Hamilton was my first Cocker Spaniel. He had been through so much, when he was a puppy his first owner kept him locked up in a bathroom all day. His second owners rescued him and took really good care of him for several years but once they had a child they kept him in their basement with very little attention and neglected to take care of his medical issues. They no longer wanted to keep him and searched for a rescue group or a no kill shelter that would take him but no one would. The owners were going to have him euthanized. I could not allow this to happen, this poor dog just needed a break. So I adopted him despite being 10 years old, in need of a lot of medical attention, ie skin, eyes, ears, hypothyroid and seizures along with behavioral issues, ie separation anxiety. I did everything that I could to assure that he felt safe and loved. He was not an easy pet but he was loyal and I loved him so much. After everything that this poor dog was put through he was still willing to trust me and was always wagging his tail. I would not have traded my Hammy for the world.
My husband and I had most of his medical issues under control for the exception of his ears. Due to chronic infection and neglect, his ears were so heavily ossified you couldn't even see an opening to his ear canal. We were making progress on his separation anxiety and aggression towards Bailey (my other dog). Just to see him flourish overshadowed any negative. After having him for several months it was time to finally take care of his poor infected and probably painful ears. I spoke to my vet and the vet that would perform the operation. I researched the TECA procedure and finally got the guts to arrange his operation. He did great throughout the whole procedure but when he was waking up he was not breathing correctly and we lost Hamilton on May 1, 2010. We did everything we could to ensure his well being, blood work, x-rays and an EKG and we still lost him. Despite all of the precautions that we took I blamed myself. The same thoughts would enter into my mind: I was the one to go ahead with the procedure, it is my fault, he trusted me and I let him down and I put him through all of this for nothing. I had a difficult time around my other dogs, every time I would even look at them I would break down and cry.
He was let down by so many people and I refuse to be one so I am trying to have something positive come from all of this. Hamilton was not the perfect dog but he deserved so much more so in his memory I am trying to raise money for those cockers like him. You know the ones that were dumped at the shelter, those that needed medical issues addressed, those that just wanted love and were neglected? During his life he was never given a voice but I hope through his death he is finally given one to help speak for those cockers that deserve more.
In memory of Hamilton, Camp Cocker volunteer Michele is asking for donations so that we can get the second ear surgery done for Meghan, an older cocker spaniel that needed double ear surgery just like Hamilton did.
