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OES RESCUE BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The first Rescue that I did was in l986 when we were living in the Laurentians. My veterinarian who was in Montreal sent us a lady who could not handle her OES called Ben. I agreed to take Ben and find him a home. Little did I know that this was the beginning of an all-new aspect of Sheepdog involvement.
We did not have a suitable situation at that time to become more involved with Rescue,, but we could see the need for someone to help people who could not keep their dogs but did not want them to go just any where. Once we moved to Godmanchester with 10 acres of land and our boarding facility completed, we really became involved in helping people who could no longer keep their OES. This was in l995. From that time we have placed about 100 dogs. I say “about” as when I first started taking in OES, I had no idea how this would grow. However, we quickly learned that it is just as important to have contracts with the Rescues as it is with our own dogs as some were not suitable in their new homes and had to come back and some people who wanted to adopt were not suitable or didn™t have suitable living conditions.
The youngest dog we have placed was 11 weeks old when he came to us. He was a surprise Christmas gift to a woman from her boyfriend. She lived in an apartment in Valleyfield (nearest city close to us) where there was no place to walk the puppy and she worked crazy hours. Perky Pup came to us and took over our household. He eventually went to a home in Cornwall.
The oldest dogs we have placed were two females 10 years of age. When we took them, we figured that they would live out their lives with us as we do not euthanize dogs which aren™t placeable due to age. A wonderful, loving couple with 2 preteenage children came to visit. They had their choice of a younger dog or one of the old girls. A family conference was held and they decided to take the senior as they felt that younger dog would be easier to place and the Senior might never have a home. The other older girl went to a lady who lived by herself and she took her for the same reason.
Of the dogs taken in for care, only 3 have been euthanized due to being unsuitable for adoption. In all cases both of us were uncomfortable with each of the dogs. In one case, I was actually bitten and with another, my husband would not go into the kennel as long as the dog was there. That dog was a real Jekyll and Hyde.
Not all dogs have been suitable matches, but all adoptable dogs have been adopted into permanent homes except for Maggie. Maggie has been in her original home; second home where she behaved for a while but then started herding the chickens and herded several into the stew pot; third home where she lasted for 364 days exactly; and her fourth home where she lasted for almost 4 months. Maggie has the strongest herding instinct that I have ever encountered in an OES. She even tries to control the birds flying by. I guess she will be spending the rest of her life chez Trenholm where she has the freedom to run regularly, protected by fences, and not have to ride in a vehicle which makes her crazy.
All dogs are spayed/neutered before they are adopted except in the case of the really young whose new owners have to provide at a later date proof of neutering or spaying.
Rescue is very rewarding – unwanted dogs go to homes with people who want to help a dog in trouble. Rescue makes an OES affordable for people whose incomes wouldn™t allow the purchase of a puppy. We ask for a minimal donation to Rescue to help cover the cost of any veterinarian bills. Sometimes the work that is required is covered by the donation. Sometimes not. We are fortunate to have people who have adopted dogs and care enough to occasionally send donations to help with the work. We are extremely grateful for that support. The Club will advance funds to cover costs but these funds have to be repaid. With the donations for adoption and the donations from people who care, we have not had to ask the Club for money in the past several years.
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