The Rescue Miracle

©Georgene

reprinted with permission from the AOL Cocker Board

Photo courtesy of Debbie, shelter photographer

This is a story that will make you believe in angels. We hear so many sad tales--this will make you a believer.

It's the story of my first cocker rescue. I had always wanted to get involved, but, like many of us, just hadn't had the time--kept thinking I would do it "later". It started with an E-mail from Linda A. She had seen a cocker posted by a shelter. She mentioned it to Pat C, from NJ Rescue. Pat knew that I belonged to the same Northern NJ Cocker Club as she and that I lived near that shelter. Linda E-mailed me and asked if I'd go and evaluate that cocker for possible adoption. I went and met a shaggy tri parti, that hadn't been groomed in so long that his head looked huge--on line he was listed as a girl. They thought he was about 3, and I could see that there were some good lines there, under all that coat, and tried to adopt him for rescue. There was considerable reluctance from the shelter in giving him up--he had been there a month, found as a stray. I returned 3 times, and finally Pat persuaded them to let me pay adoption and neutering fees and gave him to me. I had watched him get less responsive and need bathing as I visited, probably because he was there a while and was starting to lose hope.

I took him directly from the shelter to my vet. He needed all immunity shots but was in surprisingly good shape--a few fleas but no ear mites. I took a stool sample--no bacteria, and next day, no heart worm. Because I have a house full of cockers with NO fleas, I carried him from the car into a bathtub. He was a doll--no protests--and then into a crate, where I blow dried him. I had no intention of trying to groom him that day, but, when I put him on a table to finish with a hand dryer, he was so sweet that I was able to use a clipper on him. He had a beautiful tri head and neck, after all that hair was cut back, and I knew then he had show breeding in his background somewhere. He also had a great topline--seemed a little long backed, but he was so thin and his leg and tummy feathers had been cut back, so it was hard to tell.

I kept him for 4 days--was to meet Pat at the LI Cocker Specialty, to be held in conjunction with the Bronx County All Breed Show, to give him to her for adoption. He became glued to me like Velcro--cried every time I left the room, got along great with all my guys--old neutered guy, all my girls, my 3 puppies--a little friction with my unneutered boy, but, that was mostly my boy's problem--didn't want to share his harem--still, in the 4 days, he just blossomed, from a quiet, somewhat depressed dog, to a happy, outgoing, beautiful, self confident parti boy--I just hated to let him go.

At the show, where I was to meet Pat, he was walking with me on lead like he was perfectly at home. Since I know most of the parti breeders, I was wandering around asking if anyone recognized him as one of their breeding , not really expecting anyone to do so. Many agreed he was really nice, but not theirs. As I was walking past the setup of those who show MY OWN cockers, Kim V said hi to me and asked what I was doing with Trevor!!! After I could breathe again, it turned out that this dog belonged to people I know very well, also members of the northern NJ club.

Photo courtesy of Trevor's owners

Trevor was shown in the Cocker Spaniel Nationals by my handlers, who knew him very well. His father was a very fine parti, specialed a long time by them. His owner/breeders, preparing to go to a senior community, had tried to place this young dog with someone they thought would give him a wonderful home. This person had lied to them about everything--his family, where he lived--everything. They had never signed over Trevor to him, but, when they tried to get him back, the man, a convicted criminal, had threatened them with bodily harm, a threat the police told them to take very seriously. These owners had spent terrible months, agonizing over what had happened to the dog they loved, and trying to find a way to get him back.

Can you just imagine the joy these people felt when they came to my house to be reunited with Trevor? And, just imagine Trevor's joy, as well. He's now home and safe with the people who love him--tho', he and I had a tearful goodbye, as well.

Well, this is the story of my first rescue. As you can imagine, I'm pretty well hooked on the importance of rescue. There had to be a guardian angel out there somewhere looking out for this sweet baby. If Linda hadn't seen the shelter post--and acted on it; If Pat C hadn't known I was in the area--; if I hadn't been persistent at the shelter and Pat hadn't insisted he belonged with cocker rescue; and, If we hadn't met at that particular show to give Trevor to Pat, where he would be recognized by a handler who knew him-- this high quality, wonderful cocker, who had known only love and the best care in his early life, would have never been reunited with those who loved him best. How can anyone question the value of Cocker Rescue?

Do you wonder that I now believe in miracles?