From the Chairman

Recently a neighbor requested that one of OBG's fosters curtail her care of rescued dogs. The transition period for this change is the next 5 months. This, unfortunately, puts a major kink into a wonderful, growing organization. I do so wish this had not happened, but it has.

Having said this, I do not want any person associated with OBG to think that the work of saving cockers and mixes is ova. If you happen to either read through a rescue list or if someone contacts you concerning our foster problem; let them know we are still saving lives and having adoption shows. The Board of Directors also is looking into options. At least we have a little time to come up with a solution. Any suggestions you can make will be most gratefully appreciated. Many heads are better than a few.

In the meantime, we will continue to have at least 2 shows a month. Our focus must be on dogs coming in from shelters where they are at most risk of being put down. We are encouraging people who want to give up their dog to hold onto them temporarily while we at least try to advertise them on our web" site. We also ask folks giving up their dogs to bring their pet to our adoption shows in hopes we can find the dog a good and safe home with a prospective adopter. As you know some people will instead opt to put their dog into a shelter environment or have the dog euthanized. We can't control what people do.

Given the circumstances we face, we can only do so much With the limited number of fosters that we have now, it will be difficult -- but OBG, Inc. will continue to save as many lives as possible and find good homes. I know you have heard me say this before, and have read it on the site and in our newsletter, but please encourage people to foster. Spread the word about our current problem and see if some of your friends could help out to temporarily foster a cocker spaniel. Each new foster helps save more cocker lives.

We need more fosters all the time, but at the moment we need them now more than ever. Please call 703-533-2373 if you can foster a rescued cocker, or contact us through our website www. cockerspanielrescue. com

Debbie Reitz,
Chairman, OBG, Inc.

OBG, Inc. Approved by the
IRS for 501(c)(3) Tax
Exempt Status

Oldies But Goodies Cocker Rescue, Inc. is pleased to announce that on Oct. 25, 1999, the IRS approved our request for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status for nonprofit organizations. With invaluable assistance from Melinda Merk,, our pro bono tax consultant with Emst & Young, OBG, Inc. completed the necessary documentation for IRS review on Aug. 30, 1999. Our thanks to Melinda for all her hard work to get this accomplished.

The IRS has also retroactively approved deductions of any donations to OBG, Inc. from October, 1996 as is permitted under the 501(c)(3) guidelines. This allows anyone who has donated to OBG to deduct it if they execute an amended tax return from 1996-1998. For those of you wishing to support OBG as part of your 1999 year end contributions, these are now deductible on your 1999 tax return! Simply send your check to: Oldies But Goodies Cocker Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 361 Newington, VA 22122-0361. All help is most welcomed and greatly appreciated. and it's now TAX DEDUCTIBLE! ! !!

Earlier this year, in order to expedite OBG's tax exempt status, President Larry Eicher updated the OBG, Inc. Articles of Incorporation with the Commonwealth of Virginia, and revised our Bylaws. Each of these documents now better reflects the nonprofit and humane aspects of our volunteer organization, and brings OBG, Inc. objectives more closely in line with the focus of nonprofit organizations.

Now that we have obtained 501(c)(3) status, our plan is to request special postal rates through the U.S. Postal Service so that mailing costs for items such as this newsletter to patrons and supporters can be further reduced. Such savings will then go to increase our efforts for cocker spaniel rescue.

OBG Acknowledges Cocker Angels

Melinda Merk

I became a volunteer for OBG earlier this year when I learned that they needed assistance obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS. My brother, Maclane, adopted his 4-year-old cocker (Reilly) from OBG a few years ago and is also an OBG volunteer.

I have been a dog lover all of my life, and have 2 black labrador retriever mixes of my own (Sadie & Sammy), one of which I adopted from Lab Rescue of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac. The dogs my family had while I was growing up were also adopted from the local animal shelter. It always broke my heart to see the dogs at the shelter-looking up at me with those cute, puppy dog eyes, saying "Please, please, please, TAKE ME HOME!" I would have taken them ALL home if I could.

