2,000 Miles Later!!

By Vicky Gann, Southwest Collie Rescue, August 2007

(with Before and After pictures of Loverboy/Mr. Magoo)

What an adventure I've had since last Friday! Helping with the Tomball, Texas Collies will be an experience I'll never forget, nor will others involved with Southwest Collie Rescue. I drove by myself in a rented cargo van to Houston Friday, arriving twelve hours after I left Hobbs, NM. I would have been there sooner, but three wrecks on the freeway slowed things down a bit. I stayed overnight with friends and left the next afternoon for Beaumont where I spent another  night and  received some much needed sleep. I couldn't help but notice, while the amazing rescue effort was going on in Sour Lake, the front page of the Beaumont newspaper reported the rescue of a 14 foot Australian crocodile named Gwendolyn, who had slithered out the partially opened window of a Minivan. Only in Cajun country!

I was at the Sour Lake horse barn, which is part of a vet clinic operation, only about 30 minutes from Beaumont, a little after 9 the next morning. The Houston CR team was like a cheerleading squad. They were at the turn-off waving their arms and directing me right into the barn. Everyone was so enthusiastic and full of humor and warmth. The Collies were so lucky to have these big-hearted people working on their behalf. Everything, including the Collies and their pens was clean, fans circulated the humid air and it was very comfortable in the barn. The pictures we'd received of the Collies who were to return with me had shown them un-groomed and I had been told that the groomer was struggling with the challenge facing her. I did not expect to see my group with freshly scrubbed faces and bodies and their hair combed. Zooby, who became my true love, even had a haircut-down to the skin. This had to be done for his health, as the mats were so extreme and the heavy Texas rains  had taken their toll on his coat. It had been damp or wet for days at a time. It had to come off. This happy-go-lucky boy with a terrific sense of humor, just used his new haircut as a way to get even more attention from anyone who would give him a second of their time. 

Within an hour, my group of traveling companions was loaded and we headed west. They were: Bridgett, Carson, Zooby, Becker, Ashton, Reagan, Lover Boy, and sweet old Kara. I came to have a warm place in my heart for each Collie. Due to a change in our foster line-up, which was changing with each phone call as I headed back to NM, it was very evident that Zooby and Bridgett might be staying with me until we could locate additional fosters. That was fine, I knew these two would fit in with my personal menagerie. The dogs were great traveling companions and all crate trained, which made my job as their driver much easier. Pit stops were made for dogs and driver, but I pushed the speed limit the whole way. I had to meet a foster in Big Springs, TX who had driven from Midland, TX to meet me. Lover Boy was handed off. I had another 1.5 hours of driving to get back to Hobbs. Once home, all dogs were exercised, fed, and bedded down before I wearily laid my head on the pillow at 12:45 am MST(losing an hour crossing the TX/NM line). 

The alarm went off at 5. A quick shower and short visit with my husband started another day of travel for the remaining seven Collies. I allowed them time to run and play in groups of two while I freshened crates and water buckets. This is a good place to say that there were no dogfights or growls. The Collies were very loving and obviously well into their emotional healing stage. Thanks for that - Houston!

We were on the road again by 9 am. I drove to Artesia, NM where I met a SWCR volunteer--a foster and transporter. At the last minute a foster home opened up for Zooby in Santa Fe. I gave Zooby, Kara, and Becker hugs. Kara was going to Roswell, NM for fostering and the volunteer was to meet another of the SWCR folks who would take them back to Santa Fe. 

From Artesia I then headed west, but had to stop just as I was heading out of town to make a 911 call. Two well cared for horses were taking a freedom stroll down the shoulder of the highway without their humans. Fortunately help was sent out quickly and the remaining Collies and I once again headed west to meet SWCR's El Paso volunteers. During that drive two more foster homes opened up, both willing to take Bridgett, but it would be several weeks before either would be ready. She'd be returning with me to Hobbs. A routine meeting place for our Collie transport team is Cloudcroft, NM....one of the most beautiful places in the state. The cool mountain air was very welcome tot he Collies. Two vehicles loaded with crates and fosters arrived. We spent a great deal of time discussing the Collies, taking pictures, and one lady who had been urged strongly to get into the foster program fell head over heels in love with Bridgett. She asked me if she could take her home. Bridgett  had warmed to her immediately and it seemed the right thing to do. The lady had been approved previously by SWCR with a home visit. I placed the lead in her hand. The remaining four Collies were loaded and headed to El Paso, TX. I headed back over the mountains to the flat lands and Hobbs, unloaded the van of its crates and returned the van to the agency by 9 pm. 

Vicky Gann is a SWCR member and a CRF board member.