Lost Souls: Found! Inspiring Stories about Cocker Spaniels

By Kyla Duffy

Lost Souls: FOUND! Inspiring Stories about Cocker Spaniels is a heartwarming, thought-provoking compilation of over 60 true stories that address the cruelty of animal neglect and abuse and the joy rescued dogs bring to their new homes. This book is a must-read for Cocker Spaniel lovers and people who are considering adopting dogs. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM EVERY SALE IS DONATED BACK TO COCKER SPANIEL RESCUE GROUPS.

Excerpt: "One morning Winston-2, our second dog named Winston, jumped onto the bed and woke me by dropping something heavy, wet, and plastic on my face. In my daze, I remembered that my husband had taken out two steaks the night before and left them on the counter to thaw. Somehow Winston-2 got to the steaks, ate one, and then brought the other one to me, plopping it on my face in bed. He had never done anything like that before, but I thought it was a riot. What a guy! He wanted to share his delicious meal with Mom." -Bonnie Nordell (Read more about Winston-2 and other awesome Cocker Spaniels inside!)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kyla Duffy
• Release date: Apr 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301640614

Kyla Duffy

Happy Tails Books is driven by a passion to help needy animals by raising awareness about adoption and the proper care of domestic dogs and cats. We are grateful to our volunteer photographers and editors who help us make these books come to life. Happy Tails Books donates up to 25% of gross profits back to rescue organizations. Any rescue enrolled in our rescue partner program is eligible for a donation from each sale made through this website. You can indicate your favorite rescue on the check-out form when you make a purchase. Since 2009, Happy Tails Books has published more than 1,000 stories from people who have fostered and/or adopted dogs and cats! Co-editors Kyla Duffy and Lowrey Mumford are dog lovers who have been publishing the Lost Souls: FOUND! series since 2009. Lowrey knows journalism, and Kyla has experience in entrepreneurship; this has created the perfect synergy for the Happy Tails Books project. Lowrey and Kyla have two adopted dogs each, and they continue to support the rescues in their communities.

Book preview

Introduction: Choices

Because Cocker Spaniels are relatively small and very cute, they are a common puppy mill breed. This means that many Cocker Spaniels are kept in small chicken-wire cages and bred cycle after cycle to produce profitable puppies, who are then weaned too early and sold at pet stores, through classified ads, and online. All over the country, Cocker Spaniel rescue organizations abound to remove these needy dogs from this cycle of cruelty and also to help other Cockers who have been abandoned for whatever reason.

A variety of things drive people to become involved with dog rescue. Many start out unaware of the vast pet overpopulation problem plaguing every country on the map. Once their eyes are opened and they learn about dog rescue efforts, they feel compelled to help. For them, adopting a dog or volunteering with a rescue that strives to place distressed dogs into safe, loving forever homes satisfies that need.

While knowing why people get involved is interesting, the positive ways adoption and volunteering have affected their lives is downright exciting. Take Stephanie Cole’s experience as a member of a foster family, for example:

When Woody was abandoned at a church in Missouri, he had cysts on his belly, was blind in one eye, and one side of his face was paralyzed. He was a light golden color with white spots on his head, belly, and legs. We picked him up to foster him and were told that he was about 10 years old and possibly deaf. Because of his age and illnesses, it was possible nobody would adopt him, but we all held out hope that someone would give this caring and loveable dog a home.

At first Woody was shy and timid, but he let us pet him. During the car ride home, he was laid back and quiet. The big question was whether our male Miniature Schnauzer, Midnight, would get along with him.

As it turned out, Woody loved Midnight, and Midnight didn’t mind Woody. Woody followed Midnight around so closely that my family joked Midnight was Woody’s Seeing Eye Dog. Midnight showed Woody what to do, but Woody didn’t need help learning to love—he already knew how. I was surprised to see him so friendly with dogs and people; I thought with his past of getting into fights and being abandoned, he might not trust people.

I like to think about Woody’s story as a parable about how the past affects who we become. I wonder why Woody’s owners left him by that church and how Woody can still love people. Woody faced many challenges and overcame them. He didn’t let the past get in his way of living happily, and I want to live like that, too. His example taught me that we can let the past dictate our lives, or we can rise above it; we can learn from the past to make the future better for everyone.

