Want to have your boxer remembered on our site with a memorial? Send an email to webmaster@njboxerrescue.com with an image and a small writeup.
Becky
We lost Becky today just 4 days short of her 12th birthday. We have had her since she was 8 1/2 as a foster and adopted her at 9 1/2! She has been happy and energetic up to today when she passed. She was a sweet girl who loved everyone! She liked to sit in the sun and just watch the world go by. We are going to miss her!! RIP Becky!
Foster
We lost our boy Foster, or as we called him Doggie this week. He came into our life just 2.5 years ago. I will never forget when Stacey pulled up with him and 4 other NJBR dogs that the rescue just pulled from a shelter on a warm October day. He may have been 10 but he was full of wiggles and was sweet as could be. I brought him home to meet our boxers Colby and Casey. It was like they were old friends from the start. I would call them Mo, Larry, and Curly because they were truly brothers. My husband Dave works from home and Doggie would spend his days next to him as he worked. They truly had a special bond. Foster had an amazing personality. He was special in so many ways. Cancer may have taken our boy, but he will always be in our hearts. Doggie you made a difference in our lives and we will miss you! Dave, Barbara, Colby and Casey
Miley
In August 2011, at the age of 12 Miley was picked up as a stray and landed in the Camden County shelter. Her time there was limited to the 7 day stray hold. Thankfully NJBR was able to pull her. She spent time with two wonderful foster homes prior to coming to us. She was a happy old lady who we nicknamed Smiley Miley. She didn’t like all dogs but quickly warmed up and enjoyed the company of her canine housemates. She was an affectionate boxer returning our love tenfold. Though we are saddened with her passing we appreciate the 11 months we were blessed to have shared with her.
Bear
We fostered and then adopted Bear through NJ Boxer Rescue. Sadly, Bear died yesterday..he collapsed and it seems he had a massive stroke. He was probably around 12 or so. We would like him to be part of your memorial page. Sadly, our boxer Bear died on 1/20/13 after being part of our family for about six years. He was about twelve years old.
He was a sweet, gentle and loving dog. Although he was generally not a fan of other dogs, he was a major fan of people, especially children. His kind way made everyone feel good and safe. He saved his most vicious bark when a stranger was at our door and his love and patience for those that needed it most. Bear seemed to get what was needed in all situations and adapted to them so beautifully. One of greatest qualities was that he took everything in stride—moving, cats, home renovations, babies, children. We are grateful to him for that!
Bear was patient and loving with us and gave more than he sometimes got. But, he always had a soft and warm place to lay…a huge ottoman in our living room was his favorite, he loved the challenge and reward of opening mostly empty peanut butter jars and getting the kids to get him dog bones. He enjoyed his walks, laying on our front porch in the sun and his funniest moment was burying a rubber toy in the snow and leaping around to find it and bury it again. Our young boys feel such sadness…we all do. Bear was already part of our family when our sons were born. He helped teach them about love, what it means to take care of something and a reverence for the feelings and lives of animals. And although incredibly sad, but important, yesterday he helped teach them about saying good bye to a friend. He will be remembered and missed and thought of with the respect and love he is so very deserving of.
Duchess
In Loving Memory of Duchess Feb 1, 2003- December 20, 2012. We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. We think of you in silence. We often speak your name. Now all we have is memories, and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake, with which we’ll never part. Heaven has you in it’s keeping. We have you in our heart.My baby girl. Always gentle. Always sweet. Always a Lady.My Duchess…Always wiggly with the tap, tap, tap of her feet as she danced. She made me laugh everyday. Suddenly, without warning, bloat took her away. My precious companion. I miss you.
Tiger
With great sadness and breaking hearts, we helped our beloved Tiger to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday at the age of 12. He had become very ill over the last several weeks, and we had no choice but to relieve him. He lived his first few years confined to a basement, and with very restricted outside time with his original owner. For all his remaining years, we did everything possible to ensure he became, and lived like the dog he deserved to be as part of our FAMILY. Tiger was originally one of our 17 fosters, but we decided to officially adopt him after about a year. We had discovered some behavior issues over time that were no doubt a direct result of his prior environment, but we knew he could safely, and happily remain with us for the rest of his life. Tiger Bear, thank you for your unconditional love, your loyalty, your goofiness, your protection and your warmth…especially during the 7 cold nights after Sandy. But most of all, thank you for being so, sooo good with Stevie, and for tolerating his craziness as he’s grown. We know he really loves you, as do we! We’re going to miss that kissin’ nook and awesome boxer mush of yours…especially when your mush would flap in the wind as you happily ran around the yard. Thank you to New Jersey Boxer Rescue for helping to save Tiger, and we are truly humble, proud and honored to have been his second chance. Rest in peace my beautiful Tigey. Mommy and Daddy love you, and we’ll see you at The Bridge. Love, Steve, Dawn, Stevie, Lily and Baley.
