I went to a Cocker Spaniel rescue site to look for a dog. It was at an abandoned kennel in the middle of central Florida. The dogs were kept outside in the kennels, and the "rescuer" didn't take very good care of them. I brought my current Cocker Spaniel with me, and when she saw how small she was, she said she had a small female that we might like that she rescued from a humane society in Palm Beach one day before she supposed to get euthanized. She brought out a smelly black and white Cocker that had long matted hair. Her legs were yellow up to her knees. I asked the rescuer what happened, and she made an off-hand comment about kennel legs. Obviously, she didn't clean the kennels and the poor dog was wallowing in her own pee. I felt so sorry for her. She looked terrible and so sad. I told her I would take the dog and asked her to please wash her before I put her in my car. I also asked for her papers, but she said she lost them, so I didn't know anything about the dog. Although she washed the dog, the stains and smell still remained. When we brought her home, I did some research and found the humane society she had been at. She was five years and had been kept in a crate and surrendered by her family. She had an ear infection and other ailments when she arrived and been spayed and treated. However, nobody adopted her because she looked so unkempt and had so many issues. Well, it took me almost a year of spoiling her with love and affection, house-training her, teaching her how to behave, and grooming her to finally get rid of the yellow fur before she felt comfortable and accepted. Now she has been a loving member of our family for five years.

Mindy P
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL