SHOREWOOD COCKER NEWS  

Shorewood Cocker Rescue, Inc.                                                                                       Volume 2, Issue 2  (July 2002)

ARTICLES

Chloe's Adoption
DogFest 2002
Meet Kathy & Bob

Rescue Apparel
Recent Adoptions

ARCHIVES

2002
Vol 2, February

2001
Vol 1, Issue 3

FOSTER FAMILIES NEEDED 

Find Out How You Can Help

By Carole Kohler

The need:

Every day we receive requests to "rehome" cockers. These requests come from families who cannot keep their dogs anymore, from caring people who have found a cocker on the roadside, and, overwhelmingly, from shelters  throughout the upper Midwest. So we have a constant, desperate need for reliable, caring homes for our dogs to go to until they are ready to be adopted.

Many cockers coming from a shelter  need a great deal of love, medical care, and attention before they are ready to be adopted into a family. We rely on our foster families to provide this care.

What we are doing about it:

We are actively recruiting foster homes, advertising dogs and collecting applications for adoption.  We screen the applications, seeking that perfect match and then do the reference checks and home visit to be sure we know as much as we can about the family and their compatibility with a particular cocker.

What you can do to help:

• Long-term fostering (1-3 months) is our greatest need.
• Short-term fostering (1 day - 2 weeks) is also a great need. Many people find it rewarding to be a 'quarantine home' for a new dog, or an 'evaluator' for dogs we have just met.
• Transporter - help take dogs between the vet and their foster homes, pick up dogs for adoption events, or pick up dogs from shelters.
• Recruit other foster homes and volunteers. 

Your role as a foster:

• Provide a safe and nurturing environment for your foster dog.
• Provide food and routine care (bathing, ear cleaning, brushing, etc.) for your foster dog.
• Have your foster available for important rescue events or for placement when the Director makes a match. If you are going to be unavailable, particularly on a Saturday, keep the Director informed so if need be, other arrangements can be made to get your foster when needed
• Communicate with the Director about your foster dog to help facilitate a good match.
• Many foster families provide toys and treats for their foster dog(s), but these can also be provided by the rescue.

Support received from SCR, Inc:

• All medical treatment and care.
• Routine flea and heartworm preventative medications.
• Information and support.
• Backup fostering or boarding for vacations, family emergencies, and other situations.
• Transport to and from the vet and adoption events if necessary.

How to become a foster:

• Fill out the Foster Application Form on the website.
• An SCR, Inc. representative will contact you to arrange a homevisit.
• If approved, we will immediately begin working on finding a suitable foster dog for your household.
• You will be asked to sign our Foster Home Agreement outlining the foster responsibilities and procedures.

What if you can't bear to give your foster up:

One of the greatest joys of fostering is the day when your foster dog goes to his or her forever home. There is nothing to match the feeling of getting your first Christmas card from a family who adopted one of "your babies" - with the dog in the center of the family photograph.

But sometimes after you have fostered a dog for a while, you come to hope that he has already found his forever home - and that it is your home! While we love to see foster dogs move into new homes, we know that sometimes a dog never leaves his foster home - it has happened to us all at one time or another.   While it is hard to lose a good and much needed foster home, if your foster has been with you more than three months, you will have the option to adopt him, if that is your choice.

Do you get to choose a foster dog:

We will work with you to place a foster suitable to your home and family situation. We will guide you through introducing the new dog to your family and your present pets. If there is a problem, we are there to back you up.    If a problem with a foster dog can't be resolved, we can try again with another dog or try again at some later date.

How long does a dog stay in a foster home?

The length of the foster period varies greatly. Some dogs stay in foster care for only a week or so before they are ready to be adopted into a family. Some dogs need more time and attention either physically or psychologically or both, and some dogs just take a while to 'click' with the perfect adopter. The typical foster period is 1-3 months. You are never required to complete a single foster period, however - if you find your availability to foster is growing short, we will find another foster home.

Important note:

Settling even the most equable of dogs into a new home takes time, patience, and a structured environment. Our foster homes rely on crate training (kenneling the dog in an indoor kennel, often called a 'crate') to provide the dogs with essential 'quiet time' and to make housetraining easier. We have found that our dogs settle into their new homes easier if they have the security of a crate. We therefore now REQUIRE all foster families have a crate in their home when their new cocker arrives. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A CRATE as well as advice on housetraining and crate training. 

Questions about fostering? Call Elaine at 262-877-3294 or email Program Director Carole Kohler at Carole@cockerrescue.net.  Please do not call if your question can be answered by email. 

