California Here We Come! - Deborah Strong • Artist

Fall/Winter 2006
Okanagan Collie Rescue’s newsletter for people who love collies.
California Here We Come!
Homeless collies journey north to become Canucks.
I
Cathy and her team dealt with
n September of 2004, a group
a huge variety of medical problems.
of 71 collies were confiscated in
Because of poor breeding, extremely
Yolo County, near Sacramento,
unhygienic conditions, and stress, some
California. The local animal authority
of the dogs suffered from various kinds
went onto the property of Chauncey
of immune system disorders including
Wilson to remove these animals from
lupus, inflammatory bowel disease,
deplorable conditions which clearly
and cancers—primarily lymphoma.
indicated neglect and abuse. Mr. Wilson
They also suffered from completely
was charged with cruelty to animals.
preventable skin conditions and paraThe period leading up to the trial
sites. In addition, lack of
and the ensuing court prosocialization presented
ceedings lasted nearly two
When OCR
an enormous task to be
years. As it would not be
dealt with. Never having
known until the judicial
learned of this
experienced the kindness
process was complete
of human companionwhether the dogs would
be returned to their former tragic situation and ship, these collies had
no understanding of a
owner, interim care had
the efforts of the normal dog-human relato be arranged. A local
tionship.
collie rescue group, the
When OCR learned
California Collie Rescue local rescuers, we
of this tragic situation
Coalition headed by Cathy
offered to assist. and the efforts of the
Toft took on the monumenlocal rescuers, we offered
tal task of caring for this
to assist by taking in
large group of animals. In
some of these collies for fostering and
June 2005, Cathy and volunteer Tracey
ensuing placement into loving homes.
Louper created the Road Home K9
Of course, we could not be of any
Rescue to assume responsibility for the
assistance until the court proceedings
ongoing care and future adoption of the
were complete and the decision was
collies in the event they were released
“California Collies” cont’d on page 3
by the court.
Left: Sacramento volunteers with
their precious cargo. Above: Yolo collie
Ray with foster mom Elaine.
Visit OCR’s website: www.collierescue.ca
WELCOME!
This is the very first edition of
Collie Connections—a newsletter
produced by Okanagan Collie
Rescue (OCR for short) for people
who love collies. Inside you’ll
find news about the work of this
group of individuals dedicated to
the welfare of “castaway” collies
all over BC as well as in neighbouring Alberta and Washington
State and sometimes even further
afield. You’ll find stories about
rescue missions, facts about collie
health, and biographies of dogs
that have touched the hearts and
lives of OCR members.
Few people imagine that
these sweet “Lassie” dogs would
ever need rescuing, but that’s
sadly not the case. Many purebred dogs including collies find
themselves homeless for a variety
of reasons. That’s why groups
like OCR exist: to ensure these
wonderful dogs are placed in
homes that love the breed and
understand its specific needs. It’s
all about making connections—
connecting people and dogs.
We hope you enjoy reading
this premier edition of Collie
Connections! If you would like
to support the work of OCR
and receive future newsletters
and updates about the group’s
activities, visit our website or
contact [email protected].
Meet the OCR Team
OCR, and was a very confused, sad little
dog. They’re a happy pair now!
A dedicated bunch of collie-lovers if ever there was one.
Chris and Ann
Both are clinical psychologists and work
for the Nelson School District. They are
OCR’s resource to determine the exact
home suited to each individual collie and
they provide interviews with the applicants
to cover any details in question. Chris and
Ann have adopted four rescued collies
which all are happy and well loved. Each
dog came with an assortment of severe
behavioural problems. Such ‘un-adoptable’ dogs are always placed in a home
within the OCR’s member group.
D
uring the past year or so, we have had some real progress with the actual
make up of Okanagan Collie Rescue (OCR). The new board of directors
and executive committee consists of a collection of very accomplished and
dedicated collie people. If OCR does a good job, it is only because there is a group of
amazing individuals all working together. Every member is a former adopter and has
been carefully hand-picked and invited to join the group. Each member comes with
special skills and training to help further our efficiency. Here are our main members:
They live all over the province so we pretty well have all corners covered and can
help collies in need where ever they are located.
Maria, Vice President of OCR &
Coordinator for the Lower Mainland
A physiotherapist, Maria does rehab on
all the collies that need it, right down to
supplying prosthetics if required. She is
the adopter of Adonis who came to OCR
via the Coquitlam SPCA. His
leg was badly broken and had
been left untended for at least
three years. Maria worked long
hours on him post-surgery, and
eventually adopted him as her
own. Since then, Adonis had a
part in a made-for-TV movie
called Growing up Different
where he was filmed running, literally floating along like there had never
been a thing amiss in his life. He also
appeared on the Vicky Gabereau Show
as the “poster child” for OCR.
Janet, President & Main OCR
Coordinator, and Bob
Janet is OCR’s backbone and founder
of OCR. After 20 years of working to
help collies all over Canada
and the US, she has welcomed the support and assistance of the new board. Bob is
an accountant and is helping
OCR’s Treasurer with the
work involved in obtaining
registered charity status.
