UPDATE 7/5/03 on the Montana Collies
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt, reporting from Camp Collie, Great Falls, MT
*Permission to crosspost*
Folks, the Adoption Application Forms and Home Check Forms have been sent to all persons who have indicated they will come to Montana to pick up their collie. If anyone else can commit to coming to Montana, you may request the forms from Secretary Judy Cummings. A completed application form, a home check, a letter from your veterinarian of recommendation, and a criminal background check done by the Toole County Sheriff’s Office are required before you will be approved to adopt. The TCSO, the Humane Society, and AWCA will review all applications.
The TCSO has approved core volunteers’ applications for adoption first, and some of the collies and cats are already in their new homes! The two shelties are with the Montana sheltie rescue representative, who will facilitate their adoption.
You have heard our plea for donations and we are ever so grateful for your help and your generous response.
Does ANYONE have any information on the woman who was looking for the tri rough bitch with the special marking on her rump? We are holding this girl for her, but don’t want to hold her too long. We want her to have a good home! Please contact Secretary Judy Cummings.
#44, the dog you will remember was so ill last winter and wouldn’t eat, is being adopted by a wonderful woman in Great Falls. And “Scruffy,” who spent the winter in the SAR building in Shelby because he has so many medical issues, is being adopted by a Vietnam veteran with 3 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. This wonderful gentleman and his wife have been devoted volunteers at Camp Collie. They understand “Scruffy’s” medical issues and they’re willing and able to meet all of his needs for the rest of his life.
And now further adventures of Thea Sperline and her Collie Trolley...
By Thea Sperline
Camp Collie or Bust has been the motto of the Helena Collie Trolley Grooming team for many a month now. We have even threatened to paint the motto on the windows of the Trolley on many an occasion, but for one reason or another didn’t quite get around to it. But yesterday was a little different. We painted the motto on the window and the whole team (all 6 of us) climbed into the van. Little did we know that those words would be somewhat prophetic.
It was the first time in many months that all 6 of us have been together for a day of grooming. Our spirits were high, the dogs are very close to finding their new homes, we feel like we have made a major contribution restoring the spirit of these dogs and have done our part in succeeding where the prior owner had failed so miserably. Soon, very soon, we will be renewing our home life knowing that these dogs have been well taken care of. We have even joked about having a Camp Collie III day, where we all bring our dogs to a location and help each other groom and get all of our own critters spiffed up.
I can tell you that it is an emotional roller coaster at Camp Collie. Elation when one of the core volunteers learns that they have been approved to adopt the collie of their choice to great sadness to learn that one of the core volunteers will be leaving for overseas duty. Jubilation when a collie that has been looking a mess returns to its pen clean and brushed looking regal, then regret that we don’t have more time to brush just one more collie. Excitement when we learn that 35 of the collies have been approved for adoption by core volunteers, then heart sick because some of the dogs have left to go to breeders, and we pray that they are good people and will properly care for these precious creatures.
It was a day filled with greetings from all the regular volunteers. Andrea and Vicki, from Calif. were there, Andrea wrote “Falling in Love 175 Times,” each of them are adopting one of the dogs and will be taking them home as soon as they are spayed and neutered. Monika, one of the volunteer team leaders, and her husband are leaving for overseas duty, so her time at Camp Collie is coming to an end. She has a favorite dog she calls Prince, a tricolor boy, she worries about his adoption and hopes that whoever selects him will somehow keep in touch so she can learn about his progress in his new home.
Two of us, Jeanette and I, spent the day outside in the sun bathing various dogs that were in great need of a shampoo and blow dry. We managed to keep cool by “accidentally” spraying each other with the hose. We both were well sun burned by the end of the day. The other 4 members of the crew were in the groom/vet room brushing up a storm. Quite a few more dogs have started blowing their coats, guess the second wave has started.
It has been interesting to observe the bonding that has occurred over the many months of devoted efforts. Watching the volunteers establish that special relationship with some of the dogs and watching the dogs grow and change to have expectations that the volunteers seem always to meet. But the bond that has surprised me the most has been the one that I have with many of these dogs. I have very purposefully avoided getting too involved emotionally with any one dog, because I don’t need any more dogs at my house, I have 6 collies, 1 old basset hound and a greater Swiss mountain dog. We occasionally foster a rescue collie, and frankly that is more than enough to consume what spare time I give myself. Adopting another collie never has been in my agenda. Providing foster care for some of them has always been a possibility.
