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Buster has been enjoying the dog days of summer by playing, sleeping in the sun, and taking the occasional swim! He is a great little dog and has been a joy to have around. He is exceptionally well behaved in the house and is great with both new people and old.

Buster fits right in with our two resident dogs and does not challenge being the lowest dog in the pack. He takes correction from dominant Sadie and is a great playmate for Otto who is not always easy to get along with.

We have recently reduced Buster's outings at doggy daycare as he begun getting a bit overwhelmed when he was placed into the larger group of dogs. Many of the dogs were male and did not always appreciate Buster's social skills and playfulness. He is not dominant or aggressive but will defend himself if another dog jumps on him.

While he is not the most independent dog he has shown no signs of separation anxiety or fearfulness in new situations or with strangers. He does like to follow his people around and will often park himself on the floor of the room that you are in. He is a big licker and tries to "clean" both the resident dogs and people. Buster does respond if you set limits but if you don't he will take up residence in your lap.

Buster does require a large fenced in yard as he does like to run on those little crooked legs. He also needs a family that will commit to giving him the time and care he needs fro the rest of his doggie days.

Buster has been returned to NBR after 2 years with an adoptive family. The family was unable to give Buster the time and care he required and felt he would do better in another home. He was considerably underweight upon arrival but was friendly and cooperative over the long drive.

He was placed with his original foster home in Massachusetts two weeks ago in order to assess his current needs and bring him back to a healthy weight. Buster's adoptive family reported that he often needed coaxing to eat and that they had difficulty keeping weight on him due in large part to reported anxiety and compulsive pacing (Buster's foster family has not observed any of this behavior since he has returned).

Buster's foster family changed his food back to his original diet (Wellness). He now eats some dry food in the morning with 2 tablespoons of gravy, a small portion of dry food at lunch (temporarily until ideal weight is achieved) and some more dry food mixed with canned food in the evening. We are happy to report he is now a member of the "clean plate club" and has put on several pounds.

His foster family reports that he has transitioned exceptionally well and is especially social with other dogs including the somewhat dominant female (Sadie) boxer and much larger male (Otto) boxer in the home. He is completely housebroken (not one accident) and knows most basic commands: come, sit, down, no and off; and is working on stay and heel. He arrived with a harness as he reportedly pulled on the leash but his foster dad worked with him on this and after the 2nd day Buster walks with a regular flat collar without a problem. Both foster mom and dad repor tthat he is one of the easiest dogs they have ever had in their home present company included....sorry Otto!

He enjoys playing with squeaky toys and bones but can be finicky with treats. His adoptive family had reported that Buster was often anxious and fearful of strangers. While the NBR volunteers and his foster family have seen no evidence of this in their interactions; Buster's foster mom had him undergo a behavioral evaluation and enrolled him in doggy daycare/playgroups.

Buster "passed" his behavioral evaluation with flying colors and exhibited no signs of anxiety, fear or aggression. To date he has attended several daycare/playgroup sessions and is friendly and appropriate with the staff and ALL of the dogs from toy breeds and puppies to the larger dogs of both genders. The staff at the doggy day care report he is extremely sweet and affectionate and is a popular young guy. They do report however that he tires easily during play so he has to take rest breaks more often than some of the other dogs his age. We are hoping that with good nutrition and regular exercise that his fitness and strength will improve.

The scars from the surgery to his front legs in 2/05 are still visible and the curvature in his wrists remains pronounced but improved. He is therefore not the most athletic dog and the likelihood of arthritis in the future is probable.

Buster is a very sweet, lovable, laid back little guy, and he deserves only the best home. It is always sad to see a dog come back into our care but we are thankful as it was the right decision. Please stay tuned for more updates and keep him in your thoughts.

New photos of Buster in his foster home will be posted soon

6/4/05 - Grrrrreat News!

Buster is ready to run with the big dogs!!!

After 21 weeks, and at a cost exceeding $4300, Buster’s orthopedic surgeon has given him TWO thumbs up to begin his new life.

