Update from Marianne Sullivan, President
Collie Rescue Foundation, Inc.
Some photos/video of the dogs/rescue can be found on the websites of at least 3 Houston TV stations. The pictures/video are generally found by going to the local news section and moving backward to local news archives from Thursday.
The stations are:
(Note: Link updated 8/14/2007 - link now points directly to video)
Look at the Animals Slideshow photos of the collies
(Note: Links updated 8/14/2007 - link now points directly to video)
(Note: Link updated 8/14/2007 - link now points directly to video)
I spoke to Vicky Willard, of Houston Collie Rescue, on Friday, July 27, 2007, and the Collie Rescue Foundation has committed to assisting in this rescue. We have offered to help with the medical expenses, including heartworm treatment, tests, and neutering.
If anyone wants to make donations, they can make them directly to the
Donations can be sent to:
Carmen Leonard, Treasurer
Or, if you want to donate with Paypal, go to the website:
www.collierescuefoundation.org/
September 23, 2007
Update from Cynthia Heyman of Utah Collie Rescue (http://www.CollieRescueUT.org)
On Saturday morning, September 1, 2007, I arrived with a couple of my friends and volunteers to pick up four sable collies from Houston. Although saddened at the circumstances that brought them to me, my heart was eager to get to know these wonderful collies that needed to find homes. I always love getting to know the fosters that come through my house, and discover their own unique personalities.
The dogs coming out of the plane were all beautiful. Four smooth sables. Tony, a big boy with a shaggy smooth coat (he was originally thought to be a shaved rough, but his coat hasn't grown so we now think he's a smooth) was very sweet and wanted attention right away. Hudson was very shy but he disembarked the plane with a bravery I admired. Biance was also a bit nervous, but she was a good girl and very pretty. And Tatum, the smallest of the four, was also ready to find her home here in Utah.
I went to Dog Camp in Lake Tahoe that next week, so each of the dogs stayed with a temporary foster home until I got back. My husband did take Tatum in our house, though. When I returned from dog camp I was excited to meet these four collies. I was hoping to find some foster homes for them after I got back, but was unable to. So they all came to my house to stay with me, my husband, and my four dogs (3 smooth blue collies and one border collie).
They are all a joy. Hudson is a bit shy, but he's already stretching his legs and loosening up. He is a good eater and likes to explore the yard. He is playing very well with Bianca and Tatum in the house and the backyard. He likes to get into wrestling matches with Tatum. Hudson also likes to lay on the couch or in his laundry basket that came with him from Houston.
Bianca is a very sweet, wonderful girl. She likes chew bones and, after about 3 days of not wanting to eat much, is now eating very well and wanting to eat the other dogs' food as well as her own. Bianca is Tatum's best playmate, and Bianca also likes to play with our border collie, Chase.
Tony is a big goofy boy who loves attention and walks. He is very sweet and friendly and gets along with everyone he meets. Tony needs a home where he can get much more attention than he can get from us, though we give him hugs and loves and walks regularly. When a leash comes out, he's ready to go!
Tatum is also a doll. She's a bundle of energy. She must be young, because she gets into, and chews up, everything. (In example, she just pulled a DVD off the table by the couch!) We thought our house was dog proofed.. but not for Tatum! She has a lot of spunk and attitude and loves to play with Bianca. Tatum would be excellent in a performance home and we are thinking she is going to go to one of those. Well, she might stay in our performance home, as she is the perfect little spunky girl who needs lots of positive training, and she has the potential to learn many things!
We have had some good families call already. Hudson is a heart breaker, and he has gotten a couple of inquiries. Though it is not the most popular time for adoptions here in Utah, as Autumn and Winter approach, we hope these four will find homes soon.
