Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin/San Antonio

21/01/2025

The 2025 Big Match - CSRA's Forever Fosters: A Lifetime of Commitment and Care

"Dogs are healers. They are enlightened. They seem to have figured out how to live beautifully so much better than we humans have. While we struggle to figure out why we were put here on Earth, all a dog wants is to love and be loved -- a powerful lesson for us all." ~ Dr. Bernie Siegel

We make a lifelong commitment to every dog fortunate enough to be rescued by CSRA. The love and care we supply are everlasting. "In sickness and in health" isn't just a hollow promise to us, it's our duty and joy. Due to health or behavioral concerns, some of the dogs that come to us are unadoptable and instead live out their lives in our care. Our goal is to offer them the best of the rest of their lives, including providing the needed vet care, a safe environment, and as much comfort and joy as possible. Donations to fundraisers like the Big Match allow us to support this group of dogs, whom we lovingly refer to as our "Forever Fosters."

At any given time, we typically have 10-20 "Forever Fosters" in our program, and their well-being is just as important to us as that of the adoptable dogs. Thankfully, the generous support of our donors and volunteers allows us to provide the specialized, long-term, or hospice care that some dogs need. It makes our hearts happy to be able to offer options that are optimized to fit the individual needs of each dog—wonderful dogs like Sophie, Simba, Panda, and Tut. Check out the comments section below for links to their stories ❤

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Welcome to the 2025 Big Match! Each week in January 2025, we're sharing a new story of lives saved and made furever better by YOUR lovingkindness and care!

Huge thanks go out to our AWESOME sponsors, who made the amount of this year's matching pool so AMAZINGLY generous! This year, they have pledged to match dollar-for-dollar donations up to $75,000 sent before midnight on January 31, 2025!

Magnify your love in the new year by donating via the link below, sending via Zelle to [email protected], or mailing a check payable to Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin to PO Box 27453, Austin, TX 78755.

21/01/2025

Happy ! ~ (adorable/adoptable) Bean

20/01/2025

Well, this is something you don't see every day! One thing you may not know about the behind-the-scenes here at CSRA/SA is that we have a group of dogs that we have taken into our care that, for either medical or behavior issues (or both) may not be what is considered "adoptable." We keep them as "permanent fosters"--meaning we made a commitment to help them and we will always have a place for them. "Permanent Foster" means just that: permanent. Except for when it doesn't!

Miss Elsa came to us FOUR years ago and shortly after she arrived got a pretty sad diagnosis of multiple cancerous lesions internally. We truly believed, based on what the vet saw that she had a limited time left on earth so onto the Permanent Foster list she went... until just recently, when she got an updated diagnosis. No cancer! Does that mean she can actually come OFF the Permanent Foster list?? We think so! Here is some full disclosure: Elsa does have some medical needs that have to be managed--she's got a seizure disorder for which she takes phenobarbital and she takes thyroid medication--she will need those for the rest of her life. Elsa's potty trained-ness depends a lot on what is going on with her seizures. She has occasional accidents. These accidents happen less often when she takes her anti-inflammatory medication for her liver.

But here is some more disclosure after getting to know this little love for four years: Elsa is a quiet and gentle soul who rarely barks and loves to sleep. She adores treats and belly rubs and prefers sitting next to you on the couch. (Although she would love to sleep in the bed with you, she needs to be careful as falling could trigger a seizure). She is extremely sweet and loves pets and any attention she can get. Affectionately called "Potato" because of her plump shape, Elsa would love to spend her remaining years lounging around and watching TV with her forever family. If you're looking for a loving and low-key companion, Elsa is the perfect match!

18/01/2025

It’s perfectly stay in bed when it’s chilly like this ~ the dog

16/01/2025

Things puppies would rather do than sit still for photos:
1) eat leaves
2) eat fingers
3) eat fingers holding leaves

15/01/2025

Time to share some Happy Tails with our first couple of adoptions for the new year! Congrats go to Mac Dubh (formerly TicTac) and Honey (formerly Christy) on finding their furever families!

14/01/2025

The 2025 Big Match - From Heartbreak to Hope

No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible. ~ George Chakaris

It's sad, but true: many dogs come to us in need of emergency care, suffering from terrible neglect, or with conditions that require specialty surgery. Thankfully, your generous donations to the 2024 Big Match enabled us to provide the TLC and treatment needed to give them hope for a better future.

In 2024, we made a lifesaving difference in the lives of over 200 dogs. They received medical care, gained weight, grew in confidence, and soaked up tons of love. Below are just a few of their stories - made possible through the love and care of our volunteers, our veterinary partners, and wonderful donors like you.

With your help, dogs with special needs like Elsa, Dover, and Master Gracey can get the second chances they deserve in 2025. Donate to CSRA/SA's Big Match today to double your love and be the reason another pup's story has a happy ending!

