Sahara and Miley
Two beautiful girls, Sahara and Miley would love to share the same forever home unless the universe has other plans for them. Please visit their pages to learn more about these wonderful Collies.
Ruby and Her Six Precious Gems
A young adult female tri-colored Collie was passed around in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. She was unwashed, unkempt, and unloved. She was hit by a car over a year ago and had minimal care for her two broken front legs and damaged eye. We got a call from a small group of women who do their best every day for the lost souls in their little piece of the world. Now this poor Collie had a litter of puppies and nowhere to go. Could we help? Yes.
Of Mama Ruby’s Six Precious Gems two are males Onyx and Tiger Eye, and four are lovely girls Emerald, Jade, Garnet, and Opal. They were born on May 23rd and came to us on June 15th, Father’s Day, which somehow seemed oddly appropriate. We were told that there was a purebred male Collie on the property as well as a Great Pyrenees and a Border Collie.
We have been asked if the Precious Gems are purebred and I have asked Mama Ruby the same question but she is not answering. And we don’t know. But I can tell you what they are. Darling and robust and silly and smart. Ed, my favorite trainer, came by this morning to meet the kids. He is a sucker for any of the herding breeds. He gave them his approval (that would be 4 paws up!!) and started to watch them for early signs of different personality traits. Onyx, one of the boys, fixated on Ed as soon as he came through the door and got up on his tiny back legs and asked Ed to pick him up. Perhaps he is meant to be a man’s dog?
We will start to take applications for the pups with the plan to place them in their forever homes around July 20th. We will do all the care we can for dogs this young before they are placed, and will continue to cover their expenses for additional vaccines, spaying or neutering, and microchipping as they reach the appropriate age. Please remember that we put the needs of the dogs in our care first. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but if you plan to leave them home alone all day, please don’t even bother to apply. We will not consider any family that is less than spectacular.
As for sweet Mama Ruby . . . we will be consulting with the Colorado Canine Orthopedics group in Colorado Springs when the pups are weaned and they will guide us through her options. Initial x-rays of her front legs will tell us if there is a surgical possibility for either leg or perhaps prosthetic devices to help with stability and pain. We have never met a Collie with a nicer temperament. She has a gentle and open spirit and greets all new humans with a wagging tail. To err is human . . . to forgive canine.
Video of Ruby’s Six Precious Gems
Remington in Rehab
You may remember Remi, a sweet Sheltie who is still classified as Not Ready for Prime Time among our Collies and Shelties needing homes. Remi was morbidly obese at 49.9# and could not even get himself to a standing position without help. One result of the obesity is that Remi has bilateral luxating patellas (kneecaps that don’t track properly and permit normal knee joint motion). He also was badly anemic because he was eating the crappiest dog food on the market, full of empty calories. A bag of this dog food was torn open and left on the ground for him in a backyard. And the poor little dude is hypothyroid.
In the months that Remi has been with our Director, he has made great strides. He can get up by himself and waddles along on short walks with Hope sometimes 20 times a day to build his endurance and stamina. He can potty normally on his own. He eats 1/4 cup of a low fat kibble twice a day with his thyroid supplement and some additional meds to help with mobility.
And now, having slimmed down to a reasonable weight, Remi has had his knee repair surgery and is in rehab at our director’s house.
Remi’s surgery was no small expense, and we hope anyone wishing to make a donation will just punch one of the PayPal buttons in the sidebar on our site. You can pay by credit card or by debiting your bank account, and RMCSR receives the funds immediately. Any help you can give toward Remi’s medical expenses will be greatly appreciated, not least by Remi himself.
For more information and photos about Remi, his surgery, and his therapy, please visit his page.
Hope Hemperly brings incredible heart and generosity of spirit to her work each day on behalf of dogs, especially the Collies, Shelties, and occasional Little Interlopers who are fortunate to find their way into her orbit. Perhaps this video captures a hint of who she is.
Don’t Shoot the Dog . . . Ask Ed
Ed Russell of Luv ‘N’ Care Dog Training is a certified trainer and graduate of the Animal Behavioral College. Ed can introduce your puppy to the sights and sounds of its undiscovered world, can offer obedience classes for all ages and stages, can offer unique solutions to problems both old and new, offers advance shaping for particular objectives (someone remind me to ask what that means?!!), and best of all, he comes to your house if you live in or near the Pueblo area. For example, if you want your dog to be Canine Good Citizen certified, Ed will guide both you and your beloved pooch through the ten step learning program it takes to pass the test. But the best part for me as the Director of RMCSR is that Ed is just a phone call away when I know that a dog needs more than just vet care, love and good food. I tease Ed all the time about having been a canine in a previous existence. He “thinks like a dog.”
“Don’t Shoot the Dog . . . ask Ed” is the name of the ongoing advice column that will be featured on our website. We all have training issues with our furry friends, and it helps to get an educated opinion from a trusted source. Ed will share his insights into behaviors that may sound familiar to many of us.
