Collie Rescue Day

Last Saturday was my first meeting of Piedmont Collie Club. I am joining this club to connect with other Collie owners and breeders for fun and learning. They do lots of shows, rallies, herding and education.

The club met at Collie Rescue of the Carolinas in Winston Salem, NC for a grooming and bath day. Confused? No problem! Suffice it to say that we groomed rescued Collies on a perfectly gorgeous day.

Jean Smith, who runs the rescue, opened her house and yard to grooming tables. We brought lots of grooming tools. She also brought out her dog bath. Jean has cold AND hot water running to her hose outside. Very nice for bathing the dogs.



The most often asked question I got on Saturday was, "How many Collies do you have?"


I answered, "Three, one of each: blue, sable and white, and a tri."

There was a sable headed white puppy in rescue and one person said to me, "But you don't have a white."

My response, "My husband would keel over."

Her answer to that was, "With joy, right?"

Ah RIGHT.


Something new for me was learning the basics of grooming hocks. Hocks are just what you think, the area behind the leg. I cleaned ears and clipped a bunch of toenails.

There I am below grooming a Collie who had been clipped. That is a no-no. No worries though, he will be his pretty self soon. (Notice my very baggy clothes? More on that soon.)


The rescue also had two smooth Collies. Just as pretty as the rough (hairy) type if you ask me.


Jean's rescue members served up a hotdog lunch after the club meeting. I got to discuss more about living with and training Collies.


It was a really good day for a good cause. Collie Rescue is almost to 60 adoptions so far this year. Quite a record and tremendous good work on their part.

Now I just have to get my Collies groomed!

Job Titles For The Critters

I just happened to be browsing a blog the other day that listed all of the writers pets. I am sorry but I don't remember who it was. If is was you please let me know so I can attribute this idea to you.

Anyway, this blogger had four or five pets. In her sidebar she listed them in job titles like Web Master, Chief Photographer, and Social Coordinator. Cute, huh?

If you know me, you know I've never been above copying the best. I'll get them rounded up and take photos of all ten eventually. Then they can get their job titles.

Here is the first. Please meet my style consultant, Chi Chi Ponton. Named after a French girl I went to boarding school with, Chi Chi has lots of that "je ne sais quoi." She is gentle and sweet. Loves her Uncle Russell the Collie.



Chi Chi was born on the roof of one of the buildings LSH manages. As a kitten she survived five moves by her mom, including one down a tree from the roof. She also weathered thunderstorms and an earthquake! No wonder she is so laid back. I bottle-fed her for the last few weeks until she weaned. Her Collie uncles and aunt kept her clean. Now she is well adjusted and about to be one year old.

Next you will meet the social media coordinator and our zen master. Stayed tuned.

Collie Collection

GUESS YOU COULD say we have a collection of Collies. Is that how you discribe a collection of them? Like a gaggle of geese? A murder of crows?  We have one color of each except white. From left to right, meet Jessie, a female blue merle. In the middle there is Rusty our "Lassie," a male sable and white. There on the far right is Charger, our tri-color.

They are standing on a show dog pedestal in the dog park. I like to get them all up on it with the "place" or "up" command when we are there. Just for practise. They are not show dogs. They just spent the night at a Holiday Inn . . . hee hee.

Joining the party at The Polohouse this week.  See more delightful favorite pets at Alison's Favorites on the First!