Placing Your Boxer for Adoption

Not that long ago, you were thrilled to have a boxer of your very own. You never dreamed you'd have to give him up someday. Even if you can't keep him any more, your dog is still your responsibility and he depends on you to do what's best for him. Now, more than ever, he needs you to make the right choices for his future. He deserves your best efforts.

Please note that TBRO operates throughout Oklahoma. We need to complete an evaluation of any dog prior to an owner surrender. As a result, we are limited to this geographic area.

Do You Really Have To?

Do you really have to give up your dog? There's a big difference between being forced to give up your dog and wanting to "get rid of him". Search your heart for the real reason why your dog can't live with you anymore. Be honest with yourself. Your answer will probably fall into one of two categories: People Problems or Dog Problems.

Moving - "We're moving and can't find a landlord who'll let us keep our dog". Many landlords don't allow children either but you'd never give up one of your kids if you couldn't find the right apartment. Affordable rental homes that allow pets are out there if you work to find them.

Most people give up too quickly in their search for rental property that accepts pets. Don't be quick to jump on the first apartment you see. There'll probably be a better one available soon.

Widen your search. Most people only look as far as the classified ads. Many landlords list their property through real estate agents or rental associations rather than the classifieds. Take advantage of rental services that help tenants find apartments. Ask friends, relatives and coworkers to keep an eye open for you. Many apartments are rented via word of mouth before they're ever advertised in the papers.

A home that allows pets might be in a different neighborhood than you'd prefer. It might be a few more miles from work. It might not be as luxurious as you'd like. It might cost a few dollars more. Are you willing to compromise if it means being able to keep your dog?

"No Pets" doesn't always mean "no pets, period." Many landlords automatically rule out pets because they don't want the hassle. Many of these landlords are pet owners themselves. Just because the ad says "no pets" doesn't mean you shouldn't go see the apartment anyway. During the interview, ask the landlord "Are pets absolutely out of the question?" You'll have better luck asking this question in person than over the telephone - it's harder for people to say no to your face.

Encourage a landlord to let you keep your dog. Show the landlord that your dog is well cared for and that you're a responsible owner. Bring along an obedience class diploma, Canine Good Citizen certificate or other achievement certifications if your dog has them. Offer an additional security deposit or rental amount to be able to have a dog.

Bring references from your previous landlords and neighbors, as well as from your dog's trainer. Invite the landlord to see your present home to show him that the dog has not damaged the property nor been a nuisance to the neighbors. Use a dog crate. Landlords are much more receptive to dogs that will be crated when their owners aren't home.

In difficult times, people often have to move in with relatives or friends who don't like dogs. This doesn't have to be an impossible situation. Use a dog crate when you're not home or when your family doesn't want your dog underfoot. A portable kennel run can be set up in the yard for exercise and can be sold later when you have your own place and don't need it anymore.

Don't think you're being unfair to your dog by moving into a smaller place than what he's used to. Dogs are very adaptable, they can often adjust even faster than people. Where he lives isn't as important to him as who he lives with. He wants to be with you and he doesn't care where that is.

Not Enough Time for the Dog - "We don't have enough time for the dog"...as a puppy, your dog took far more of your time than he does now. A boxer doesn't really take that much time - his requirements for grooming for example, are less than of many other breeds. Are you really that busy? Can other members of your family help care for the dog? Will getting rid of your boxer really make your life less stressful? When they look closely at their lives, people often discover that the dog isn't cramping their style as much as they think. A local student could also be hired at a nominal fee to walk with your dog in the afternoon, making the time you spend with your dog more enjoyable.

Having a Baby - If introduced correctly, there shouldn't be any problems with your dog and the baby. Chances are that if you greet the dog in your usual manner when you return from the hospital, he/she will be okay. But, remember that the dog was here first and may react just like a first child would. Give him/her the same amount of love and affection that you did before the baby was born and you will be fine. Yes, there are precautions you'll need to take when having a baby, but getting rid of the dog isn't one of them. In fact, it is unfair to deny a child from growing up with a dog. There is no better way to teach a child how to be loving and compassionate. TBRO gets many requests per year to take in Boxers that families feel they need to surrender because of a new baby. Boxers are one of the best breeds for families and children because of their bond with people and their instinct to protect. Children and dogs can form a bond from the moment they meet and it can be a lifelong and beautiful friendship! Many children miss out on this bond because their family boxer is surrendered before they have that chance! Please reconsider if you think you need to surrender your dog because of a new baby!

