MO-KAN Border Collie Rescue Success Stories 2005

Success Stories 2005

Toby is approx 1 yr old, he was a stray found in Springfield MO. Toby weighs 51 lbs and stands about 22" tall at the shoulder. He is fully house trained and crates easily. Toby gets along very well with other dogs, he is very playful and defers to the alpha in his foster home (thankfully :). He is curious of my cat but so far no problems. He does like slippers and shoes...and hand spun wool (argh!) although he is learning "leave it" and is very respectful of corrections. He does like to jump but I am working very strongly on him that. He's not bad, doesn't jump with both paws up, just jumps up to say "HI!". He has a tendancy to walk very closely, onleash he doesn't pull which is very nice. He does need to learn how to walk properly on a leash because he tends to circle you which can make walking a bit tricky! He'll be easy to train though, he already has a good start. Toby is a happy boy, has a very nice temperament. I think he would make a great family dog and companion!

Update 01-29-05: Toby is certainly turning out to be a very interesting dog! He has been introduced to a friends puppies and amazingly, he is quite nurturing and gentle with them. Even when they came running up to him while he was chewing on a bone, I held my breath but he just looked at them and continued to chew as they laid up next to him, quite amazing really! Our thought is that Toby may have some Great Pyrenees in him. There is something about his gentleness and desire to protect that reminds me of some that I have been in contact with. He is larger than your average border collie that would suggest a larger breed mix. He is quite a "soft" dog in that he responds very well to corrections. Its obvious he has not been given boundaries in the past but he has quickly realized that slippers are off limits and nylabones are OK. He loves nylabones! I have been leaving him uncrated at night in my bedroom and he does just fine, sleeps soundly thru the night (although he does snore and talk in his sleep lol!). Something we have always discouraged is people thinking that border collies make good "kid minders" however, Toby might be just that. I think he will be a very protective but gentle family dog. He is very biddable and eager to please. He also loves to watch TV :). He was watching I, Robot with me this morning and became quite concerned when the robots started to take over lol! His head cocked, he stood up and trotted away from the TV, not taking his eyes off the screen, it was quite amusing! There are certain things that startle him, raised hands (I do believe he has been hit before) and certain objects that I haven't quite figured out yet. He is the type of dog that is very visual, notices changes in his environment and strange objects that he is not familiar with concern him at times. He is learning to like to ride in the car, at first it was a struggle to get him into one but now he jumps in with just a little coaxing (fun destinations help :). He is a wonderful car dog though, once he is in. He had a few episodes of being sick but since the initial long treck from Springfield to KC, he has been just fine. He lays down in the back of my SUV and rides very quietly. He does still need work on his recall but I don't think it will be hard to train.

February 2005

Toby, now Bailey, has been adopted by Jeff and Monica and their 2 sons Tyler and Ryan in Kansas City, Kansas.

Update from his family (Mar, 15, 2005):
I still wonder how we got so lucky finding him. He has been absolutely perfect.
Bailey now loves car rides, he will go down to the garage door when we say "bye bye" and jumps right up into the Jeep by himself. The trips to go pick up our boys from school & walks in the park(even though he seems to be taking us for a walk sometimes) gave him the confidence he needed. You might also like to know that Bailey & Toby(the cat) have become best of friends, of course they will push each other to the limit when they play, but then lay down together & even lick & bathe one another, it's hilarious. Monica & I will get some pics to you eventually, sorry for the delay on that. Oh yeah, one last thing. We actually won that 1 year supply of dog food, and what is cool is the adoption agency wins one too. COOL HUH? Thanks again for such a great addition to our family, and believe me Bailey thanks you too.
Sincerely,
Jeff & Monica Thieman

Bailey is approximately 2 yrs old and weighs 35 lbs. She is super sweet but holds her own against my 2 males. She really is sweet and is happy to have her head in your lap for a pet. She torments Charlie but no major blow outs. She is absolutely a herder (which means she probably would do better only with older children - 12+). She really disrupted the Frisbee game last night with both Charlie and Kelty. Not interested in the Frisbee just in stopping them. She appears to be housetrained, there have been no accidents in the house (yeah!).

February 2005

Bailey was adopted by Rick, Debbie, Kayla and Paul in Northern Missouri. Bailey will get to go to the golf course where her new Dad works everyday! Sounds like fun to me :)!!

Bailey is a good dog. She is calm and likes to put her head in your lap for a loving pet. She also loves to run and play. She loves to go for car rides. She wasn’t too crazy about playing with anything when we first got home. I got her to play with a tennis ball and she loves it! She can catch the ball in her mouth.

She knows sit, stay, down, drop ball, get ball, and come. She does well on a leash and doesn’t pull. We have a cat that Bailey tries to play with but our cat doesn’t seem too excited. Bailey loves tummy rubs. She will stop in front of you and plop down on her back to get a tummy rub. She also loves to be brushed. As soon as I get the brush out and start to brush her she won’t move a muscle until I’m done.

Bailey follows me around everywhere I go. After I leave for school she mopes around all day. When the bus pulls up to the house she watches out the window until I get on and off each day. When I walk through the door her rear shakes and she gets so excited. At night she will get in bed with me and lay on her back for a nighttime tummy rub and loving.

