Save a Veteran, Give Him a Collie
Stewart, Honey, and Queenie
My name is Capt. Stewart McQuillan, formerly of the Royal Air Force. In 1989, A spinal injury, curtailed my military career. Now a Disabled Veteran, having made the transition from military to civilian life, and adjusted to life in a wheelchair, I found myself needing more than life’s challenges. I needed the support and comfort that only a Collie can provide.
Queenie, Veteran Service Dog
To me, “Queen” takes me from the dark places that most veterans are familiar with. The bonding that develops, always present, and always ready with nudges and talking eyes, this soul guardian keeps us from sinking into PTSD.
As a Veteran I owe a great debt of gratitude to Hope and her team, not least Ed, who is helping with Queen’s Service Dog training. A big thanks to you all.
A parting note, “Save a Veteran, give him a Collie.”
Volunteer Event Captain Needed for Pueblo Pet Expo
The Pueblo Pet Expo for 2015 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19th. The event is sponsored by the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper and is usually held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pueblo Convention Center , 320 Central Main St. , Pueblo. We don’t have all of the details yet, but you can check their website for updated information. And you can see a video of last year’s Expo here.
We need someone to volunteer to act as event captain. The event captain coordinates the registration, booth set up and take down, and participation of other volunteers at the event. If you are interested, please contact: Sandy York, 303-840-4861, sandy.york@foxtales.com, or Lisa Franklin, 303-840-9948, franklin5_12@q.com.
I Am Your Dog
I am your dog, and I have a little something I’d like to whisper in your ear.
I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.
Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours? They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle. You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time? That is all I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me.
So many times you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of other of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract-clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land. I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just “One more day” with me.
Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as “alpha” or as “trainer” or even “Mom or Dad,” come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another’s eyes, and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general.
You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with, someone very different from you. And, here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a “Dog on two feet” — I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.
Now, come sit with me, on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.
Love, Your Dog
New Arrivals
There are always dogs in RMCSR’s pipeline that are not yet featured on the website. We have set up a special page for them, which will include a photo and basic information about each dog. Some of the current new arrivals came from the Houston Collie Rescue effort described in the following article.
When we have enough information about a dog to paint a thorough picture, and all health issues have been identified and addressed, he or she will be added to the website with a written bio, photos, and health history. At that time the dog will be added to RMCSR’s Adoptable Dogs listings on the Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet websites.
Please visit New Arrivals and check back from time to time. We will be adding to the list as new dogs enter our program. The New Arrivals page can also be found via the Our Dogs dropdown menu in the RMCSR website main navigation bar.
139 Collies Seized from Texas Property
It began with the seizure of 93 Collies from a home in the Tomball area of Houston, Texas, on Friday, September 5, after a judge granted a federal court order in favor of Houston Collie Rescue. And that was just the beginning. The total number has reached 139. Learn more. Update
Hope and Doug Hemperly have returned from Houston, bringing ten rescued Collies to Colorado. The dogs are being evaluated, given appropriate veterinary care as needed, and placed in qualified foster homes for followup care. Video.
Many of these dogs require extensive and costly medical care. If you would like to contribute to RMCSR’s expenses for the rehabilitation and care of these dogs, please use the donate button in the sidebar, or visit out Donations page. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated. Please also visit our Fostering page to learn how you can provide a much-needed foster home for a deserving Collie, Sheltie, or Little Interloper.
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.
The Latest Video from Denice
To watch Denice Rutherford’s great video of the 2014 Picnic
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.”
