Our family has adopted 3 dogs - all cocker spaniels - over the years from the ARL.
First was Lilly. She was rescued along with one of her pups from an awful puppy mill. She worked for a living, giving birth to liter after liter of puppies. She was about 5 when we adopted her and over the years grew into a loving dog who loved all of her stuffed animals as much as she must have wanted to love all those puppies she had given birth to. We had her for 11 1/2 years before she peacefully passed in 2011.
Then came Quentin. He was rescued along with 87 other cockers from a despicable breeding situation in northwest Iowa in 2012. He and his “siblings” lived in cages that were too small and were stacked on top of one another. Quentin was lucky; he was in a cage on top so he didn’t have urine and feces dripping down on him. Still, he had pounds of matting. And he had never stepped foot on grass. He was about 3 1/2 when we rescued him and he was just the happiest, most loving dog there was. He was so happy to be free of that cage (and to be able to roll around in grass)! He loved his new life immensely! We had him for 8 1/2 years before cancer suddenly took him from us. 
When we heard about 500 dogs being rescued from southern Iowa, and that there were cockers in the mix, we felt called to honor Lilly and Quentin and help another life. We were warned that Harper was extremely traumatized, so we started off by fostering for one month. Despite obvious signs of anxiety/separation anxiety and other socialization needing work (plus just being underweight and being able to see her skin through her fur), we decided to adopt her. And you wouldn’t know she is the same dog if you weren’t around when we brought her home. While she still is cautious around new things and people, she has a whole personality and smile that we weren’t sure existed! And her tail wags!
I always participated in the Dog Jog with Quentin, and now I’ll be doing it with Harper.
Help me honor Lilly and Quentin - and celebrate Harper! - by making a donation that will help the ARL continue to care for homeless pets until they are able to find their own loving, forever homes!