September 10, 2007
Update from the foster home of Cricket
The words I would use to describe her are great, confident, loving, mischievous, curious and playful. She’s really blossomed in the nearly three weeks we’ve had her. She’s a good eater (loves her food and treats - and as of yesterday, is 27.2 lbs.), has mastered the "sit" command, loves to cuddle, enjoys being gently brushed, loves prancing around our backyard, is always ready to pick up a toy - especially a squeeze toy - and tease our two Collies to play with her. She has a delightful little bark - she stopped "chirping" the minute we put her in the car to bring her home to foster. On the trip to Denver, she wanted to sit in my lap and slept with her head on my shoulder or lying across my lap.
Everyone who has met her has fallen in love with her. When we take her on walks through our neighborhood, everyone calls her "adorable". I took her to our favorite pet store to buy her a bed. Although Hope gave us a bed for her, she loved sleeping in our two Collies' donut beds. She had to have one too. At the store, she tried out a few and we settled on one that she loves to snuggle into. When I went into the store this afternoon to buy some food and treats, the first thing the owner said was "How’s the lovebug? Does she like her bed?"
She was spayed yesterday and we picked her up this morning. She’s doing extremely well - it’s been hard to keep her "quiet".
On Sunday, she will be going to her forever home. A wonderful couple, Nancy and John, saw her on PetFinders.com and wanted to come meet her. Hope had Nancy call us to make arrangements and they came that afternoon. They came back the next day with their dog to see how compatible Cricket and their Golden Retriever, Riley, were. Cricket was so cute - she was very curious about Riley and went right up to him even though he is much bigger than she is, teased him with some toys to get him to play with her, they chased each other and touched noses. Nancy and John are obviously very devoted to their pets. They just lost a Collie in July who was born with a hole in her heart and, unfortunately, died during surgery. She was just 2 years old. Nancy and John, along with Riley, were devastated. During their two visits here, you could easily see that they fell in love with her. Nancy has called several times just to see how Cricket was doing and called the day before her spaying to ask me to give Cricket a hug for her. She and John are very excited about taking her home. Nancy does not work, so she will be home to give Cricket a lot of love and attention. They have a half acre lot, so Cricket will have plenty of room to run and prance, and, best of all, a buddy to play with. We are excited for her, because she is going to a wonderful home and will have adoring parents doting on her.
We will miss her sweetness and boundless energy. But, we feel good about the home she’s going to. I have no doubt that Nancy will stay in touch to let us know how Cricket is doing.
Please thank Charlie for caring about her as well as saving her. She is a very special little girl.
August 29, 2007
Angel Update - Part 1: Angel Flight
Tuesday, August 14th Angel was successfully transported to Collie Rescue Inc.
Angel started her early morning loading the plane with Pilot and Houston Collie Rescue Volunteer Charlie Zeto. The attached series of photos are of her day leaving Houston and landing in Dayton Ohio where Nikol Marsh a volunteer transporter met Charlie to take Angel for her journey to Collie Rescue Inc’s new foster home. Angel was the little collie we saw at the SPCA that was to be put down if we did not choose to take her. We tagged her for HCR while I made arrangements to have her vetted through my personal vet. After 2 baths/ 2 dips, 10 days of antibiotics and some eye ointment it was obvious that we made the right decision to save this little girl. Angel was probably the thinnest of all the Collies we saw but she was a bundle of energy and the happiest little collie at only 23 lbs.
When the photos were sent to me, Jeanne Zeto wrote: I think Charlie REALLY enjoyed his "Angel Flight" I am sure you all don't know this, but in our aviation world the term "Angel Flight" is what is used when these corporate aircraft are used to fly Cancer patients say into Houston's MD Anderson for treatment free of charge to help them during their treatment and defer airfare cost. These flights are arranged from all over the country thru "ANGEL FLIGHT America"
We all want to thank Charlie and Jeanne Zeto for arranging and flying Angel to her destination. We want to thank Linda and her volunteers at Collie Rescue Inc. for taking Angel into their adoption program. When I named her Angel I had no idea she’d really be flying.
Check back often - more updates are on the way! We have pictures of Angel's flight from Houston, and there will be more posted soon.