Buster’s right leg has totally mended and his left leg is almost healed as well. Buster has no restrictions and can gradually resume normal activity. The only long-term effect he may have is arthritis in his wrists. His elbows should not be affected. The surgeon stated, ‘If arthritis should become severe over time, there is always the option to fuse his wrists.’ Also, there is a slight chance that the screws in his leg may eventually work themselves out which would require additional surgery but we are hopeful that will not be the case.

For the first time since Buster came into rescue, he was able to run and play with his foster siblings. A happy day for everyone!

We want to send a special thanks to Elizabeth and her family for the wonderful care and love they extended to Buster. You did a magnificent job!! We need more foster families like yours!

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the many people that have shown their support with donations, letters and prayers. NBR could not have done this without you! We still need your help to cover the expense of his surgery. Please continue to send your donations so NBR can continue to help more dogs like sweet Buster.

You can send a check directly to: Northeastern Boxer Rescue
P.O. Box 95 Sunderland MA 01375. (Please mark your payment "Buster") or use

5/28/05 - Update from Foster Home:

"Buster continues to do well in our house but is really looking forward to having a home and family of his own. He always seems to be last in line for rubs and treats behind the two big dogs and although content he would be so much happier being king. His next x-ray is scheduled for June 1st and we are keeping our fingers crossed that his left leg will have healed as well as his right. If all goes well Buster will be ready to be placed in a forever home.

Buster has really come out of his shell lately and has alot of personality. He is also pretty clever as he has figured out how to open our french doors to get outside. Unfortunately his curiously doesn't stop there so a fenced yard and a watchful eye will be important. He loves toys and we have found that he is easily redirected from negative behavior by sticking a chew toy in his mouth. He loves people and can't wait until he is able to go on long walks and run like the wind.

Keep Buster in your thoughts as we all hope that his next appointment goes well and he is able to start his new life."

4/28/05 - Update from Foster Home:

"Buster was seen at Tufts today for his post-op x-ray and met with his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. McCarthy. His right leg has completely healed however his left leg is still tender and the fracture is still visible on his x-ray. Dr. McCarthy expressed his confidence that his left leg will heal accordingly but needs more time and rest.

The x-ray also detected that one of the screws in the plate in his left leg has become loose. It is not of imminent concern however it needs to be monitored closely. A loose screw can cause the the plate to slide around the ankle damaging tissue and leaving the healing bone vulnerable. The more the bone heals the less of a concern the screw is. If the plate needs to be removed it is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis at Tufts.

The overall prognosis for Buster is good and his surgeon is very pleased with his progress. The bad news (especially for Buster) is that he will need to remain on exercise restriction for another 4-6 weeks (the worst news a puppy could hear). He will need another x-ray and consult at that time. The quieter we keep him the faster his left leg will heal and the less opportunity for the loose screw to become completely dislodged.

Otherwise Buster continues to be an affectionate, sweet little boy. He is always a big hit at Tufts because he kisses all the Vet students and tries to crawl in their laps. He is eating and sleeping well and trying to catch up on the growth he missed out on having been so severely neglected as a young pup. Now that he is feeling more like himself he enjoys sitting on the deck in the sun and is learning some new commands like "come" and "sit".

I tell him all the time how special he is and how everyone is routing for him to grow big and strong."

The current challenge is keeping him quiet and trying to restrict his movements. He is a happy bouncing little boy and wants nothing more than to run and play with the big dogs. He needs to be on complete exercise restriction for at least another 3 weeks and will return to Tufts at that time to have another post-op ex-ray done.

He is 100% housebroken and crates easily. He is certainly struggling with not being allowed to play but in a normal environment he is certainly one of the most well tempered boxers I have known. He is very sweet and craves human contact crawling onto laps and beds whenever possible. He is also very fond of other dogs and often will forgo his own bed to snuggle with or sleep directly on big, bad Otto. He is a quick study and when he is able should take easily to learning some basic obedience.

So far so good! Buster had his grueling surgery yesterday and the orthopedic specialist said the operation went well. Metal plates and screws were attached to his newly straightened bones in both legs, and he was also neutered. Buster entered the hospital on Thursday in preparation for his surgery and he was looking great. He weighed in at 55 pounds and only needs to gain a few pounds until he is at his ideal weight, thanks to the wonderful care from Buster’s foster family.

