a non profit 501(c)(3) organization
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This page is a tribute to our Cocker Pals who have moved on to Rainbow Bridge.
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I adopted Spencer from Cocker Pals Rescue 8/7/02. Adopting Spencer brought many wonderful changes in my life. Not only did I adopt this wonderful little boy, I also made wonderful friends in the cocker rescue world and adopted 3 more beautiful cocker girls.
He was a sweet, shy boy who had a quiet, yet strong presence about him. There was something magical about Spencer and even those who never personally met him, loved him.
Spencer was diagnosed with Lymphoma 2/6/03 and he faught a courageous battle against this disease until 5/10/04 when he went to Rainbow Bridge. He has a tribute website Spencer.
Spencer, my beautiful boy, you will always be loved and we miss you. Dar ( Mommy)
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On August 22, 1995 I went to the Castletop's Kennel to see some buff puppies that were just 5 weeks old. I was leaning over the crate watching the puppies with their mother, when Zoë, the breeder, started to talk and I heard her say, "I have two black puppies that are ready to go now if you want to look at them too." I turned around just in time for this wonderful black fur ball to be placed in my arms. I never looked back at the buff puppies and never let go of this black puppy that crawled deep into my heart that day. It was one of the most important days in my whole life. Ebony was diagnosed with cancer on Monday November 29th and died in my arms on Thursday morning December 2. She was 9 1/2 years old. I have never had the blessing of being a mom and many will be insulted when I try and compare a child with a dog, but, I know in my heart that Ebony was the baby I never had. She, more than anything else, taught me what unconditional love was. I know that I am capable of being an unselfish person because of her. I also know that one of the best things I ever did with my life was to be Ebony's Mom. |
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> Hamilton( Hammy to his friends) was dumped in the shelter ,at age 16, after his Mom could no longer take care of him. We knew we wouldn't have much time with him but it was a joy to have him here. Hammy was a dignified old guy without much hearing or sight left but he always barked when he wanted to know where I was and always seemed to find me. Joan
Hamilton went peacefully to the Rainbow Bridge on 7/22/04.
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I adopted Haley just about a year ago to a wonderful woman on Long Island. She called me today, August 3, 2004, to tell me Haley passed away today from Lymphoma. It was three weeks from start to finish.
Haley was a very sweet girl who was about nine years old- her Mom misses her very much.
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Goldie 11/30/1990 - 12/20/2002 "Goldie came to us from Cocker Pals in Feb, 2002 at 12 years of age. Her owners had taken her
to the groomers and were going to then take her to the shelter, as they were moving to Florida
and were not taking her with them. The groomer kept her and contacted Joan, knowing Goldie
would be euthanized if she were taken to the shelter.
She was totally deaf, and quite independent, a pretty feisty old gal. She managed to drag a pan
of brownies off the ktichen table and we stopped her from devouring them just in time, and she
got into the Easter candy and had a bit of a feast with that also. Not much seemed to slow her
down until the end. She passed peacefully to the Bridge in my arms, here at the house, surrounded
by Emma, Mitzy, Buffy and Bob and I, and not in some shelter. She was my first senior to pass to the
Bridge, and I wish all of them could go the way she did." Kath
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Buffy 6/3/1989 - 2/2004 " Buffy was turned into the shelter by her family, at age 13, after thier father/husband died. She had been his dog. She was in foster care for a while that didn't work out for her, one of the other dogs had issues with her, so although her foster mom loved her very much, she was sent to Joan at Cocker Pals Rescue. She came to us as an early Christmas present in late November. She attached herself to Bob immediately, and was his baby. She would sit in the middle of the floor and cry if he went outside to take out the trash and she couldn't find him. She was a wonderful, sweet gentle little girl who did not deserve what happened to her. She was with us about a year and half,and at almost 15 years old, went to the Bridge, where I am sure she is with her original owner."Kath |
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Mitzy 1/1/1994 - 6/10/2004 "Mitzy was a stray, so we are not sure of her exact birthdate.
She was my first foster, a petite funny little girl. I was the one
who wanted to foster, and when we got her, she fell in love with Bob.
She was with us almost three years. She loved her tennis balls, and
while she was here, all the balls belonged to her. I have many pictures
of her sleeping with a ball tucked under her chin or between her front paws.
She always had a stash in her bed.When she came to us, she would very
daintily give you her paw for a treat. Each of my dogs has learned how to
do this now, a piece of her that will be with us always. She made us giggle
almost every day, how do you capture these little souls with words? You can't,
but they all deserve to be remembered, and I am so grateful to Joan and
Cocker Pals Rescue for the opportunity to have them be part of our lives." Kath
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Midnight 12/31/89 - 10/13/2003 "Midnight was the most loyal, devoted and constant companion I could ever have hoped for. He NEVER let me down. He was my best friend. I loved playing ball with him everyday, going for rides in the car, for ice cream, sharing pizza and mostly just cuddling up on the couch,and when we went to sleep and even in the car, his chin was always in my lap. Where I was, he was and my hands were always caressing him. I will never be the same without you my darling, onliest, best love." Karima |
Max was rescued from a shelter at the age of 13 where he was dumped after his Mom went into a nursing home.
