reggie.htm

Reggie, pictured above on the left, was abandoned at a Wisconsin shelter, without much hope of adoption. He was too old , they said, and he had tumors. A kind lady, responding to our emergency posting about another Cocker in danger of euthanasia at the shelter, decided to take Reggie instead. He had just come in, and the shelter staff told her it seemed hopeless for him. The other Cocker had already gotten plenty of interest, and she was soon to be adopted.

The lady did not hesitate. She knew she had to save him, that it was somehow meant to be. She jumped in her car and drove out to get him. There he was, a bundle of tail-wagging joy, in spite of his tumors. Reggie's new mother was determined to fill his final days with love. She took him to her vet, expecting to hear that his condition was terminal. It turned out that Reggie had fatty tumors, easily removed, not life-threatening at all. What a major relief at the time.

For four years, Reggie lived happily with his mother and his Buddy, another rescued Cocker, also pictured above. You can certainly tell how happy and loved he was. I could not have wished for a better home for him -- or for Buddy, for that matter.

Then, the loss that Reggie's mother thought she had avoided finally came to pass. Her letter was painful to read, but I am so grateful that she loved Reggie as long and as well as she did.

It is with much sadness that I send news about Reggie, a dog you helped me find over four years ago. Although he was never actually in your care, I credit the Cocker Spaniel Adoption Center for bringing us together.

Reggie was on his last day at the Humane Society in Kenosha, Wisconsin when I called about dog listed on your site. Although she was already adopted, they told me about another Cocker they had, one they were not even trying to adopt out because he was so old and so sick. I went to get him anyway.

Every day Reggie's health improved. It was about three weeks before he first ran around in the back yard, but he did enjoy chasing the bunnies and squirrels. After a few months I had one of the most beautiful Cocker Spaniels you ever saw!

Reggie was a perfect gentleman and had a heart of gold. In 1998, he found his calling and became a Delta Certified Pet Partner. He came with me to volunteer with children in the long-term care unit of the local psychiatric hospital. Reggie had a special gift with the children. He would seek out a child who was not participating and make him or her feel special and loved.

In December last year Reggie retired from animal-assisted therapy. He was beginning to show his age, and I felt he was too fragile to participate in the activities. Not long after, he developed inflammatory bowel disease, which proved to be too much for him. We let him go in peace last Saturday, June 23, 2001.

As fate would have it, you now have another "Reggie" in your care. I have sent (by mail) a donation in memory of my Reggie that I hope you will use to bring relief and a forever home to your new Reggie.

I thank you for your hard work and the dedication that brought Reggie into our lives. He was such a special soul, and I thank you for sharing it on your website.