L&J

Oh absolutely, I have told the rescue I would keep in touch, and if anyone gets in touch via another forum (or this one) offering him a home, I will put them in touch with the rescue centre immediately. I was offered some very sound advice from a Collie trainer, who has worked and bred collies for 30 years, she admitted that it isnt always possible to train them out of their chase habits, especially if they have been wild for a while, living on eating the local wildlife, which we are fairly sure was the case.  We just couldnt keep him here, as it was affecting our other animals too much - the cats especially, and having had them for 8 years (also rescued), they have to come first.  I guess the final straw was having family staying and my step mother was walking him, he saw the chickens and made a launch, slamming her arm into the wall in the process, and nearly breaking her wrist - yes thats how much he wanted to eat the poultry!! After all the recent events we will stay with one dog for a while, just wouldnt ever want to go through the above again, and maybe in the future when we have more time we will do what we did with our first dog and rescue a puppy - because she was so tiny when we got her the cats were fine, and if she tried to chase them got a nasty scratch on the nose - meant when she was older she had total respect for the cats and other animals!  Taking on rescue animals can be so rewarding (I have 2 cats, another collie, and recently 2 young horses all rescued), so please dont be put off by my recent postings, but just ensure it is the right animal for you and that he/she will fit in to your home!  

Sorry I havent replied sooner but its been a little hectic here.  I finally managed to find a respectable refuge that would take Badger, the whole situation was causing so much stress at home, we have 18 other animals (many of them also rescued), and Badger was the only one that didnt get on with the others. Badger went to the refuge this morning - have been breaking my heart ever since, but they assure me they will find him a loving home with no cats, poultry etc. I tried so hard to rehome him personally, but alas it wasnt to be....... The house is very quiet now, but our other collie is a happy girl as she can now play outside again (she is currently curled up at my feet after her hectic day helping us clearing an overgrown field). I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who offered support and advice, it wasnt the outcome I wanted, but he seemed quite happy when I left him and means he can now find a home where he doesnt have to be kept on a lead etc. Thanks again.        

No No Rob Roy, please dont apologise! Im open to all suggestions.... He is still looking for a new home though. We have family staying next week, and Im dreading it - we have to be so careful as it is that doors are kept shut, cats dont come charging into rooms when you open a door, he doesnt sneak out and get the poultry and its stressful enough for us, without having to worry about other people making mistakes!! Oh well fingers crossed he will have a new home soon. Thanks again for all the replies.    

Thanks again.  The help and support from people has been  fantastic. I have posted his details on every site I know of - inc Anglofile Normandy and Brittany. Also posted him on the dogpages site back in the UK - from that a wonderful lady has contacted her friend in France who is the publisher of a French Newspaper and is offering to advertise him for me. Another lady who is an agility trainer and breeder of collies who now lives in France has also been in contact (she cant take him as has 3 bitches), but she is advertising him on a few French Border Collie sites for me. Wiccerways in the UK have also offered to help (dedicated BC rescue). Plus have had so many kind messages of support - Im just so grateful to everyone. If we could find him a temporary foster home (surely someone can squeeze in another boy, you would hardly notice), and doesnt have to be local as I am sure we can arrange to get him to a foster home somehow where ever that may be. I am happy to pay for his rabies injections, passport etc until he can go to the UK, and sounds like we have an ideal home waiting for him there - thanks to Panda.  Thanks again......    

Many thanks for both the replies. He actually sleeps a lot of the time so doesnt need a huge amount of exercise, all he actually needs is some love and a kind home. Our other collie is much younger (only a year old), and does need a lot of exercise, but then she runs freely around our grounds all day (or used to, cant let her out now as not fair on the latest addition), and was exhausted every evening. With regards to training my family have always had collies so I know the breed very well, I have also trained my other collie for months and months - attended training classes and moved onto agility.  She is a breeze to own now and doesnt try and chase any of the family animals, of course would run after a rabbit, but her recall is so good she will stop and come back. When we rehomed Badger it was always a risk, but he was so thin and sad that I needed to give him a chance, as to the training yes if I had hours to spend doing this then maybe I could make the situation better, but in the meantime my other animals suffer - especially the cats, who have to be kept shut away.  We have just embarked on a major 2 year renovation plan on our new house, where we are doing most of the work ourselves which means very long days of physical work, we have also rescued 2 young horses from the abbatatoir who also need careful handling and training, and I dont have enough hours in the day as it is.  Its probably my own fault Im in this situation as Im such a lover of animals and just cant see any animals come to harm. If I was retired and could spend time with him then I wouldnt hesitate in keeping him, he is a lovely dog in all ways, just not with poultry, cats etc (but fantastic with other dogs), but the house is to become our income, otherwise we wont be able to stay in France. My husband has had enough........all of the other animals get along fine with no problems at all and its just Badger that really isnt fitting in. I am just trying to do my best, but he cant stay here much longer. Many Thanks again for the replies - I just hope I can get a good outcome for Badger and soon!      