Emma
Last week we cuddled our silly, quirky, lovable boxer, Emma, as she passed to puppy heaven. Always at my side, she was a friend, a love and a trooper. Despite illness and injury, nothing slowed her down. No loaf of bread was safe from her spying eye; she could disarm an unguarded trashcan faster than a speeding bullet; and her lightning reflexes could de-squeak a squeaky toy in 90 seconds flat. Emma-bear, you’ve left an empty place in our home and our hearts. We miss you, sweet girl, always will.
Pongo
As we are getting ready for the Holidays, I look at the house and there is somebody missing. We lost Pongo in 2012,and even when he was with us just over a year, he was definitely one of us.Pongo had a horrible life until NJBR took him in, found an extraordinary foster like Andrea and gave him the chance of getting the countless procedures that would make him walk again and with no pain. He was already 10 when our Victoria died and we promised to welcome another senior into our lives. And that was it. He was not the most affectionate dog, he had suffered too much, but he had that presence, dignity…. and when he started trusting us…well, he became my shadow and slept cheek to cheek with my husband. The day we had to say goodbye, we did our ritual of taking him to Panera bread where he gulped French baguette with soup, Oreo cookies, brownies and Rita’s ice cream. He kissed us goodbye and I wrapped him in my arms and helped him go to the same Heaven where we will be meeting someday…I hope! Pongo…you had a lot of class!
Byson
It’s with a heavy heart that this email is being posted. My husband and I had to say good night to our loving boxer Byson. We adopted Byson in June of 2004 and all our lives were changed from that day on. Joe and I were only going to “look” that day, but as soon as he was brought to us we knew there was no way we were leaving without him. From that day on he made us laugh with his antics, from telling us it was 5:00pm and it was time to eat to letting us know it was time for his morning walk. Joe and Byson hit the pavement every morning whether rain or snow and even Hurrican Sandy. Byson brought more joy to our family than he knew. Byson lost his hearing about a year ago but that didn’t stop him. He also knew when Joe pulled in the driveway and was always wiggling at the backdoor to greet him. It was nice to come home from a stess filled day to see that Boxer wiggle. For an old boy he was suprisingly high energy until late September when he started slowing down dramaticly. That’s when the seizures started. Just one or two within a couple weeks then more frequent and we just knew it was time. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Barbara and Jeannie for finding us our boy and hopefully one day we will be ready to open our hearts again.
Connie & Joe Constantino
Augie
R.I.P. Augie. You were our first NJBR foster and we failed miserably as we adopted you into our hearts almost instantly. We loved your dark-brindle-squishy-face-
SoCo
SoCo as you all may know was adopted by is The Taber Family just 9 weeks ago. SoCo brought more joy to our lives than anything or anyone. When we first adopted him we immediately noticed that something was wrong. He would have seizures but not the normal seizures that you might recognize, he would stare blankly at a wall for quite a while and then he would get very weak on his feet. SoCo started taking medicine to control his seizures and it worked very well for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, yesterday August 30th a major seizure took SoCo’s life. We felt as if SoCo was a part of our family. He showed us unconditional love! He loved to play with his ball and even up until yesterday afternoon would walk over to the couch with his squeaky monkey and squeak it at me until I tossed it across the room for him. He would sit for endless minutes with his chin propped up on the couch or bed and just took into your eyes so you knew he was there for you. We know that there won’t ever be a dog quite like him but hope that some day we will be ready to have another boxer in our family. RIP SoCo we miss you and love you more than you may ever know. We hope Doggy Heaven is amazing! Love Always, The Taber Family
Matt
This weekend our dear Matt (formerly Tank, formerly Matt) passed to puppy heaven. He was only with us for 5 short months, but in that time he made our lives richer by far. Matt Matt, Thunder Dog, Mr. Wimpers, Matthew, by any name he was loved and is now missed. He was Mommy’s velcro shadow, Daddy’s dog park buddy, Dani’s smooshy playmate and Jeremy’s pal. They’ll need a new Mr. Handsome at the dog park, but Matt is leading the pack in heaven. Thank you NJBR for this loving boy.
Harley
I lost my soul-mate and best bud yesterday. He was 12 1/2 and he was in good health until 3 weeks ago he suffered a severe seizure. After that he went on medication but the seizures, though small, were becoming more frequent. The doctor said it appered to be a brain tumor on the right side. As of yesterday, he was having 6 for more seizures a day and had developed severe dementia so I had no choice. Since you were responsible for us getting together, I wanted you to know how the story ends. There was, as you said, something special about Harley and I know he’ll be waiting for me on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for being part of our story, Mary Jane Blanco
Juliet
Adopted in March 2005, Juliet was afraid of everybody and everything. It didn’t take long for her to come out of her shell – especially once she found out how much fun squeaky toys were! She loved playing catch. There was always a ball in her mouth and I would often roll over in bed and one would squeak! We bought her favorite balls from Petsmart by the dozens. She was always up for a car ride or cuddling on the couch. There is now a boxer-shaped hole in my heart since she died suddenly at home on June 6, 2012 from cardiomyopathy. We always knew sudden death was a possibility but never really thought it would happen since she did so well on the medication. I miss her meeting me at the door, ball in mouth, dancing all over doing the Boxer wiggle. I miss the kitchen floor looking like a billiard table with different colored balls everywhere. I miss her warm body curled behind my knees. I miss her licking my knees after a shower. I miss so much about her but I am so grateful for 7+ years of love and laughter. She was without a doubt the “funnest” and most loving boxer that ever owned me. Juliet, I will treasure you forever.
