Nelly--young merle F, O/S--Bowling Green, KY--ADOPTED!

[ajones]

When I returned to my local shelter, BGWCHS, today to spend some more time with Harlin (see http://bcrescue.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13687), I inquired about Nelly. She is in the quarantine area, so I asked a staff member what her story was. She was adopted about a year ago from the shelter and returned earlier this month. Reasons given were that she was too energetic and didn't fit with the family's lifestyle. She was extremely shy when she first arrived and still takes awhile to warm up to people. But I really like her and think that, in the right hands, she would blossom quickly.

FYI, the shelter has her listed as an ACD/Aussie mix. But I really think she's BC. I made DH take a ton of photos as I was interacting with her today and even a couple of brief videos so anyone interested can see how she moves. We spent over 30 minutes with her, so I'll be able to share a fuller evaluation and more pictures later.

Here is her PF link: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23298728.

ETA: Just time to add a couple of photos now....

The view I had of Nelly for the first 10 minutes or so; I was at the opposite corner of her run.


A profile shot after we had been out walking around for awhile.

[ajones]

Time for a little fuller eval...although Nelly is extremely shy at the moment, I think she is just waiting for people of her own to help her come out of her shell. It took her quite awhile to come over even to meet me, but then she started to warm up, allowing me to pet her. When she retreated to her corner by the doghouse, I left the run. At that point, she came quickly up to the run door as though disappointed at being left behind. So I went back into the run, put a slip lead on her, and brought her out for a walk.

Nelly seemed really to enjoy being out of her run--maybe it was getting more attention, maybe just that we were a ways off from the other animals (she is kenneled between a large and crabby pig, Petunia, and a loud bluetick coonhound--so I think any reasonable animal would want a break from that atmosphere!). We sat and watched people walking other dogs, and she and I jogged around a little bit. By the conclusion of our visit, she had begun to approach DH, too, and she gently licked his face, just as she'd done to mine when she first approached.

I was able to look in her mouth and in her ears; to pet her head, chest, and torso; and to handle her front feet. I did not notice any physical problems--a little bit of build-up on her teeth, and her ears looked like they need cleaned, but that was it.

When we returned her to her run, she didn't retreat to her corner--instead, she stayed out near the gate and tracked us as we walked back to our car.

I'm curious to hear other folks' ideas about Nelly's potential breed. She reminds me a lot, in body shape, coat, and movement of my Kate (of known parentage--both parents were ABCA registered). I just don't see either Aussie or ACD in her, though.

[PSmitty]

Awww. Poor shy girlie. She looks like a smooth BC to me!

[MollyATL]

She looks very much like a BC x ACD at my shelter - very intense little girl. Did you have videos showing her movement?

[ajones]

Yes, Molly, I do have a couple of short videos, but I haven't had a chance to get them uploaded yet....

I have been in touch with Deana, the rescue/transport coordinator, today and she is hopeful she has found a rescue for Nelly. But nothing is definite yet--I will update when I hear an official word.

[ajones]

Well, the shelter posted Nelly to its Facebook page a few hours ago with this intro, "Nelly is a beautiful little girl who misses having a family..," leading me to believe that the rescue plan did not come through for her.

I will try to get the official word from Deana, but if anyone is interested in adopting or rescuing Nelly, please contact the shelter directly at 270-842-8572 (the intake facility, where Nelly was housed on Sunday). I will unfortunately be out of pocket most of the week but will update as I learn anything else about her status.

[ajones]

I heard back from Deana, and Nelly is still in need of someplace to land. I gave Deana the link to this thread in case she wants to refer anyone to our discussion and my evaluation notes.

[Jedi's Mom]

I think you're right. Once out of that shelter this pretty girl is going to warm up quickly and be a fun little dog. I hope someone sees her potential soon.

[ajones]

Thanks, Georgia--someone else must have agreed with you, too, because I see on Nelly's PF listing now that she is sponsored, reducing her adoption fee to $50.

Now that I'm back in town, I am going to try to see Nelly again this afternoon to see how she's doing. I know the shelter has been trying to keep all its residents as cool as possible, but the 100+ degree heat must be wearing on the dogs in outdoor runs.

[ajones]

This afternoon, I spent another hour+ with Nelly, and I like her even more than I did the first time.

We walked around outside for only a short time, given the heat, and then spent the rest of the time in the meet-and-greet room in the Adoption Center and in the lobby of the Adoption Center, where she got to observe a few dozen people and meet a handful of them who were interested in coming over to see her. She ignored that cats in cages a few feet away. She is now kenneled with two other dogs (sharing a run with access to the inside of the intake building) and gets along fine with them.





I talked with one of the staff members who has been in communication with Nelly's original adopters and learned a little more about her history with them. They told the staff that they never felt like Nelly "bonded" with them, despite their care for her, and that she always had a nervous energy they could not deplete. She took daily 2-mile runs with one of the adopters, and they also took her to some basic obedience classes. We learned today that she knows "sit" and "shake" and is quick to offer these two behaviors to anyone holding treats.



The adopters had Nelly from the time she was a tiny puppy (I believe 6 weeks, shortly after she arrived at the shelter with her littermates). They seemed disappointed that although she was labeled an Australian shepherd in her puppy bio, she did not look like an Aussie as she matured. They also seem to have gotten some bad advice from their vet who insisted she is a cattle dog and, therefore, too hyperactive for them/their lifestyle and would "be happier on a farm."



When I walked Nelly back to the intake building to return her to her run, the inmate who had helped me take her out did a double-take, asking if she was the same dog. She was trotting along easily on the leash with her tail out and sometimes wagging, a transition she made quickly.

[PSmitty]

Wow, she is so lovely. I have to say that if they had her for that long and didn't feel bonded to her, they were going about it ALL the wrong way. Two miles runs is not it. Ugh! Looking at those big brown eyes, I hope she finds people who deserve her and understand what it means to "bond".

[ajones]

Thanks, Paula...I just cannot figure the original adopters out, but this is definitely a chance for Nelly to find a home better suited to her needs.

I have also not seen the hyperactivity the previous adopters reported--she is certainly very alert, but she settles easily and for extended periods of time. In the lobby, for example, she waited for me to invite her up on the couch next to me, then she curled into a ball and settled down to observe goings-on. She alerted to unusual sounds (slamming doors, for example) by lifting her head and swiveling her ears, and she noticed people walking past us (we were right by the doorway, and there was a lot of foot traffic today). But she stayed there next to me for probably 30 minutes, making no move to get down.

In the meet-and-greet room, Nelly walked around sniffing all the items and did once stand up to look out the window (see photo above). But she was not a whirlwind of motion and, by BC standards, seemed pretty mellow in those circumstances. I tried to interest her in three different toys (a stuffed toy, a stuffed toy that squeaks, and a tennis ball) but got almost no interest. She did sniff curiously at the squeaky toy for about a minute, but she didn't pick it up and squeak it herself.

Nelly does seem food motivated. She showed off her sit and shake for the director, another staff member, and me. She took the treats well (I think I only felt her teeth once). And once she learned I had treats, she followed me around offering the two behaviors that had previously earned her treats.

[MollyATL]

Adopted sez Petfinder

[ajones]

Yes, I just heard from Mary, her adopter, that they made it home safe and sound. Nelly is a lucky girl!

[joe]

Adopted