Zoey
I adopted Zoey on February 25, 2006, when she was about 3 or 4 years old.  Zoey had been hit by a car and picked up by the county as a stray, then Boxer Luv rescue nurtured her back to health. When I met Zoey for the first time it was love at first sight. She gave a me a kiss on the chin and I knew she was meant for me. Zoey and I were inseparable, she even got to come to work with me. She was known to lay in the hallway of my office and required a belly rub for anyone to pass. Zoey captured the hearts of everyone that she met. She would even make the rounds at the dog park, soliciting ear scratches and love from every person there.

Zoey was first diagnosed with lymphoma in September of 2010. The vet expected her to live for six months even with chemo. We finished chemo five months later and she was in remission for six months after that! She beat the lymphoma again after a second diagnosis, but the third time was too much for our sweet Zoey. She fought until the end. I was married this past Friday and Zoey passed the next day. I believe she waited until after the wedding, knowing that I would be cared for and that it was okay for her to go.

Zoey is survived by her "Mom," Nina, "Dad" Dean and "fur-brother" Jackson. Our house is a little less colorful without our sweet, funny, "wiggle butt", Zoey

Penny Lane
In July of 2009, we decided that we would like to extend our family. That is when we found Penny Lane (known as “Fanny” to BLR). We arranged to meet her after picking her out through photos of available dogs on BLR’s website. There was something about her photo that drew us to her. She seemed playful, fun, and adorable. On the day of our meet and greet we were excited and a little nervous to meet her as we were new to the whole adoption process. We walked into the store and she instantly stole our hearts as she ran up to us and smothered our faces in kisses. Her past was unknown. She had come to BLR after being pulled from the county shelter only a month prior and had since spent her time at one of BLR’s kennels. She was thin and missing a toe on one foot, but she was so full of life; she was joyous.
Although we had also met another wonderful Boxer that day, we knew that she was the girl for us. She seemed to know it from the moment she met us that we were her new family. We took our first family photo that day in the store and she smiled for the camera with her adorable underbite. As soon as we brought her home she seemed to feel instantly at peace. After checking out her new toys and the backyard, she found the dog bed we purchased for her and snuggled up. She had a ravenous appetite; she was our little pound puppy and soon put on the weight she needed.
A year later we adopted her brother Wyatt from BLR. At first she was a little reluctant, but soon they became quite the bonded pair. They played every day and snuggled at night on the bed. During their boxing and wrestling matches Penny would do her signature move- somersaulting into her brother, falling on him with all her weight. We finally had a complete family.

On February 16th of this year, after recovering from what was believed to be a bowel infection and an abnormal thyroid, we noticed our girl was still losing weight despite her new medication. After taking her back in for an evaluation our vet discovered a large mass growing in the region of her liver and spleen. It was an aggressive and rapidly growing tumor, having gone undetected only three weeks prior. We knew the best decision for her was to help her cross to the bridge, but we also knew her Boxer spirit was still in full effect and she let us know that she was not ready yet. We took her home and over the next few days spoiled her as much as we could. She ate nothing but her favorite meal (chicken and rice), had friends come to visit and love on her, was never left alone and was always shown how much she means to our family. On Monday, February 20th she told us she was ready to go. We took one last car ride, holding her in the back seat reassuringly. We stopped at McDonald's and she enjoyed a hamburger and an ice-cream cone. At the vet's office, when we thought she had no energy, she lifted her head to kiss both of us, just as she had done on the day we met her two and a half years earlier. Shortly thereafter we helped her cross to the bridge, never leaving her side and reminding her that she will always be in our hearts.

We enjoy Boxers because of their personalities…Penny had a massive underbite only complicated by her long tongue that almost always hung out of her mouth. She was missing a toe on one of her front paws. She had a skin condition that put tiny scabs all over her body. She wiggled incessantly when excited; especially at meal-times when she would dance, sing and snort for us. She loved to be wrapped up in blankets, slept with her head on a pillow, and was the best snuggle bug. She knew when you were sad and would sit and comfort you. She was ours and we were hers. At 4 1/2, she didn't get the time she deserved, but the impression she left on us is immeasurable. She was joyous and loved to love. She will forever be in our hearts.
Jennifer and Aaron Hicks

Maggie Moo

It's with a very heavy heart I let you all know that we lost our little Maggie Moo ("Moo Moo") this afternoon. Her condition took a serious turn for the worse today.  She stopped eating, she was losing a lot of blood and was showing clear signs of pain.  

