Shorewood Cocker Rescue, Inc. was founded in 1985 by Carole W. Kohler. The rescue has continually evolved through the years in order to better serve cockers in need. In 2001 Shorewood was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2003 Carole retired but the Mission never changed: "The mission of Shorewood Cocker Rescue, Inc. is to assist homeless Cockers in finding permanent homes with responsible, loving families. We spay or neuter all Cockers prior to placement and check references on all adopters. We make every effort to carefully match each Cocker with the right family to maximize the adoption's success." This mission is carried out by an all volunteer group that fosters, transports and , fundraises for cockers in need. With their help and yours we have placed hundreds of dogs in their forever homes. Please consider helping anyway you can.
1. Potential adopters fill out an Adoption Application. We use this information to find the best match for your family from the available Cocker Spaniels. There is a non refundable $10 Adoption Application Processing Fee and your application can not be processed until after the fee has been received. Please be advised that filling out an application does not guarantee an adoption. 2. You will receive and email asking you to let you references know that it is ok to talk to us. You MUST respond in the affirmative to this email to continue with the process. Next references provided by you are checked. The length of time this takes varies on how fast we are able to actually get through to talk to your references or how fast your references return phone calls. 3. If your application is approved, you'll be notified by email. We will let you know if your requested dog is a fit. If not, we will ask that YOU watch the website and let us know if you see another cocker that interests you. 4. After you've been approved for adoption and a match is made, the foster parent for that dog will contact you to provide you with more specific information or update information on that dog and answer any questions you may have on that dog. 5. When a dog is decided on between the parties there will be a Home Placement Visit where a volunteer comes to your home with the Cocker to answer any general questions you may have and allow you to spend some time with the dog. While waiting for your home visit, it would be very helpful and is important that you review the information on our Help for New Arrival page. The purpose of the Home Placement Visit is to ensure that things you represented in your application are true and that the dog will be provided with a safe, loving environment. If things go well and both you and the dog are comfortable with each other, the volunteer will go over some of the paperwork in the dog's folder with you. If we feel that the home visit went well, but you refuse the dog, we will not bring a second dog. 6. We'll ask you to read through and sign two copies of the Adoption Agreement -- you keep one for your records and the volunteer takes the other for ours. The Adoption Agreement will include all that dog's vaccination information. It is important that you keep that document and make a copy of it to take to your vet, so he/she has need to know information about your new companion. The volunteer will collect your adoption fee and will leave when the dog is comfortable. You'll have your new companion! 7. After the adoption, you'll receive your dog's rabies certificate and information as to how to transfer the microchip to include your information via postal mail. There is usually a fee paid to the microchip company. It is important that you take the few minutes to do that and do it as soon as possible. Having the dog microchipped is of no benefit, if you do not have the chip registered in your name with your contact information. Volunteers are available after the adoption via email or phone to answer any questions you may have. It is slso extremely important that you contact the dog's foster parent immediately with any concerns, problems or questions encountered during the dog's adjustment period so that we can try to resolve them and help you. We are also available to try to help in the future. We do get very attached to the dogs that we foster and sincerely appreciate hearing from you occasionally to let us know how the dog is doing.