UPDATE 2/2/03 on the Montana Collies
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt, from Shelby, MT
*Permission to crosspost*
Folks, everything is under control. Thea Sperline will be the coordinator for the maintenance grooming every weekend to keep the dogs in fine grooming condition.
We now present Rev Oakes’ charming article on the second phase of the grooming.
By Rev Oakes
188 animals – puppies of all sizes, older dogs, exotic and longhaired cats, black and white stabyhoun, tri and sable shelties, smooth fox terrier, smooth and rough collies of every color, are all as clean and comfortable as they can be. And now they await the decisions that will determine the rest of their lives. The grooming team – groomers and the wonderful collie huggers – completed their work and bade them all a reluctant farewell.
In just a few short days, three weeks or so in all, these animals changed our lives, just as we have changed theirs. The work was hard, from planning through completion. No matter; as in childbirth the rewards thoroughly eclipsed the labor. Every day each dirty, unkempt dog metamorphosed to glowing beauty; each weary, moping, anxious dog gradually lifted its head, ears up, eyes bright and alert, and kissed its helpers. Even the fearful ones who cried and struggled during the unaccustomed bathing and drying experiences, gave thanks to us afterward, strutted their stuff proudly and then rested content in their pens.
Again this time there were some special ones. Two older rough girls, a blue and a tri, had escaped our net in December when we were trying to select the most uncomfortable of the dogs to groom early. They were almost as bad as Blue – and now look sparkling and beautiful. A sweet older sable girl had had some of her back coat chopped off, apparently to rid her of some mats, before we groomed her. She still had plenty left. Groomer Cathy Cox took her under her wing and gave her a “spa day” she won’t soon forget, leaving her tranquil and lovely.
One special story this time was of a rough sable nicknamed “B.C.” for Bite Case, because he’d nipped once in terror when being removed from the truck. He was terrified of people. He still fears people a great deal, but he’s better. A dedicated volunteer walker has spent innumerable hours with him, sitting in his pen whenever she had time, working quietly and patiently with him. We asked her to come with him to his grooming, which she did gladly. Cathy “adopted” him for grooming, setting up an isolated grooming area just for B.C. and his trusted walker so that he wouldn’t have to encounter many strangers. Cathy massaged, gentled and coaxed him, in the reassuring presence of the walker. B.C. began to accept Cathy too as his friend, and remained surprisingly calm while she bathed and dried him. Later Cathy asked me to do the clipping and trimming, with their help. To my amazement, B.C. was able to tolerate my approach, accept my working on him, and still lie relaxed in his walker’s arms. His walker finished the final brushing, and B.C. was a handsome golden boy – who was noticeably less fearful to approach people! His grooming experience was one more tiny step forward on his long journey toward confidence and trust.
We mustn’t forget the cats. Cats are not noted for enjoying grooming, to say the least. Groomers Mitzi Jones and Kay Bullard isolated one entire grooming section, redesigned it for the purpose, and jury-rigged ingenious, safe drying cages for the kitties. It took them much of a day to groom the ten cats, who are much more elegant and beautiful than they were before. I can’t say that the cats exactly gave any special kitty kisses to thank the groomers, though they milked their “ordeal” for all it was worth with anyone who came by afterward!
There were people stories too, of course. One is Shelby’s own groomer. Chris is a small, sweet determined lady, a retired schoolteacher who taught most of the native Shelby population at one time or another. After her retirement she took up pet grooming, and even after some health problems continues to groom. This indomitable lady joined our team, working part time to help us brush out the dogs. She is a very capable groomer, and ever so gentle. She’s an expert on those “ear mats,” too, and wonderful with the dogs. Thank you, Chris, for your help! Be well; we’ll miss you.
Then there were the collie huggers who joined our team – once again, those wonderful people saved the day. We’d never have finished without their incredible willingness, perseverance, quick learning, and their love for the dogs. Thea Sperline (“A River Runs Through It” and “Collie Huggers”) trained the new ones on brushing, and they all helped groomers with the dogs who needed extra reassurance during their baths. All the time the huggers were also walking dogs, cleaning pens, and doing anything else that was needed. All told, we had a crack team, one to be very proud of – and we are very proud. We worked together harmoniously throughout, through problems and frustrations and fatigue. And as always, the SAR people and others of Shelby helped in a multitude of ways. We owe enormous thanks to the Shelby people who have so wholeheartedly welcomed us and supported this effort.
There was a yet larger, unseen team behind all of us there. Many, many individuals, businesses and organizations gave money, Frequent Flyer miles, towels, equipment, supplies – and most of all faith, hope and encouragement, to enable this effort. All these gifts were liberally laced with love, with the powerful wish to help, and we felt that love. We were your eyes and hands, all of you who could not be there in person. You filled our sails, lifted our wings, gave us power beyond our own. You were with us each day, touching each dog, watching them strut with pride and enjoyment. Their kisses and nibbles of thanks were for you too. We were your couriers.
And this story ends as it began, with those gallant souls, the collies. That irrepressible collie spirit shines through – even the stoics and the ones who yet fear are showing signs of recovery from this ghastly experience. To see gentleness and curiosity, humor and affection, gratitude and mischief and playfulness, and even tentative trust, in dogs who have survived what they have, simply astounds me. I have hope that even the “broken” ones may yet walk whole and proud again.
I ache to think that I’ll never see and touch “my” collies again...they are mine, and yours, and everyone else’s who’s worked and wept for them. I dream that one day every one of them will know that love forever.
Thank you all for your wonderful support.
Calmly,
Jean Levitt, President AWCA
Lisa King, AWCA Director AWCA Rescue
Officers and Members of AWCA
If you would like to assist AWCA with this rescue effort, you may send a check to:
Bethany Burke
AWCA Treasurer
2807 Lee Trevino Court
Shalimar, FL 32579
Make the check out to AWCA and in the memo area note: collie rescue-medical, collie rescue-stainless steel, or collie rescue-general.