CHLOE'S FINDS HER FOREVER HOME

By Elaine Baumann

Chloe had been with us seven  months now.   This is a long time for a dog to be in rescue.  It was time for Chloe to move on.    Chloe needed a home of her own.  We had inquires about Chloe’s condition, but never a serious request to adopt her.  In my position at the Humane Society, I have seen wonderful healthy animals discarded because they got too big, dug up the garden, kids were gone so there was no need to keep them,  too much trouble to take care of, dog was older and they wanted a puppy and the list goes on and on.  These dogs had no physical limitations and they were still homeless.  Although Chloe has made tremendous progress, she does not walk or run normally and may have an accident or two in the house. 

We at Shorewood have been blessed with some wonderful adopters.  We have had people open their hearts to dogs such as Benny who has one eye, Corky and Sammie were are deaf, Sarah who has serious allergies and eye problems and Max and Winnie who are in their golden years.  These people all know the joy that these dogs can bring. Their love is unconditional.  They do not let their flaws or our flaws stand in their way. I wondered if there was someone out there who would realize all that Chloe had to offer and give her a chance.  

That was when I realized that person was out there. It was me. I had come to love her quirky little walk. I would watch in amazement when in our evening games Chloe would be first to get the ball when we threw it.  You see, Chloe does not know she is handicapped.  She has learned how to climb the four stairs to enter our house.  She has also learned how to sneak down the basement stairs behind me knowing that I will have to carry her back up.  Chloe now has her forever home.  She improves daily and the day may come where she has 100% of her mobility back.  If that day does not come that is O.K. too.  She is not complaining and neither am I.

DOG FEST 2002 HIGHLIGHTS

Click on Upcoming Events for a list of scheduled rescue events.

Arista, adopted in May 2002, also stopped by with her new mom Jean.  

Rescue volunteer Lynette cuddles with Baxter, one of our adoptable cockers, during a lull in the day.

Sammy and Tazwell patiently wait their turn in line for the Adoptable Dog Parade. 

Adoptable cockers and volunteers mingle in front of the booth with DogFest attendees.

Molly, adopted in March 2002, stopped by the booth to say hi with her new mom and dad. 

Benji, adopted in September 2001, visited with his mom Nancy who drove in from Chicago to attend the event.

MEET SHOREWOOD VOLUNTEERS

Kathy & Bob

Bob and I do placement visits, foster 1 or more rescue dogs at our home, take phone calls from potential adopters with questions, and work at rescue events in the Madison area.  We're currently fostering Tazwell and Sundance for the rescue.

We currently have one English Cocker, Chester (7 years old); three American Cockers, Joe (11) and Jake (5), and Sparky (2); and one Spring Spaniel Mix, Hershey (3).

All were adopted through humane societies or rescue except for Joe.  We also have an Arabian gelding named Chevelle, a Paint mare named Whiskey, and a backyard pond with 2 fish and 5 frogs.  We all live together on a small farm in Oregon."

     RESCUE APPAREL AVAILABLE

 Order Your Own T-shirt or Sweatshirt!

•       T-shirts are $10.00 each
•       Sweatshirts are $20.00 each

Shipping is $3.95 extra.  If interested, please email Carole at carole@cockerrescue.net.

T-shirts featuring the Shorewood Cocker Rescue logo and web site are now available for order. You can choose from mustard yellow, light blue, coral, mint, purple, or country lite blue - all with black text in Medium, Large or X-Large.  Sweatshirts are available in blue or mustard yellow and are very generously sized.  The t-shirts are more true to size. 

 Also, the t-shirts and sweatshirts will generally be available for purchase at our rescue events. This is a good way to meet some of our volunteers and adoptable dogs and avoid the shipping fee. :-)

RECENT ADOPTIONS

Lucy & Lilly

“Thank you so much for all of your hard work and effort and for bringing Lucy and Lilly to me. They are so very, very sweet, and most of the time, pretty good girls (all of us have our bad moments!). You've made all 3 of us very happy. 

Lucy is less timid than she was, and doesn't take any nonsense from Lilly anymore, although she still cowers a bit at loud noises or when I say "no" to something. I will send pictures within 2 weeks. Thank you again for your miracle work!”

Gary aka Gunther

Gunther is better than we could have imagined he would be. We sometimes wonder about his first family. He is such a wonderful dog, they must miss him. Our daughter formed a team of her friends and are participating in the humane society walk-a-thon to raise money for the shelter… Well, I just want you to know Gunther has made our family complete. Also, he has graduated, he no longer is required to go in his kennel.  

That's how good of a boy he is!!!  We’re still not sure where he sleeps at night. We think probably on the couch with Gizmo, but as soon as he hears us stirring in the morning he is waiting for us by the gate with his tail wagging at mock speed...”