IF YOU HAVE A BOXER YOU NEED TO SURRENDER, PLEASE EMAIL US AT: INFO@TULSABOXERRESCUE.NET

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 still 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.

On the following pages, we're direct and honest with you. Your dog is your responsibility. He has no one else but you to look out for his interests. It will take patience and persistence to find him the right home. He deserves your best efforts.

Finding a new home for a dog involves several steps. Before you start, please take a minute to read all the information contained on the following pages.

Please note that TBR operates throughout Oklahoma.  Sometimes we can push these boundaries, but we will 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.

The Most Common People Problems:

Moving

"We're moving - we 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.

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 spray on a towellette and wipe the dog, and wipes to use.

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 to do.

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.

Get Your Dog Ready

Your dog will be much more adoptable if he's clean and healthy. First, take him to the vet for a check up. He'll need a heartworm test, a DHLP and a rabies vaccination if he hasn't one within the last 6 months. It is likely that your vet will recommend a fecal to ensure that the dog is free from parasites. Be sure to tell the vet about any behavior problems so he can rule out physical causes.

If your dog isn't spayed or neutered, do it now! The only kind of "breeder" who'll be interested in your dog will be a puppy miller or a dog broker. Brokers seek out unaltered purebreds for resale to puppy mills or research laboratories. That's not the kind of future you want for your dog.

Having the dog spayed or neutered is the best way to ensure that a family who wants a best friend and family member will adopt your dog. If you can't afford the cost of surgery, check with your vet, local shelter or rescue group for information about low-cost spay and neuter programs that are available in some parts of the country. You can call the following numbers for low cost spay/neuter referrals and vouchers: 1-800-248-SPAY or 1-800-321-PETS. Having your dog neutered or spayed is the best going away present you can give him. It may save his life! Give your dog a brighter, healthier future - make the appointment today!

If your dog has never been tattooed or microchipped, this is a great time to do it. It's not unusual for newly adopted dogs to get loose and become lost. A permanent ID will help your dog get back to you or his new owners.

Complete the Surrender Form

We will email you the surrender form after you contact us via email at: info@tulsaboxerrescue.net

Tell us all about your dog.  Is he friendly? Housebroken? Crate Trained? Well-mannered? Loves kids? Does he do tricks? Has he had any training? Don't keep it a secret but don't exaggerate either. Knowing his name doesn't make him "well-trained"!

State any definite requirements you think would be best, and be honest.

Please email us some attractive, current photos of your dog that we can post on the website. 

What's Next

Occasionally we do have foster homes that open up, but these homes are generally full with dogs that we pull from shelters.  While we look for the best home for your dog, we will ask that you foster him or her until a great home can be found.  This minimizes the stress experienced by the dog from multiples moves, etc. 

A volunteer will be in touch to set a time to come out and perform an evaluation of your dog and his temperament. Once this is complete, we will begin to look for a great home for your dog.  Please be patient, it can often take time to find a great match.

When we have a home, we will contact you and to set up a meeting!

** Thanks to Chow Chow Welfare for the content!