When it comes down to it, that's all that a dog really wants or needs-a home where it can be taken care of and loved, and considered as part of the family. Often times, it's the dogs who are up for adoption that are the most well-mannered and loving.

As a tax consultant for the National Tax Office of Ernst & Young, and a tax consultant, I was happy to give some of that love back to dogs who were in need of a loving home, by assisting OBG with its application for tax exempt status. I am pleased to announce that, effective retroactively to OBG's date of formation (October 30, 19963, OBG is a 5O1(c)(3) tax exempt organization for federal income tax purposes. As a result, all donations to OBG are now tax deductible to the extent permitted under law. This is great news and it is very rewarding to know that, as a result of my volunteer efforts, I will have made a difference in a cocker's life through increased charitable donations to OBG. I strongly encourage all dog lovers to volunteer for OBG, or another breed rescue organization, today!

Melinda Merk

Kathi Alexander
OBG newsletter editor

Grooming a Cocker;
Bathing a Cocker

Groom before you bathe your dog! Grooming is the process of combing all the knots out of your cocker's coat. Grooming a dog once a week will keep the coat, and the dog's general health in above average condition. Brushing out your cocker is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your faithful pet.

Combing is crucial to the proper maintenance of your dog's coat. A coat that is knotted will retain soap, cause skin eruptions (hot spots) and create discomfort. Most of us realize that the oil is removed from our hair when it is washed-well, it is removed from the dog's coat too. You are left with a dry matted mess that can't be combed The kindest thing you can do at that point is take the dog to a groomer and have the mess shaved off. Once the hair is off, the skin will be able to breathe and the sores will heal. Your dog's skin needs air to remain healthy. A thorough brushing at least on a weekly basis will help to stimulate the dogs circulation, and remove debris such as leaves or particles of sand. Brush from the tail to the head, and from the foot up.

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and special thanks to other web sites that have given us links.

Brushing against the grain will remove the dead hair that has accumulated at the skin line. This dead hair lays on the skin and prevents air from getting to the skin. After you brush, Comb with a metal comb. Now your dog is ready for its bath.

Now comes the easy part. Wet the dog thoroughly with a sprayer or container of warm water. Do not submerge the dog. Be generous with your soap, always starting at the head and washing towards the tail and feet. If soap gets into the dog's eyes- flush them gently with water. RINSE - RINSE - RINSE. Get all the soap out of the coat

Brush the dog gently while you blow dry the coat, and comb with your metal comb!

Following these simple directions will give you a healthier and happier pet. It is perfectly okay to have some treats on hand during the grooming period to reward your pet's good behavior. The only dog that does not need combing before the bath is the Mexican Hairless!!!

BRUSHING IS BENEFICIAL
COMBING IS CRUCIAL

When brushing and combing-do it on a table. Put a small bath mat on the table to give the dog traction. Teach the dog to STAND for grooming. It is impossible for a groomer to scissors a dog that is laying down. It will help the dog get used to heights. In the long run your back will be saved, and you will have better control of your dog.

The undivided attention that your dog receives during grooming is just what they want -- SO -- keep it cheerful! This is not a time of drudgery -- this is time spent with and for your pet. The very same pet that greets you on a daily basis with unconditional love!!!! A love which has yet to be equaled!!!

Senior Spotlight

We'd like to make this a regular feature. Is one of our "OIdies But Goodies" living in your house? Send us your story!

This month: Whisper and Yuri

Last summer, Lorraine visited us and adopted two of our most beloved seniors, Whisper, aged 8 years and Yuri, 11. We had almost despaired of Yuri ever finding a forever home. After all, who wants to take a chance on an eleven-year-old?

It turns out Lorraine did. It didn't even matter to her that our vet suspected Yuri might have cancer. Lorraine was in love.