Vickey Willard
VP, Houston Collie Rescue
August 25, 2007
Vicky Gann, Southwest Collie Rescue
Vicky Gann, Southwest Collie Rescue, reports that two additional Tomball, TX Collies were transported to SWCR recently. Thanks to two former SWCR volunteers who recently moved near Waco, Texas, Major and Quinn made the journey from Debbie Price's home to El Paso. These kind people had planned a late summer trip back to see their friends in El Paso, TX in late August, and Major and Quinn hitched a ride! They even picked the boys up ahead of schedule to avoid any complications from Hurricane Dean and let us know that the boys are doing great. Another volunteer, Peg Cass from Tucson and formerly of New England Collie Rescue, will drive to El Paso and then transport Major and Quinn to their new Arizona foster homes!
August 24, 2007
Report from Cathy Toft, coordinator of the west coast collie
rescues
When we heard about the 51 collies coming into rescue in Houston, the collie rescue organizations of the west coast made the decision to team up to help. Southland Collie Rescue (southern California), NorCal CR (northern California), Cascade CR (Oregon), Okanagan CR (British Colombia and Alberta), and the Road Home K9 Rescue have worked together before to rehome the 71 collie relinquished in the Yolo County, California case. We wanted to take as many Houston collies as we could squeeze into our already crowded rescues, but because of the great distance and challenging logistics, our volunteers could manage to get only 3 collies this far. In the end, Mitch Telson and his "co-pilot" Denny, volunteers for Southland CR and ResQCats flew to Houston, rented an SUV and drove back to Santa Barbara, Mitch’s home. Ginny and Jack White, local collie owners in Santa Barbara, did the next leg of the trip, meeting Gayle Ann Stepanik, one of the CCA NorCal District Directors, aided by her co-DD Linda Tefelski. Gayle Ann brought the collies to me, and Sharon Wilder, volunteer for Cascade CR and CCA District Director for Oregon, picked up two for transport to Oregon. Lindsey will be handled by NorCal CR and Carly and Finnegan by Cascade CR. Southland CR had more dogs in rescue than any of us, and Okanagan CR was such a great distance, that these two rescues in the end did not take any of the dogs.
I go into this detail because the arrangements for transport were quite an operation and showed the great dedication of the west coast volunteers to helping Houston Collie Rescue and of course the collies. Linda Zeswitz did an outstanding job coordinating our efforts alone, never mind that she had many other transports she was orchestrating with just as much complexity as ours.
I had asked for a dog in particularly bad physical or mental
shape for NCR and we got our wish in Lindsey. She is a tiny, skeletal bitch,
hovering at 30 lbs and heavily infected with heartworm. Indeed, Mitch and
Denny found her to be frail, lethargic, easily tired and inappetent.
Nevertheless she is as sweet and loving as can be. Lindsey landed in the best
possible foster-to-adopt situation, where she will live out her life in the lap
of luxury. Her adopters know that she may be a hospice case, as no one is
confident that she can survive the heartworm treatment. We will be following
Houston CR’s modified heartworm treatment carefully, under the direction of the
HCR’s veterinarian. Meanwhile, her foster home is trying to put some weight on
her before her treatment will start. You can see from her picture in Santa Barbara that she is already much better, just from being doted upon there in every
possible way. It appears that she has had possibly numerous litters in her 5
or 6 years.
Carly and Finnegan spent the night with me. Carly is still small but more of a normal size and good weight. However, her body bears the marks of possibly having had many litters in her 5 or 6 years as well. Finnegan is a sweet, young puppy boy, between 1 -2 years old. Finnegan has the smallest eyes I have ever seen in a collie. In addition to extreme microopthalmia, he suffers from the entropion that every one else is reporting for these dogs. His vision is highly impaired and his eyes weep in streams from the irritation. Donors have stepped forward to pay for his entropion surgery if Cascade CR’s veterinarian thinks this intervention will help him.