Max was a gentle soul whose favorite thing was eating. He would race the younger dogs down the hall to be first in line for his "nite-nite" biscuit.
Max went to Rainbow Bridge on 5/11/04 at the age of 16. He was loved and is dearly missed. Joan
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Scooter went to the Bridge on 12/3/04. Scooter came into my life as a temp foster for FOC. The minute I saw this sweet, frightened girl get off the plane, I hoped she wouldn't leave. She was the sweetest, most gentle girl who loved to cuddle with me and charmed everyone who met her. Scooter came from a Ohio shelter and had lost her home went her Mom passed away. We think she was around 12. Rest in Peace my sweet girl. You were loved. Scooter's Mom, Joan. |
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A Celebration of Maggie..... Maggie, you were fully and completely yourself. I’ve never heard of a dog who insisted on drinking your water from a glass …never made sense since it had to be difficult to drink with your snout in a glass but that never stopped you! And what I would give to play another round of “Trade”…you took that little game between us to new heights…what started out as a simple way to get you to give up a piece of cellophane in “trade” for a milkbone turned into your active search for anything, an oak leaf, a twig, whatever you could find that you might “trade” for a treat. In your honor and as your legacy, I will try my best to provide a home to dogs who need a good home because I was so privileged to have you for 13 ½ years. We were inseparable. I know that your spirit survives and that I will one day see you again because the Bible teaches we are made in the image of God and just as I would not let your great spirit end, He would not either if we are truly made in His image. So run for all you are worth my little puppy, save a milkbone to share…we will meet again! ....... Lorrie (Maggie's Mom)
Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Luke 12:6.
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Farewell to Bubba...2/10/05 Bubba was at least 9 years old, possibly 12 when two rescuers pulled him from a home in Washington DC when they went to collect another dog. They found Bubba there too, totally bald from mange. Bubba came to us as a foster in Feb 2001. He "adopted us" the following August. During his 4-year tenure here, he went to schools and scout meetings as a rescue ambassador. He "talked" to the Pet Psychic. We weren't entertaining enough to make it on tv, but we had fun. He helped the foster dogs feel welcome and safe.
Bubba was my quiet dog, my classy one. The 4 noise makers are all still here, but our home feels very empty without him. We miss him.....Kathi.
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Tan-and-white Buddy was my heart dog. He came from a pet store and before that a puppy mill. I didn't know any better 17+ years ago. He "owned" us for more than 14 years and we still miss him. Buff Checkmate was my first rescue. He has a tribute website Checkmate. He was 11 when we adopted him. He died 11 months later of kidney failure. Checkmate opened my eyes to rescue and the horrors of our disposable society.
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It is with deep regret that I write to inform you that Brandy passed on last week (May 2005). She was recently diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her spleen and possibly cancer in her lungs. We made sure she did not suffer. We enjoyed every minute she was with us. She was one of the best dogs we ever had and probably the smartest. Thank you again for providing us with the opportunity to have Brandy with us, even if it was for just a short time. We will miss her terribly. Ellen |
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In Memory of Joan's Katie June 2, 2005
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In Memory of Joan's Rasta June 2005 |
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My sweetest boy, Sandy, went to the bridge June 24th 2005. Sandy would have celebrated
his 14th birthday September 26th. Sandy was and will always be my best boy. Everything he
did brought a smile to my face. He made friends with everyone he met. I love him and miss him so much. Colleen
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Freckles went to the bridge on May 6th 2001. He was 9 at the time. He was my silly boy who came from a New Jersey Shelter when he was 2. I will always remember him as my baby who made me laugh the hardest. Colleen |
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The county dog control called, asking if we were interested in a cocker thought to be at least ten, with cataracts. Another animal control officer questioned if it would be best to reserve our resources for a younger, more adoptable dog. I thought about it for only a day, knowing that he would not be adopted from dog control in the week or two he had left before being handed a death sentence. I couldn't leave him there, knowing that if I didn't pull him for rescue, he would soon die as another nameless stray, spending his last few weeks on the concrete floor of a cage in a pound. As an older cocker going blind, I knew he may never be adopted from the rescue group either, but I just knew I had to bring him home. With help from friends he was named Ashton. He was in rather good condition for having been wandering as a stray. He was neutered, housebroken, knew his commands, how to speak for a treat, and how to beg for human food. He loved playing fetch, chewing rawhides and playing tug-of-war with the other dogs, and most of all, loved snuggling with me. I found him to be the most sweet natured, well behaved dog I'd had yet. How his previous owner couldn't have found this sweet lost darling, I can't understand. Ashton went to his first vet visit that week. Good news: he felt Ashton was as young as 6 or 7, though difficult to estimate due to his juvenile cataracts. Fundraising ideas for cataract surgery had been running through my mind, and it seemed all the more feasible now he was deemed a younger age. Within moments this hope was dashed to pieces when the vet said "Uh-oh." Ashton had enlarged lymph nodes and a mass in his spleen, pointing to lymphoma, and confirmed by biopsy. Chemotherapy, costly and with side effects, would buy a few extra months, in a few cases maybe a year, rarely longer. We put Ashton on Prednisone and took him home. He was now officially our dog, not a foster for the rescue group. I bought him his own ID tag with his name to replace the tag with the rescue group name. The vet said he probably had two to three-months. Ashton went to Rainbow Bridge 2/21/06, exactly 16-weeks after his diagnosis. He lost most of his sight by the last month, but adjusted well as most blind dogs do, only banging into things when he was really excited and ran full speed through the house. When he still had his sight, all I had to do was look at him and his entire body would wiggle. Once his sight was almost gone, I only had to say his name to invoke wiggles. He had the most expressive eyes that spoke volumes to me. I felt I could look into his eyes and see the special soul within. For the last four months of his life we spoiled him as much as possible; he slept on a soft, warm bed, had Christmas with gifts, and all the treats he wanted. We were lucky that he did so well, literally right up until his last two-days, when the time to let him go in peace was suddenly here. It was as if he gave to us every last ounce, breath, and heartbeat that he possibly could. I will never regret the decision to bring him home and would do it again without hesitation. We were blessed to have Ashton in our lives, as brief as it was. He was a special angel sent to be with us for a reason. Such a sweet soul could never be forgotten.
