SUCCESS STORIES
The following are letters we have received from the wonderful people who have adopted our rescue dogs. It is so rewarding when we bring together great dogs with great people!
Just thought
you might be interested in seeing how Ellie Mae is doing.
Just a bit of background. The summer of 2006, 3 year old Ellie was
surrendered to the shelter pregnant with heartworm. She was due to be put
down due to the expense of heartworm treatment when BCR rescued her.
Within 24 hours of being rescued she littered. After weaning all of
her pups (they were pure BCs and all were adopted), she went through 6
weeks of heartworm treatment and was then spayed. We adopted her 1
week later.
Ellie was very timid and insecure, a real Velcro dog. She didn't know
how to walk on a leash, afraid of cars, didn't bark, etc. Within a
month (Jan 2007) we started agility classes. The agility instructor
had her doubts about how far Ellie would go in agility due to her
insecurities. Ellie started slow, but about 6 months later it clicked
and she really started excelling in agility. Jan 2009 she participated
in an agility demonstration at the Cow Palace. In Feb 2009 we started
competing in agility. She is doing so well. After only 7 trials, she
earned 2 legs towards her Open JWW and won her Open Standard title.
We wanted to find out if she had any herding instinct, so we had her
tested the first month we had her. She failed the first instinct test
as well as the second test a month later. After building up her
confidence with 2 years of agility, we tried herding again and she did
just great!
We thought Ellie would make a good therapy dog, so after having her for
about 6 months we had her tested and she became a therapy dog (visiting
convalescent centers, etc). She tolerated it, but didn't seem to enjoy
it, so after only a few months we stopped. Agility and herding is what
she loves, so that is where we are focusing.
Ellie is a very happy dog. We are so glad that she was rescued and
part of our family.
Just what would life be without Katie (originally Lizzy) or Tucker? We can’t imagine!
The first two months were really trying, I think it was trying for them too, but we all hung in there and the rewards are beyond anything we could have imagined! That it has been four years now, tells you what a busy, full life we all have had together!!
Katie was renamed as Gregg felt under that black coat was really a redhead and so she just had to be Irish! He began calling her Katie O’Leary. She was definitely the wild child! We are sure her exuberance (what we love) is the very thing she was beat and abused for. She is now our clown! We are so proud of her changes and she has proved that love and stability can overcome some really big odds!! She is all girl, plays ball but there will be no dirty sheep in her life!!!
Tucker is a “soft” dog. He was 3 days past his kill date (lost paperwork) when he was rescued! His foster mom, Jeanne, told us he was special but we had no idea how special! His issues were from neglect along with some major health problems. By continuing the care that BCRNC had started, we began to uncover the dog he was meant to be. His groomer kept encouraging us to test him for herding instinct. It was instant love. He now trains at Herding 4 Ewe in Vacaville with Debbie Pollard. Tuck’s biggest issue now is waiting for his Dad to catch up as his herding handler in the field!
Last weekend at an AKC trial Tucker qualified and placed first in Started Course A (sheep) and as if we couldn’t be any prouder he was also High in Trial! The feelings that well up in us each time this dog runs and works sheep is more than we can put in words. Katie is always there, too, as the cheerleader!
Tucker has been such an ambassador for Border Collie rescue as he is right up there with purebred, papered and pedigreed dogs, holding his own! People are so surprised when they hear his story. We travel and camp with these two and every one falls in love with them too.
We are so grateful you chose us to be the forever home these two wonderful dogs so deserved.
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August 16, 2009
We adopted one of your puppies - "Diesel" on July 4th. We just wanted you and his foster mom to know that he is doing well, other than being loved to death! He now answers to his new name - Riptide and can sit, give his paw, lay down and speak on command. He is house-trained and is coming along on coming when he's called (he gets a bit distracted by other dogs and people) and not begging for food. He is still a little "mouthy" with our son, but we think that will let up when we get our son trained!
Thanks so much again for your organization and also to his wonderful foster mom, who was clearly very good to him and worked with regularly. He has already brought so much joy to our family and we are very grateful for him and for you.
August 15, 2009
Lizzie, formerly Demi, has started puppy classes at the SPCA. She is wonderful around humans, but is afraid of other dogs and we are working with her to overcome that. She is smart as a whip and knows sit, stay, down and beg. She's good on recall as long as there are no squirrels around :-) Everyone tells us how lucky we are to have her!
Thanks again for saving her and for choosing us!
February 2009
This success story is long overdue, but
well worth the wait.
I adopted Augie-Doggie (previously Laddie) in June of 2005. I think were both a
bit uncertain about what our new lives were going to be like with each other.
Due to Augie’s fearfulness and shy demeanor, we were given extra time to sort
out our new arrangement. Augie was afraid of many things, including people,
unfamiliar sounds, squeaky toys, and our cats. He is still fearful of squeaky
toys (I think he must have been harassed with one in his earlier life), and he
still keeps his distance from the 2 older cats. Since I got him I rescued 4
kittens, so he now lives with 6 cats and we’ve never had any problems. He has
come a long way from being the timid dog I met in foster care. He is now so
friendly with both dogs and people, that it’s an effort for me to keep him from
rushing to meet anyone we encounter on the trails near home, or at the office
when he’s allowed to visit. He absolutely LOVES other dogs, regardless of
whether they’re likewise excited and sniffing, or growling at him. I get a lot
of comments on the spot on his head, or his one ear up and one ear down, and
what a good dog he is since he’s so obedient. One day I got two “what a
well-behaved dog!” compliments in the same day, one from someone who isn’t that
easy to please. I was so thrilled, and proud of my once-upon-a-time tail
tucking, ear drooping Augie-Doggie. He fetches like a pro and drops his toy
(usually a BALL) at my feet (in foster he wouldn’t retrieve). He’s also learned
to catch and retrieve a rubber frisbee, which is a favorite toy in the snow. Oh,
did I mention SNOW? He absolutely LOVES being in the snow. Augie is a very
happy, wiggly dog. He doesn’t keep still for long, unless we’ve been on a long
walk, he’s had dinner, and we’re both relaxing. Many thanks to Janie and Brett
and the Northern CA Border Collie Rescue for bringing us together. One day I
hope to bring another doggie into our home as a companion for Augie (and the
rest of us). Who knows what awaits us. Right now we have a pretty big crew.
Cheers, and many thanks!
We just wanted you to know how Epic, the wonderdog, has been since we adopted him in July of 2007.
February 1, 2008
I thought you might enjoy this picture of
Sunny and Star cuddling on the
couch.
Today I saw the sweetest thing I have seen to date between two dogs. We
got home from playing in the snow and were all soaking wet. Star
(formally Argos) and I were cuddled on the couch, next to the
woodstove, trying to get warm.
Sunny came over and ever so gently licked Star 's coat until he was dry!
He started on top of his head, even licked Star's eyes and then worked
his way down his back. Star seemed to really enjoy this kindness and
held perfectly still. Now Star has the softest, cleanest fur on his head
and back!