HAPPY
ENDINGS: ALEXIA
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Thanks
to everyone who asked about Alexia and special thanks to those
who donated to the medical fund. I'll never forget the first
time I saw Alexia. I opened the door of a small airline kennel
and out she hopped. She couldn't use her front leg but she
was still a wiggly, happy puppy. As she covered me with kisses,
I decided I had to foster her. At first, I was a little worried
about my dogs-would they be too rough with her? It turned
out that I had nothing to worry about. Somehow they knew she
was injured and were very gentle with her. She immediately
adopted my boy, Tony, as her doggy big brother. As big brother
his main duty was to tolerate her as she crawled all over
him, pulled on his ears, and stole his chew toys.
The
break in Alexia's leg required surgery to place a pin in the
bone. I felt terrible having to put such a tiny puppy through
surgery, but once it was done she immediately regained the
use of her leg. It was many weeks of recuperation but well
worth it. Alexia's leg healed and she was able to resume all
her puppy activities: "helping" in the garden, chewing
on her toys, hanging out with big brother Tony and (oh so
infrequently) napping.
One
of the pitfalls of fostering is getting so attached that you
want to keep the dog. Within a week of taking in Alexia I
was already looking for the right family. I figured if I had
one ready for her I wouldn't be tempted to keep her. It wasn't
long before I hit the jackpot. BRLA works with Boxer Rescue
Canada and, over the years, has placed several dogs with Canadian
families. A wonderful family in the Vancouver area that had
adopted a male puppy from us last year was looking to adopt
a friend for him. The perfect family, but could I put Alexia
on a plane? I'd heard so many awful stories about the airlines
that I didn't want to risk it. Sadly, I contacted Boxer Rescue
Canada and said I couldn't send Alexia. The response? If Alexia
can't come to us, we'll come to Alexia! Soon after, her new
family drove all the way to Southern California and picked
her up.
As
I watched her leave with her new family, I thought about everything
she'd been through in her short life. Her leg broken and surgery
expensive, her owners considered having her euthanized. I'm
grateful that BRLA was able to step in and save her. She now
has a new name, Riley Jo, and a brindle big brother named
Murphy who always lets her have her way. If you ever wonder
whether your donation is going to a good cause, just remember
this special little girl.
-Leslie
BRLA Volunteer