Dawn, OCR Secretary
A doctor of marine biology, Dawn is
OCR’s Secretary and is very involved
with all facets of dog training—and
playing—including herding, obedience,
agility and canine musical free-style
dancing. Dawn has adopted four collies
from OCR over the years, accepting and
loving the most severe cases that could
not be entrusted to anyone else. One of
her collie boys had been beaten with
a hose until he was afraid of his own
shadow. Another has a section of his leg
missing, and still another was treated
for cancer just after he came to OCR.
Dawn’s collie girl was supposed to have
epilepsy. All are now
healthy, happy, active
dogs.
Charlene and Rob,
Fostering
Coordinators
Charlene is on the
board of directors
of the Humane Society of the Fraser
Valley and both she and Rob are expert
dog people. This couple has had more
fosters through their home than even
Janet has! Their collie boy had been hit
by a car when he came to OCR via the
Penticton SPCA. He is now 100%.
Lynn and Chris
Lynn works as a special events coordinator and helps
OCR whereever she
is needed, including
liaising with government. Chris works
in the public relations field. He looks
after OCR’s website
management, and has
created a wonderful new site for us. Lynn
and Chris’s old golden retriever girl was
in terrible condition when she came to
Golden Retriever Rescue via the Victoria
SPCA. She had been bred over and over,
twice a year for her entire life, and her
tail had to be removed as it was found
cancerous. The collie girl they adopted
had been through the shelter system in
Alberta many times before reaching
Collie Connections
PAGE 2
Deborah
Deb is a graphic artist and assists OCR
with designing promotional materials, including this newsletter, and
with the group’s participation in public events such
as the SPCA Walk-a-thon
and the Christmas Pet Expo
in Cloverdale (coming up
November 4th & 5th). An
animal portrait artist, she has
also offered to donate artwork
for fund-raising purposes. It
was through the process of adopting
her collie Riley that she became interested in promoting animal welfare and
becoming an active supporter of OCR.
PK, OCR Treasurer,
and husband Greg
Greg works in software and is home
based so he kindly takes care of transports
in the Lower Mainland, especially trips
to the airport or ferry terminal.
Thanks to his flexible hours, he
has helped OCR out of some
desperate situations. PK runs
her own property management
business in Burnaby and is
OCR’s treasurer. Their elderly
collie girl could only understand
the Mandarin language and had
spent her life moving from home to home
because her original owner was often relocating due to studies and work, and ended
up leaving her with friends for months at a
time. PK and Greg adopted her because of
her special needs and she is like a different
“OCR Team” cont’d on next page
OCR member collies (clockwise from
top left): Adonis, Riley, Billy and Blaze.
Fall/Winter 2006
“OCR Team” from page 2.
dog now. Despite her age, after a couple of
years with them she is like a puppy again.
Recently Billy, one of collies from Yolo,
California that you’ll read about in this
newsletter, joined their family.
Doreen and Jack
This devoted pair are two of OCR’s original members and both are very dog-savvy.
A retired nurse, Doreen is a former breeder
and a well respected obedience instructor
in the Penticton area. She and husband
Jack, a retired engineer, offer foster care
and a wealth of experience, information and support. Dogs who have passed
through their capable hands include a feral
male who lived wild for over a year and
was bringing down deer! He now lives in
Washington State and works as a “greeter”
in his family’s flower shop. Another foster
dogs arrived as a poultry killer and now
lives in California with a lady who works
with hearing challenged children. This
amazing dog is now quite proficient with
sign language and is an inspiration to the
children her ‘mum’ works with.
Vicky and Leslie
Vicky and Leslie are from Edmonton and
Calgary and form the Alberta branch of
OCR (called OCR-A). Both have extensive experience in collie rescue. Vicky
is very knowledgeable about medical
issues, and offers invaluable advice in
this regard. Leslie has adopted one of the
Yolo collies from California.
So you can see we have an amazing group
of people working together to help collies
in need. Every one of them is very dedicated to what OCR does for “castaway”
collies, and the expertise each brings to
the table makes everyone’s job so much
easier. There are so many more people
who are also a very valued part of this
organization: some who help with transports, others who provide foster homes,
veterinarians who provide expert services
at reduced rates, trainers who provide
advice, and the list goes on. OCR depends
on the support of these many generous
individuals. To each an every one of them,
we say a heartfelt “thank you”! •
“California Collies” continued from front page.
made as to the fate of the collies. Happily for us and the dogs, on December 5, 2005,
we were contacted by Cathy and informed that Mr. Wilson had pled “no contest” to
the felony and misdemeanour animal cruelty charges, and had agreed to a court order
stating that the collies would not be returned to him. We were all elated with this
good news! The Road Home K9 Rescue proceeded with the task of dispersing the
collies, many of which were placed with local families in the Sacramento area, while
others went to various rescue groups including OCR.
OCR took in a total of 9 “Yolos”, a name we coined to refer to these special
collies. On three separate occasions, members of OCR drove a van to Oregon to
meet volunteers from Sacramento who had driven halfway to meet us. There we
exchanged our precious cargo and drove back home to Vancouver with our Yolos
who would now become Canucks! These transports took place in December 2005,
February 2006 and March 2006. By the time we crossed the border the third time,
the customs officer asked the usual questions, reviewed our papers and said, “Oh yes,
OCR, we know about you, go ahead”!