I have recently posted as I am desperate to find a new home for our recently rescued Border Collie. He is a wonderful boy, but is not fitting in with our household at all, and my husband is about to put him in the car and take him back to the rescue (where I am told they put dogs to sleep after a few weeks).  I am desperately trying to find another solution asap. He is very well mannered, he just cannot be homed with cats, and free range poultry, and he is causing so much stress to our family (of cats, chickens and ducks).  He is so sorry when he does something wrong, and obviously cannot help his chase instinct - at the end of the day he was born with it! He deserves so so much as is a loving and loyal boy (he is so well behaved with me), but I am at breaking point as the stress on our other animals, and the family is getting more noticeable every day. If anyone knows of a reputable rescue centre in the Normandy Area where I could take him, or a potential fosterer etc then please please get in touch, I just want him to have a chance in life. Many Thanks for reading this. As I write he is lying at my feet and I feel so dreadful, and I just long to find him his forever home, a place to call his own.          

Oh he is so gorgeous and looks like "butter wouldnt melt". I bought a harness for my collie who started pulling - she had learnt to walk beautifully on a lead at training classes, but all went to pot - think that she also spends far too much time off the lead, especially now in France - as she has 6 hectares to run around in. We invested in a harness, the type that goes on like a car harness, under the legs.  When she pulls, it lifts her slightly off the ground and she now walks like an angel on it.  Im not sure where you would get one in France as we bought ours from the big Pets at Home store back in the UK. Good luck with it and sometimes takes a while to find the best product.      

I am still looking for a home for this handsome collie, its getting increasing harder as my other Collie is a sensitive girl, and she is becoming very nervous, and scared as we are always having to tell the new addition "NO", "LEAVE" etc, especially when he sees the chickens etc and she thinks we are cross with her and really does not understand.  She is also having to spend hours inside, and previous had the run of the grounds, and just doesnt understand what she has done wrong, obviously she hasnt done anything wrong, but it wouldnt be fair to let one out without the other, and we cant walk Badger without a lead. I desperately need to find Badger a new home asap. As previously mentioned he was saved from "Death Row", and you will be giving a home to a well mannered and delightful boy, who will give you hours of love. I have been in touch with Phoenix Rescue, who have offered to help me plan a passport for him soon if we cannot find him a home in France, but this will obviously take some time. Please do get in touch if you can help find this gorgeous boy a new forever home. Many Thanks Once again we are in Dept 50, Basse-Normandie        

Couldnt agree more I also have tame chickens and ducks, but go to the supermarket to buy the dead versions!  We may have some for the pot one day, but those will be raised by my husband and will not roam free around the grounds (as I dont want contact with them). I wish I had the mentality to kill our own animals, but I just find the whole thing very hard to get my head around (maybe its because I was vegetarian for 15 years previously). Hope you find them a nice new home - preferably with a family of vegetarians [:)]    