Nevertheless, Carly and Finnegan were what can be described only as overjoyed the entire time they stayed with me. That evening and through the next morning, the two of them engaged my entire pack of collies in rollicking, boisterous games, charging throughout the house and yard. All of my furniture in my bedroom and living room was seriously rearranged by happy collies. The sounds of them thundering through the house, yipping with joy, made the entire effort worthwhile for me to say the very least. The two of them will be easy to place and will never want for love and care for the rest of their lives.
If donors would like to help with Lindsey’s heartworm treatment, please visit NorCal Collie Rescue’s web site http://www.calcollierescue.org and find out how. And if donors would like to contribute to Finnegan’s eye care, please contact Cascade Collie Rescue via their web site: http://www.cascadecollierescue.org.
August 12, 2007
Now available - photos from Southwest Collie Rescue picking up Collies from Houston Collie Rescue.
August 16, 2007
Update from Hope Hemperly, Director of Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue, Inc. www.pueblocolliesheltie.org
Of the six amazing dogs that have landed upon us, three of the collies are rough and three are smoothies. Three of the dogs are female and three are male. And every single one of them is deserving of the best possible veterinary care, the most nutritious food and the most loving attention. We have begun the process of evaluation of each collie, both in terms of health issues and temperament. Our tiny and well-named 2-year-old female rough collie is "Cricket." The reason for the "well-named" remark is that she chirps, quite loudly and quite often. The suggestion (and not a bad one!) has been made that we look for a hearing impaired potential owner for this little love, if we can find a way to present that in a positive fashion. Cricket has some underlying health issues that may take some time to unravel. Her CBC seems to indicate a non-regenerative anemia, but we will keep a close eye on that with repeat CBC blood work. Her fur is sparse, particularly on her legs, which could be due in large part to long term malnutrition. What this little lady needs more than anything is a secure and loving environment for her to settle into and let her rest and recuperate. Her spay surgery will have to wait until we are certain that it poses no undue risk.
"Taylor" is a small sable and white rough collie with a spirit that has been untouched by her neglect. She loves to eat. She loves to play. She loves to sleep on her foster mom’s bed and cuddle closely. Her blood work was unremarkable and her spay went well. Her only complaint was that she missed breakfast this morning because of her scheduled procedure! The wound that was carefully clipped by the loving Houston Collie Rescue volunteers has healed beautifully and was probably urine scald. Disgusting, but not life threatening. Taylor met her future "mom" when Karen came to help groom dogs at Sour Lake. Karen watched each little waif emerge from the nasty piles of matted fur. And her eyes kept coming back to Taylor. Before the dogs had even arrived in Colorado from Texas, we had received an application from Karen for the small, beautiful and brave dog. Taylor will be flying back to Texas soon on a private jet, with an entourage of humans to attend to her every need! ! Not bad, huh?
"Marta" is a small and shy smooth collie with liquid brown eyes that beg for love and compassion. Although she is still 8-10 # underweight, our Dr. Patti Canchola of Best Friends Animal Hospital felt it was imperative to spay her immediately. She was correct. Her uterus was shredded and nasty and may well have held fetuses not long ago. It could not have been a viable pregnancy though and that makes us truly sad for Marta. She has internalized her sadness and it will take a special person to help her through this. She is in splendid residence in our guest bathroom, which is at one end of the first floor of our house. The baby gate makes it possible for her to interact with each of our dogs and all family members and guests. All paths lead to Marta!
