Animal Charity

Giving Thanks and a B&B for Seniors

Today is Thanksgiving, and we at Second Chance Cocker Rescue, have a lot for which to be thankful. To date this year, we have rescued over 1,000 dogs and we have some doggone great things planned to expand our Sanctuary Program. We are especially proud of our Sanctuary program and the ONE BIG THING we need to change is HOW MANY dogs we can help.

Here to introduce the opening of the new Bed and Biscuit area for our seniors, is our newest senior, Honey.

“Hi, Honey here. Two weeks ago, I was left at the shelter by my family. They said I was getting old and need too much care. I am only 12, for heavens sake! The next thing I know, I am on cold concrete surrounded by a lot of barking dogs. Everyone at the shelter said I was too old and no one would want me. I had just about given up when Meg from SCCR showed up and told me this was my lucky day! SCCR had decided to expand their Sanctuary Program, and I was the first Cocker invited to live in the new Bed and Biscuit Annex in Romoland, California.

I didn’t know what a Bed and Biscuit was but wow, it’s great! It’s almost like being at home. There are comfy couches to sit on, dog beds all over the floor, a huge play area with trees and soon there will be other oldsters like me to hang out with all day. Best of all, Carolyn comes out to give me lots of love. I will have 9 more roommates soon. I can’t wait! They said I am available for a Sanctuary home, but I can stay here forever if I don’t get one. No more shelter for me, ever!

I was so grateful for this opportunity, I asked if I could be the Bed and Biscuit spokes-dog. And here I am; safe, happy and I have a great new job!

The only thing we need now, is your assistance to help fund this project. You can help by signing up as a monthly donor of the Bed and Biscuit Club or just send us a check!”

Love, Honey

PS: I like to eat twice a day, so don’t skimp on those donations!”

Thanks, Honey. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Our goal is to open our new facility in January, 2016. To help make this happen, we are setting up the Bed and Biscuit Club monthly donation membership with some great incentives, including invitations to a Spring Bed and Biscuit Club Afternoon Tea and a B&B Club Fall Party. Please consider joining and help us to take the best possible care of Honey and her friends.

Guardian circle – $200 a month and up

Each donor will receive: Bed and Biscuit calendar, Bed and Biscuit newsletters, two $25 gifts, a yearly behind the scenes tour of the Bed and Biscuit, free tickets for 2 to all SCCR events including Cocker Picnics, WAGS and Holiday Boutique events.

Service Dog circle – $100-199 a month

Each donor will receive: Bed and Biscuit calendar, Bed and Biscuit newsletters, two $25 gifts and one $50 gift. Also, a yearly behind the scenes tour of the Bed and Biscuit.

Support Dog circle – $75-99 a month

Each donor will receive: Bed and Biscuit calendar, Bed and Biscuit newsletters, two $25 gifts and one $50 gift.

Defender of the Pack circle – $50-74 a month

Each donor will receive: Bed and Biscuit calendar, Bed and Biscuit newsletters, and one $25 gift.

Keeper of the Pack circle- $25-49 a month

Each donor will receive: Bed and Biscuit calendar and Bed and Biscuit newsletters.

$50 gifts: Two tickets to any SCCR event including the picnics, WAGS or the Holiday Boutique.

$25 gifts: Mouse pad, note cards, mug, all with the B&B logo

Our Bed and Biscuit link is still under construction. In the meantime, please use this Paypal link and in the “add special instructions to the seller” area please let us know where you would like your money to go.

We are determined to rescue even more seniors from the shelters this coming year. We have several more ideas to expand our Sanctuary program that we will be rolling out soon. Stick around and help us save even more lives!

Thank you for your continued support!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

All of our adopters, foster families, volunteers, board members, donors, friends and family would like to wish Elizabeth Mazzetti a very happy birthday!

Elizabeth founded Second Chance Cocker Rescue in 2003. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home dogs, all over California and beyond. Elizabeth also created the Sanctuary Program, where SCCR takes care of senior dogs in foster/forever homes, covering all medical expenses for the rest of that lucky dog’s life.

Please help to continue the amazing work that Elizabeth and our other tireless volunteers do on a daily basis.

For every time that a rescue dog has made you smile or laugh or even cry, your donations have helped to save the lives of other loving dogs.

It takes special people to do special work. For people like Elizabeth, it’s a calling. Saving lives, one dog at a time, bringing frequently overdue joy to their lives and endless satisfaction to our own.

Please take a minute and help out.

Donate in celebration of Elizabeth and all she does for rescue. The dogs you help save, will bring happiness to countless people, and will give Elizabeth the best present she could have asked for.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth….a donation

Not Just a Number to us

A1242444…That’s what they call me. How can that be? I used to belong to a family. I used to have a home. Now I am sitting on this cement floor, shivering, wondering what the heck I did wrong?

