Snow is an EVENT in the south. It happens so infrequently, we southerners just get excited! Its rather comical. But hey its all in fun! We are like a bunch of kids…have you met a kid yet that did not like snow?
Our precious foster boy Emmett enjoying his first snow!
Headed out for SNOW run!
I was super excited to have my first ever snow run today with my buddy Kate from the “MITTEN” ( Michigan transplant) .No fancy Yaktrax just our good ole running shoes. I did opt for my Brooks Adrenaline trail shoes which kept my feet nice and dry.Thanks TheRUNNERBOX for my awesome neck gator. It kept me warm and was an awesome tissue for my runny nose!
The run was a success as neither of us busted our a$$ on the ice patches. We had some great laughs, got in a great workout ( #1 of the day…..we hit the afternoon Crossfit class). We had a Blast!
We were honored to be the featured volunteer family for Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue in July:)
Meet The Martin Family
Jen Martin and her family began fostering for BRBR in October 2011 after adopting their Boxer Lucy from BRBR. The Martin Family has fostered six Boxers for BRBR and is currently fostering Sam and her six babies! Here is what Jen and her family say about fostering and volunteering for BRBR: What we like about fostering for BRBR is the reward and personal satisfaction of helping a dog in need. For us it is a family affair. We are 4 unique individuals with varied interest and fostering is a connection point for our family. We all share the passion and love for rescue. I feel this is providing my children 13 and 10 valuable life lessons that will positively impact them from years to come. For us, fostering was as simple decision…There are dogs in need! We love dogs and we want to give back. We love nurturing dogs and watching them flourish into happy healthy dogs. The personal satisfaction is worth every minute! I knew the family had caught the rescue fever when I came home from work and the family had a stray dog on a leash with them out front. I took one look at the dog and recognized the dog from two houses down, It was pretty funny!
Our family has been volunteering with Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue for almost two years. While it is not always easy, the joys seem to always out shine the heartaches.
Sweet Allee
Earlier this week, I received the most sincere and heartfelt update from a former adopter, Rebecca Z, reflecting on their year with Allee. Her update brought tears of joy to my eyes. Rebecca and Hector are wonderful people and have provided Allee with the loving and supportive environment that she needed. Allee’s transition was not easy but they never gave up on her!
Allee and Tango Meet!
Allee Update from Rebecca
With Memorial Day Weekend here and gone I am reminded of how we spent last Memorial Day weekend…a Saturday morning drive to Greensboro to pick up a sweet boxer named Allee for a “trial week or so” in our home, a Saturday (and Sunday) filled with rotations with Allee and resident dog Tango and feeling like those rotations would NEVER end, a girl who disliked her crate so much that she broke out of it twice on the first day. Let’s face it, a “trial” visit to our home was never going to happen…only a permanent move was in this precious girl’s future.
Here we are, a year later, more and more attached to our beloved Allee every day. We’ve had our fair share of struggles. Hector, Tango and I have each been victim to Allee’s quick bite and sharp teeth. Last year’s 4th of July was in the midst of Allee’s quarantine for biting a neighbor. Allee sometimes still has difficulty when we come across other dogs on walks, but going ona walk is one of her favorite things to do. The daily highlights far outnumber the struggles we’ve had in our first year as a family. Allee is…a dog who can’t wait to be allowed on our bed each morning after her trip outside and a delicious breakfast; a best friend to our 3 year old male Tango; a (mostly) laid back sweet girl who just wants to please you and be by her owner’s side; a silly girl who doesn’t so much do the boxer bean, but rather jumps up and down on all 4 legs when you get home. But most of all (to us at least) Allee is a Zambrana for life.
Thank you for all you did for our beloved Allee and for all you continue to do for the countless boxers you help each day!
Rebecca
THANK YOU Rebecca and Hector for giving Allee the second chance in life that she deserves! You all are an AMAZING family!
