Trustees

Lorraine's Statement

I can remember around 12 years ago now dealing with a boxer coming to me looking for a home and saying to James why are so many lovely boxers given up.  From then I decided I wanted to help boxers, at that point I was not sure what.  Whether it was just to help walk them for people who worked and were struggling or something else. I decided to open training classes as I was already registered with the kennel club as a behaviourist but just used to help in our local training classes one night a week.

This was not enough, I approached the local council and was given the use of a old school no longer used to run my classes from it, starting small just 6 dogs then it grew and grew. I used to love it when there was a boxer in the class, gradually more and more people got to know that I would help them to rehome a boxer.  It was really just the case of advertising in the vets, schools etc.  I then had a few volunteers Lorraine Martin and Carrie being two and another girl in Edinburgh who left.  Together things were getting to the stage that I wanted to make it a charity.  I didn't want to call it a rescue as a lot of dogs coming to me were not rescued, so the name welfare was decided.  The local solicitor luckily was a boxer lover, so she helped me set everything up.

 At the very beginning it was my mum and dad, James and myself.  So Boxer Welfare Scotland began as a charity in June 2005. I remember getting the letter to say it had been granted charitable status. God, you would have heard me in Glasgow.  Boxers have always been my passion having no family, and neither James or I having any brothers or sisters they were our babies.  I am so glad I decided to do this I have made SO many great friends.  I never dreamt that one day I was able to cover all Scotland and was able to help so many boxers with the help of fantastic people who were as mad as me about the breed. Don't get me wrong there have been really black times and sad times where I have thought why the hell do I do this. Then I maybe get a call from someone who has just adopted and they are so happy and seeing the difference once a dog gets a loving home.  There is no feeling like it, THATS what keeps me going.  So can I just say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to pick up the phone and choose to adopt or has offered their time without you all behind me we just would not be where we are today.

Carrie's Statement

I came across BWS by sheer chance in late 2005 I was on the internet looking at boxer sites when I came across an appeal looking for a foster for an old boy.  I phoned Lorraine and we had a few long chats about our own dogs etc. I found that we had a lot in common in respect of how boxers should be treated and cared for. I started off by doing car boot sales and just small bits and pieces but I knew I wanted to become more involved in the welfare.

I got a call from Lorraine to see if I could foster and of course I said yes but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be my old girl Roxy to an instant dislike to the dog so I had to put him into the kennels, which I have to say was heartbreaking even though he had only been in my house for a night, I felt so guilty. Shortly after that I got another call to see if I could foster again, I jumped at the chance this time everything worked out just perfect so much so I ended up adopting my Lou.

It’s then I met Lorraine Martin and we ended up pairing up doing homechecks and follow ups and then progressed onto doing the kennels which is so rewarding but it can also be heartbreaking at the same time. Some dogs come in in a terrible state whether it be through neglect or ignorance, it's great when you see these dogs come out their shells and start to trust you. The best part is when you see them going off to their forever homes. A lot of people look at boxers and think oh I like the look of them, I'm going to get one but they don't take into consideration just how much time & effort goes in to owning a boxer, a lot of the time this is why dogs will come into us especially when they hit the "teenage" stage and some people can't handle them.

BWS is a place where you know that we all have the same mind set and only want what’s best for our babes.  I really enjoy & feel privileged to be part of such a great organisation.