Rescue Stories Vol. III

Compiled from the Border Collie Mailing List

Nuisance the Pest
Ritz and Chips
Molly's Mom
To the Max
Do You Remember, Shane?
But is Murphy Brown?
My Buddy, My Shadow
Oh Nikki You're So Fine
From the Slums to Barrio
Da Kyzer Ain't From Germany
Murphy's Romance

From: Nancy Starkey
BC Rescue of Maryland

My "rescues" were instrumental in getting me started in my BC Rescue organization. Here's their story:

I became involved with BC rescue in 1986, and it seems like such a long time ago. Before that, my first BC came to me quite by accident in 1971. She was 3 days old, and her mother had been killed by a car the day before. A blob of a puppy was handed to me with the remark, if you don't take it, it will die. Well, Nuisance was my introduction to BCs, and she taught me first hand about the joys and challenges of living with one of these incredible creatures. I was operating a boarding stable at the time, and Nuisance was my constant companion (I know it's an awful name, but it was quite appropriate when she was only days old). When I lost her to illness at the age of 13, I didn't consider getting another BC because my lifestyle had significantly changed. I no longer operated the stable, and I didn't truly have a "purpose" for a BC. So, in 1986, I adopted a wonderful Golden Retriever from the local shelter. The Golden was a great dog, but I still longed for a companion with the intellect to which I was accustomed. At that time I was volunteering at the shelter, and one day a local dairyman brought in a box of five week old pups. It seems that he had bred his male BC to his female BC, but he had seen another dog (not a BC) cover the bitch as well. Some of the pups were obviously the produce of the BCs, and some were definitely not. In his mind, if one was "no good" than none of them were any good, so here they all were at the shelter. Pups younger than eight weeks are not permitted by state law to be adopted out, so they needed foster care or were to be euthanized. Well, as you undoubtedly imagined, they came home with me. The crossbred pups went back to the shelter in a few weeks to be adopted, and I found appropriate homes for the BCs. All except one, that is, and she is still here. During her second year, "Sooner" (the one Iâd sooner keep) and I were enrolled in obedience classes, and there we met "Jack", an active nine month old with all the typical bored BC behavior problems. Jack's owners didn't have the skills necessary to help him, and they asked if I would take him, or they would have to take him to the pound. At that time, I was becoming enthusiastic about competitive obedience, and I had visions of working a BC brace in the ring. So, I agreed to take on Jack. Reforming Jack wasn't too difficult, and he was a terrific dog who became another permanent member of our pack.

Then, word seemed to spread that if you were having problems with your BC, just call Nancy Starkey. She would either help you fix the problems you were having with your dog, or take the dog and place it in a more suitable home. Well, that was numerous placements and countless behavior consults ago. Of all the placements I've had, I have only kept one other, although I been tempted several times. "Bunks" arrived as an owner give up in 1990, and she was scheduled to be euthanized the next day for behavior problems all directly attributed to her owners mismanagement. When she first came, I fully intended to place her, as I had many others before her. But she had baggage which would make placement quite difficult, and she really appealed to me, so I decided to keep one more. I had kept the first two rescues because circumstances brought them my way, and it wasnât until after acquiring them that I became actively involved in BC rescue. I currently have six BCs of my own (including the three "rescues"), and there is usually a placement dog here and often a pup which I am raising for it's breeder/owner.

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From: Cathy Trejbal
Cleveland, OH

Summer 1995 we adopted a medium size mutt puppy - Muffy - from the county kennels. We knew our 14yo BCx Chips wouldn't live forever.

Fall 1995 Chips got sick. It was a very difficult time for our family. I had a hard time dealing with it and found a network of friends to help me through the ordeal on rec.pets.dogs.misc.

Chips had been the true family dog....four kids to play soccer with, sled ride with, sleep with and on and on and on. She was one of the kids.

Now that the kids are grown I wasn't sure I could handle another BC. As fate would have it, I found out about BC Rescue.

She had just gotten in a BCx stray who was found in a parking lot. We took Muffy to meet this stray and we knew we had to have her.

That week we brought Ritz home. It has to be fate! She is the perfect dog for our family. Muffy and Ritz love each other. Three of my older children have been home for the summer. Ritz goes from one person to another getting love and attention.

Chips could never be replaced, but Ritz definately fills the void. Muffy the mutt just didn't do it. BCs are certainly unique.

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From: Molly, the BC with Cheryl Miller

My BC, Molly is a rescue - but I'll let her tell you the story.

