Where “Perfectly Imperfect” Cocker Spaniels Find Their Perfect Match
Every day, senior dogs with medical needs are overlooked, left behind, or face being put down simply because they require extra care. At Camp Cocker Rescue, we believe every dog deserves to live their best life with a family who loves them just the way they are.
Fall in Love with a Wigglebutt
These aren’t just dogs—they’re survivors. With every tail wag, they remind us what it means to heal, hope, and trust again. Meet the adoptable cocker spaniel mixes looking for someone to love them just as they are.
Healing hearts. Saving lives. Finding home.
We rescue the dogs that need us most – Cocker Spaniels and other small breeds with complex medical conditions, trauma, or urgent needs. We go above and beyond to give them the care they deserve and help them find the forever families who will never give up on them.
Camp Cocker Rescue began with one big heart and a simple belief: that no dog is too broken to be loved. We’re a passionate team of fosters, volunteers, and animal advocates who treat every dog like family. We stick around for the hard stuff because healing takes time, and no one should go through it alone.
How Adoption Works at Camp Cocker Rescue
We’re not here to rush you – we’re here to help you find the dog that’s truly the right match for your home, your heart, and your lifestyle. Our adoption process is thoughtful and supportive, with plenty of guidance along the way.
Here’s how it works:
- Fill Out an Application
Tell us about your lifestyle, experience, and what kind of dog you’re looking for. It takes about an hour to complete and helps us find your perfect match! - Phone Interview & Vet Checks
We’ll talk more about your expectations, your home, and any specific dogs you’re interested in. We also contact your vet (and landlord, if applicable). - Home Safety Check
We’ll do a quick home walkthrough via video (or in person if local) to make sure your space is safe, secure, and dog-ready. - Meet the Dog
Once approved, we’ll help you schedule a time to meet one or more dogs in foster care. Most adopters come ready to go home with their new pup! - Adoption & Support
After the match is made, you’ll complete the adoption and donation. You’ll also get lifetime support from our team – we’re just a message away if you need help.
Our Impact: From Ruff Starts to Happy Hearts
Our impact isn’t just measured in numbers – it’s measured in the lives transformed, both for our dogs and the people who love them.
dogs currently in care
of intakes are major medical dogs
successful matches with forever homes
“Thank you for choosing us to love this boy forever! He is the best thing to happen to us in 2024 and we can’t wait for all the years we get to spend with him. Thank you for saving him from the shelter and for trusting us with his care and happiness.”
“They have been together since they started their rescue journey in Mongolia. We didn’t intend to adopt two dogs but once we met them we were so smitten we had to take them both home!!! They are affectionate and sweet and ACTIVE and we are obsessed already!”
“Betty absolutely loves her daily walks, hanging out chill’in, and loves to gecko hunt anytime she can sneak it in! She is hilarious, and as you always said, she really is so special; we just love her!”
“We love him this little cutie!!”
“We adopted our amazing dog Cooper (FKA Cowboy) a few months ago from Camp Cocker. Cathy was amazing throughout the whole process and was patient as we asked a million questions. She really does want this dogs to go to the best homes for them and it’s really refreshing to see.”
“My wife and I adopted a cocker spaniel mix from Camp Cocker about 9 months ago. The adoption experience was wonderful. Besides the application documentation, Camp Cocker conducted an extensive zoom meeting with both of us to make sure we would be a good fit for the emancipated dog we had chosen to adopt. The adoption process was professional and thorough. We hope Teddy (we re-named him) lives a long life. But when his time comes up, we would definitely go through Camp Cocker again.”
“I adopted a dog from Camp Cocker (Goose) in early 2023 and it was a top notch experience.
Cathy and Erin were both super helpful and it was clear how much they care for the dogs they rescue! Erin picked up my dog after he was hit by a car and had a broken leg in the Riverside animal hospital where he was placed on the euthanasia list. He was then put through surgery by Camp Cocker and now he’s in perfect shape- you would never even know he had a broken leg. He was given a second chance at life by the generosity of Camp Cocker and now my life is changed as well.
Camp Cocker is a professional, generous, kindhearted organization where you can feel the love and compassion they have for dogs. I highly recommend!”
Planning to Adopt a Cocker Spaniel?
