UPDATE 3/28/03 on the Montana Collies
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
*Permission to crosspost*
Folks, AWCA is frequently asked many questions regarding this Montana collie rescue. We have taken great care to answer you individually. AWCA’s role in this rescue is to provide financial assistance for medical needs and supplies when possible, and to send volunteer support teams when necessary. We want you all to know we are able to provide for these animals ONLY because of your constant emotional, physical, and financial support. Therefore, we thought all of you would appreciate our sharing of the:
Most Asked Questions About The Montana Collies
Q. How much money is AWCA spending to provide for the Montana collies?
A. As of March 2003 we have spent over $33,000.00 in veterinary expenses; food; services; supplies. Medical bills have been our largest expense. As of March 1, 2003 we have paid $10,599.24 in veterinary expenses. The medical bills would have been much higher; however, the attending veterinarians have generously donated a great deal of their time to help with this enormous rescue effort. We are very grateful for their generosity.
Supplies have cost us the least amount, a little over $5,000.00. This is because, fortunately, many of you – in response to Shelby’s plea for help with supplies – have generously responded by either ordering and shipping them yourselves to the Toole County Sheriff’s Office, or sending equipment to the TCSO from your own kennels. Manufacturers responded to Shelby’s plea by graciously donating to the TCSO products and equipment to help the dogs. In some cases we have been allowed to purchase wholesale directly from the manufacturer.
At the very beginning of this rescue the authorities in Shelby arranged for a truckload of Iams dog food to be donated to Camp Collie. When this ran out, Dr. Hardee Clark in Shelby arranged for 25,000 pounds of Science Diet dog food to be donated. Now that Science Diet has had to move on to help other rescues, we are permitted to purchase their food wholesale. Food for the dogs could cost us approximately $34,000 at the wholesale price for one year. We have only just begun paying for food. Much thought by those in charge of the dogs went into the decision of keeping them on the same food or changing it, if another manufacturer could be found to donate. Because of the internal parasite problem with the animals it was considered better not to change their diet until they are fully recovered. We don’t know how long the animals will be in custody. We have been told by the authorities to prepare for a year. Overall they are eating less now, so bills for food may be less as the year goes on. Initially the level of emaciation in the entire colony was so bad they were free fed to help them put on weight. Now, their food is measured in order to maintain their ideal weight. A few of the dogs are still getting extra rations to help them gain a few more pounds.
Q. Why do you not put photos of Camp Collie on your website?
A. We are not permitted to take photos.
Q. Why can’t children volunteer at Camp Collie?
A. The dogs were infested with transmittable giardia, and several other internal parasites when they were rescued from that truck. The authorities wanted to protect children from exposure to those problems.
Expert veterinary care has improved, although not eradicated these problems. Therefore, at this time youngsters 14 years of age and older may now volunteer when accompanied by a parent, teacher, or guardian.
Q. Does Shelby still need volunteers outside of the area?
A. Yes. The daily care of the animals has taken a heavy toll on the local volunteers. New faces are always welcome. The animals are going to be moved to another location for the duration of this rescue. Right now, they will be at the present Camp Collie only until the end of April. We will keep you informed regarding their new location.
Q. If I want to go to Montana to volunteer at Camp Collie, do I need permission from someone?
A. No. You can just go. (AWCA checks references only on persons who volunteer to be members of the AWCA support teams, and who go under AWCA guidelines.) If you plan to go, be prepared to show two forms of ID, one of them a photo ID. You may be asked for your social security number, and a criminal background check may be run on you. Rigid security measures are in effect, so be prepared for lock down of the building while you are in it, to count dogs at intervals throughout the day. If you want directions on how to get there we will help. Contact AWCA Secretary Judy Cummings.
Q. If the animals are relocated outside of Shelby, what will happen to the supplies we have sent to Shelby?
A. The supplies go with the animals.
Q. Is there anything I can do to help AWCA with this rescue?
A. Absolutely. Contact AWCA Secretary Judy Cummings.
Q. Even though the animals are not up for adoption now, and AWCA is doing nothing to facilitate their adoption, are you at least keeping a list of the names of persons who would LIKE to adopt them ?
