You are reading this page because you are either curious about how dogs enter rescue, or because you are seriously contemplating giving up your dog.  If you have not yet made up your mind about surrendering your dog, and have questions about behavior, training, or Adopt A Boxer Rescue, please contact us at:

  Surrender@adoptaboxerrescue.com.

As with any breed, obedience training is essential for a well-mannered companion. Boxers are an intelligent, clever breed. It is important to remember that an intelligent dog can devise many ways of getting into trouble. Boxers must be trained in a firm but fair manner - they do not respond well to (or deserve) harsh treatment.  It is your responsibility to train your dog early, and continue training throughout your dog's life.  A puppy training class at the local pet supply store is not all the training your dog will need to make him or her good canine citizens.  Without proper leadership, a typical boxer may very well take on that role.  That role is the decision making role of the pack.  No dog should ever be handed that role in the family... It leads to problems... and then rescues and shelters get those problems.  If you are having problems with your pack, please ask for help BEFORE asking us to take your dog. 

After reading the information below, if you still have questions and need to speak with an AaBR representative, about surrendering your dog, please contact:

AABR toll free: 877 570 0360

AaBR is a non-profit, charitable 501c3 organization. We are supported completely by Contributions and Volunteers.  Without your support we can not carry out our Mission.

Does your pet need medical treatment that you really can't afford?  There are organizations that can give you the assistance you need.  No animal should be given up or euthanized because their family can't afford the cost to save them!  Help is available.

IF YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SURRENDER YOUR DOG TO RESCUE, please read on.

* You will be asked to tell us everything you can about your dog, that will help to make his/her transition to a new home as easy as possible. (see Dog Intake Questionnaire).  You can fill this form out on your computer and attach it and a photo to an email to: Surrender@adoptaboxerrescue.com.  Please clearly identify where you and your dog are located, in the body of the email.
* You will be asked to sign an Owner Release Agreement.
* You will be asked to have your vet fax your dog's medical records to us.
* You will be asked to provide pictures of your dog, and your dog will appear on the AaBR web site. All rescue dogs appear on the rescue site. 

Adopt A Boxer Rescue (AaBR) requires as much information from surrendering owners, as we do of potential adoptive families.  We do this for the sake of the dog.  It is our goal to find a permanent or "forever" home, for your dog. Here are the steps that are taken to achieve our goal:

Prior to arrival in rescue:

* We assess your dog prior to their arrival through our intake questionnaire. This is where we learn about the dog's behavior, likes and dislikes, and personality. Please be as honest as possible with us.  This helps us place the dog. We need to know everything we can about each of the dogs we get into rescue.
* We ask for the dog's medical records. This allows us to have a complete medical history on the dog.
* We prepare a foster **home for your dog's arrival. The purpose of fostering is to better understand each individual dog and the behaviors of the dog in our care.
* Transport is arranged between the owner and AABR. 

** Note: Due to a high volume of owner surrenders, Adopt A Boxer Rescue may require you to hold on to your dog until a home can be found.  During this time, AABR will post your dog on our website and work to find a forever home for your dog.  During this time we may also work with you to spay or neuter your dog so that it can recover in familiar surroundings, ask you to get vaccinations up to date, and discuss a program to address behavior issues, if any.

While in rescue:

* The dog arrives at a designated foster home. All of our dogs are kept in pre-approved foster homes. Each foster family is screened in the same method that our adoptive families are which includes an application, interview and a home visit.
* Our foster families are provided with all the information gathered on the new foster dog.  They are also provided with support from other foster homes as well as trainers and veterinarians.  
* The new foster dog is taken to the vet within the first few days of arrival into rescue. An exam, vaccinations (including rabies and bordatella), spay or neuter, heartworm test, and fecal test are administered. Up to date medical records assist our Vets in this process.
* Pictures are taken of the new foster to put on our website.
* Dog is tested to see if it is already housetrained, crate trained and leash trained. If not, our foster homes work diligently to help the dog in these areas. The foster home will also work on basic obedience skills with the dog such as "sit" to help make them more adoptable.
* The dog is tested with other dogs, cats and children as well as taken for rides in the car, public places and other types of tests for their basic temperament evaluation. The more thorough we are at evaluating, the more information we can provide to potential adoptive families and reach our goal of permanent placement.
* The foster family plays with the dog and treats the dog as if it were their own.
* The foster home writes updates and progress reports on their foster dog, and they are posted on the website.
* AaBR Volunteers are busy interviewing applicants and performing home visits to see if they are qualified candidates for a boxer from rescue. 
* Older dogs, dogs with medical problems or pairs of dogs may take longer to place. These dogs are given the best care possible to make them feel comfortable while they await their new homes. We are committed to working with owners with the placement of their boxers. If we say we can place the older dog, sick dog or pair of dogs -- we mean it! 

Please remember, we are all volunteers in rescue so if you contact us, please remember that we may not be able to get back to you the same day. We all have families and jobs and rescue is something in which we strongly believe. Perhaps we are outside playing or walking our foster dog when you call!

* Our foster home is contacted when a potential applicant appears to be a good match for a foster dog.  We provide them with the information on the potential adoptive family. 
* If the match still seems right, AaBR contacts the applicant to see if they are interested in the dog that is available for adoption.
* The applicant calls the foster family to ask questions about the dog.  Since the foster family is living with the dog, they know the dog better than anyone else.
* The foster family makes the final determination as to whether the dog should go to the applicant. If so, AaBR makes arrangements for the applicant to the dog. 

Adoption Day:

* At long last, the day has come for the rescue dog to go to his or her new home. The adoptive family will sign an adoption agreement, and be happy to have this wonderful gift, this new dog and member of their family go home with them.

On the subject of Surrender:
There are reasons to surrender a dog.  Maybe two dogs are not getting along, and injuries have occurred.  Or maybe you are not able to give your dog the care and attention a family member deserves.

Although surrendering your dog may be extremely difficult for you to do, it may just be the best thing for you and your dog. You are providing your dog with a chance of a new home. We work hard to ensure that your dog ends up in a permanent home.  We understand that this is a stressful time for you, and making the decision to find your dog another home is a difficult one. However, we can assure you that AaBR will place your dog with a wonderful family that will love and care for him for the rest of his life. Hopefully knowing this will make the process a little easier for you. 

Please continue to our Dog Intake Questionnaire so we may contact you about your dog and answer any questions you might have.  You can fill this form out on your computer and attach it to an email to: Surrender@adoptaboxerrescue.com.