The other day, someone came into my kennel who I heard is a rescuer. I hope it’s good news for me.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get me out of here. I promise I will be the best dog you could ever imagine. I can’t wait to snuggle on a sofa, take walks, go for car rides and lots of other fun things, with my new forever family.

We heard you, “A1242444.” Second Chance Cocker Rescue is coming to your rescue and we are going to call you Tina.

Tina is the fourth sick dog we have committed to in the last week and we can’t afford another without your help. Please help us keep our promise to Tina. We couldn’t do it without you!

We will keep everyone posted on her freedom ride this Tuesday, and when Tina is available for adoption! We would also like to thank the Inland Valley Humane Society for reaching out to us to rescue this girl and for being so easy to work with.

A promise to Promise

We rescued Promise in 2004. She was covered with mange and her skin was cracked and bleeding all over. We worked with three other rescues to pull her from a shelter in Southern California, finding a foster in Northern California and transporting her up there. We were so grateful for everyone’s assistance.

Terry adopted Promise on Mother’s Day for her mom, who passed away just a few short months later. Promise got Terry through some pretty tough times; losing her mom, a divorce and moving to a new residence. Through all the trying times and happy ones too, Promise was her best friend and confidante. Every year Terry sent out a “Promise” newsletter to everyone involved with her rescue. We so appreciated the updates, and adorable pictures of sweet Promise.

Terry and Promise had an amazing bond for 11 years. This month, Terry had to say good bye to Promise after several months of illness. We all know how hard it is to lose our best friend, but we know Terry loved and cherished Promise every second she had her. Second Chance Cocker Rescue could not have found a better mom for Promise and we are so glad to have been a part of her life too.

Rescue does not stop at pulling a dog from the shelter. It means a lifetime commitment to each and every dog. Finding good homes filled with love.

We are committed to our work and our dogs. We are so grateful to have your support so we can keep doing what we do best.

In Terry’s last newsletter she said, “I loved that little girl with all my heart and she will be with me forever.”

Please help us save more lives by making an donation in memory of Promise.

Why I Foster With Second Chance Cocker Rescue

I made a promise to my dog, Freckles, a few weeks before he passed, that I would return the favor and provide a foster home for other Cocker Spaniels in need. He had spent over 9 months in a foster home before he found his way to my home, his forever home.

I followed several Cocker Spaniel rescue groups for months and eventually reached out to Elizabeth Mazzetti at Second Chance Cocker Rescue (SCCR). I was impressed by the variety of dogs and the successful placement rates. When I met Elizabeth, I learned more about her experience and her philosophy on dog rescue. I let her know the type of home I could offer to a foster dog and some of my limitations.

Since meeting Elizabeth, I have fostered several dogs for SCCR. It has been a tremendously rewarding experience. The number one comment I hear from people is, “I couldn’t be a foster because I would be too attached and it would be too hard to let them go.” I had the same concern. It can be difficult, even heartbreaking, to let go of a dog that you have nursed back to health only to trust its life to a stranger. And yet, with each foster dog that finds a loving, adoptive home, I am learning and growing in my compassion towards all beings.

Initially, I got into dog rescue to help the dogs, as there are thousands of dogs who need homes. Now, I am beginning to see the joy these dogs bring to their adoptive people. We aren’t just saving the dogs’ lives we are improving people’s lives. For the older gentleman who just lost his beloved companion of many years, this foster dog will step right up and lovingly fill a void in his heart. For the woman who is an “empty nester” approaching retirement, this foster dog will be grateful for the care and attention and return the love tenfold. These dogs have so much love to give. It just seems right to put them in places where they can love and be loved.

Being a foster home allows me to be a champion for the dogs. They didn’t get to pick their prior homes, but with me they get an advocate. Someone who is willing to get to know them and what they need to be happy. With that perspective, I can help match the people with the dog. I often visualize the perfect home for my foster dogs. It helps me to know what to look for when speaking to potential adopters. Bringing together a perfect match makes for a successful adoption and a happy ending.

To be a successful foster home, it is important to feel that you have the support of a larger community. I have always felt that Elizabeth Mazzetti and the community that is SCCR would be there for me if I needed help. Elizabeth has tremendous experience with dogs and people. She cares deeply and yet is grounded enough to take on dogs that can be helped and not to take on so many that the viability of the organization is jeopardized. Fostering dogs isn’t always easy and it isn’t for everyone, but I have always felt supported by SCCR.

Is it tough to say goodbye to the dogs? You bet! But working with the dogs I have learned how rewarding it is to have an impact in the lives of these dogs and their new owners and to be part of something larger. Help us spread the love. Often, the thing these dogs need the most is to be part of a family and to feel loved. That will help set them on the path towards adoption.

