All because of Jeep!

 

I was introduced to the Border Collie breed in 2000 by my new husband who was direct from England and had had a Border Collie there. He told me all about them.  It broke his heart to have to leave his BC behind when his marriage broke up, but his girls needed Ben too. 

 

Not long after we married and had decided to buy our home on a lake in Silver Springs, Florida at the end of 2000, we knew it was time to find our dog.  Doug was adamant about two things.  He wanted a Border Collie and it had to be a rescue.  He was involved in rescue in England.  Well, I got to work on the Internet and  among many other rescue groups I found CBCR.   I went thru the dogs up for adoption and saw many I liked but none that "grabbed" me.   Then I saw Jeep!!  I can't tell you exactly what it was about him that told me, but I knew he was the one we HAD to have.  I think it was his eyes.  Soft and beautiful along with Ann Miller's description of how truly sweet is was. After talking it over with Doug, we applied.

 

We were all excited while we waited for someone to contact us.  I would go to the website every day just to look at his photo and see if there was any changes in Jeep's site. 

 

Our hearts broke when we were contacted and told that there was another couple who had contacted them first and that Jeep's placement was pending.  We had really looked forward to getting him here with us.  We were told if anything changed they would call us.  "Yeah...fat chance" was my first thought.  I knew we had lost THE dog. 

 

BUT...it did fall though!!!  The couple apparently changed their mind because they had a move ahead of them and didn't want to have to deal with a dog too.  So...we had the option to take him!  YES!

 

Now another complication appeared.  We live in Florida.  Ummm.   The home check was the problem.

We had no problem going to get Jeep but the home check is so important to both the dog and to CBCR.

It had to be done.

 

Can you believe it?....one of the women that had lived nearby in Carolina and had worked with CBCR had just moved  near Jacksonville,Fl where we were living at the time.  She had to go back to Carolina  on a personal trip, so before she did, she said she would stop by and do the home check for CBCR and return with Jeep if all went well!   And it did!!  I was so excited and couldn't wait to see him.

 

My first sight of him was a badly frightened dog who was afraid of everything.  We would find out later he would never learn to like to travel.  And he was frightened of most everything.  Here was a little guy who would need lots and lots of TLC.  On his first day home (with us) leaves fell from the trees and it caused him to shoot across the back yard like an arrow.  He was so scared of everything.  And I know he missed Ann and her husband so bad.  We gave him as much babying as possible and he improved.  He began to trust us but he still was afraid of everything he wasn't familiar with.  And still is to a lesser degree to this very day. He is making improvement tho all the time. By the time he's an "old man" he should be cured...*smile*

 

Then came the move in to the new house about a month later.  We put up a fence in a small area behind the house for him so yet another thing to get used to.  My husband is such a softy where Jeep is concerned tho Jeep always had someone next to him even for the 10min for a potty break.  Jeep took a long while before he got comfortable with things but eventually he did calm down and relax.   He has never fully lost his fear of new things and people but little by little he has learned as new people come in to stay for a while (from England so they stay a while) we always let him have his safe place until he gets curious enough to come out on his own to say hello.  And he does.  He is such a sweetie and loves everyone.  Ann was so right when she said he was one of the sweetest dogs she's ever seen.  He's house polite and gentle, but man how he can run when he's outside! He now has a fenced half acre to run in the back of the house.

 

We did find after awhile he seemed to be turning into himself, staying fearful, not wanting anything to be changed or be new, so we decided to get him another sibling.

 

Well, I found a "BC rescue" locally on the Internet that hat a photo of a dog that was 'unadoptable", because she was a puppy mill BC and had not been out of her crate and never socialized.  The woman had another she brought out of the puppy mill that was half BC and half Golden retriever.  We took him home and she agreed to allow me to try to befriend the little girl BC.  I went over to feed her hot dogs until she showed a little trust. The woman allowed me to take her.

 

Both were about a year old.

 

Altho this woman called herself a rescue she didn't bother to spay or neuter nor did she ever do a home check.  All she wanted was her $150each for the dogs.  She had the dogs for a couple of months before we took them.  Both dogs were SO emaciated it hurt us to pet them.  Their hind points were sticking out and every rib could be felt.  Spirit (the little girl) had hair that was brittle.  This was a long time process.