And now, on to the boys! "Bentley" is a big, beautiful, buzzed sable and white rough collie with the tiniest little eyes I have ever seen on a collie. This fellow is mostly blind. He does seem to be able to see shadows and is most polite when he walks into you. "Hi. Oh, was that you? Sorry." He has a definite sense of humor and a zest for life. Even when he poops in his crate, he does it in a big way! He is adjusting well to life in a multi-dog environment and we believe at least part of what was thought to be dog aggression was simply not seeing the other guy. A lovely tri color spayed female collie, by the name of Hannah Montana, may be the life partner of our Bentley. A visually impaired dog does not worry potential mom, Melodee, who has extensive dog experience and a lot of love to share. When his coat comes in, Bentley is going to be one of those large male drop-dead gorgeous collies that just make you go "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
"Dexter" has bilateral entropians. Just looking at him makes me want to cry. I cannot imagine the discomfort and distress this lovely huge smoothie has endured when a veterinary ophthalmologist could have rectified this problem years ago. Poor genetics cause the eyelids to turn under and make the lashes scrape across his corneas with each blink. We will be trying to raise money for his surgeries with the hope that some measure of sight can be restored to him. A remarkable CERF specialist has helped us in the past with eye issues and we hope to make Dr. Steve Dugan part of Dexter’s life plan. Until we have that evaluation done, Dexter will have to remain fairly isolated, as he lashes out at what he can’t see. This is a large and magnificent specimen of a smooth collie, perhaps the most handsome I have ever seen. Dexter will be our poster dog for talking with people about health issues they may not be aware of. After all, we in rescue are here, in part, to educate the general public about our breed’s mental, emotional and physical health. And Dexter will be interviewing humans to see who meets his high standards.
And glorious "Butler." Butler is a 2-year-old smooth sable and white collie with good energy and a voracious appetite. We feed all of the dogs in our program Canidae, an all-natural kibble and canned. We have started everyone on Canidae Platinum, a lower fat product, to avoid tummy upset. So far, so good. Butler, like little Cricket, seems to have a non-regenerative anemia that will take some careful watching. We will need to delay his neuter until his red blood cell count comes up significantly. But Butler refuses to let that stand in the way of walks and trots and lying on his back under a shady tree. A little blue marbling in one eye suggests we will have a sable merle when he grows in a decent coat. He is a pleasure to be with, like a man that is masculine without having to resort to macho. He seems to be comfortable in his own skin. So, Butler may truly enjoy being an only dog with a person who has that same kind of aura. Please keep your eyes pealed for the right match for Butler.
In moments of whimsy, I threaten to change the name of our rescue group to "Yenta, the Matchmaker" or "Dogs R Us". Luckily, no one takes me seriously. We are proud to have been asked to take part in the resurrection of these lovely dogs. And we are privileged to be in the same company as the dedicated volunteers of Houston Collie Rescue, Southwest Collie Rescue and the Collie Rescue Foundation who brought in the remarkable Linda Zeswitz of Collie Rescue, Inc., based in Virginia. Linda has been a cheerleader, a coach and a shoulder to cry on through this tough early phase of this particular confiscation. She has a great depth of knowledge, a passion for dogs and a resilient sense of humor when needed. This lady is a one of a kind!
August 7, 2007
From Vicky Gann, CRF Board Member and SWCR:
2,000 miles later!!!!
Good Morning All!
August 5, 2007
Update from Marianne Sullivan & Houston Collie Rescue
Houston Collie Rescue (HCR) has been busy picking up more dogs from the SPCA, taking dogs in to veterinarians for medical treatment and spay/neuter, caring for the dogs boarded at the Sour Lake Animal Clinic, and supervising the grooming of the Collies. Several more of the dogs were re-tested for Heartworm and came up positive. Vickey reports that 13 were adopted out over the last week by the SPCA.
Our own CRF board member, Vicky Gann, from Southwest Collie Rescue (SWCR) in New Mexico, is traveling this weekend to pick up 8 Collies in Texas from HCR to take back for SWCR. These dogs will be cared for by SWCR and placed in new homes.
Linda Zeswitz, CRF Rescue Liaison, Cathy Toft, CCA Welfare & Rescue Chair, and Vicky Gann, CRF, have all been working diligently to orchestrate the transportation of Collies to rescue groups able to take dogs and ease the burden on HCR. They have developed a transport and rescue agreement that will accompany each dog; all the dogs have to have medical records accompany them. Linda is also developing a Volunteer Transport sign-up form to make it easier for people who want to volunteer to help transport in the future.
On August 2nd, Vickey Willard reported they had a “long day that started out by picking up the balance of 9 SPCA collies they designated for HCR.