I have taught her new things and she catches on real quick. She has learned how to play hide-n-seek. That is her favorite game. I will tell her to sit and stay then I go hide and call for her. She has learned to look in every place that I have hid before. It is so cute. She can greet people also. She will sit, shake, and speak. I have also taught her how to shake and speak and we only had to show her how to once and she did it the next time by herself. When you put a treat on her nose and tell her to stay she will sit there until you say OK. When you ask her to you can get a hug from Bailey. She is an awesome dog!!

February 2005

Becca was adopted by John, Andrea, Jackson and Peyton of Kansas City Missouri. She is happily adjusting to her new home and is much loved by her new family!

Update 3/05
After an initial adjustment and LOTS of love and patience from Becca's new family, she is doing well. She was anxious and having difficulty being home alone in the beginning, but is now fine when her family leaves for work and school in the morning. The special toys she gets when they're gone help that - three stuffed kongs :) If for some reason her dad doesn't have to leave until later than normal Becca can be found sitting by the door waiting for him to leave. LOL! She has access to the backyard during the day and can sometimes be found sunning herself or playing alone when everyone returns in the afternoon.

As her mom, Andrea, said, "She is really doing well, and we just love her. At night the kids play with her, and she still gets a lot of petting, but she is so good about just laying down while we eat, give baths, etc."

Update 4/05
Becca is doing great. She can't wait for us to leave in the am so she can get her treat toy full of liver and peanut butter......on weekends, she can't figure out why we are not leaving! She has become quite the squirrel hunter, and has almost caught one...and she is so loving as well. We figured out we have to spell squirrel....and even if you say "go get it" and are talking about something else, she runs to the back door -- yesterday she guarded a tree for a good hour making sure that squirrel didn't get past her.....what a hoot she is. :) Every night she "helps" put the kids to bed and sleeps in Peyton's room while I lay with Peyton, and in the morning she "helps" wake each kid up with a kiss and they just love it.

Thanks, Andrea

Becca is a sweet 4-year old BC/Lab mix. She is built like a smooth coat BC and weighs 46 lbs. She is spayed and is current on shots, heartworm preventative, bordatella and flea/tick preventative. Becca loves to be with her people and she would make an awesome therapy dog! She knows the following commands: sit, stay, lay down, come, wait, leave it, drop it, shake, that's enough and no. She is really happy when she can sit near you and have you pet her or twirl her ears! She won't complain about a good belly rub either. She doesn't have the high energy level of the BC breed, but enjoys walks. There is a county park near her home with lots of open fields and woods. Her mom takes her and her furry sisters for off leash walks there. Becca gets nervous in the car, but lays down after a few minutes, oddly enough though she loves to get in the car. She goes to the lake with her mom and will ride in the front of the boat or on the waverunner with her nose in the air and ears flapping!

We need to find a new home for her because she and one of her older female companions are both strong alphas (leader of the pack) and they are unable to live together peacefully anymore. She would be best in a single dog family or with a submissive dog that will respect that she is Queen Bee :). Becca is great with all ages of humans, young and old, she simply loves people! She would make a wonderful family pet!

March 2005

Blue was a stray from southern Missouri. She was taken in by a very kind person there who discovered that Blue was suffering from red mange, a parasite that lives on dogs but can cause problems when the dogs immune system is compromised or their health is poor. Blue was terribly underweight and it was obvious she was not very old. The mange was treated and a new home found even before she was listed on the website.

Blue's new home is with two very special people! Chuck and Lissa adopted Cody in 2003 and have worked with this sweet boy diligently to make him more confident and secure. Cody will always be a shy soul but he loves other dogs :)! Chuck and Lissa decided that it was time to give him a full time companion! Their timing couldn't have been more perfect. They contacted me about adopting another dog virtually the same day we found out about Blue! At the time I thought it sounded like a perfect match and after todays long awaited meeting, it turned out to be just that! Cody and Blue (kna Connie) look so adorable together! They are exactly the same size, both have one blue eye and one brown. I know that Connie/Blue will be so good for Cody and Chuck and Lissa are so thrilled to add her to their family :)!

Blue in her new backyard with her new brother Cody and new friend Mick

Blue with her new Mom, Lissa

March 2005

Fez was adopted by Charlotte and Jim and their daughter, Valla, in St. Louis, Mo. Fez has already started in obedience and agility and doing nicely! He will get to be Valla's 4-H dog!

From Charlotte (3/05) What a sweet boy! Fez had a good night, settling into his crate about 10:00 and was quiet until 2:40am, when he wanted out. He and Valla had played soccer in the back yard, he being faster than the ball! Dukie played with him, trying vainly to hunch him while running! Fez is so sweet, he laid down in front of King and softly and gently offered to play with him. What wonderful insight into an old and fragile dog. He obviously has never been around nordic dogs. They woo, howl and talk a lot. King wooed at Jim last night and Fez went running over, sniffing him and licking his face like, "are you alright?" King didn't know what to make of it, he was just announcing some random bit of Samoyed news. This morning in kids n k9s, he started heel position with straight sits, down and sit stay, recall and spin. In agility, he went over or through every obstacle except the teeter! 2 1/2 hours of work, No fear, wonderful desire to please all the way to the end. Tomorrow, we start tracking. I think this is going to be a wonderful placement. Fez loves the new work and seems to be settling in already. Valla is ecstatic with him. Jim has played with and petted him and Fez seems to be winning him over. Thank you for finding, recommending and taking care of our newest family member.