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The latest updates from Facebook:
(repost from earlier, some Facebook users said they saw photos and not the story that went along with the photos)
Also, Ladybelle’s adopter gave Violet a hat that Ladybelle had worn to remember her by. 😭 #ImNotCryingYouAre
💔 In loving memory of Ladybelle . . .
It is with broken hearts that we are sharing the news that Ladybelle has gone over the Rainbow Bridge. 🌈
For those that may not remember her story, we would like to honor her by sharing it.
On a rainy day in March of 2025, one of our volunteers drove hours and hours to go to the San Bernardino City, CA animal shelter to save Ladybelle.
She had entered the shelter as a frail senior dog and was attacked by a kennel mate and dislocated her hip.
The shelter took her to a vet for x-rays and then set her up in their office for the remainder of her stray hold. After no one came looking for her, she joined Camp Cocker Rescue.
San Bernardino City is very poor and their animal shelter is already severely underfunded.
Combined with the lack of proactive spay/neuter services being offered in the community, the result is that the pet overpopulation problem is only rising.
Shelter staff does not want to euthanize but they are operating under impossible conditions.
More animals are entering their shelter on a daily basis than are leaving. Kennels are overcrowded because the shelter is trying so hard to delay euthanasia for as many animals as possible.
Ladybelle was put into a kennel with other dogs because of this lack of resources and space. 😢
In a perfect world, the community would have a robust and meaningful spay/neuter program to curb new litters. A poor community like this can't afford to pay for these services.
Only the wealthy famous national animal "welfare" organizations could easily support these services and be a leader in the spay/neuter movement. We sadly don't see any of these famous organizations prioritizing spay/neuter, instead they are more focused on the entertainment value of their endorphin producing programs of flying animals on private planes
These flashy private plane transports cost thousands of dollars per animal, with zero transparency or accountability for where the animals end up. Many are flown to municipal animal shelters in other states where the same animals can eventually face euthanasia. (it is a myth that any state is not euthanizing for space) One private plane flight can cost 50 to 75k. Imagine how many unwanted litters could have been prevented with those same funds through proactive spay/neuter programs?
Back to Ladybelle's rescue story . . .
Once we rescued her we went immediately to our vet where she was hospitalized for a severe case of pneumonia.
Before we could get her dislocated hip surgery (and FHO), she needed to recover from pneumonia and then see a cardiologist before going under anesthesia (she had a heart murmur).
When we rescue a senior dog, we go "all in" on everything that dog needs to get caught up on their healthcare. Ladybelle had chest x-rays, bloodwork, urinalysis, thyroid test, heartworm test, fecal/giardia test, etc.
It was a couple of weeks of hospitalization for her to recover from the pneumonia, before she could get her FHO surgery.
Once she had her surgery and was discharged, she began to get physical therapy to help her to walk again and to support her arthritis and weak joints.
After three months of p.t. Ladybelle was literally able to run around her foster home (yes, we cried some happy tears).
In June, she was adopted by a kind couple who saw Ladybelle's value not in her age, but in who she was, the sweetest goodest girl ever.
In July, shortly after adoption, Ladybelle was hospitalized due to acute heart failure. She survived and was discharged a few days later with new heart medication on board. Cardiologists will often say that once a dog goes into heart failure, they can live "up to" a year to eighteen months. Every dog is different and it all depends on how their heart responds to medication.
Ladybelle was stable and her adopters began to bring a stroller on walks so that when she got tired, they could put her in the stroller to get her home. She LOVED her walks, she enjoyed the fresh air, sniffing things and greeting people and other dogs in the neighborhood.
She was such a social butterfly and loved everyone she met.
In October, her adopters noticed a mass growing on her hip and they took her to the vet right away. A biospy was done on a sample from the mass and it came back as an aggressive form of cancer, most likely to metastasize at some point.
This was devastating news, Ladybelle had just begun getting the best of care and now this.
Ladybelle was doing okay, slowing down but still happy and wagging her tail. Every day was a gift.
In mid February, she let her adopters know it was time to go over the Rainbow Bridge when she became lethargic and stopped eating.
We wish we could rescue more senior dogs just like Ladybelle, but with a finite number of foster homes it's just not possible. This is one of the biggest reasons we are motivated to reach our goal of getting a rescue facility, to save more seniors.