Fiona’s Emergency Surgery
Can you help?
Fiona, the glorious middle-aged Collie that came to us as a stray,
has had emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage.
Having probably survived by eating garbage and faced with starvation, a dog will resort to eating anything he or she can find, including all kinds of items that should never be in a dog’s mouth. The surgeon found some kind of fabric, perhaps a sock piece, and had to remove about a foot of damaged intestine. We are hopeful that she will make a full recovery.
But the bill was a whopper!
And it has taken a large chunk out of our treasury.
Can you help cover the expenses of Fiona’s surgery?
What a blessing that would be.
Fiona is not alone. Lately, too many of the wonderful Collies and Shelties coming in to our organization have been neglected horribly. A small part of Remi’s history is provided at the top of this page. Senior Shelties that have never seen a vet in their entire lives, with abscessed teeth, elevated liver enzymes and a sad look in their eyes. Scrawny Collies with heartworm disease and straw-like fur. 
Dogs that spent their entire lives under a trailer and need long periods of rehab and recuperation, not to mention often extensive veterinary care. Morbidly obese Shelties that can barely manage to stand, let alone walk, and need time to regain some semblance of health. These abused and neglected dogs are the reason we do ongoing fund-raising.
Adoption fees only partially cover the expense of caring for all of the dogs that are taken in. Some dogs require extensive time in foster care or lengthy medical treatment, running into the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars. Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donations are welcome and tax deductible. Every penny of your donation goes directly to the hands-on care of these dogs.
Make checks payable to Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue and send them to:
Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue
234 S. Hacienda del Sol Dr.
Pueblo West, CO 81007
You can also donate via PayPal by clicking the PayPal button in the right-hand sidebar of each page. PayPal allows you to pay from your bank account or by credit card
The Latest Video from Denice
To watch Denice Rutherford’s great video of the 2013 Picnic
and for information about other happenings this summer and fall,
please visit our Events page. Additional videos created by Denice
may be viewed in her video section.
If you’d like to volunteer for future RMCSR events,
please contact our Event Coordinators,
Sandy and Jerry York, 303-840-4861 or email.
Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue, Inc. (RMCSR)
Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue, Inc. (RMCSR), formerly Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established in 1979 to rescue, rehabilitate, and place lost, abused and abandoned Collies, Collie-mixes, Shelties, and Sheltie-mixes in loving, responsible homes. We are a certified rescue organization through the Colorado Board of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s office. Dogs stay in carefully selected foster homes and receive complete veterinary care until they are matched to carefully screened and approved adopters. We do not adopt out dogs at public events.
Shop for Merchandise!
Check out our merchandise shop where you can buy our exclusive t-shirts, mouse pads, and bandanas.
You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood when you walk your Collie or Sheltie in your very own Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue t-shirt while your 4-legged friend sports a matching bandana!
They will also make great gifts for the Collie or Sheltie lover on your list. This is a great way to help support our mission and look good doing it!
RMCSR Wine Shop
Looking for a great gift? Try a bottle or more of wine from the Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Cellars! Each of the six wines features one of our wonderful RMCSR adoptees. Your purchase helps Collies and Shelties in need of a second chance. Order online, by mail or phone – ordering information is at your fingertips in the RMCSR Wine Shop! To explore the selection of quality wines, click on the image below!
Help for Lost Dogs
We’ve been hearing a lot about lost dogs recently. The Missing Pet Partnership is an excellent source of information and tips to help find a pet. Their focus is on understanding the likely reactions of a lost pet to circumstances and events around him, including rescue efforts. There are comprehensive and well-organized sections on cat, dog, and other specific pet “lost behaviors” as well as discussions of counterproductive owner and rescuer behaviors. Here is the section on Recovery Tips: Lost Dog Behavior. Links to these and other useful articles are also provided in the RMCSR Resources page.
Can You Foster a Collie or Sheltie?
We have dogs coming in just about weekly, and we always need foster homes. If you have a fenced yard, are dog savvy and are a loving, responsible person — let us hear from you. Previous adopters make wonderful foster homes too! For additional information, Please visit our Fostering page.
Your Donation Makes a Difference
The economy has affected non-profit rescue organizations nationwide. Donations are down, but the number of dogs in need is going up. Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue is an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donations are welcome and tax deductible.
You can be assured that 100 percent of your tax-deductible donation will be used for direct, hands-on care of our rescue dogs as we prepare them for a new life in their forever homes. You can make a monetary donation securely online at GivingFirst or PayPal. You also can mail your donation check to:
Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue, Inc.
234 S. Hacienda del Sol Drive
Pueblo West, CO 81007
Or check our Wish List for items we need.
PetMeds Donation Program
RMCSR is pleased to have been accepted into the PetMeds Donation Program. From their blog: “At PetMeds we love our pets, and we feel it is important to give back to the pet community. Each month we donate needed pet supplies to approximately 100 different Animal Shelters and Rescues around the country.”
