Most people never realize just how much work goes into bringing dogs into the rescue. It is a thankless job performed by four hard working individuals working endless hours each week to save as many dogs as they can find foster homes for. 

There is an endless stream of emails into the inbox that are fielded based on which state they are in or if they are a shelter dog or owner surrender. Some are just plain not boxers, but each email has to be looked at to determine if that dog or email thread contains a legit boxer or just another dog that someone “thinks” is a boxer.

Each dog sent in is asked if they can send in a video of a cat or dog test if possible. Some comply, some do not. This allows the intake team to be able to better determine what type of home is needed. After that, the dog is turned over to the Foster Coordinator to go on her list of potential homes to fit said dogs into. She reaches out to Area Coordinators or actual foster homes to seek placement. Some say some yes, others say no, and she moves on. Sometimes she can go though seven or eight homes before someone will say yes. It is a very disheartening job, but she plows on relentlessly.

Then you have the “returns.”  There are numerous reasons for returns, but a lot turn out to need only dog homes. These are extremely hard to come by and the team works endless hours to scour the list of potential fosters trying to find homes for these hard-to-place dogs.  It’s not unusual to resort to pleading to our CBR population for any homes that might assist with these unique situations.

Intake is not easy. It is heartbreaking and rewarding, all at the same time.  It is frustrating to be turned down time after time but on the same note, it is such a wonderful feeling to find that one needle in a haystack foster home or forever home for these wonderful dogs.   Intake takes patience, perseverance and most of all, a strong need to save a life. 

If you ever get a chance, take the time to thank an intake member. The hours they put in are endless and each one deserves an incredibly special thank you for all that they do, day in and day out on top of most having full time regular jobs.