This is from an email I received today from DFW Cocker Spaniel Rescue. Oh, how I wish I could take them, but I can't.
Dear Cocker Rescue:
I would like to introduce you to Havana (the pure-bred, registered) and Autumn (close-enough pound puppy). Havana is 10 years old and Autumn is 8 years old. I realize this is very old to go into rescue, but please hear their story...
Havana was crate trained and obedience trained, but loved to play with other dogs when she could. One winter day she got a 9 week old sister that was found half-frozen in a snow bank in Ohio. The dog warden took her to the Humane Society where she was defrosted and stayed her mandatory three days since she was considered a stray. By the time she was adopted, she had contracted Parvo. The vet was sure she could not survive being so young and so malnourished and all the trauma she had already experienced. She did survive and the vet said "If this pup survives 6 months, she'll survive anything." Well, six months would be the beginning of Autumn, so that was her name.
Havana was an awesome big sister and cared for the pup and taught her everything she knew. Autumn was eager to please, so she learned her commands as well. They are both potty-trained and were crate trained as pups, but that has been quite awhile ago. Neither girl does the excited piddling known so well with their breed. They both have clean vet records that are up to date. Both are spayed. They both ingest heartworm and flea preventatives monthly. They enjoy also going to the beauty shop regularly. They love playing with children and even like cats-- if the cats like them. If the cat runs, they will get excited and want to go with the cat to see what's going on, some cats consider this chasing, regardless it is not agressive. As a matter of fact, especially Autumn will fall over and show her belly which actually shows how submissive she is.
Both girls lived with Grandma and Grandpa in their home. They went everywhere together...walks, rides in the car, to friends homes...they were always together. Suddenly Grandma became ill and went into the hospital in November 2005. Grandpa fell and broke his leg while getting ready to go visit grandma in the hospital. Grandma and Grandpa needed to go to rehab, so the family (their daughter Connie, and grandchildren Lew and Laura) transported them to Dallas for rehab so that not only could Grandma and Grandpa stay together after 65 years of marriage, but also because the Forum allowed them to bring Havana and Autumn. The girls brightened not only grandma's day, but everyone on their floor. Havana and Autumn temporarily replaced the Facility cat, and were expected to visit with everyone, which they did happily. They lived there for nearly six months.
Grandma and Grandpa left rehab and moved into assisted living in May of 2006. The girls did not mind apartment living either. Grandma kept getting weaker, but Havana and Autumn laid with her in bed for 20 hours a day. Hospice helped with potty-ing them since Grandpa ended up permanently in an electric wheelchair. Grandma asked that the dogs be euthanized upon her death and laid to rest in her casket with her when she died. When the time came, none of us could do it. The girls comforted her so the last year of her life and none of us could handle losing them too. Since her passing, Grandpa cannot get them in and out. Connie has an 8 year old black cocker, but she too is in poor health, having suffered a major stroke and is legally blind. Laura also has health problems and has a medical alert dog. She has occasionally helped out Collie rescue by vetting Collies between shelter and their new foster homes, but cannot take on two more dogs long-term. Lew is an attorney and works 16 hours a day. He has taken the dogs, but they are miserable just getting fed, pottied morning and evening just in time to go to bed with him.
They deserve better. They deserve love and attention after all they have given. We want them to get a home together, but if not, maybe they could be considered for a facility job. Either way, please consider them for rescue.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Please contact me if there are any further questions.