Apparently the bowl of noodles was not enough! In a matter of an minutes, one of my three lovely boxers “counter surfed” pulled down a bowl of noodles and my GARMIN. I can understand the noodles but WHY my Garmin? The last I checked it did not smell like a hunk of meat ( I actually rinsed it after my run this am).
Fortunately, the body of the watch and screen were spared. I cannot say the same thing for the band which was chewed off. I have no idea where the missing piece is….I can only imagine.
Thanks to Amazon.com a replacement band is one the way. T-6 days until the City of Oaks Marathon!…I sure hope it arrives 🙂
#1 Garmin Chewer Suspect- Lucy ( she may have even worn this chef disguise)
#2 Noodle Suspect Rex (anyone who can stand as tall as this can pull items off the counter)
#3 Suspect- Potter ( I think his huge tongue would not allow him to chew my watch)
Potter is now heart worm NEGATIVE! Yea for Potter! We are so excited for our beautiful boxer boy who has the cutest grin and gives possibly the biggest boxer kisses ever! Potter was given a second chance in life due to the hard working volunteers at Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue of NC, SC, VA. Read Potter’s journey!
May 2012
December 2011
Potter arrived to us as just a shell of a dog, 57lbs, starved with his ribs and hip bones visible. He has flourished into a healthy 79lbs and is full of energy and boxer spunk.
Potter accompanied me yesterday am for his first official run! He loved it! We made it about 2.5 miles before I decided that was far enough for his initial journey. Like humans they have to build up their endurance. Rex, his fur brother, can handle up to 7 miles at a time in cool temps. I am super thrilled to have another “Boxer Runner” in my running rotation for my early morning runs!
Potter on his 1st Boat Ride! This body made possible by the loving and caring volunteers at Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue!
Please consider adopting vs. shopping for a Pet of any kind. There are millions of animals in need of loving and caring families all over the world. These animals need a second chance at life! Adopting and animal in need might be the most rewarding thing you ever do!
Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one ~Anonymous
We have clearly accomplished the quote above! My Son has not only one dog… but several and his mother is the instigator of the multiple canine household. We are “dog” lovers. We all equally enjoy the unconditional love and entertainment our dogs bring. They truly do complete our family.
You always hear cliche’s regarding the relationship between a boy and his dog. I have witness this first hand watching my son bond with our dogs. In his early years, he so desperately wanted our “Senior” Springer Spaniel (Hampton) to play with him. He tried everything he could to entice her to chase him, bite at his heels, anything. She would just look at him with her soulful brown eyes wondering why he was disturbing her rest. Hampton’s ruckus days had passed way before he entered the world. He still loved her dearly despite the fact she could not be enticed to play with him. When Hampton crossed the Rainbow bridge, after 14 years, we were all deeply saddened. We missed her terribly and waited over a year until we ventured into being pet owners again.
It was meant to happen as we were introduced to “Rex” a 1.5yr old brindle Boxer whom needed a “furever” home. He was a rescue who had been through several families, for reasons unknown to us he was once again looking for a family to take him in. Boxer? I had never had a Boxer, never wanted a Boxer, and did not know anything about these crazy looking Dogs. My Husband was the first to meet Rex and declared him as a “cool dog” That’s all it took. We welcomed him into our family and he was the start of what I like to call our “Boxer Collection”
The bond between boy and dog was immediate. My Son now had a active play mate whom would chase him, play hide-n-sneak, wrestle, and generally participate in all his antics. Prior to rescuing, I thought you needed to raise a dog from a puppy for that special bond. Wrong I was! While puppies are cute, and everyone should have one or care for one in their life time they are a lot of work. I will never forgot, as a newlywed, the words of my Dad when we expressed interest in a puppy, “You should not get a dog, until you can be home with it full time.” Holly $%&! He is talking about a DOG not a human….seriously? For my Dad’s generation that was just the way it was. Hell….years later I did not even stay home with my kids. I wonder if he even remembers saying that?
