Nell is a very gentle and timid 6-year-old spayed female Sheltie.  She is the very last of the Casper, Wyoming hoarder confiscation dogs to be permanently placed, of the eight Shelties that came to RMCSR in July of 2019.  On the day that we traveled to the municipal shelter to scoop up as many of the bedraggled Shelties as possible, Nell was the saddest looking little bundle of them all.  As I held her through the series of steps to make it possible for the group of dogs to cross into Colorado from Wyoming, my heart ached for her.  I wondered if she might be pregnant because inspite of the fact that she is tiny, she seemed heavy to me.  But as we discovered at the time of her spay, she was not carrying pups but seemed to be carrying the sadness of all the tragic time in that dirt backyard, trying to survive.

Enough about her past.  Let's focus on her future.  Nell has been in two different foster homes since July.  It is hard to see the tiny steps of forward motion when you are with her on a day to day basis.  Her keen eyes watch what goes on all around her although she may sit motionless on a couch.  It is hard not to scoop her up and cuddle her unmercifully although that would terrify her.  But she is so tiny and perfect that it is exactly what her foster parents would want to do.

She is very healthy at 17.6#.  She is UTD on vaccines, heartworm negative and on Interceptor.  Her baseline blood chemistries and CBC are all normal and she is microchipped.  Nell comes with all her goodies, her favorite bed and food and toys (although she has no idea what a toy is) and collar and leash, etc.  All of those things are terrific but what she needs the most is a loving home with no expectations.  It may take her another six months to make her understand that she is safe and loved.  Or it could happen tomorrow.  I asked an animal communicator about a similar dog that has been rehabbing in my home for the last few months.  "What does she need from me?  Time and no expectations." was the answer.  

This is not just another cute little Sheltie.  This is a project dog.  But she is so worth the effort!

Please begin the process for adoption by reading our Adoption Policies and, if we sound like the right group for you, fill out our online Adoption Application. From there, our receipt of your completed application will be confirmed by email. You then will receive a follow-up phone call if we feel you are a good potential applicant for the dog. Lots of good conversation with the foster family, a reference from your veterinarian, and a home visit round out the screening process. We take dog adoption very seriously.  Please put a lot of thought into why you want to adopt a dog, and help us make a good match for your family. We appreciate your taking the time to visit with us. We will look forward to hearing from you as well.

Adopt Me!

Rowan and Ruger
Collie (long coat)