All of the Yolos brought to BC were placed in foster care prior to permanent
placement. As per usual OCR policy, it was important for us to first fully assess each
collie. This included a medical check-up, spaying or neutering, and assessment of
behavioural issues. We also wanted to ensure these collies were properly socialized
before placing them in their forever homes, meaning that some of these Yolos would
require lengthy fostering of six to nine months.
OCR followed its usual policy and completed home and reference checks prior
to any adoption. Due to the background of these collies, the scrutiny of homes and
adopters was more stringent than usual. We wanted to do all we could to ensure these
collies were placed once and for all in a loving and caring “forever” homes. In addition,
we searched for homes with individuals who understood the dogs’ history, who were
compassionate, and who had the skills required to deal with these very special collies.
All nine of the Yolos were placed in loving homes around BC, including the
Okanagan, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, and in Alberta. Sadly, one of
these dogs passed away just a few weeks ago. We are consoled by the fact that he
enjoyed a loving, happy home environment during the last months of his life. Our
condolences go out to his foster and adoptive families.
The remaining eight dogs are now receiving the loving care they truly deserve.
After a difficult start in life, then many months in limbo while the courts decided
their fates, these dogs made the long journey to new lives and a fresh start. We
know if they could talk, they’d tell us “thanks” but instead, they thank us with their
wagging tails and happy smiles. •
Right: Two of the rescued “Yolo” collies en route
to Canada. Sadly, Micah (left) passed away a few
months later but his travelling companion Shane
(right) is now living with his new family in Banff.
Collie Connections
PAGE 3
Fall/Winter 2006
COLLIE SPOTLIGHT: ANTON
OCR was contacted about this sweet collie by the name of Anton when
his owners had to leave Canada and return to their homeland in search
of treatment for personal illness. Anton is an affectionate three-year-old
who has been well cared for and much loved by his former owners. Anton,
however, suffers from a troubling problem. When he was about two years
old, he developed a lesion on his nose and seemed to suffer from nasal
congestion. His owners spent a large sum on veterinary care but Anton did
not seem to respond to the treatment. His problematic health condition
meant that his owner could not obtain travel documents that would enable
Anton to accompany his family to their home country. On the eve of departure, Anton’s owners contacted OCR to seek help in taking care of their
beloved baby and to find treatment and a home for him. Anton is now in
foster care of Veronica and Brock, a young couple who have a young collie of their own, and are caring Anton as if he was their own.
Because Anton did not respond to conventional drugs and treatment,
OCR decided to adopt the holistic approach and brought him to a homeopathic vet. Anton has since been diagnosed with an early stage of cutaneous
histiocytosis, a disease involving tumors that is usually found in young dogs,
and started homeopathic treatments. We foresee it will be a long and very
costly road to recovery for Anton but we are determined to bring him back to
good health and live a life that is free from the disease.
Anton represents an excellent
Above left, Anton’s problematic
example of the problems resulting
nasal condition. Directly above, a happier
from dogs originating in puppy
Anton celebrates his birthday.
mills and sold through pet stores
across the continent. In the production of such puppies, no consideration
is given to the genetic health of the parents and whether the offspring will
develop illnesses as a result. The puppies are simply a commodity to be
sold at a profit, and the parents are basically breeding machines that are
disposed of once their productive years come to an end.
Originally purchased from a pet store OCR traced Anton to a puppy farm
in Missouri where puppies no doubt continue to be produced and shipped
to pet stores. Happily Anton will receive the treatment he needs to control
his disease but many such dogs are not so lucky, and many unwary owners
who are captivated by the cute antics of a pet store puppy end up making a
purchase that will have costly results, both financially and emotionally.
If you are thinking about bringing a dog into your family, consider adopting a
homeless dog from a shelter or rescue group. You’ll be giving a wonderful dog
a new lease on life. If you decide to purchase a puppy, do the research to find a
reputable breeder. For more information on the problem of puppy mills, brokers
and pet stores, visit the No Puppy Mills website at www.nopuppymillscanada.ca.
Collie Connections
PAGE 4
“Tails” from
the West Coast
One of OCR’s members is not only a
collie lover, she writes for her local
newspaper in Bamfield BC. Written
from the dog’s-eye-view, these humorous and charming articles demonstrate
not only a collie’s view of the world,
but also just what collies are capable
of. Here is a selection of these articles
written by Blaze and Charm, with a
little help from Mom.
Summer Reading for Dogs
Y
ay! I finally get a chance to
write about the cool things
I’ve been doing this summer
(it seems that my sister Charm gets
to do all the writing). And what have
I done that’s so cool, you ask? I’ve
been going to school! Not dog school
– REAL school, people school! I’ve
been going to the summer reading club
and I help the children there learn to
enjoy reading books.
Even though I participate in some
dog sports, I’m really quite a laid back
guy – no, not lazy – laid back, and most
importantly: I love kids. Kids do the
coolest things and I just want to be
a part of it, or at least to watch what
they are doing. I’m also a very gentle
collie, never getting upset with anything. Mom trains me in basic good
manners and last summer I earned my
Canine Good Neighbour certificate
from the Canadian Kennel Club, for
being a well-behaved canine citizen.