Max
“On a sunny day in June, I was driving Max, the best dog you could ever ask for, to the doctors. The closer I got to the vets office, the darker the sky got. I was there to do one of the hardest thing I ever had to do. I had to say Good-Bye to my best friend. As I was leaving, the skies opened up and poured rain. It told me that I was not the only one crying my eyes out. While Max was in my life, I never had anything happen to me that was all that bad because all of my days started and ended with Max. Even though most would consider Max to be a dog, he had more personality than most people. He communicated as if he was human. If he wanted to go out and I was asleep, he would tap me with his paw. If he wanted to eat, he would stomped his left paw on the floor. Even when he was sick, it was Max who reminded me to give him his pills. Nothing was too bad if you were coming home to Max. He had been thru such negative things in his life, and all he gave was love and devotion. As much as I tried to make his life enjoyable for him, there would be no way I could ever repay him for all the pleasure he brought me. He touched so many people in nothing but a positive, sweet, caring ways. If I passed along all the messages I received, after his passing, it would be a book 3 inches thick. Max touched so many people in ways that could never be duplicated. It is so hard to say good-bye because he could never be replaced. We will miss you Buddy. Thanks Barbara & Arlene.
Sarah
About a month ago our family had the pleasure of meeting a beautiful girl named Sarah. We knew she had some problems and that was just fine. Unfortunately, Sarah took a turn for the worse and on June 21st 2012 she crossed over the rainbow bridge.We only got to spend a short time with her but in that short time she grew on us. She would follow “mom” in the shower. And did I mention she loved bacon, cookies, and cheese? Well she did. I can’t say how very much we miss you Sarah. Dutchess misses you too.I know this because she laid by your crate this morning looking for you. You will always be my first foster baby! XOXO Layla and Family
Fritz
In one week my family lost both of our precious boxers. Lola was nine years old and died on May 28, 2012. It was a very unexpected loss. In the morning she was completely fine and being as energetic and crazy as usual. At night, however, she took a turn for the worse. The vet said that she had a tumor in her spleen that had gotten so big that it caused her spleen to rupture. She said that Lola’s abdomen was filled with blood and that she was a lot of pain. Naturally, we wanted to put her down to put her out of her misery. We really loved her, and there were many tears that night. Exactly a week later (June 4, 2012), our older boxer, Fritz, passed away. He was thirteen years old. He had lumps all over his body, so we knew that he didn’t have much time. A few days before he died his breathing got really bad. He seemed like he was struggling and there was a raspy sound when he inhaled. We all gave him lots of love that weekend. He had always been a cheerful dog, so when he became really apathetic, we knew something was wrong. We decided to bring him into the vet the next morning to put him down, but he didn’t make it. My mom stayed with him through the night, and she told me that right before he died, they shared a piece of sicilian pizza (which he always loved). There were a lot of tears for him as well. My sister loved him the most. He loved her too. Whenever she would walk in the room his face would light up. It is difficult for all of us with them gone. Lola will never wiggle when we come home of climb all over us when we don’t give her enough attention. She will never come into my room again and lay on my bed while I do homework. Fritz will never bark at imaginary intruders or wave his paw in the air when one of us goes to pet him or shake slobber all over the room. We will always remember them. They were the best dogs we ever had.
Rocky
On April 18th we made the hardest decision that dog parents ever have to make and since that day I have been trying to find the perfect words to portray what a wonderful boy our Rocky was. I finally realized that there are no words. We adopted Rocky in July of 2007 and he was our first “baby.” He was lovable, loyal and lots of fun. He loved giving kisses, going for walks, rides in the car and always looked forward to a special treat that he got after dinner every night. Last August he was diagnosed with lymphoma and while chemotherapy extended his life for a short time it wasn’t nearly long enough. Although we don’t know exactly how old he was it was definitely too soon to have to say goodbye. We wish that we could have had many more years with him. He brought us so much joy and made us laugh all the time. We will cherish the many memories that we have. We hope that we brought him as much happiness as he brought us. We miss you Rockhead and love you always! – The Keller Family
Lexi
We like to think that life started for sweet Lexi when the good people of NJBR rescued her from her previous home, where she previously spent her days tethered to a tree and living in a basement, barely getting enough food to survive. We were fortunate enough to adopt Lexi in Aug 2011. Lexi was such a sweet and happy girl, and fit in to our house from the start, quickly bonding with our Lab and learned rather quickly that cats were in fact not edible treats. Lexi experienced trips to the dog park, swimming at Hackelbarney State Park, a trip to DC, and holidays with our families where she got to feast on turkey and filet mignon. Lexi also discovered her stuffed toy monkey, which she would carry with her at all times, even on walks and trips to the dog park. Sadly, Lexi developed an aggressive carcinoma and we had to say goodbye on January 15th. A special thank you to Andrea and Sue from NJBR for all you did. Lexi will not be forgotten, and even though her time with us was short, we take solace in knowing her last days were filled with love and happiness. – Sean & Tara
Salem
Almost five years ago, we adopted a fiesty Boxer from NJBR. He taught us a lot about patience and dedication, but eventually we found the loving, calm, sweet boy inside. Salem brought us years of joy before we had to send him over the Rainbow Bridge on April 23, 2012. He showed us so much love and loyalty. We will always look back on all of the wonderful memories we had with him: the dog beach, the walks, visits to family homes, Grandma’s B&B, road trips, belly time, special birthday dinners, Smithville, surprising his fosters Kerry & Mike at Petco…ect. Salem will forever be in the hearts of all who loved him and the many lives that he’s touched. Mommy and Daddy miss him terribly…we know he is at peace now. I hope that we have done half as much for him and he has done for us. Until we see you again baby… xoxoxoxo
Neptune
Every once in a while a special dog comes into your life, everyone that volunteers with a rescue or works at shelter understands what that means well the most recent Boxer for so many of us was Neptune. We all heard his story about how his family though him out after his owner passed away and we will felt so bad for him and wanted to help. NJ Boxer and Woodbridge Animal Shelter worked together to do try to take care of him. Today we are all saddened by the loss of a very special boy, Neptune. He has gone over the Rainbow to join his owner, he is a peace now.
