This page is dedicated to the dogs who have come through MMBR, even if only for a moment, and went on to the Bridge. All of them were loved and will be missed. Each one touched us in a differnt way but all were special.

Emmitt aka Duke

We got a telephone call about an older boxer, sitting in a shelter in Northern Michigan. Knowing we could not leave this senior boy there, arrangements were made to get him to MMBR. With the help of two people, who have since become members of MMBR, Duke was brought to us.

That same day he was rushed to our Veterinarian for an exam. Duke did not look good. X-Rays were performed, along with bloodwork. Duke was diagnosed with Cardiomyapathy and congestive heart failure. He was started on medication. Our vet said he was on borrowed time.

Members of MMBR posted Dukes story on BoxerWorld.com and soon a wonderful woman named Lois contacted us, saying she wanted to take Duke home and give him all the love she could,for whatever time he had left. After her adoption request was processed Duke was started on his long journey from Flint, MI to southern Ohio. It was a tiresome day for old Duke but as soon as he and Lois met it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

In July, about 6 months after going home to Lois, Dukes symptoms became much worse and medicine was no longer helping him. Lois took her best friend to his vet and stayed with him while she told him goodbye.

People like Lois and dogs like Duke are both one in a million!

Sydney

Sydney was a very loving, very beautiful, white boxer girl. She came to MMBR as an owner surrender when she was 4 years old. Sydney was the star of MMBR for her time here. Everyone thought she was such a beautiful girl.

Shortly after her adoption it was discovered that Sydney had serious kidney problems. She was given wonderful medical care and love but still, it only kept her going for about 9 more months. Sadly, on May 30th, 2003 Sydney was helped to the Bridge by her mom. We will always remember Sydney. She touched everyone she came into contact with.

Mario

The story of Mario is one of the saddest ever. Mario was left to die alone, in a shelters gas chamber. His owners were apparently tired of him. Our guess was that he was at least 10 years old. MMBR took Mario in but it was obvious that he was too sick for us to help medically.

The decision was made to be with Mario while our vet sent him to the Bridge. Mario was so sick that the Vet doubted that he even knew where he was.

Mario was only with MMBR a short while but he was loved by us and especially his foster mom, who held him in her arms when he left this world.

Higgens

Higgens was in a shelter starving himself to death. No one there knew what was wrong with him. He didnt eat often and when he did he would vomit all his food. He had been there about three weeks when MMBR took him out.

Higgens was checked out by a veterinarian, thanks to our volunteer, Shelly Desmond, and it was discovered that he had cancer throughout his intestines and stomach. Shelly was with Higgens when he crossed to the Bridge. Higgens was only with us for about 24 hours and even though we could not re-home him, we believe that we did "rescue" him and did all we could for him.

Zeus

Zues originally came to MMBR and is a story of an unsuccessful adoption. His adopters gave him away in an ad in the paper. Luckily, the people they gave him to were better people than the original adopters. After having Zues for only a few short months, his adopters broke their adoption contract and gave him away. Under contract, he was supposed to come back to MMBR only.

The new owners are GREAT people who loved Zeus very much. After having Zeus for a while, he bit someone. The owners tried to correct his behavior but it didn't help. He bit another person so they called us and asked if they should return him to MMBR. The adopter who gave him away had also sent along his original adoption paperwork, making it possible for the new owners to get into contact with us.

Zues came back to us after being gone for a year and a half. After coming back, it was obvious that we had no choice but to have him put to sleep. We believe that he might have suffered some sort of abuse at the hands of the original adopter.

The story of Zues is particularly sad because we here at MMBR feel that we failed him in choosing his adopter. Since the time that he got adopted we have tightened our adoption policy to help to weed out applicants like Zues'. We truely hope to never have to post another story like this one

Hooch

Hooch was a boxer/great dane mix boy. He was a BIG BOY who weighed about 120lbs and was 31 inches tall. He had not had enough training or socialization in his life and he behaved very badly when given even the simplest commands. After a time in our rescue, with our dog trainer, it was determined that Hooch was unadoptable due to his temperament. He would lash out, trying to bite his handler often. Hooch was sent to the Bridge with his foster mom by his side in the spring of 2003.

Sophie

All that can be said for about Sophie is "Poor Sophie". Sophie was not properly socialized as a puppy, therefore did not have all the proper tools to function in society. She did not know how to behave with other dogs, to the point of being dangerous. She also did not know how to properly respect the authority of her owners.

Sophie is the perfect example of why it is so important to socialize your puppy while you have the chance. Had Sophie been properly socialized and worked with we believe she would be alive today, the happy and content pet of some loving family.

Sophie went to the brige in her foster moms arms on December 17, 2003.

MAXI

Maxi was one of the first boxers ever taken in by MMBR. He came to us with his mother, Hannah. Hannah was adopted quickly but Maxi was deaf, therefore harder to place. He ended up being adopted by the director and her family.

Maxi had bouts of mast cell cancer from the time he came to MMBR but always had surgery to remove it.

On January 26, 2004, a little more than 4 years after coming to MMBR, Maxi passed on to the Bridge with his mom by his side, telling him how much he was loved, holding him in her arms and knowing he was very loved.

Maxi will be missed by all who met him.

Gage

Gage was an older fellow who came to MMBR full of heartworms. Left for years untreated they caused Gage to have problems with his heart even after going through treatment to kill the heartworms. Gages health issues made it impossible to find a placement for him and MMBR decided that the kindest thing we could do was to send him to the bridge with love and dignity. Gage went to the Rainbow Bridge on February 10, 2004. Now he is pain free, healthy and free of all the problems his life on earth caused for him.