Black cockers?

I just got this from one of my Danville friends:

As some of you know, we had to put down our beloved dog Colby last week in FL because of endocrine issues. She was almost 14. This has left a big hole in my heart and I'm looking for my fourth black female cocker. I really care anything about having papers for her. I don't want to show or breed, just to love. So, if you hear of a dog, I'd come and see you to get her.

Being a cat person, I know next to nothing about dogs. Are there any rescue places here in Louisville to which I should refer her?

We owned an ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black) American Cocker for about 13 1/2 years....we would not have taken anything for her, BUT she was beset with health issues (esp. skin allergies), which probably stemmed from her being a puppy mill dog....American Cockers were once the most popular breed in the US, and as a result have been overbred....health issues with the breed have lingered.

Rescues are great and there is probably a national Cocker Spaniel rescue network advertising somewhere on the Internet with KY connections....there is also a website for the American Spaniel Club, Inc. http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org, which has links to rescue sites, as well as registered breeders around the US.

NOTE: A cousin to the American Cocker is the English Cocker Spaniel....not quite as common in this country (and thus has not been nearly as susceptible to health issues)...and there are a couple of ECS breeders in KY...Google the web.

Thank you Annemarie and John. I will send you replies back to my Danville friend.

Try the Kentucky Humane Society. For whatever reason, black dogs aren't adopted as quickly as dogs that aren't black and KHS occasionally has promotions where there adoption fee is waved for black dogs.

Thank you, John S. I will forward it to my friend right away.