Aries
It’s with a very heavy heart that we wanted to let you know that our beloved aries passed away yesterday 2/12/2012. When we adopted aries from you in 2005, we were so blessed to get him. He was truly a wonderful, loving dog. He loved being with us, when we talked to him the tail and his butt just wagging like crazy. He loved when our daughter would bring him a toy home especially anything with a loudsqueaky. All he ever wanted was to be loved by us and give kisses. We are so torn apart by him leaving us.
Max
My baby Max came into my life from NJBR in July of 2006. He was born with deformed legs and had staples in his arms from attacks from another dog. The first day I had him he was a litttle nervous and afraid of me. Little did he and I know that the bond we would share would be incredible. Max became my son, companion, best friend and even co worker. I drive for a living and would take him with me everyday for a few hours. I gave Max a great life but he gave me one too. It was truly an honor to be his daddy and after 2 1/2 years he was blessed with a mommy. In total my wife and I had Max 5 1/2 years and everyday was a great memory. On Dec,28 2011 Max was diagnosed with a brain tumor and we had to let him go. Not a day, hour or minute goes by where we dont think of you or miss you dearly. I know you have crossed the Rainbow Bridge and are having a great time with all of your furry friends. “See you on the other side Max”.
Lola
Lola had been with me for 4 years, I initially fostered her for 2 months until Barbara contacted me and said she had a great candidate to adopt her, a vet with a farm no less!!!! However, my reply was that I wasn’t sure if he would be adequate!!!! We both laughed and the rest is history. The truth is I could not envision her living elsewhere, it was then that she became Lola and for the past 4 years has been at my side. Sadly, this week, she passed from an enlarged heart and that is so fitting because Lola from day one has been nothing but a lovable, loyal and sweet girl. I want to also acknowledge her for assisting me in my role as a volunteer for NJ Boxer Rescue. She would very often accompany me to do home visits. I think she furthered our mission at NJ Boxer Rescue to improve the lives of Boxers by finding them appropriate “forever” homes, she also gave prospective families an opportunity to engage and familiarize themselves, even if for a short time, with this wonderful, energetic, smart breed that we all have come to know and love so much. So if she looks familiar it might be because she was at my side when we met you as you started this exciting process of adopting a dog. All I can say that regardless of how many years she was with me I am extremely thankful that our paths have crossed and that I miss her immensely. Thanks, Nancy Amato.
Seth
A little over four years ago we adopted a big white lovable boxer boy named Seth from NJ Boxer Rescue. Last week our beautiful boxer boy collapsed while we were walking in the park and died in our arms. I just wanted to say thanks for giving us the opportunity to have four wonderful years with our goofy, talkative, boxer boy that loved to give kisses, hugs, and play hide-and-go-seek. We loved every minute with our Sethie and look forward to playing silly boxer games with him again when we someday travel the pathway he traversed last week. Tom Jordan
Cash
My husband and I rescued Cash on Feb 13, 2009 and sadly had to put him to rest on Dec 26, 2011. The minute he stepped foot in our house, we fell in love with him. We were so blessed to spend almost 3 years with him but also feel it was not enough time. We are happy to have been able to provide him a loving home. He brought so much joy to our lives and to others. I shared so much of his life through pictures and stories on Facebook and all of the support we have received since he passed is absolutely amazing! It is so awesome to know how many lives he touched and how many smiles he brought to not only our faces, but everyone else. Being Cash’s “parents” was truly and honor 
He will always be a huge part of our lives and live on in our hearts forever. Nicole and Kevin Archibald
Rocky S.
We are very sad that on September 24 we lost Rocky S. Rocky was cared for by two wonderful foster home, that fell in love with him the minute he came into their live. Rocky S has a special quality about him and he was sweet gentle soul. While with NJBR Rocky was also cared for by the all Doctors and Staff at Veterinary Center of Morris County. Rocky S will always hold a special place in the hearts of all who had the privilege to spending time with him. We enjoyed each moment we had with him even though it was to short. He will truly be missed.