August 2006: Fez successfully tested to become a certified therapy dog this weekend. He will begin doing nursing home visits and our dog bite safety program very soon. He also got his first two legs in Rally Advanced with Valla the previous weekend.

Fez is a 11 mo old male weighing approx 40 lbs. He was a stray found in a Kansas City suburb. What a doll he is!! He is a gorgeous boy with broad shoulders and some intense herding drive (so far only displayed on cats and other dogs). He is great with other dogs, very playful but a bit cautious at first meeting. Since his neuter, I expect that to become less noticeable. He love people of all ages, a very loving boy! He would make an excellent sport dog and will probably show potential as a working dog. If the ice ever thaws here, we might be able to get him tested on sheep if there is interest.

Fez will need an active human to keep him occupied. He is full of energy. He would also make a great companion and playmate to another dog in addition to other activities. Fez would be a super running parter, agility dog, flyball dog (although he needs to be taught to play with toys/balls).

More updates in a week or so!

(1/22) Fez has been with us in his foster home for about a week. He is such a nice boy! He loves to be close to us, always lying at our feet or in the same room with us. He did not like the crate at first, but now goes in willingly. He loves our kids and is not shy around people who come to visit. He is learning not to jump up to greet people. He knows sit and to tell us he has to go outside. He keeps his collie eye on our cat, but is not agressive towards her. He loves to play with balls, toys and tugs. He's eager to learn and please!!

Sheba will be 1 year old in April and weighs about 40 pounds. She is very sweet and good with kids. Loves the water and squeaky toys. Her mom and dad were border collies. She was the last of a litter of pups and a family took her in.

Update 02-28-05 Sheba is a pretty girl, especially after a bath Saturday night. She is doing pretty well . . . very curious, especially with the cat so we are watching the two of them very carefully. She has not had any accidents in the house but we make sure we take both dogs out quite a bit and run them around the yard. She does not like the crate, but we will persist! She does know "sit" and responds well to her name. Other than that, still has "puppy" traits in her. We also discovered that she will go after and actually bring back the tennis ball to you . . . haven't tried the frisbee yet. We also watched her bury a bone in the garden . . .dig, drop it in, and use her nose to cover it with dirt . .. what a kill!

03-06-05 Sheba is such a great dog! She craves love and attention, but appears well taken care of and well fed. She likes our big yard and likes to explore but prefers our company to being outside alone. She is showing more interest in the tennis balls, and we are trying to get her interested in the frisbee. Only one accident in the house and it was pretty minor. She doesn't like the crate but is getting better each time. She wants to be right next to us all the time, but is starting to explore a little more.

Our biggest problem has been her intensity with our cat. Fred is just too passive, doesn't use her claws or hiss. Sheba is fixated on her to the level you can't get her to move once she has her eyes on the cat. As soon as she gets in the house or out of her crate she goes looking for the cat and then wants to be as close to her as possible. The cat pretty much ignores her, but we obviously can't leave them alone together. She hasn't hurt her any, pretty much herds her around if we let her get close. So unless you have one TOLERANT cat...I'd say she needs a home without one :).

March 2005

Sheba, renamed Bonnie, was adopted by Brian and his family.

Update 5/18/2005
It's funny about the first class in obedience - between her food motivation and her innate BC traits, nothing in the class really was all that tough for her. We still need to work on stay, down, and wait, but she's a vastly different dog then we she first came into the pack. Like most pups, she's distracted a little too easily. We also can't tap into her food motivation in the agility class, so we use her ball, and it's tough weaning her off that.

Buddy is a 10 week old puppy relinquished by his owner. While we've only had Buddy in rescue for a few days, he's proving to be a wonderful puppy. He played outside with his foster mom and his 2 1/2 year old human brother on his first night at their house. He helped plant some bushes and seemed to enjoy the dirt : ) While he will explore on his own, he doesn't wander too far off and appears to want to stay close. He's learning that his foster family's cat isn't much fun, but kept trying to engage him by running circling him and barking. Buddy eventually gave up when he realized the cat wasn't going to play that silly game! Potty training has started and he seems to be a quick learner. He's beginning to learn Sit and Lay Down as well. We'll provide additional updates in the next couple of weeks.

April 2005

Fynn, previously known as Buddy, was adopted by Annie in Topeka. He joins his new sister Boo, who was also adpoted through Mo-Kan Border Collie Rescue. Fynn and Boo are getting along great! Boo is finding out how much energy a puppy has and is loving it!

Tragically, Fynn has passed to the rainbow bridge.

Update 5-25-05
What a darling boy/heathen. I love him as does anybody who crosses his pathway. He doesn't know a stranger and is such a well-adjusted puppy. Boo is fabulous with him. Almost like a Mother. Tolerant beyond belief with the baby teeth and they roll around "fighting" most of the day. Then collapse in respective corners. Fynn is sleeping through the night and has his own baby pool. He adores water. I discovered this as he splashed in the toilet bowl for fun, sending water everywhere, and then would also stand in his water dish....so, he is wet and filthy most of the time...looking like a Badger. His full name is Fynnegan Begin Again. I am so happy to have him. He has been to the vet and last Tuesday he was 16.5 lbs. He is growing like a weed.