In my CGN test I had to be calm and
Cont’d on next page.
Blaze shows off his reading
skills at Summer Reading Camp.
Fall/Winter 2006
“Reading” continued from page 4
polite when meeting strangers (people)
and other dogs, I had to respond to
basic commands, I had to be calm
around distractions especially things
like people on crutches, walkers and
wheelchairs, I had to demonstrate that
I politely accept handling, that I could
wait quietly and patiently while mom
is away from me for several minutes,
that I could calmly accept handling and
other things like that. Besides being a
set of things every dog should be able
to do, the CGN is the first step toward
being a registered therapy dog.
Mom reads a lot at home and
when she does I sit quietly beside her.
And because I like kids so much, mom
thought we’d try out the summer reading
club. I love stories but as you know, dogs
can’t actually READ so the children at
the reading club help me out by reading
to me. Mom trains me to look at the
book and pay attention to the child who
is reading. The idea is that children may
be less inhibited about reading to a dog
than a human (dogs never correct the
child’s reading skills), and thus they do
more of it, enjoy it more and build their
confidence as readers. Canine-assisted
reading programs are just starting to
appear all over Canada and the US.
I have a little confession to make
here as well. Besides just being able to
hang out with kids, another reason I like
reading club so much is that the kids give
me treats when they finish their book.
Kids are very generous with treats! When
they are finished I also show them how
smart I am and do a few of my “tricks”
for them. Did you know that I know my
left foot from my right foot? I guess that
makes me cool too! —Blaze
Sheep, Glorious Sheep
W
hooooeee! Was I ever good!
I was fast. I was very fast!
But they were a bit faster
and I couldn’t catch them… but I could
control them and make them go to mom.
Oh yeah – I forgot to explain: I was
learning to herd sheep last weekend at
a clinic in Cobble Hill. Boy do I love
this work! If mom got sheep (she says
this is NOT going to happen – dang!)
I’d be her main herding dog! Herding is
even more fun than being chased by my
brothers Blaze and Merlin at the beach!
I’d only met sheep once before,
briefly, when I passed my herding
instinct test. When I first went in the
ring I had to zip around like a wild thing
even though I’d already had two big
runs chasing my brothers (just collies,
not sheep) before we got to the place.
Once I calmed down a bit though I
could get to work. First I just ran round
and round in circles and the sheep stuck
like glue to mom’s legs as she tried to
walk. This was not herding. After a
while I realised that mom really wanted
me to just stay behind the sheep and not
push them past her as she walked. The
shepherd (that would be mom) walks in
the direction she wants to sheep to go in,
to show them, and the dog pushes gently
from behind. I tended to push a bit too
hard and they passed her, then I had to
circle around and push them behind her
and we started all over, going forwards
again. Unlike the other training I do,
mom doesn’t tell me much about what
to do in herding so I have to figure out
stuff for myself. My natural herding
instinct helps me though, as collies have
been doing this for many generations.
Cont’d on next page.
Charm demonstrates her herding skills (below).
Collie Connections
PAGE 5
Fall/Winter 2006
COLLIE SPOTLIGHT: PJ
PJ was found as a stray by the
Delta Humane Society. He
weighed only 46 lbs, his coat
was very matted, his ears dirty,
and his teeth and gums infected.
The poor old fellow also suffered
from severely wasted muscles.
OCR learned this was not the
first time he had ended up at the
shelter, but this time his owner
decided to leave him there. Little
or no information was given by
the owner who thought PJ was
15 (veterinary records revealed
he is actually 12 ½). PJ was
intact male and had been kept
as an outside dog all his life.
Although he was under
weight and had diarrhoea, the
geriatric blood panel showed
his kidneys to be good. Due
to PJ’s poor condition and advanced age, the Delta Humane
Society turned PJ over to OCR
for palliative care. Our faithful
foster volunteers, Karen and
Dave, without hesitation agreed
to care for PJ until the end.
In the initial weeks, PJ was
not eating well, was restless,
and was clearly in pain due to
the infected teeth and gums.
He was taken to a veterinarian
for dental treatment and had
a number of teeth extracted
(he was neutered at the same
time). Since then, he has been a
much happier dog, and is being
pampered by Karen and Dave.
Although slow to gain weight,
PJ is doing very well and will
live out his final time on earth
as every collie should: with love,
caring and companionship.
COLLIE SPOTLIGHT: JOY
Joy is a three-year-old sable and white female that was surrendered to
OCR by her owners as the family was leaving the country and could not
take her along. Although she seems energetic and cheerful and healthy,
her nose lacks pigmentation, and is pink. When she came to OCR, she
was not spayed and a lump was found on her abdomen.
At the veterinary clinic, the lump on her abdomen was determined to
be simply a harmless fatty tumor. It was removed at the same time she
had her spaying surgery. A biopsy of her nose lesion was also taken and it
was determined that she has what is commonly known as Collie Nose (as
described in the article below), a problem aggravated by sun exposure and
which can lead to cancer if not treated. We understand from her former
owners that Joy was kept outdoors during the day and slept in the garage
at night. We also learned that the yard had little or no shade and was
exposed to sunlight all the time (just imagine how hot this poor girl was).