Here are the numbers:
13 adopted over the weekend by the SPCA
6 more in the SPCA adoption program
Houston has 23 + 9 = 32
Total Intake 51 by the SPCA, NO puppies. No microchipped dogs.
1 of the 6 SPCA is tagged ‘Animal Planet’. Through all of her thick matted coat she is very pretty mahogany S&W. She is HW+. They will put her through treatment and adopt out so Animal Planet can follow her progression to be aired. (Please remember that HCR has no control over any of the dogs until they are released to HCR by the SPCA.)
Vickey confirmed that none had microchips, including the 9 she just picked up. Vickey also reports that “I have to say this SPCA contact was very pleasant to work with considering the amount of collies they took in. The entire staff seemed to appreciate HCR being there to efficiently remove so many dogs. I then spent my day transporting the 9 dogs to various vets. 5 went to the Houston Humane Society for spays/neuters/dental. 1 spay determined ovarian cancer. 1 female was deemed 14-16 yrs--so no surgery. 1 female, 2-3 years; chronic demodex, probable entropia? Microphthalmia? The SPCA thought she was blind. I took her to my personal vet for work up. We are starting antibiotics, dips and eye ointment. This girl can see some and is sweet, outgoing and acts like a puppy. Further assessment will determine prognosis.”
3 others were taken to another rescue vet and they hope to work them in this Friday (August 3) for surgeries. One of these 3 is a very sweet smooth blue merle, female. SPCA notes her as 10 yrs but our vets will confirm. Her left ear has been cut off and still semi fresh, yet no infection has set in yet. She is #605/Heather and photos should be uploaded perhaps by Friday. The Investigator says Animal Planet will be following up on her progress with HCR. This girl is the sweetest dog. Walks up and greets every stranger for loving.”
Southwest Collie Rescue (www.nmcollierescue.com) and Pueblo Collie and Sheltie Rescue (http://www.pueblocolliesheltie.org/) are generously helping by taking in some of the Texas Collies. Debbie Price, CCA District Director, has gone above and beyond by transporting (all over the huge state of Texas) these collies. She will also be caring for 6 to 8 of them until they can go to other rescues. In addition, Debbie has generously offered a permanent home for two elderly Collies too old to transport. Debbie has done a tremendous service to our Collie breed!
Reports I have received reveal that these dogs are suffering from horrible skin conditions, with red, raw, infected skin that has lost all hair. Eyes are severely infected, coats are matted or hanging off in thick clumps, older dogs are severely underweight. Most have serious dental problems. I haven’t gotten a total number for those who are heartworm positive, but many are. All will be treated and cared for either by HCR, the SPCA, or the rescues that are taking in dogs. We will follow these dogs and stay committed to helping them. Thanks for your support to date.
I hope that you will continue to make donations to Houston Collie Rescue or to Collie Rescue Foundation.
August 1, 2007
Update from Marianne Sullivan, President
Vickey Willard, from Houston Collie Rescue, reports that all
the dogs have been scanned for microchips by SPCA and they have found no
microchips on any of the Collies. HCR will re-check the dogs they have for
microchips. Vickey picked up 9 additional dogs today, and transported 10 dogs
to the
The SPCA has adopted out 13 so far, and have 6 more they
plan to keep for adoption which will be followed by Animal Planet. Vickey
reports that most of the Collies retained by SPCA are sable and white, with one
exception, a small tri smooth.
Some people have asked, and I would like to let you know
that
Yes we have paid out money to HCR for emergency
expenditures, and
Yes we are paying bills for HCR.
I have been in direct contact with HCR since friday, July
27.
We are also actively arranging with transport and rescues to
step in and take dogs through our Liaison, Linda Zeswitz. HCR and Linda
are working closely together to orchestrate the transportation of Collies to
rescue groups who have volunteered to help. As of this writing, things are
moving along pretty well, and Southwest Collie Rescue has already made plans to
pick up dogs as soon as HCR gives the word.
