Welcome, Humphrey!
It was a long-anticipated day for our family.
More than four weeks in the making, we finally got through the paperwork, the interview process and all of the technicalities that the caring, diligent folks at Minnesota Boxer Rescue (MBR) require before adopting a rescued boxer.
And it finally happened yesterday, but it was a long and winding road to get there.
We first heard about Humphrey a month ago. He was three years old. He's originally from Burnsville, MN. He came from a home which included two other dogs and a growing family. His original owners decided Humphrey was not getting the attention he needed, so they contacted MBR.
He was a good, smart dog, they said. They wanted him to go to the best home possible, they said.
They didn't want to part ways with him, but they felt it was best for him.
So Humphrey was surrendered into MBR's custody at some point in late April.
When we saw Humphrey's profile and biography on MBR's web site, we immediately expressed interest in him; unfortunately, we were told he had already been fostered-to-adopt by a family near Superior, Wisconsin.
It wasn't meant to be.
<<>>
In the meantime, we welcomed Lulu, the lovable little devil-dog, into our lives. She has spent the last three weeks getting acclimated to her new home and has become an understudy of the "House Rules" in these parts.
She's slowly learning and each day she makes us laugh. She's still a puppy but she is already showing signs that she's going to be a wonderful, smart and loyal dog as she matures.
Then, about 10 days ago, a MBR adoption coordinator contacted us. We were informed that Humphrey's prospective foster-to-adopt family decided they could not keep him.
Why?
They said Humphrey was kenneled eight hours a day, five days a week and the foster family knew it just wasn't going to work out. He had too much energy. They couldn't control him.
Well, he is a boxer. He's kenneled 40 hours a week. Of course he's got too much energy!
We were told (as described in his original profile on Minnesota Boxer Rescue) that he was very sweet, very smart, excellent with kids and other dogs. He was housebroken. He was neutered. He was up-to-date with all his shots. His only drawback was he liked to "table surf" (put his nose on the table during dinner).
Were we still interested?
Absolutely.
When we gave the green light, things happened quickly. Through the coordinators at MBR, we were put into contact with his foster family.
It was arranged we would pick up Humphrey at Black Bear Casino just south of Duluth on May 25th.
So Ava (my seven-year-old co-pilot) and I got up early Saturday morning - chilly and overcast - packed a makeshift breakfast of juice boxes, graham crackers and Girl Scout cookies (hanging out with Dad is cool!) and headed east toward the largest freshwater lake on the planet.
We arrived at the casino a little early (as is my habit) and waited. Ava was very excited. She even made a name tag and placed it on the dashboard of our truck so Humphrey would know who we were.
About fifteen minutes after the pre-arranged meeting time, a vehicle pulled up next to ours with a big, beautiful white boxer inside.
It was Humphrey. He was anxious and skinny - a good 10-15 pounds underweight - but his stubby tail was wagging.
The foster family and I exchanged pleasantries and pertinent information about Humphrey, then we were on our way back home.
Despite being apprehensive at first, Humphrey settled down very quickly for the car ride home.
Two hours later we were home. The first order of business was to introduce Humphrey to his new "little sister," Lulu:
We learned rather quickly that there are few things funnier than watching an Australian Cattle Dog pup attempting to heel a boxer.
Lulu learned rather quickly that boxers are, indeed, much faster, far more athletic and a lot smarter than a bovine.
When Humphrey got to our backyard, he ran and ran and ran. It was a butt-down, ears-back, run-as-fast-as-you-can, happiest-dog-in-the-world sprint.
Back and forth. Forth and back.
He ran as if he hadn't been able to run in weeks.
Then it occurred to me that he probably hadn't been able to run in weeks. In fact, it was possible he hadn't been able to run like this in his entire life.
Most importantly, he was very gentle with the kids has they ran and played with him.
And as I watched him fly from one end of our yard to the other, I just knew this was going to be a perfect fit for us and for Humphrey.
After running for what must have been two miles, both kids and both dogs collapsed together on the lawn and I quickly took a picture to capture the moment of our new "wolf pack" (as Ava calls it) together.
Needless to say, we all slept like rocks last night. It was a long, exciting day and everyone was exhausted.
The best part? In the morning, look who greeted me at the top of the stairs. I think I'm really gonna like this guy.