Through treatment, the lesion on Joy’s nose has improved. The veterinarian has recommended that for the rest of her life, Joy be kept out of the
sun when it is strongest between 10 am to 4 pm in the summer months to
ensure the problem does not recur.
OCR is fortunate that Natasha
and Ric, a wonderful and animal
loving couple, came forward to
provide foster care for Joy. Despite
Joy’s curiosity towards cats (which
our feline friends tend to interpret
as unfriendliness), Natasha and
Ric’s two cats undertook the challenge and have been training Joy
to speak “cat” so she knows how
to behave around them. Joy has
been enjoying walks and cruises
with her foster family and we
understand that Natasha and Ric
have decided to adopt Joy and
make her a permanent member
of their family.
What is Collie Nose?
Collie Nose (nasal dermatosis) is a condition in which breeds with little or no
pigment on their face develop lesions, usually on the nose, eyelids and lips.
The lesions are caused by a hypersensitivity to sunlight. Despite the term “Collie Nose, breeds other than collies can also be affected, especially Shetland
Sheepdogs. Collie Nose has an inherited component and is worse in areas
with sunny climates.
Usually the lesions appear as pink, raw areas about the nose and occasionally on the eyelids. The hypersensitive areas may actually ulcerate and
develop a crusty, scab-like covering. The condition may vary from mild irritation to severe ulcerating lesions that hemorrhage. Left untreated, severe
discomfort can result. As the nasal tissues become deeply irritated, they
may crack, bleed and impair breathing. All cases should begin treatment
in the early stages. Advanced stages may develop into a form of cancer
which can be deadly.
Keeping the dog out of the sun and treating the ulcerated area with a
steroid preparation will certainly help. Once the nose is healed, it can be
blackened with tattoo ink to protect it from sunlight.
Collie Connections
PAGE 6
“Sheep” cont’d from page 5
The hardest part for me is selfcontrol but I’m making progress. I
have to use self-control to slow down
and stay back some distance so the
sheep don’t get overly excited and
panic. I have to use self-control to
just stay behind the sheep and not run
around the sides of the flock too far. I
don’t actually have to be everywhere to
control the flock. They can still see me
when I’m behind them because their
eyes are placed on the sides of their
heads and they have way better peripheral vision than dogs and people. It’s
an adaptation that prey animals have so
they can see predators sneaking up everywhere. I also have to use a lot of selfcontrol to obey mom’s commands, like
“lie down” (which makes me release
pressure on the sheep) and “that’ll do”
which means the job is done and we’re
going to walk away and leave all those
sheep by themselves. Nooooo… mom,
I don’t want to stop. I want more woollies! Mom’s training motto is “always
quit when the dog wants more” and
she got that right, I DO want more! So
now I have to work on mom about that
“we’re not getting sheep” thing.
There was a border collie at the
clinic that belonged to the trainer and
who helped some of the dogs that
weren’t as keen or as good as me. But
I didn’t need any help. When I was
working, the border collie went off and
tried to herd a cat! She stalked right
up to inches from the cat then gave it
the ol’ “border collie eye” (powerful
enough to control a large herd of sheep)
but the cat couldn’t care less. Well,
duh—it’s a cat!
By the end of the clinic I was
slowing down enough to just trot behind
the sheep, and we could even gather the
sheep when we made turns. When the
occasional one broke away I was able
to collect it and put it back with the
flock. At the end I was hot, my tongue
was hanging out, I was dusty, my legs
felt like rubber, my brain was bursting
with new learning… and I was
HAPPY!—Charm
Fall/Winter 2006
Games Collies Play
I
sure do love to play! My favourite
game is Tag – You’re It. I just love
it when other dogs chase me. I’m
soooooo fast and agile… I can always
stay ahead. Blaze cheats, though, when
we play because he cuts corners to get
closer. But I’ve got him figured out and
run some place that he is too big to get
into. In my house, I run behind the piano
where only I can fit. Or sometimes I
jump on the bed so I’m higher than him
and can jump on top of him then. When
we’re at the beach I run up between the
logs at the top of the beach. Blaze isn’t
quite nimble enough to run fast between
and through the logs so he stops. Even
Merlin sometimes stops being a calm
dog always at mom’s side and plays
tag too. But he CAN catch me and then
he does some fancy footwork, jumping
and leaping up. He rears up with both
front paws high up in the air and looks
quite spectacular – “Heigh-ho Silver,
away”! When Merlin catches me we
then switch from tag to wrestling. We
make lots of noises that might sound
nasty and you see ears folded back, lips
curled back and even hear some air snapping, but its all play. Dogs put their ears
and lips back when playing so nothing
gets hurt accidentally. Dog play is the
great equalizer in that the usual rules of
the dominance hierarchy do not apply.
Dogs that are subordinate are allowed
to do things, like wrestle, with dominant
dogs that would normally not be permitted. When we play with mom, she lets
us jump up and wrestle her, which she
would not normally allow. Wrestling
with mom is Merlin’s favourite game.