Greetings fellow members of the BC union. I don't now how all of you managed to
latch on to your moms and dads, but if you got them on this list, you've probably got a soft life, like me. I'm 5 years old now and I can hardly remember when I met my Mom - because I was just a baby. I have a hazy memory of being with some other people who weren't very nice to me and then being left in a big, noisy, smelly place and put in a cage in a room with a lot of other puppies. I guess I wasn't a very nice pup when I got there - the ladies at the shelter told my mom I was growling and snapping at everyone. And, I was only 12 weeks old!

I guess I'm lucky that they thought I was silly, not dangerous because they were very nice to me and held me and hugged me for a few days. I was still scared, but I had learned that humans were OK and many were actually very nice. Then, they put me in this cage all by myself - and I was lonely and scared. People came up to my cage - but they all looked like serial killers and dog beaters, so I hid in the back. Then, this lady walked up to my cage - looked at me and announced "you're a Border Collie." I was so impressed with her obvious intelligence that I figured she couldn't be a serial killer and know about BC's, so I wagged my tail a few times. This made her happy, because she sat on the floor in front of my cage and talked to me for a long time. It was wonderful. She told me I was very pretty and looked like a very good dog. (See, I knew she was smart!) Then, she opened my cage and picked me up. I gave her my very best puppy smile, and kissed her neck. We went into a little room all by ourselves and played with a toy. And she scratched me and stroked me some more. I realized then I was in love - but I was still a little scared. Then she told me she had to go for awhile and I was really sad. She came back later that day and brought a human boy with her. I guess he liked me too - because the next day they came back again. And this time, they took me out of that noisy, smelly place. They took me to their den and told me I could join their pack! There were no other dogs there - but I smelled one. I never met that other dog; Mom says it went somewhere called the Rainbow Bridge before I joined the family.

Well, things have worked out great. I didn't take long before I had them housebroken and trained to be in polite company. That lady is my Mom - I took a chance on her and it really paid off. I have lots of toys, a couple of cats to herd, and I usually get to sleep on the big bed instead of that little one they think I should like. (Can't stretch out on that little pillow!) My Mom is wonderful and hardly ever soils the house. The human boy (who's a lot bigger than Mom now) still needs training, though. Mom calls him a "teenager" - does that mean obnoxious human? He is fun, sometimes, although he hides in his part of the den most of the time and doesn't want to play ball as often as he used to.

My Mom is a good obedience prospect - I've taught her when I need food, when I need attention, when I want to go out, how to play frisbee, how to throw the ball just how I like it, and some other neat tricks. I think I've also convinced her to check out agility - we're going to a demonstration of a local group tomorrow night.

Yup, life can't get much better than this. Well, it could if she would just quit this computer thing and spend more time petting my tummy!

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From: Ann Turk and Jake

Fourteen years ago this summer I went to the local animal shelter to find a small short haired dog for my mother. As I walked through the shelter I was directed to "death row." The dogs in these cages had less than 3 hours to live. Our eyes locked, and I feel in love with the cutest rough coated tricolor border collie. He was less than 6 weeks old, covered with fleas and ticks, and had every worm possible. Already those eyes were screaming-"Take me home. Their going to kill me." Of course, he was not going to be short haired or small, but who could resist those eyes. I rushed madly across town to our vets to pay the neutering deposit required by our city and barely made it back before the deadline. Max was our first border collie and the entire family feel in love with those eyes. Max was a survivor. We nursed him through worms, back surgery, different illnesses, and finally diabetes and the loss of sight that goes with the disease. He loved us without question, and we loved him. He wasn't the kind of dog we thought we wanted, but he was so right for us. He traveled with us, checked on us when we sick, and played with his ball until the day he died in January. We will always miss Max.

When he died in January in my arms at home, I could not stand a "dogless" house...no one at the front window waiting for me to return from school, no puppy to pet or toss a ball. I was so emotional that I rushed out and quickly bought another border collie. I should have taken more time, but Jake has been wonderful. He is not a rescue, but he makes us laugh and not miss Max so much....even though he can be a "little devil." Oh, Jake has wonderful eyes too, but his say, "Let the games begin." I know that when 10 month old Jake gets a little older (and slower...ha!) that we will adopt another bc rescue in memory of Max.

