If you are thinking of finding a new home for your Border Collie, allow me to share a story with you. This is a photo of Nicholas. He is the reason I began rescuing Border Collies.
I found Nick in the median of I-85 on my way to Auburn one day. There was this little puppy standing in the median in the middle of nowhere, so I stopped and picked him up. He was 10 weeks old, skinny and covered with ticks and fleas. The next day I took him to my vet's office to see if they could adopt him out because a Border Collie was the absolute last breed of dog I wanted. I was mostly a cat person.
Nicholas stayed at the vet several weeks and wasn't adopted so I said I'd keep him. I lived in an apartment at the time and it was work. We walked every morning, every evening and at night. I thought he'd stay babygated in the kitchen while I worked. Wrong. I finally bought a crate. I threw the ball up and down the apartment hall for hours. He drove me crazy because he was a Border Collie puppy. He ate LOTS of things he wasn't supposed to. I had to get out in the rain when he needed to go to the bathroom.
You know something though? I took obedience class with Nick. I gave him lots of love and exercise. The thought of giving him to someone else never, ever crossed my mind. Now Nicholas is 9 years old. He's a handsome guy who still likes to eat things he shouldn't, especially the mail! He's great with the other foster dogs even though it means he doesn't have as much of me. I love this dog very much and am so glad he came into my life.
Life is about challenges. If we meet them and deal with them we grow as a person. We teach young people who look up to us valuable lessons about perseverance, kindness and love.
Before you give up your dog think long and hard. You took on the responsibility of dog ownership willingly. It's not always easy, but life isn't always easy. Moving is no good reason to get rid of your dog. If your dog digs, it's bored. Exercise its mind and body. If your dog has bad manners, train it. Go to obedience class. You will be amazed at the bond you and your dog develop.
If you have a baby learn how to raise children with dogs. My family always had dogs growing up and nobody ever thought of getting rid of a pet because another kid was born, even when my youngest sibling was born 2 months premature in the early 1970's.
If your dog bites or is aggressive, please do not ask someone else to take it and find it a home. Find a local trainer who can help evaluate your dog and determine if it has problems that can't be remedied by training. The link below from another rescue groups tells why they do not place dogs that have bitten. http://www.ygrr.org/surrender/surrender-aggressive.html
I will be glad to help you place your dog if it is already spayed or neutered. However, it usually takes time to find appropriate homes for these dogs in the state of Alabama.
