Welcome to Rejection Collection Boxer Rescue

Hawkeye
I was Hawkeye’s foster mom for nearly a week. While scrolling down Facebook it came to my attention that there was a Boxer in need and he was very close. He was an owner surrender at a high kill shelter and his days were numbered. I shared Hawkeye’s post with my husband and he said “go get him”. Luckily, Rejection Collection Boxer Rescue was already working on him and a volunteer was needed. The volunteer would pick him up and facilitate him until transporting him to RCBR. Hawkeye was tagged meaning he wouldn’t be euthanized and after he was vetted he could be released. We hoped that he would be a good candidate for wheels and adoption. I’ll let you know that I’ve been to war twice, which has caused me emotional issues and feelings of detachment. There was always a possibility that I could come home in a box with a flag draped over it. However, when Hawkeye was brought out I cried. I cried because he symptoms didn’t occur to their level overnight. I got right in his face and told him I was sorry I hadn’t gotten there sooner. My heart was broken and I knew he was scared. I’ve asked myself several times “what kind of person surrenders their defenseless pet who can no longer walk, control their bodily functions or protect themselves?” I’ve had people comment that I don’t know the reasons and I shouldn’t judge. I’ve tossed it around and honestly I cannot fathom any reason. Not a single reason for “Jerik” to abandon Hawkeye. He’s a pathetic selfish individual who should never be allowed to own animals PERIOD. Degenerative Myelopathy is an ugly progressive disorder that affects Boxers and several other breeds. My knowledge had been very limited until Hawkeye. After doing my own research and consulting with RCBR it was evident that this sweet boy’s symptoms were too far advanced. There was nothing we could do besides keep him comfortable and spoil him. Hawkeye spent his final days surrounded by my family who showed him lots of love. He had fluffy clean blankets, pillows, and a changing station to help him avoid laying in his own waste. He wore super hero underwear over his diaper to match his super hero blanket. He had a warm bath and enjoyed laying in the sunlight shining through the windows. He also enjoyed laying on the couch where he could look out huge windows and watch the squirrels race from tree to tree. He ate chicken, steak, shrimp, and cheeseburgers. I’m pretty sure his favorite was cheeseburgers! On his final day he spent time in the grass and he was smelling the air. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t be with us longer but I’m happy knowing he didn’t pass in the shelter alone. He passed with a belly full of cheeseburger, and I was there to hold his paw as he crossed over the rainbow bridge. I imagine he was walking, running, and being greeted by our boys who have passed on over the years.

Lacey
Lacey ~ my RCBR story Hi, my name is Lacey. I came into rescue with my bonded sister, Dottie. I was 12 years old and had chronic health issues. How I ended up with RCBR is a sad story. Our owner loved us very much but got cancer and had a heart attack. So he did what he thought was best and took us to our vet office to be euthanized because his family was unable to care for us. The vet's office felt we still had some years in us so they contacted RCBR to see if they could take us. Of course they said yes, but we had to wait at the vet office until a foster home became available. Well, as luch would have it, a foster home asked for a second dog, but Stacy moved her and we got to go stay the McMurry/Kyllo home. To get from Georgia where we lived, to Minnesota, we got a ride from Doug and his son at a truck stop for our 2-day journey north. I was with my foster family a month and then they made a hard decision to let me cross the Rainbow Bridge. My health was declining - my breathing became very labored - I couldn't catch my breath. I crossed with my foster mom and Stacy loving me. ~Lacey Crossed the Rainbow Bridge 7/15/2023

Orion (fka Bobby)
It's with a very heavy heart that I have to let you know our sweet Orion "Bobby" "Bubba" F. crossed the bridge Monday 4-March-2024 after a brief illness, despite everyone's best efforts to help him. He was only with us a little over a year, but he was the absolute perfect boy for our herd. He loved playing with his puppy siblings in his yard and loved joining them in barking at the forest friends that came by daily, though he preferred to bay. I don't think his little stub stopped vibrating with joy the whole time he was with us. He was just full of pure love and happiness. We will miss him every day while he waits with our departed herdlings on the other side of the bridge until we get to join him again. Thank you RCBR for taking care of him when he needed you most and for bringing him into our lives. He is very special. We love you, Bubba. See you soon. -Jeff, Robyn, Atlas, and Ceres. 3/9/2024

Lola (aka Merlot)
Lola (aka Merlot) Crossed the Bridge 2/17/24 Lola was the sweetest, most timid boxer we’d ever encountered. We provided her with a safe and quiet environment to help calm her nerves. She loved homemade dog food, soft treats, and string cheese. She really loved our boxer girl Lucy and seemed to be constantly observing her, almost as if she was trying to learn how to be a dog. My favorite part of the day would be when both dogs would be in the backyard and Lola would get the zoomies running around Lucy. She seemed so happy doing this! Almost every picture we have of Lola is on our bed, as this was always her favorite place to be. She opened our eyes as to how “broken” some puppy mill dogs can be and she will always hold a special place in our hearts and be so incredibly missed.

Lilly Belle
February 23rd, 2024 was the day we said goodbye to a dog we never knew we needed. We believe Lilly knew better than us what it was we all needed when she came to us as a foster in June of 2020. Lilly Belle was our first foster fail. She captured Joel's heart when she first smiled at him and gazed into his heart. My mom was her biggest advocate for her to not have to start her life over again after coming to us at 11.5 yrs old. After adopting her she stood vigil by my mom as she passed, and I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through that 1st year without her. She has now seen us through the loss of my dad, who adored her too. She had that effect on people. She had an amazing sense of calm and sweetness to her soul that attracted people. She was the most tolerant with all the fosters that came after her, even when they wanted to share her bed and snuggle. She loved Joel, walkies, naps, treats and Don, our elderly neighbor, whom she had a serious crush on. She would lay on the front stoop, keeping a watchful eye out for him, and when she saw him in his yard, she HAD to go say hello. She was perfect from the night we picked her up through today. She was a warrior with determination to push through any obstacles in her path, or people or dogs. She dealt with 2 blown CCL'S, but still wanted to go on walks every day. She did a flight of 17 stairs several times a day without complaint, but needing more and more assistance, which she hated to accept. She found her mobility again after losing her ability to walk after experiencing vertigo through pure determination and will. Next was the Cushing's diagnosis which she handled well with natural treatment, but when that stopped working and meds were started, we saw a much different Lilly. She began to lose weight and muscle mass quickly and her balance and control of her legs worsened. Her quality of life was quickly slipping away. Lilly has never been a quitter and we realized that she would never give up, so it was up to us to help her when the time came. She showed us yesterday that it was her time. So, we took her to her favorite park, she walked a bit then rode in her wagon. We spent the day loving her along with Roscoe. After saying her goodbyes to Roscoe today, we stopped at Wendy's and she had a biggie meal with a bacon cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, fries and a vanilla frosty. I guess that's what we should have been feeding her all along, she loved it, but she was ready. She had fought a good fight and would have done her best to carry on the best she could, but we know she was tired and hurting and not living the life she deserved. At the age of 15 years 1 month and 26 days, Lilly Belle was "Lifted Up" and she was carried up to the Rainbow Bridge by our great love and appreciation for all she did for us. She was an amazing girl, and we will miss her gentle presence and the sound of her little sneezes and twinkle toes on the floor. She can now be a pony whenever she wants,