BENJI
I’m afraid we failed Fostering 101 like so many others! We have two other rescue springers, Bailey and Chance, 5 and 3 years old. We have helped out with rescue by doing home visits, vet check and transports, but had never fostered. When they needed a temporary foster spot for Benji over the Christmas holidays, we volunteered since we weren’t doing any traveling and our families aren’t nearby. We loved him right away, and discussed in great detail how important it was to get him ready for the right home, and even though it would be hard to give him up, as long as we knew he was going to a good home, we would be happy for him. (Isn’t that what fostering is all about?) So we did just that!
What we didn’t know was that he had already decided that he was in the right place and convinced us that he should stay.
We did a lot of reading and research when we got our second rescue, Chance, and there were days early on when one day he was staying and the next day I was shipping both of them off somewhere, because the two of them just couldn’t get along. So we just sat them down and said, look, we love you both and you had best work things out because we are in for the long haul here. It took some effort in the beginning, but was worth every minute. They are exact opposites in personality, and have been great for each other. Bailey has always been a little shy and insecure around people. Chance believes all people were put on this earth to play with him. They have learned from each other and are both the better for it, as are we.
Now we have Benji. We don’t simply have 3 dogs. We have a pack! It can sometimes be exhausting with three young males, but they get along great, and the pack dynamics are working out just fine. We love to walk the three of them together around the neighborhood. The neighbors are fascinated with them. It usually works pretty well, as long as the rabbits keep their distance
Benji has graduated from obedience class and we are really proud of him. He is still a puppy at heart and we love him for it!
--The Smith family in GA
SPORT
David Fine & I adopted Sport a few months ago in early February and I just wanted to touch base. He's doing very well and has settled in nicely; it's like he's always been with us. He is scared of Kitty and loves to curl up with Linus (our other dog) on the sofa. We're working with a really great trainer right now so Sport is learning better manners and how to walk nicely on a leash. He loves the flowers, so I think he'll love going on long walks this summer. If you want the information for the trainer, let me know - he comes to the house and has a flexible schedule and can do everything from the basics to tricks.
Thanks so much for helping us get Sport. Of course, since he & Linus are the cutest dogs in the world, I have attached a picture. Sport is in the front.
Megan McNellie
 SPENCER
Well, here I am in my new home. I sure do love it here and my new Mom and Dad think I'm just the best. I got to go to school Friday to meet some of the teachers, and I was very well behaved. Everyone fell in love with me! I'm good advertisement for ESRA. I hope I get to go to some of your fund raisers and activities this year, and meet all you hard working ESRA folks. Mom's going to start me in my citizenship work this summer so that I can go to school with her once in a while. My doggie siblings like me a lot and I'm very kind to them. (The cat still thinks I'm not to be trusted, but she's liking me a "little" better). Well, gotta go play a little in the snow and then take a nap! Thanks for all you do for dogs like me who just need a new start. I know there's someone out there to love each of us. Thanks for helping!
MOJO
 From Tom Yeatts
"I hope you and yours are well. Mojo is doing fine. He's fit right in and it seems like he's always been with us. He has been great at the dog park. I don't think he has been around other dogs very much. Each time we go, his interaction with the other dogs increases. He actually has another ESS buddy, Fenway, he likes to play with . It's really neat to see Mojo walking around the park with that big ol' doggie grin. Thank you so much for getting him to us. We feel very, very lucky to have him. It's hard to believe someone gave him up.After we got him out our bed, we started waking up with him in it. He's very sly about it. Mojo also started sleeping under our bed until he's ready to come up top. I'm afraid he's failing Security 101. When I get home from work he's usually asleep upstairs in one of the beds. He doesn't wake up until I call him. Then it’s a mad flight down the stairs for his afternoon treat. He loves company and he feels that all guests need a welcome kiss from him."
From Pam Civile:
Here are a couple of photos of Harry. The one in the car is the day he came from the shelter and the one in my kitchen is just last week. He has on the red bandana. Harry has become a big part of this family. He has taken over for Ashley. He is the  attention getter. He loves to bark and can not wait to be fed. He would eat all day if he could, but because of the hip dysplasia he must stay light. When we got him he weighed 50 very thin pounds and today he weighs 54.6. Our goal is to keep him at this weight for his well being. I took him to the vet Friday to have staples removed from 2 growth removal areas and one of the vet techs did not recognize him. She said he is an extreme makeover. New hairdo, nice skin and coat, beautiful teeth, and a nice weight. I can not say enough about the Salmon and Potato food he eats. It has done wonders for his skin and coat. Since he is deaf he doesn't hear us leave the room. If he is sleeping and awakens he starts to bark and panics. As soon as he sees one of us the butt starts to wiggle. He loves to bask in the sun on the deck and explore the area by the bird feeders in the back yard. He has learned to us the doggie when necessary(more then I can say for Carly). He enjoys being a spoiled senior citizen."
