Adoption Requirements

  • Applicant(s) must be 21 years of age
  • Applicant(s) must be able to assist with the transport of your new dog
  • Applicant(s) must agree to a home visit and follow-up home visit
  • All personal pets must be spayed/neutered and current on vaccines and on heartworm prevention.
  • Adopted boxers are required to be kept on heart-worm prevention and current on vaccines for the duration of their lives.
  • Boxers will only be adopted to indoor homes.
  • Must be a resident of North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia.

Adoption Fees

All Dogs over 6  mths $400
All Seniors 7+ yrs $250
Purebred Puppies under 6 mths $500
Mix Puppies under 6 mths $400

About Our Adoptions

All of our Boxers are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, have had a heartworm test, fecal test, and deworming, as well as being treated for any injuries or illnesses prior to adoption. Puppies are current on vaccines appropriate for their age. All of our Boxers are on heartworm prevention and are microchipped.

Adopting a dog of any breed is a very big decision and one that should be agreed upon by the entire family.  Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue has many wonderful Boxers available for adoption. Some of them have had particularly hard lives thus far, so we ask that you be certain before filling out an application to adopt and that you have the time, energy, and financial means to care for a Boxer long-term (please see our Boxer Breed Info Link).  It is our intention to place these dogs in their “forever homes”.  They have been through quite a bit and deserve to find that permanent home of their own where they will be cherished as members of a family.

If you would like to submit an Adoption Application, you may do so by using the link below. Please allow our volunteers up to two weeks to process your application, though it often takes less time. However, if you have not received a reply within two weeks, feel free to contact us.

The adoption fee required to adopt a rescued Boxer is considered a donation. We are a nonprofit organization run solely on donations, and all donations are tax-deductible.  Adoption donations are NON-REFUNDABLE, as the donations are immediately used to pay vet bills.

 Stella found her forever home with the Vertes family in May 2009!

Stella found her forever home with the Vertes family in May 2009!

Adoption Standards

Thank you for considering adopting a rescued Boxer! Adopting a dog of any breed is a very big decision and one that should be agreed upon by the entire family. Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue has many wonderful Boxers available for adoption. Some of them have had particularly hard lives thus far, so we ask that you be certain before filling out an application to adopt, that you have the time, energy, and financial means to care for a Boxer long-term (please see our Boxer Breed Info Link). It is our intention to place these dogs in their “forever homes”. They have been through quite a bit and deserve to find a permanent home of their own, where they will be cherished.

Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue’s adoption fee is between $200 & $450 unless otherwise noted. All of our Boxers are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, have had a heart-worm test, fecal and de-worming, as well as treated for any injuries or illnesses prior to adoption.   Puppies are current on vaccines appropriate for their age. All of our Boxers are on heart-worm prevention.

If you would like to submit an Adoption Application, you may do so by using the link below. Please allow our volunteers up to two weeks to process your application, and we will be in touch with you. However, if you have not received a reply within 2 weeks, feel free to contact us.

The adoption fee required to adopt a rescued Boxer is considered a donation, as we are strictly non-profit. Adoption donations are NON-REFUNDABLE, as the donations are immediately used to pay vet bills.

Must be a resident of North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia.

All of our rescued Boxers are temperament tested to evaluate how they react to different situations and environments.  They are tested with other dogs, cats (when possible) as well as children. @

Boxer Breed Information

Are you right for a boxer?

Let’s see…Do you love sloppy kisses, affection, a fun-loving spirit, and a little bit of stubborn behavior every now and then? Well, the boxer might be the right breed of dog for you.
Please read all of the information below carefully. Boxers are high-energy dogs and have wonderful personalities. The best way to put it…A boxer is a boxer. You cannot mold them into being any other dog. Take them and love them as they are!

Boxers range in weight from 55 pounds up to 70+.  Many people are surprised at the number of boxer rescues and the need for our type of organization. Please realize when you rescue a puppy or young boxer they will get bigger!

Boxers are late to mature (that means they act like puppies and do not tend to “settle down” until the age of 3 or 4 years). Boxers need daily work and or exercise. Long brisk walks are ideal and playing fetch with a ball or toy is wonderful.

Please Note: Boxers really do require a good amount of playtime. If they do not receive proper exercise they can become destructive due to being bored and having pent-up energy. Just remember: “A tired boxer, is a good boxer.”

Boxers also love to play with one another. Older boxers (silver boxers) do not require as much activity but still have a good bit of energy and love to fetch and go on walks. Many boxers end up in shelters and need to be rescued b/c their families didn’t realize they would require so much time and energy due to the boxer’s exuberance.

Whoever said boxers DON’T shed was lying! They do, it just isn’t in clumps like a longer-haired dog. Boxers are also prone to seasonal flank alopecia. Quality foods and regular baths and brushing will help decrease the amount of hair shed by your Boxer. Boxers do not require “grooming” like a long-haired dog, just don’t forget to have regular nail trims and regular ear cleanings, especially for those floppy-eared boxers.

Aggression is NOT a trait of a well-bred and socialized Boxer AT ALL. Boxers who are socialized on a regular basis, from puppyhood, generally relate very well with other dogs. Boxers seem to enjoy the company of other Boxers, as they have the same style of play (“boxing”).

Many Boxer breeders and rescuers will agree that placement of Boxers of the opposite sex (male with female, spayed and neutered of course!) is the best arrangement.

Most Boxers love to chew. Coffee tables, remote controls, shoes, chair legs, door frames, etc… are all fair game. It is of the utmost importance that you provide your Boxer with stimulating toys or activities to do when you cannot be around. It is your duty to provide a chewing outlet for your Boxer.  Many of our volunteers use a KONG filled with treats or peanut butter, a food cube, a treat ball, or a Nylabone-type product.  We also recommend crating your Boxer when you are not home. Most of our chewing occurrences have been linked to boxers being left uncrated! Crating your boxer is for his or her safety! This ensures they are kept in a safe place while you are gone.

Boxers are predisposed to cancers–namely mast cell tumors and lymphomas. Skin conditions such as Demodex (mange), allergies, hot spots, skin tags, etc… are also common. Cardiomyopathy is a concern and Boxers are susceptible to “bloat” which is deadly if not treated immediately. Boxer owners should be prepared to have a little money put aside for unplanned vet visits, besides their annual vaccinations!

Boxers have great affection, especially for children and seniors. Most can recognize the need to be more patient and gentle with people however, some are better at understanding when to be gentle than others! Please think about what type of household you have and what age boxer may be best for you and your family before adopting! This boxer is going to be your FOREVER friend!