Dog News – Page 22 – My Cocker Spaniel

Cockapoo breeder faces $250,000 bond

Matted brown cocker — Neglected cocker found at CT home. Photo NBC Connecticut

Gloria Marriott (A.K.A. Linda Snow, Mary Howard) was offered a plea bargain of nine months in jail in return for having her bond reduced from $250,000 to $49,000 dollars. Charges stem from an animal cruelty case when she was arrested February 18, 2011. Police became suspicious when overpowered by the smell of feces and urine then discovered five dogs in neglectful states some with matted fur, all without food or water. Marriott faces five counts of animal cruelty and running a puppy mill from her Mystic, Connecticut home. Regardless of her plea bargain she will remain jailed for violating probation in Massachusetts where she was convicted of animal cruelty–over 100 sick dogs were found on her property. Marriott runs the Web site conneticutcockapoos.com with the tagline “Breeding For Quality – Raised With Love.”

All five dogs have been adopted and placed in good homes including the brown cocker spaniel pictured above. Drew and Londa Wesche adopted two of the dogs including the cocker renaming her Katie. “They are great. We couldn’t have asked for better. I think they are kind of like POWs. They formed this bond in the awful situation they were in, and they can’t not be together.”

Fallen cocker saved by rescuers

A buff cocker spaniel named Mocha who fell over steep cliff was rescued by Los Angeles based Small Animal Rescue Team (SmART). It happened Wednesday, when Mocha and his owner were walking along steep terrain in Porter Ranch, California. The rescue took place late at night in heavy winds with rescuers repelling on the steep cliff with safety harnesses. Rescuers brought Mocha to safety using a small stretcher. Mocha appeared well but was taken to a vet for examination. Then anxious owner was grateful to have him returned.

SmART is a group of trained rescuers certified in Swiftwater Rescue and rope rescue. SmART is the first animal rescue team in the country. Six members are animal control officers and one Registered Veterinary Technician. SmART performs urban search and rescue for small animals in the Los Angeles area.

Calla’s All Bets On KLAD earns title

Calla’s All Bets On KLAD who goes by the call name Jack Jack earned his championship in conformation last month at a Canadian Kennel Club sponsored event in Camrose, Alberta, Canada. The event was the Battle River Canine Association’s All-breed Conformation and Obedience Dog Show held March 25th-27th, 2011. Jack Jack advanced to Winners Dog and on to Best of Winners with handler Lori Gauvin.

Three-year-old Jack Jack is owned by Kelly Ladouceur and lives with his cocker companions Grace and Farley. He was bred by Jackie Forchuk and Donna Kjorsvik and has roots in Korea–both parents title winners as well. Kelly loves photographing her cocker spaniels and takes amazing pictures.

More cocker spaniels found in Salem Township

Cockapoos — Abandoned cockapoos: Photo Huron Valley Humane Society

Two more cocker spaniels were found in Salem Township, Michigan since last reported for a total of eleven dogs. Among the eleven are two buff cockapoos. Concerned citizens have located and brought the remaining abandoned cockers to the Huron Valley Humane Society. Three cockers have been adopted including one with special needs–a senior dog with blindness. “A women drove an hour and a half to adopt that dog, to give it a chance for a happy home” said Tanya Hilgendorf, executive director of the humane society. Hilgendorf also says adoption applications are pending on others. Hilgendorf is urging those who can no longer care for their pets to call for assistance before taking matters into their own hands: “if you are a loving pet owner and run into hard times, come talk to us.”

Cocker receives PAT Dog of the Year

An English cocker spaniel named Muppet has received the Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dog of the Year. Nominations for Muppet poured in from Royal United Hospital’s children’s ward. Muppet and her owner Leisl De Lafontaine have been volunteering at the children’s ward for five years. They touched many hearts including that of a terminally ill girl named Emily who died later this year. Ms De Lafontaine said, “After she transferred to Bristol hospital I really got to see her come out of her shell. She loved Muppet dearly. Her parents even came to Crufts to see Muppet get her award, which was really lovely. Her dad sent me a text saying: ‘We are here and we are totally overwhelmed.'”

Pets As Therapy is national organization providing therapy dogs and cats to facilities such as hospice and special needs schools throughout the United Kingdom. The organization also conducts research in the advancement of pet therapy.