You must complete an adoption application with WBCR before we will consider you for one of our Border Collies (under the “adoption” link). Then go to our PayPal link to pay the $15.00 application fee. One of our volunteers will check your references, and then another will come to your home to meet you & your family in person before the board will vote on your application. If you are approved, we will arrange a time for you to meet the dog(s) you are interested in. If you decide he/she is perfect for you and the board agrees, we will schedule a day for you to pick up your Border Collie, sign adoption paperwork, and pay the $350 minimum adoption donation. This whole process may take a month or more, as all WBCR members are volunteers and we’re committed to making a perfect match for our border collies. Thanks for your patience!
Please contact Amy/Fran for more information on Aine –1 Year Old Female (Rochelle, IL)
February 27
I apologize that I haven’t written any updates lately, but Aine has had a month full of fun! She loves snow and “helps” us shovel whenever possible. During the snowstorm the other day, she even tried to catch the snowflakes as they fell from the sky.
She gets along quite well with our dogs (CLICK HERE), although she doesn’t always want to be too close to them. If I’m petting her and one of my dogs comes over to join the cuddle fest, Aine runs away. Aine is triggered by our Fiona sometimes too. For example, when I leave for work before my husband leaves, Fiona runs to the window to watch me go then runs to another window to watch me drive down the street. Aine herds Fiona during this and has grown to expect Fiona to do it so, as soon as I put my coat on, Aine is already whining and barking at Fiona. The only time Aine is not chasing a ball is when she’s herding the other dogs. She absolutely loves playing ball! One day, there was a dog sleeping between Aine & I, and she just put the ball as close as she could so I would throw it – which ended up being on top of the other dog. 🙂 Aine’s perfect forever family doesn’t necessarily have to have other dogs; they do have to have an endless supply of balls and an incessant need to throw them.
We have taken several trips to the dog park where Aine runs almost constantly until we go home. No breaks, no slowing, nothing but running. She’s the only dog I’ve ever seen be able to keep up with our White Lightning dog! When it’s time to leave, there’s no arguing or procrastinating though. Most of the time, she even beats us to the gate. She’s such a good girl.
My husband trimmed her nails and said Aine was surprisingly calm and relaxed for it. As much of a wiggle butt as she is, we expected to have to fight her to cut her nails. She can’t even sit still when you pet her, flipping around like a fish out of water, kicking her feet, gently biting your hands…She’s just a general wiggle butt so it was a pleasant surprise to learn she’s comfortable with nail trims.
We have been working on her minor food aggression and feel it’s a non-issue. She still tenses & growls sometimes if I push her out of her comfort zone, and she seems better about it when she’s not in her crate, but I’ve not been able to push her to do anything more than growl I was able to catch a video last week so you can see for yourself by CLICKING HERE
January 29
Aine visited the vet to be spayed and have her microchip inserted. She was quite curious and friendly when we arrived at the vet’s office, readily greeting people and willingly walking away from me with the vet tech, but they said she was pretty stressed throughout the day. New people & places cause Aine some anxiety so, although she was willingly walking down the hall with the tech, Aine turned into wiggles and kisses when she saw me waiting for her in the exam room. Surgery was uneventful, and she spent the evening sleeping off the effects of sedation – some of which were pretty bizarre like the way she decided to lay down throughout the evening. She was striking some intense yoga poses! By the following morning, she seemed better although slow moving compared the dog who’s been at our house this past week.
Aine’s still working to gain a couple pounds, but she stays so busy that she’s burning off every calorie we offer her! Maybe she’ll put on some weight while recovering. We’ve discovered she has a bit of food aggression so we’re working on overcoming that. She happily runs into her crate at mealtimes and wags her tail as you set her food bowl down, but a few pieces of kibble spilled out the other day and, as I reached in to pick them up and put them back in her bowl, Aine stiffened, lowered her head over her bowl and gave a quiet, low growl. I took the whole bowl away from her and hand-fed her the entire meal. She gently and happily ate every piece. Experimenting with triggers, I dropped a few pieces on the floor while she was outside her crate and she reacted the same way when I reached to pick them up. I wasn’t reaching under her; I was reaching about a foot to her left side. She’s absolutely comfortable and relaxed with me holding the bowl while she eats from it. We’ll continue desensitizing her now that we’re aware of it, and make sure she understands that people near her food is a good thing.
On the plus side of things, we learned this past week that Aine has some serious hackysack skills! She can flip a ball out of her mouth, across her nose, over her head, down between her shoulder blades, and catch it again before it hits the floor. It’s incredibly entertaining to watch! She eventually throws the ball at us (she doesn’t set it on your lap or at your feet; she propels it at you!) in order for us to throw it for her again. She LOVES to play ball!!! She has a typical Border Collie obsession in that regard! We’re hoping the ice is melted by the time she’s healed from surgery, so she can get some really good running in. For now, we’ll work on learning new things and mentally tiring her out.
January 19
Aine (pronounced Awn-ya) arrived at her foster home on January 18 after her family realized they couldn’t keep up with her energy and listed her on Craigslist. A local organization stepped in to help then sought out breed-specific rescue to give her the best chance at finding an appropriate forever home. She’s just over a year old with bright white teeth, and she’s under 30 lbs. We are told she is 75% Border Collie (Mom was pure BC and Dad was BC and something else – possibly Jack Russell). It’s clear upon meeting her that she has typical BC energy and drive. She will spend hours playing catch with whatever you’re willing to throw for as far as you can throw it! (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vA5QoSmiq1I&feature=youtu.be ) If you get down on her level, she will climb all over you, kissing and rolling and wiggling until you cry uncle. She gets along well with other dogs, making introductions to our 6 resident dogs a breeze (males & females, ranging from 2- to 16-years-old). Aine lived with a couple of cats for a week before coming here, too, and was reportedly interested but appropriate with them.
Aine gets nervous with new people, barking and giving what I call “naughty faces,” curling her lips back to show teeth. It’s her way of keeping some distance while she sizes you up. If you lean over and reach out to her, she gets more scared. If you crouch down and look away though, she approaches pretty quickly and is your new best friend in minutes. Less than 24 hours after Aine arrived, we hosted a wine tasting with 7 adult visitors. After initially cowering in the adjoining room, we instructed each guest how to let her greet them individually, and Aine made friends quickly. She was relaxed enough to play ball and eventually nap under my chair while we all talked and laughed. Everyone commented how well she was doing for having just arrived.
We haven’t had a single potty accident, and she’s slept in her crate every night without a peep. She’s a bit slow to eat meals but is getting better. She’s definitely more toy-motivated than treat-motivated! We’re excited to continue getting to know her more but, so far, she’s living up to her name. Aine means “joy.”