Rally to Rescue National Spokeswoman Speaks Out 
When Rally to Rescue national spokeswoman Deborah Cooper decided to get involved in rescuing Chinese Shar-Pei 15 years ago, little did she know that it would become one of the most important missions of her life.

Already a breeder and handler, Cooper was well-versed in what it takes to win in the show ring. Good nutrition and proper care were an important part of her program, along with the ability to present dogs in a way that promotes their best attributes. The ancient, wrinkled breed held a soft spot in her heart that took root when she bought “Flyers,” her first Shar-Pei.

Then along came “Sophie” for husband Robert. Agility and obedience competition became fun ways to bond with the dogs while also practicing important skills. Cooper shared trainer Dennis Hill’s interest in canine behavior and naturally when he learned about an 18-month-old Shar-Pei named “Raisin” needing a home or facing possible euthanasia, he told her.

Rescuing “Raisin”
“We met Raisin’s family at the park,” recalls Cooper of Porter Beach, Ind. “There were the mom and dad and the children, who were crying. Raisin had lived his entire life locked in the basement. He had never seen a television and was very frightened of many things.”

Although she and her husband already had Flyer and Sophie, they rescued Raisin. “We worked with Raisin and Dennis with a goal of rehabilitating him to go to a new home,” she says. “Eventually, we realized it wouldn’t be the best situation for him since he was so unsocialized. He was a happy, little dog who even slept with us. He died at age 7 from kidney disease.”

Shortly after getting Raisin, Cooper realized there was no Chinese Shar-Pei rescue organization in the Chicago area. “People thought that Shar-Pei are such a rare breed, why would you need a rescue group,” she says. “The breed appeared in a cover photo on a Neiman Marcus magazine just two years earlier, which prompted a surge in popularity. Many of these dogs later ended up needing rescued.”

A loyal, intelligent breed, the Shar-Pei is not for everyone, Cooper says. She founded Rescue A Shar-Pei (RASP) in 1992 to help find forever, loving homes for abused, neglected and homeless Shar-Pei. With help from many dedicated volunteers, the rescue organization has placed more than 1,500 dogs.

“It warms your heart to save the life of a dog and give them a second chance,” Cooper says. “Without our help, many might end up losing their life or be put in a horrible situation. The success of rescuing dogs overshadows the sadness.”

Shar-Pei National Parent Club
Beyond RASP, Cooper was instrumental in establishing a rescue organization within the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America. She has served for five years as chairwoman, plus she is a member of the board of directors of the national parent club. Through both roles she is an advocate for the rescue community.

As vice president for administration for Frontenac Co., a private equity investment firm in downtown Chicago, Cooper has a great deal of expertise to share. “The key in rescue is knowing your limits and being smart about expending your financial and personal resources,” she says. “You have to keep sight of the big picture and help dogs one at a time.”

Among achievements, Cooper counts the restructuring of the Chinese Shar-Pei rescue organization. “We now have five trustees who make recommendations and endorse our spending of funds,” Cooper says. “The system enables us to process requests for funding and to provide donations in an efficient manner.” With a trust fund totaling about $13,500, the parent club is able to help provide funding to smaller Shar-Pei rescue organizations.

A Rally to Rescue Voice
When Purina Pro Plan brand marketing associates asked Cooper to be their Rally to Rescue national spokeswoman, she didn’t have to think twice. Granted the job would involve traveling to national rescue rallies and other important events, but to Cooper it represented an opportunity to speak out to a national audience about the importance of pet rescue.

“Rally to Rescue is the first package of its kind,” she says. “Never before has a backer as big as Purina Pro Plan stood up for the little guy who tries to do a big job. Rally to Rescue embodies the importance of the human-animal bond and supports those who take seriously the responsibility of caring for animals.”

As the program unrolled last spring, Cooper had a key role in media interviews helping to explain the Rally to Rescue program. Additionally, she works to get the word out to rescue organizations and individuals who support rescue. “We want them to know to buy the Rally to Rescue collars and wristbands (available online at www. rallytorescue.org),” she says. “We also want to increase awareness among people not even in the dog community.”

Giving Back
Today, Cooper and her husband share their home with several Shar-Pei, which she calls their “canine children.” She feeds her dogs Purina Pro Plan brand Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula as the breed is prone to skin problems. “They are fine if I feed them the right food and take care of them,” she says.

She particularly enjoys working with dogs that have special needs and educating people on behavioral issues concerning their canine companions. Frequently, she provides information to smaller rescue groups on issues surrounding dogs and family.

Though rescue work has pulled Cooper from time once devoted more heavily to conformation, agility and obedience, the cause justifies the change. “Dogs give back way more than you ever give them,” she says. “Their love and total commitment to you makes it all worthwhile.”