Mikey

Mikey's story

Working with dogs as much as we do, Lone Star Boxer Rescue volunteers worry about some finding permanent homes a little more so than others. That's true for Mikey. It was clear that this beautiful boxer craved human interaction, but after a failed adoption he had trouble adjusting to kennel life. Add to that some behavioral and allergy problems, and we worried that potential adoptive families only saw issues with Mikey, not the love and spirit we saw when we gazed into his big brown eyes.

But, as luck would have it, a new volunteer began working with Mikey -- and even took him into his home to try to remind this pooch what it was like to live in a real home. That act of kindness turned into the first of many happy holidays for Mikey.

"Mikey was always my favorite boxer at the kennel," says Keith R., Mikey's new owner. "I could tell he had so much potential. He always seemed so excited to see me, probably hoping I was there to do playtimes. Some boxers just walk around the yard doing their own thing, but Mikey would play tug-of-war for an hour almost non-stop."

Keith and his wife Toni toyed with the idea of adopting Mikey, but wanted to be certain he would get along with the two dogs already living in their home. The family turned to Dean Miller of Dog's California for help with integrating Mikey into their family and to begin to work on some of his behavior issues.

"At first Mikey was crated behind a doggie gate," recalls Keith. "This led to his nickname 'Monkey' from the crying sounds he would sometimes make in his crate. He sounded like a little monkey."

Though it took weeks of training with Dean and a strong commitment from Keith and his wife, Mikey began to feel at home with his new family -- canines included!

"Mikey's story illustrates the importance of training," says Keith. "My wife and I wish our other two were as well behaved as Mikey is!"

If you are interested in and committed to providing a loving home for a dog who, like Mikey, needs special attention but definitely has the potential to become a successful adoption, please e-mail us.

Resources: Dean Miller, Dog's California, 281-380-8175 or k9teacher@iwon.com.