To begin with, I found "Dusty" on an Illinois Collie Rescue site back around Christmas time in 2000. I was looking for a collie that would keep my mom Joan company during the day while my dad was at work.
There were so many to choose from. The age had to be around 2 or 3, a male preferably and housebroken were the only requirements my parents had expressed. Well after searching all afternoon, I came across "Dusty". We all just fell in love with his photos, read his bio and Mom and Dad decided to go ahead and apply for the adoption...
Anyway, we had no idea this poor dog was so traumatized. OMG, this poor boy was scared of everything! We later learned he was afraid of thunderstorms because he was never allowed inside his first "home" in Colorado. That's where he came from. The owner was a man and hated Dusty and animals in general, I think. He was mean! Supposedly he hit Dusty in the back of the head with an iron. He used a pair of scissors and cut part of his ear off. I could go on and on. The abuse was just terrible. We were not informed of this until after the paperwork, etc. was finished.
He was afraid of a hairbrush (Mom tried brushing him and he just fell flat on the floor and whined and cried, it was just awful to watch)...hairdryer, vacuum, you name it, poor Dusty was scared of it. I just wanted to cry for him and hug him. I couldn't even get that close to him the first day. He was so scared. He ran away anytime we took a small step towards him. It was so sad. He wouldn't let any of us touch him. He forgot his household manners and went downstairs to relieve himself. He didn't know how to ask to go outside. He seemed very guilty afterwards. He always went and hid under the dining room table. It took about a week for him to even come close to us.
Mom and Dad kept him for about three weeks. Then, Mom's friend Julie, who was a nurse and drew Mom's blood each week, was looking for a dog. Plus, she loved collies. She had one of her own and another dog. Dusty was welcome there. She knew how to deal with traumatized dogs like him. She had time and patience and was healthy. Mom was not. She couldn't deal with the cancer and try to help Dusty, although she tried so hard!
So, Dusty went to live with Julie and her husband and other two dogs. They changed his name to Cole. So, that's what we called him. We visited him a few times. Cole came so far from the scared dog we knew. He had two other dogs to show him the ropes and people who loved him no matter what he did. They did have to give him medication for the rest of his life for his nerves ~ but who really cares??? The abuse he endured for his first few years of life would be too much for anyone to handle. The medication seemed to help him. He got to live the life he so deserved! He got to go sailing. He got to go camping and stay in beautiful cabins in the woods. He went on trips with a loving family that included him in everything! That isn't to say he didn't have some difficulties along the way. He learned to overcome them, and Julie and her husband deserve so much more than our thanks. They truly saved an animal's life and helped us in the process. We felt guilty for a long time having to give him up. Mom just wasn't up to Dusty's issues ~ that was in no way HIS fault...
I'm so glad I found Dusty/Cole. Even though we couldn't keep him, Mom found the perfect family for him. He lived his life with love, respect and finally learned to trust. It makes me so angry and sad that there are people in this world who could even think of doing such awful things to animals.
The rescue group never did cash the check Mom gave them for Cole "Dusty". I think they were so relieved that he worked out. Mom waited for a couple of years before she voided that check. I think the rescue group was just so grateful to find him a loving home...
~~
**My sincerest thanks to Julie and her husband for their kindheartedness, love, ability and patience to help Cole achieve a happy life. Mom and I are forever grateful.**
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER PHOTOS OF COLE. THEY SHOW HOW HE GREW FROM A SCARED, SHY DOG INTO A LOVING AND HAPPY DOG.
There were so many to choose from. The age had to be around 2 or 3, a male preferably and housebroken were the only requirements my parents had expressed. Well after searching all afternoon, I came across "Dusty". We all just fell in love with his photos, read his bio and Mom and Dad decided to go ahead and apply for the adoption...
Anyway, we had no idea this poor dog was so traumatized. OMG, this poor boy was scared of everything! We later learned he was afraid of thunderstorms because he was never allowed inside his first "home" in Colorado. That's where he came from. The owner was a man and hated Dusty and animals in general, I think. He was mean! Supposedly he hit Dusty in the back of the head with an iron. He used a pair of scissors and cut part of his ear off. I could go on and on. The abuse was just terrible. We were not informed of this until after the paperwork, etc. was finished.
He was afraid of a hairbrush (Mom tried brushing him and he just fell flat on the floor and whined and cried, it was just awful to watch)...hairdryer, vacuum, you name it, poor Dusty was scared of it. I just wanted to cry for him and hug him. I couldn't even get that close to him the first day. He was so scared. He ran away anytime we took a small step towards him. It was so sad. He wouldn't let any of us touch him. He forgot his household manners and went downstairs to relieve himself. He didn't know how to ask to go outside. He seemed very guilty afterwards. He always went and hid under the dining room table. It took about a week for him to even come close to us.