With love, to my precious Ashton, from your Mommy (Kim)
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It is with profound emotion and sadness that I inform you all of the passing of my dear cocker spaniel, Buddy who was helped to the Bridge on October 8, 2005. Buddy came into my life as a rescue when someone posted his picture on the Internet. He was in a shelter in Ohio and his picture screamed out to me "SAVE ME" Of all the pictures I have looked at this little cocker boy moved me greatly. With the help of Wally, of the Cocker Rescue, Buddy (who had been called "The Red Baron") came to South Florida where he enjoyed 8 more good years of life. He was a marvelous friend, loyal and devoted to me. He came with his "Bink" which was a stuffed octopus that over the years lost its squeeking ability and which I sewed many times as it was his favorite toy. That is how he got his "official" name Bud E. Bink or we used to call him "The Binky Buddy". Buddy, was a gentle giant and a valued addition to our family. At the end, his hind end went out. He was deaf, blind and probably around 15-16 years old. It was time to help him to the Bridge which was the only choice. I kept him in our lives as long as I could and know I could do no more for him and let him go because on Friday night I saw him start to suffer. The decision was made and Buddy is now with my other animals, his companion Princess, a wonderful and lovingly sweet cocker spaniel, who went about a year ago, Angel, my favorite horse, Caesar, my jumper, Lady Starbright, my mare, Buttons my childhood cocker spaniel, Ms. Plum a very unique Averill Spaniel, and various other animals I have loved who owned me over the years. I will add some pictures to the emails so we can remember Buddy in his happy and healthy days. I know I am sad, emotional and crying. I miss him. My Buddy has definately left a footprint in my heart and soul. Someday, another will reach out to me and we will provide a loving home for a cast off dog that an irresponsible owner has decided doesn't fit their lifestyle any longer. Please think of Buddy today and hope he is at the Rainbow Bridge, young, healthy and happy again waiting..... Nonnie, Charlie, The Punk & Darla |
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Sassy was my baby given to me by my sister because she couldn't keep her anymore.
Sassy was possessive of her and would bite her son when he got too close to her (my sister).
Sassy lived up to her name but was a loving companion to me. She went to the bridge June 10th 2002 at age 9.
Colleen
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Hope had quite a journey before she finally came to live with us. Her owners moved and left her to die. She had several health problems, two cysts, nails grown into her pads, hair loss. She weighed 13 pounds when rescue found her. Rescue cleaned her, bathed her, clipped her, she ballooned to 35 pounds, lots of water gain. She came to Cocker Pals with the HOPE they could diagnose her, and get her back on the road to good health. She was diagnosed with Protein Losing Nephrapathy, a kidney disorder in which the body does not process protein. She was put on a special diet, the cysts taken care of, and she was ready to come to us. I had fallen in love with that sweet little face the first time I saw her picture. She lost the water on the special diet, and remained a trim twenty pounds the last three and half years. She never saw a lap she didn't love. She needed to be on a lap, any lap. She was never fussy about that, if you were sitting, there she was whether you invited her or not. She was a happy and healthy little girl until the last six weeks of her life. She suffered a series of vestibular events, each one progressively worse. Until the very last day she remained my happy sweet little stink pot... Now there is something missing in our lives, a little girl who was always under foot, on your lap, needing attention. She was only with us for a short 3 1/2 years, but she leaves a very definite emptiness in our lives. She was not abandoned here, we loved her til the end, and I held her as we sent her to the Bridge (August 5, 2006) with all our love. |
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Missy came to Cocker Pals Rescue with Mammary cancer. For 2 short weeks she knew love and a warm home
with Cocker Pals Rescue. Missy went to Rainbow Bridge on September 1, 2006.
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