Your Rescue Story

[blndebmbr]

In light of the other thread, I thought it would be kind of fun if we all put our stories into one thread. I think it would be neat to read how everyone's collies rescued them.


My Zoie dogg is simple, but complicated at the same time. As many may, or may not, know...my mom was on the path to becoming an animal hoarder. Growing up the animals took priority in her life. Finally, no one was more important to her than her little shitzu..."rags". She left my sister and I homeless for some time, but she held on to "rags". At the age of 16 I found myself with no home, a sister and four horses to take care. But mom had rags all safe and sound. Needless to say, I seriously HATED that dog. That hatred translated to anything canine.

When I say hate...it is an understatement. The sound of a dog's pant would make my blood boil. I had a serious mental issue and really no way to resolve it. I had this dilemma, because I have always loved animals, was very gifted in training them and never wanted to see them hurt. But wanted nothing to do with them. Especially the dogs. And of course, as dogs are...every dog I have ever met has had to beeline to me. EVERY one of them. lol I used to laugh and say they knew I hated them and that they wanted to win me over.

Anyway, November 12, 2010, everything changed. I saw this picture on facebook:

The caption was "Zoie-Please adopt me".
I didn't know what hit me. All I could think of was her. For two weeks I could not get that face out of my head. I finally asked my husband if we could have a dog. He nearly fell over.
I was VERY nervous going to meet her. Saying that she would decide if she would go with us or not. Her previous family said that she did not like car rides and that she would have to be picked up. Sierra climbed in the back seat and Zoie hopped in right next to her. She decided she was going to come home with us.

And I love her. Love her so much it is crazy. So back to Brandon's poem...this little dog rescued ME. I personally feel border collies are magical. I am certain it sounds silly, but it is the only way I can understand the change in me. The little dog that cured it all....

[kglacer]

AWWW I LOVE THIS STORY!! Brought tears to my eyes but I am a big sap so no surprise there!

You'd never know you had such a hatred for dogs but I am glad Zoie changed your mind!!! Border Collies are magical - there is no other explanation!! hehe

[BorderCollieLover]

What a happy ending...for both of you!

[blndebmbr]

Well who else has one?? Rayeann??? Wolf? Come on rescued ones.

[Socks]

Since Buddy (my weiner doggie) decided that his owner was my mom, I wanted to get another dog for my own. Every day I would look on my town's ad site. One evening I saw the ad, "free blue heeler" and I instantly called. On the phone the lady said that Socks was not trained and she was going to shoot her the very next day if she didn't find a home. The reason why they had to get rid of her is because their landlord said the house could only contain one dog, while she had two. She chose to get rid of a perfectly healthy dog, rather than a dog with a gigantic stinky lump in it's mouth.

When I arrived at the house to look at Socks, she jumped over the fence to greet me. I looked at her feet and noticed that she had no white markings on her feet. Then I realized that her feet was drenched in poop! I looked in the yard, and oh boy... every where you stepped, there was poop. It reeked. Socks was full of dead hair and was very skinny. She definitely did not look like a blue heeler, but a border collie.

About two minutes passed since I entered their yard, and my shirt and pants are already covered in dog crap. The owners came out and the first words that came out of one's mouth was "Want her or not?" I asked if anyone else had called for her. They said no. So I said that I'll take her. They then went inside and grabbed a leash and threw it at me. They said good bye to Socks and I and slammed their door shut.


Socks at 11 months, I think that was the first day I took her home.

Took about two months to get her to stop peeing in the house..she also stopped jumping up on me, learned sit, learned a good recall, oh I can go on..

Also, I looked on the internet for houses a few months later, and I saw the same house for sale!

I love my Socks. She really is the best thing that's ever happened to me in a long time. I couldn't imagine us being torn apart!

[LadyDaniela]

Ya'll have heard...er.. read BennE's story so I'll spare you

[GreensMom]

(12-14-2011 09:14 PM)LadyDaniela Wrote:  Ya'll have heard...er.. read BennE's story so I'll spare you

I am pretty sure Green's story has been told. I don't want to bore everyone.

[Socks]

Post it anyway.. >:)

[blndebmbr]

Come on....not everyone has been here forever. I would like you both to add. And LD, I do NOT know BennE's story. Only rumblings of grapefruit theivery.

[kglacer]

I don't know any of their stories!!

