TRI-COUNTY COLLIE RESCUE OF MICHIGAN

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COLLIE MEMORIALS

Some collies come into our lives and change us in some way because of a particular trait or behavior.  Some are exceptionally loving or loyal, some are goofy and remain puppies for life.  Some are simply "the best dog I ever had."  Please join us in memorializing your collie.  If you would like to see your collie here, please e-mail a photo and text to Memorials@CollieRescue.com.  We will enter your picture and text at the next available update.  Please consider a donation to Tri-County Collie Rescue as a memorial to your collie and as a way to assist TCCR in its rescue efforts.

 

 

 

"Lass" by Stephanie Fargo

 

This is Angus.

 

Matthew and Lisa Trevethan adopted him in August of 2001 after Pegi Hack looked us up and down and said "I have the perfect dog for you." What we saw was the tallest and heaviest Collie we've ever seen.

 

Angus was almost a head taller than all the other dogs at the park and was a muscular 100 pounds of love, he fit perfectly with his tall "mom" and muscular "dad". We always said that Angus picked us not the other way around. While at that collie picnic that we first met him he leaned up against us (the collie hug) as if to say, "Pegi, I pick these two."

 

Angus had many loves- his cats who he guarded like they were his own. If there were a spat between the cats he would rush up between them to keep the peace. He loved sourdough bread, and would sneak behind us like a ninja to obtain his prize. Most of all he loved the family cottage in Harrisville, MI on Lake Huron. Our beach had many places for Angus to walk and dart his nose in the long beach grass. He smiled and played with such passion, echoing that wonderful Collie bark up and down the shore. Angus was a lion of a dog that didn't know the word quit, and even as his body failed him his mind only knew how to please and love. Everyone whose life he touched will miss him.

 

Matthew and Lisa's Angus

Freddie

Loved by Kathy and Stan Gralewski and

Deborah, Dave, and Stephanie Fargo

 So Long Freddie

 

What could a dog tell you about life and survival on the streets of Detroit. This is where Freddie was found wandering by the Detroit Humane Society.  Pegi Hack picked him up and he became our foster collie.  We soon learned that Freddie did what he could to survive, like surf, as in counter tops. He would help himself to butter, pizza in a box, chocolate cake, whatever.

 

One day when he wanted water, he went in the bathroom and lifted up the toilet seat with his head, to drink water out of the bowl. (We learned to keep the bathroom door closed).  Yep, that was “Self Serve Fred”.

 

Freddie, a name no one really liked, but the only one he would answer to.  He was adopted by Kathy & Stan Gralewski, who gave him a wonderful home. Freddie, whose gums were unusually large, found comfort in a new home with a lab mix named Cody. Freddie, who had Stan wrapped around his paw, could do no wrong. If there were hot dog buns missing from on top of the counter or pillows thrown off the couch, Kathy would ask Stan if Freddie did it. Of course he would say, “Why do you think Freddie did it?” In the two short years they had Freddie, he lived a lifetime. Freddie succumbed to liver problems, hip problems and had a stroke!  His life was cut short two weeks ago. He will be greatly missed by Kathy & Stan, and us as well, his foster parents. But we know full well that our dearly departed Pegi, was there to greet him once again, at the Rainbow Bridge. 

For Sasha

 

The Dog I Never Wanted was our first foster collie,

Her owner brought her -- a dreadful mess of matted fur.

Another casualty of war – divorced from each other,

They had no more room for her in their hearts.

 

Thanks to heartworm and human indifference

She was very sick for months -- but rallied,

And never lost her sense of humor.

Although I may have – once or twice.

 

Not charming to look at, she seemed

Hardly a collie at all - shaven, pudgy and short.

In her Elizabethan collar, with one leg bandaged,
She looked like a mutant canine snow cone.

 

The Dog I Never Wanted flunked adoption.

Not once, but twice.

The last family called her vicious.

And so she came waddling “home”,

Once again 10 pounds overweight.

With a bad back.

 

Rescue Clubs have rules, and so a choice,

To keep her as our own, or have her put to sleep…..

I didn’t want another dog, but -- put her down?

That’s no choice at all.

 

The Dog I Never Wanted

Was an eager teacher, a reluctant student,

Never without her own opinion,

Never hesitant to lend it voice.

 

The Dog I Never Wanted

Loved her humans, her cats and her dogs.

She blessed us with ten years of total devotion.

Accompanied by frequent deafening commentary.

 

The Dog I Never Wanted

Died today.  We buried her behind the house,

Where, in happier days,

She rolled in the grass, waving her paws at the sky,

Barking – at what, only God knew …

And I realized -- in the sudden silence,

That the only thing I really want

 

Is to have her back forever.
 

Christa & Jim McElroy's Sasha

This is a picture of Caleb.  Caleb came into TCCR's life in 2002 when a woman found him after being hit by a car.  She was kind enough to have him seen and worked on by a veterinarian.  Once he got better, the woman adopted Caleb out to a family under the auspices of TCCR.  Late in 2005, TCCR received a message that Caleb could no longer live with that family. 

We found Caleb in dismal condition--his coat was matted, he had an infection on his skin, he was underweight, and he could barely walk on the hardwood floors because of all the hair between his toes. 

Of course, Caleb got cleaned up right away, thanks to the groomers at the Dog's Bow Wow.  Caleb lived with his foster home for a couple of months, but never gained enough strength or weight back.  In the end, Caleb lost the ability to walk, and it was determined that he had cancer of some type.  The sad decision to let him go was made.

Caleb will always be remembered by his foster family for his gentle manner and sweet disposition.
 

This is Harley.  Harley was rescued by a kind-hearted woman who found him for sale for $50, tied to a tree.  He was just a year old.  He was promptly brought to TCCR where he was placed with a foster home following a short stay at Gasow's Veterinary Hospital. 

While at Gasow's, a heart murmur was heard, and so Harley was scheduled for a echocardiogram prior to being neutered.  The echocardiogram found that Harley had a severe heart malformation called "Tetralogy of Fallot."  This heart condition meant that Harley could not get enough oxygen-rich blood to his system.  Despite his beautiful coat and sweet collie-ways, Harley was very ill.

Unfortunately, Harley passed away soon after his test.  His sweet and gentle personality, his beautiful collie coat, and his playful personality will never be forgotten by this foster family.