Duke
On September 7,2011, we helped Duke, 6 years old, cross the Bridge To Heaven. But before we did so, we gave him a birthday party as he never had one before. And he ate everything he was never allowed to eat. He also had breakfast in bed, wore new socks for his rotten feet, and ended his journey at Rita’s. We took pictures but we still can’t look at them with dried eyes. Our heart is broken, but we are also relieved that his wounds no longer hurt. He never found out that he was not adopted and until his last minute, collected compliments from everybody because he was sooooo handsome! I wish I could meet more people with his personality, we wouldn’t be living in this pathetic world then….He went to sleep in the arms of humans who loved him and appreciated his sweet, pleasing disposition and who he trusted to do the right thing. So we did. We’ll miss you always, our perfect Duke. Till we meet again…
Harley
Sweet Harley came to us as a foster in December of 2009. She had the cutest little face and quirky personality. We realized soon on that this sweet little boxer was to be our girl. Harley was one of several boxers rescued from the south and transported to New Jersey. She came into the rescue at 10 years old, in need of vetting and a few good meals. After living outside her whole life Harley quickly came to appreciate the comforts of indoor life. She was the sunshine in our days. We feel so lucky to have had even but a short time with Harley. There is nothing like the seasoned character of a senior boxer. They say blessed is the person that earns the love of an old dog. Harley was truly a blessing. She was our princess and we were privileged to have earned her love. –The Bellarosa Family
Finn
I’m am sad to say that Finn has passed away. He was never adopted so he turned his foster home into his forever home. He lived with us for 21 months which we never thought would be possible. Finn came to us at the age of 12 and was very sick from being mistreated. Each day, he got better and better until his old age finally caught up to him. Finn spent all day lounging on the couch, snuggling with his foster sister, and terrorizing his foster brother. He also supervised the pooper scoop man, took weekly rides to Home Depot and the bank, hopped into the shower a few times unannounced, and followed my every move in the house. He kept himself very busy. I fell in love with Finn after the first week and was very happy to keep him in my care where he was spoiled rotten. He was a very sweet and loving dog who brought a smile to my face each and everyday. Rest in peace Finn…. you are missed.
Pup Pup
I adopted Pup pup from NJBR in July ’07. Pup was truly an amazing dog. She epitomized the Boxer spirit, overcame great obstacles, and always lived in the now. Pup was so sweet and gentle; she loved to be around people, lounge on the furniture, play with her pull toys, and sing her ‘woo-woo’ song if she wanted your attention. Pup developed Degenerative Myelopathy and Thyroid cancer in 2010. Despite her diagnosis, she fought courageously and lived her life to the fullest. Pup passed away peacefully on April 29, 2011. Pup–you taught us so much, you will be forever in our hearts. Till we meet again, Sean and Tara.
Henna
Henna came to NJBR 4 years ago through a shelter in Jersey City. Apparently she was turned into the shelter by someone who wanted her euthanized for no other reason than because she was old; she was 10. NJBR was contacted by the shelter because she was so sweet and gentle and simply did not show a mean bone in her body. She was infested with fleas and it was obvious she spent most of her life outdoors. She made her way to our home; started out as a foster and we knew we could not give her up after having her for a few days. It took a very short time for Henna to experience and enjoy was it was like to live the good life. To see her pick up a toy for the first time and wag her tail (she had a long tail) was so rewarding. Sadly, Henna went to the Rainbow Bridge on April 30, 2011 at the age of 14. I wish Henna could have been given more than 4 years to live a good life, but there is a certain amount of comfort in knowing that at least we were able to give her that. Rescuing a senior dog is truly one of the most rewarding experiences. You will always be in our hearts Henna, the Hutto Family.
Lulu
On April 4th, 2011 our beautiful Lulu left us five months to the day that we brought her home. “Lu” as we affectionately called her, took a while to get used to her new home, but she enjoyed the big crowd at Christmas and shortly after seemed to finally relax and feel part of the family. Soon she could be found snoozing on one of her three beds placed around the house, or sitting by the front door looking out the window. Mostly she just wanted to be near us. Lu was a fast learner, even though she was thought to be between 7 and 10 years old. She even took to talking to us, especially when she wanted a snack! Unbeknown to anyone, Lu was developing Lymphoma. In January, the vet gave her a poor prognosis, but Lu beat his timeframe by close to two months. Even at the end, though not herself, she was strong of will, her little tail still wagging back and forth when we called her name. We consider ourselves very lucky to have spent the last five months with her. We miss our Lulu very much. She will never be forgotten, the Laurita Family.
Apollo
Apollo and his boxer love Ming came into the rescue when their people moved leaving them behind in an unfinished basement. The pair had been together for many years and it was obvious that they shared a close bond. It was cute how they rubbed up against each other constantly licked the other’s face. Both dogs were in need of immediate medical attention. Ming received the medical care and surgery she needed and we are happy to say she will make a full recovery. Sadly we quickly learned the grave extent of Apollo’s illnesses. On what should have been a new beginning was a tearful ending. Although there was no medical intervention for the advanced cancer that riddled his body we were privilege to have even but a moment with this sweet affectionate boxer. NJBR volunteers and the medical staff gave him comfort and love until he peacefully crossed over the rainbow bridge. There was something very special about Apollo and he will remain etched in our hearts.