Follow the links posted in the comments to read about Elsa, Dover, and Master Gracey—stories of courage, resilience, hope, and love made possible by the generosity and lovingkindness of our supporters, volunteers, donors, and adopters—people just like YOU!

❤🐾🐾❤🐾🐾❤
Welcome to the 2025 Big Match! Each week in January 2025, we'll be sharing a new story of lives saved and made furever better by YOUR lovingkindness and care!

Huge thanks go out to our AWESOME sponsors, who made the amount of this year's matching pool so AMAZINGLY generous! This year, they have pledged to match dollar-for-dollar all donations up to $75,000 sent before midnight on January 31, 2025!

Magnify your love in the new year by donating via the link below, sending a Zelle to [email protected], or mailing a check payable to Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin to PO Box 27453, Austin, TX 78755.

13/01/2025

Adorable & adoptable: Pax. You can see it in his eyes--the uncertainty from a life lived on the streets. He's still not sure what's ok and what's not--It can get a bit confusing. He wants so much nts to be a good boy but is still learning some general manners and the ways of the world as an indoor boy. He's pretty used to not being heard, so he has a big boy bark and can be quite vocal at times. ( He has some separation anxiety and will cry the song of his people when left alone). He hasn't quite figured out the joys of cuddling but he's working on it. He LOVES his squeaker toys and will run around in joy with it in his mouth. I's all a learning process with him. Pax would love to find experienced owners as he is a total sweetheart. He just needs someone to work with him, patiently. but will need someone to work with him. We believe this sugar face is about 6 years old.

Interested in adoption? our adoptions require an approved application which you can find on our website. Already approved applicants can email us at [email protected] with questions.

11/01/2025

Party like it's

10/01/2025

This yummy hunk of chocolate JORDY is still looking for his furever family! Jordy is around 4 years old, but you would not be faulted for guessing younger as he's got the energy (and vertical leap) of a puppy. We mentioned this briefly in his bio, but Jordy didn't have a whole lot of interaction and inclusion into the family during his first few years so he's been doing his best to make up for that. He's mischievous and fun and man, you better not leave that sandwich unattended because he's got moves! Jordy sez, "Who ME??" Yes, YOU, Jordy, we saw that.

Interested in adopting Jordy? Our adoptions require an approved application. Already approved applicants can let us know of their interest by emailing us at [email protected]

09/01/2025

January is our Big Match Month and throughout the month, you'll see all kinds of posts about how CSRA/SA benefits from the funds we raise throughout the year, but this last week, in particular, we've experienced one of those "if not for this" moments... See, this beautiful boy came into a South Texas shelter unable to walk. He needed rescue but we really had no idea what we could be dealing with--it could be a spinal issue where he would be paralyzed and needing surgery costing thousands or permanent care or it could be something else. Most shelters aren't equipped with the type of equipment it takes to give a clear picture on what the full extent of needs might be. Without rescue, frankly, he would have been euthanised. It can be incredibly stressful for rescues to take on what you know will likely be a wildly expensive case without knowing where the funds will come from and that's where the Big Match comes in. We're able to say "yes" to these cases because we raise the funds BEFORE we need them. It's a proactive approach that's helped us save so many.

Welcome our newest boy Fortitude to CSRA/SA. He's got a very long row to hoe--as it turns out, he was likely hit by a car--he has multiple fractures, including both femurs and his pelvis. He will need surgery and likely at least one amputation in the near future. But thanks to our supporters, he HAS a future. So when you read the stories we post about the Big Match, remember that there are always more stories like Fortitude's and that what you give makes a very real difference!

08/01/2025

Adorable & adoptable: Mochi (disclaimer: we are not just reposting Gumdrop from yeseterday and no, they are not related, but they do look just alike!) Have you ever had a Mochinut donut? Oh they're so yummy. Although her name is Mochi, we find ourselves calling her Mochinut. Other times we end up calling her "the baby." She's so agreeable that she responds to all. Mochi/Mochinut/Baby Girl is a 5-month-old cutie pie. Just like her Japanese rice cake namesake, she is definitely sweetness wrapped into a tiny package (14lbs to be exact). Somewhat shy and unsure of herself, she does not come up to strangers as quickly as does her foster brother Gumdrop (also fostering in the same home and also available for adoption). But once she figures out that you are nice, she will reward you with tiny kisses. She is learning to gain confidence and her foster siblings are really helping her with that. In fact, she would probably really enjoy going to a home with another dog.

Mochi is fairly well house-trained. She is pretty quiet when telling you she has to go potty, so it's more about learning her cues. Mochi loves playing with other dogs and is a very good listener. She is a youngin' and is looking for someone who can be her forever person, while helping her continue developing her confidence.

