Lucky 7 - Andy

Hi! This is me, Andy, from the Lucky 7 and my foster mom out for a walk today. It was warm so I'm panting in my second picture. I'm very camera shy so my foster dad couldn't get any really good pictures of me. My foster mom and dad say I am really "cute" though. They also say I am a "good" dog. I walk well on leash except when a car goes by and then I go into "commando" mode down the side of the road and I pull.

I am living in New Hampshire now. I'm not sure what is new about it, because it's all new to me. I live with two other dogs, a cat and a boy who is 12. I get along fine with everyone EXCEPT the next door neighbor's dog. I don't like him one bit. He is a "boxer" so I think that means he wants to fight. In any event, I don't like him to be around so I bark at him to try to scare him away. I like dogs that look like me or that are smaller than me.

The two dogs that live with me are ok. In fact, I kind of like to walk in a pack with them and I definitely prefer to have them with me rather than to be left alone in the house. I do NOT like it when Kyle barks though and he barks A LOT. I tend to head for my crate when he starts barking. I wish I had ear plugs! I also don't like other loud noises, like gun shots. If I hear anything loud like that, I go to my crate, where it is safe. If I am outside and I hear a loud noise, I can't concentrate on doing my business, but instead I run to the door to be let in, where it is safe.

I've been in my new home for a little over a month now. I've had to go to the dog doctor a couple of times and I don't like that at all. He's always sticking me with stuff. I do like the girls who work in his office though. They are PRETTY and NICE.

My favorite toy is a paper bag. I like to take stuff out of the paper recycling bin and recycle it into confetti. That is much better than a noisy squeaky toy. Mom calls me "Andrew" when she finds my latest confetti creation.

I weigh 40 pounds and my foster family is trying to get me to gain a little weight. I take treats very gently. My foster family is pretty nice EXCEPT I am sure they are trying to kill me with this smelly stuff they call "shampoo". I have no idea what it is used for, but it smells really, really bad and when they put it on me and get me wet, I think they are trying to kill me. I try really hard to get away. They say it is "lavendar shampoo" which is supposed to calm me down. Hah. The only thing that calms me down are belly rubs and I'll gladly roll over for one.

So I'm doing ok in New Hampshire. Mom says I have to go see a cardiologist next week to see what is going on with me. She's always putting a stethoscope on my chest and taking my heart rate. Apparently, it's low and that could be a problem. Anyway, I hope the cardiologist doesn't stick me with anything. And I hope the car ride isn't too long either. I'm just learning to like car rides, but the shorter they are, the better.

I'll keep you posted on what happens at the cardiologist. Hopefully it is no big deal and I can find my forever family soon!

Duncan

Hi! I am a new foster dog ready for adoption! I have spent the last month learning how to interact with humans. This is my first blog ever so please bear with me. I just wanted to introduce myself.

Introducing Rigel (Smokey)

Hello,

Umm, I am a bit shy, but I guess I can introduce myself. I have never really done this before because I never really had a name.

Now I do!

These peoples here call me Rigel. (Pronounced RY'-gel) I love this name! It is just my opinion and all, but I think Rigel is the best name EVER!!
When the people say it, I get pets and treats! How sweet is that!

They tell me that I am named after a blue star in the Orion constellation. (Not sure what that is, I will have to Google it) This is cuz they say I am a blue and white border collie. I thinks I am more like charcoal grey. But I am not going to argue with these nice peoples. I don't likes to argue with anyone. I am more of an 'agree to disagree' kind of a boy.

I am one of New England Border Collie Rescue's 'LUCKY 7'. http://nebcr.org/

Let me tell you!!!.... I am one lucky pup. That is for sure! I used to be at some yucky place somewhere far away in they call Tennessee. I spent my whole life, all 18 months of it in dirty kennel there.

Some nice peoples in Tennessee took me out of that place and brought me up here. When I got here, I was SOO skeerd that I was afraid to walks on the rope thing. Even though everyone was nice, I just didn't know what to do,...... so I flopped down on the ground.
But everybody was very friendly. They told me I was ok and gave me the most delicious treats I ever ate and clean fresh water to drink!!! I did need to get a hair cut and bath since I was so dirty and my fur was all tangled and matted.


Now I gots this funny 'first day of school' hair cut, but everyone says my fur will grow back long and soft and handsome. My head is still fluffy though. Peoples laugh and smile at me because they say I looks like a Muppet. They says I am 'SO CUTE'!