Rex was fully potty trained and full of love an affection. No rearing from the puppy years was needed for bonding with the family. Rex was/is the perfect match for my highly creative and mischievous son. They….boy and dog keep us entertained. They run, chase, play hide-n-seek, taunt each other, wrestle, you name it they do it!
As a parent, it is so fun to watch this bond between boy and dog. They play differently than anyone else in the family. Basically it is a uncomplicated relationship, just unconditional love.
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. ~A France
The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me. ~Helen Exley
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras
Consider a rescue for your next pet! Rescuing is speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Did that peek your interest? We had some unplanned Friday night drama with my neighbor whom is less than desirable and perhaps a little crazy. He hates us and our precious dogs. Sadly, he is a dog owner. He walks his little fluffy dog with a metal bat in his hand. He often lifts his bat and shakes it towards our dogs whom are behind the fence in our yard minding their own business. A little more history on this “less than desirable neighbor” referred to moving forward as “LTDN” He had a dog, whom he tied up on his back deck when we left for weeks at a time. He left bags of dog food sliced open for self feeding. This poor dog was not spayed, and attracted many strays. This poor dog and her puppies were eventually picked up by Animal Control. So sad……so you know the intelligence of this neighbor.
Last night, we had just walked in the house when our three dogs slipped happily out the fence and headed down the driveway. They were minding their own business wiggling and running so happy to have bust free. Unfortunately, their timing could not have been any worse. Our LTDN happened to be in his yard with his dog. The curious creatures they are headed into his yard to check things out. Note no barking, growling…just normal sniffing and wiggling. The LTDN ran to his porch grabbed his metal bat and came after my dogs swinging. About this time, my husband was in the yard and witnessed the entire thing. “Why did you hit my dog?” and LTDN replied “They are in my yard!”. Other words were exchanged and LTDN went back into his house but only after he had hit two of my three dogs with his bat. Being the smart creatures they are they ran back into the fence. There was blood on the head of one of he dogs. We never could figure out where it came from. Fortunately, they all appeared fine. This all happened in less that 2 minutes.
We called 911 and the police arrived. They were less than amused with the LTDN’s behavior and stated he cannot to hit the dogs with a bat because they are in his yard. If he was being attacked it would be another story. Clearly this was not the case. The officers left to go talk to the LTDN and he was standing at the edge of his yard, all puffed up, with his bat in hand. They had to yell at him to drop the bat. They had their word with him and left.
Just when I was trying to calm myself and the kids from the drama Part 2 unfolds…….LTDN obviously called Animal Control, whom got a report of three vicious dogs. They were really nice, and totally understood it was an accident the dogs got out of the fence. They even recalled picking up LTDN’s dog a few years back. Anyway, because LTDN had called Animal Control on us in the fall (two dogs busted out the front door) he had to site us for 3 loose dogs since he did not cite us in the fall. I know the Animal Control Officer is just doing his job so I have no ill will towards him personally. It is just crazy LTDN can maliciously and unprovoked hit my dogs with a bat and we get a $150 fine for “allowing a dog to run at large”
They were loose for less than 2 minutes! It was horrible for the children to witness! It just heightened the drama. It is hard to explain to a child why someone can do something so gruesome and get away with it.
After sleeping on this we continue to be angry that he hits our dogs with a bat and WE get a fine. We called our attorney friend who is completely enraged! She has advised us to appeal the citation. She had some other tips and suggestions we will put into action if needed.
I am in prayer about this evil man, his poor dog, and our situation. We are just trying to be the better people in this situation. Blogging about this has helped me deal with my anger. I slept so poorly last night I blew off my 10 mile run this morning. It was raining, so I just went back to bed. I was emotionally drained all day! Tomorrow is a new day! I am determined not to let LTDN hold any space in my head and my heart! I think I will pound it out on the pavement tomorrow!
I am a true believer that what goes around comes around so….Those who do evil………eventually get what they deserve.
BoxerRunner 