Sweetheart
We are very sad to report that Sweetheart has passed away. Sweetheart was found as a stray on Valentines Day, and brought to a local shelter. She was 10+ years old. She was emaciated, and had several tumors that needed medical attention. The shelter agreed to sign her over to Rescue so that we could tend to her medical needs, and place her in a loving home. We picked her up on Friday, and brought her to a wonderful foster home. During the entire 2 hour trip, Sweetheart gave kisses, took lots of belly rubs & treats, and wagged her tail (yes, a real long tail) non-stop! She was so happy and grateful. Sadly, on Sunday, Sweetheart took a turn for the worst, and her foster Mommy took her to the vet. Sweetheart’s body had given up, and she was not alone when she passed away. What a lovely senior girl. We were so happy to be able to give her time in a loving, warm home, if only for a weekend.
Georgie
On December 17th, 2010 the boxer world lost an amazing dog. Georgie the toothless wonder moved on to a better place that day. Georgie epitimized the quote, “It’s not where you start, but where you end up that matters” . Georgie came into foster last March after living years as a puppy mill stud. Up until March he spent his days in a crate wondering what a real dog’s life was like. Well these past 10 months he lived that life and then some. Even though georgie was treated poorly for most of his life he was the happiest dog I ever saw. There was never a day his tail wasn’t wagging or he wasn’t doing that boxer wiggle. Georgie spent his last 10 months being spoiled rotten and he enjoyed every minute of it. He discovered what sleeping in a queen size bed was, having more toys and bones than he knew what to do with, and going on vacations. There is not one person who met George who did not immeditely love him. He just melted your heart and you fell into his deep dark brown eyes that said ,”Please love me” He greeted me everyday after work with a wagging tail and a pair of my UGGS in his mouth. We would then play chase with Georgie ending up sitting on lap and licking my face off. George taught me that life can always get better and for that I thank him. He will be greatly missed and loved forever.
Suzy
We adopted our sweet Suzy girl in December 2009. Because she had lived outside most of her life and was used for breeding, she had health issues that needed attention. Within the first month we had her teeth cleaned and bad ones pulled, boy did her teeth look so much better. She also had her ears flushed as they were caked with grime from years of buildup. Tumors were found shortly after and so we had them removed but it didn’t help her. The cancer spread up to her lungs and eventually made breathing difficult. Chemo couldn’t save her. The 10 months we had together were incredibly joyous. We loved watching her enjoy life, and smile. She was queen of our house. There was so much comfort knowing she was safe and comfortable. She was smothered with love everyday and she gave us so much in return. We miss Suzy and will always remember her, Diana & Jeff.
Jasper
We are heartbroken to have lost our Jasper this past October 1, 2010. Picked up as a stray he was sitting in a shelter when NJBR was called to rescue him. He was skinny, had fly bitten ears, paralysis from blunt force trauma to one side of his face, and multiple tumors in his mouth that must have caused him great pain. We are so grateful that NJBR took him in and provided him with the specialized medical care he so badly needed. We adopted him in July 2008. It is amazing how even after suffering from years of obvious neglect and abuse he could be so trusting and full of love. Jasper was a gentle soul appreciative of any kindness afforded him. We feel blessed to have him if only for a short time. It was a joy to shower him with love and affection, and he returned it tenfold. He will forever be in our hearts, the Bellarosa Family.
Cricket
Cricket was with us for just about 3 weeks. She was the first blind Boxer NJBR took into rescue and we had hoped that we would be able to help her work through her blindness and find her a forever home. However, she started have seizers and was unable to get around. Her foster mother brought her to a neurologist to see if there was anything that could be done for this little girl. It is with sadness that there was not anything they could do to help her. We lost Cricket on 10/15/10. She spent time with two of our wonderful fosters and touch the hearts of so many, she will be missed.
Rosie
My sweet husband Paul found our beloved Rosie dead in her crate Thursday morning. She apparently suffered a heart attack while asleep, at 7 years of age and in seemingly perfect health. One of us walked her almost every day. We are bereft and although very painful, it has helped a little to wade through my photos of our beloved girl. There are many pictures at the link below, because Rosie was so ever-present in our lives and so special… with a unique story. RIP Rose Pearl. We just can’t quite imagine our home and lives without you. We will be forever grateful to Michelle and Howard Christensen for fostering “Lady Ro” in May, 2006.
Roxie Bella
We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. We think of you in silence. We often speak your name. Now all we have is memories, and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake, with which we’ll never part. Heaven has you in it’s keeping. We have you in our heart. In Loving Memory of Roxie Bella, July 4, 2004- December 22, 2009. Roxie, you were taken from us much to soon.