Mom and Dad kept him for about three weeks. Then, Mom's friend Julie, who was a nurse and drew Mom's blood each week, was looking for a dog. Plus, she loved collies. She had one of her own and another dog. Dusty was welcome there. She knew how to deal with traumatized dogs like him. She had time and patience and was healthy. Mom was not. She couldn't deal with the cancer and try to help Dusty, although she tried so hard!
So, Dusty went to live with Julie and her husband and other two dogs. They changed his name to Cole. So, that's what we called him. We visited him a few times. Cole came so far from the scared dog we knew. He had two other dogs to show him the ropes and people who loved him no matter what he did. They did have to give him medication for the rest of his life for his nerves ~ but who really cares??? The abuse he endured for his first few years of life would be too much for anyone to handle. The medication seemed to help him. He got to live the life he so deserved! He got to go sailing. He got to go camping and stay in beautiful cabins in the woods. He went on trips with a loving family that included him in everything! That isn't to say he didn't have some difficulties along the way. He learned to overcome them, and Julie and her husband deserve so much more than our thanks. They truly saved an animal's life and helped us in the process. We felt guilty for a long time having to give him up. Mom just wasn't up to Dusty's issues ~ that was in no way HIS fault...
I'm so glad I found Dusty/Cole. Even though we couldn't keep him, Mom found the perfect family for him. He lived his life with love, respect and finally learned to trust. It makes me so angry and sad that there are people in this world who could even think of doing such awful things to animals.
The rescue group never did cash the check Mom gave them for Cole "Dusty". I think they were so relieved that he worked out. Mom waited for a couple of years before she voided that check. I think the rescue group was just so grateful to find him a loving home...
~~
**My sincerest thanks to Julie and her husband for their kindheartedness, love, ability and patience to help Cole achieve a happy life. Mom and I are forever grateful.**
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER PHOTOS OF COLE. THEY SHOW HOW HE GREW FROM A SCARED, SHY DOG INTO A LOVING AND HAPPY DOG.
To begin with, I found "Dusty" on an Illinois Collie Rescue site back around Christmas time in 2000. I was looking for a collie that would keep my mom Joan company during the day while my dad was at work.
There were so many to choose from. The age had to be around 2 or 3, a male preferably and housebroken were the only requirements my parents had expressed. Well after searching all afternoon, I came across "Dusty". We all just fell in love with his photos, read his bio and Mom and Dad decided to go ahead and apply for the adoption...
Anyway, we had no idea this poor dog was so traumatized. OMG, this poor boy was scared of everything! We later learned he was afraid of thunderstorms because he was never allowed inside his first "home" in Colorado. That's where he came from. The owner was a man and hated Dusty and animals in general, I think. He was mean! Supposedly he hit Dusty in the back of the head with an iron. He used a pair of scissors and cut part of his ear off. I could go on and on. The abuse was just terrible. We were not informed of this until after the paperwork, etc. was finished.
He was afraid of a hairbrush (Mom tried brushing him and he just fell flat on the floor and whined and cried, it was just awful to watch)...hairdryer, vacuum, you name it, poor Dusty was scared of it. I just wanted to cry for him and hug him. I couldn't even get that close to him the first day. He was so scared. He ran away anytime we took a small step towards him. It was so sad. He wouldn't let any of us touch him. He forgot his household manners and went downstairs to relieve himself. He didn't know how to ask to go outside. He seemed very guilty afterwards. He always went and hid under the dining room table. It took about a week for him to even come close to us.
Mom and Dad kept him for about three weeks. Then, Mom's friend Julie, who was a nurse and drew Mom's blood each week, was looking for a dog. Plus, she loved collies. She had one of her own and another dog. Dusty was welcome there. She knew how to deal with traumatized dogs like him. She had time and patience and was healthy. Mom was not. She couldn't deal with the cancer and try to help Dusty, although she tried so hard!