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From: Bobbie Ann Farquhar and the Gang: Velvet, Cherry, & Shane
El Mirage, CA

I have been reading all the rescue stories that everyone has been posting and this time the tears are "happy joyful tears". During the months of April, May & June our rescue program was hit with a big tidal wave of bcs into our program and also during this time, Sneakers (my wonderful rescue boy from the Northridge Earthquake) was quite ill. All the rescues had been placed except Shane at the time Sneakers went to the Sheep Pasture in Heaven. A lot of people told me that I should keep one of the bcs to replace Sneakers. But, I stood firm and said that no way will I do that. Hard headed and hurting at the time.

Shane had 3 homes prior to being place in our program. From about 12 weeks to 8 months, Shane lived with a single women & what I was told her most loved companion. But when Shane was about 8 months old she had to go into the hospital. Shane then found a home with someone from the hospital (a single man living in a apt.) for about a year! During this year, Shane was locked up for 10-12 hours a day since the new owner had to work. By this time, he was an active 18 month old bc. The man could not give him enough time and became unhappy with some of the things that Shane started to do ( much out of boredom I am sure). Then Shane found a home with a family with a nice size backyard and a yound boy to play catch with him regularly. Shane was in heaven! But just one year later, the family had problems, moving out of their nice home into a apt. So, they went looking for a home to give Shane the room and activities he needed.

They called me, and I took Shane into our program - looking for just the right home. This boy was so demanding about Frisbee or catching a ball. I was spending between 3-4 hours each day of the week with him. He never tired! Demanding more and more. Looked for Fly Ball Team, Frisbee people, drug training, search & rescue training. My husband keep at me to keep this boy! And I kept saying No!

Well, on the last day of June, a search & rescue team came by and checked Shane over. They were please with his ball motivation and how he would find the ball where ever they hide it. But when they found out he was over 2 - they said no thanks too old. I was floored! Too old you say, you must be kidding. They want only dogs around 12-18 months.

That night, for the first time, Shane jumped on the couch next to me, laid down and went to sleep. This is surprizing - since the only time I could ever seem to turn him off was to kennel. Oh, well, maybe just a busy active day I throught. Even he must get tired.

The next morning after chores were done and treats where given to each of my bcs and Shane - Shane surprized us again - he ran directly toward the my stallion's corral. My heart sank -thinking now I am in trouble - he is going for Major! But what a double surprise to both myself & my husband. Shane rounded the corral toward the line of shade trees right to Sneaker's grave and laid his treat at Sneaker's headstone. As Shane turned to me with those BC's eyes, my husband said "Now can we keep him?" Tears running down my face, I knew somehow Shane knew that Triple S Ranch was to be his home, that my husband knew it and Sneakers was in agreement so the heaviest weight that had been riding within me had lifted.

So on July 1, the decision was made final and Shane became a member of our home. He loves the mini-ranch life. He is still extremely active and demanding on having a ball or frisbee tossed to him (we are down to 2 hours a day). But he has work each morning and evening (which makes up another 2 hours of work). So he still gets his 4 hours a day!

Working rescue, I try not to get toooo close to them, or I just might have 100 bcs. I am so glad that I finally figured out what everyone else knew - that Shane was finally home.

Sorry about the long post - I love my registered girls but I have always believed that if you love the breed - LOVE A WONDER RESCUE - Their love returned to you is soooo special and wonderful. Rescues are Great.

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From: Les Morgan, Simon & Murphy

My first BC came to me a little over two years ago. Murphy was ten weeks old when we brought him home from the shelter. They estimated his birthday to be right around St. Patrick's Day, thus the Irish name. He was a little ball of fur and I just fell in love with him. He had a tiny scab on his lip because he came into the shelter with a fish hook in his gums and mouth. It healed up nicely. He went onto the vet and was thought to be a BC by his looks. We'll never know if he is a mix or not or what mix it is, but he definitely has some BC in him and I always get "what a cute BC." He used to herd much more than now. I couldn't do anything without Murph taking me there even if I was going to the bathroom. He knew the routine by heart.

He had all of his shots done and seemed to be in perfect health. In July of that year.... he got realy sick and was diagnosed with parvo. I almost lost him, but the little guy held on. It seemed he picked it up within the incubation period. What a rough few weeks. Ever since then... Murph has been a special dog. His stomach is very sensitive and he has bouts of vomitting every so often. He begs like a maniac for Human food not knowing how his stomach is going to react. He is allergic to a lot of things... the smallest irritation makes him chew at himself. My old vet in Ohio liked to say he was allergic to himself.