A. Yes.
Q. Is AWCA spending money donated for the collies on the cats?
A. No. The cat rescue people have more than generously provided for the cats, AND for the dogs. Shetland Sheepdog rescue has provided for the Shelties, and offered to arrange for their adoption if the courts permit.
...and now we thought you would enjoy reading about...
By Jeanette Prevel
Hello all! My name is Jeanette Prevel and I am proud to say that I am a Collie Hugger. I would like to share a story with all of you. Some of you that have been to Camp Collie when I have been there may have heard me tell of the Collie that purred.
In January Thea approached me and asked if my younger sister, Monique, and I would like to be Collie Huggers for the weekend. Intrigued by the sound of Collie Hugging, we agreed. When we got to Shelby and pulled up to the SAR building, some friends were already there walking dogs. We said our hellos and went inside. We met Rev, Kathy, and Kay, the team of professional groomers.
Thea immediately took us to the grooming table and gave us a crash course in Collie Hugging. In teams of two we each chose a Collie and began to work. It was absolutely amazing to see a badly matted depressed Collie go on the grooming table and a glowing, head held high, gorgeous Collie come off the table. More often than not you could swear that it wasn’t the same Collie. It was such a good feeling to know that you had a hand in making that Collie feel so much better.
Our last female we worked on just before lunch was an older Collie, no. 123. A lot of her teeth were worn down to nothing. She had thinning hair on top of her head and thin gray hair behind her ears. Thea speculated that she was one of the oldest ones in the bunch. We began working on her, and there was one spot on her back that when the brush went over it she would twist and try to scratch with her back foot. She was very affectionate and very squirmy as she tried to give everyone a kiss to thank them.
By this time Linda and her sister Louise had finished their Collie and had come to help us so we could go to lunch. So there were now five people working on her. She was beside herself trying to make sure everyone got their share of kisses. Collie no. 123 was tired and wanted to lie down. Rev had to clip her feet and remove some of the mats from her underside, so we laid her on her side on the table. Collie no. 123 soon became very content and fell asleep with her head in my sister’s hands, and at one point was so content that while she slept she left a puddle of slobber in my sister’s hand.
For one reason or another Monique and I had to switch spots. When we transferred her head to my hands she woke up, looked up at me and fell back asleep. The others began to groom her again. She opened her eyes and nuzzled my hand. While holding her head I felt a slight vibration, first I thought it was Rev’s clippers. At one point I noticed that Rev’s clippers were off but the vibration continued. I leaned my head down against the Collie’s head and listened. To my surprise it was the Collie! It was a constant growl, but not a mean growl, or get away from me NOW growl. It was a content, pleasing sound. It reminded me of a cat’s purr. Her eyes seem to squint a little as if to say, “That feels soooo goooood! Please don’t stop!”
I have a lot of memories from our trips to help with the Collies, but this one memory of the Shelby Collies is one that I will never forget. I will always remember Collie no.123 as the Collie that Purred.
Short update on Collie no.123: when the Collie Trolley was at Camp Collie in early March, I got a chance to brush Collie no.123 again. I was happy to learn that she had made a good friend. Terry, the professional groomer from Lethbridge, had befriended her and was giving her all kinds of special attention whenever she could.
The Collie Trolley made it to Shelby this last Saturday, 3/15/03. After lunch my niece, Miranda, and I were able to brush Collie no.44. She is very shy and will not walk on a leash at all. You can’t even get her to do the “wheelbarrow” walk. I thought that I would have trouble with her on the grooming table. To my surprise and everyone else who knew of no.44, she did wonderfully! We took extra special care with her. When I put her on the table she just lay on her side. While I was kneeling down working on the mats, I felt a wet nose nudge me. When I looked to my side it was Collie no.123, her kennel mate, and her walker. They came to say hi to me, and I believe the Collies wanted to comfort the shy timid little girl and tell her that I was not going to hurt her and she would feel much better when I was done. Collie no.123 didn’t leave without putting a few muddy love prints on my shoulder and giving me my allotted kisses.
The shy timid little girl, no.44, at one point became calm enough to fall asleep. She still has issues as she will not walk on a leash, but I am sure she probably feels tons better.
Thank you all for your continued interest and support of the Montana Collies.
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.