Special Needs Puppies
Martha had three six week old puppies could not stand or lift their heads but they were eating well. Their other three siblings were normal, healthy puppies but these three were not thriving and it worried her. So when the vet said they would never be normal she was not sure what to do or where to go. One of the vet staff suggested calling us. We were intrigued and just happened to have a foster mom in Santa Barbara who specializes in special needs fosters.
Martha agreed to drive them all the way up to Ventura where we would meet her and the three little ones. We did not know what to expect but we found three beautiful babies. They had fat little tummies and healthy coats but they could not stand or even lift their heads normally. They rolled around and bobbed their heads to see around.
Our foster mom created a sling for the puppies to use when eating. (Video of a Puppy Eating In His Sling) It is strengthening their legs and necks and allows them to eat with out getting food all over everything and everybody. She also is giving them sessions on the grass outside where they can roll around to their hearts content and build up more muscle tone in their bodies. The largest boy, Keane is already trying to take steps on is own and the other two, Kenway and Kemply are getting stronger every day.
We had our foster mom contact a group she works with in the Bay Area who specialize in special needs rescues. They have a lot of experience with neurological disorders and are very anxious to see them. She has planned a trip up in a couple of weeks and we will see what they think of our little ones. It is our hope that they will be able to one day, walk and eat on their own. They will never be normal but they can live a normal life with a family who understands their special needs.
Help BJ See Again!
BJ is only1 1/2 years old and when we go him into his foster home we noticed he was bumping into walls, stumbling on rocks and steps and walking right into wire fencing. We took him to our vet and found out that he was almost completely blind from juvenile cataracts. We checked with the specialist and he thinks he is a good candidate for cataract surgery. We think BJ is too young to go through life blind when we can change that. We are going to be scheduling his surgery as soon as his current course of meds are complete in a week or two. His surgery will cost about $2,000. We could never have giving this boy his sight back without your help. Soon he will be back to playing and being a crazy puppy like he never lost his sight.
Boycotting The Westminster Dog Show? You Bet!
“After 24 years, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has changed sponsors from Pedigree to Purina because the club doesn’t like Pedigree’s very effective “Adopt a Shelter Dog” ad series.” this is the start of a well written ariticle about the decision of the Westminster Dog Show to drop Pedigree because of it’s support of dog rescue and shelter dogs. Wow, we have to say we are not very impressed by this decision.
Westminster Kennel Club is sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and the AKC is very supportive of puppy mills. Every dog that is bred in a puppy mill is registered with the AKC and they get registration fee. They make big bucks from the puppy mills. They evidently don’t care that these are the same dogs dying every day in the shelters.
I don’t know about you but I will not be watching the Westminster Show this year and telling everyone I know why! —Elizabeth
Read the whole article here:
Westminster snobs snub shelter dogs
She Thought She Would Never See Again
Buffy is 8 years old and blind from cateracts. She was rescued from an LA shelter then her rescuer became ill and we offered to take Buffy and several more of her dogs to help out. Buffy was so sweet and wonderful we were glad we got her but we hated the fact that she was blind so young. But after a visit to a specialist we discovered she was a good candidate for cataract surgery. We have scheduled all her preliminary appointments and tests. Her surgery will cost $2,000 altogether. Thank you so much for your support which make is possible for us to give the sight back to dogs like Buffy.
Buffy has her own FaceBook page…check her out at “Buffy-Second-Chance-Cocker-Rescue”
She Brings A Smile
Lucy is more the size of a peanut than a Cocker but she sure has that cocker personality. She is so adorable that she brings a smile to the face of everyone that sees her. Blind since she was 3 years old she is now 13 and her mom could not afford any more vet bills on her so we agreed to take her in. It had been much too long since she had seen a vet. Her teeth were so bad she could only eat canned food, she had two large tumors and three mammary tumors and needed to be spayed….wow, her bills topped out at $1200. Thanks to your support we can help this little princess.
Latest Update on Phoebe
Just look at this girl now! First her before picture and then where she is now! She had the worst case of Demodex we had ever seen. Now she is ready for her eye surgery!
Donate Towards Pheobe’s Medical Bills
Abi Is So Lonely, Can You Help?
Abi’s dad passed away leaving her homeless and very lonely. Her dad’s son is keeping her until we can find her a permanent home so she is safe but she is not getting the love and attention she deserves. She is very lonely and needs some loving care from someone she can connect with and share her life. Abi enjoys going on walks, curling up in a chair next to you, she gets along well with other dogs and would enjoy a yard. Abi is in the San Francisco, Bay Area.
Put These Date On Your Calendars!
We have set our dates and venues for our annual SCCR Cocker Reunion Picnics. If you have not joined us before, this is your chance to have tons of Cocker fun in the sun. If you have joined us before then you will not want to miss this one. Food’s great, people are wonderful and the Cockers are amazing!
Who is invited? Everyone! Adopters, supporters, the Cocker lovin’ public and what the heck, bring your friends and family. too Let’s show off our dogs!
This year Santa Barbara will start us off on May 12th at Rincon Beach….yep, we have moved to the beach where there will be surf and sand for the dogs to frolic on and a large grassy are for those of us who like to keep our feet dry.
June 23rd will see the Sacramento crew at the Elk Grove Regional Park. We will be right next to their beautiful pond and and off leash dog area for some extra fun for the dogs.
If you would like to join the planning teams for either picnic then give us a heads up, we would love the help!
Update on Phoebe
Phoebe continues to amaze her foster mom with her spunk and love. She is doing very well with her skin getting better and better each day. She loves to be with the other dogs and part of the “pack”. She is always looking for a tennis ball or other toy to play with. She has also discovered the view of the front yard from the sofa and has found her voice to bark at anyone walking by or bark at the cats 🙂
Her skin is not red and inflamed any more. It is a nice healthy pink. Now all she needs is some hair! You can see her cherry eyes now. That surgery will have to wait until she is 100% better.
Kissing Girl
We got sweet Bridget from the Modesto shelter where she was a stray that no one claimed. She won the heart over from one of our dedicated volunteers, Jim, who transported her to Placerville. It was those big brown eyes that do it every time. We did not know she had mammory tumors until she was spayed and had cherry eye surgery, then vet removed those too. She is is stitches from stem to stern but recuperating comfortably in her foster home and is quick to give you kisses every chance she gets. Bridget’s vet expenses were $1,500.
SECOND CHANCE COCKER RESCUE 