Photos

From the beginning of this rescue, we have constantly received requests to put photos of Camp Collie on our website. Sheriff Matoon asked us to refrain from doing so until further notice. I spoke with her this morning, and she still prefers we do not put up any Camp Collie photos. She wants to speak to the prosecutor about his subject before giving us permission to do so. Thank you for understanding.

Bills

Sheriff Matoon reported today that TCSO was up to date on their portion of July and August Camp Collie bills. This is because of your generosity and willingness to direct additional donations to Shelby. You will recall AWCA pays all medical bills and all supplies for Camp Collie in addition to salaries of the pen cleaners. TCSO pays all Humane Society salaries related to Camp Collie, the 24-hour security guard salaries, and all expenses related to the building.

And now we continue with the Montana collie adoption series.

Hallie and Mindy’s Story

Written by a friend and kindred spirit, especially as it relates to our canine companions

A quote from an unknown source reads: “Life is a campaign not a holiday.” Our goal is to make it much more a holiday for our rescued animals and much less a campaign of survival.

My friend’s shelties, Hallie and Mindy, met her dog, Tokkey last Saturday, July 12, 2003. My friend’s two little adoptees had been at Kalispell Sheltie Rescue for their surgeries, dental work and other checkups. Hallie had to have nine teeth removed after they were deemed unsalvageable. Hallie was also being carefully checked out for an infection that had centered in the uterus. The removal, via hysterectomy, will have taken care of that complication. Mindy had a rough recovery as anesthesia is very dicey for this small breed. These girls have been through hell and back, and we hope from here on in they have smooth sailing.

In Shelby they wouldn’t walk. They just flopped over on their backs, feet in the air always expecting the worst and showing the only sign of total compliance they instinctively knew, that the baring of their underside shows total submission. This indicates survival instinct at its most primitive degree of expression. It was months before folks could get them to stand and walk a few shaky steps. This behavior pattern was only reversed by gentleness and persistent kindness. Most of the cold months my friend lost touch with these tiny shelties, one a tri and the other a tawny sable. They had been placed in the warmer Search and Rescue building.

They were returned in early spring to the Memorial 4-H building and housed in the veterinarian tent for almost six weeks, and as their health stabilized, they were moved to a pen in the center of the barn where more socialization would happen. On Thursday, my friend’s day to work in Shelby, she gave them quality time. Most volunteers unsuccessfully try to reserve a bit of one’s self and stay somewhat detached. My friend worked hard at remaining caring but detached emotionally from these pitiful bundles of fur, and discovered it was impossible. She watched others bond with these minicollies and was glad and relieved as she put more energy into the male population of collies, many of whom reminded her of Dusty.

No one knew how long the collie camps would be needed, and after the move to Great Falls, she undertook the job of seeing that these delicate dogs had more creature comforts. Those efforts resulted in having a carrier in their pen for privacy and a place to retreat when the clamor caused them too much anxiety. They were set up near the front desk where they could be monitored closely.

The shelties began to thrive, a portable pen was set up for them under the only shrubbery at Camp Collie II, which allowed them to be shaded and in fresh air away from the chorus of nonstop barking inside the building that was deafening much of the time. Anything could unsettle these two midget collies. They were much too excited and tense for long periods of time. Their impoverished spirits needed calm and quiet times to heal their physical and psychological distresses.

My friend had decided against adoption if the opportunity rose, as she unselfishly wanted others to have a chance to keep the shelties together as they are mother and daughter.

Fate cruelly stepped in when Callie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in June. Callie was a rescued sheltie that was my friend’s pride and joy for three years. None of us could believe this gorgeous sheltie was so abruptly gone. My friend and Tokkey, her other sheltie, were bereft and though it was far too soon in the grieving process, we encouraged her to adopt this needy pair. They were not to be replacements as that isn’t how it works. Each dog has its own place in our hearts. The courts had made its decision after two trials and plea-bargaining to allow approximately 150 collies to go out to qualified homes. The extreme sensitivity that my friend has for all creatures and especially the collie breed, gave us the courage to counsel that she might be the perfect solution for these “innocent victims.” Folks who have lost dogs know the soul-searching that such a decision requires.

Various one-sided discussions with Callie took place in toss/turn nights when her loss prevented any rest. At last with peace, with Callie’s happy thumbs up in a pictured tail sweep, and an almost audible “Yes, go for it,” echoing in that inner-self we have, my friend knew the answer. She called and wrote the Toole County Sheriff’s Dept. of her decision. Fortunately they were still available, especially held just for her. Who else would be so perfect for these “special-needs” girls? We could even assume it was an appointment made by a Heavenly Counselor. The deed was done and little did the shelties know what a dream home awaited them.

First things first, and that was to get their medical work done at the Kalispell Sheltie Rescue Offices. These costs were generously absorbed by this organization as well as a very nice sum of money to go to the proper areas of financial need. Concern and worry “dogged” my friend mentally until she heard they both had survived these touchy surgeries and recoveries were coming along.

Tears flowed when on a very hot Saturday, the recently named dogs, Mindy and Hallie were waiting at the Camp Collie gate for Connie to transfer them to their new “mom.” Mindy’s name surfaced because my friend thought that she looked like a “Mindy,” so tiny and petite. Hallie has the honorable distinction of carrying a similar name to Callie’s. She represents a living legacy of how love lives on through all the special memories. Rescuing the shelties is a true memorial for Callie, and reveals my friend’s generous heart.

Home, a spacious home, many secluded acres, wicker basket beds, and Tokkey. The pleasures of life were about to replace the torment and filth that they had endured with the Harmans and the long months of waiting in the collie camps while the legal dust settled. Friends shared their fear that the Harmans would use these two as bargaining power as they, no doubt, had been a good source of income. Instead the Lethcoes took a pair of collies, a male and female.

Dogs have domination issues. Each dog wants to establish a pecking order early on. Tokkey is so far not allowing the “new kids on the block” to take over. Actually she is being pretty mellow as she does enjoy their company. She hasn’t got them convinced yet that a doggy door is a wonderful invention. The freedom it allows a dog on indoor versus outdoor decisions are fabulous and she wants them to overcome their reluctance. They are about half-way into meeting this challenge.

Gratification is part of this scenario. The knowledge that after all the wrongs these shelties and the other collies suffered, they are at last being given the chance to be treated with love, with respect and will in return show the devotion and loyalty that is an ingrained part of their shelty nature. Good luck and may it be a smooth road ahead for my friend and her shelties. That is our wish for each of the many adoptions now taking place.

Calmly,

Jean Levitt, President AWCA

and the Officers and Members of AWCA