Sue Wanner can only guess at the story Mouzer would tell if she could talk. The English springer spaniel is in Wanner's care after being left at the Medicine Hat SPCA in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, with no explanation.

"We're guessing she's nine or ten years old," Wanner says, offering Mouzer a treat and getting a tail wag in return. "It's hard to fathom that someone's had her for this long and decided to give her up."

Mouzer arrived at the shelter in rough shape, with a huge sore on her hind leg and a cracked back tooth that needed to be pulled. The SPCA looked after the dog's medical needs and kept her for 14 days, waiting in vain for someone to claim her.

That's where Wanner came in. The Medicine Hat resident is a member of the English Springer Rescue Association of Canada, a nation-wide charitable organization designed to help springer spaniels find new homes.

"I've always been a lover of springers," Wanner says. "I thought I'd like to join the organization to see if I could help out."

While Wanner was a member of the organization, she'd never had the chance to actually foster a dog. Most springer spaniels that come into the SPCA can be traced back to a breeder by a tattoo or microchip. Mouzer, however, had no identification and so Wanner took her in.

While some abandoned dogs have behavior or temperament problems, Wanner says Mouzer has proven to be a mellow, sweet dog. It's also obvious she's had some sort of obedience training in the past.

The English Springer Rescue Association of Canada has a no-euthanization policy, so if a home can't be found for Mouzer, Wanner will keep her herself. But she wants people to know there is a sweet dog available for the right family who can give Mouzer a second chance at life.

"And I want people to know about the English Springer Rescue Association - that we do exist and we do foster dogs," Wanner says.