Latest Rescue News

A couple of months back a former adopter of a cocker we had rescued contacted us about 10-11 cockers in need in SC. The breeder's wife suffered from diabetes and as a result of the disease lost her legs some time ago. She also had a kidney transplant 12 years ago but later went into renal failure. Unfortunately, the lady died in April of this year leaving behind her husband and all of their Cockers, Schnauzers, Basset Hound mix and Lhasa Apso.

The two Schnauzers are going to another rescue and the Lhasa Apso went to the breeder's in-laws. We are struggling to find help for the Basset Hound mix who has severe flea dermatitis. We pray we can get him into a rescue too.

All of the cockers were very nice when we first met them. Once removed from their home they got a bit fearful and were initially stressed in the kennels. However, as each day passed they have blossomed and are now showing their true loving personalities.

This was a huge undertaking for a private rescue and we need every donation we can get to help with vetting the dogs, altering, heartworm and flea control, and grooming. Even the smallest donations can help!

We felt we had no choice but to help these dogs so they did not end up in a shelter or with irresponsible owners, but as a result we will not be able to help any more new kids without having foster homes readily available. Will you open your heart to fostering as it truly breaks our hearts each time we have to turn away any cocker? Unfortunately providing quality care for the dogs while trying to find a permanent home for them requires money and without it dogs that we can not help often die in shelters. No rescue can help every dog but without the necessary public support our rescue efforts have become very limited and we are forced to turn away more and more dogs.

Urgent Needs

As of July 6, 2008, Charlotte Cocker Rescue is still struggling to remain open in the troubled economy with very few adoptions or donations, lack of volunteers, limited foster homes, and the job loss of one of our owners. Our rescue remains open due to the number of Cocker Spaniels becoming homeless each week and the number of wonderful Cockers we have for adoption. However, we will not be able continue helping if we can not find ongoing financial support from the public. We respect and certainly understand how the high costs of gas, food and other financial hardships is affecting everyone. Please remember even so the homeless animals are now in need more than ever as people are turning them over to the shelters, moving, or to rescues. So if there ever was a urgent need now is the time rescue such as ours need your support. Any donation from dog food to flea control, heartworms pills, gas cards, Net 10 phone cards, or monetary donations to help with vet bills can make a difference. While we are not the only Cocker rescue in the Carolinas each rescue is currently doing all that they feel they can, and anytime a rescue closes down it means more dogs will die in shelters. Please help us avoid taking drastic measures for our rescued cockers by donating, adopting, or volunteering to help our rescue thrive and allow us to continue saving these beautiful dogs.

In 2007 we spent over $36K in medical bills alone for the many homeless cockers that we rescued and our total operating expenses exceeded $45K. We took in 19 cockers with heartworms, 2 who needed major orthopedic surgery, and numerous cockers with cherry eyes, mammary tumors, kennel cough, scabies, and major dental needs. We also took in Elvis, a basset hound, who we later discovered had cancer. $3200 later we believe Elvis is cancer free but we still need funds for a final ultrasound to confirm. Without all the wonderful sponsors who donated funds, families who adopted from us, fundraisers held, and private funds from our rescue owners we would not have been able to accomplish what we did. Now we are desperate for help as we can not continue our efforts without funds coming in.

We receive frequent requests from various shelters to help cockers who have been picked up as strays or turned in by their owners for one reason or another. Sometimes these dogs are turned in because their owners can no longer care for them or can’t manage their behavioral issues but often the reasons but often the reasons are families moving and not taking their family pets or the addition of a new baby in their homes. Additionally we are contacted directly by owners who want or need to give up their cockers. These families usually don’t want their dogs to be put down in a shelter but still want to give up their pets…often due to aging owners moving to nursing homes, the death of an owner, or dogs becoming nippy with young children. Some owners will not take their dogs to the shelter no matter what but others will if they can not find a rescue or someone else to help. Many of these dogs are 5+ years old and even if they have good temperaments shelters often deem them unadoptable due to age.

These are the types of cockers who need rescue help. Everyone will jump at the young, healthy cockers but what about some of these middle age or older kids? Many of these dogs are put down in shelters because there is not enough support in NC and SC for the cocker rescues in our area to help these cocker kids. MD, VA, and OH have rescues that specialize in helping older cockers but they can only take in so many. They are sometimes able to help NC and SC cockers but remember there are many dogs in their own areas who need their help as well.

Charlotte Cocker Rescue is committed to providing the best possible care for the cocker spaniels that we rescue. However, the cost of their medical and custodial care can be enormous. More and more dogs are abandoned with serious medical issues. Most dogs come to us with little or no known vet care because they come from shelters and were picked up as strays. They almost all need two sets of vaccines – an initial set and boosters 3 weeks later - as well as heartworm testing, fecal exams, worming, and grooming. Then of course there is heartworm preventative, fleas control, food, treats, etc. If the dog is fortunate enough to have no medical problems we still will have spent approximately $250 by the end of the first month the dog is in rescue. Most dogs are with us for 2 – 3 months or more which means additional costs for food, heartworm and flea control. Even something minor and common like an ear infection adds to the cost of care. So our adoption fee barely covers the cost for the average dog who needs only routine care for a short period of time. Anything extra – heartworm treatment, tumor removal, cherry eye repair, dentals, or whatever - really requires donations from sponsors. Of course we occasionally receive dogs who are up to date on most of their vet care but these dogs are the exception, not the rule. If they do get adopted quickly then the “profit” from their adoption fees is only enough to cover something small, such as a single cherry eye repair.

Even if you cannot adopt or foster one of our current adoptable cocker spaniels please consider making a donation. Charlotte Cocker Rescue of NC is in the process of obtaining our 501(c)(3) non-profit status but all donations are still tax deductible. Please help us to continue helping the many homeless cocker spaniels with your donations by sending a check directly to: Charlotte Cocker Rescue of NC, PO Box 1050 Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Kennel needs

Home Depot gift cards are needed as we need panels to replace some of the sheetrock, new doors to help keep the kennels calmer etc. Wall board panels can also be bought much cheaper via Stanley Salvage in Monroe if anyone is willing to purchase and deliver to us.

Wish List

The food bill is very costly for rescue so go to our 'More Ways to Help' page and buy some food from Dog Rules, and Pedigree will match the coupons; Flea control over the counter Hartz from Wal-Mart for dogs up to 30 lbs, and 31 pounds up in packs of 3 at $5.00. Frontline is the preferred flea control but is more expensive so we are forced to purchase it only for older dogs or dogs with sensitive systems. Also if your vet would sell you extra heartworm prevention - Tri Heart 26 pounds and over. We need several Oster #10 grooming blades as they dull after a while but can be resharpened. These can be bought through Foster and Smith or Pet Edge catalogs cheaper than Petsmart. We also need some new vinyl crates, towels, blankets etc. for the dogs as well. Collars 10"-14" only for the cockers - prefer plain solid collars. Office Supplies such as white paper, toner, stamps, Net 10 cell phone cards, gas cards, or just gift cards. Everything helps rescue.