Tyson
Tyson left us on February 16, 2010: exactly 10 years to the day from the date of his adoption. He grew from a 14-month old, emaciated and stressed young boxer to a bright, handsome, charming and loving companion who made us smile every day. He bravely fought the progressive paralysis of DM for over a year until it finally took his dignity and his zest for life. Letting him go was the hardest decision we ever made and while we are lost in our sadness, we are happy that he is at peace. He was the best of all dogs and we will love him forever, Jeannine and Pete Stewart.
Ikaika
It was a sad night. We had to put down our 11 year old Brindle Boxer due to a DM. Degenerative Myelopathy. Ikaika was a great dog. However his condition started to deteriorate. Not a curable disease. He will be missed by all. Especially his buddy Matt our son who took care of him.
Buster Brown
I am sad to say that my beloved Buster Brown, who I adopted from NJBR back in November 2006, passed away yesterday. He had been in good health and his death was very sudden and unexpected. Such a shock! He was with me for just over 3 years and I loved every minute. I knew from the moment I met him that he would be a perfect fit in my family and he was! He was such a good boy, very sweet and loving, very obedient. I couldn’t imagine why anyone would have surrendered him. Everyone that met him loved him. I will miss him dearly, Phyllis.
Sam
Sam was a DM boxer. We have had boxers all of my life and never experienced this illness. What a sad 6 months. He was a great boxer, full of life till the end. We will miss him. The part that was really tough was coming to grips with what was best for Sam. I think now he is running all over heaven with all of my other guys, full of life once more. God bless Sam and thank you for giving us so much unconditional love from one sloppy, snotty , goober, and gas filled friend!! Forever a boxer lover, Marty.
Penny
Penny was a true rescue dog. She was used for breeding in a puppy mill, dumped on the streets of New Jersey, brought into rescue, lovingly cared for and restored to health in her foster home and then adopted into a family to live out the rest of her days. We were the family blessed to have Penny for almost 2 1/2 years. She was one of those dogs that stood out from the rest. She was smart and strong and beautiful. Though what we heard the most from everyone who came in contact with her was, “She is such a sweet dog!”, and she was. Children who were afraid of dogs wound up playing with Penny. Men who said, “I don’t like dogs”, wound up petting Penny all evening. Even a young man with Down syndrome who loves every dog that he has ever met, after spending time with her, announced that Boxers were his favorite dog and he was going to have 2 Boxers, both named “Penny”! That same young man summed it up when he said, “I don’t want Penny to be gone. I miss her.” We do too. Two years was not enough time to love Penny and to be loved by her. But it was the time we were given and for that we are very grateful. It was enough time to create memories which we will have for many years to come. We weren’t sure about adopting a senior Boxer and some at NJBR weren’t sure about adopting to a family with 6 (now 7) children. We are so glad that everyone took the chance and we were given the opportunity to spend those years with such a special dog. We cherish every moment we had. Good-bye, sweet girl, the Miller Family.
Ralphie
Ralphie was an amazing dog. At 13 he still loved to run and jump. Although he was with us for only 49 days, the love we felt for him was returned 10 fold. His death, the day after his actual 13th birthday was devastating but, although sad, we remember him and his comical and curious nature with a smile. Would we foster again – in a heartbeat!
Joe Boxer
Joe Boxer was living proof that animals have souls. With his huge heart, his sweetness and his loyalty, Joe’s impact on our lives was immeasurable. Words can’t describe how much we’ll miss him. We had the honor of having him as part of our family for almost five years, Thank you Joe, for all the love, and all the laughs. We’ll never forget you, Mary, Bob, Christine and Michael April 17, 2009.
Petey
It seems to me that every time I lose a Dog, they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new Dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be Dog and I will become as generous and as loving as they are, Cheryl Zuccaro.
Zeus
I am writing to thank New Jersey Boxer Rescue, Ellen, and Lee and Dan for providing Zeus with a warm, caring and loving home in the last year of his life. Zeus was literally a part of our family as any human part. He arrived a curious puppy and grew into our best brother, son and friend, into his senior years. Due to an unexpected change in our living circumstances, and a new child that developed pet allergies we were not able to keep Zeus. Because of how much Zeus meant to us, knowing his need for closeness and sensitivity to change, his turbulent past year, and his age, I was reluctant to put him into a shelter and was literally going to put him to sleep, so we would have peace knowing that he was in peace. I telephoned New Jersey Rescue and was assured of the care and love he would receive, regardless of his age, until his passing. It was a final good bye when I handed him over to Lee and Dan his new parents. I thank the Lord for all of you at New Jersey Boxer Rescue for your selfless devotion to the care of these dogs in need, and to Lee and Dan for giving 200% to Zeus in his final year, for loving him and caring for him. The level of care was beyond my expectations, as well as the love and bonding. I have such a peace in my heart knowing that Zeus was loved by such caring and devoted persons until his final days, just as I had prayed for him. Zeus is dearly missed. I long for a cushy warm snuggle and a squishy warm kiss! I miss those loyal, loving and full of expression eyes…..Zeus has touched our hearts in such a blessed and special way and he will live on in our memories forever.
