Animal Success Stories
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 CODY’s Story John and I moved to Colorado Springs in 2014 with our Nebraska rescue collie, Missy. She was getting a bit older, almost eight when we got here, and we’d always wanted a companion for her. We investigated online and found Rocky Mountain Collie-Sheltie Rescue. We rescued Stormy in 2015 near the end of her life; sadly we only had her for 25 days. In 2016, we rescued Jake, who lit up our lives for a year and a half. We were planning to take a break for a year or two since loosing these dogs is not easy. BUT, in March of this year, John sent me a link showing a handsome older collie and his story, (we had decided NOT to look on the site) and just a few weeks later, April 23, 2018, we adopted and took home our third senior collie rescue, Cody. We had met him in person at the foster home of Tom and Andrea, two to three times prior, and fell in love with him immediately. He is not only handsome, but he is quite the gentleman.
He LOVES our morning walks and can’t wait to alert all the neighbors who have dogs, (yes, he already has them all staked out) that he is there and they should come out to see him.
Just when we thought he would be the master rule follower, picture 1:30 in the morning when I came out of our bedroom to see this senior (10.5 years old) snoozing on the ‘people’ couch, (we actually have a ‘dog’ couch), head on the pillow and everything. He looked up at me as if to say, “is there a problem?” Well, I couldn’t bring myself to make him get off, he was just too cute up there, and relaxed. We solved the ‘people’ couch problem with a bigger dog bed that he now LOVES!
His morning routine is pretty set. He sleeps at the foot of our bed on the floor, waits for us to rise, follows us to the kitchen for breakfast, runs with the neighbor dogs along our northern fence, and then snoozes on the back porch on the mat or in the cool grass. SIDE NOTE: Our morning routine was interrupted recently, (and hopefully only once as we have now learned our lesson), by the sound of happy 5 AM barking outside. Upon investigation, we discovered Cody jumping and playing in the spray of our sprinkler system that we had set for the summer just days before. He was jumping from head to head trying to catch the water by chomping on each one as he went around the yard. I’d never seen a dog having so much fun. Nearly four towels later, we got him dried off and he, again, looked up at us as if to say, “is there a problem?” Such a cutie. Of course we didn’t get upset, we just have our alarms set now for ‘bright and early’ so we can block off the dog door for the 20 minute duration of the sprinkler rotation.
It’s only been a bit over a month but we hope for and look forward to many more adventures with our Code-ster Boy (nick-name).
We thank Tom and Andrea for taking such good care of him while in their home, and RMCSR for taking in these wonderful creatures so that they can find their way into our hearts and homes. Collies/shelties are incredible dogs!
John and Diane 
Apache’s Happy Tails Story
I adopted Apache from the rescue group
colliesheltierescue.org
in Colorado, after losing my soul dog Rumi. Rumiboy was a miniature sheltie and was also my service dog for 14.5 years. I was absolutely heartbroken and filled with grief at the time. Truth be told, I didn’t really feel ready for another dog. And Apache had been a puppy mill animal, so we didn’t know about his prior treatment or how he would adjust. However, there was something about him that called me.
I felt it was Rumi who led me to Apache, knowing I needed help healing. I remember perusing sheltie rescue sites and wondering why I was on them? When I got to the this site, Apache appeared. I remember sitting up in my chair and saying our loud, “Why did you show me this dog? I’m not ready… my heart is still healing!” But Apache’s presence would not leave my mind. I kept going back to the website, and several days afterwards, I filled out an application and began the process…
Approximately 3 weeks later I flew from Phoenix to Denver to meet Apache. He was a sweet, mischievous, and precious little boy full of love. However he wouldn’t come to anyone. Within hours of meeting him, he came to me. His foster parents, Tom and Andrea, were kind enough to allow me to stay that night and have more time with Apache. The next day I was sure he was to go home with me. And they were delighted and comfortable with the match.
Apache is extremely smart and funny! I think Rumi choose him for me for many reasons… but mostly because he’d make me laugh. What I felt after reading his history and then meeting him, was that he needed me as much as I needed him. And this, is the absolute truth.
Apache’s now been with me for 4 months and we grow closer everyday. He let’s me know when he wants to go out and has not had a single accident in the house. He has been very trainable, yet independent, loving, and entertaining. Although he’s a bit of a thief and wants to take everything new to the living room and play with it, he has not destroyed anything. He loves playing with other dogs and has begun to trust and love people too. He’s learning obedience and commands very quickly and is an amazing animal. He’s very happy, and now feels secure.
I’m Apache’s fifth home. The love and trust between us grows daily. Apache is put through a lot of things in his training for a service animal and he’s had to develop trust very quickly. I recently took a trip where I could not take him with me, and left him with a friend who also had shelties. When I returned a week later, he smelled me all over and then jumped into my lap with joy. I remember feeling his communication… he expressed surprise that I came back, said no one ever had. When we got home he jumped on the bed and rolled in my covers with delight. He finally knows without a doubt that I am home.
I am deeply grateful for
both sets of his rescue foster parents, and this whole organization. Thank you Tom, Andrea, and Hope - the executive director,
for working to match us. Apache is with me for life.
I wonder sometimes why we call these animals ‘rescue animals’ when in truth, they come to rescue us. When you lose a dog… open your heart to another asap. They come into this world for us, and are simply waiting to serve individuals and humanity in a deeply spiritual way. Without good homes, we are both denied the gifts they bring.
 Hi Hope, I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to update you on our sweet Fauna. Today I took her in for her first visit with a groomer. This groomer is well-known in the Boulder area and the owner shows Shelties. The groomers stated that she did very well and didn’t get too nervous. Here are some photos of her. She DOES NOT LOOK 11 years old! I love her so much, we all do, everyone who meets her loves her. Thanks again for allowing me to be her Mommy! Thanks, Kelly  Mr. Holmes (also known as Sherlock), a 12 year old Collie wannabe, and his "failed" foster mom Tami. We call it a failed foster when a foster family decides to keep their foster dog permanently - that's a good thing! Mr. Holmes has found his forever home with Tami! Click a letter to find an animal or view all.
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