~Abbey (AbbeyGayle) ~
January 2001 – October 27, 2009 Abbey joined our family in July 2001 when she was approximately 6 ½ months old. We adopted her through Lone Star Boxer Rescue (Houston). A part of our family has crossed the rainbow bridge, is now gone and will be missed forever. Abbey was an exceptional dog--really more like a person. She brought many years of joy to our lives. Abbey was diagnosed with Spleen Cancer on October 20, 2009. She had an enlarged heart along with fluid in her lungs. Abbey’s days of suffering were short as she passed away in her sleep the morning of October 27, 2009…just one week later. We gave her unconditional love up until the day she passed away! We know that our special pets are extraordinary gifts that we believe are given only to those of us who can truly appreciate them and hold them close to our hearts. Abbey was one of the special ones - friendly, loyal, a real sense of how to best own a human, courage to train that human, and a great heart. Each day was enriched just by having her near us. We know that Abbey had a good life with a couple of the best of humans she could have lived her life out with here on earth. Like all dogs, she loved unconditionally and was loved unconditionally. That's the highest any of us - human or canine - can really hope to achieve in a lifetime. God gained a beauty of a spirit and soul yesterday. Good Bye our sweet Abbey and enjoy your times romping around with your friends in Heaven! Hugs, The Brasell’s (Angie, Martha & Dave)

~ MOCHA ~
(10.3.09) Mocha was truly an amazing little boxer. She was the second boxer to be rescued by Houston Boxer Rescue in August 2008. Within a month of her arrival from the SPCA, Mocha became acutely ill. HBR quickly learned she was functioning with a single kidney. After sorting out a treatment plan Mocha was coping well with her kidney disease, although she remained a 'Special Needs' girl with much uncertainty surrounding her longevity. Determined not to give up on Mocha, her foster mother and the HBR volunteers never stopped searching for a forever home. Nine months later in May of 2009, Catherine Lavery and Aly Dossa heard Mocha’s story and swiftly decided to adopt her. Over the next four months, they provided the best life Mocha could ever hope to have. Their weekends were spent doing the things she enjoyed - hanging out on the sofa together, taking walks, having Mocha supervise her parents in whatever task they had undertaken, digging in the back yard, and especially listening for the can opener! Sadly, Mocha's wonderful new life was cut short. She was given only a few months to bask in the love and devotion her new parents showered upon her. Mocha crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on October 3, 2009. In a touching email, Mocha’s mom wrote the following words about her: “Mocha had so many friends. She asked so little of us - just wanted us to love her. But she brought so much to us - because of Mocha we met a lot of our neighbors. I can't think of a walk where someone didn't come up to us and tell us how beautiful Mocha was. Many of the other "regulars" on the walking circuit knew her name (we were only Mocha's mom and dad). And she was such a tough girl. She never gave up. Aly and I felt that we were always on the verge of getting her completely healthy. She had 2-3 weeks where she was exuberant and full of life. We miss seeing her happy little face in the mornings, when we come home, sitting on her couch, and all day long.” Mocha will also be greatly missed by Bruce and Darlene Clark (foster parents), and the HBR volunteers who were pulling for her. Thank you Catherine and Aly, for giving Mocha the life she so richly deserved!

~ SYDNEY BROWNE ~
(10.23.09) "Sydney joined my family in January of 2003 when she was a year and a half old. I adopted her through River City (San Antonio) Boxer rescue. My parents had just lost our family boxer and were looking for another one to take in. However, they got a puppy before they knew that I had found Sydney. When I heard that news, I knew that Sydney was not meant to go live with my parents, she was meant to come home with me. She immediately became my best friend and offered a shoulder to cry on more than once. A year later Spike, our Boston Terrier, joined the family and became the man of the house and Sydney's very best canine friend. When we married Tim (because he knew he married all of us, not just me), Sydney loved us all but immediately became Daddy's girl! During her fight with cancer when she had the hardest nights, she would sleep by his side of the bed so he could reach down and comfort her. It would take forever to share all the great stories, tell how much we loved Syd and what an integral part of the family she was. My best girl friend and confidante, Tim's "little girl", and Spike's forever buddy. She lost her battle with cancer at 8 years old in October 2009. We will miss and love her forever. We look forward to the day we cross the Rainbow Bridge with her and will hold her in our hearts until then. We love you little girl." ---Tim, Rachel, and Spike Browne

~ CAESAR ~
(July 4, 2000 - May 26, 2009) Casear came into our lives when he was 1.5 years old. He was a courtesy post on the site of then River City Boxer Rescue in San Antonio. At 10 months old he had been found running the streets with a broken chain hanging from his collar. A family with two children, two dachshunds, and two cats took him in. They loved him but after several months and home schooling a child with Tourette's Syndrome, the teenage boxer became too much. We traveled to San Antonio with our boxer girl, Tonka, who had polycystic kidney disease. As we drove down the street, we saw Caesar being held on a leash in a driveway ahead. As soon as we saw him we knew he was going to be our boy. It would take far too many words to share all the ways that precious boy enriched our lives. Let's suffice to say he was perfect in every way. We told him that very often. If you use AOL, you may recognize his photo as an available Buddy List, icon. Yesterday we helped end his fight with cancer. Caesar left this life in our arms with dignity, a sparkle in his eye, and knowing he was deeply loved. We will miss you and remember you always, our precious Angel Boy!

~ MIA ~
(4.30.09) Sweet little Mia. She came into rescue a sick little girl. Somewhere along the way, she had not been cared for properly and her little body just could not keep going.