I don't know what that means but I do know that it gets me some extra, super yummy treats.

Wow! I LOVES peoples now! ........Ok, really, I still am shy at first, but I do loves all peoples and animals. When I got to my new foster home, I was so, so sceerd and lonely that I just curled up on my bed and stayed there. My foster family felt so bad for me. They would walk by, give me treats and pets. They would tell me I was safe, but I was still sceered and confused. After all, I have never lived in a house before.





After about a week, I began to realize, "Hey! I really, kind of like it here!"

I began getting very brave and exploring the house and yard. At first with the company of my foster family then....get this... ALL BY MY SELF!
Yup! Like I said, I am getting very brave!

Then it happened.... I fell in love. Yes, I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE my foster mom!
She loves me too. She even has this cute little nickname for me. She calls me 'Her Stalker' because I am always with her, always watching her and always waiting for pet and treats.

Well I been here about a month and I am just starting to play a bit and I gets a quick burst of what they calls the 'Zoomies'. I runs around like crazy. I runs like I never have run before!
My mom gets so happy when I do that! She cheers me on and says, "Go Rigel!!! RunRunRun!! Yeah!" She sometimes runs with me! She pretends to 'playbow' and runs around like a puppy too! I think it is funny!

She is apparently trying to encourage this puppy-like play and quite obviously doesn't care what the neighbors think!

Now I even play with toys! Do you know what toys are???!!! I just learned about them! Sometimes they squeak and sometimes they try to roll away from you! Sometimes they don't do nothing, but they are good to chew on anyway!

My mom wants me to say that not only am I cute, but I am very smart too! I learns things VERY fast, especially when there is treat involved! I love being a 'good boy'! My tail wags like crazy at just the words, "Good Boy!" I love my crate, I love to snuggle and I love treats. I have NEVER even had ONE accident in the house! Can you believe that! My foster mom can't! She is so impressed with me!

I also just discovered these REALLY cool things called couches and big peoples beds! Let me just tell you, "WOW! " If you don't have those in your home, your should really get them!

As of right now, I am learning not to be sceerd of new thing and new places and new peoples.
I never knew there was such a huge world out there! There is so much to explore!
Eventually, I will be looking for my real, true, forever home, but right now, I still got a lot to learn. I will get there a little at a time. That's all for now!

Your friend,
Rigel

It's Chip's Anniversary! (But we're not sure that's a good thing.)

This is Chip. He just celebrated an anniversary. It's not really the best kind of anniversary to have, though. You see, it was Chip's 1 year anniversary of looking for a forever home. That's a long time, especially when you're a dog. Chip also celebrated an 9th birthday recently, in September. He had a pretty good celebration of his anniversaries with is foster family, but not nearly as good as he would have had celebrating anniversaries with his forever family. He really, really hopes that the next time one of his anniversaries rolls around, he has a real adoptive family to celebrate with. Maybe you can help him make that happen?
There is so much to love about this border collie. He is very sweet, and just loves getting attention. He is very, very playful and LOVES to play fetch, tug, and keep-away.
Chip has his border collie quirks, but really, who doesn't? He has a very strong chase drive, and so he cannot be off leash in an unfenced area. The temptation to chase cars is just too strong. However, he's smart, and he doesn't bother with trying to chase them when he is in the fenced yard.
He also cannot live with small furry critters - their quick movements are too much for him! He does live with three smart cats in his foster home. After initial interest in them, he completely ignores them. However, they never run. We do not know how he would do around cats that ran.
Much better to channel that chase drive to his toys! There's something he loves to do, and he can do it with you! What a great way to build a strong relationship.
Sometimes, Chip doesn't want to let go of the toy, but if you are patient, he does drop the toy for you. He's also doing much better about not diving in and snatching it back up before you have a chance to pick it up. He's pretty smart and he does catch onto routines quickly.
Chip is looking for a home where, ideally, he can be the only dog. For the most part, he gets along just fine with other dogs, but he sometimes gets very into his games of fetch, and is rather rude to the other dogs. He doesn't really like to share his toys with them.
He is quite happy to share his toys with his people though!! Nothing makes his day more than the chance to run and play! Then he is happy to come inside and snuggle with you. What more could you ask for from your best friend?
Chip also has some food allergies, so he needs to eat a diet that doesn't exacerbate those. He is currently doing wonderfully on a raw diet, his skin and coat look fantastic! However, if his new family cannot continue that diet, we can give other recommendations to keep him healthy and feeling great.
Since Chip is out of the crazy adolescent border collie stage, he doesn't require an immense amount of exercise. He'll happily play as much fetch as you like, but when you are done, whether it be after a few throws or a few dozen throws, he is happy to settle in wherever you are and just keep you company.
He also enjoys taking a walk with you. He has very good leash manners, although, if you have to walk where there are cars, he will show his interest in them. A gentle leader head halter will help redirect his attention back to you, though. He'll show similar interest in passing dogs. He really, really, wants to meet them, and the silly part is, once he does, he just ignores them (unless they are running, then he wants to chase, chase, chase!)
In honor of Chip's anniversary, he got upgraded to a leather collar. He is pretty proud of this fact, and posed for some pictures so you could admire his handsome self.
"Do you like my new collar?" He asks, "I sure do!"
Now he's all ready to begin his second year as a foster dog, but he surely hopes, that soon he'll be able to say he's an adopted dog!
Maybe you, or someone you know, is looking for a fun loving, mature best friend? Please note that border collies are a notoriously long lived breed, commonly living to be 14 or 15 years of age, and we often hear of border collies living to be 18+ years of age! Chip is really hoping his age isn't scaring you off. He's still an energetic, fun loving dog for many years left to provide you with love and companionship. Other than his allergies which are easily dealt with through a proper diet, he has no health concerns at all. His teeth are in great shape, and he is fully up to date on all his veterinary requirements.
Chip, posing here with his new toy, is looking forward to meeting his new family soon!
He's ready and waiting, although he does hope he doesn't have to wait too much longer.