I recently rescued a gorgeous Border Collie Dog, from a local refuge (one I am told that put down dogs within a few weeks if they dont find a home quickly).  He is pure BC, long haired, Black & White. It was always our intention to rescue another puppy as we have found this the most successful way to integrate new additions with our cats, other animals etc.  However on visiting the rescue I disgarded the pups, having spotting the most handsome male Border Collie.  Unfortunately the refuge had no history of him, so it was a risk.  At the end of the day I wanted to pay to take him out of the kennel environment as he looked so thin and unhappy (the other dogs were all very excited and he just sat and looked at me).  The refuge tell me they think he is about 7 years old, but he may well be younger and plays like a puppy. He is microchipped. He has blossomed into the most beautiful boy, is fully housetrained, has gone from growling if you go near his food bowl, to sitting and waiting for his food, plays with our young female border collie  for hours and hours (so no issues with other dogs at all), and when I get his lead he will stand on something high so I can reach his collar more easily - he is an absolute delight and pleasure to have around. So now for the "but".  We have 2 cats, free-range chickens and ducks and he is a real chaser, and for this reason cannot be left in a room with my cats, or be let out without a lead.  We are at the beginning of a major 2 year renovation project on our new house, and our new boy has to be contained in the house whilst I am working, which then means I cannot let my other collie out either (just wouldnt be fair).  I have trained my other collie for months, and she happily wanders our land, and has total respect for the other animals.  Unfortunately our new addition would prefer to eat them, and as such I am constantly checked doors, making sure the cats are not behind doors when I open them etc.  It is also not fair for a collie to be kept on a lead indefinitely. My husband would like me to take him back to the refuge asap, but I am not prepared to do that - he deserves life & love, and a home to call his own.  I have no regrets, and am just glad that I was able to offer him freedom, away from a kennel environment, or worse still death!  Im having sleepless nights over the whole situation and I am desperate to find him his forever home soon. I am not asking for anything for him just a loving home for the rest of his days.  Whoever offers him a forever home will not be disappointed, he is such a beautiful boy, and if I didnt have to spend 12-14 hour days working on our house I would keep him myself. If anyone can help please get in touch.  We are in Dept 50 - Manche (Normandy), near to both Mortain & St Hilaire. Many Thanks              

I recently rescued a gorgeous Border Collie Dog, from a local refuge (one I am told that put down dogs within a few weeks if they dont find a home quickly).  He is pure BC, long haired, Black & White. It was always our intention to rescue another puppy as we have found this the most successful way to integrate new additions with our cats, other animals etc.  However on visiting the rescue I disgarded the pups, having spotting the most handsome male Border Collie.  Unfortunately the refuge had no history of him, so it was a risk.  At the end of the day I wanted to pay to take him out of the kennel environment as he looked so thin and unhappy (the other dogs were all very excited and he just sat and looked at me).  The refuge tell me they think he is about 7 years old, but he may well be younger and plays like a puppy. He is microchipped. He has blossomed into the most beautiful boy, is fully housetrained, has gone from growling if you go near his food bowl, to sitting and waiting for his food, plays with our young female border collie  for hours and hours (so no issues with other dogs at all), and when I get his lead he will stand on something high so I can reach his collar more easily - he is an absolute delight and pleasure to have around. So now for the "but".  We have 2 cats, free-range chickens and ducks and he is a real chaser, and for this reason cannot be left in a room with my cats, or be let out without a lead.  We are at the beginning of a major 2 year renovation project on our new house, and our new boy has to be contained in the house whilst I am working, which then means I cannot let my other collie out either (just wouldnt be fair).  I have trained my other collie for months, and she happily wanders our land, and has total respect for the other animals.  Unfortunately our new addition would prefer to eat them, and as such I am constantly checked doors, making sure the cats are not behind doors when I open them etc.  It is also not fair for a collie to be kept on a lead indefinitely. My husband would like me to take him back to the refuge asap, but I am not prepared to do that - he deserves life & love, and a home to call his own.  I have no regrets, and am just glad that I was able to offer him freedom, away from a kennel environment, or worse still death!  Im having sleepless nights over the whole situation and I am desperate to find him his forever home soon. I am not asking for anything for him just a loving home for the rest of his days.  Whoever offers him a forever home will not be disappointed, he is such a beautiful boy, and if I didnt have to spend 12-14 hour days working on our house I would keep him myself. If anyone can help please get in touch.  We are in Dept 50 - Manche (Normandy), near to both Mortain & St Hilaire. Many Thanks   [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/LMW111/IMG_0320.jpg[/IMG]   [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/LMW111/IMG_0321.jpg[/IMG]                  

It sure is - we have a rescued Border Collie pup, now 7 months old, who we have had since she was 7 weeks old.  I have attended puppy training with her since she was fully vaccinated and she is a dream to own - they are so easy to train if you do it correctly and keep at it, and she absolutely adores her training, an untrained collie can be a different matter and I would suggest you definitely get some help soon. We are moving to France in the next 6 months and are hoping to find agility or obedience lessons available in France, if this type of thing exists? Liza (and Coral the Collie)