We tried everything - looking for anything that could possibly be the cause of her situation.   Two hospitals, numbers of doctors and 'round the clock care for nearly 2 weeks - it wasn't enough.  No one could figure it out.

She finally told us it was time.  The are only 3 things that we know; something horrific happened to her before she found her way to us; She was very sweet and deserved better BUT, most importantly, she left this earthly life having known love and true care.  All of the staff at IWAH, especially, loved her and took care of her as their own.  All on duty this afternoon took time to say good bye.  I had the privilege of being with her as she crossed - she did so in my arms at 4:20.  She knows we love her and she's now at peace and pain free.

Norman

Norman came into the BLR family in November of 2009 and he came to us as a foster in Feb. 2010
I remember the first time I saw him was at Trish's house when we went to pick him up. He waddled over
to the door to great us and even though his body didn't look so good, I could see the sparkle in his eyes.
One of his eyes had a ulcer but after a few months of medication that cleared up. His other diagnoses were: arthritis, fused spine, bad hips, and few teeth. He had a lot of trouble getting up on his own so
we had to lift him up and then he'd go off on his business. At first we didn't think he could use the doggy door but he proved us wrong! It was  difficult for him but he managed it. Of course if we saw him at the door we would open it for him. And we left the outside patio door propped open for him so he didn't have to go through the other doggy door. He had trouble with steps so Dave built a ramp for him at the back door. It was just a small step into the house but he would have to stop and get his feet just right so he stepped up with his right foot first. I think it made his life just a little bit easier having the ramp.
Our house is all tile floor and he had a lot of trouble getting traction on the slick tiles. I bought him a pair of doggy socks with grippers on the bottom and that helped out some. I put down throw rugs where ever he would be to help also. He didn't particularly like wearing those socks! But I think he knew I was just trying to help so he tolerated them for awhile.

Norman didn't have a mean bone in his body! I never saw him get agitated with the younger dogs. Dixie would get down on the floor in front of him and play with him. He would actually play back...play bites, etc. He couldn't raise his legs to slap at her so he just used his head. Abby (Pug) was always laying next to him on his bed. She loved Norman and I think she actually mourned the loss of him as much as we did.
He loved it when we fostered puppies! He got so excited about them. He would play with them and actually try to run with them. It was a joy to watch him playing. He also loved to chew on rawhide bones (which I know is not good for them) but it brought him such joy to chew with what little teeth he had left! He would even dig around in the toy box looking one.

We officially adopted Norman on August, 21, 2010. We couldn't imagine not having him with us. We had a pizza party for him that afternoon. He would eat anything you gave him and never had intestinal problems. It was just natural to have dinner at the table and have Norman's head right at your elbow waiting for a bite. (which he always got!)

In September of 2011 we took Norman on a camping trip to Flagstaff with us. I am so glad we did this for him. He was very happy to be a part of that trip. Dave had to lift him in and out of the truck. And he built another ramp for him to walk up into the trailer. We got a wagon and put him in it so he could go for walks with us. He loved it! He even let our Yorkie, Charlie, ride with him. We made a bed outside for him and he would lay and watch cars and ATVs go by all day. He actually walked more than normal while there.

Shortly after that trip we finally convinced our vet to remove that huge lump from his elbow as it was getting rather large.  His blood work was normal so the lumpectomy was preformed at the end of Sept. The biopsy came back as a grade 2 cancer. The doctor said that at most he had 4 -6 months left. He did really well for several weeks but by the middle of Nov. I noticed another lump forming just below where the other one was. His appetite started slacking off, which was not normal for him. He couldn't get up at all anymore so I had to lift him several times and walk him outside to potty. The last week I had to support him with towel to help him walk, he couldn't hold himself up to walk. I had to keep pads under him because he had diarrhea almost constantly. Then I looked into his eyes one day and saw the most pitiful look I've ever seen! I knew it was time to let go. He wasn't happy anymore, he was suffering.I made arrangements with my vet when Dave could be here to help. The night before I hardly slept knowing what we had to do the next day. Dave had to carry him out of the house because he couldn't walk anymore. As he was
carrying him through the house Dixie followed the whole way looking up at Norman. That broke my heart! Before we took him out to the truck we let all the dogs come over and say goodbye.

