RESCUE

Rescue Poem click here There is probably not a subject more controversial among dog breeders than rescue. Unfortunately, there are a lot more breeders who produce cocker spaniels than those that rescue them. And we all justify our uninvolvement in the most inventive ways! "I have new puppies." "I'm just too busy with my job and family." "I take responsibility for dogs I produced, why should I help the puppy mill dogs?" "Local ordinances won't allow me to rescue dogs." . . . and the list goes on. While these ARE all viable arguments, the reality is that if you have time to produce a single litter in a year, then there is no excuse to NOT help ONE cocker spaniel in need. Rescue is NOT synonomous with "foster". "Rescue" means consulting with an unhappy dog owner on the phone, who thinks the last resort for their un-house-broken cocker is to get rid of it. Guess what? YOU just might be able to talk that owner in trying a new training method! "Rescue" means advising the owner of the 15 year old dog to do the kind thing and euthanize their family pet instead of dumping him into a strange, scary environment where he'll be euthanized anyway. "Rescue" means spending a Saturday at the adoption fair holding a cocker spaniel and educating potential owners about the breed. "Rescue" means going to the local shelter and grooming a cocker for adoption. "Rescue" means helping the local rescue group raise funds via a fun match, auction, raffle, etc. "Rescue" means SO MUCH MORE than just fostering a dog! So breeders, look to your hearts and help a cocker spaniel. Get involved in rescue. Your efforts, no matter how small, DO make a difference. My Rescue Philosophy - Becki Buss, ASC Rescue Chairman ASC Foundation ascf_rescue@hotmail.com http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org Upon my initial involvement with rescue, I wanted to "save the world", thinking that every cocker spaniel coming into a shelter or turned in directly deserved to be fostered and placed. Within a couple of weeks, the sheer volume alone taught me that we must be more discriminating on what dogs we actually take in and try to help. It's unfortunate, it's "playing God", but it's a simple reality. I believe that incoming dogs should be screened for the following (not ranked in any particular order): * Good temperament (biters, regardless of justification, should not be placed. PERIOD!. The liability is just too great a risk.) * Breed Type - this sounds snobby, but it is much easier to place a cocker that is typical in appearance (and SIZE) to the standard than the typical 30-40 pounder. This also eliminates those of questionable parentage (how many so-called purebreds really look like a golden/cocker mix???) * Health - Tapes, hooks, giardia, coccidiosis, etc., are easy to treat. Heartworm is costly but justified IN SOME CASES (this does NOT mean that the 6 year old 40 lb cocker should be treated!). Cataracts, dysplasia, and chronic disease is not justifiable in my book. Age - This is a heartbreaker but the reality is that we can place young dogs, not old dogs. Perhaps if each of US kept ONE geriatric rescue (as permanent home), then we could help ease their last days, but I don't anticipate that happening. In a nutshell, the consumer is not truly dealing with "Cocker Rescue" - they are dealing with "ME", the individual. Therefore, I have to feel as comfortable with the health and temperament of any rescue dog I place as I would one that I bred. I also have to feel as good about the prospective home for that rescue dog as I would a home for one of my pups. As a result, I had very few dogs come back into the rescue network. Also, I've had several adopters come back in the past couple of years looking for a replacement since their rescue dog has passed on. What role do I see ASC National Rescue providing? Hhhhmmmm, that's a tough one. I've been looking into other national clubs as well as polled some of our members. Some of the National clubs act as a sort of clearing house - for example, the Irish Setter Club of America actually posts all available dogs on their web page. This is a great idea, but I don't see the reality considering the volumes of cockers. Vizsla Club of America has actually funded the shipping of dogs from a "puppy mill raid" situation to various fosters around the country, who in turn vetted the dogs and placed them. VCA did not receive reimbursement for the shipping from the adoption fees. Again, with the quantity of cockers involved in puppy mills, I don't think this is a feasible option for the parent club either. Although I feel that the parent club could help offset financial burdens resulting from a natural disaster (as we've done in the past - I'd like it to be more structured with requests for funds channeling through the Rescue Committee). It is important that the Rescue Committee be granted an annual budget, with permission from the board to dispense those funds, primarily as a loan during non-emergency situations. In turn, I would like to establish concise guidelines for our members to understand exactly what we will provide funding assistance for and what we will not, as well as reimbursement expectations. The national Rescue Committee should coordinate a network throughout the country and each zone director should be aware of who is rescuing in their zone, and the statistics. The national Rescue Committee should be the repository of demographic information from around the country: how many cockers in, out, euthanized, location, ages, sex, etc. This information is invaluable to us, not only for our rescue records, but for our legislative efforts also. Additionally, our role should be one of support - here to bolster morale, answer questions and advise on difficult situations, and provide guidelines and other paperwork that a new rescue group needs. The national statistics compiled from the various groups, as well as a financial statement should be distributed to the membership on an annual basis.