I know for the most part this does not apply to may of the people that play flyball, but even I have been a little guilty of this with a foster dog I have. I am talking about giving our dogs a job.
The History of Chance
Someone on our regional flyball list posted a message that a Border collie was in dire need of rescue and was due to be euthanized. The shelter was located in Georgia and I live in Alabama so I called someone that I knew in Georgia that does rescue. They said that there was no way that they could get there in time and that I was actually closer to the shelter. Since I really didn’t know what else to do, I decided to leave work and go pick up the dog. I really didn’t have room for another dog but I thought that I could foster one Border collie until a home could be found.
I arrived at the shelter in Georgia on August 7, 2006. The dog’s name was Chance and he was in very sad condition when I rescued him. He was just an hour away from the ultimate fate when I arrived at the shelter. My first thought when I saw him was, “Is that a Border collie?” The shelter smelled bad and Chance smelled like the shelter. I knew that he was scared and not in good health and I had to carry him to the car.
Chance had a very bad respiratory infection and could not walk more then a couple feet without stopping to cough and wheeze. After getting him to the vet, I also found that he was heartworm positive and had a urinary infection. The vet gave him a shot of antibiotics and gave me a bunch of pills and we started treating him for the infections right away. The heartworm problem would be addressed when he was well enough for heartworm treatment.
Chance started his heartworm treatment about 3 weeks from the time I rescued him and he came through the treatment in great shape and is now in good health.
Chance Today
I really wish that I had before and after pictures because he has changed so much. Really, he doesn’t look like the same dog that I carried from the shelter that day. He is very lively and needs more of a job than I have given him up until now. I have worked with him some but probably not as much as he needs, and after a year, it doesn’t look like he is going anywhere.
For those out there that need to give their dogs more of a job you really do need to read a post on the Tip Tail blog titled, A Fairy Tale. It is worth your time to read and the link sent to anyone that doesn’t do enough with their dogs.
Larry
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3 comments ↓
Bless both you and Faye for saving this life! I usually have a rescue of sorts in my home, and, if not, I am usually thinking about another rescue. If not for people like you to give “chances”, well, we know how Chance would have ended.
Thanks!
Jackie
Chance looks like a very handsome dog, and lucky for you to have pulled him in his time of need.
Larry,
This comment is really in response to your thinking about taking a break from the blog, but fits better under this categroy. Here’s my story: My husband and I worked the animal rescue in St Bernard Parrish after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I traveled to Florida in November to adopt one of the younger dogs rescued there. She was the main reason I checked out flyball,after learning about the sport on a brief news telecast. My pup has had to learn to overcome so many anxieties (She would have been 5 months old when the storms hit). Initially, she would not even go outside unless escorted and would quickly return to her safe home. She was terrified of men, especially those in uniform. She did not how to react to a dog greeting her and would not let anyone but my husband and I hold her. Since that time she has earned one title in flyball. Unfortunately, the club we belonged to pushed her to race full tournaments beofre she was ready and outside of her comfort zone. Although I must brag that she ran 23 heats of 24 clean all day Saturday and 3 races clean on Sunday until I could tell, she was trying to say “Mom. I really can’t deal with this anymore today.” Hence, she left the ring and refused to race the rest of the day. We decided this club wasn’t what would be best for our tenative pup. So we formed our own flyball club. So we are very new and don’t have enough tournament ready dogs to race yet. My husband and his dog are fortunate enough to run with a nereby and very large club and are doing great!!! I would love her to participate in warm-ups to keep her in touch with the ring but we have been sidelined because of her anxiety with strangers touching her. (Club trainer’s decision.) So we diligently practice at home with our small club, attend tournaments and patiently watch and wait for that day we can race again. Larry, your blog has been a lifeline for me. As a newbie, I glean new information, tips, hope and stay connected to flyball. I am not sure who your intended audience is, but don’t forget the people like me who just want a chance and don’t understand all the politics just yet. Thanks for all you do. I want to hear more from people with rescues that have overcome and succeed in flyball. Thanks again.
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