Adoption Update: Lawlor, Now Lox!
Written by Jennifer L., AARCS adopter
To everyone at AARCS:
September 13th, 2025 marked one year since I adopted Lox (formerly known as Lawlor while with you) – now also now known as Loxlee, Loxy and Foxy Loxy. I wanted to give a little alumni update and to send a huge thank you for everything that you do to make the lives of the animals that come into your care so much softer.
I first met Lox at the Kenneled for a Cause event in 2024. I was told about AARCS from Kim, one of your amazing volunteers. I brought my niece and nephew and we all dropped tickets in different kennels, visited the kittens, played with the puppies, and of course, came across Lawlor.
He was so quiet. He was resting at the front of his kennel every-time we passed, even with all of the noise and commotion happening around him. Even today, I can’t say what it was exactly that made me inquire about him. He didn’t seem interested in me at all while I was near him that day (although he was more active at our later meet and greet), but clearly after being together for a year now there was a connection that needed to be made.
I didn’t know it then, but the path ahead was going to be challenging. I’ve had dogs for 25 years – German Shepherds and a Border Collie. But I had them from puppies, so I got to know their quirks and behaviours early and developed a bond from a very young age.
Lox, however, was seven months old and diving into adolescence when I adopted him. He came with a few large visible scars on his face and chin, and had had several front fractured teeth removed.
This was the first time I had adopted a dog from a rescue, and I soon found that everything I thought I knew about dogs – even after living with high energy dogs like the ones I had before – would prove to be questioned. I discovered that even though Lox liked other dogs, he also had leash reactivity. On our first day together he almost tore out of his collar while he was flinging himself towards two dogs on the sidewalk, taking me completely by surprise. It would prove to be our biggest obstacle (outside of him not being able to sleep, which was a very close second). The poor guy also didn’t like car rides and would throw up in the car when we would venture out. We still work on gaining courage to get in the car at times.
A few days after adopting Lox (which was like having a tornado enter my house), I had some personal medical results that caused my mind to go to worst case scenarios. I wondered what would happen to him if I needed help. Things were so hard that, in tears, I made the tough call to AARCS to see what the procedure would be if a more suitable home needed to found – thinking maybe we weren’t meant to be together. I felt like a failure and was so embarrassed and upset with myself. I felt like I was giving up. He was so wired all day every day, it was unlike anything I’ve seen in a dog before. I was exhausted, felt entirely depleted and thought I was failing him. I learned that the next step would be to surrender him completely back to the shelter – and if I did that, I wouldn’t know where he would end up.
My sister encouraged me to make the call to explore all options. She knew I had to hear the words in conversation to realize I couldn’t take that step to let him go. We were already attached, and although I couldn’t tell if there would ever be the bond I was hoping for, I couldn’t go forward with it. We were a team, no matter what.
We enrolled in a teen manners class at Chasin’ Tails, I booked private off leash parks, I learned to use a long line and a flirt pole, I bought books, searched anything and everything I could find online about positive reinforcement training, followed dog related content on Instagram, watched YouTube videos, purchased an online reactivity course and soaked up everything I could.
Skip to a year later: he’s learned how to sleep during the day (still with some help to encourage it at times), has learned how to swim, loves to hike, has a good routine but is also just fine if it needs to be tweaked, and easily goes away for weekends with me. He’s goofy, loves to play, is affectionate, and we end our evenings next to eachother on the sofa before we go to bed.
We recently had a follow-up appointment with Stephanie from Chasin’ Tails and had a great training session. We’re still working on some reactivity management, but it’s not at all like before. He’s come so far – we both have. I watch his body language while we’re on walks to find out when he’s starting to get stressed and then find the space he needs, and he looks to me for regular check-ins and support.
He’s a little over 1.5 years old now. We’re still in the adolescent phase, but considering where we started, I would be just fine staying where we are now. Our relationship is so much easier than it was, but I also know things will keep getting better and easier the more we learn, the more he matures, and the more we bond – which has already surpassed what I was expecting. I’m so excited to see what’s coming.
I’ve heard you get paired with the dog you need. As much as Lox needed me, I know I needed him 10 times more. I’ve always been told, and also thought I was a patient person, but I’ve tapped into a level of patience and calm that I didn’t know existed inside of me so that I could do my best to pass that onto him.
I can’t imagine being in this world without having this time with him. He sleeps next to me every night, we eat together, we go almost everywhere together – he’s like my shadow! He’s my best little buddy and my entire family loves him.
Thank you to all of the volunteers and staff at AARCS that work so hard to save the lives of animals and make these connections possible. To Kim, who first told me about AARCS and who was also incredibly supportive while things were so tough. To the person that lifted little Lawlor into the vehicle and drove him to Calgary when he needed a place to go. To the person that did the paperwork to admit him. To the veterinarian and assistants that removed his broken teeth, vaccinated him and made sure he was healthy enough to move onto the next step. To the staff and volunteers that comforted him, bathed him, cleaned his kennel, gave him toys to play with and fed him. To his foster family that brought him into their home and took care of him. To everyone that answers the phones, puts on events, accepts donations, creates the content for Instagram, updates the website, orders supplies, makes the calls to ensure we’re a suitable match, that connects us at the meet and greets to be sure we want to move forward. To everyone… Thank you with all my heart.
With love,
Jennifer & Lox