Cocker spaniels are a very special breed and make wonderful family dogs. They are one of our favorites, and we’ve had three so far. One was black, one blonde, and now we have Casey-Lynn, who is a buff color.

Georgie Porgie was our first. He’s the dog you have read about in this column from time to time. He loved to chase that goose and torment all those chickens. He had black curly hair and large expressive eyes that would render your heart to putty for another treat or an affectionate pat.

Georgie was an excellent watchdog and very devoted to our three children. He was exceptionally so when other neighborhood dogs wanted to be on friendly terms.

Cosmos was one of those friendly neighbors. He was a Great Dane and towered over our little cocker. That breed of dog is aptly named not only for being so big but he looked like he was up on stilts.

One sunny summer afternoon, the children were playing in the backyard with their newly found box turtle. Boxy was making himself at home in the grassy corral and Georgie was close by, comfortably snoozing in the warm sunshine with one eye open for sentry duty.

Cosmos trotted curiously into the yard to see what was going on. Putting his nose up to the turtle, he gave a big sniff.

The turtle boxed up, the children squealed, and Georgie bounded to the rescue. With absolutely no fear at all our hero thought himself 10 feet tall and just as mighty as he sprung into action. Cosmos learned his lesson well, for, with tail between his legs, he cowered away. We could almost hear Georgie say, "Scram, mutt, and leave my kids’ stuff alone."

There are sad days too along with those happy days. It was sad when old Georgie had to leave us. The veterinarian told us, "It’s time to do something when a pet no longer enjoys life."

Sad. The family went into mourning and finally decided not to go through any other heart-rending trauma of losing one of the family again. "No more dogs," we decided.

Until Sugar Buttons, and then years later, Casey-Lynn. All three dogs, although being of the same breed, were so different. Each had their own personalities just like people do _ only without all the anxieties.

Guess you could say we were real pushovers for two more cocker spaniels. It wasn’t long after we lost Georgie that we read in the classified ads about a cocker spaniel that was no longer wanted and needed a good home. Our heart went out to that little bit of life.

Why dog owners just get rid of their pets because of some inconvenience is beyond me.

Both Sugar and Casey were the "unwanted." How sad.

Sugar was one energetic pooch. She would run her little heart out for a bunted baseball.

Casey-Lynn is completely different. She’s just contented to be with family and will tummy-up at a moment’s notice for the ecstatic scratch and a loving pat. We called one of her theatrical antics "woodchucky" for she would prop herself up on hind legs next to you on the couch and beg for attention.

It’s very odd that this dog never learned to play ball; in fact she is not interested in playing with any doggie-toy. We did learn that the previous owners had purchased her as a gift for their youngsters. She became a live "baby doll" to be coddled. Of course, the children’s interest span was short lived and the baby doll grew to adulthood. So that was the extent of the dog training.

Another thing Casey is exceptionally good at is to eat, eat _ and eat some more. I really think a few brain waves are not connected. If there is nothing in her bowl, the wastepaper baskets are raided. The kitchen trash is the first to go. (What a mess). Next is john paper strewn across the living room floor. Hang anything with a tissue in the pocket within her reach and it’s gone. Your pocketbook isn’t safe either. Needless to say we had to make our home "doggie-safe" and warn visitors.

I don’t know if other dogs do this, but Casey has an appetite for toilet tissue and Kleenex _ especially the used kind. Stranger still is to see white paper strings when she goes potty.

Time flies by and now Casey is an overweight senior, as we also are. Her friend, our daughter’s cat, Sebastian, lives next door and comes to visit most regularly. Bits of honey ham or tidbits of roast beef are the fare as they vie for human attention. Do you think they are spoiled?

Both cat and dog compete with the "tummy-up act" for scratches and pats. Sebastian has his cat act down pat by putting his head between his paws and actually somersaulting. Now that’s better than some TV.

And so we all grow older together ... with love.

Elaine W. Kniskern is a 75-year-old resident of Schenevus and a grandmother of five.