Since my family has taken on fostering dogs, my responsibility is to walk the dogs, help feed them, and play with them while I am at home. My parents trust me to give the dogs what they need. This experience allowed me to see how fortunate my life is, and it makes me passionate about helping others. I have a family that loves me, and I have a clean place to live—in this I am very lucky. Woody has shown me that no matter what has happened in the past, people and animals are capable of love and compassion once they are given a chance. Our family will continue to give Woody that chance and enjoy the love he rewards us with until the perfect home is found for him.

I hope this story and others shared in this book help you see the good fortune in your life. Who knows, maybe like Stephanie, you’ll even be inspired to give back! There are plenty of rescues in need of your help, and many more dogs to be saved. -Stephanie Cole and Kyla Duffy

Inspiring Stories About Cocker Spaniels

A Dog Brings New Life

Pouring a cup of food into the stainless steel bowl in my kitchen, while a smiling old-man-of-a-dog stares at me, seems like a natural part of my routine and one that I’ve been doing for years. But I’ve only been doing it for a few months now, and to be honest, I sometimes can’t believe I’m doing it for the blond Cocker Spaniel-mix patiently waiting for breakfast to be served.

For years I made a habit of checking out online pet adoption sites in search of the perfect dog for me. At first I had a list of requirements: less than six months old; not too big; non-shedding; a breed not prone to barking, aggression, or serious ailments; and many more. Actually, too many to mention.

I researched breeds, talked to every dog owner I knew, and called local dog training schools for advice. Then, on a warm autumn day, I spotted a smiling Cocker Spaniel-mix online named Dusty. He was a senior citizen, believed to be about eight years old, but later determined to be perhaps even older than 10. He was fuzzy enough that I could tell he was going to be adding a layer of blond fur to my house. Oh, and he was deaf. Not exactly what I had in mind, but when I looked at him, it occurred to me that he needed a home, and I wanted it to be mine.

Over the course of the next couple weeks, the folks at Cherished Cockers Rescue screened my references and made sure, as a first time pet owner, that my house was suitable for a four-legged, furry guy. Two days before Thanksgiving, a friend and I drove about 90 miles from my home in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh to Akron, Ohio, to pick up Dusty. This puzzled my friends and family, who wanted to know why I was going to Ohio to pick up a dog. My father referred to Dusty as my dog in the poke and half-jokingly suggested I could probably find an old, deaf dog closer to home. Fair points, I agreed, but not ones that would deter me.

Prior to the trip to pick him up, his foster mom had taken the time to tell me all about him over the phone. She explained that he was gentle and loved everyone, including kids, other dogs, and cats. He was healthy and housetrained and almost never barked. Yeah, it sounded too good to be true, but I didn't care. Nowadays I often wonder why such a nice dog was dumped alongside a Tennessee road. He was found filthy and underweight, described by rescue workers as a dog who appeared to have had a rough life. A baby doll, they said. Yet, for reasons I also don’t understand, it took Dusty nine months to get adopted.

Within the first few minutes of meeting him, and despite the fact that he didn't fit many of my requirements, I knew Dusty was the dog for me. And the past eight months with him have been wonderful. Despite his deafness, he’s learned how to follow commands given by hand signals and manages to give me enthusiastic welcomes when I come home from work, albeit I have to wait until he sees me. He always is close by, even dragging himself up from a nap, out of what seems to be a dutiful and caring need to keep an eye on me. He's impressed me with his good behavior and made me laugh with his clumsy, big, furry feet and the odd snorts that seem to convey his thoughts on a situation, like when he thinks I should be paying more attention to him. He loves car rides to visit family, friends, and the pet store.

And, as a person without children, he's made me feel the unique love I now know you can only have for someone who needs you and loves you unconditionally. In short, he has made me less selfish and, dare I say, a better person.

And here I thought I was doing an old dog—who because of his advanced age and deafness was never expected to find a forever home—a favor. Admittedly, he's also made me a shameless mother. I talk way too much about him, brag about his skills (he can untie knots with his teeth!), and post pictures of him on Facebook. He is pretty spoiled, too, with an array of the stuffed animals he loves, a variety of special dog treats, and a cushy bed in nearly every room. And sometimes I even overlook some misbehavior, like when he steal papers and tissues off the coffee table or from inside the trashcan. I occasionally let him shred them with glee and then chew on the scraps for a while.

If you were on my Christmas card list, you got a picture of him