I adopted her 7 years ago from a rescue group in Southern California - before I became a dog rescuer.She had the strongest personality of any cocker that I've ever adopted.
Holly was one of the main reasons that I started Shelter Cocker Rescue in Southern California - to save cockers like her from shelter deaths and to find them new homes in Southern and Northern California.
She would growl at other animals who came anywhere near her food and she would run into the refrigerator each time the door was opened.
Despite a lot of different medicines, her genetics were so bad that we couldn't clear up her existing ear, eye, skin or organ weaknesses. She had liver disease, a heart murmur, cataracts and a rectal tumor.
Holly had been a guard dog for a blind man and when he had to go into a nursing home, Holly was turned over to a rescue group. I adopted her from them.
She made it "her job" to guard me, even around my husband Bill. She would always run to be next to me and watch when anybody came close to me. Holly would then growl or lunge at them as she protected me.
However, Holly was loving with me and she let me take care of all of her needs. She was also a sweetie with people outside of our house.
In her last 2 days, her stomach grew very big. The vets believed that she went into major organ failure since she was retaining water and losing body functions.
Her breathing was labored and it was time for me to let her go before she suffered.
I loved that pretty girl a LOT, even though she was a challenge. She will be very sadly missed.
See Holly's video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKst5M9tcBA
