A Program of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance
	Cosmo Week 1 ║  Week 2  ║  Week 3  ║  Week 4  ║  Week 5  ║  Week 6  ║  Week 7 Week 8  ║  Week 9  ║  Week 10  ║  Week 11  ║  Week 12 ADOPTED!!! Week 12 Cosmo is living in his forever home! He thinks that it's pretty nifty that he has a two-year old, two-legged sister that's just his size! So many kisses...so many toys to "share"! We and your handlers couldn't be happier for you, little one! We miss you, but we know that your dreams have been fulfilled! Week 11 Cosmo continues to be a good boy, and the perfect young dog! He continues to get compliments about his behavior from whoever comes in contact with him! Cosmo had some problems with his skin due to a food allegery, but he's doing just fine now! His coat is looking oh, so much better, and Cosmo has learned that liver dust on his food is positively yummy! One of his handlers took Cosmo out to the doggie yard for some one-on-one time this week. Cosmo picked up his favorite yard toy and just ran in huge circles around his handler for about twenty minutes! Cosmo would look at his handler, toss his toy into the air, and then catch it without missing a beat! His handler can't honestly remember when he laughed so hard or for so long because Cosmo was being so cute and so funny at the same time! Cosmo is "sneaking" into one of his handler's beds around 5:30 a.m. each morning! Cosmo just likes to curl against his person because he knows he'll get some much-loved scratches behind his ears before his day begins!  Cosmo's handlers wish that those of you reading his updates could really experience the "Cosmo Experience."  He's such a great friend to his people and the other dogs! His handlers have faith that his day will come soon, and that he will be a great friend to those in his forever home! Paw crossed, Cosmo! Week 10 While Cosmo waits for his forever home, he continues to be a "perfect friend" to his handlers! His fan club at the prison is growing as more staff members stop by the doggie yard to see him each day! They love watching Cosmo playing with the other dogs and his antics to get the play started! Cosmo is such a character with such a strong personality! He doesn't back down, and is not really afraid of anything! Cosmo has charmed Lily into helping him play with his toys, and has taught her that playing "tug" can be a lot of fun! He and Rocco have playful barking matches, and little Rocco does his best to keep up with Cosmo in the running department! While Cosmo has his new friends in his pack, he really misses his best-bud, Oliver. After Oliver went to live with his new family, Cosmo would lay in the yard like he always did, looking at the walkway waiting with anticipation for Oliver to join him in the doggie yard. When Oliver didn't appear, Cosmo showed his disappointment, with a whine and a cry. He's getting better, but when Cosmo walks by Oliver's old cell, he'll slow up and sniff the door looking for him. Oliver's handler gave Cosmo one of Oliver's toys, and Cosmo has found comfort in it as he naps or goes to bed for the night. Maybe Cosmo is using Oliver's toy to dream of a forever family of his own? In the meantime, his handlers will continue to have their "perfect friend." Week 9 Cosmo continued to excel in his studies yet again this week! What can his handlers say about him? He's a smart and very well behaved little boy! Yes, he does have his moments when he tries to do what only Cosmo wants to do, but those moments are now very few and far between! Cosmo got a "boo-boo" last Saturday. His dew claw got caught on something while he was playing frisbee with Oliver. One of Cosmo's handlers quickly reacted when he heard Cosmo's yelp and he saw the wound. He picked Cosmo up, held him like a baby and quickly took him to the group room to take care of him. Cosmo was a model patient! He just laid on the table and let his handler patch him up! The pup is limping a little, but he's improving each day! What a trooper!  Now, all this bundle of energy and personality needs is a loving family of his own. Paws crossed, little one! Week 8 Cosmo continues to be a great friend, and continues to do well with his studies! His recalls are stupendous! His handlers are so proud of him, especially when he breaks off from play when they call to him! They know that's the very last thing Cosmo wants to do, yet he'll run to his handlers "full tilt", sit next to them for his treat, and then resume his play when given the command to do so! He's quite a different dog than when he entered the program! One of his handlers reminisced about the first day he took Cosmo out to the doggie yard and let his leash drag. He had to lay on the snow-covered ground for Cosmo to come up to him, so he could leash his pup to take him back inside! Cosmo has made such great strides and has learned so much during his time with his handlers in just a few short weeks! Cosmo got a new toy this week, and he will just not leave it alone! He comes out of his crate with it in his mouth and drops it right in front of his handlers! When they act like they don't his toy, Cosmo will push it with his nose so they will play with him! Between his lamb, orange teddy bear and his rawhide bone, Cosmo always has somthing in his mouth when visitors pay him a call! Cosmo's handlers only have great things to say about him and his behavior! They say in their experience with the HOPE Program, there are certain dogs that they can't help but form a strong bond with. They know that their time with their furry friends is limited, but they see just how smart, sweet and loving they