BUDDY
 It has been a year since Buddy came to stay with me. He is such a sweet boy! He can not get enough love and cuddles! He is really smart and has done better at his training than I have! He has filled a big void in my life after losing my sweet Daisy in the summer of 2003. We enjoy daily walk/runs in the park near our house. We have become the best of "Buddy's". He had a great Christmas with the family. I'm
sending his Christmas photo. He likes to pose! Hope you had a nice Holiday.
--Trudy & Buddy
Greensboro, NC
 DOUG
Douglas, "nka" (now known as) Charlie is one rambunctious and very loving animal. He is a most welcome addition to the family. His tail never stops wagging. He was described as "docile", yet he absolutely holds his own with his older & bigger "brother." He put on 10 pounds the first week we had him. This very much alarmed us, however, he is holding the weight well and is steady at 54 lbs. His coat is much improved and the sores have all but disappeared. He's got the typical ESS "occasional stubbornness,"but, nothing we can't deal with. Loves to retrieve tennis balls, but, only gives it up when good & ready & wants to run again. He still grunts & snores. He has so much "little puppy" in him, we have a hard time believing he's around 2 years of age. Thanks for checking,
-- The Cherwons
DILLON
"Dillon is right here as I type "helping" me. He is doing great! Eating, wagging, chewing (on bones) and with no real incidents. He loves to sleep on Alex's (our son) bed and he "helps" me wake him up every morning. He and Nicky are not real close, but they are getting alone just fine and they LOVE their walks together. We are training him to "WAIT" before crossing the street, but he really already does that! He is soooo good, we absolutely love him. Thanks again!"
Tara in Greensboro
BRETT
 By Debra Farr, Mt Pleasant, SC
"I am one those very lucky people who has adopted a rescued dog, to be more specific an English Spring er Spaniel from English Springer Rescue America (ESRA). It was just chance or luck or fate that brought Brett, my adopted Springer, and me together.
I was dropping off my dog, Jersey who happens to be a Springer, at a local pet groomer’s when Beth, a rescue/foster mom for ESRA, came in with two Springer Spaniels. I noticed one of the Springer’s was very thin and unkept. The groomer asked Beth how she wanted one of the Springer’s cut, and Beth’s response was “make him pretty so someone will adopt him”. “Him” was Brett. This caught my attention because I had just lost my other dog, Jersey’s constant companion and Jersey was very sad and lonely. I ask Beth why the dog was up for adoption and she explained she was a foster/rescue mom with ESRA and had received a call that a spaniel had been abandoned at an animal shelter in Bamberg. Someone had just left him tied up to the fence at the shelter. Beth needed to “rescue” and foster the dog until he was adopted.
When she picked him up he was very matted, undernourished, sick and heartworm positive. Ne
February 4, 2006
Brett. She gave me her card in case I wanted to contact her. I visited the ESRA website and read about all the Springers that were available for adoption. Brett’s story was also on the website along with his picture. I did contact Beth and monitored Brett’s progress. He was about to start heartworm treatment that is very stressful on both the dog and the owner. Beth explained that ESRA likes for their rescued Springers to complete this treatment before they can be adopted.
I made the decision to apply for his adoption. ESRA does screen adoption applicants to make sure their rescues “fit” with the person/family. Their mission is to make sure their rescued Springers have a good, loving home where they will be taken care of. The entire adoption process was very easy and relatively short. If you select a rescue that has health issues, like heartworms, or lives outside your community or state, it may take a little longer to get your Springer. The process consisted of completion of the papers, a telephone interview with an ESRA representative, and a recommendation check with applicant’s Veterinarian.
As fate would have it, my Vet was also Beth’s Vet. The same Vet treating Brett for heartworms. There is an adoption fee which helps cover the costs incurred rescuing the dog. Beth and Brett also came to visit Jersey and me for a more formal meeting. Shortly thereafter, I was informed the adoption was approved and I could get Brett once he was finished with his heartworm treatment.
Several weeks later Beth brought Brett to live with me. It was a very emotional time for all of us especially Beth who had nursed Brett by to health for more than two months. I cannot tell you how loving my rescued Brett is. He is one of the sweetest animals I have ever had. He is healthy and happy. He and Jersey are like brothers. He loves my 2 cats especially the younger one who was also rescued. They play hide and seek, groom each other and lay together. Rescued animals provide so much unconditional love. It’s like they know they are the lucky ones and appreciate every little thing. ESRA and other animal rescues organizations have great mission and deserve our support."
Just a note to say Sam is the fantastic dog you said he would be. Chuck has him doing tricks , obeying commands and he gets in trouble. We are really enjoying his fun, energetic spirit, and companionship. He and Rex have really bonded. He adores Rex and wants to play continually. Rex is not quite as excited about playing so much and lets Sam know when he wants to left alone.
One of us takes them to the dog park nearly every day. They love playing with the other dogs.
We hope you are doing well and have a joyous holiday season!
Keep in touch,
Jan, Chuck, Rex and Sam
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