Tazz (previously known as Sweep) was an owner relinquish from the Independence Shelter. His owner no longer had the time to care for him. We were told he is very high energy (confirmed :) and that he does well with children but is too high energy for small children. His birthday is 12-25-03 so he is just over a year old. It appears that his previous owner did some work with Tazz. He is quite well mannered, appears to be house trained, sits, drops the ball when asked and crates very nicely. He is also very quiet in his crate, rarely complaining.

Tazz will need a very (VERY) active home!! He is one of the most ball crazy dogs I have ever met (and thats saying something lol!). He catches frisbees in the air and is fast as lightening. Anyone interested in a flyball dog would not be disappointed with Tazz!

His new foster mom has discovered just how ball crazy this dog is....she had let him out into the backyard to work off some energy and went back into the house. She heard this sound like someone knocking on the window. Well, turns out Tazz was standing just outside throwing the ball against the door!! LOL! Obvioulsy not hard enough to hurt anything so it was quite amusing!! He has also learned to go to the top of her yard, drop the ball and race to the bottom to retrieve it!

Tazz plays very well with other dogs although we have not had him around cats. I would suggest a home without cats because of his intensity. He may not harm but he would probably torment the cat into insanity (my cat can relate :).

03-06-05 Tazz has unfortunately come down with kennel cough since leaving the shelter, not too uncommon and easily treated. We are having to keep him seperated from the other dogs in the house though so poor Tazz isn't getting to play with his new girlfriend, Sohpie (yeah, she does get around doesn't she? Don't tell Fynn!!!). He did get to meet several new human friends today, all new Tazz fans! He happily greeted everyone, dropping a ball at our feet and staring at us with eager anticipation. I think almost everyone at some point expressed interest in taking him home with them...all were denined, however, since their homes are already full of border collies (hazard of being friends with border collie rescuers :)!

Update 04-22-05 - Tazz is now healthy as a HORSE! Wow can he move lol! He is a delightful boy, always has a grin on his face and loves nothing more than to get out in the yard to play with the other dogs in his "play group". One in particular would be his foster Mom's (Bridget) new pup, Mick. They would play 24/7 if given the opportunity! They have a wonderful big back yard that extends into a wooded area and finding lost balls there is a favorite past time. They also like to chase each other thru the agility tunnel set up in the woods. Bridget says that Tazz reminds her of her first Border collie, McGuffin. She swears that dog was the smartest dog she's ever known but Tazz is coming in a close second :).

August 2006

Update: January 2008 - Picture is from a weekend trial,14 out of 15 runs he Q and placed out of Level 5 in CPE.We are 13 legs from his Championship in CPE and AKC we are working towards Mach points. Thanks again for all your group does,he truly is a gem.
Christy Felty

April 2005

Tazz's Angel is "Auntie Linda"

Tazz has been adopted by Christy in Michigan. Christy does agility, herding as well as obedience and is interested in starting a flyball team. It couldn't have been a better match! Christy says of Tazz "What a dog!!! No problems. He goes to work with me everyday. Last night at training he did all the obstacles, no fear, except for the weaves but that takes time. He played ball with kids for 20 minutes, he loves kids. I took him to obedience class and after a couple corrections he was awesome. What a lover boy with everyone he meets. The guy who gave him up doesn't know what a gem he is."

Update Aug 2005: Tazz is doing great, knows all the equipment for agilty, has awesome weaves and is learning flyball.Now is sitting next to me waiting for breakfas--this boy loves to eat. He trys to kill garbage cans, just not sure what they are. He is unsure of strangers on the hiking trials--barks, but we are working on that. Will let you know he does at his first agilty in November and end of October he is going to Ohio for a 3 day workshop.

Update June 2007:
Taz is doing great AKC is in excellent and CPE level 4/5.Plus joined a club for agility and some herding clinics,1.5 hour drive but its worth it for the BC'S.Next year will be looking for another BC female young under a year.So keep me in mind if a sport prospect comes along. Rescue is the way to go they are so loyal and he is a snuggle bunny.

Tazz doing the tunnel!

Christy and Tazz--over the A frame!

Update March 2006 - Well the boy amazes me!!
four Q's, for the weekend. Two 1st places, two third places. Plus he had the fasteest times in all his classes,15-30 secs under the other dogs. This boy is on to a MACH Title. He was quiet as a mouse and checked in with me while running. He spun once at a jump and slid off the table,that will come with better handling on my part.

RESCUE DOGS RULE!!!

Update July 2006 - Hello, Had some good news with Taz,so had to pass it along.Taz has his own boy at the agility trials,my friend brings her 12 year old godson who Taz adores. This kid is so dog smart,he has done alot with Taz.He brings his chuck it to play ball with him and walks him for me.I have seen a big change in Taz he is better around kids,not small ones, but I dont worry about him nipping anyone.Taz also is doing great we have one leg to go and we will have finished level one in CPE,all his placements have been 1st places he is so fast.We are going to agility camp in Sept,so I learn to handle him better his speed is awesome.People cant believe he is a rescue because he is so nice loves to work.Thanks again for adopting to me,he is truly a GEM.
Christy

Max is a 10 mo old owner relinquish from the Kansas City Mo Animal Shelter. His owners did not have a fenced yard or the knowledge of a border collie's needs. Max failed the shelters "temperament testing" when he was tested with an intact male and was said to have aggressively lunged at this dog with no warning. He was therefore slated for euthansia. We were contacted about Max by several other rescue groups that had met him in the shelter, saying that he was a really nice dog. Being pretty strict about any kind of aggression in dogs, we were wary but decided to at least meet him.