If you can’t foster, can you donate? Thank you!

Written by Karen Losee, foster mom and SCCR volunteer

Zoey – A Love Story

Zoey came to us in 2013. She was rescued from a shelter just north of Sacramento. Soon after, she was fostered by a family in Encino with two children who adored her. In early October of that year, a woman named Katherine saw Zoey on the Second Chance Cocker Rescue adoptable dogs page, and fell in love. Zoey’s foster family brought her over, and the bond was immediate. Katherine adopted Zoey, and they were best buddies, unseparated for two beautiful years. Zoey would sit with Katherine, who still lived in her own home, while she knitted. Zoey never left her side.
A few weeks ago, Katherine’s health deteriorated and she passed away. Her loving family returned Zoey to her original foster family. Before she returned, Katherine’s family told us that Zoey was the best friend and greatest gift Katherine could have had in her golden years.

Zoey’s foster family only had her again for a few weeks, before a young couple saw her on the Second Chance Cocker Rescue adoptable dogs page. As many people look for young dogs, this remarkable couple was hoping for a more settled, middle-aged dog. They found that and more in Zoey. They officially adopted her this past weekend and couldn’t be happier. Thanks to everyone involved, Zoey’s love story continues.

It takes a community to rescue, rehabilitate, foster, network, treat, train, care for and adopt.

Any donations you can give are always appreciated.

The Fantastic Four

IT’S A BIRD! IT’S A PLANE! IT’S THE SUPER-SENIOR FOUR! Mighty Maddie,Victorius Vayle, Electric Elkie, and Buffy the Bone Slayer. We are four, very young at heart, Super Seniors, looking for a place to rest our heads and paws, when we’re not saving the world.

We are all currently in boarding facilities, aka kennels, hoping to bust out of that situation real soon. Second Chance Cocker Rescue funds a Super-fantastic program called The Sanctuary Program.

We offer our senior and terminally ill Cockers, a permanent foster home: YOU supply all the love and attention. WE take care of the medical expenses. This allows us to save more lives, young and old, and keep the dogs we’ve saved, out of boarding and in comfy homes where they can feel safe until their forever home is found.

If you are interested in loving a Sanctuary dog, contact us directly or fill out a application and we will respond to you, right away. We are always incredibly appreciative of donations, so we can continue this special program.

Donations towards the Sanctuary program

A Prince Looking for a New Kingdom

Once upon a time:
In a land not so far away,
a handsome prince named Prince, found himself without a home. This regal senior wished upon the stars above and along came Second Chance Cocker (to the) Rescue.

After a visit to the vet, we found that Prince’s royal eyes, ears and skin need some TLC. He also has Cushing’s Disease. Although this is a manageable condition, there are expenses involved in making sure he stays stable and healthy. This includes medication and possible surgery. These expenses could go up to $1,000 or more. After seeing the light emanating from this noble prince’s eyes, we just couldn’t say no. We also found that his majesty has a very sunny disposition. He loves everyone who approaches him.

Because Prince is a senior, he is blessed even more, because he qualifies for the Sanctuary program. This will allow whomever adopts him him into their home to love him worry-free of any future medical expenses.

Here is the link to help sweet Prince live happily every after:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GKX4ENTB2NVC6

What A Story He Could Tell

Harry came from a really bad section of LA. We don’t know the details but he was in bad shape when we got him. His legs were so weak he could not stand up by himself. He was emaciated and had big patches of fur missing. We think he was crated for a long time in a crate that was too small for him to stand up in. When we go him his muscles had atrophied and he had developed arthritis in his back legs.

We put Harry on a joint and muscle supplement and slowly started exercising him until he could stand and walk but he was so wobbly he would tip right over. We kept up the physical therapy and now, several months later he has muscle tone and can walk normally. He is still on an anti-inflammatory twice a day for the arthritis but he feels great.

You would think his experience would effect him and the way he looks at the world but not this boy. He is a sweet gentle soul. He loves to meet and greet people and play fetch. Harry is about 8 years old and is ready for adoption. If you are interested in meeting him you can fill out an application on our website.

Donations for Harry’s medical costs:

Peaach Can See Today

Peaach went in for her cateract surgery this morning and by noon she could see again for the first time in a year. We are so excited. Many, many thanks to everyone but most especially Matteo, Lynn and Dennis who made all this possible after her surgery was cancelled earlier this year. Lynn found a specialist who could do it, Matteo found the funds to make it happen and Dennis is caring for her during her recovery.

We have asked our team to send us video of Peaach through this process. We will post it on facebook and this blog as soon as we have it.

Share this: