In Memory: Fritz Tallman

Sarah,

It is with great sadness I have to tell you I had to put Fritz down today. 

I adopted him seven years ago at Christmas and has been the most incredible companion since then. 

He came down with an auto immune disease and in the end could not recover. He will be terribly missed.

Reuben 

Life Changing Dogs

I don't know about you, but I have been lucky enough to have had several Life Changing Dogs come into my life. About 15 Novembers ago, a young dog was brought into rescue, and lived with me for a time. This dog was one of 'those dogs', dogs rescuers like me wish they had room for, time for, money for, but know they need to live a better life in another home. 

One morning I received a phone call from a fellow who had put his border collie down the day before, and was on the hunt for another, one to 'rescue in his honour'. Within a couple of weeks, Peter and his wife Barbara had convinced me to break several rescue rules, and took Bienn home right before Christmas (something we do not normally do).

Usually, when a dog goes home, that is that. We get updates from time to time, photos, cards on holidays, etc. Not with Bienn's new family. This is the life changing part. MABCR got HUGE supporters...Barbara is our storekeeper, my right hand and sounding board, Peter gives advice when needed, and was our treasurer for a few years. Eventually, Barbara and Peter, along with Bienn, Copper, Casey (an MABCR dog) and Bonnie, moved to Maryland, and live only 7 miles from the farm. For me, personally, Bienn gave me my best friend (Barbara), and a mentor (Peter) who have helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life. 

Up until today, his days have been mostly good, though he had stopped traveling with Barbara and Peter, I don't think he minded too much, as he got to stay here with me. He had also stopped going upstairs, but still took walks every day, and sniffed and pee'd on stuff.

Bienn passed today in his own back yard, under the big sky, with his people around him and his canine companions just feet away.

I suspect Bienn was a life changing dog for Barbara as well, though I've never asked her, and honestly, if I asked her now, we would both cry the ugly cry, and wouldn't be able to speak. I'll just have to assume it's true...

I was going through my photos to find a nice photo of Bienn, and found this, a photo I had taken as part of a photo shoot for Barbara's latest book (she needed a new author's photo). I was struck by the fact that only Bienn is in focus (an obvious mistake) and that he is out front and center, and that Barb is looking at her boy. As it should be.

Goodbye, Beans. I'll see you when I see you, sweet boy.

In Memory: BuddyLee Merwin

In Memory: Jeb Wallace

OUR LIVES WITH JEB

I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since we first met Jeb.  We brought him home on April 16, 2002.

Jeb was a rescue from somewhere around Charles Town, West Virginia.   When we first met him, he was about 6-7 months old.  It was suspected that he had suffered some form of abuse.  He had been ill, was underweight with thin fur, and was a little shy.  It was love at first sight, though, for my family and – we’d like to think – for Jeb as well. 

One of my first comments, after having Jeb for 2 days, was “He is the most polite dog I have ever met!” That continued to be true for all of his life. He was truly a family dog.  He enjoyed everyone’s company but – when it was just him and me – he was my little shadow, by my side from room to room throughout the house. 

My family and I had such a great time with Jeb through the years – running through the woods on the campus of St. Andrew’s School in Delaware and on the old logging roads in Maine; camping trips to Shenandoah (Jeb’s first), Acadia National Park or on the shores of Lake St. George (never could overcome his fear of water, though); or simple pleasures (for Jeb) like chasing tennis balls until he would nearly drop. 

Jeb did finally discover how to bark – when we first met him at Victory Farm, we were told no one had never heard him bark – only “roo” (which was an amazing and beautiful sound).  As he got older and more courageous, his barks grew louder and louder.  When he lost his hearing a couple of years ago (probably due to his loud barks!), he couldn’t got outside without a bark!  So out he’d go, pinwheeling and barking to his heart’s content!

Our family lost our gentle, sweet, smart, polite and loving boy on April 7, 2014.  Letting go of Jeb and saying goodbye was one of the hardest things for my family and especially for me.  Jeb became ill in early March, and by the end of the month, his condition had declined such that he could no longer walk.  Caring for him in his final days was a labor of love – love that I continued to hope would bring him through whatever was ailing him.  In the end though, our love for Jeb took on a different meaning – that of letting go.

My family and I would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Sarah Ruckelshaus and the Mid-Atlantic Border Collie Rescue for introducing us to our first border collie love.  And for being there with advice and support over the past few weeks as we battled Jeb’s illness. 

We turn our attention now to surrounding ourselves with memories of Jeb and giving our hearts to Leap, our other MABCR love!

Donna, with Bill, Lyndsay & Selena 

In Memory: Luce McNenly

It was with a heavy heart that we had to let Luce go to the Bridge this morning. Her back legs started failing, then her front legs started last night and then she refused her dinner last night so it was time

We adopted her from Mid Atlantic Border Collie Rescue on St Paddy's day in 2001. She was the perfect "intro to border collies" dog

After a neglected "childhood", she learned how to play with toys, learned to tug and to play with other dogs. She loved "orbiting" other dogs that were playing fetch. 

She ended up being a very happy little dog. Always wanted to see what we were doing. Would make her rounds several times a day if she wasn't sure where we were in the house. Always made sure she said good morning to everyone in the house every day. 

She was a beautiful dark red - so dark she looked like she was made of mahogany in the sunshine 

She earned lots of titles in the ten years we competed together in agility, including her PDCH and Platinum P3 Snooker

She will be greatly missed as she was so much a part of our lives

Luce 09/04/1999 - 04/13/2013

Go in peace, little one

Helen 

Memoriam - Meg Wellheuser

12/16/2000 - 02/19/214 Meg 

She was our first rescue, and the first and only girlie dog in the house. She loved playing with the hose, chaseing bubbles, as well as birds. She was Matt's heart dog in more ways than one, Brea's second agility dog and Queen of the house. She had both devils horns and angels wings for ears depending on her mood. Above all what she was most in life was loved and loving she never met a stranger, and the first to play with a foster dog.

In Memoriam: MABCR Pete Painter

Hi Sarah-

Just wanted to say thanks for the many years of wonderful companionship we had with one of the dogs we adopted from your Rescue. We took "Flash" from you on a rainy day in Va. about 11 years ago at a sheep trial event. he was a stray- not used to people, kind of aloof at the time, had no recall, and really had the weirdest saliva a dog could have (?)- all of those things changed over the years and we also learned that what Pete, as he was renamed, really wanted was a small dog to care for. He had a few (my daughter's dogs who stayed with us for a time) and another dog we got from you, "Snaggle" ( a sweet border terrier renamed Frank  sent to you from a shelter in NC) three years ago.. he really loved Frank and Frank loved him.

All around Pete was a wonderful, wonderful border collie and great friend. Sadly, Pete died about a month ago at  the age of either 16 or 17- liver tumor and loss of movement due to either  cancer and/ or arthritis. We made a very difficult decision to put him down in October after he able longer to metabolize any food or get up on his own. Our vet was great and really helped him through a tough old age for quite a while. We are still mourning his loss, but we know he had a great life and  we had a great life with him- he was such a wonderful part of out family- can not imagine him not being a part of it.

Just wanted to say thanks again for him, and also for Frank. He is also a really special dog.  We are thinking of adopting another dog..moving slowly though as we are still missing Pete.

Happy Holidays to you and yours. We are sending a donation in memory of Pete and for all the hard work you do.

Lori and Eric Painter

P.S

The picture is of Pete with one of his "charges"..my daughter's dog, Richie who lived with us for about 4 years.

Ilsa Sternberg

This afternoon I learned that one of the most inspirational people I have ever met has passed away.

I met Ilsa several times over a few year period. We ran into each other at herding clinics and sheepdog trials, and always, I was so amazed by her strength. 

You see, Ilsa was confined to a wheelchair. She had very little ability to move, her wheelchair was electronic, and her voice was barely above a whisper. Yet, her passion was training dogs, and dog training she did.

Before I met her, I was told she trained her pappillons in agility. I was told that her dogs worked well for her. Then she got the bug for herding, and trained her  border collies to work the flocks. Last I saw her, her dogs wore a receiver on their collars so they could hear her commands. I heard through the grapevine that at trials she did have assistance on the field, a human closed the gate for her, but other than that she worked her dogs.

I am certain it was not easy for her. I didn't have the privilege of knowing her well enough to know of her struggles, or her triumphs, but common sense says she had them. Yet she kept at it.

I understand she had property in Florida, and had sheep. I am sure she had quite a bit of help and support, but she did it. She kept at the training and being with her dogs.

Ilsa had written a book and she gave me a copy. It is still the book I recommend to physically challenged people who call looking for help. I am sure someone has written one more recently, but Ilsa was extraordinary in her understanding, since she herself was physically challenged. The book is available at amazon and other book selling outlets.

When someone tells me they can't train their dog for XXX reason, I think of Ilsa. I am sure loads of people told Ilsa she couldn't, and yet she did.

I have no doubt there were dogs waiting for Ilsa at the bridge.

Memorial: Faith Hoolachan

Dear Sarah -

Ten years ago, on October 19, 2001 and not long after 9/11, you gave us Faith.  

I don't know if you remember her but you said when you got her from the Harford County pound (where, coincidentally, I had seen her originally on their website) it became immediately clear that she had no plans to sleep anywhere other than in the house.  

When we drove up to the farm, she left her post on the porch guarding the food and jumped in our car. Faith passed away yesterday after giving us 10 wonderful years of her company.  Every member of our family had a special relationship with her and although she was our first dog, she was the best dog ever!  Exceedingly polite (except perhaps to other dogs on the street), smart, gentle, funny, adventurous (she had a knack for wandering far and wide), patient, and over the years, established a truce with the deer and squirrels on the property.  Her last Christmas was highlighted by a significant number of meatballs.  She was one great dog.

The little boys in the attached photo are now grown up but they will always keep Faith in their hearts. 

Thank you Sarah and MABCR. 

 Janet, John, Jordan, Aidan & Nolan 

In Memoriam: Bandit Guttag

I am embarrassed to say that I cannot remember how Bandit came to rescue. What I do know is that he was a lovely, big boofy boy who was sweet, gentle and kind. And that he brought together two of my favorite MABCR peeps, Kris Guttag and Erika Leckington.

MABCR adopted Bandit to Kris and her husband in 2002. Not long afterwards, I learned that Steve referred to me as the Cult Leader, so I became the Supreme Leader of the Divine Church of the Border Collie, and Kris became my friend.

I have been privileged to become a part of Kris's life. Kris has volunteered with MABCR since shortly after Bandit's adoption. She has enriched my life, I am happy when she visits, and even happier when she cooks. Her son Gary has played with every moving thing on the farm (that he can convince to be still enough to touch) and I know that Bandit was instrumental in teaching Gary how to appreciate and to be kind to animals.

This morning Bandit went peacefully with Kris by his side.

I am ever so grateful to Bandit for bringing Kris and her family into my life, and even more so to the Guttags for giving Bandit the loving forever home that he so well deserved.

Rest easy buddy. See you at the Bridge.

In Memorium: Gage Ziff

Gage here on the farm

Sarah:

I just wanted you to know that after 9 1/2 magnificent years together - Gage went to Rainbow Bridge during the night. We are all in Mexico and he'd had a splenectomy yesterday evening. When we left he was looking great - and breathing well, but he apparently his heart failed during the night and we lost him.

I cannot begin to tell you how often we think of you and how you saved Gage for us. He was just the right dog at the right time. We did agility together, we did obedience together - he had his Canine Good Citizen award - he was a magnificent dog and our lives are SO much richer for his having been in them.

Sarah - you made the world a better place for him and for us.

 Warmly 

Jan and Allan

In Memoriam: Otis Schemm

OTIS 2003??-03.08.11

Otis entered my life in late summer, 2007. A handsome lad with a sweet demeanor, Otis was a wonderful companion. I asked Sarah for a border collie and she thought I wanted a high energy dog to compete. When I told her that I wanted a mellow dog, she suggested Otis. When I got out of my car at the farm, there was this gentle dog. Sarah showed me how he “danced” to music. That was it. How could anyone resist such a happy guy.

He was the perfect height for pats and hugs, right under your fingers when standing. He loved to chase deer and ground hogs, nuzzle the barn and house cats and watch the horizon for encroaching wild life. He monitored the fields around the house.

Otis had a sense of humor and liked to lunge at the horses—as long as they were behind fences and ran to me when Bea got too aggressive with playing. 80 lbs. trying to hide behind me!

It is sad to have no Otis watching out the window as I pull up the driveway into the garage after work, no guy to greet me quietly as I open the door and no nuzzle for treats.

His health was fine until a week before his death. I noticed large lumps in his throat area and went to vet and got the bad news.

Otis followed me everywhere even on the last day of his life, when he was gravely ill. His quiet departure in my arms was a comfort because his health was so compromised by a fast moving lymphydema. He knows how much I loved him and I am grateful for the honor of owning him for 4 wonderful years. He will always have a special place in my heart.

Ruth

Memoriam: Kramer Cook

Kramer was my bud for almost a third of my life. 


For a long time, it was hard to be Kramer, but the last few years were his reward for his hard work to be a happy guy.

He was a Good Dog and we will miss him.


Laura

Goodbye Jacob

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Friends,

Please understand that I am in a difficult time of mourning and am not able to function as well as usual. Yesterday I said my final goodbye to the most influential friend in my life so far, and watched the light drain from his eyes as the vet put the drug that stopped his heart into his vein. I don’t expect everyone to understand how the loss of a pet can be so devastating, but I want to tell you how special Jacob was to me.

He was part of a litter of 8 that was born at my neighbor’s. My daughter had saved her babysitting money to purchase a pup from this long anticipated litter. She picked her pup when they were only 3 weeks old. I admired the pups and was very interested in their development the following weeks. One day I was puppy-sitting and the pups were in a pen in my yard. All but one of the pups were at the fence, jumping and vying for my attention. Jacob, however, was sitting back a ways and looking right into my eyes. I knew at that moment that he was for me. Thus began my 15 + year relationship with what I consider to be the most vital life force I’ve ever encountered.

At the time of Jacobs’s birth, I had been in a lengthy period of illness and depression, and medicine and therapy were not helping me enough to be able to function on any sort of normal level. The love and support of my family kept me alive, but this young pup pulled me back from the darkness and helped me to find joy again. He would not let me sit idle, he would fuss at me and bring every toy and pile them on me until I would laugh at him and get up and go play with him.

Because he needed, indeed, demanded “work”, I met wonderful people that loved dogs and dog sports and activities and I started getting out in the world again, at least in the dog world. We went to puppy classes, agility classes and herding classes, and later to some competitions. Jacob was always the star, the smartest, the fastest, and the most focused. He gave me the legitimacy to run my heavy, uncoordinated body around a course, because I had the best dog, and didn’t have to be so self-conscious of my lack of grace and skill. This time brought my daughter and I closer as we attended classes and events together with our “super” dogs.

Because I was a novice, of limited physical ability, and had limited financial resources, he did not attain all the championships and titles that might have come under a better, more fit handler; I don’t believe he understood or cared about this, even though an “animal communicator” once told me that he was “cussing” at me as we ran a course. He always seemed to be happy in the moment and put much gusto in everyday activities, whether it was fetch in the yard, learning tricks, or fussing at me till I took him in the car somewhere: to play, swim in the river, chase geese, “shop” in a pet store, or just enjoy the air blowing in our faces.

The last two years have had their times of sadness and dread for me as I watched his physical body giving out on him and the activities he loved were no longer possible for him. It was hard to decide when it was time to do him the last service he required of me. I finally came to that determination this past weekend, as I watched him unable to get up from the floor or stay up when I lifted him and tried to steady him on his legs, and having to lie in his own urine as it came out beyond his control.

I made the appointment and, of course he had a rally, getting up and walking about and going down and up the ramp that has been necessary for him to even be able to get outdoors the last few years. He walked to the car and he walked into the vet’s under his own power. When the procedure was started he fought it, and looked right into my eyes as he had that first day, demanding that I stop this thing, but I knew that it was the right time and that his suffering of body and dignity needed to end. They took him in the back room, sedated him and put a catheter in his back leg before they brought him back to me for the final procedure. Even then, he kicked about and didn’t make it easy for the vet to administer the dose.

I still have a yard full of Jacob’s relatives, but I have a hole in my heart today. I know that grieving is another task of life and that I have to go through it rather than try to hide it, if that were even possible.

Please know that I covet and rely on your kindness, forbearance, and especially your prayers at this time. I am trying to focus on the work before me, even as I know Jacob would be fussing at me to get up and get moving forward little by little.

Thanks.

Editor's note: Jacob was not an MABCR dog. I posted this because Jacob's human spoke so eloquently of her loss and of Jacob's love. Rescue or not, we all understand that. Sarah

In Memoriam: Scooter Dog Thoreau Schmidt Fisher

Dear Friends and Family,

We write to share the sad news of Scooter Dog Thoreau Schmidt Fisher's passing.

For an epileptic Border Collie mix, Scooter lived a long and adventuro

us life (b. July 4, 1994 d. January 22, 2011.) He went to Baltimore and Washington street festivals, crashed parties, hosted parties, was Best-Dog in our wedding, loved to camp along the shores of the Chesapeake, the backwoods of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Canada - the only time he ever appeared displeased with camping was up in Algonquin Provincial Park when the mosquitoes were so thick his snout was pink from bites!

Scooter attended Schmidt Family reunions, Clean Water Action reunions, and multiple American Library Association meetings (Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, and Toronto to name a few.)

Jim and I have talked about all we've learned from him - may we all age as gracefully as Scooter. He approached life happily and was up for anything. He was a good dog and we miss him.

Love,

Sarah and Jim

Editor's note: I for one am grateful to Scooter for bringing Sarah and Jim to MABCR. Sarah and Jim and Scooter (and Thai) have volunteered many hours to MABCR and I have always enjoyed their company. Scooter will be missed.

In Memoriam: Terry Kellam-Quinn

Sally,

Sad news.  We put Terry down this morning.  She was blind and deaf and could hardly get around anymore.  She would have turned 18 February 7th.  The winter with all the snow was really hard on her.  

Sharon

In memoriam: Kira Whipple

We only had Kira for a short 6 months. We adopted her in April 2010, and we lost her on November 12, 2010. She was only 14 months old.

It was a complete and innocent accident, but it has had the most significant and final result. She was playing with her “pack,” which includes our Dexter and our friends' dogs Rio, Bandit, and Rusty. Kira and Bandit (her favorite bitey-face companion next to Dexter) were playing in my friend's backyard. Kira, as she was wont to do, flipped over onto her back playfully. Bandit's jaw got caught under Kira's collar. Bandit could not get free, and as he tried, he made the problem worse. When Jen got to them (only after a matter of seconds), she tried so very hard to get Kira loose. But she couldn't even get her fingers between the collar and my sweet girl’s neck. Kira died in her Auntie Jen’s arms. 

I am so very thankful for the time we had with Kira, though it was only a short 6 months. She was arguably the happiest girl I’ve ever met. She was perpetually smiling, and she wanted to talk so badly—she'd tell us all about her day when we came home with her little howls, yips, and growls. Whenever she got a toy from Dexter, she would prance around proudly, showing it off to whoever would look at her.  I would call her my dressage dog—she had such long legs and she was so graceful. She moved like a trained dressage horse. She could never get close enough to her people. She would literally try to get as much of herself touching as much of me, Dustin (my husband), or whoever was sitting on the couch as she could. She adored my dad more than anyone or anything else. I never thought a dog could wiggle as much as she did when he visited. She was such a fabulous addition to our family, and I am eternally grateful for the time we had with her, short though it was.

 Rest in peace, my sweet girl. You are painfully missed.

In Memoriam: Shadow Steiner

Hi, Sarah!

We have exchanged some e-mails in the past, so you may remember us. We adopted “Martin” – now known as “Bear” – from MABCR in 2005. He is doing well (he is about 7 y/o now), but we are all sad because we lost our other BC, Shadow (who was also a rescue, but not a MABCR alumni) last week. He was 14, and died of a malignant lung tumor.

So, in the near future, we would like to adopt another brother for Bear from MABCR.

Thanks,

Janet and Marty

In memoriam: Marley Maloney

None you never knew Marley Maloney. He was adopted through a different rescue, Kevin and Sandy came to me for behavioural assistance with Marley. You see, Kevin was never sure whether Marley wanted to love him, or eat him, which is not easy for someone who loves their dog!

Kevin and Sandy worked very hard with Marley, and while Marley was never an easy dog, he came to understand that he had it good where he was and that he needed to be a good boy for the Maloney's.

Marley was found to have epilepsy and was on very large doses of meds to help control his seizures. Sadly, he had a seizure which caused a stroke and large physical issues and is now waiting at the Bridge for the Maloney's.

He will be missed.

In Memoriam Abbe Filip

Hi Sarah,

Last month we lost our sweet Abbe to cancer.
While we caught it very early with surgery, it was an aggressive sort that spread quickly, despite the best care we could provide, with meds and chinese herbs.

We adopted Abbe from MABCR, I believe in the fall of 2002.
I don't think we'll ever find as gentle and docile of a pet as she was.
She was an abandoned BC mix, possibly with Welsh Corgi, beagle or basset hound.

Abbe wasn't without her issues (especially food issues), but she was a perfect example of unconditional love, and we were a great match for each other.

So we thank you for that, and want to look to our future with another dog placement.

Connie and Tom