In 2016 Boxer Rescue LA was approached by the producers of the television show Save Our Shelter for a potential make over episode. What our kennel desperately needed was open space for dogs to socialize with each other.
BRLA volunteer Tony DeCanio worked our most challenged dogs in the only open space at the time which was the cluttered living room of the house on property. Creating a space for Tony and all volunteers to properly work with dogs would be a dream come true. Over the next weeks we met with Save our Shelter production team and Dog For Dog founder and host of the show Rocky Kanacka. Everyone wanted this for Boxer Rescue LA!
On the very day we got the call from Save our Shelter that BRLA had been selected to be a featured episode, we also got a devastating call. Volunteer Tony DeCario had died in his sleep the night before at just 40 years old.
The BRLA make over episode took on greater meaning. As well as getting wonderful spaces for our Boxers to play and engage in, the show gave us a lasting memorial to Tony. Muralist ColleKe Miller, founder of The Global Angel Wing Project created two magnificent and dog height Angel Wing murals. These BRLA angle wings serve not only as a tribute to Tony but to remember that Angels walk this earth as well. Adopters of BRLA Boxes love having their family portrait taken with our wings.
The Save Our Shelter make over was a wonderful experience and the new spaces benefit our dogs, staff, volunteers and adopters. We are grateful for the opportunity and appreciate our spaces and of course our BRLA Angel Wings.