Blaze showed me one of his games.
It’s called “What makes mommy run?”
For this game, Blaze grabs something
of mom’s, shows her that he has it then
quickly runs away. Mom is supposed to
run after him with it. I liked this game
and tried it. At first mom fell for it and
tried to catch me but of course I’m too
quick. I could go around and around the
couch or the kitchen island and never
get caught. What a blast! Mom changed
the rules though and instead of chasing
me, she goes right for the cookie jar and
offers me a treat. I always get suckered
by that move and give up the “prize”. I
have successfully worked this game on
Blaze and Merlin though. I usually have
to get a dog toy or chewie and show it
to them to make them chase me. This
quickly turns into my favourite game,
tag again and away we go.
Blaze also showed me how to play
games with mom’s mind. The point
of these games is to get a treat. Blaze
learned this from when mom was teaching him to bark only once when someone
goes by the house (rather than barking
a whole lot). Blaze learned that if he
only barked once (or maybe twice if he
sneaked the second one in quickly) then
mom would say “enough” and if he was
quiet and came running, he would get a
treat. He also found that he could even
repeat this a couple of times for more
treats but finally mom would get him
to do something else, like lie down. For
those times when there was no one going
by outside, Blaze invented the Invisible
Intruder game. I can always tell when he’s
going to start this because he looks a little
Blaze pursues Charm on the beach in their
favorite game of Tag—You’re It!
bored. He goes to the window and barks
loudly once then turns his head to see if
mom has noticed. If she hasn’t, then a bit
more barking is in order. It’s important to
actually look out the window when doing
this to convince mom that there is really
something out there, otherwise it would
look like you were faking it. If mom
doesn’t say “enough” then Merlin and I
help out by chiming in too. Merlin has
no idea what Blaze is barking about but
heck, we’re a pack! When we all bark
mom says “enough” very quickly and
we come running for our treats. By that
time, though, she usually knows there is
no intruder and that we are going to try
for round number two, so she makes us
sit and wait. We have found though that
if we let a little time pass we can play
another Invisible Intruder game and get
another treat.
One more game I want to try sometime is one Blaze’s collie friend Skye
told him about. Skye invented Parade
and teaches it to all the rescue collies
that come through her house. Each dog
has to hold a stuffed toy in their mouth,
and with Skye in front they walk in a
line, up and down, around and around,
on parade. Its not an energetic game, but
very showy! And humans just love it!
Who says dogs have dull lives?
Knowing all these games, certainly not
us!—Charm •
AND THEN THERE WAS LASSIE...
“The dog that may have done the most to shape the popular conception of dogs and their
intelligence was a character born in a short story written by Eric Knight in 1938. The story
was later expanded into a best-selling book, and, in 1943, it was translated into a heartwarming tearjerker of a film called Lassie Come Home. Lassie, the world’s best-known collie,
was not only affectionate and courageous but clearly nearly human in her intelligence.”
(From The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, 1994).
The movie Lassie has been remade and we are all hoping that there is not a sudden surge
of homeless collies, as there was with dalmations after 101 Dalmations was released, resulting
from people wanting a “Lassie” of their own without realizing the full responsibilities involved.
Collie Connections
PAGE 7
Fall/Winter 2006
MDR1 Gene Testing
Why It’s So Important for Collie Owners
I
t has long been known that some
ness of the breeds. Like humans, every
collies are sensitive to Ivermectin
collie individual has two copies of each
and related drugs. Ivermectin is
gene, one from each parent. So when
commonly used in dogs as a heartworm
the status of the gene (MDR1 status) is
preventative, as well as (at higher conreported, the form of each copy is noted.
centrations) a treatment for mange. But
Thus you get collies that are Normal/
more recently, it has been revealed that
Normal, Mutant/Normal and Mutant/
these sensitivities extend far beyond
Mutant. In theory, due to way this gene
Ivermectin and its relatives to encomis inherited, collies have a 75% chance
pass a growing number of drugs used
of having at least one copy of the
for a variety of therapies,
mutant gene (making
There is a
including
anti-cancer,
them Mutant/Normal
anti-diarrhoeal, cardiac,
or
Mutant/Mutant)
immunosuppressive, anti- “mutant” form of the and a 25% chance of
biotics, pain-killers and
having 2 copies of the
more. Please note that gene which makes a mutant gene (making
the drugs themselves are
them Mutant/Mutant).
not problematic—in fact, defective molecule that Mutant/Mutant collies
they are very effective
will
definitely
be
in their indicated usages does not work properly adversely affected by
with most breeds of dogs
the listed drugs. Mutant/
and thus allows the Normal collies “may”
as well as with some
collies. The problem
be adversely affected.
lies with the sensitivities drugs to build up in the Only “Normal/Normal
existing in many collies
collies will be unafand, to a lesser extent, brain and cause death. fected. Due (likely) to
in members of related
the long-term breeding
breeds, resulting from a mutation of the
history of collies, there are actually
MDR1 (Multiple Drug Resistance #1)
fewer Normal/Normal collies (20% of
gene. When a sensitive collie is given
the population in North America) and
the one of these drugs, death can result.
more Mutant/Mutant collies (33% of
Therefore it is VERY important for ALL
the population) than expected from
collie owners to know the MDR1 status
genetic inheritance probability.
of their dogs.