I'm very protective of him as he is with me. He loves to follow me around, but hates to be shut in any certain room because he can't guard the house. We just love him and his emotions. I swear the dog is really trying to undestand me. You just have to see the dog to know what I mean. When I talk to him... he moves his head from side to side.

He also has the one ear up, one ear down thing going on. It's a constant thing too. He used to let me and my roommate do almost anything to him. Once we put sneakers on his back feet while he sat upright on my lap. We then proceeded to put an assortment of hats on him. He just sat there moving his feet back and forth with these giant black and white shoes on. I wouldn't trade him for the world and I think he knows it. The one thing... he is a little fearful of men. The only two he likes are my father and Michael, my fiance. I think it's because I love them both so much and he can tell. He has some strange habits and quirks, but that is what makes him Murphy. He can be a handful sometimes, but when he falls asleep on his back with all four limbs in the air... you just have to smile and think about how lucky you are to have found him. No one loves me more than Murph.... And I know it's because I saved his life.

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From: Charles R. Brannen, Shadow, and Buddy
Huntington WV

I work as a purchasing agent for a supply and paint store in Huntington, WV. I also do some little odd jobs. Last Wed. evening my youngest son Michael and I were mowing a lawn we take care of as a summer job to help Michael earn some extra money. It is along a route that I travel each day going to work and coming home. I kept seeing this little guy watching us. (And had been watching out for him as I passed this area for the last 3 weeks traveling to work. Sometimes having to stop for him to get out of the road.) I decided to call him out of the road to keep him from maybe getting injured. He had such a longing look in his eye. (you know, that BC"I wish you would pay attention to me" look. We had some corn chips in the car and after trying to get him to come to me unsucessfully, I went to the car and got them. HIS EYES SPARKLED when he heard the bag rattle. He came to me and circled as if he was going to try to herd ME. I tossed a few to him and he settled down a little. After talking to him and feeding him a few more, he let me pet him a little. (as long as it was just infront of the eyes) Not going to let me even try to pick him up.

I went back to mowing and trimming and watched him sit and watch me. The guy next door came over and said he'd been at his house barking at the door like he wanted in. He gave me some cat food and I fed it to him. We finished the lawn and couldn't find him so I called "here Buddy, here Buddy". Up out of the woods he came running to me and even crawled into my arms just like he'd always known me. We got in the car and turned on the air(a fast way to please a BC I've found) He did just as Shadow does, nose to the vent and tail wagging.

After calling a reluctant wife and telling her that I was bringing home a little cute BC so he wouldn't get hurt we drove home. Since Shadow stays in a lot we don't have any outside facilities for a dog. I had to let him sleep in a car we have just quit driving. (Great timing huh?) Gave him a pillow and walked him before putting him in there. He acted just as Shadow on her evening walk.

Speaking of Shadow, she went bonkers. I guess she thought he was a new toy. It's taken 2 days to get he to settle when around him. We have worked this very slowly to avoid jealousy. Buddy has nipped and barked at her for getting too pushy and I think she is coming around. They were both in the house for 4 hrs this evening and nothing broken. Michael said they did great. Even napped a little.

We bathed him and flea collared him. I think if no one claims him from the ad in the lost and found we will keep him. He already is getting himself in a foothold in our lives and I think he will be a great little guy.

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From: Judy Tripp, Nikki, and Newman
S. Dartmouth, MA

Ten and half years ago, our wonderful dog (BC-X..didn't know it at the time) was killed by a car. I really didn't think getting another dog would be good...and of course, none seemed right. It took my then-teenage daughter to get me to the rescue league. She was going through a difficult teenage girl time, so I said we'd go look. We wanted a female (trying to replace the one just killed)... our local rescue league only had males, so off to the next town. There was only one female - Nikki - I really didn't want a black dog (didn't want any but my old dog back), but my daughter insisted. The rescue people had no idea what she was and neither did we....until she started growing.

Nikki was a sweetheart from the start, but was not very healthy. She started off with kennel cough which turned into pneumonia. I nursed her through that and have been nursing her ever since....we've been through *all* allergies, mange, ear infections, and last year her anal sac tumor. When that happened, I thought we were just buying her time, but it appears she's recovered fully (knock on wood).

Nikki is a very mellow BC, don't know if it's because of her illnesses or not. She's never really played much, not too big on cuddles....but that could be because she's been pick at and poked at so much with all the sickness. She looks more BC than Newman who is all BC. She has many, many of the BC traits except for her calmness.

