“Such a misunderstood breed,” said Audrey Cox-Ricks about the dogs to whose welfare she devotes a big chunk of her life. “So many people get boxers and can't handle them after the age of one or two, then they get passed on from home to shelter, and their personalities change.”
Cox-Ricks has organized a yard sale this Saturday as a fundraiser for SoCal Boxer Rescue Project, through which she has rescued and re-homed 18 needy boxers so far in 2011 alone.
“Boxers are not only beautiful but they are protective, highly sociable, and hilarious!” Cox-Ricks enthuses. “It’s due to the mistakes of humans not being responsible and the backyard breeders overbreeding them because of their popularity” that so many end up euthanized.
San Diego Dogs Examiner (SDDE) contacted organizer Cox-Ricks for information about the yard sale and what it’s like to rescue, foster, and/or adopt a boxer.
Q&A WITH AUDREY COX-RICKS, SOCAL BOXER RESCUE PROJECT
SDDE: For what cause are you fundraising at the yard sale?
COX-RICKS: SoCal Boxer Rescue Project assists with finding new homes for boxers in need—relinquishments, shelters, strays, etc.
We’re raising money for medical needs for boxers in rescue--spay/neuter and everything in between.
SDDE: Why do you think people should adopt rather than buy a boxer?
COX-RICKS: If you don't plan to show your dogs professionally or become a top-line breeder for other purposes (police dogs, specialty working dogs, etc.), you have no business buying a dog with the gazillions of homeless dogs (perfectly wonderful dogs) in need of homes and being killed by the shelters and humane societes out there. Unfortunately, all humans are not programmed to think in such a way.
SDDE: Are there a lot of boxers needing homes in the San Diego area? Is it a popular breed here?
COX-RICKS: This is a very popular breed in southern California—not sure why. Perhaps because Californians are active, always outdoors, and they like to take their boxers everywhere with them. I know that's what I enjoy about them—taking them everywhere I can!
SDDE: How many available boxers does the group have?
COX-RICKS: We have four right now that we are networking, and we partner/promote boxers for Boxers N Birds Animal Rescue (BBAR), and they have five boxers right now.
SDDE: About how many do you rescue/place per year?
COX-RICKS: Placed 18 boxers so far in 2011. Placed boxers in 2010. Prior to 2010, we placed three boxers but mainly focused on fundraising/calendars/spring bling/yard sales to send money to other rescues needing help with saving Boxers.
SDDE About how many do you personally foster/place per year?
COX-RICKS: I personally have placed all 18 within the "Project" this year and years prior. This is not counting the dogs I’ve networked for BBAR, and they have networked dogs for me as well.
I volunteer for BBAR and they are my main focus, but when they can't take a dog or need to "kennel" or "vet" a dog, I bring the dog under the "Project" umbrella and get to work on re-homing, vetting, etc. I have fostered four this year so far.
SDDE: What got you started rescuing boxers?
COX-RICKS: Adopted two through Alice Via [longtime rescuer at Boxer Rescue San Diego] in 2006 and have been haunted by having to leave so many behind.
Such a misunderstood breed. And so many people get boxers and can't handle them after the age of one or two, then they get passed on from home to shelter, and their personalities change—making them the best dogs ever to be put down (euthanized) due to the mistakes of humans not being responsible and the backyard breeders overbreeding them because of their popularity.
SDDE: Why boxers? What do you like about them?
COX-RICKS: Boxers are not only beautiful but they are protective, highly sociable, and hilarious!
SDDE: What should people know about boxers if they're considering adopting one?
COX-RICKS: Boxers below the age of five are generally in need of a lot of exercise. After the age of four or five, they mellow out.
They are working dogs, so they need guidance, boundaries, training and stability.
They are somewhat fragile and don't handle change very well. Many suffer some level of anxiety.
Boxers have various health problems—cancer, allergies, cardiomyopathy, to name the top three. They want to be around people 24/7 and don't like to be left alone.
People considering adding a boxer to their home should do a lot of research on the breed, then plan to commit to lots of exercise and training.
What:
Boxer Rescue Yard Sale
When:
Saturday, June 4
7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where:
3017 Goldsmith St. (Across from Liberty Station in Pt. Loma)
San Diego
Contact:
Can't make it to the yard sale? Contact Audrey to find out about other ways to help.
About Katerina...
A lifelong dog addict and rescuer, Katerina (a.k.a. Kathryn Makris) wrote Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know about Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press) with coauthor Shelley Frost.
Katerina's other credits include seventeen novels, numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and a CBS teleplay.
Her story "Small Change" was a finalist in The Bark magazine's short fiction contest, and appeared in the October/November issue.
Email Katerina at youradopteddog@yahoo.com
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