So, Dusty went to live with Julie and her husband and other two dogs. They changed his name to Cole. So, that's what we called him. We visited him a few times. Cole came so far from the scared dog we knew. He had two other dogs to show him the ropes and people who loved him no matter what he did. They did have to give him medication for the rest of his life for his nerves ~ but who really cares??? The abuse he endured for his first few years of life would be too much for anyone to handle. The medication seemed to help him. He got to live the life he so deserved! He got to go sailing. He got to go camping and stay in beautiful cabins in the woods. He went on trips with a loving family that included him in everything! That isn't to say he didn't have some difficulties along the way. He learned to overcome them, and Julie and her husband deserve so much more than our thanks. They truly saved an animal's life and helped us in the process. We felt guilty for a long time having to give him up. Mom just wasn't up to Dusty's issues ~ that was in no way HIS fault...
I'm so glad I found Dusty/Cole. Even though we couldn't keep him, Mom found the perfect family for him. He lived his life with love, respect and finally learned to trust. It makes me so angry and sad that there are people in this world who could even think of doing such awful things to animals.
The rescue group never did cash the check Mom gave them for Cole "Dusty". I think they were so relieved that he worked out. Mom waited for a couple of years before she voided that check. I think the rescue group was just so grateful to find him a loving home...
~~
**My sincerest thanks to Julie and her husband for their kindheartedness, love, ability and patience to help Cole achieve a happy life. Mom and I are forever grateful.**
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER PHOTOS OF COLE. THEY SHOW HOW HE GREW FROM A SCARED, SHY DOG INTO A LOVING AND HAPPY DOG.
There were so many to choose from. The age had to be around 2 or 3, a male preferably and housebroken were the only requirements my parents had expressed. Well after searching all afternoon, I came across "Dusty". We all just fell in love with his photos, read his bio and Mom and Dad decided to go ahead and apply for the adoption...
Anyway, we had no idea this poor dog was so traumatized. OMG, this poor boy was scared of everything! We later learned he was afraid of thunderstorms because he was never allowed inside his first "home" in Colorado. That's where he came from. The owner was a man and hated Dusty and animals in general, I think. He was mean! Supposedly he hit Dusty in the back of the head with an iron. He used a pair of scissors and cut part of his ear off. I could go on and on. The abuse was just terrible. We were not informed of this until after the paperwork, etc. was finished.
He was afraid of a hairbrush (Mom tried brushing him and he just fell flat on the floor and whined and cried, it was just awful to watch)...hairdryer, vacuum, you name it, poor Dusty was scared of it. I just wanted to cry for him and hug him. I couldn't even get that close to him the first day. He was so scared. He ran away anytime we took a small step towards him. It was so sad. He wouldn't let any of us touch him. He forgot his household manners and went downstairs to relieve himself. He didn't know how to ask to go outside. He seemed very guilty afterwards. He always went and hid under the dining room table. It took about a week for him to even come close to us.
Mom and Dad kept him for about three weeks. Then, Mom's friend Julie, who was a nurse and drew Mom's blood each week, was looking for a dog. Plus, she loved collies. She had one of her own and another dog. Dusty was welcome there. She knew how to deal with traumatized dogs like him. She had time and patience and was healthy. Mom was not. She couldn't deal with the cancer and try to help Dusty, although she tried so hard!
So, Dusty went to live with Julie and her husband and other two dogs. They changed his name to Cole. So, that's what we called him. We visited him a few times. Cole came so far from the scared dog we knew. He had two other dogs to show him the ropes and people who loved him no matter what he did. They did have to give him medication for the rest of his life for his nerves ~ but who really cares??? The abuse he endured for his first few years of life would be too much for anyone to handle. The medication seemed to help him. He got to live the life he so deserved! He got to go sailing. He got to go camping and stay in beautiful cabins in the woods. He went on trips with a loving family that included him in everything! That isn't to say he didn't have some difficulties along the way. He learned to overcome them, and Julie and her husband deserve so much more than our thanks. They truly saved an animal's life and helped us in the process. We felt guilty for a long time having to give him up. Mom just wasn't up to Dusty's issues ~ that was in no way HIS fault...
I'm so glad I found Dusty/Cole. Even though we couldn't keep him, Mom found the perfect family for him. He lived his life with love, respect and finally learned to trust. It makes me so angry and sad that there are people in this world who could even think of doing such awful things to animals.
The rescue group never did cash the check Mom gave them for Cole "Dusty". I think they were so relieved that he worked out. Mom waited for a couple of years before she voided that check. I think the rescue group was just so grateful to find him a loving home...
~~
**My sincerest thanks to Julie and her husband for their kindheartedness, love, ability and patience to help Cole achieve a happy life. Mom and I are forever grateful.**
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER PHOTOS OF COLE. THEY SHOW HOW HE GREW FROM A SCARED, SHY DOG INTO A LOVING AND HAPPY DOG.