Interested in adoption? Our adoptions require an approved application which you can find on our website. Already approved applicants can email us with their interest at [email protected]

07/01/2025

2025 Big Match: 2024 Was the Year of the Puppy!

The most important things in life aren’t things. ~ Kenneth Clarke

Who among us can resist puppies... tiny pieces of the divine who grace this world with their soft pink toe beans and angelic breath? CSRA/SA usually has one, or maybe two, litters a year born to mommas in our care, with a sprinkle of an orphaned litter and some single pups well past weaning for good measure. However, 2024 was a banner year for puppies: we had 28 puppies born into our care to four different mommas who arrived with some sweet little passengers on board. First came the Veggie Patch (8) and the Heros (7), followed later in the year by the Pup Pourri (9) and the Wickeds (4). And if that wasn't enough, in 2024 we rescued an additional 34 puppies under 6 months of age. Whew! We were busy!

Puppies are undoubtedly precious but they also come with some special challenges. Two of our 2024 newborn litters were infected with coccidia, hookworms, and ringworms-all highly contagious to the resident dogs. At one point we were treating TWELVE dogs for coccidia at the same time. In June, one of the four pups from the ABBA litter was diagnosed with Parvovirus. Thank goodness all the pups pulled through... but adding these extra care expenses to all the regular costs of puppy pads, special food for pups and moms, and the many rounds of vaccines required to keep puppies healthy, can absolutely break the bank. We're grateful that your generous donations to our annual Big Match campaign allow us to avoid having to make the agonizing decision to turn away pregnant moms or sick puppies due to financial concerns.

Another factor to consider is that at CSRA/SA, we keep all newborn pups in our care until they are at least 10 weeks old so they can complete their first two rounds of vaccinations and learn crucial socialization skills from their mommas and siblings. The mommas stay in our care until all the puppies have been fully weaned and they have time to heal following their spay surgery. Puppies and their mommas represent a big commitment of time, work, and space, in addition to the expense. But, if you ask their foster families about their experience, they'll quickly tell you that all the hard work and sacrifice were well worth it.

Your contributions, no matter the size, are important to us and to all the sweet little angels in our care. Your donations help make everyday miracles like these and many more, possible. We're so very grateful to know that you're with us on the journey and are always, always ready to reach down to lift others up.

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Welcome to the 2025 Big Match! Each week in January 2025, we're sharing a new story of lives saved and made furever better by YOUR lovingkindness and care!

Huge thanks go out to our AWESOME sponsors, who made the amount of this year's matching pool so AMAZINGLY generous! This year, they have pledged to match dollar-for-dollar donations up to $75,000 sent before midnight on January 31, 2025!

Magnify your love in the new year by donating via the link below, sending a Zelle to [email protected], or mailing a check payable to Cocker Spaniel Rescue of Austin to PO Box 27453, Austin, TX 78755.

07/01/2025

Adorable & adoptable: Gumdrop! You know that feeling at the holidays? Feeling free with the time off from school/work. The smell of fresh baked goodies filling the home. Cheerful decorations and happy tunes wherever you go. Seeing loved ones. Stuffing our bellies with yummy treats. Watching classic movies or cheesy romantic flicks. Well, somehow Gumdrop has captured everything that encapsulates the holidays. Imagine feeling that all year round. Gumdrop is as sweet as his name implies. He hasn't met a stranger and generously pours his heart out to his person. Since he got the old "snip snip," he hasn't sprinkled any tinsel inside the house. At just 18 mos old, he has plenty of energy and would love a home where he gets to go on adventures with you. Never wanting you to feel lonely, he will join you in the loo, on the couch, or in bed. While he is only 20 lbs, he cannot contain his excitement at seeing you and may knock down folks that are not steady on their feet, so he is looking for someone who can keep up with him now and for many years to come. He also protests pretty loudly when he cannot see his person, so no shared walls for this kiddo (meaning, no apartments/condos, etc.). Gumdrop adores other dogs.

Interested in adoption? Our adoptions require an approved application which you can find on our website. Already approved applicants can email us with their interest at [email protected]

06/01/2025

We had a pretty busy 2024 and looking forward to an equally busy 2025!

05/01/2025

A small but fun little group today at our meet and greet!

03/01/2025

03/01/2025

Adorable & adoptable: Mad Eye Moody. So named because he has one 1/2 blue eye (he's a Merle), unfortunately, he does not have any magical abilities... Unless you consider making all the treats disappear in one swallow without any evidence whatsoever of chewing to be "magic." He's only 8 months old and while we are SURE that at one point, his mystic abilities will include conjuring up a knowledge of "Personal Space," today is...not that day. Expect Moomoo to be right in ya business, 24/7. He wants to be in the middle of everything. He's curious, affectionate and loving and lord help the person who wants to sleep in while there's squirrels to be chased in the backyard. It's called a "Licky Alarm." Moo's hobbies include playing with other dogs and figuring out what can and cannot be considered a chew toy. (actual chew toys, yes; soap, not so much). Despite his look of perpetual woe, he's the happiest boy we know. He'd love an active family who will include him in all their shenanigans because he is ALL about the shenanigans.

Interested in adoption? our adoptions require an approved application which you can find on our website. Already approved applicants can let us know of their interest by emailing us at [email protected]