At the hospital he lay on the table wrapped in a blanket with my arms around his neck. I told him how much we all loved him, and that he was a good boy and we'll miss him. I held on to him and talked to him while the vet gave the injection and I felt him slip away. But I knew it was the best for him. He was pain free now.

We had him privately cremated and now he sits proudly on the bookcase with all the others we've loved and lost. So that's the story of Norman's last 2 years of his life. We may not know what kind of life he lead before he was found wandering alone in the desert north of Phoenix. Judging from the many scars on his head and his crippled body, I don't even want to know! All I do know is that for those last 2 years he was warm, well fed, comfortable and most of all...loved! Goodbye Norman. We'll see you again old buddy.

Daphne and David Lockmanese

Lucca

Lucca came into my life after I lost my dad in July 2007 and one short month later lost my pup Gretchen.   His personality was big enough to easily fill the void.  Lucca was born on 1/25/05 and I adopted him on 8/31/07.  Lucca was my first boxer and I was a little surprised when he used to have conversations with me especially when I was talking on the phone.  He would make these growling sounds and it took me a while to understand that it was just Lucca giving his opinion on just about anything.  One of his cuter moments was when I was having a loud argument with a friend of mine on speaker phone.  Lucca hopped on the bed and promptly sat on the phone disconnecting the conversation.  Lucca had given his opinion once again.

It would take me days and pages to describe how wonderful Lucca was.  He kept my feet warm at night, walked with me every day and always relished life.  He loved, loved, loved his bully sticks and would playfully shove them in my face for me to take away from him.  Then he would pull it away and the good natured game would continue until one of us tired (usually me first).   Those bully sticks do smell kind of bad after a little gnawing!  Lucca loved toys and played with every toy in his box.  He especially loved to play ball and would be thrilled when I threw the ball as far as I could so he could run and bring it back.  During another game Lucca would stand in front of his toy box and bark.  I would go over to the box and pick up a toy.  He would examine it closely, sniff it well but wouldn’t take it.  I would continue to pick up toys until I got the right one and he would gently remove it from my hand and begin to play with it.  He had me well trained. I know dog trainers would say and I admit, Lucca did run the show at my house. 

Lucca had great manners and was always tops in all his obedience classes.  He knew sit and shake like a champ and any other basic command I could throw at him.  He would heel and was always a gentleman when anyone approached us.  Well mostly a gentleman.  There would be that drool issue which he loved to share with strangers.  I got to know lots of strangers intimately when I would wipe drool from their pants or face.  I was probably a little to indulgent with my best friend but he always greeted me with those kidney bean wiggles and slobbery kisses.  I was in love with my sweet pup.

In May of 2011, I was going to have a dog houseguest.  Prior to this visit, we had several play dates and Lucca and Shayna got along fabulously.  All was good to go for Shayna to visit us Memorial Day as her parents were going out of town for 10 days.  Lucca went to the groomer that Friday and Amanda (his groomer) mentioned that Lucca had a lump on his hind leg.  I had just taken Lucca for his checkup two weeks before and all was okay so I didn’t give it much thought.  Shayna came over on Saturday and the two had a great time playing, sharing toys and everything was going according to plan.  Sunday all was great too.  On Monday morning, both dogs were outside and I heard a little skirmish.  I called Lucca inside and every hair on his body was standing up.  I thought I had calmed him down but when Shayna came in a few minutes later the two dogs started fighting and in the middle of  all the excitement Lucca  bit my arm.

I wanted to include this incident in my story about Lucca because that lump and bite turned out to be a turning point in his life.  I took Lucca to the vet right after Shayna’s parents came back and after some simple testing the vet told me that Lucca had lymphoma.  The lump on his hind leg was a swollen lymph node and it turned out that he was hypercalcemic too.  Lucca was seriously ill.  I took him to an oncologist and we proceeded to treat him with different regimens of chemo.  Lucca fought this disease valiantly for seven months with the grace, love and the same relish for life.  The battle ended on 12/29/11 just one month shy of his seventh birthday.  Sleep well my sweet, sweet boy.  You will be in my heart forever.

Marilyn Dreifus