OPT TO ADOPT SO NO BOXER IS LEFT BEHIND
OPT TO ADOPT SO NO BOXER IS LEFT BEHIND VOLUME1 ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 Dedicated to helping abandoned and abused boxers.
Welcome Letter from our Director Welcome to the Carolina Boxer Rescue newsletter! Carolina Boxer Rescue was founded in October 2001 by three North Carolina women who wanted to make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs. I was one of those women. The work seemed harder back then because the technology of today was not present. We called each other constantly and had a fax machine to accept adoption applications. The dogs’ pictures were taken with film cameras (or Polaroids!). Our volunteers drove all over Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, pulling dogs from shelters and driving them to their foster homes. We were a small but devoted group, and had the miles on our vehicles to prove it. As Carolina Boxer Rescue grew, many dedicated volunteers joined the cause. We became larger, with more adoptions and foster homes than any boxer rescue in NC or SC. Now, hundreds of dogs are saved every year by our loyal volunteers, caring foster homes, and loving adoptive homes. Other volunteers transport dogs, hold events to raise money to cover medical expenses for our fosters, and help with the many fundraising and administrative tasks needed to keep saving the nubs. I am always amazed at the generosity of folks in our rescue. The outpouring of love that is shown is amazing. Carolina Boxer Rescue is honored to have saved over 2,000 boxers from euthanasia in shelters over the years. We are a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, so donations are tax deductible. CBR is always in need of loving foster homes, adoptive homes, donors, and volunteers to continue our work.
Foster Stories Remembering Sir Bruno This space in the newsletter will be dedicated to foster stories. As the first newsletter was prepared, the story of Sir Bruno began unfolding. From the day his pictures were posted on Facebook to the day he crossed the bridge, Sir Bruno touched many, many hearts. While he had a foster home ready to take him in, he sadly never became an official foster for one family, but rather he was a foster to all of us. The love, prayers, and donations that came in after posting Sir Bruno’s pictures touched CBR deeply, and allowed us to provide him with the medical care needed in his last days. Unfortunately, the damage to his health was too great to overcome, and on January 26 we said goodbye to him. It was not the ending that we wanted and hoped for, but it’s the ending we have. Many people are asking about his story and how he got in this condition. The person who did this is known, law enforcement is involved, and charges will be brought. Unfortunately, for those of us in rescue, we know this is not an isolated situation. Sometimes rescue stories can overwhelm us and tempt us to shut Facebook off so we don’t see these pictures or hear the stories that break our hearts. However, that doesn’t solve the problem. As our volunteer who spent the last minutes with him said, “Sir Bruno, we promise that we will not stop. We will volunteer, donate, foster and adopt. We will continue to pray for those in need. And yes, so that others may escape your fate, we will rescue. It would be very easy to let our anger at the injustice done to this animal, who wanted nothing but love, get the better of us. Instead, let this make us even more determined to do right by those who have no voice. Rest in peace our sweet boy.”
We’d love to hear from you. Ideas for the newsletter can be mailed to Betsy Nixon, our Fundraising Coordinator, at BoxerPrograms@gmail.com. Visit us on our website and Facebook and join us in our goal to “Save the Nubs”! Boxer wiggles and sloppy kisses, Teresa White, Executive Director and Founding Member
Go to p. 2. to learn about ways to help fight animal cruelty, and watch for an upcoming fundraiser in honor of Sir Bruno.
Animal Welfare and Abuse Information
Why Volunteer?
Recently there have been several cases of animal abuse and neglect that have been high profile both for our rescue and in the local news. People often wonder what they can do to stop abuse before it escalates and how they can be a supportive voice for companion animals. Luckily, there are many things that you can do to have a very real impact on how animals are treated both in your community and statewide. Here are just a few examples:
Volunteering and supporting a cause is the perfect way to feel connected to your community. The simple act of offering your skills and enthusiasm will positively impact the lives of others, as well as your own.
1. If you see abuse happening, document it and report it! Download the app ICE Black Box (available from Google Play or the Apple store for free). Once downloaded and activated, you can use the app to record pictures and videos of abuse as it happens. The great thing is that the program also records date, time, and GPS coordinates of the incident, and then uploads everything to a secure server. If your phone is confiscated or destroyed, the information will not be lost and can be transferred to local law enforcement. It’s often best not to intervene yourself, but to contact the authorities immediately. 2. When someone is arrested on cruelty charges in your area, write or email the local district attorney in charge of the case to ask that they prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. To find your local district attorney in NC go to ncdistrictattorney.org/yourDA.html and in SC go to judicial.state.sc.us and select your county. 3. Contact your local news outlets (newspaper, TV, radio) about cruelty cases that you know of and ask that they highlight the story. Write a letter to the editor or an opinion piece for your local paper. 4. Write, email, or visit your local and state elected representatives to let them know how important the issue of companion animal welfare is to you. The Humane Society of the United States has a state chapter in both NC and SC that organize Lobby Days during which they visit lawmakers to discuss animal welfare issues. North Carolina’s Humane Lobby day is coming up on March 4 th, 2015. You can register here action.humanesociety.org/site/Calendar? id=114461&view=RSVP Visit the NC chapter here: humanesociety.org/about/state/north_carolina/ Visit the SC chapter here: humanesociety.org/about/state/south_carolina/
The intent of volunteerism is to both generate and harness a person’s desire to assist in the overall improvement of the quality of life for a rescue boxer. Each individual brings a unique perspective, which fosters relationships and interaction with others. Everyone Can Help. We know that everyone has a talent to offer, whether it’s expertise in a particular field or simply offering their valuable time to help fulfill volunteer opportunities within their area. One person might be good with fundraising; another person might have web design skills and could help with the CBR website. And yet another person might be good at grant writing and could help bring in much needed grant money. We are asking for you to look into yourself and see what your passion is, and let us know. Tell us what you want to do, where you feel you could offer the most assistance, and what is your PASSION. We know we have some very talented people out there. We welcome you to fill us in on what drives you, what makes you tick, and how YOU can help CBR become a well oiled machine so that we can save more boxer lives that would be ended without the assistance of a rescue to help them find a home. So……email us today (BoxerPrograms@gmail.com) and let us know what YOUR PASSION is…… When a foster realizes freedom……..