are. In the end, no matter what happens, their dogs always look at them the same way -- with unconditional love and respect. Cosmo is one of those special pups. His handlers will miss him dearly, but their only wish is that Cosmo finds a loving home very soon! Week 7 Once again, Cosmo has done a wonderful job on his studies this week! He really is a great friend, and has the best personality! He continues to be well-behaved and is picking up new commands with each passing day! Cosmo was introduced to the agility training course this week, and after just five minutes, had the commands down pat! He was loving going through the hurdles, the tunnel and the hoop, and just showing off what a special boy he is! His handlers also gave Cosmo some play time while honing up his agility skills, so it wasn't all work and no play! Cosmo is also learning to balance a treat on his nose with the wait command. His handlers are using cheese right now so it won't fall off of his nose when he moves his head, but they think he'll master this command with whatever treat is given to him in no time! Cosmo's recalls are "awesome now!" His handlers sometimes have to call him in a loud voice (especially if he's playing with his best friend, Oliver), but he'll come to them straight away when their voices are heard! His handlers still reward Cosmo with treats to reinforce this behavior. Cosmo's "stays" are "out of this world!" His handlers have had a lot of compliments from the other folks on the block at how well Cosmo does with them! Cosmo tends to lay down when he is "in a stay," and his handlers think he does it so he's not tempted to move. Cosmo's handlers are able to go out of his sight now while they walk the entire length of the doggie yard (about 40-50 feet). When Cosmo gets his "go ahead" command, he comes running up to them so fast that it makes them smile! Cosmo stops at their feet and waits for his "good boy" treat! His handlers still play "catch me if you can," with Cosmo but only when they first go out to the yard. It's not a game that they play with him anymore right before it's time to go inside because he loves it so much! Cosmo is getting better at understanding that this isn't an on-going game, and will accept the fact that it's over when his handlers give him the appropriate signs. Cosmo is still jumping when he's "amped up" and is greeting someone new. His handlers are having him sit and politely wait for his attention before the strangers pet him. If Cosmo gets a little rambunctious during play time, a "stop it" or "easy" command will stop him from this behavior. Cosmo isn't paying "any mind" to loud voices that aren't directed at him, but will seek his handlers' forgiveness when he hears their stern voices telling him that he's not being nice [like playing a little rough with the other dogs]. Cosmo's handlers think that he's starting to see this as a good correction and not a negative one! Cosmo and Oliver had a special outing this week, and were able to play together during their field trip! Cosmo was a pooped pooch when he returned to his cell, and went right to sleep! Cosmo's handlers say that "this gentle boy deserves a loving home and a new start at life." Paws crossed, Cosmo! Week 6 Cosmo has improved really well on his recalls this week, whether one-on-one with this handlers, or during play time! He mastered his "stay" command and walked better on-leash when his handlers told him "with me!" Cosmo is quite the entertainer! He loves to show off all of the tricks that he's learned to his neighbors on the block and the staff members who have time to stop by his space for some entertainment! Cosmo's new nickname from some of the guys on the block is "happy face!" Why? Because Cosmo is always eager to play with anyone who is up for the game, and they love how talkative he is when he's in play-mode! Cosmo had to curb some of his play time this week because of the weather. His handlers spent a lot of time with him in the doggy runs, as well as training and playing with him on the block. Cosmo got a little "rammy" sometimes, but after his handlers got him to "sit," he re-focused on his basic commands. Once Cosmo settled down a bit, he did just fine! Sometimes, when his handlers are busy doing something in their cell, Cosmo will give them a nudge with his nose. It's Cosmo's way of saying, "HELLO, it's time to play!" His handlers don't succumb to Cosmo's charms right away! They make him wait until play time fits into their schedules. For such an energetic soul, Cosmo can control himself very well...then let the fun begin! Cosmo is also giving his belly-up to more people! He even rolled over for his handlers a few times this week while they were playing with him in his space! Cosmo is also getting much better at giving kisses and not "mouthing." He'll sit and lick his handlers' hands when he wants to play tug. His handlers think that's better than his coming up and "grabbing" someone's hand for attention!  