Boxer Rescue (UK)

Permanently Homed Dogs

ABIGAIL

My story begins as a puppy living near Manchester.  I was part of a family with young children.  After the novelty wore off I became part of the furniture to the kids and their mum.  Only my dad really loved me - he made time for me whenever he could, but he worked very long hours.

Unfortunately, both of my owners worked full time, so I always ended up being put into the garden so I wouldn't damage furniture or mess in the house.  I hated this.  It wasn't the loneliness or rejection that upset me, but the children in the area used to torment me over the wall and through the fence, poking me with sticks and throwing things at me.  One day, my dad came home from work early and caught the children hitting me with sticks, but it was too late.  The damage had been done.  It wasn't the physical hurt, it was the mental pain.  To this day I hate children.  I want to eat them, and I mean it.

My owners decided to emigrate to New Zealand.  I knew that I had become a problem to them.  Where could I go - safely - away from children?  I was OK with their children, but not with any of their friends.  A lady calling herself 'Boxer Rescue' called to see me, and I liked her.  We played together and she made a real fuss of me.  My owners kept quiet about the child problem in case Boxer Rescue refused to take me.

I proved to be a major problem.  I could not be trusted to go to any home.  Even worse, Cath & Brian were finding out the hard way just what lengths I will go to to defend myself if I think I need to.  I have bitten them many times over the last four years, and still do if I feel threatened in any way.  I can be very loving once I realise I am not going to be hurt, but the memories of the treatment I received at the hands of children will never fade and I will live out my life here with Boxer Rescue, in a safe and loving environment.

As you can see from Abigail's story, the dogs that we keep here permanently are given a second chance to lead as normal a life as possible.