Would you like to honor Ladybelle today by joining our monthly giving program, THE CAMPERS?
Joining is super easy, right here:
CampCocker.com/campers
For as little as .36 cents a day, you can help future dogs just like Ladybelle to have a chance to live out their third act with the best of care.
We are so grateful to her adopters and to her foster home for spoiling Ladybelle and making her feel so loved for the past eleven months.
For anyone that is shy about adopting a senior dog because they are afraid of losing them so soon, please consider that you have the ability to give the gift of love and good care for whatever is remaining in that senior dog's third act. Some seniors can live for several more years, while others like Ladybelle have something unforeseen come up like cancer.
We hope that anyone thinking they do not have the strength or the heart to adopt a senior, to please consider the gift that a dog like Ladybelle might have for you. Her adopters do not regret adopting her. They said that if they hadn't, they would have missed out on the wonderfulness that she brought into their lives.
Thank you to everyone that donated to Ladybelle's extensive medical bills and who had the same hopes for her future that we all did.
We don't regret rescuing her and would do it all over again. She was the goodest girl ever!
Rest in peace sweet Ladybelle and we hope that those that have gone before you are right now greeting you over the Rainbow and helping to show you around to help you make new friends there.
#SaveADogChangeTheWorld 🌎
#CampCockerLadybelle 🐶
#RainbowBridge 🌈
#SeniorDogsRock ❤️
💔 In loving memory of Ladybelle . . .
It is with broken hearts that we are sharing the news that Ladybelle has gone over the Rainbow Bridge. 🌈
For those that may not remember her story, we would like to honor her by sharing it.
On a rainy day in March of 2025, one of our volunteers drove hours and hours to go to the San Bernardino City, CA animal shelter to save Ladybelle.
She had entered the shelter as a frail senior dog and was attacked by a kennel mate and dislocated her hip.
The shelter took her to a vet for x-rays and then set her up in their office for the remainder of her stray hold. After no one came looking for her, she joined Camp Cocker Rescue.
San Bernardino City is very poor and their animal shelter is already severely underfunded.
Combined with the lack of proactive spay/neuter services being offered in the community, the result is that the pet overpopulation problem is only rising.
Shelter staff does not want to euthanize but they are operating under impossible conditions.
More animals are entering their shelter on a daily basis than are leaving. Kennels are overcrowded because the shelter is trying so hard to delay euthanasia for as many animals as possible.
Ladybelle was put into a kennel with other dogs because of this lack of resources and space. 😢
In a perfect world, the community would have a robust and meaningful spay/neuter program to curb new litters. A poor community like this can't afford to pay for these services.
Only the wealthy famous national animal "welfare" organizations could easily support these services and be a leader in the spay/neuter movement. We sadly don't see any of these famous organizations prioritizing spay/neuter, instead they are more focused on the entertainment value of their endorphin producing programs of flying animals on private planes
These flashy private plane transports cost thousands of dollars per animal, with zero transparency or accountability for where the animals end up. Many are flown to municipal animal shelters in other states where the same animals can eventually face euthanasia. (it is a myth that any state is not euthanizing for space) One private plane flight can cost 50 to 75k. Imagine how many unwanted litters could have been prevented with those same funds through proactive spay/neuter programs?
Back to Ladybelle's rescue story . . .
Once we rescued her we went immediately to our vet where she was hospitalized for a severe case of pneumonia.
Before we could get her dislocated hip surgery (and FHO), she needed to recover from pneumonia and then see a cardiologist before going under anesthesia (she had a heart murmur).
When we rescue a senior dog, we go "all in" on everything that dog needs to get caught up on their healthcare. Ladybelle had chest x-rays, bloodwork, urinalysis, thyroid test, heartworm test, fecal/giardia test, etc.
It was a couple of weeks of hospitalization for her to recover from the pneumonia, before she could get her FHO surgery.
Once she had her surgery and was discharged, she began to get physical therapy to help her to walk again and to support her arthritis and weak joints.
After three months of p.t. Ladybelle was literally able to run around her foster home (yes, we cried some happy tears).
In June, she was adopted by a kind couple who saw Ladybelle's value not in her age, but in who she was, the sweetest goodest girl ever.