What follows is a portion of a letter Lorraine sent to me shortly after welcoming Whisper and Yuri into her home. The letter was accompanied by a huge assortment of photographs. Lorraine was already owned by two beautiful cocker spaniels. She now truly has a "cocker crew":

"As you can see, they are adapting to their new environment. Yuri had his surgery (the growth was benign) and the only odd thing about him is his crooked smile. He is getting friendlier and allows me to pet him and won't go away.

"Whisper is a love. Just wants attention. Whenever I'm petting the other dogs, he is right there. He loves the outdoors: lays in the sun, climbs the woodpiles. I do my walks in two: Triscuit & Max, Whisper and Yuri...

"I can't claim credit for Yuri -- he adopted me. I didn't adopt him. I am very happy with my picks. They are both wonderful dogs. "

Lorraine Kostelnick
lucky new "mom" to both Whisper and Yuri

 Emergency!

We DESPERATELY need foster homes! Call us at 703-533-2373 or visit our website for more info!

The Welcome

I hear it! I hear the car! HER car! And she's coming this way! Oh, oh, I must run in and grab a gift! I must greet her with a gift!!

Oh 'BONK' missed the step. No matter, I must hurry. Move over, doggy door! She's coming, she's coming! GiR, gift, where, what, oh, oh, oh, ah! A plastic bottle she drinks from, right here on top of the container they call trash! Oh perfect. She's coming, she's coming!

Oh, oh oh.. The door! I hear the door sound that sounds right before she comes in' Oh, it's OPENING! SHE'S HOME!

Oh, oh' 'wiggle, wiggle, wiggle' I cannot be still! You're home! And look, look, I have this nice bottle! Oh, oh, you're home! YOU'RE HOME! I have missed you so much, you've been gone hours, weeks, days, years! And so much has happened! A dog ran by and I chewed a tree and Pluto slept under the house and it rained a little!

Oh, oh, oh! You're home, you're home! And you're touching me! I can't stand it, it's so marvelous! Oh, and you're speaking! "Murble, murble, good boy, murble, murble."." YES! Your happy voice.

Oh, I cannot be still. I'll roll over and wiggle on my back! Oh, yes! She's rubbing me-my tummy, my head, my sides!

Oh, oh, oh. Now what? Now where's she going? Oh, oh, yes! Back to the room where we sleep at night! Great! It has the big pad we sleep on and 'L-E-A-P' I can get up here close to her.

And here she comes! Oh, oh, oh! I can stand on my legs and put my paws around her neck and ... uh oh Can't lick with this bottle in my mouth. But it's my present to her! Oh, oh, what to do? And she's rubbing me! But I want to lick her, oh oh, I think I'm about to burst! "Off." Oh, darn. Drop the bottle.

Oh, YES! She's coming back! She took off the pieces she puts on her eyes, and I can stand and 'lick, lick' I love you, I love you, I love you, I love 'lick, lick, lick' you taste so good, salty, sweet, I love that stuff you smear on your face every day, I love to lick it off, oh oh, and you're rubbing me again! My back, my head, my ears, oh, oh 'lick, lick, lick'.

YES! We will play sometime. My tail cannot be still. I am SO happy, happy, happy. Now she's going in the room with the wonderful water bowl! I LOVE that water bowl: always cool, clean water! She'll be out in just a minute, just a minute, just a....yes, she's coming! She's here again. Oh, oh, oh....

Now back to the room with the box that has pictures and sounds. Ah, I know what happens now. Yep,, she's laying down on the big pad there. Now she'll sleep. But that's okay. She's HOME! SHE'S home. She's home. And she smells tired. So I will lay beside her here and guard her and wait while she sleeps. And when she wakes up she won't smell so tired. And we'll play and play.

S-i-g-h.. I'll just rest with her now, and smell her while she sleeps. And wait again. For, the next thing that happens, HE'LL be home. And then, oh, oh, z zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Jackie Lynn

Oldies But Goodies
Cocker Rescue, Inc.

P.O. Box 361
Newington, VA 22122-0361 703-533-2373

Newsletter design courtesy of: CockerCondo

e-mail: debbiet@cockerspanielrescue.com

Our Previous Newsletters

May 1999

Fall 1999