History of Katrina Dog Rescue & Camp Cocker

Founder Cathy Stanley had dabbled in animal rescue for over ten years – usually just one dog at a time.  There was the dog that was tied up to a tree and left by its owner.  There was the pair of dogs whose elderly owner passed away and the relatives were bringing them to the pound to be euthanized.  These dogs would either somehow find Cathy or she would find them.  The rehabilitation process would always be the same, medical care, cleaning/grooming and then the most important, the emotional and spiritual care to lift their spirits so that they could become adoptable.  Cathy discovered she had a knack for being a mini publicist for each dog trying to find the exact right home where they would be loved and cherished forever!   She would dress the dogs up in adopt me bandanas and take the dogs out in public to different busy public places to pass out flyers and promote them.    

Cathy had a soft spot for Cocker Spaniels since adopting her first senior Cocker named Corky.    They only had six years together, but those might have been the best years of Corky’s life and they were certainly six great years of Cathy’s life for all the love that she got from Corky!  Cathy began to volunteer her time for other Cocker rescue organizations and she observed and learned from them.  

August of 2005 –  Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans.  Like so many others, Cathy was transfixed to the television watching every minute of the news coverage and worrying about all of the pets that people were being forced to leave behind. There were numerous pleas on the internet from local animal rescuers in Louisiana who were begging for help.    Cathy read one plea that said “no matter your experience, if you can help, just get on a plane and get here!  We will put you to work and the animals need you!”. 

Well – next thing you know, Cathy was on a plane to New Orleans the first day the airport officially re-opened.  She went with barely any money in her pocket, only enough to rent a minivan (to sleep in, there were no motel rooms) and that trip literally changed Cathy’s life forever.  There are stories on KatrinaDogRescue.com about Cathy’s two trips to New Orleans to lend a hand with the animal rescue efforts.  Cathy brought four heartworm positive dogs back to California and only three survived.  The one dog, a blind senior Cocker named Muffin – underwent a seven hour microscopic heartworm surgery because she was too emaciated to have survived the harshness of the heartworm shots.    Muffin’s story was particularly heart wrenching as her former owners had returned after the hurricane to move out and they left her behind to die in a vacated apartment.  Being blind, she must have been so happy to hear them return, and then so devistated to discover they were not there to save her.  She was found by rescuers five weeks after the hurricane, at just fourteen emaciated pounds, she was too weak to stand up on her own.  Cathy ended up keeping Muffin as one of her personal dogs and Muffin lived more than two years, for the first time knowing what being a loved pet was like.

It was after this experience that Cathy realized that she had a calling . . . although it would soon become the most expensive hobby to have – Cathy started doing animal rescue in Los Angeles.  She picked Cocker Spaniels, not only in honor of Corky, but also in honor of Katrina Muffin who had been through so much. 

It started with one or two dogs a month.  Then it became three or four dogs a month.  Soon Cathy figured out that there were many potential Cocker Spaniel adopters who lived up in Northern California and yet very few Cockers in shelters up there.  She began to drive dogs up North once a month to do adoptions and suddenly, as more dogs were getting adopted out, Cathy began to up how many she would rescue.  Before you know it, Cathy’s life was turned upside down as she became more and more inspired.  Not only by the dogs she would meet and see what wonderful homes they were getting – but also by the many amazing animal lovers that Cathy has met along the way.  Some adopters have become Cathy’s biggest fan club and help to spread the word about animal rescue.  

Cathy’s rescue efforts are often financed by the minimal profits from the small business that she runs (PoochPotty.com) and often, she comes up short and her vet bills get really high (thank goodness for the long standing relationship with the Camp Cocker vet who gives Cathy time to make payments).  Fundraising is something that Cathy is always in need of and every dollar goes directly to the Camp Cocker veterinary bills.    The boarding expenses for the dogs in Camp Cocker always come out of Cathy’s personal pocket – so foster homes are always desperately needed as well.

Why pick a hobby that is so expensive and emotionally draining?  Well, the answer is simple.  To receive a card in the mail with pictures of a happy loved dog and a positive story about them.  Or to get an email with pictures and a happy update about a dog that you never believed someone would love and cherish.  Those delayed gratifications are the ones that Cathy lives for.   And maybe she isn’t changing the world, but ask a Camp Cocker doggie what they think and they will tell you that Cathy changed their world and isn’t that all that really matters?  One dog at a time?