---

---

4/17/08: Reilly is a 4 month old boxer pup. She was surrendered to a local shelter which contacted NJBR. Reilly is a special needs dog looking for a special home that will be able to give her the support she needs.

Reilly went to see a specialist last week. After a physical exam and X-rays we were told that Reilly is physically deformed and there is nothing that can be done for her medically or surgically.  Her last 3 vertebrae in her lumbar spine are fused together, never developing properly. Her pelvis is tucked and twisted a bit to one side, and she never formed a tail. The Dr’s believe her life expectancy will be shorter then your normal healthy boxer, but as far as how she will progress, it is unknown. As she develops her condition probably will change. They expect at some point that there is a good chance that the nerves in her spine will be compressed and cause pain in her hind quarters and possible loss of control of her bowels. This could change in a couple of months or a couple of years. It all depends on her growth and is really unknown. The only thing that can be done is love Reilly, keep her happy, healthy and pain free.

As of right now, Reilly is a happy puppy. She has not been spayed yet and we are working on her house breaking. She will need obedience training and to learn to walk on a leash. She has a funny walk, since her hind legs seem to be too long for her. She won’t be able to go for really long walks. She hops when she runs, but she gets around quite well and likes to play. It is pretty amazing to see her run. When she greets you she has a way of letting you know she is happy and excited to see you. She gives tons of kisses, as she is a little love bug. Reilly loves to cuddle with her foster brother and mom and enjoys playing with her foster sister.

Reilly will do best in a home that has limited stairs, as we expect her to have more difficulty with them later on. As far as a companion, she would probably do better with a mellow canine companion. She likes to play but we suspect there will be a time when she won’t be able to play like a typical boxer dog. A dog with lower play drive, would probably work out well.

If you are a special home that can give this special girl a great life, please review our policies and procedures, fill out an application and contact Reilly’s contact person.

---