As an aside, when people ask what is CCA doing, I'd like to
remind all of you that
CCA tax set aside money has gone into the CRF account for
two years now. That is the largest chunk of money we have that's helping
these rescues.
Without it we wouldn't be able to offer any help.
We also helped HCR last year with payment of bills for the
Nacogdoches Collies, we have helped with the Stallings dogs financially
and with contacting and transporting to rescues, we have helped pay an
emergency vet bill for
a rescue Collie who needed immediate emergency surgery, and
we have offered help with other dogs with our Affiliate rescues.
Photos of the dogs are posted on Petfinder under Houston Collie Rescue with an EK designation: http://west.petfinder.com/shelters/TX197.html
We would still appreciate donations for Houston Collie
Rescue either to HCR or to CRF.
Many Thanks
Marianne Sullivan, President
Colllie Rescue Foundation
www.collierescuefoundation.org/
Monday, July
30, 2007
Update
from
We
hope to have the pictures of the 23 dogs we
To
find the pictures on Petfinded go to www.houstoncollierescue.org
We
have scanned all 23 dogs for microchips and found
We
will still be getting more dogs, but they will be
I
can personally tell you, the state of these dogs is
Right
now, those 23 are safe, well-fed and some are
We
will be sending "official" updates to the collie
Thank
you so much, everyone.
Barb
Lewis
HCR
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Update from Vicki Willard,
Just a quick update as we have to hit the road for another all day trip.
We could only fit 13 into the van yesterday. Are going back this morning for the balance to get a total of 20. We have indeed been to all rooms and seen all of the collies, but I lost count. Not sure how they are deciding who we can have but its only as fast as their vets can process them.
Only 1 smooth blue merle and he was missing 1/2 of his left ear as if it had been cut off or perhaps she actually had it amputated after a rip. Sadly there is one small female smooth with such demodex her feet are red and swollen with paws like a huge rottie. And she is blind or close to blind with the smallest eyes I've seen. If we don’t take her they will put to sleep. We can’t tell if she is a double dilute or what the heck, but we are pondering her fate.
Two have been tagged for animal planet meaning they are to follow their progress. Not sure how that works but we are getting some of those. We are seeing many facial scars but obviously food aggression in some who had to fight to eat or alpha/dominance in the pack behaviors. Interesting that we did find a neutered male and possibly spayed female. None so far had a chip but they do now by HCR. Also interesting is we have not found flea dirt or ticks but extremely poor coats and most roughs should be shaved as you can not imagine the matts on top of matts. The smell of 13 filthy/pissed soaked collies is unbearable but we've done this before. There are several seniors that are very, very sweet and are the thinnest probably just not up to fighting the pack and they have very, very poor teeth rotted and need cleaned or pulled. Most have good personalities though some are scared and could be bolters but after a few days in a home would probably do quite well.
More updates later off to intake another batch.
PS. For folks not wishing to send money, gift cards to Petsmart, Tractor Supply Co. would be nice. We get the cedar shavings for the stalls from the tractor supply and of course much from Petsmart. We currently are feeding Nutro High energy since it packs more protein than puppy foods since these guys need some quick weight gain if were going to get them altered anytime soon. This food worked well last time.
Friday, July 27,2007
Update from Vicki Willard,
By
now some may be aware of the 51 collie seizure of dogs belonging to a breeder
from Tomball
These animals have been tagged as Animal Planet, animal Cruelty investigations. We are posting what facts we currently know but they are ever changing.
As of today HCR has been told that 41 of the collies will only be released to Houston Collie Rescue. It is believed the other 10 will be adopted out and their success stories will be followed and aired on Animal Planet.
Houston Collie Rescue is very busy setting up locations and transport to a command post to catalog, microchip, photograph each dog. We will release photos and descriptions, as they are available. All collies will be vaccinated and altered as this is the releasing agencies requirement and proof of such must be submitted back to them by HCR.
The Collie Rescue Foundation (CRF) and the CCA have both been wonderful at offering HCR assistance.
HCR
is already very inundated with rescues collies since we continually cover all
of