Crime & Safety

[Update] Over $450 Raised for Springer Spaniel's First Stage of Tumor Treatment

Petals & Paws is hosting an event and raising money to help pay for a 10-year-old springer spaniel's medical bills.

Animal Control has raised over $450 so far from donations to pay for the first stage of tumor treatment for Cocoa, a 10-year-old springer spaniel found on a 3-foot leash in the cold at a Farmington boys volleyball coach's  home on Jan. 21.

"I'm taking him to the vet this morning to have the three growths aspirated and to see if we can remove the one on his front paw, which is the one that's most concerning," Animal Control Officer Beverly LaPlume said just after 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. "That's the one we're concentrating on because that's the one that was bleeding when we picked him up from the back yard that day. "

Aspirating and draining the fluid the tumors cost about $433, and LaPlume said that all three will be removed next week and sent in for testing to see if they are cancerous. She is waiting for an estimate of the cost, but is accepting more donations to be put into an account of funds for Cocoa's medical bills.

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Surgery to remove all three tumors is scheduled for next Friday, LaPlume said. Cocoa also has an infected gum line around one tooth, so that tooth will also be removed. Cocoa will be put under during the surgery. She is waiting for an estimate for the cost, but said that there is still some money leftover from donations to help pay for the remaining procedures. She's received other 50 phone calls from people wanting to help. 

"You're going to be as good as new," she said while petting Cocoa in her office on Thursday after his appointment at Animal General Veterinary Hospital. "He looks better. It's like night and day."

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Cocoa is a lovable dog that LaPlume says is "starved for attention."

Sandy McCollough, store manager of Petals & Paws in Canton, has raised $40 so far from customer donations for Cocoa and is hosting an event featuring animal communicator Sharon Warner and dog nail clipping on Feb. 5 in hopes to raise more.

"It looks as if Cocoa is going to be lucky finally," McCollough wrote in an e-mail.

When Cocoa's matted fur, caked with feces and frozen urine, was shaved two weeks ago, three tumors were discovered. Cocoa also had fleas and a belly rash.

"He's a sweetheart,"  LaPlume previously said of Cocoa. 

He had been found in the home of Juliette Givens, Farmington High School boys volleyball coach and district special services paraprofessional, who said that her husband put the dog out on a runner to go to the bathroom while he went to physical therapy. She said her family had given the dog to some friends, and that Cocoa ran away and they had just gotten him back a week before and did not have time to that week to license him and take him to the vet.

"Everyone lets their dog out to go to the bathroom...." Givens previously told Patch. "...He wasn't out for that long."

The property where Cocoa was found, 276 Waterville Road, is under the name of Lambert B. Givens, according to property records. Givens' husband was not arrested in connection with the animal cruelty charges because Juliette Givens is recorded as the owner of the dog, but that the charges could change in the pending case, depending on what the court decides, LaPlume explained.

Some neighbors told LaPlume they had seen a springer spaniel out on a short leash in the yard years before and are testifying in court. The pre-trial hearings were on Feb. 2.

Cocoa is not up for adoption, as he has not been surrendered yet, and that will ultimately be decided in court.  He is living with a foster family for now.

"He's being fostered in a home environment while the case is pending, so he doesn't have to be in the pound," LaPlume said. "I wanted him in a home environment after the condition he was in."

McCollough, who  frequently donates beds, leashes, harnesses and food to the Avon/Canton Canine Shelter, wanted to help Cocoa. Most of the donations come from her customers, who sometimes purchase beds for the animal shelter. She is collecting donations now and at the event.

"We are trying to help Beverly with the medical expenses for Cocoa with this event," McCollough said in an e-mail.

Canton resident Patti Fehr has volunteered to clip dogs’ nails at the Feb. 5 event to help raise money for the canine shelter. 

“Whenever they have an event down there, I pick a charity and that’s where the money goes,” Fehr said. “I give money to Bev and she [normally] buys beds and food for people who will be adopting dogs.”

Money will also be collected at the cash register, McCollough said.

The first step in treating Cocoa is aspirating the tumors and evaluating the damage, and the next stage would be surgery to remove the tumors. The most severe tumor is the one on the front paw, which the vet will remove first.

Avon Animal Control has raised enough for the first step, but is accepting further donations to pay for the rest Cocoa's medical bills, and has continues to receive calls from residents concerned about the dog.

Additional donations can be made by contacting LaPlume at 860-409-4205. Checks can be made payable to the Avon Animal Shelter with "For Cocoa" marked on the memo line and mailed to Avon Police Department Animal Control at 60 West Main St. in Avon.


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