My name is Tonka!

12/15/07
Hi! My name is Tonka and I can finally speak for myself. Though I was under the weather for a a lot of months, I am now happy and healthy. I have been given a great opportunity. I'm training and boarding at K-9 Working Dog Academy, improving my doggie skills and loving every minute of it. It's been a long road for me and I'm doing much better. I've learned how to play and get along with others. I just can't help myself though, I still want to be the only dog. I'll listen to the other "pack members"....as long as they are the "two legged" members. Every day I get better and better at trusting people and understanding the commands I'm given. This is just way too much fun! The only thing that could be more fun than this, would be having my very own forever home. My trainer will spend time with my new family to fill them in on my improvements, answer any questions, and demonstrate (with my help of course) why he is so impressed with me. What a great plan right? I feel good, and if I must say so myself, I look great and I'm ready and waiting. If you think I could be a member of your "two legged pack, shoot Barbara an email at the address below and let's get together. Looking forward to hearing from you, Tonka
Barbara - boxerrescue@optonline.net

Update: 11/16/07
Tonka is now ready for his forever home. He has been one of our most medically challenging rescues. After surgery on his hind legs and months of recuperation, he now has fully functional, straight legs he is able to use for the first time since his puppy days. Thank you to those vets and techs at the University of Penn. veterinary clinic for making this happen. Tonka's medical condition however has not been without consequences.

Tonka's neglect before rescue and medical restrictions during rescue have left him in need of some social skills. He is fearful of new people and new places, and rightfully so, when you consider all this poor boy has been through. Once he gets to know you, he is a happy, fun-loving boxer and will greet you with a toy in his mouth and lots of wiggles "at the other end." Tonka should be an only dog, and why not, it's only fitting and deserving. You'll see why once you read his previous bio. Tonka also would like exercise so he can use his newly operational hind legs, just like other dogs. As all of us in rescue watched Tonka's amazing progression, we realized he is truly one of our most special rescues. For this reason he needs a special forever home, one with patience and one that is devoted to helping Tonka adjust to the good life. You tell me, doesn't he deserve at least that? I just know he'll make the right family a perfect family member, and one any family would be proud to have. If you are that home, and special family that would love to teach this special boy how to live, please e mail me at the address below. We need you to step forward so Tonka is no longer a rescue project, but is truly a rescued well loved, well adjusted boy with a family of his very own.

Update: 7/29/07
Tonka underwent his first surgery. The first few days after were pretty rough....the poor guy had this look on his face of "please make the pain stop". Since then, the bruising and swelling have completely resolved and the leg has no pain at all and he is weight bearing. He is back to his happy, goofy self and despite our efforts to keep him calm while healing, he is trying his hardest to get out for some boxer play. It is absolutely amazing to see the transformation in his leg! He still has several weeks of recovery time before the surgery to the other leg is done. Please keep him in your thoughts, and please consider making a donation towards his care. We need to have the funds raised for surgery number 2 by September. Everything we receive helps!

Update: July 4, 2007. Tonka is no longer the weak, emaciated little
boxer we initially obtained from a city shelter. With lots of TLC, he
has filled out to be quite the big, muscular boy! The doctors say that
he is now strong enough and healthy enough to proceed with the next big
step towards living a great life. We have had him examined by several
vets to make the best possible decision regarding his surgical options.
It has been determined that the best course is to proceed to operate in
stages, repairing one leg at a time. So.....the first of his surgeries
to repair is being scheduled to take place shortly. We have raised
enough money to pay for the first surgery and the rehab that will be
performed after it. After the first surgery and his rehab and recovery
period, the next operation will need to be scheduled. We are still
working on raising the funding needed for that that second procedure.
We will keep you updated as his journey towards a great recovery, and
happy health life continues. Thank you to everyone who has contributed
towards his vet bills. We could not do what we are doing for him
without your assistance. Please keep Tonka in your prayers.

Tonka came to New Jersey Boxer Rescue when a local city shelter contacted us on his behalf. NJBR was his last hope. Before meeting him we were emailed a video of so that we can see his condition. It looked to us as though he had minor leg injury due to neglect.

It is New Jersey Boxer Rescues mission to never leave a boxer behind because of expenses associated with medical care, so we took him to safety. Tonka had been neglected by some mean people, left in a crate which deformed his rear legs and was severely emaciated. Tonka has a big mushy head and an adorable wagging tail. It is sad to say that his head looks so big because he is so underweight.

A very nice orthopedic vet examined Tonka and the outcome was not good. This grim outcome for Tonka comes right on the heels of rescue boxer, Pup-Pup, being hit by a car and incurring thousands of dollars worth of orthopedic surgery bills. Tonka was diagnosed with a condition called luxating patellas. His case is very severe- "a 4 out of 4" the orthopedic vet told NJBR. "

What can we do?" Tonka needs surgery, he is young now, we estimate his age at about 2, and he is highly adoptable. If he does not have surgery, he will be dragging his legs behind him and in severe pain by age 5. Surgery is the only option to prevent that horrible result. The saddest part about Tonka's case is that he was not born this way. Tonka has this problem with his legs because someone left him in a crate ALL THE TIME!

Because of Tonka's neglect, he is so eager to please and be loved. He walks around and has boxer wiggles even though he is pain. If there ever was a boxer that needed help---- Tonka is the one! New Jersey Boxer Rescue needs a foster home (right now he is in a kennel) for pre-operation and until we can raise enough funds to pay for his surgery. Post operation care involved two weeks of very limited activity ( crated and leash walked) and minimal activity for a few weeks after. Our New Jersey Boxer Rescue yard sale is being done in his honor on May 12th in an effort to raise some money for the surgery. Please visit here for information about our yard sale. This will not be enough though- Orthopedic surgeries run into the thousands of dollars.

Contact Barbara At:

boxerrescue@optonline.net