We love her dearly and would do anything to keep her healthy....but she is a very strange dog. With Newman you know *exactly* what he wants or is thinking, but not with Nikki. I just can't read her....the only thing for sure is she loves food the very best thing - going for a walk is next...and I'd say that's about it. She does love us, but usually goes to her spot on the slate floor in the lower level of the house to sleep. She has enjoyed Newman, but doesn't play much - she's in pain a lot because of her infected ears.

I once said to our vet "poor Nikki" because of all her troubles. But the vet said "No, lucky Nikki because you care." That really made me feel great. She may not have survived with someone else. One thing, I'll always know when it's time to get up (she gets fed), when to have lunch (she gets a treat), when to set the table for dinner (she gets another treat) and when it's snack time (her dinner)....she has a built in clock.

Gee, I rambled longer than I intended....but I guess these rescues are pretty neat....and I love my ol' girl very much and am so happy she was the only female at the rescue that day!!!!

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From: Tony & Lori Grega and Barrio

We rescues sure are glad that we have such wonderful talented humans who are soooo trainable and melt whenever you give them those puppy eyes. So first, on behalf of all my fellow rescuees, I'd like to thank all the humans. The world is a much nicer place because of you all.

My humans are the second family for me. I chose them, they didn't choose me. My first family went away on vacation and left me to be cared for by a neighbour. He didn't play, he didn't pat me he didn't do anything. I was really bored. So, I decided to go out for a walk and see the world. I had a few days out on my own and boy oh boy was it exciting and scarey all at the same time. I got to chase rabbits, lizards and tons of bugs. The coyotes really scared me though.

Anyway, some lady in a neighbourhood I was hanging around in called the Animal Control and then I went to live in a cage with lots of other dogs. After five days when nobody came to see me, I got to go to a place PetSmart. It's a really cool place with all kinds of good stuff to eat and smell and things to play with. I was being put up for adoption. I went there everyday for 3 weeks. On my last day there, this man came in and got all excited over me. He found out that it was my last day there and that was the end (whatever that means). He seemed really nice and knew all about me (smart man). He took my "prisoner number" with him and said he had to ask his wife first, and he was going right then to pick her up from the airport.

Well I guess he talked to her and the next morning she arranged to have me brought back to PetSmart. She came to see me and we had a great time. She took me and bought me treats, a new collar, leash and most importantly my very own food bowl. After a bath, I went to my new home. Boy oh boy....they had two other BC's just like me only much bigger. Fun....wow, I never had so much fun in my life. Somebody to play with all the time. Lots to eat, lots of cuddling and lots of running, playing and wrestling. I was in 7th heaven!

A few weeks later, my first family called my new mom. They came home from vacation and had tracked me down. I was sent home with them. I was really unhappy. Nobody to play with anymore. I tried a few times to walk to my "new home", but they always found me and brought me back. My first family knew I was unhappy. They called my new mom and asked if she would like to have me back. So here I am! And am I ever happy to be here.

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From: Tony Dickinson, Tsar, and Kyzer
Somerset, England

We have rescues here in the UK as well and agility shows are a good source of rescue BC's since there always seem to be a few up for adoption at the shows (makes sense because most agility people know what they are getting into with a BC!).

We had dogs as a kid but I didn't have one in the house as an adult for a long time because I was always off overseas with my job for extended periods (years!). Anyway I was about 45 when my daughter died and my wife bought a puppy to get me over her death - Tsar sure helped and we ended up competing in agility where it became obvious that whilst he was fast that he was too big to do really well on our tight courses - he is a GR/BC cross and has some of the traits of a BC in the body of a GR! We started looking at BC rescues at the shows and nearly came away from one show with a tri-colour, but it wasn't quite right... Anyway the next week I was at a show on my own and there was this picture of a bright red almost orange BC up for adoption so I decided to take a look. He wasn't actually at the showground but someone phoned the current owner and had him brought over - he was an adorable 13 mo. BC who was in rather poor condition but with lots of bounce. The current home was getting rid of him 'because he made the other dogs lives a misery'. Anyway I took him and later on pieced together his history. As near as I can make out this is it:

Kyzer was sold by a puppy farm as a border collie, but because they claim that they are not allowed to call a dog a border collie anymore by law unless it has papers they filled in his innoculation certificate as him being a collie and then later on someone altered it to read border collie. They sold him to a young couple as a pet dog. Later on when I phoned the puppy farm to try and trace his history all they were willing (or able?) to tell me was that he came from a farm somewhere in Cornwall, was a real BC but unpapered and hence sold as a collie. As an aside when I registered him with the KC on the WT&O register I registered him as a WSD.

