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 Boxers and Buddies 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. 

Here is an outline of our surrender process:

Before being turned in to rescue:

Before Boxers and Buddies can accept any surrender of a Boxer by its owner, owner must provide the following:

1) Complete the surrender form and return to Boxers and Buddies

2) Supply documentation that Boxer had been spayed or neutered

3) Supply documentation that Boxer is current on all immunizations including DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordatella

4) Supply any/all records relating to the dog's pervious history (shot records, vet records, AKC paperwork, obedience diplomas, ect.)

5) Owner agrees to inform us of any health and behavioral concerns with the dog and to sign a surrender contract giving up all rights to the dog.

While in rescue:

• The dog arrives at Boxers and Buddies Facilities
• The new rescue dog is taken to the vet within the first few days of arrival into rescue. An exam, vaccinations (if needed/expired), and spay or neuter(if needed). Up to date medical records assist our Vets in this process.
• Pictures are taken to put on our website.
• Dog is tested to see if it is already housetrained, crate trained and leash trained. If not, our volunteers work diligently to help the dog in these areas. The volunteers 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.
• Volunteers play with the dog and treat the dog as if it were their own.
• Updates and progress reports are written and posted on the website.
• When a potential applicant appears to be a good match for a dog. 
  * Boxers and Buddies contacts the applicant for a phone interview.
  * If the interview goes well and It seems like the family is a good match, a meeting date will be set up for the family to meet the dog in question
• At this time, Boxers and Buddies will contact references, speak to the family’s current veterinarian and do a home visit – making sure the environment is right for the new dog.
• When the family meets the dog, a Boxers and Buddies volunteer is present – observing the interactions of the family, the reaction of the adoptable dog to the new people and to any other animals in the household.
• If everything goes well, the family is cleared for adoption 

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.