Allergies - There are things you can do and some wonderful products out there on the market which can aid in keeping you and your pet happy, healthy, and allergy free. Ask your local vet to show you what they keep in stock. There are Shampoos that reduce dander and clean the coat: Allerpet shampoo is very popular, dog and cat versions. There are sprays you can buy to wipe the dog with.

Giving your pet up for adoption could be a last option, not a physician's first. Intense emotional issues surface when people are told to give up their pets, being especially traumatic when several children are involved and only one is allergic. Indicative of this is the extremely large number of persons who keep their pets in spite of being told to give them up. Estimates by allergists range from 75% to 90%. In selecting an allergist, especially if you already have cat or dog as a pet, look for a physician who will be sensitive to your feelings and do everything possible, within reason, to help you keep it.

If Your Dog Has Ever Bitten A Person - If your dog is aggressive with people or has ever bitten anyone, you can't, in good conscience, give him to anyone else. Could you live with yourself if that dog hurt another person, especially a child? Can you deal with the lawsuit that could result from it? You stand to lose your home and everything else you own. Lawsuits from dog bites are settling for millions of dollars in damages.

Our society today has zero tolerance for a dog with a bite history, no matter how minor. A dog that has bitten - whether or not it was his fault - is considered by law to be a dangerous dog. In some states, it's illegal to sell or give away a biting dog. No insurance company will cover a family with a biting dog. And to be perfectly honest, no responsible person in his right mind would want to adopt a biting dog.

No matter how much you love your dog, if he has ever bitten anyone, you only have two responsible choices - take him to a professional trainer or behaviorist for evaluation and maybe the dog can be rehabilitated. This could be costly and time consuming but could be very rewarding. If this is not an option for you, take him to your veterinarian and have him humanely euthanized. Don't leave him at a shelter where he might be frightened and confused and put other people at risk. Don't try to place him as a "guard dog" where he might be neglected, abused or used for dog fighting. As hard as it is to face, putting a potentially dangerous biting dog to sleep is often the only safe and responsible thing.

About animal shelters ... Shelters and humane societies were created to care for stray and abused animals. They weren't meant to be a drop-off for people who don't want their pets anymore. Shelters, on average, take in 100 new animals or more each day. Let's face it - there won't be enough good homes for all of them. Even the best shelters can't boast much more than a 50% adoption rates. Only the youngest, friendliest, cutest and best-behaved dogs are going to be adopted.

By law, stray pets must be kept several days for their owners to reclaim them. They may not be destroyed until that period is up. These laws don't protect dogs that have been given up by their owners. They may be destroyed at any time. Shelters don't want to kill all these animals but they don't have a choice. There just isn't enough room for all of them. Shelters today are so overcrowded that your dog could be killed the same day it arrives.

Being purebred won't help your dog's chances of adoption either - almost half of the dogs in many shelters are purebreds. Chances are things will be worse for your dog because he is a boxer, and therefore a larger, high energy dog. If your boxer is old, has health problems or poor attitudes toward strangers; its chances of adoption are slim to none.

Sending your dog to a shelter in hopes that he'll find a good home is wishful thinking. It's more likely that you'll be signing your dog's death warrant. A shelter is your last resort only after all your best efforts have failed.

About "no-kill" shelters and breed rescue services...True "no-kill" shelters are few and far between. Obviously, no one wants to see their pet killed so the demand for no-kill shelter services is high. So high that they're forced to turn away many pets because they don't have room for them all. Often, they have to choose only the most adoptable dogs to work with.

Reconsider...If you provide love, a daily walk, some space (which doesn't have to be a lot, just enough), proper training, and food and water, your dog has a much better home than most of those looking for placement. We know that you may feel that you don't have what it takes to properly care for him or her, but we believe that your dog is receiving all that he needs. We recommend that if you need support or any assistance in caring for, training, or just venting about your dog, contact us for advice.