ILLINOIS COCKER RESCUE
Rescuing, Rehabilitating, and Rehoming
Cocker Spaniels, Cockapoos, Poodles and other Toy Breeds


Our Philosophy

Build up the overall health of your pet throughout its lifetime

Illinois Cocker Rescue (ICR) is a holistic environment where we restore animals to good health by building up their immune systems, feeding them fresh natural foods, providing ample play time with lots of exercise, and limiting stress.  We feed a natural diet and limit vaccinations as much as possible. After the dogs are healthy---both in mind and body---we list them for adoption and find them loving, forever homes.

Our goal is to educate our prospective adopters on how to maintain the overall good health of their rescued dogs by keeping their immune systems at their peak.  To this end, we ask that our adopters become informed about canine nutrition and the dangers caused by over-vaccination.  Please read the information below.  

RAW FOOD DIET INFORMATION.  These articles explain how we feed our dogs and the rationale behind it.  This codifies the fact that all living creatures require fresh raw foods to stay in optimum health.  Raw foods contain enzymes that retard the aging process and contain many nutrients that are lost when foods are cooked or processed.  These nutrients strengthen the body and enable it to ward off illness. 

Raw Food Diet Information
BARF
Feeding Your New Dog
Dog Feeding Info
Fresh Food Diets for Dogs
What's For Dinner?
Dr. Marty's Feeding Advice

Manufacturers of Frozen Raw Meals.  There are a number of frozen or freeze-dried versions of the raw food diet.

Dr. Billinghurst's BARF DIET™
Oma's Pride
Aunt Jeni's

Nature's Variety

Tundra Diets

Bravo Raw Diet
Raw4Dogs
Northwest Naturals

CONTENTS OF COMMERCIAL PET FOODS.   These articles explain how commercial pet food is made.  After reading this information, you will understand why so many dogs are dying of Cancer and why it is not unusual that pet foods are recalled periodically If you currently feed a commercial pet food, you might be interested in learning how your current food stacks up against a NATURAL pet food.  [Natural pet foods are made from human-grade or organic (not rendering plant) meat, whole grains (not grain fragments), natural vitamins and chelated minerals (not synthetic vitamins and minerals), vegetables, fruits, and natural supplements.  For the full effect, you will need to first read how commercial pet foods are made, then click on www.naturapet.com and click on the food comparison chart.

Commercial Pet Foods

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Pet Food Companies
Food Pets Die For; a book excerpt
Rendering Review
The Inside Story on Dog Food -- chicagotribune.com
"Dog Eat Dog - What's Inside The Food We Feed"
Pet Food - Our Pets Are Dying For It
Cats and rendered pet food
Do Dogs and Cats Need Grains?
The Dog Food Project
Get The Facts - What's Really in Pet Food
Why Vets Recommend Designer Chow
Dog Gone Holistic: Our Story
What's Really in Commercial Pet Food?
Your Pet's Dog Food Could Be Dangerous
The American Pet Food Scandal

If you must feed a dry dog food, feed a high quality NATURAL dog food, preferably one that is listed on the Whole Dog Journal (WDJ) annual ranking of top ten dry dog foods. See below for a list of NATURAL dry dog foods.

Blue Buffalo
California Natural, EVO, Innova
Canidae
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals
Merrick
Natural Balance
Newman's Own Organics
PHD
Solid Gold
Timberwolf Organics
Wellness

VACCINATION INFORMATION.  These articles explain why it is not only unnecessary to annually vaccinate companion animals but harmful in that it has the potential to cause auto-immune disease.

                

Vaccination Information

Annual Dog Vaccines May Not Be Necessary
Still vaccinating your pet every year?
Are Our Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?
Should You Really Be Giving Your Dog or Cat All Those Shots?
Science of Vaccine Damage
Vaccinations:  More Harm Than Good?
Dr. Dodds' Recommended Vaccination Schedule
Canine Vaccination Guidelines
Complaint to the TX Veterinary Board of Medical Examiners
Rethinking the Rabies Vaccine
Vaccines, Good or Bad?
 

We greatly appreciate that you have taken the time to read the above information.  If you are an applicant and have read the above information, please call Aly for your telephone interview.  If you are seeking additional information on how to care for your pet in a natural manner, please review the list of recommended readings below.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

MEAL PREPARATION

"The BARF Diet," Dr. Ian Billinghurst.
"The Ultimate Diet: Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats," Kymythy Schultze.
"
Switching to Raw," Susan Johnson
"
Raw Meaty Bones," Tom Lonsdale
"K9 Kitchen  Your Dogs' Diet:  The Truth Behind the Hype," Monica Segal.
"Canine Nutrition," Lowell Ackerman, D.V.M.

HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

"The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat," Juliette de B Levy
"All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets," by Mary L. Wulff-Tilford & Gregory L. Tilford

GENERAL HEALTH

"The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care," CJ Puotinen
"Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats," Richard Pitcairn
"Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog,"  by Wendy Volhard & Kerry Brown, DVM

Illinois Cocker Rescue
P.O. Box 384
Harvard, IL 60033
Email: ILCockerRescue@aol.com
Website: www.ILCockerRescue.org