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| Name: |
Holly
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Age: |
Eleven years old
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| Gender: |
Female |
Breed: |
Sable & White Rough Collie |
| Home: |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
I
would like to introduce you to Holly the Collie. This picture was
taken in Spring, 2002 in the early morning mist, she was ten years old at
the time. Holly is a rescued collie who, along with her sister, was kept
in a small 8' x 8' pen outside and produced one litter after another,
until at the age of four years old she could produce no more. The people
put an ad in the paper to get rid of her (Holly and her sister were
never allowed in the house like the owners' prized toy poodles were) and
since I had several show Collies of my own and I trained and showed in
Obedience, I decided to go and look at her.
I was told by the owner that she had never been inside the house, to the
vet, in a car, to the groomers, that she didn't know how to walk on a
lead or anything that a "normal" dog could do. I walked over to her (of
course my heart was melting at this beautiful creature) and slipped a
lead around her neck and gently lead her around the yard. She looked at
me as if to say "Please take me home." Even though I really didn't think
she would be my next Obedience star, I knew she was coming home to me
and fellow Collies!
After getting all the information I could from the lady and loading
Holly into my vehicle away we went on her first trip to the vet. I fully
expected a hyper collie in the car, maybe some puking or whatever, but
what I got was a Collie - all ladylike - gently reclining and enjoying
the view. When we arrived at the Vet's, she was fabulous. She never
flinched when the Vet checked her over, trimmed her nails, drew blood
for testing and went over her with a fine toothed comb. My Vet was very
impressed - but that was only the beginning of Holly life with us. Next
stop was the groomer's (a dear friend of mine) and I prepared her by
saying that Holly had never been to a groomer and I had no idea how she
would react. Needless to say, she was perfect... so much so that my
groomer wished all her clients were that well behaved.
Holly met the crew at her new home one at a time and they welcomed her
with open paws. She was home! The look on her face was priceless and
brought tears to my eyes!! She ran free with her new sisters and
brothers on our several fenced in acres only stopping long enough to
turn around and look at me as if to say "am I allowed to play?" She
became my right hand. She has been all Mama... she disciplines any new
pups that have showed up over the years, she is the Den-Mom and Referee
and she is what a Collie is all about!
The only thing she hates is big birds flying overhead (although we have
no idea why), but that is a good thing. One day I was watching my
girlfriend's six-month-old Chinese Crested Powder Puff puppy, Lilly, and
while we were outside, Holly came charging up from the back of the
property full speed toward me and Lilly, barking all the way. I had no
idea what was what until I looked up and saw a hawk circling overhead
and looking at little white Lilly hopping over the ground next to me.
Holly was to the rescue ! I just mentioned to my husband the other day
that I will never be able to replace her when it is her time to go and I
know that it was a miracle that I read that advertisement in the paper
years ago to get rid of her. What a blessing she has been in our lives
and many other people and dogs too!
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