Kathy Hallberg went to the shelter the day before he was to be put down. She was actually able to talk with the previous owners and was told that he was a sweet boy that loved everyone he met.

They said he got along great with kids, loved to play frisbee and knew some obedience commands.

April 2005

Max was adopted by Ian from Oklahoma.

Ian writes: Everybody here is great! Max is the most intelligent and loving creature on four legs and seems to live every day to its fullest. Each day with Max is packed full of chasing his tennis ball - both inside and outside the house. Max walks very nicely on the leash after some very brief training, and his anxiety about the move to Oklahoma was entirely nonexistent. The trip back to Norman went great - My sister doesn't ride in cars this well!

Something funny about Max is the extent to which he uses his paws... I have never seen a dog do nearly as much - from grabbing the tennis ball out from under the sofa to pawing at a hand when he is ready for it to scratch him.

Nobody can believe that I picked him up from a rescue agency and less people than that believe that he was ever accused of being anything more han excited about seeing new people and dogs. Max is easily the most happy-go-lucky dog to ever walk the earth. Thank you very much for everything that your organization does and stands for. Max has truly blessed my life.

It was obvious to everyone that he was very people friendly and when Kathy walked him up and down the isles of the kennel, he showed little if no interest in the other barking dogs. So we made the decision to take a chance and bring Max into rescue. Because we currently have no open foster homes, we had no choice but to board Max at Elkhound Kennels who have generously offered boarding at a discounted rate to us

I made the trip out to the kennel this morning (03-06-05) to meet Max myself and took our veteran test dog, Sophie, along with me (yes, flirty girl again...I just KNOW Fynn is going to start hearing rumours about his woman! :). I decided to meet Max by myself before bringing Sophie in.

He greeted me in the play yard with tail wagging, very happy to meet a new friend! I played with him, throwing the frisbee but you could tell his heart wasn't in it. I decided it was time to bring in Sophie for the dog aggression test.

He was definitely over the top with enthusiasm to meet Sophie and get his paws on her but I didn't see it as aggressive, just very eager. He was trying to mount her and coming on very strong. Soph simply ignored his advances and walked around the yard acting as though he didn't exist. When he became too physical, she turned to him and gave a brief warning snarl and he immediately but reluctantly, backed off. Once I was comfortable that he meant no harm and I saw no aggression in his actions, I let the leash drop. He again lost his head and came on too strong (ya just don't do that with Queen Sophe lol!), she gave him a pretty stern correction and he backed off instantly and gave her space. Once I saw that, I knew we were good to go :). He immediately calmed down and was just fine with her (as you can see in the pic of them together). In a different enviornment, I have no doubt they would have begun to play. However, Soph was a little stressed herself so she didn't loosen up enough to play with him (probably afraid I was going to leave her there too :).

So, MY evaluation of Max (as well as Kathy's and our vet's) is that this boy is simply very undersocialized with other dogs. This is very common in dogs that have been removed from their litter too soon and have had no further contact with other dogs. Thankfully he is still quite young and with some heavy socialzation, this can be easily resolved.

Update: 03-24-05
Max is now in foster care!! He will be staying with 2 other male bcs and on first intro, things were going very well. Kelty, one of the boys, was very keen to play with Max (came on even stronger than Max usually does!) and the second boy, Charlie has already let Max know he is not fond of visitors :). His feelings were hurt but I was pleased to see that he respected Charlies feelings and was actually afraid of him after that (much to Charlies delight :). Max is just one big puppy!! He'll make a super addition to just about any family!!

Update 3-31-05
Max continues to meet new friends and to him, everyone is a playmate. He does back off very quickly with any dog that is not interested. Those that don't stick up for themselves, Max is relentless is trying to get them to play. I have caught he and Charlie chasing each other many times in the backyard so even Charlie can tolerate the puppy play and Max figured out a way to make it happen.

Max is completely house broken and goes into his kennel willingly. He loves to chew but has always picked up toys or chew bones. He knows sit, down and stay (although like most dogs, he does get distracted). We are working on a leash heel which he does beautifully and he has great recall to "come". He appears to be a happy go lucky fellow that wants a home and a job to do even if its to play a game of fetch. He listens to both Tyler and me and anyone else that he comes in contact. Out of the few dogs I've had the pleasure of fostering; Max has quickly won a way into my heart and into Tyler's.

May 2005

Gigi, now known as Annie, was adopted by Meg and John of Kearney MO. Annie now lives with them on their farm in the country and has lots of room to run and play! She gets to go on walks at a nearby state park and is learning to not get sick on the rides over there lol! Annie and their cat Lily have had to come to terms with each other but sounds like things are going well now. Both Meg and John have been very patient with Annie and have put many hours into helping her adjust and get over her rough start in life. She adores them both and I know she has found the perfect place to call home! Annie had a huge support system from the prison training program where she was initially rescued. She was a favorite there so they are all very happy to see Annie her new forever home! Congrats Miss Annie, you grabbed a lot of hearts along the way :)!

Rhett is approximately 1 yr old and weighs 40 lbs.