[LadyDaniela]

Rumblings of grapefruit thievery!!!!!!! I think I'm gonna pass out laughing so hard

[LadyDaniela]

thread with pics here

At the shelter BennE was born was at (and I worked at) there's a metal sheet that divides the kennels in half for ease of cleaning (and/ or to increase shelter capacity). We called this 'the guillotine.' One day when BennE was 4 weeks old the shelter was crazy short staffed so there was only one person working in maternity where he, his 5 or 6 litter mates and his mom lived. The final cleaning was done for the day and we all went home. The next morning we come in and BennE, his litter mates, his mom and the kennel were covered with blood. (Who knew puppies held so much?) It is believed that the guillotine caught him. His eye was hanging out of the socket. But BennE being BennE he was wagging his tail and happy as a clam to be giving me kisses and luvs while I tried to clean him up so the vet could see him even though he was obviously in pain. The shelter crew arrives at 7, the doctor arrives at 8 when the shelter opens. The split second the Dr arrived BennE was rushed over to clinic where it was determined that he had a scull fracture. We're not positive what really happened since there was only one person in maternity that day and that person quit a few days after this occurred. It took three surgeries before his eye would even sit right in his head. While he was healing between surgeries he lived up front where I worked (front desk) so he would have constant care and he would go home with who ever was fostering him. However because of his amazing disposition he was never considered for euthanasia. (amazing since 90% ++ are PTS there) When he was 4 mos I talked Luciano into 'fostering' him. So he was my wedding gift Smile I'm sure he has brain damage from the incident in maternity. Anyway...onto the grapefruits.

We live on a working produce ranch...we have 6 orchards. We grow grapefruits, oranges, lemons, peaches, apricots, plums, figs, persimmon, tomatoes, squash, and walnuts.

BennE couldn't see out of his right eye (still not sure how clearly he can see out of it) so he always missed the ball when we threw it for Freckles. He DID however see the grapefruits when they'd fall off the trees and would excitedly run over and bring it to us. We figured they were big enough that he couldn't swallow it (ahem) so we would throw a ball for Freck and a citrus for BennE. Thus, the love of grapefruit.

We run the dogs daily and May of 2009 he decided it would be a good idea to swallow a grapefruit...WHOLE. Of course it got stuck. It took a trip to three vets (one of which an E-Vet an hour away) and $3000.00 to have it removed from his esophagus plus a year of soft food only, he was fixed right up.

Once he was cleared by the vet to be active again (2 weeks) we had hoped that he'd learned his lesson and took him out for a run. He headed straight back to that orchard and tried to grab another grapefruit so we muzzle him anytime we're in the back with the trees. He was afraid of it at first so I put ribbons on it (tassels) and he got so much attention from everyone that he thought the muzzle was a good thing. He's FINALLY learned that he cant pick up the ball with the mask on....we're hoping that one day he translates this to fruit because he always tries....with EVERY fruit he finds (and on 11 acres...you can imagine...) He's learned that he can push on some fruits and they'll squish right through the mask so I don't see the translation ever happening.

There you have it. BennE, the grapefruit and his idiot mask.

[mcturtle]

I worked on my husband forever to be able to get a dog. He likes dogs, but he had left his last dog with his parents when he renovated the house. His parents had fallen in love with the Bailey and he couldn't bring himself to take the dog away from them. So he was reluctant to take on a new buddy. We also know we'll have to move in a few years for our careers. However, I didn't see a reason we couldn't move a dog with us. It may be a lot of hassle, but that's nothing to the positives. Anyhow, we finally made the decision to get a dog. I'd grown up with border collies and I wanted a dog I could teach tricks to, play disc with or maybe do agility. My husband was a little wary after reading about how destructive BC can be, if they don't have an outlet. We found Emmy on a rescue site and I fell in love with her blue eyes and fluff. Again, my husband wasn't too sure that she was the right type of dog for him. I arranged to meet with Emmy and her foster mom. Emmy was so tiny! She snuggled right into my arms. When my husband held her he was a goner. No more reservations for him! Emmy's foster mom loved her too and was considering adopting her. I was so worried we wouldn't get our baby! I had to wait a whole week before we got the news Emmy was going to be ours! It was one of the hardest weeks of my life. When Emmy did come home she was so scared. She had bonded with her foster mom's older BC cross and wanted her friend back! She was shaking and itching from nerves. I think I called her foster mom three times that first night. I was soooo worried. After the first night she settled right in. It has been amazing to see how fast she learns and grows. She brings a smile to our faces every morning and welcomes us home each night. I can't imagine life without her. I hit the jackpot with my rescue pup.


Who could say "no" to that face?

[cyman1964uk]

More, MORE! We've never had a rescue dog - but I think our next one should be (if I'm ever allowed to have another).

[blndebmbr]

You all have me crying.... lol I am such a nerd!!

Who else has a rescue story??