Prior to our involvement in CSRA, my husband and I had many Cockers in our lives. They went everywhere with us and we always considered them our very special furkids. Ten years ago our storybook life with our Cockers came to a sad and abrupt end when Sammy (our heart dog) died from cancer. We felt we wanted to honor Sammy’s memory in some way so we ended up surfing the web one evening and came across CSRA’s website. Both of us looked at each other and said “who could possibly give up their Cocker?”
Well sadly, many people do for various reasons and that is where CSRA volunteers come in. Like the inscription on America’s Statue of Liberty; CSRA says give us your tired, your old, your young, your uncared for, unkept, dirty, skinny, plump, sick and unwanted Cockers. We take them all in and try to give them a new “leash” on life. That is where foster families come into the picture. We don’t have a kennel or a shelter facility, so we are able to work one on one with the Cockers in our program. This close attention and love helps many of them to come out of their shell. They learn that people can be of help to them, love them, care for them, and make them feel like jolly Cockers again. Many of them come into rescue with most of their Cocker spirit gone which is so heartbreaking to see. But if you give yourself the opportunity to foster, you will be so proud of your foster Cocker and so happy for them. Your heart will also mend from all the joy you see in your foster’s eyes and smile. Your investment is your love and time. CSRA will cover the vet expenses, training, and other big expenses to help with a foster Cocker in a home.
Jim and I will be the first to tell all of you that it is not easy letting any of them go onto their new lives and families. What makes it possible, though, is knowing that you helped save a life, a soul that was not wanted and is now wanted and loved again by a family. It is so thrilling to get an email or a letter in the mail with pictures of showing how much more he/she has blossomed. We have made many new friends over the past ten years that continue to keep in touch with us and let us know how their new pal is. Many contact us again to say they are ready for another rescue Cocker in their life.
Remember, nothing in life worth having comes easy…please look beyond yourself and open up your heart and home to an unwanted Cocker kid. Contact us (hyperlink to Contact Us page) to get started on becoming a foster family.