What I realize now, as the end grows ever closer, is that as their groomer (and I am sure that is true for all the Collie Trolley groomers) I have a very special bond with each and everyone of these dogs, to borrow a phrase from Andrea, I have fallen in love with all 175 dogs. I know their sensitivities while being groomed, how they dance on the table, how they express their tolerance for the various parts of grooming, how they show their appreciation for the affections showered upon them, which ones will lie down on the table to be groomed vs the ones that won’t move a muscle and stand stoically. I have read many times that grooming your dog is great for the bonding between dog and owner, I certainly have experienced this with my own dogs, but I guess I never really expected it to be so strong with these dogs – there are just so many of them. But what I realized yesterday, there now is a special bond that I have with each and every one of these dogs. There is a special trust between us. I will miss them when they go to their new homes. There will be a void that I will have to get used to. I hope the new owners will find the joy that I have found in grooming their new collie. These dogs will always be in my heart and I will also always wonder how they are doing in their new homes.
The HSUS team did the micro-chipping yesterday. It was good to see this step underway. At least this way the dogs can be positively identified. It truly is a quick and virtually uneventful procedure. The chip was inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades and then tested to make sure it was registering on the reader.
Another amazing realization came home to roost yesterday, the realization again of just how huge this colony of dogs is. As of Sunday 13 of the dogs had been removed from the facilities to go to the approved breeders. The shelties were no longer in the facility, nor were the cats. Their absence made no impact on the visual appearance of this colony. I guess I look forward to the day when I walk into Camp Collie and actually notice a discernible reduction in the number of dogs that are housed there.
The end of the day came, as it always does. We have worked hard, brushed and bathed many dogs. We have that distinctive collie perfume about us. We decide to have some pictures taken of our group, we don’t know when next we will all visit Camp Collie on the same day. We decided that a couple of group pictures would be nice. One where each of us is paired with a different variety of collie, and one with each of us paired with one of our favorite collies (a special memory picture). We gather our stuff and load the Collie Trolley and head back home, we stop on the way out of town for our traditional chocolate shake and snack.
This is where the prophetic event comes in. We have traveled through all kinds of weather and had all kinds of little mishaps along the way ranging from low tire pressure, low oil, dead batteries, blizzards and ice storms. But none caused any major delays in our arrival at destination. But this time the Collie Trolley experienced a blowout, about 35 miles outside of Great Falls. Thankfully we all had cell phones, but if we had traveled another half mile or so, they would have been out of service because we would have entered the canyon area were there is no cell phone service. So being good little ladies we called for help, but the help we called for never arrived. A couple of local gentlemen did stop to see if we needed help, but we sent them on their way because “help” was on the way. After about an hour and 15 minutes of waiting, being independent and determined women that we are, we set about getting that totally shredded blown tire changed. In about 15 minutes, between the 6 of us, the tire was changed and we were on the road again. We carefully crept the remainder of the way to Helena on the donut spare tire. We were home safe and sound about 2 hours later than expected. Thank God for the jovial sense of humor and happy spirits of this group. We all participated in the naming game on the way home. One of us has applied for and been approved to adopt one of the collies. But, a name had not been decided upon.
So how prophetic can some paint on the window be? Don’t know for sure, but it seemed to be this time. We did all have a good time and certainly do have memories surrounding camp collie that will last a lifetime.
As these adoptions proceed we wish all the adopting families much pleasure and joy; as groomers we hope that you will discover the special bond that can only be found by grooming your dog. We all wish you happiness and health.
In collies for forever,
Thea Sperline
Calmly,
Jean Levitt, President AWCA
Lisa King, Director of AWCA Rescue
and the Officers and Members of AWCA
PLEASE help us help Toole County Sheriffs Office to pay for Camp Collie until all animals are on their way to loving homes.
AWCA Rescue
Bethany Burke, AWCA Treasurer
2807 Lee Trevino Ct.
Shalimar, FL 32579
and especially
Toole County Community Collie Rescue Fund
First State Bank of Shelby
260 Main St.
Shelby, MT 59474