Unlike many rescue dogs who see the world initially as a frightening place full of threats and deprivation Rhett is the quintessential optimist. He sees puzzles to be solved, people and dogs to meet and experiences he wants to have. Saying he is a smart dog doesn’t mean much when you’re talking about a Border collie but Rhett uses his smarts to solve puzzles. He has taken the initiave in how to open the cat food container at his foster parent’s house, determined that the best spot to sun in the yard is on top of the dog house and learned his obedience commands easily. Although crate trained he has figured out how to charm his way onto the people’s beds at night. Not an easy task when your foster home has kids, cats, dogs etc to compete with you. He likes kids (big ones who can handle his energetic enthusiasm.) He loves to learn and would be a great flyball or agility dog or jogging companion to a dedicated jogger. He likes other dogs (especially when they share his gusto for fun) gets along fine with cats (especially after he figures out how to get into their stored food!) He is affectionate but really loves to play the best. Rhett would be a great addition to an active family or individual who love to have fun with their dog and include him in their activities. (People who want a just a “cuddle or backyard dog” need not apply.) Rhett is guaranteed to make you laugh at least once a day and to stamp out any couch potato inclinations you might have!

May 2005

Rhett was adopted by Michael and Kelly in Lawrence, KS.

Here's an update from Rhett's family (6/05):
Rhett is doing great!. He's adjusted quickly to being a part of the family. He's rapidly learning his manners! Obedience is going well. We're still working on come and a good sit. He's showing growth on a daily basis and appears quite happy and content. Our Rat Terrier, May, is still annoyed we brought him home. She does a good job of ignoring him. Rhett has established sleeping in Kate's room at the foot of her bed. He's there all night until the next morning when I'm up and going. He doesn't stray to far from me. He's putting on some weight and his coat is looking very nice. He's turning into the handsome gentleman he's named after! He continues to be the sweetest most social dog we've ever met. He loves all kids and dogs! We've had him on a road trip already and he's turned into quite the co-pilot. He now stays and protects the van while we run in and out with quick errands. No diving out the window anymore!

Thanks again for helping connct us with our wonderful friend, Rhett! We love him!

Nell is approximately 2 yrs old and is a stray from south Missouri. She weighs 34 lbs and is 20" at the shoulders.

Nell is a very social dog! She can be very intense with another dog, usually locks onto them (visually) like she would with livestock and just follows their every move. She also must have something in her mouth during this ritual, doesn't matter what (rocks are popular :).

We think that she was chained for the first year of her life. Her teeth are worn because of it, that and carrying rocks around probably! Since I've had her here, she has become best buds with my male. They play constantly but they don't play quietly...oh no. They are quite rough when they play so she would not do well with another dog that didn't tolerate rough play. My female for example will not tolerate it and she has laid into Nell for it. Nell has never fought back when this happens, she is very respectful of the "Queen" and does whatever she is told in that respect. She does very well with all the dogs she has come in contact with. She treats cats as her "job". She does not harm, just keeps tabs on them.

Nell loves people...all people, especially children. She is gentle, tends not to jump up unless given permission. I think Nell would be an awesome therapy dog! She probably would not excel in agility or flyball because she is so focused on other dogs. She would excel as a working dog with some training though. She is also not interested much in balls or frisbees at the moment although I do think with a bit of practice, she would learn.

Nell crates very easily, she actually enjoys being in her crate. She is thunderphobic but all she requires is a place to hide. She does not get destructive or frantic so it is very managable.

Nell needs a home that will make her a part of the family. She needs that interaction with people and would do well with another playful dog

May 2005

Nell's Angel is is Zeev and Francine in Canada
in memory of Rocky

Nell was adopted by Taylor and Jennifer.

Nell had a great first day! Denali is definitely hording the toys but
no altercations so far. Nell definitely misses her foster mom it seems like she has roamed the house looking for her. She is full of love and I think that we will be able motivate her to come out of her shell.

Second day has gone very well. She spent four hours in her kennel yesterday while we were at work and she did great. She was outside playing for most of the afternoon and had a long walk with Denali at night. They both did great. We are working for her to get the focus back on herself. We did some basic obedience commands using hand signals and she was picking up sit nicely.

Nell and her new pal Denali

Nell and Denali August 2005

Nell August 2005

Nell and Denali crusin for sticks!

June 2005

Jet

Jet was adopted byTeresa of Houston, TX. We look forward to an update soon!

Jet was born on 1-08-01 and is registered with ABCA. He has fear issues of men and people he does not know. Once he knows someone, he is VERY LOVABLE. He craves attention and is very sweet. He has been abused by 2 men that I know of and so he is more shy of men than women. I would NOT reccommend him going to a home with kids because of his fear issues. With me, I can do about anything with him and I would never worry that he may try to nip. When I first got him, he was wary of me the first few days and then as soon as he accepted me, he has been my loyal friend. He stays right with me when we go for walks and he comes every time I call him, no matter what he is doing.

He gets along with my cats and chickens and has not been aggresive with the other dogs, but I only have females here. He was sent for stock dog training and he will come, sit, down and heel. If I am working a horse and he wants to help, I can tell him "OUT", he will immedialty quit and leave. He runs right into his kennel if I tell him to "KENNEL". He is very smart and loyal and loving. He also loves to pick up buckets and carry them around, but when I tryed to get him interested in a frisby, he got scared.

Jet needs a home where he will be nurtured and given a chance to get his confidence up. He is a very nice, biddable dog and trains easily. He would be a great companion or working dog.

