Can anyone help this Cocker Spaniel (pic)

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

Yesterday I took in this stray Cocker, he was totally matted, muddy and covered in burrs and little sharp twigs. He is probably about 10 pounds underweight and looks to be about 12 to 14 years old. He has either been neglected as an outdoor dog or has been lost for a long time. He is housebroken and is very sweet. I flea/tick bathed him and cut out all the matts and "stuff" in his fur. He has a temporary home in my garage, but I can't keep him and need desperately to either find him a home or get him into rescue/foster care. I have contacted Cocker Rescue and they are trying to help, I have also emailed the rescue I have worked for too. However, If anyone could find it in their heart to take in this poor senior Cocker (who's name is now "Basil"), please contact me immediately via this forum or by email. Please feel free to cross post this to any "possibilities." Thanks very much.

email: WeLoveLittleDogs@msn.com

[k9Karen]

Poor little fellow!

I'm afraid I can't help, but have you checked your local paper for a lost Cocker (especially back issues if you think he's been gone awhile) in the "Lost and Found" section? How about calling the 'pound' to see if anyone is looking for same lost dog? My brother's Cocker wandered out of the yard (somehow got under the fence) a few years ago, and he called Animal Control to see if he had been picked up. The dog wasn't there, but someone found him later on, and called the 'pound', who immediately called my brother. His dog (at the time about 15 years old) had wandered almost 5 miles from home and crossed two major 6-lane highways. It was a miracle that he was still alive after all that! The 'pound' called my brother as soon as they received the call about the 'found Cocker'. The dog was down in a drainage ditch, completely out of 'gas, and probably would have died there if someone hadn't seen him. He lived another 3 years, so, it obviously wasn't his time yet.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

Yes, I have called every vet office within a 10 mile radius, I call the local shelter, I have put up posters around the area and posted him on every lost and found web site on the internet I could find. Everyone I have talked to here involved in rescue said they all think he was dumped. Aparently the dumping of unloved pets is a HUGE problem here in Tennessee, which I don't understand even a little bit. I have never lived in a country where pets are thought of as so disposable. Every rescue I talk to is overflowing, the shelters are packed and euthing tons of dogs everyday. It is disgusting what people to their pets here.

I did have Basil at the vet yesterday for a burr that I could not get out of his paw and it was causing him a lot of pain. The vet said she thinks he's about 10 - 11 years old. He is a very sweet and gentle dog and loves to run and play. I sure hope I can get him somewhere to go soon or I am going to have to take him to the shelter as a last resort and I can't stand to do it because I know what they will do with him. As the weather gets warmer here, he's running out of time.

[Traci]

Did you try petfinder.org.....and have you asked your local humane society if they have a website you can post his info to?

Unfortunately, what you describe happens all over the country, it's not just TN.

[k9Karen]

I figured you'd already tried to find his owners, but wanted to ask to be sure. If my brother's Cocker is normal, this dog could easily live at least another 5 years, and probably more. It would be a shame to have to put him down. I guess there are no 'no kill' shelters near you.

I said I couldn't help, but I just realized that I can email the folks at Sheltie Rescue where I found Angel. Maybe they have some contacts who have contacts near you. It's worth a shot, anyway.

Addendum = sent email at 4:50 pm - wishing you the best of luck and hope something good happens for this little guy.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help. I have left his description with all the vets and shelter too, just in case someone looks for him, but no one had reported him missing at all. There is a no-kill shelter in Nashville, I called them and there is an EIGHT week wait to get a dog in there. And, as we all know - no shelter is really no-kill. It's up to me to place this fellow and I'm willing to do what ever I have to because I don't know if I could live with myslef if I ended up having to take him to the shelter after everything we have tried to do for him.

He is posted on Petfinder under lost and found and also under rescue. The rescue group I fostered for will put him on their web site too, but I don't have much time to wait for him to be adopted.

[k9Karen]

I received a response from April (Sheltie rescue). She forwarded my email with the link to your post to someone she knew with Cocker rescue in Georgia. Hope something good comes of it. Hang in there - apparently, you're all this little guy has.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

Hi folks, I'm still trying to get my poor Cocker into rescue/foster care. He is getting so unhappy in my garage. I tried to make him a dog run with my ex-pens yesterday and it worked until he figured out he could jump over them. I thought I did have a person who wanted him, but they stopped returning my emails and would not give their phone number, so I can only assume they have changed their minds or there was something funny going on.

He is starting to bark like crazy in the garage now because he is getting very unhappy. He just wants to be with people. If anyone can think of anything or anyone who can help this guy, please let me know.

[Nancy (Spuddie' s Mum)]

I just thought I would throw an update on this post. Several days ago Basil was adopted by a lady my vet told me about. She is an older woman who is single and she was looking for a companion. She and Basil seemed to hit of right off. The sad thing is, I think he will alway miss his "real" family because of his age.

[TheSkeptic]

I have been following this closely, but haven't posted because there was nothing I could do. Glad to hear he was adopted and is going to a good home. In time he will blossom I think. Dogs are more resilient than many realize. It amazes me all the time how they will continue to be trusting and loving after much cruelty and bad treatment. ...