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New York Breed Rescue Network (NYBRN)
Meet Adopt A Boxer Rescue
 Although
Adopt A
Boxer Rescue (AABR) is a relatively new rescue group, its
founders — Jamie Meadow, Dawn Karam, and Sandy Trehy — have more
than twenty years of combined experience in rescue. AABR is a
collective effort of savvy volunteers working together to rescue,
rehabilitate, and re-home unwanted and abandoned Boxer and Boxer-mix
dogs.
Jamie is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who has
managed her own veterinary hospital for twenty-eight years. Her
access to an extensive network of veterinary services has been
tremendously beneficial to the Boxers she and her colleagues have
rescued that have required medical care.
Boxers are an extremely people-oriented,
"in-your-face" breed, according to Jamie. "A Boxer has a great need
for human companionship, and rarely is content to take a back seat
to his family's lives and activities." In an attempt to gain
attention from their people, an overlooked Boxer might resort to
unacceptable behaviors. "Many of our rescues are from families that
didn't anticipate the
attention required by the breed," Jamie explains.
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Adopted Boxer, Dude, enjoys his
new home and friends. |
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AABR concentrates its efforts in the tri-state
area and Pennsylvania, generally within three to four hours of NYC.
The group provides hands-on rescue and medical care, as well as
educational outreach to enlighten people to the realities of pet
guardianship and the importance of spaying and neutering. In terms
of adoptions, Jamie anticipates that AABR's placements will mirror
those of the organization from which it sprang — approximately 30
dogs each month.
The group focuses its expertise on pure breed
Boxers and Boxer mixes, but its volunteers have been known to rescue
Frenchies, Bulldogs, and even a Bassett Hound or two. All of the
group's activities' are performed by volunteers who operate out of
their homes in the Northeast, and, except for medical cases that
require hospitalization, almost all AABR dogs are cared for by
foster families.
"Without volunteers, there is no rescue," Jamie
exclaims. "We have the best, most devoted group of foster homes,
transporters, application reviewers, and case workers around. Our
volunteer coordinator reviews
volunteer applications with the same extensive criteria as an
adoption application goes through."
Jamie and Sandy have been active with the Mayor's
Alliance and the
New York Breed Rescue Network (NYBRN) from their inception.
Earlier this year, two AABR volunteers and their Boxers participated
in the filming of the Alliance's breed identification video that
currently is being completed. And Jamie reports that the NYBRN
e-mail group was invaluable in helping AABR complete a home visit in
an area where it did not have any representation. A volunteer from
the
Scottish Terrier Club of Greater NY Rescue drove quite a
distance to perform the home check that paved the way for Floyd the
Boxer to live happily ever after. While AABR isn't currently
networked with any national organizations, the group understands the
importance and value of working collaboratively with other rescue
groups and shelters.
AC&C is one such organization. AABR takes a
significant number of dogs from the AC&C, most of which are
challenging dogs that require evaluation and time spent in AABR's
most experienced foster homes. "Some of these dogs have been on the
city streets for a long time, and a soft bed and the gentle hand of
a knowledgeable volunteer begins the Boxer's transition to a new
life," explains Jamie.
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Surrendered to rescue, Marshall
needed extensive surgery to repair his deformed legs. |
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Because Boxers normally do not kennel well, Jamie
is pleased that the Mayor's Alliance and the NYBRN have
significantly improved communications between breed rescues and the
city shelters, which allows AABR to get sick Boxers out of the
shelter and into foster care more swiftly.
When asked to recall a memorable rescue
experience, Jamie related the
story of Marshall, a young male Boxer who was surrendered to
Dawn and transported to White Plains for evaluation. Both front legs
were deformed, having been allowed to grow that way without
correction. Two orthopedic surgeons evaluated Marshall and agreed to
perform the extensive surgery needed to correct the deformity. After
eight weeks, x-rays show Marshall's legs are healing well. Another
month in his casts and he should be standing tall and running just
like any normal 12-month-old Boxer!
Jamie also recalls Lynne Melemenis, a dear friend,
rescue volunteer, and a friend to the Boxers, who passed away in
September. Jamie remembers her friend, and expressed thanks to her
on behalf of all the animals she rescued and all the volunteers she
helped.
Speaking of friends, the folks at AABR believe
that a Boxer is just about the perfect friend, Jamie says. "However,
they are not for everyone," she continues. "We want potential
adopters to know that he or she will demand a lot from you…rely on
you for nearly everything: food, water, shelter, protection,
training, exercise, grooming,
veterinary care, and of course, love and companionship. While
it's important to choose the right Boxer for your needs, it is
equally important to ensure that you can meet their needs.
Of course, the responsibilities of being a guardian of any dog are
great, but the love and friendship you'll receive in return are
priceless."
To learn more about Adopt A Boxer Rescue,
please visit their web site at
www.AdoptABoxerRescue.com. You can e-mail co-founder Jamie
Meadow at
nyboxerrescue@yahoo.com. |
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