In July, shortly after adoption, Ladybelle was hospitalized due to acute heart failure. She survived and was discharged a few days later with new heart medication on board. Cardiologists will often say that once a dog goes into heart failure, they can live "up to" a year to eighteen months. Every dog is different and it all depends on how their heart responds to medication.
Ladybelle was stable and her adopters began to bring a stroller on walks so that when she got tired, they could put her in the stroller to get her home. She LOVED her walks, she enjoyed the fresh air, sniffing things and greeting people and other dogs in the neighborhood.
She was such a social butterfly and loved everyone she met.
In October, her adopters noticed a mass growing on her hip and they took her to the vet right away. A biospy was done on a sample from the mass and it came back as an aggressive form of cancer, most likely to metastasize at some point.
This was devastating news, Ladybelle had just begun getting the best of care and now this.
Ladybelle was doing okay, slowing down but still happy and wagging her tail. Every day was a gift.
In mid February, she let her adopters know it was time to go over the Rainbow Bridge when she became lethargic and stopped eating.
We wish we could rescue more senior dogs just like Ladybelle, but with a finite number of foster homes it's just not possible. This is one of the biggest reasons we are motivated to reach our goal of getting a rescue facility, to save more seniors.
Would you like to honor Ladybelle today by joining our monthly giving program, THE CAMPERS?
Joining is super easy, right here:
CampCocker.com/campers
For as little as .36 cents a day, you can help future dogs just like Ladybelle to have a chance to live out their third act with the best of care.
We are so grateful to her adopters and to her foster home for spoiling Ladybelle and making her feel so loved for the past eleven months.
For anyone that is shy about adopting a senior dog because they are afraid of losing them so soon, please consider that you have the ability to give the gift of love and good care for whatever is remaining in that senior dog's third act. Some seniors can live for several more years, while others like Ladybelle have something unforeseen come up like cancer.
We hope that anyone thinking they do not have the strength or the heart to adopt a senior, to please consider the gift that a dog like Ladybelle might have for you. Her adopters do not regret adopting her. They said that if they hadn't, they would have missed out on the wonderfulness that she brought into their lives.
Thank you to everyone that donated to Ladybelle's extensive medical bills and who had the same hopes for her future that we all did.
We don't regret rescuing her and would do it all over again. She was the goodest girl ever!
Rest in peace sweet Ladybelle and we hope that those that have gone before you are right now greeting you over the Rainbow and helping to show you around to help you make new friends there.
#SaveADogChangeTheWorld 🌎
#CampCockerLadybelle 🐶
#RainbowBridge 🌈
#SeniorDogsRock ❤️
❤️ Blind dogs see with their hearts!
Penelope was rescued from the Orange County, CA animal shelter with two blind eyes that were bulging from long untreated painful glaucoma.
We rushed her to the hospital to have a double eye enucleation surgery.
She is now all healed up and had her very first grooming. Isn't she beautiful with her fancy fresh haircut?
Know anyone that is a rare special adopter that would be open to adopting a blind girlie like Penelope?
Please send them her bio at:
www.campcocker.com/dog/penelope-2026/
Serious adoption inquiries, be sure to check out the adoption process as well at:
CampCocker.com/adoption-process
Camp Cocker Rescue adopts out all over the U.S. mainland, however no steps of the adoption process are waived.
Adopters must complete the screening process prior to traveling to where the dog is located, to adopt in person. (please do not ask us to “send you” a dog)
Penelope is located in the Los Angeles region.
If you are unable to travel to adopt a Camp Cocker dog, that is completely understandable. Please support your local rescues in your region. There are nice dogs needing forever homes everywhere.
Spread the word!
#SaveADogChangeTheWorld
#CampCockerPenelope
P.S. We are still trying to fundraise for Penelope's medical bills and any donation would be so appreciated!
Donating is super easy at:
www.campcocker.com/?form=FUNNUDZQWSS
When you make your donation, there is a pull down menu for a designation and you can select "Penelope" from the list of dogs in need of donations.
Or better yet . . . would you like to join THE CAMPERS? Our monthly giving program helps to support our harder to adopt dogs like Penelope who end up being on the Camp Cocker "payroll" for a long time while awaiting a special adopter.
The CAMPERS are the heroes our dogs need! For as little as .36 cents a day, you can become the super hero for dogs like Penelope. Signing up is super easy right here:
www.campcocker.com/campers