30 Days of Giving Thanks-November 13-OBG

November 13 - Today I am thankful for OBG Cocker Rescue Inc. This awesome rescue organization is who we adopted our Gilbert and Sullivan from back in 2001. Although both boys have now passed over the Rainbow Bridge, we can't say enough about this fabulous organization and continue to offer our support.

The non-profit is run by volunteers who work tirelessly to save the lives of as many as 500 cockers per year! These wonderful dogs come from a variety of places; shelters, good Samaritans, puppy mills, and areas affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, just to name a few. They will go to any lengths possible to retrieve a dog who is on "death row" before its time is up. The dogs don't just come from Virginia. OBG has a whole network of other volunteer organizations who will connect several states away to transport a dog to one of their facilities. For example, a dog may come from Florida into North Carolina, where an OBG volunteer will pick him or her up and continue the journey to Virginia. Dogs are vetted, given necessary medication, surgeries or treatments and placed in foster care (a volunteer's home). Once the dog has had a chance to be socialized, evaluated (does it like kids, cats, other dogs?) and deemed to be medically fit, it is placed on the web site for adoption and often taken to an adoption event at a local pet store. We attended one of these events and fell in love with Gilbert and Sullivan as soon as we saw them! Not being able to decide which one we wanted, we adopted them both! We had taken out little Molly with us, so she could give us her opinion (Molly was a cocker I'd gotten when she was 8 weeks old and she'd recently lost her companion, Riley). She enthusiastically approved and all three dogs hopped in the back seat of Jim's car for the ride home! They loved each other from the start and never fought. Molly passed from cancer at the age of 10 in 2005.

Molly (blonde), Gilbert (buff), Sullivan (black) waiting for treats

Even if you aren't interested in adopting a wiggle butt, as we call them, you can help OBG's mission. On their web site, you will see an  Amazon logo on the left side. If you're shopping with Amazon this holiday season and click on this logo, you will be taken straight to their website and OBG will get a portion of your purchase! You can also click on links for eBay auctions, OBG merchandise, order their adorable 2013 "Sweetest Things" calendar filled with photos of OBG pups, and enter their current raffle! First prize is a $1000 gift card! Plus, you can browse through pictures and biographies of all the fantastic dogs currently up for adoption and read the happy endings stories of ones that have found their forever home.

Sullivan hanging out in his "tent"

I am so thankful to this organization for connecting us with our beloved boys, as well as for all of the outstanding work they do for cocker spaniels! These little ones would not know love and a happy home without the help of OBG! Please check them out. If those adorable little faces don't make you smile, I don't know what will!

Thanks for stopping by today! Hugs, Leena

Blog-OBG Cocker Connection
Website-Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue
Face Book-OBG Cocker Spaniel Rescue