NWA Profile: Boxers and Buddies

Abandoned Boxers and other dogs find sanctuary with a loving Reno rescue group

By Karen Wright

Rene and Sarah Anderson and their staff run a doggie hotel and day care center called Dogz Inc. in Reno. In addition, they have organized Boxers and Buddies Rescue, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization founded in 2005 to provide a safe, humane sanctuary for abandoned boxers and other pooches who are waiting for happy, permanent homes.

Their branch of Boxers and Buddies is an offshoot of the Los Angeles Boxer Rescue organization, which was “founded out of love and fierce determination by Ursula Sauthier in 1977.”

For Love of the Breed
The organization is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. “Our group works for the love of the breed and to see dogs find homes. Our available dogs come from local shelters, from the streets or from owners who turn them in. We are always filled to capacity with scared, confused and very stressed out dogs.”

When we toured the group’s website, we were immediately taken with several of the six handsome boxers, including Shad, a 7-year old gentleman pooch. Among his buddies were two Great Danes, Pokey and Tempest, as well as a wonderful conglomeration of cute little Chihuahuas, and two really gorgeous pit bull babies, Tallsin and Bulan.

If only we had room, we would snap up Que, a lovely coonhound greyhound. Sounds odd, but is a very pretty mix. There were lots more, too numerous to mention.

Cage-Free Environment
All the animals live at Dogz Inc. in Reno, in a clean, cage-free environment. Boxers and Buddies is completely funded by private donations.

It costs approximately $250,000 to keep B&B in business what with veterinarian bills, food, mortgage, utilities, insurance, shelter fees, and so on. They, like most shelters and rescue organization, depend on the generosity of friends and strangers, and always need your help.

The Boxers and other pooches that are at B&B probably know that this is their last hope of finding a new life. “We are their temporary haven until they are adopted into a loving permanent home.” Before they can be adopted, each dog is evaluated for temperament, must be spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, and have its shots updated.

B&B also has a training program for dogs who need rehabilitation or behavior modification. “B&B stands apart from other rescues by rescuing any Boxer, regardless of age or health,” they say. “We feel that they are all worthy of a real chance at life.” Of course, this means that they have frequent and expensive veterinarian costs. According to B&B, “Saving lives is not cheap but someone has to do it!”

Careful Screening
Rene and Sarah are very, very careful about who they send their charges off to live with. Every dog has a different past history, personality traits, and individual needs. All available dogs can be seen by appointment after a potential owner has submitted an application online and had it approved.

B&B does a home check to make sure that the home environment is safe and secure for the protection of the new family and the dog and that all members of the family are equally excited about this new responsibility.

“We have a ton of dogs right now,” says Sarah Anderson. “Please check them out on our website.”

What You Can Do
Boxers and Buddies is one of the many rescue organizations that will offer pets for adoption at the Reno Super Adoption, Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center Exhibit Hall. Drop by or visit the organization’s website.

Posted by Julie Snyder, Best Friends Network

Photo of Memphis courtesy of Boxers and Buddies