The doctor expects that Buster can return to his foster home on Sunday to recover. He will need to wear splints to support his legs for 2 weeks, and heavy padded bandages for 2 weeks following the removal of the splints. He will need a total of 16 weeks of rehabilitation…..8 weeks for the bones to heal, and 8 weeks more until the tendons are working properly. The entire healing process should be complete in 6 months.

They also had to open Buster’s abdomen to remove an undescended testicle when they neutered him. The doctor said he will feel like "he was hit by a truck" for a few days. He will be sent home with strong antibiotics and pain medication to keep him more comfortable.

Donations to date are well below our expenses and we are still in need of your assistance. We really need to replenish our rescue fund. The cost to help dogs like Buster is astronomically high, and it is because of your support that we are able to continue our commitment to the dogs that need us the most.

We want to thank everyone for their donations, well wishes, and thoughtful prayers. Please continue to keep Buster in your thoughts…although he has a long way to go, his life has finally turned around. Soon Buster will be “running with the big dogs”.

2/13/05

Buster was seen today at Tufts University's Foster Animal Hospital for an orthopedic consultation. The shocking results of his x-rays showed that Buster’s two front legs had been broken several months ago and left untreated. Fractures of the lower radius of both legs affected Buster’s growth plates, which resulted in an unequal rate of growth and consequent bowing of the limbs. It was recommended that Buster have surgery to straighten the bones in both his forearms and both his wrists.

Both of his front legs are significantly deformed, affecting his gait and coordination. There are some early signs of degenerative joint disease (arthritis) in his wrists and without surgery the cartilage will continue to erode destroying the joint and causing him great pain.

Luckily there were no other signs of damage, and with surgery his prognosis is very good. This grueling surgery will include attaching metal plates to his bones. He is scheduled to have surgery on Feb. 25th and he will be neutered at this time as well. The surgeon wants to see Buster gain more weight before he undergoes surgery. His after-care is relatively simple and will include 8 weeks of limited leash walks and supervised activity. The Orthopedic Specialist estimated his age to be about 8 months old.

Buster is thriving in his foster home and now weighs 49 lbs. He is very sweet and gentle and loves to snuggle with both humans and dogs alike. He is eating like a champion and within the next few weeks should be entering his goal weight range to undergo surgery.

He is doing well with his crate training and housebreaking and is now up to date on all of his vaccinations. Buster has a great temperament and would be good in a home with older children as well as other dogs.

Please send a donation to help with Buster’s care. Expenses will total significantly more than $3,000 and we need your help.

Buster visited the vet for a quick initial exam Sunday to make sure there were no immediate health concerns. The vet confirmed that he was approximately 5 months old and definitely needed to gain weight. They suggested we do an x-ray on his two front limbs to determine the cause of his deformity and see if there are any options to correct the problem.

Buster is happy and doing well. His foster home has him on boiled chicken and rice three times a day to help his system adjust to getting proper nourishment. It is clear to his foster family that Buster has had a great deal of trauma in his short life. He is sleeping well through the night and has been introduced to toys. Has not had an accident in the home and seems comfortable in his new surroundings. He is a good boy!

He is scheduled for an x-ray and consultation regarding his front legs. We will post another update as soon as we know more.

We were informed he was roaming the streets in Queens, NY and was passed on from person to person. We received a call asking for our help and we were told that this boy was close to being used for bait in dog fighting. This inhumane practice is much too common and almost never given a voice.

He was being starved and is skin and bones. We thank the guardian who gave refuge to Buster until we could arrange his transport to his new foster home.

Buster's first stop will be the veterinarian so we can address his health. We are almost sure this will include an orthopedic specialist.

Buster curled himself up in the back seat with his comforter and fell asleep for the two hour ride to meet his foster mom and dad.

This boy is one of the most loving dogs that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. His physical appearance was heartbreaking. Everyone had tears in their eyes when they first saw Buster but he licked them away with his many kisses. Such a loving and trusting soul with all that he has been through in his short life.

Available for adoption through Northeastern Boxer Rescue