A RESCUE DOG - IS IT AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Here is some information that may help you decide. The links above will give you more insight into a Border Collie as a pet and if it is worth rescuing a Collie, and how our rehoming procedure is carried out.
So you've decided you have the room in your home and your heart for a dog. You've read all the books and thought about the consequences of owning a Border Collie or Border Collie cross and you still want one. So off you go to the local dog breeder or farm that happens to have a litter of pups available for sale.
BUT WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE!
Have you considered adopting your new friend and companion from a Rescue Society?
There are hundreds of beautiful dogs waiting for people like yourselves to come and give them another chance. Dogs who are having to spend day after day in kennels without the comforts of home, who in the majority of cases are in there through no fault of their own. No matter how well the rescue kennels are run the dogs are never going to get the love and attention each one deserves. Only you can do that.
It's pretty obvious what's in it for the dog if you were to take one home but what are the advantages for you in taking on a rescue dog? Well there are many!
The majority of dogs that come in for re-homing are adult so they have reached their full size and have grown their adult coat, so you can see at a glance what you are taking on. There are dogs of various ages, in many circumstances an older dog will fit into family life much better than a young pup. The kennel staff will have assessed the personality and temperament and so you will have some idea whether or not a particular dog will suit your life style. The staff will do their utmost to match the right dog with the right owner, it is in their best interests to do so. They will want to avoid a situation where you will have to return him or her because you cannot handle it. Of course if you want to re-home a pup, they too are available regularly.
The financial aspect of adopting a dog from somewhere like Border Collie Trust is much less than if you were to purchase a pup from a breeder and with the adult dogs there is also the added bonus that the dog or bitch may have already been neutered. It is also nice to know that the money you donate to the Trust is then going towards rescuing and re-homing another Border Collie. So you will be actually helping two dogs not one.
If you do have problems when you get home, be it a few days after or a few years after you will have the back-up of the Trust at all times. We are always there to help. (How many breeders will offer that kind of service?). If the worst comes to the worst and there are problems you are unable to cope with - or of course should your circumstances change at any time in the future then he or she can always be returned to the kennels so you really have nothing to lose in offering one of these dogs a chance at a new life.
In giving a rescue dog a new home you will achieve much personal satisfaction. Even in the cases where 'Problem ' dogs have been re-homed the extra work involved in putting things to rights is well worth the effort and can be very rewarding. Like many things in life you only get out of it as much as you are prepared to put in! But as mentioned earlier most dogs that end up in rescue kennels are perfectly lovely animals who will fit into your life easily, every one of them willing to give you his or her heart! Please think about it before rushing off to that puppy breeder, you'll be glad you did.
If you are a first time owner or considering having a pup you may be interested in a DVD,
New Owners Guide to Border Collie. Featuring advice from a Trainer, a Vet and a Behaviourist which will help you gain an insight and understanding of collies - On sale in The Collie Shop