 

Buddy (the BC/Golden mix) came to us with a fresh cut lip that came when someone had kicked him (she said at the puppy mill) and had a severe entrapment phobia. Spirit had to be forced to remain in the open.  She hides under and behind anything she can.  Both are so much better and fully trust us to to do all kinds of things with them.  They are well mannered and sweet.  Both have improved so much but Buddy still fears men (other than Doug, his best bud) and feet.  Spirit is still "bonkers" but now has begun to push the boys away from the food etc if she wants it and when we are having a "love fest" petting session.  The boys are such gentlemen. She will always be my little 'Bonkers" but she will always have a home.  They all have "issues" but we love them so much.

 

With all their "issues" none of them, Jeep, Buddy nor Spirit have a clue what balls or frizzbies are.

 

Wait, the story continues...My teen granddaughter who lives with me and I went to PetsMart one day and guess what...yep...The rescue group set up there had a BC who needed a home.  This dog, Hattie was a real ball and frizzbie nut.  Ummm, Idea!   Maybe...Just maybe she could teach the other dogs a trick or two!  Well she has!  Buddy in all his gangly manner (he behaves and looks Golden) now runs for the ball but hasn't figured out that he should bring it back.  And I couldn't believe it....even Jeep got into the fray a couple of times...He HAS to be the center of the attention or he will moan at you.  But when that didn't work like usual when the ball was being thrown, it must have occurred to him he had to get involved too.  We were so shocked.  You have to know Jeep.  He is above all the fray.  He's too dignified.  *smile* But he's giving in.  Jeep has a stubborn streak a mile wide.  Yep, he thinks he owns us now.  And he's still King...# 1.

 

Anyway I tell all this to say that without Jeep, none of this would have taken place.  Here are four dogs with varying decrees of "issues".  From Jeep who is just fearful of thunder and new things to our little Spirit who in the people world would be a "psycho".  But all are happy and content and we love our kids.  But Jeep is the reason for it all.  Jeep will always be my favorite.  He is almost a person.  He will "talk" to you trying to tell you what he wants..usually a good butt scratch...and will bless you out if you stay out too long.

The others are sweet dogs, but Jeep is something more...you can see it in those sweet brown eyes.

Simply put...he's a "people" himself *smile*

 

Oh yeah, my granddaughter and I now work every Saturday with this multi-breed, no-kill rescue group at PetsMart now.  And while we can't do what so many people do, foster a dog, we take the new little puppies that people drop off and socialize them until a qualified home can be found.

 

Another thing I want to bring up to the attention of anyone who might read this and is looking for a dog, PLEASE take a rescue dog!  These are precious dogs that humans have hurt, ignored or just didn't take the care needed to make sure they didn't get lost.  Some have issues...but it shouldn't mean death for them.  Take the time to work with these animals.  They will return your efforts in kisses and trust.  They aren't perfect...but neither are we...and they put up with us....!

 

And as far as rescue groups are concerned.  The majority are great and really do well by their animals.  But there are always the other kind. PLEASE use the "particular, picky"  who may or may not approve an applicant. The ones that require home checks, and fences, and that you have the dog as a house pet and not a "yard dog".   

 

I was so shocked after the positive dealings with CBCR, at what I found at the so called "rescue' where we got Buddy and Spirit.  For all the money she charged, the dogs were not even neutered or spayed. They were severely underfed and not vetted up properly.  She didn't know if I abused the dogs or not.  No home check meant she didn't care if there was a fence to protect the dog or if I understood what these dogs needed. And the condition of the dogs showed she just didn't care.  Doug and I took these two because we knew we had to get these two out of there.  I hated to give HER the $$ but these dogs needed help badly.  They are now fully vetted, "fixed" and fat.  And very much loved.

 

Please support these "particular" rescue groups that DO care about their animals, do home checks and have strict rules.  I was in for a horrible shock when we got Buddy and Spirit.  It made me really appreciate CBCR and groups like them.  CBCR is super special because of all the wonderful foster parents who deal with the problems the dogs have and work with them to get them to the point they CAN be adopted to the right family. Not every rescue group can do that.  That's one of the things that make CBCR special for the dogs.  The foster parents. 

 

In short (the only thing short here *smile*)  I love you guys at CBCR, with a special thank you and hugs to Ann Miller, Jeep's other mom.

 

Joanna Newman

Silver Springs, Fl