Rose Rockz Cockers ~ Family Raised American Cocker Spaniels

Toby's Story

Toby's story actually started long before I became
involved, with a trip by several breeders to buy several
dogs from a breeder in WA that was going out of
business. When they got there they found the animals
in varying degrees of neglect, many very severe. They
contacted an online cocker forum where offers
donations and homes to help these poor dogs started
pouring in. One of the many responses was by a good
friend of mine Kat of Kattery Kennels. She and her
husband drove hours to meet the ladies that had went
to WA and was bringing back with them the rescued
cockers. Once there they offered to take a couple of
the animals and in the end they brought 3 home with
them. All 3 were severely malnourished and in dire
need of grooming. They had lived in crates or cages
there entire lives, not being groomed or even the cages
cleaned. They were so matted and covered in there
own filth that it actually took tin snips to cut the "casts"
off of one dog. You can read more of their story here.

Toby was underweight and in need of a cherry eye
surgery as the one he had was left untreated so long in the
filth that it had grown to cover over half his eye.
Thankfully he sealed a place in Kat's heart the first night
as he turned out to be the most trying of the three rescues.
Once they had food and water and such and got some
strength back (the vet said the only reason they had
survived was the fact being in cages they couldn't move
and use up more energy.) Toby became extremely
aggressive and couldn't even be placed near his litter mate
Captain though they had traveled together all the way
home. It was not long after Kat got them home and I
heard the entire story I offered a home to one. Toby was
to be that one. I got regular updates and all was not rosy
even after being neutered Toby continued to be overly
aggressive at one point biting Kat's husband when he tried
to break up a fight where they had tried yet again to
introduce him to other animals. She had already called
and told me that since he was so aggressive she wouldn't
place him with me since I have children. Then one night a
tornado headed towards their home and they placed all the
dogs in crates and headed for shelter with them. That
night it seemed to click for Toby and he started the road to
a home. From December till May Kat gave Toby the
best of care including having to fix the other eye when a
cherry popped up on it. In May of 2007, I made the trip
to meet him and it was love from the start. When I went
in the yard to meet him he instantly decided that I didn't
need to meet the other dogs though he did it nicely. We
made the return trip of 5 hours and he did great in the
car. Once home he meet "his" kids and it was love at first
sight on both sides.

The year he has been with us has not been without its hiccups
but he has been worth every one of them and more. He was a
nervous chewer and we went through more toys (doggie and
human), shoes, cords and such that I didn't know each
morning or afternoon what would be gone next. But as the
year went on and we both learned more that has slowed down
alot. I tease he is my Cocker Spaniel with the Pit Bull Jaws
and I know I should have stock in the pig ear company. I
received what to me was a great complement recently when
taken him on a vacation back to see Kat, Terry and his
brother Captain. I was told that I had done it I had taken
him from a rescue to a cocker. That anyone meeting him
would never guess he had came from where he did. He plays
with the kids,cats, and even plays nanny dog to any puppies he
is around. He loves to go get his kids from school and will
diligently search the crowd till he spots them and the wiggle
butt dance gets started and he can't wait till they get in the car
to cover their faces with kisses. He knows what a food dish
is and no longer wolfs his food down to keep it from others.
He knows what toys are and thinks he needs lots of them!!!!
And yes he gets them. He even got birthday and Christmas
packages of goodies from Kat and crew. He has laid claim to
the recliner as his place of choice though can usually be found
anywhere I am so he can make sure that after all he has went
through he never loses his family again.

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE TOBY IN OUR
LIVES.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED IN THE RESCUE
AND THANK YOU KAT AND TERRY FOR ALL THE HARD
WORK YOU DID GETTING HIM TO THE POINT WHERE
HE WAS HEALTHY AND ADJUSTED ENOUGH TO COME
HOME TO US. EVEN IF WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME
HE WAS WHAT WAS MISSING FROM OUR FAMILY.