This research is being pioneered at
Here’s a background as to what is
the Washington State University (WSU)
going on: a molecule called P-glycoproVeterinary Clinical Pharmacology
tein that is found in the brain and other
Laboratory by Dr. Katrina Mealey, and
organs functions to transport certain
at the University of California Davis
drugs out of the brain and other organs
Veterinary Genetics Laboratory by Dr.
to prevent their build-up. The MDR1
Mark Neff. More extensive information
gene codes for this molecule and the
is available at the WSU website: www.
“Normal” form of the gene make a pervetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL.
The
fectly functioning molecule. But there
American Working Collie Association
is also a “Mutant” form of the gene
(AWCA) website also has additional
which makes a defective P-glycoproinformation and lists references to scitein molecule that does not work propentific papers: www.awca.net.
erly and thus allows the drugs to build
Now if all this seems alarming,
up in the brain and cause death through
there IS good news! Recently the
neurotoxicity. Collies have a very high
MDR1 gene was identified and a simple
incidence of the Mutant forms of the
test was developed so you can detergene. Breeds that are related to collies
mine your collie’s MDR1 status. The
have varying incidences of the gene,
test can be done at home, it is inexpenprobably corresponding to the relatedCont’d on next page.
Collie Connections
PAGE 8
Fall/Winter 2006
AFFECTED DRUGS
The list of drugs that should
be avoided if you have Mutant/Normal or Mutant/Mutant
collies is given on both the
WSU and AWCA websites. As
research continues, the list
of drugs involved grows, so
it is important to periodically
check the websites and update
your records. Now you might
think it best to just avoid all of
the listed drugs regardless of
your collie’s MDR1 status, but
remember that these are effective and safe drugs for Normal/
Normal dogs, and if you have
one of these lucky collies you
wouldn’t want to deny it the use
of a good therapy. Currently
the drugs to avoid using with
Mutant/Normal and Mutant/
Mutant dogs are listed below.
Antiparasitic agents:
Ivermectin, Milbemycin Oxime,
Selecamectin, Moxidectin,
Abamectin
Gastrointestinal agents:
Loperamide (Imodium AD,
some forms of Kaopectate &
Pepto Bismol)
Anti-cancer agents:
Doxorubicin, Vincristine,
Vinblastine, Vinca Alkaloids
Immunosuppressive
agents: Cyclosporin,
Cyclosporin A, Tacrolimus
Cardiac agents: Digoxin,
Quinidine
Antibiotics: Erythromycin,
Grepafloxacin
Steroids: Dexamethasonem
Hydrocortisone
Tranquilizers: Acepromazine
Pain control: Butorphanol
Doramectin
And possibly also:
Domperidone, Etoposide,
Mitoxantrone, Morphine,
Ondansetron, Paclitaxel, Rifampicin
A very useful, extensive list of
North American trade and brand
names these drugs go under is
given at www.busteralert.org.
COLLIE SPOTLIGHT: ROMEO
Romeo was found as a stray by the Richmond SPCA. He was terribly thin,
weighed barely 42 lbs, malnourished, dehydrated, with a badly matted coat
and severe arthritis. His ears were caked with debris and smelled so horrible
we thought they were infected. As if that weren’t enough, the poor fellow also
had severe dermatitis—the skin on his abdomen was so dry and scaly that it
was painful to the touch. He was listed as 10-12 years old. SPCA’s vet found
him to be suffering from slight anemia and stress-induced lymphopenia.
Despite the cruelty that he had experienced, he bore no grudge towards
the humankind and greeted everyone he met as cheerful and friendly as if
they were his best friend. OCR foster volunteers Karen and Dave agreed
without hesitation to take Romeo, even if it would be palliative care.
Three weeks into foster care a very kind couple, Lee and William, who
had met Romeo at the Richmond SPCA, contacted OCR and expressed
interest in adopting Romeo. He joined them shortly after and was very well
cared for and loved by his adoptive family. However, due to his long-term
neglect, possibly abuse, and his medical problems, his health continued to
slide. When his adopters saw that he had little or no quality of life, his life
was gently brought to a peaceful end.
Although Romeo did not live long after coming to OCR, during that
short time he was loved, cared for
and most of all, happy. It is disturbing to think that dogs such as Romeo, who give so much and ask for
little more than love and basic care,
can be treated so miserably then
simply discarded at the end of their
lives. Thankfully Romeo ended his
days the way he should have lived
them all: knowing nothing but love
and kindness.
“MDR1” cont’d from page 8
sive, and can be done by anyone. Test
kits can be ordered from the WSU lab
($60 USD) through the Internet links
provided above for the WSU or AWCA
websites. It takes one-two weeks to get
the kit which consists of instructions
and two extra long sterile cotton swabs.
All you do is twiddle the swab between
your collie’s cheek and gum for about
30 seconds to collect epithelial (skin)
cells, put the swab back in the package
and mail it back to the lab. In about two
weeks they send you the results with
an explanation. The kits and analysis
are also now available in Canada ($75
CAD) from HealthGene in Ontario:
www.healthgene.com.