Update--05/08/05
Jet has proven to be a surprisingly resilient fellow! His diminutive size (18" at the shoulder and 35#) cannot mask his huge heart. The most endearing feature of Jet's personality is his intense spirit; he has survived unspeakable cruelties, yet he still desperately seeks the loving approval of a human guardian and benevolent leader. He will lock his gaze into his handler's eyes, eagerly anticipating his next command!

Jet was delivered to our home for foster care one week ago today. He presented as a very sweet, submissive dog; obviously frightened of strangers, quick movements and loud noises. We housed him in an environment that he had become accustomed to in his previous homes: an outdoor kennel and dog house. During the first three days here, his foster mom and dad (Barbie and Fred) took turns sitting on his kennel floor, speaking softly and offering tasty treats. On the fourth day, Jet appeared to be comfortable with his new home and caretakers. We then added another dimension to his experience, and introduced him to the "downstairs" house area accessible to the community fenced-in area via a "doggy-door." Jet mastered the doggy-door within seconds, and happily sails through the small opening and plastic flaps with ease and confidence!

One at a time, Jet has been introduced to the six other dogs here. He has gotten along just fine with all of them - both (neutered) males and (spayed) females: Four Border Collies, one male German Shepherd Dog and one (very fussy!) Border Collie / Australian Shepherd mix female. He has been ambivalent to friendly with our house and barn cats, and appears to be entirely comfortable in the presence of horses.

By the fourth day, we already experienced a major breakthrough in trust and relaxation: Jet began playing games with a big blue "Jolly Ball!" This leads us to believe that with a modicum of patience and understanding - and dedicated human leadership - Jet is ready and willing to become a full-time companion and work-mate for that special, compassionate individual or family.

Jet is a four year old purebred (ABCA registered) neutered male Border Collie. He is fully vaccinated, heartworm tested negative (currently on Interceptor monthly heartworm preventive tablets) and receiving monthly applications of Frontline Plus flea and tick preventive. Jet is an intensely attentive, loyal and hard-working dog who responds consistently to basic commands ( "Heel, Sit, Down, Stay, Out, Kennel" ) and will thrive in a family with soft voices and sensitive touches - he's guaranteed to work his heart out for you!

Lucy is a stunning white and black 10 month old Border collie mix. But don’t tell her as she possesses, the heart, the spirit, and the intelligence of a purebred Border collie and one of the few BC mixes we have taken into foster care because of this. She went to the shelter in Wichita because her first owner was an elderly woman who would have done much better with a smaller older dog who could be a companion to her. This may have been the worst possible match we have seen with a Border collie.

But Lucy’s luck has changed. Her foster mother understands Border collies and is giving her the training, exercise, stimulation, and partnership with a human that Lucy craves. Even when Lucy runs off leash with the other dogs in her foster family, she returns “checking in” and making her connection with her “master” more important than romping and exploring all the wonderful scents around her an unusual characteristic for such a young dog but not surprising for a Border collie.

Lucy has energy which needs to be focused. With a dog like Lucy who loves people, defers to older dogs, and is anxious to learn, as well as being very athletic, there are many options. She would make a wonderful jogging companion; there is little doubt she would excel at either flyball or agility. She needs someone to build on the foundation her foster mother has built by continuing her obedience training and take classes not just to learn obedience which she has a good start to, but to challenge her mind which is essential for all border collies.

She also needs to be inside with her family unless she is involved in a focused activity (fetch, running,) etc as she has a strong attachment to her people. She gets along well with other dogs and is only curious about cats so could fit into a home with other pets. As with most young Border collies she would do best with older children only as the little ones could easily be knocked over. Children 10 and above would be best if there are children in the home. And most of all she needs a home that will love understand and challenge her and in return her new people will be adding a very special new member to their family.

July 2005

Lucy

Lucy was adopted by Kent and Melanie in KCMO.

Baxter is approximately 1-2 years old. He is the kind of dog that makes fostering so rewarding and frankly addictive. He came to us a wisp of a dog that despite being so emaciated and weak that he had some difficulty standing his tail never stopped wagging and he would lean into your side with his muzzle gently resting on an offered hand. Besides being thin his coat was a mass of tangles and all we so was a sick very gentle dog who had little attention in his life.

But that amazing metamorphosis that we see sometimes in rescue dog has occurred with Baxter. Under the skillful care of his foster family a handsome loving Border collie has emerged. He has those beautiful brown eyes that many Border collies have but in his you can see the gentle loving spirit of a survivor who seems to know that his patience has paid off and it is safe to enjoy life and to trust people again. He now plays with balls, something he could not do at first. His confidence and physical strength has grown and he is now the jogging partner of a neighbor of his foster family. He gets along famously with men, women, children, and other dogs. Recently at the KC Pet Expo he was one of our greeter dogs. Despite several hours of constant noise and hundreds of people walking by many of them stopping at our booth, Baxter maintained his composure and politely greeted everyone who stopped to visit with him. He has learned his obedience commands well and walks (and jogs) well on leash. He is housetrained and very gentle in all he does including taking treats and greeting other dogs and people. Baxter is certainly an “old soul” despite his young age and will be the kind of dog that will be the once in a lifetime dog who will always be remembered as special.

July 2005

Baxter

Baxter went to live with Joyce and David Hawthorne in Tulsa, OK.