5. Follow animal welfare organizations such as those mentioned above on Facebook to get up to the minute information about cases and find out how you can make a difference. Other great advocacy organizations are North Carolina Voters for Animal Welfare (facebook.com/NCVAW), South Carolina Voters for Animal Welfare (facebook.com/SCVAW), Dogs Deserve Better (facebook.com/dogsdeservebetter), and Animal Legal Defense Fund (facebook.com/AnimalLegalDefenseFund). 6. Educate! Teach a class about animal welfare at a local school, volunteer to give a talk on the subject at your local library, or bring information to hand out at your county social services office. Together we can get the word out that animal abuse and neglect continue to be a real problem in our community. Each of us can help shine a light into the dark corners where it lives and make a difference for all companion animals. Watch for updates on our Facebook page and in the monthly newsletter on the case against Sir Bruno’s abuser.
Make sure you are aware of all the great ways to help CBR everyday: 1.
2.
Shopping on Amazon? Go to www.amazonsmile.com, and select CBR. A portion of anything you buy goes to CBR. Walking, biking, running with or without your dogs? Remember to download the Wooftrax app, select CBR, and turn it on when you start your exercise. We are paid for every mile logged. www.Wooftrax.com.
Rescue 101—Part 1 Fosters, Foster Failures, and Permanent Adoptions. What does it all mean? A foster dog is much like a child in foster care. A dog without a permanent home lives with a volunteer who provides a temporary home. Permanent adoptions are forever homes. Our goal is to truly rescue our dogs and provide them forever homes. Foster failures occur when foster parents fall in love and become forever homes. The process to become either a foster or adoptive owner is the same. 1. Application – So much information! Is this a Job Application? You are applying for the best full-time job there is! (And it has the most slobbery, snuggly, and wiggly benefits package around!) The information submitted by an applicant is used to ensure that dogs go to quality homes. The adoption application provides CBR with the information needed to ensure certain requirements for adoption are met. 2. Home Visit – Is this an Inspection? The home visit is phase two of the application process. A CBR volunteer will visit your home. CBR volunteers are not home inspectors – they are regular people who love dogs. The volunteer will ask you (and, if applicable, your family) about what you expect from a pet, answer your questions, and share experiences. We do not do a white glove inspection. You are not expected to hire a maid. You do not need to dress up. You do not need to be nervous. Here’s why we visit in person:
3.
Helps us match you with a dog. Assures CBR that you are indeed who you claim to be in your paper application. Sadly, rescues have received applications from puppy mills and dog fighters. Provides you interaction with a live CBR volunteer who likely lives near you. Adoptive families can turn to us for advice and support. The home visit lets you get to know us as well. Let the Matchmaking Begin! (Love is patient.)
What happens after you are approved? Watch for part 2 in the March newsletter or visit our website for more information on adopting.
Fundraisers—Help save some Nubs
Winter Sock Fundraiser—$12.00/pair. Ends 2/20/15. Great mother’s day presents. Put some away for Christmas gifts because they are only here for a limited time. https://www.bakdrop.com/carolinaboxer/
Canine Designs—Ends February 28. Custom leashes and collars. A portion of all sales during February benefit CBR. http://www.caninedesign.us/
Sir Bruno/Stop Animal Cruelty t-shirt—Information coming soon. Watch Facebook for more information.
Hoodie/Shirt Fundraiser– Save the Nubs hoodies starting at $30.00 plus shipping. Long sleeve t-shirts starting at $21.95. Coming in early March.
Calendar Photo Shoots– Watch for locations and dates to be announced. Shoots will be held in April and May
Spring shopping guide– Enjoyed buying merchandise at Christmas? Look for our Spring shopping guide coming in March. Great mother’s day gift ideas.
UPCOMING CBR EVENTS
Raleigh, NC: 2/21/15—Belk in Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall), 11am-3pm
New Bern, NC: 2/21/15–Meet the Breed, New Bern PetSmart, 12-3pm
Sanford, NC: 2/28/15-Meet and Greet, Sanford PetSmart, 10am-2pm
Raleigh, NC: 4/4/15—Belk in Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall), 11am-3pm
Durham, NC: 4/11/15—Poker Run in Durham (Rommel Harley Davidson), 11am– 3pm
Chapel Hill, NC: 4/26/15—Brews for Boxers in Chapel Hill @ Beer Study, 3pm-7pm
Cary, NC: 5/2/15—Second Annual Wine Tasting at UnVined Wine Bar, time tbd
Sanford, NC: 5/16/15-National Adoption Day, Sanford PetSmart
Murrells Inlet, SC: 10/10/15—Boxer Bash
Want to help at any of these events? Don’t see an event for your area and want to organize one? E-mail BoxerPrograms@gmail.com to get involved. Many hands and nubs make the work fun and rewarding!
Newsletter—Betsy Nixon, Patty Ellis, Mary Williams Have stories or ideas about articles for future newsletters? Contact BoxerPrograms@gmail.com. www.CarolinaBoxerRescue.Org