Tigger
I will always remember Tigger as he was the day I first met him. I drove to his home so his family could surrender him and was greeted with nothing but hugs and sloppy kisses from him. He came barreling out behind a baby gate and immediately jumped up, placing his paws on my shoulders so he could “hug” me. His goofy demeanor won me over from the second I met him. Tigger, along with Winnie, spent many weeks in a kennel until a foster home opened for them both. Many of us spent much time with him at the kennel; taking him for walks, bringing him along on our weekend errands and just spending time with him. All of us became very attached to him. During this time, his spirit never broke. He even bounced like a Tigger when he saw you coming. He was nothing but a big mush and loved his Winnie, who always depended on him for support and reassurance. He was always happy, always goofy and always wiggling. Ten years old and full of puppy love up until the very end. He was happy just to be with you. One thing we are grateful for is his foster home. If they had not opened their hearts and their home, Tigger would have never gotten to experience what it was like to live like a dog should. He and Winnie had a yard to play and “box” in, spending time outdoors playing together. Tigger would come in from the yard and lay in front of the fan. When the weather got cooler, his foster mom never had the heart to put his fan away. It was his favorite place to nap and so he did, even when the fan was not running. Sadly, Tigger passed on November 14, 2008. Some say Tigger never made it to his forever home, but in his mind, he did. He was given love and companionship, even up to the very last moment. We are grateful for the time we spent with him and what his forgiving and loving spirit taught us. Tigger will be greatly missed by his foster family and many NJBR volunteers.
Knuten Walker
For the ten years that you blessed our lives, there are no word that can describe our love for you. You were a friend, a companion and most of all you were our greatest gift. When we adopted you, we would never have expected such devotion from you. But you showed us that the love we gave to you, would be returned by you in way that had no boundaries. You loved us more than we could ever hope for. And in turn we loved you more than anything in the world. We all miss you! And you will always remain in our hearts and minds. We you love! Love You Forever – Daddy, Mommy, your Sisters and Nana and Pop-Pop.
Biscuit
The first two years of life were spent in Show, awarded with many blue ribbons when she was retired to ‘pet status’ by her owners. As a Boxer Rescue Volunteer for many years, Biscuit came to me one day as a Foster seeking a new Forever Home, from a very loving and adoring family that were no longer able to keep her due to an allergic reaction by a new baby to their home. A magical bond consumed us both and we instinctively knew she had found her new Forever Home. Biscuit became my devoted companion for many joyous years. I was granted the honor of cradling Biscuit in my arms when she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge one Christmas Eve day and will forever be grateful for her devotion and all the unconditional love she brought into my life. A piece of my heart went with her. I miss you my darling girl, and will love you – forever and a day, Donna.
Ben
Even though Ben was only in rescue for about 2 weeks, we take comfort knowing that Ben passed in a warm place where he was being fed and cared for. Ben came to us from a shelter and was literally skin over bones. Blood tests revealed a problem and a very large, cancerous tumor was found after doing an ultrasound. Ben was a gentle boy who loved attention and he truly did receive lots of that in the end.
Roxanne
It is so very sad to announce the passing of one of our fosters, Roxanne, on August 25, 2007. Roxanne had lived her entire life tied outside until at 5 years old, she was surrendered to NJ Boxer Rescue. She spent two and a half days in her foster home before scheduled surgery to remove 4 tumors. In those two and a half days, little did we know, she would live her lifetime. Her foster mom referred to her as My Fair Lady. Because she had never experienced the inside of a home, she reminded her of a genuinely innocent, curious child. Not fearful, not hyper just curious. The first time she saw the TV come on, she looked, walked right up to it and with her nose on the screen, tried to smell and look at the picture at the same time. The first time she looked in a closet, she just couldn’t take her eyes off of anything. Roxanne wasn’t the least bit hyper , the least bit skittish except when the foster mother took a shovel out of the shed. We lost Roxanne the first night home from surgery to bloat, though rare, can occur in deep chested dogs such as boxers. Just as Roxanne began living a normal life, it was ended. She was a beautiful, quiet sweet girl whose lifetime of love lasted only two and a half days, yet whose loving memory will be with us forever. We’ll meet you at the rainbow bridge, Nancy and Kim.
Maxwell
It is with a very heavy heart we announce the passing of one of senior boxers. Maxwell was one of the sweetest, most well behaved, lovable boxers. He lived out his last 7 months under the care of his very special foster parents. In this home he was able to experience having a constant female boxer companion and was spoiled daily with love. He will be greatly missed. Godspeed sweet Maxwell. A note from Maxwell’s foster parents: In my mind I knew that Maxwell was not ours to keep, we were just his temporary loving family, a lay-over on his way to his forever home. We knew we would be sad to see him leave but we were prepared and happy that someone else would experience his joyful boxer soul. Max became ill suddenly and we had to let him go last night (5/23/07). We were not prepared for that. We get some comfort knowing that we gave him 6 months of love and protection and he gave us 6 months of love, adoration, and big sloppy kisses. It was a testament to the dog Maxwell was, that the vet who cared for him said he only met him once but loved him already. Maxwell, we miss you terribly. NJBR, thank you for your unwavering support. Love, Sue and Dennis.