Overall, Cosmo is a great dog and his handlers are quite pleased with how well he's progressing in his studies! You're a charmer, Cosmo! Week 5 Cosmo's handlers report that he was one tuckered-out pup after his outing to Borders last week! When Cosmo returned to his space, he just plopped down for a 30-minute nap! After that, it was back out to the yard to play with his pack! Cosmo was very verbal during his playtime, and his handlers suspect he was telling his furry friends all about the new things that he saw and experienced! When it was time to go in, Cosmo wasn't even up for "catch me if you can!" He ate his dinner, and then it was back to dreamland for him! What a full day for this pooch! Sometimes, Cosmo catches a snooze with one of his handlers, and has learned a blanket over his body is a good thing!! If his handler doesn't cover him, Cosmo will work his way under the covers, so that he can be right next to his person. When he's not basking in the glow of being in bed with his handler, he can be found sleeping in his crate [he has very good crate manners]. Cosmo hurt his leg while playing with the bigger dogs this week. He limps a bit while going through his routines, but when he sees his doggy friends, he forgets about any pain, and is ready to play! His handlers watch him very carefully. After a few minutes of play, they put Cosmo back on-leash to give him a few minutes of rest, and then release him back into the pack. Actually, Cosmo has benefited from this, because his recalls are improving, and he realizes that leashing doesn't necessarily mean that he's going back inside! Unlike Cooper, Cosmo loves to watch Animal Planet! When he hears a dog bark or cry on the program, his ears will perk up and he tries to find the dog! He'll look around his space to find him or her, and his little nose goes into over-drive trying to sniff them out! When Cosmo realizes that the noises are coming from the TV, he'll sit right up in front of it, and watch! His handlers say that Cosmo has to work on his TV manners. While he's watching a program with rapt attention, Cosmo blocks the entire screen, so his handlers can't enjoy their shows! Cosmo's fan club is growing! Some new officers came to visit him in his cell. They saw Cosmo in the yard and on the block, and were impressed at how well he listened to his handlers! Cosmo was very pleased to show off his commands! His new admirers all left the cell with smiles on their faces! Cosmo still won't roll over. He's doing better about giving up his belly, but his handlers aren't pushing him to add this to his list of commands. Right now, it's just not in Cosmo's comfort zone, and his handlers are okay with that. Cosmo is very good about not bothering his handlers while they're eating. In fact, he'll just go lay in his crate until they've had their fill! Cosmo does have a bit of a sweet tooth! He loves Life Savers and other hard candies, cinnamon rolls and oatmeal cookies! His handlers are watching his diet carefully to make sure that he's not overindulged by these delectable treats! When Cosmo gets the sense that his sweet tooth will be satisfied, however, he'll sit and wait for his handlers to share them with him! Cosmo loves to play "chase one of my handler's hands"...almost like a cat! When his handler rubs his hand across the floor or bed, Cosmo will growl playfully and will do his best to catch it and hold it down with his front paws! When he has a successful catch, Cosmo will put his handler's hand in his mouth. If his handler doesn't move, Cosmo will push his hand with his nose so that the game starts again! Cosmo is also very sight-oriented at fast moving objects. One time this week, he saw a bunny run across the yard. Boy, did Cosmo think that was neat, and he did his best to chase after the cottontail! To his handler's relief, Cosmo was on-leash [although the pup forgot about that hindrance for a few seconds]! After the bunny disappeared from the yard, Cosmo lost all interest! Overall, this past week has been great for Cosmo! He had no setbacks and he continued to improve in all of the areas that his handlers mapped out for him to better himself. His handlers feel that he's a true joy to have with them, and they know that he'll make someone a great friend and family member.  Here's hoping someone will overlook your TV manners, and put in an application soon, Cosmo!  Week 4 Cosmo's handlers worked on his recall this week, especially when he was playing with the other members of his pack. He is improving with this instruction each day! Cosmo is a "very verbal friend who loves to talk and hear his own voice." He'll talk and yell whenever he's allowed to do so, and will bark and growl while playing with his pack members. He doesn't mean any harm with his verbal enthusiasm, and will settle when given the command to stifle himself! Cosmo will also play with his mouth when he gets side and belly rubs, and is in the mood to do so. It's just play...he doesn't bite hard, and if his handlers say "ouch" [even though it doesn't hurt], Cosmo will stop right away. His handlers are teaching him to lick instead of "mouth" during play time with other folks on the block. While he's playing with his doggie friends, Cosmo carries a toy to discourage him from nipping at the others in his pack. Cosmo doesn't like loud noises. Unfortunately, one of his handlers startled him one time, but it wasn't the end of the world for Cosmo!. The handler was working on a paper, and his typewriter wasn't working properly. He yelled out in frustration, and Cosmo scurried to his crate and hid. His handler crawled into the crate and reassured Cosmo that it was the typewriter that was "bad" and not him! When Cosmo came out of his crate, he stuck to his handler like glue for an hour or so because he just wanted to be close to him. This pup is not big on giving kisses, but he does like to lick his handlers' ears and eyelids! He also loves to cuddle up in bed, or rest his head on his handlers for some love and human contact! Cosmo gets along quite well with all of the members of the pack! He seems to know their different doggie personalities, and will adjust his playtime with them accordingly! He's a social boy in the yard, and loves to run, play tug, "dance," chase, play bow and wrestle with his furry companions!  