Even if your home isn't the right one for our friend Chip, won't you pass the word along? Perhaps you can post a link on your facebook page, in your blog, to an online discussion group you might belong to, or simple send an email about him to your friends! Perhaps we could get Chip into his forever home for the Holidays. What a nice gift that would be for him.

Scotlund

Scotlund - one of the Lucky 7

Scotlund - the day he came off the transport truck from the puppy mill seizure.

A few days later, after being shaven to rid him of the mats and lice that had been living on him for who knows how long.

Scot, today, 3 weeks after being in the care of NEBCR. His worms are gone, his lice nits are almost gone, his anemia is almost gone, his UTI is gone, his giardia (fingers crossed) is gone and he is beginning to act like the 8 year old puppy that he is. He is learning his name, probably the first name he has had in a long time. He greets us with wiggles and wags and a toy in his mouth. He is delightful.

We Need Your VOTE!

NEBCR is currently involved in a voting contest to win much-needed grant money.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

The rescue name is New England Border Collie Rescue, and the state we're incorporated in is CT. Once you enter the name and state, NEBCR will appear in the list. Just click the "vote" button. You can vote once each day, and any and all votes are greatly appreciated! If you have any dog loving family/friends, feel free to pass this along and encourage them to vote every day!

Thank you for your support!

The Lucky 7 inspires a poem

The following poem was written by the 16 year old daughter of one of our volunteers, inspired by the story of The Lucky 7 and puppy mill dogs everywhere...

His Tomb
by Alexandria Malfitano

In the dark and dreary room,

he sat in his personal tomb.

Stack upon stacks of crates,

cutting tiny paws

that have never felt the cool grass beneath them.

The dark blanket covers his dwelling,

hiding his face from mine,

and I feel weak.

The foreboding air tells a story of horror.

Be loved,

or be nothing.

His small life has only begun,

and yet he has been slated for death.

I look under the cover, and he looks at me.

A face so full of fear and desire,

a body emaciated from lack of food,

fur that has never been brushed,

eyes that have never been met with love,

and it breaks my heart in two.

He is but a product to sell,

and nothing more to those who own him.

I snap the photo, and whisper,

“I’ll come back for you.”

His eyes light up with hope,

then turn dull again.

He hides back inside himself,

the only safe place left.

I will break open this puppy mill,

and save his life.

No longer will he and the others,

live in their own tomb,

but with real families,

who will love them and care for them.

I will help him.

I will help them.

We can save them.

An update: The Lucky 7 dogs have all been moved to their foster homes and are in the process of settling in. Some are doing better than others, but all are making progress. Their foster homes will continue to post updates here whenever possible.