that probably would have never happened without them.  I
consider that a reward, too.

I have had to send my share of dogs to the Rainbow Bridge and it
wasn't/isn't easy.  What helped was the fact that I had the chance to
build the bond with them that THEY required.  To me, that is the most
rewarding thing in the world.  When the time came, I could look into
their eyes and hold them and they returned my stare.  They thanked me. 

I miss my Boyz like crazy right now but I also know that there are
many others out there that will find me.

 Authored by Cindy.

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I cannot foster anymore due to some behavior issues with my own dogs but I know I will foster again in the future.  I loved to foster and over a period of 3 years I fostered about 13 different dogs.  So many people shy away from fostering because they are afraid of getting attached and having to then let the dog go,  and this is definitely a reality of fostering but worth it in my opinion.  There were some dogs I cried over for days when they left and others I was very happy to see them go (not in a bad way but they just were not the best fit in my family).  Although emotional at times, its incredibly rewarding, I always tried where possible to be very involved in the choosing of the new family and the whole adoption process, that way I was comfortable that we had picked the perfect home for my foster. When you see a dog heading off with its new family its very heart warming when you know what a wonderful home the dog is going to.   I have said many times the best way to get over the loss of a foster is to take another one in :)

 

When you adopt a dog you save one life, when you foster you save many.

 

Authored by Adelle

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Fostering gives a dog a second chance at a good life when no one else wanted them.  Most of them only need TLC and understanding.  Others need lots of patience, and a refresher course on how to behave properly.  Most of the stories have happy endings and the foster finds that home that he/she was meant to be in, and it gives you a great sense of pride and accomplishment and tears are shed because you had a hand in making this possible.  Some stories don't have the fairy tale ending, but from personal experience I am grateful to have had the time to make that dog feel like royalty and give it 100% love and spoiling, something it didn't have in his/her short life.  For whatever reason whether it be for one day or a year, the dog you foster and sometimes adopt land in your care for a particular reason, we don't know why sometimes, but in the end it is meant to be the way it should.  Life has a funny way of working things out.

 

Authored by Marie.

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In March of 2002 I decided on a whim to add a boxer puppy to my home. I went out and purchased this cute bouncy lil white guy, who we named Chance, from a pet store. Within the next few weeks we discovered his skin allergies, kennel cough, and continuous colds. After having him checked out and doing some research I found Boxer Buddies. I realized there were tons of dogs being given up for numerous reasons. There was the homes that were moving, the homes that were having a new baby, and the homes that just didn't want the dog anymore. It broke my heart and from that day on I vowed to NEVER purchase a puppy from a pet store again. I wanted to know what I could do to help the ones in need. After starting as a volunteer I saw that they needed foster homes. I though "Hmmm do I really have the time, the room, or the patience?" Of course I did. Other people didn't give them a chance. I have now spent the last year and a half fostering boxers of different walks of life and watching then learn and be happy. I have found them the BEST homes I could have ever imagined for them and I am grateful to Boxer Buddies for being the organization that it is. I have failed Fostering 101 once and I am owned by "Miss Emmy" . So now I have two wonderful boxers who help me to keep the fosters in line.  I am happy to help "One boxer at a time".

Authored by Michelle.