More than four weeks in the making, we finally got through the paperwork, the interview process and all of the technicalities that the caring, diligent folks at Minnesota Boxer Rescue (MBR) require before adopting a rescued boxer.
And it finally happened yesterday, but it was a long and winding road to get there.
<<>>
He was a good, smart dog, they said. They wanted him to go to the best home possible, they said.
They didn't want to part ways with him, but they felt it was best for him.
So Humphrey was surrendered into MBR's custody at some point in late April.
When we saw Humphrey's profile and biography on MBR's web site, we immediately expressed interest in him; unfortunately, we were told he had already been fostered-to-adopt by a family near Superior, Wisconsin.
It wasn't meant to be.
<<>>
In the meantime, we welcomed Lulu, the lovable little devil-dog, into our lives. She has spent the last three weeks getting acclimated to her new home and has become an understudy of the "House Rules" in these parts.
She's slowly learning and each day she makes us laugh. She's still a puppy but she is already showing signs that she's going to be a wonderful, smart and loyal dog as she matures.
<<>>
Why?
They said Humphrey was kenneled eight hours a day, five days a week and the foster family knew it just wasn't going to work out. He had too much energy. They couldn't control him.
Well, he is a boxer. He's kenneled 40 hours a week. Of course he's got too much energy!
We were told (as described in his original profile on Minnesota Boxer Rescue) that he was very sweet, very smart, excellent with kids and other dogs. He was housebroken. He was neutered. He was up-to-date with all his shots. His only drawback was he liked to "table surf" (put his nose on the table during dinner).
Were we still interested?
Absolutely.
When we gave the green light, things happened quickly. Through the coordinators at MBR, we were put into contact with his foster family.
It was arranged we would pick up Humphrey at Black Bear Casino just south of Duluth on May 25th.
So Ava (my seven-year-old co-pilot) and I got up early Saturday morning - chilly and overcast - packed a makeshift breakfast of juice boxes, graham crackers and Girl Scout cookies (hanging out with Dad is cool!) and headed east toward the largest freshwater lake on the planet.
We arrived at the casino a little early (as is my habit) and waited. Ava was very excited. She even made a name tag and placed it on the dashboard of our truck so Humphrey would know who we were.
 |
| Ava's name tag. It said "Homfry. Ava and Dad" |
It was Humphrey. He was anxious and skinny - a good 10-15 pounds underweight - but his stubby tail was wagging.
The foster family and I exchanged pleasantries and pertinent information about Humphrey, then we were on our way back home.
 |
| Poor Humphrey was a little freaked out when he first got in our truck. After all, this was his third family in the past month. But he would prove to be a cool customer. |
Despite being apprehensive at first, Humphrey settled down very quickly for the car ride home.
 |
| Ava and Humphrey at a rest stop near Deerwood, MN. This was about 90 minutes into the trip back home and by then he was giving her kisses. |
Two hours later we were home. The first order of business was to introduce Humphrey to his new "little sister," Lulu:
 |
| Lulu was the queen of the house for 20 days. Humphrey was a rather dominating presence, much to her chagrin. |
We learned rather quickly that there are few things funnier than watching an Australian Cattle Dog pup attempting to heel a boxer.
Lulu learned rather quickly that boxers are, indeed, much faster, far more athletic and a lot smarter than a bovine.
 |
| But within an hour, they were playing like to two long-lost friends. |
When Humphrey got to our backyard, he ran and ran and ran. It was a butt-down, ears-back, run-as-fast-as-you-can, happiest-dog-in-the-world sprint.
Back and forth. Forth and back.
He ran as if he hadn't been able to run in weeks.
Then it occurred to me that he probably hadn't been able to run in weeks. In fact, it was possible he hadn't been able to run like this in his entire life.
Most importantly, he was very gentle with the kids has they ran and played with him.
And as I watched him fly from one end of our yard to the other, I just knew this was going to be a perfect fit for us and for Humphrey.
After running for what must have been two miles, both kids and both dogs collapsed together on the lawn and I quickly took a picture to capture the moment of our new "wolf pack" (as Ava calls it) together.
 |
| The new "Wolf Pack" - an exhausted Humphrey, Lulu, Neil and Ava. May 25, 2013. |
 |
| Ava and Humphrey on our deck. |
The best part? In the morning, look who greeted me at the top of the stairs. I think I'm really gonna like this guy.
 |
| Bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for another day! |