Anyway at 14 weeks old the young couple had had enough he was 'destructive' so the gave him to a woman that one of them worked with - she had three dogs of her own including at least one sheltie. Now Kyzer has a very strong herding instinct and since there were no sheep he used the dogs... His new owner tolerated this until he was a year old and then had him neutered - she called the herding agressive behaviour by the way and there certainly was a certain amount of dog agression mixed in with the herding.

When the neutering did not fix the agressive behaviour immediately she started looking for a home for him and we came along. During the last bit of his stay with her he had been banished to the back garden and fed on a diet of the cheapest food she could get hold of and so was in pretty poor physical condition as well as hardly knowing how to play with people.

Anyway I got him on a Sunday and took him to an agility class on the Thursday - he fell right into it but did indeed have a slight dog agression problem that seemed to be linked to a need to go and herd anything on 4 legs - we worked on that once I realised what he was doing and it is now almost cured - he will somethimes go and 'herd' when he finishes a run, but even that is getting gradually better. One slight problem was that I had to change his daily name from Kyzer to Ky since Tsar was also responding when I called Kyzer and anyway Ky is easier to get out when you are running in an agility ring - he did get registered as Kyzer Jock Woofles though.

He started competing in agility in March when he was 18 mo. and I had had him and trained him for less than 5 months. He did really well to begin with - got all his contacts and never went off-course, just didn't jump too well. Now he has gained confidence, blows all his contacts, goes off-course if I so much as move a little finger the wrong way, leaves most of the jumps up and is without a doubt the fastest starter dog in the area. When he goes clear if it is in a starter class he will win it outright - I have no doubt about that at all, the trick is going to be training me to manage him in the ring. Heck he is not two yet (26th August) and I have had him for less than a year and he came with a bit of bagage so I don't feel that we are doing too badly!

Outstanding problems - yes there are a few:

1. He is very protective of his new home and family and agressive to strangers who come to visit and even more so to our next door neighbour, he even managed to sneak in a quick nip last week and that cannot be tolerated - at the moment we are managing the problem by being extra careful to make sure that he is leashed when strangers are around but a better cure must be found.

2. He loves to help the postman deliver the mail - I work part-time as a tutor for the Open University and it is embarassing to return my students work with two neat canine teeth punctures, strangly he never tears the mail, just pops two holes in it.

3. He steals the cats food - heck given half a chance he will steal our food as well!

But above all he is a real sweetie and I cannot understand why anyone with an ounce of dog sense could not get on with him. Yes he still herds - Tsar has developed a lovely body swerve in answer to it - but he will stop it instantly when I tell him to. No he is not the magic instant agility dog - I don't think that they exist, he AND I need a bit more training yet, but there are indications that he is going to be very good. Would we part with him - NO WAY! Do we have any regrets in taking him on - none worth mentioning, he is a much loved member of the family these days, one of the cats even sleeps with him!

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From: Laura Cook and Murphy
Baltimore, Maryland

18 months ago, I decided I needed to have a dog -- the wisdom of this decision is still in question. I knew I wanted a rescue, mainly because I wanted to save a life, but also because I didn't want to do the puppy thing. I knew that a dog would be enough work. I had decided that I wanted a border collie. Go figure. I had been reading about the breed, including the warning labels. But I wanted a dog that would look at me with that "what's next?" look, rather than a "huh?" look. I left my name and number at local shelters, and kept calling. I found Murph at the Baltimore City SPCA; she had been picked up running the city streets. The SPCA and our vet guessed her age at one to one and a half years. I wanted her immediately, my husband took a few more seconds. When she put her paw on the cage door to touch his hand, he was sold also.
No history, of course, but we did figure a few things out on our own -- she was housebroken, was not cat-broken, was very comfortable in a kitchen, and loved loud motorcycles. Murphy is a great dog; we couldn't have asked for more from a second-hand dog.

Sorry this is so long; I'll get to the point -- Not every bc who goes to a non-bc-experienced home is doomed to a life of misery. Murphy has trained us well; if we were to get a different breed, we'd probably spend part of the day poking at it to see if it's still breathing.

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Page last updated March 7, 1997. All material Copyright � 2004 Border Collie Rescue, Inc.
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