Ebony

Can it only have been seven days? Ebony came to us just seven days ago fresh out of the grooming parlor that some generous OBG volunteers paid for out of their own pockets. Kathi Alexander met us at PetsMart/Germantown to transfer her to our home. We read the plea for a home for 15-year-old Ebony just the night before and knew that our home had room for her. Her surrender papers gave as the reason for her family turning her into to the animal shelter as her being too old. She was so matted when she came in that Kathi said the doctor could not look into her ears. She had cherry eye in one eye , is deaf and is infected with hook worms and whip worms.

When we first got her home and introduced her to the gang, four cockers of our own and our foster Sarah, she did not look at us and turned away when we paid attention to her. She was dull and depressed and seemed to say, What now?

In just seven days her eyes have brightened with the cherry eye reduced considerably. Her eye sight is quite good, demonstrated by her spotting our cat on the counter as she made her way to the top of the frig and starting to bark quite excitedly. She looks us in the face with a hopeful expression. It seems to say, I hope you will be nice to me. It seems like you are nice. She has started letting her personality show, too. For instance, she is now selecting some of the more choice spots to sleep in our TV room. She is curled up on my flannel comforter, which I had laid aside temporarily on the tuffet that is located between our recliners. Next to our laps, which are the most desirable place to sleep, the tuffet comes in second.

She had to be encouraged to eat at first but now is eating much more eagerly. She is also enjoying the nightly bed time treat that the rest of the gang tries breaking their necks with excitement over. Even blind Precious eagerly gets into position so that the treats can be passed out in pack hierarchy, with her place being number 3. Ebony is number 6, but that doesnt matter to her yet. She is still getting used to not going to bed in the TV room but moving to the bedroom for that, finally settling down for the night.

She is still getting use to being walked three times a day. Her body is not used to the exercise. But we have seen the good effects this has had on Champi, who is 13 and came to us overweight, arthritic with bad knees, deaf and blind in one eye. He trots through the house, up and down the stairs, always with a jolly little smile on his face. He has lost the weight and looks quite trim despite the assorted tumors located on his body. He has body aches, too, but takes daily medication for them and loves trotting around on the walks with the other dogs. David can walk five at a time, and that is with retractable leashes. You would think that a man who can do that could juggle, but he hasn't mastered that yet. It will be only a matter of time before Ebony, too, will be trotting happily along on the walks. She has changed so much in just seven days. We are looking forward to seven weeks, and then seven months, and if we are lucky we will have her with us this time next year.

Thank you to all that have helped Ebony be rescued from her death sentence and bring her to her forever home with us. We will keep you posted on her progress.

Happy Holidays,

Ruthie and David W

My name is “ALEX” & I was adopted on April 7, 2001 in Springfield ,VA. -- I am one of the very luckiest dogs in the world. My new MOMMY & DADDY loved me from the start -- they just have this wonderful habit of kissing me all the time. You see, it’s taken me 7 yrs. to find them & thanks to my “SPECIAL FOSTER MOM DAWN”( it wasn’t even Christmas either) –- that I found them. I’ve already taken a trip to South Carolina to see my mom’s daughter who marveled at my athletic capabilities & attention to the phrase “ Get your ball ALEX BABY BOY”. My mom’s family was so nice & couldn’t believe anyone would give me up but I always knew the “BEST” was yet to come.

You see, COCKER SPANIEL RESCUE makes many lonely & sad dogs like me happy -– finally. My mommy says she thanks the LORD every day for her special “ SUNSHINE BOY”.

Well, I just wanted to drop a quick letter to all of you & let you know how very happy I am. I really don’t have much longer to write because my daddy has my chilled spring water ready & my specially seasoned dinner! with a dash of cheddar cheese, of course. Please!, thank everyone for me & bless all of our donors for creating a most “ BEAUTIFUL ENDING ”. I close this letter just after catching a few rays on my new deck -- who needs Bermuda!!