Not all vets know about this genetic
information or the testing so it is a good
idea to print off copies of your dog’s test
results for the vet as well as for yourself. The AWCA website also has a nice
summary of information for vets under
Technical Summary for Veterinarians
that can also be printed and given to
your vet along with a page listing the
drugs to avoid that you can personalize
with your collie’s MDR1 status.
The current list of drugs that should
be avoided if you have Mutant/Normal
or Mutant/Mutant collies is on the previous page. •
About OCR
People caring for collies in BC and beyond.
O
kanagan Collie Rescue (OCR) is
a registered, non-profit society
operating throughout British
Columbia and in Alberta. Because the
historical roots of the society are in
the Okanagan region of BC, the group
has retained “Okanagan” in the name.
OCR is dedicated to providing shelter
and care to purebred and mixed-breed
collies who have been abandoned or,
for some other reason, find themselves
without a home. We work closely with
animal shelters to assist the collies that
come through their doors.
Our goal is to match these ‘castaway’
collies with families who will provide
safe, loving and permanent homes. We
have successfully placed collies of all
ages — from young adults right through
to seniors requiring a safe haven for their
golden years. Prior to placement, rescued
collies spend time in private foster homes
throughout BC and Alberta. OCR also
Our goal is to match
these ‘castaway’ collies
with families who will
provide safe, loving and
permanent homes.
assists with transportation and placement
of collies from other areas of Canada and
the United States.
Families, couples and individuals who wish to adopt an OCR collie
Collie Connections
PAGE 9
are required to complete an adoption
form and home check visit. Our goal
is to ensure that every OCR collie fits
the lifestyle, needs, and expectations of
the adopting family—creating a loving
“forever home” for all our Collies.
All dogs that come into OCR care are
spayed or neutered, groomed, and receive
a veterinary check-up so that any health
problems are treated before placement.
Rescued collies often have specific
issues that have led to the loss of their
home. Although the collie breed is a wonderful, loving family dog, they do require
obedience training and time to develop
into their true potential. We encourage
all adopters to attend obedience or agility
classes with their new dog.
For more information, please visit
our website: www.collierescue.ca. •
Fall/Winter 2006
The Cost of Rescue
COLLIE SPOTLIGHT:
GOLDEN SKY AND ABBY
Each dog represents a financial commitment
E
ven with generous rates from
veterinarians, groomers, and
other professionals, and the
donation of time and resources by
committed individuals, each dog that
passes through OCR is a financial commitment. This commitment is covered
by donations from OCR supporters, by
adoptive families and, less often, by
owners surrendering their dogs.
Would You Like to Help?
OCR operates entirely by donation:
• In-kind Donations: We are constantly in need of dog food, treats,
toys, collars, leashes, crates, x-pens,
collie books and grooming supplies.
• Foster Homes: As a collie foster
parent, you would provide a stable,
loving temporary home for a rescued
collie until a permanent placement
is made.
• Financial assistance: OCR
is entirely volunteer-operated and
100% of the money donated goes to
assist the dogs by covering the cost of
such things as transportation, veterinary care, grooming, micro-chipping,
and food.
OCR welcomes your financial contribution! We are currently in the process of
applying for charitable status, but in the
meantime we are able to offer Canadian
Tax Deductible Donation receipts
through a partnership with Canine
Connections Society. Simply make
your cheque out to Canine Connection
Society and clearly write “For OCR” on
the memo line. Mail your cheque to :
Canine Connections Society
c/o Okanagan Collie Rescue
5620 Grant Street
Burnaby, BC V5B 2K3
THE NUMBERS
Since December 2005, OCR has directly assisted a total of 44 dogs:
• 34 collies
The average cost per dog:
• 10 dogs of other breeds
(shelties, border collies,
$250-$350
aussi shepherds)
Young, more-or-less healthy dog
• 9 had significant health
$550-$650
problems
Senior,
unaltered
adult with health
• 6 were seniors
issues,
palliative
care, special needs
• 9 were Yolo collies from
California
West November
Coast Christmas
Pet & Craft Fair
4 & 5, 2006 • 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Cloverdale Agriplex • 6050A - 176th Street, Surrey, BC
This is a fun event for the whole family,
including the dogs! Shop for pet products,
pet related crafts, and have your dog’s photo
taken with Santa. Many rescue groups will
be there, including OCR, and there will
be demonstrations throughout the day.
Come show your support for OCR and
get in the Christmas spirit by
paying us a visit.
Collie Connections
PAGE 10
Fall/Winter 2006
Golden Sky was on death
row, hours from euthanization
after being found as a stray in
Washington State. A kind
samaritan saved him and
contacted OCR to see if we
could help this beautiful boy.
Circumstances worked out
perfectly and he was placed in
a collie-experienced home in
Seattle where he gets to go to
work with his new “dad” who
happens to be a vet!
Abby turned up as a stray in
the dog pound in Abbotsford.
OCR contacted the pound
and was able to take Abby
into foster care. After assessing
her temperament and medical
condition (she had a lump on
her tummy that turned out to be
benign), she went to
live in Penticton with her new
adoptive family.