Maggie is a sweetheart. She is between 6 months and a year old. Maggie loves to run and walks fairly well on a lead. She loves kids and has just started to get interested in the cat…foolish dog! She loves to leap over her foster brothers. They have no idea where she goes or how she gets past them!! She loves to take the Frisbee and hide it from her foster brother, so she is a little ornery. She knows sit and would pick up other obedience commands easily. She just wants to please you and be loved. We were told she was a registered bc but we aren't entirely sure.

July 2005

Maggie

Maggie was adopted by Andrea.

Dugan is 5 weeks old. His mom is Maggie and dad was a cocker spaniel. He has the cutest little face and his personality is just starting to come out. A blade of grass can entertain him for up to 15 minutes! There were some concerns about his back legs, but he is walking and running without any trouble now about 90% of the time. He went to a 4th of July party with lots of noise and kids to playing with him--he was a hit without a doubt.

July 2005

Dugan

Dugan was adopted by Mike and Patty and their son Matthew in Mission Hill, KS.

Dugan all grown up!

It’s easy to smile when you see this gorgeous boy. His sweet face with its gentle expression gives you a preview of his personality. MacGregor is a happy dog who likes to play - whether it be with a soccer ball, tennis ball, or just playing with his human pals. He seeks human affection and is more than happy to curl up with people on the couch or bed and dispense kisses. He listens well and already knows sit and come, and we are perfecting down and stay. I think he’d do great with more advanced training as he is eager to please and likes to have an activity to do. He already goes willingly into his crate and will even go in it uninvited just to relax. MacGregor travels great in the car - eagerly hops in and sits so quietly you wouldn’t even know he was there. He gets along fine with my dog and loves to play with him (doggie wrestling is a favorite).We think he is about a year old (he came from the Springfield, MO area) and he still has a little of the playful pup left in him. He’d probably be a great agility dog as he loves to slither around - especially under the bed. MacGregor seems to love all people and did fine with children for the short time we were around them. He seems mildly interested in cats. He is rather thin right now, but he’s working hard on gaining weight. MacGregor is a sweet boy who is craving a family of his own. That will be one lucky family!

July 2005

MacGregor

MacGregor was adopted by Cindy & Michael in KCMO.

Update--July 2005: I'd have to say that the success story is how McGregor has improved our lives. In the first couple weeks we would not stop mentioning to each other how much our lives had been enriched. We have had McGregor for about 9 months and continue to walk him two times a day. My morning walk is a nice quiet time to start the day. After work, Michael and I have an oppurtunity to spend quality time together on our walks. The most notable thing about McGregor is his ability to learn. We challenge him with many new tasks and he always succeeds. We're currently narrowing in on picking up clothes and putting them in the hamper! It's a delight for him.We've travelled cross-country with ease. Our neighbors enjoy watching him catch frisbee in the front yard. And, we never get tired of the " what can I do for you next?" look.We only hope McGregor gets as much joy out of us, as we do out of him. He really has made our lifestyle and family a success story.

Beau is from a shelter in St. Joe, Mo. He is between 1 to 2 years old and is very affectionate. He knows sit and down and seems to be house broken and crate broken. He is a great dog and has a great attitude about everything. We have gotten him to show a little interest in the Frisbee and he will chase it if you don't toss it to far, we are up to about 15 feet now. He does love for me to hold the Frisbee up so he can fly through the air and snag it out of my hand. We have a 6 foot fence so I don't think he can jump that but I don't think he would have any problems clearing a shorter fence. He loves hugs and will sit on you lap if you invite him onto the couch. At night he comes up on the bed for a good night hug then gets on one of the dog beds and stays there. He doesn't care for the water and when he got wet in the hose it was the funniest thing watching him roll around in the mud trying to get the water off of him which in turn meant more water to clean the mud off. He does have a lower energy level than the dogs I have. Beau is a little skinny so that my account for him just preferring to sit around a watch the other two crazies that he is living with.He loves treats and will snap to attention once you bring them out. He would make a great pet for someone that wants a smart cuddly dog to play with.

August 2005

Beau

Beau was adopted by Blake & Teri in Shawnee, KS.

Meet puppy Jake! Jake was rescued from a shelter in Oklahoma just hours before his “time was up”. He is about 7 months old and has a wonderful personality! Jake is well-behaved, housebroken, crates easily, gets along with other dogs and is beginning to learn basic obedience commands. He greets children by flopping over for a belly rub and would be a great family dog. Jake is not afraid of trying something new, and he would probably enjoy agility, obedience, or any other activity that meant he could spend time with his family. While the shelter thought Jake was a purebred, Jake is probably a mix – possibly part lab or cattle dog. Whatever it is, it turned out to be a good combination for a family dog because Jake is smart but also much more low-key than many purebred border collies. Jake would probably not be the fastest or highest jumping dog in competition, but he’d excel at being your best friend.

August 2005
Jake

Jake was adopted by Lori & Greg & David & Sarah in St. Louis, Mo. Jake joins his new sisters Mopsy and Maggie. Maggie was also adopted through MKBCR! Maggie and Jake play non-stop!!!

August 2005

Mitzie

Mitzie (now known as Pippi) was adopted by Bethany.

Here is what Bethany has to say about her: Pippi has been a perfect fit in my home. She quickly made friends with all the kids and dogs in the neighborhood. Her quiet spirit and friendly disposition is loved by all. Pippi loves going to the park, chasing bunnies and squirrels