Cosmo does something that his handlers have never seen, or quite frankly, have heard of a dog doing. He will hold his blanket between his front paws and suck on it once he has it to bunched up to his liking. He doesn't bite it, he just sucks on it like a child sucking his or her thumb. It seems that Cosmo has found a true security blanket when he needs it. Cosmo also was at the Meet and Greet, and no security blanket was needed there! He greeted the customers like they were his old friends, and had a wonderful time interacting with everyone that he met! AND, he was very quiet! He just glowed with all of the pets, treats and special attention that he got!  Cosmo has such a zest for life, and hopefully he'll be able to share it with a special family soon!  Week 3 Cosmo continues to win the hearts of everyone who meets him, and he's doing GREAT with his studies! Cosmo's repertoire of commands now include "pray," "high five," and "crawl." He is a very quick study, and responds well to a good treat, or his favorite toy (his little stuffed orange bear). Cosmo did get into some mischief this week. He chewed up one of his handlers' ID cards, and he had to get it replaced. His handler realizes that it was his fault, and finds no fault in Cosmo for doing the deed. Cosmo isn't listening as well as he used to when he's playing with the other dogs. This wasn't an issue when he started in the program. When it's time to go in, Cosmo tries to play "catch me if you can" with his handlers. Even treats don't help him when he's in this mood. So, his handlers have been using some commands to get Cosmo near to them so that they can leash him to take him indoors. They will concentrate on working with Cosmo on this issue because they know that good recall is good for his safety. Overall, Cosmo is doing really well, and his handlers have high hopes for him! They think that some lucky person or people would find him a wonderful addition to their home!  Keep up the good work, Cosmo!  Week 2 Cosmo is doing really well! His homework this week was to learn "lay down", "stay", "wait" and "shake hands." Now, every time his handlers ask him to sit, Cosmo also wants to "shake" to get a treat! He's a quick learner, and his recalls are getting better as the days pass!  Cosmo really likes to lay on the top of his crate, or the top bunk in his space so that he can look out and see what's happening in his world. He loves to get visitors! Whenever someone comes to see him, he wags his tail so hard, that his whole back end swings back and forth! He's quickly becoming a favorite on the block! He loves to play tug games and will release his toy when his handlers give him the "out" command. Cosmo carries his rawhide bone around like it's a true treasure! His handlers know when he wants to play, because Cosmo will bring a toy to them and put it in their hands. Cosmo is a cuddler! When his handlers turn out the light for the night, Cosmo will lie down in his crate. He's not shy about letting his handlers know when he needs a potty break, and lets them know when he needs their individual comfort to soothe him to sleep. Cosmo really is such a sweet dog! He and Murphy will play tug for a 1/2 hour or so! Cosmo also loves the game "catch me if you can." He'll approach his handlers, bark, and then run so that they'll chase him! Cosmo also has taken on the role of "the goodwill ambassador" amongst the pack. If he thinks that the other dogs are getting too rough with each other, he'll step in, and break up the tussle. Alas, Oliver is back at the prison, but he's found a good friend in Cosmo! Cosmo did really well with his handlers giving him his first bath! He just sat and allowed them to do what they needed to do! Cosmo also had no issues with his handlers' rinsing him off after romping around in the doggie yard. Of course, Cosmo thought that the towel was a chewy toy. His handlers will work on that!  Go, Cosmo!  Week 1 This past week has been a "get to know you" time for Cosmo and his handlers. The first thing they did was to find a new name for this pup (he came to the prison as "Doggie"). As soon as he heard Cosmo, our newcomer looked up at one of his handlers and sat down. So in a way, Cosmo picked his own name and he's responding well to it! Cosmo is good at sitting, and is starting to learn to "lay down." He'll comes to his handlers when they call him in the yard even if he's playing with the other dogs. Cosmo is getting along famously with the other members of his pack! In fact, he's the jokester of the group! He will tease and bark until his doggie friends play with him! He is a very vocal soul and likes to bark and growl while playing with his handlers and the other dogs. Cosmo will play tug for as long as anyone is willing to do so! Cosmo's handlers think that he'll really benefit from his participation in the program! He's smart and eager to please! He loves to cuddle and just hang out with his handlers. His handlers give Cosmo "brain teases" and know that he'll figure them out in time. His handlers see nothing but great things in Cosmo's future!  UPDATE - 1/22/09 Cosmo headed into the big house today and is already quite popular among the staff and inmates.  He's a one year old sweetheart of a dog who just needs some basic manners before heading on to start the rest of his life.  Our best guess on his breed is a pointer, possibly mixed with whippet or terrier or any number of other things.  Whatever his breed, he's a bundle of cute!!
	Hounds of Prison Education A Program of the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance