All Border Collie Rescue

I am delighted to recommend All Border Collie Rescue as a great resource for Border Collie Rescue. The people in this organization work hard to make sure the dogs are well cared for while in their foster homes and that the potential adoptive families are screened and matched with their dogs so that both the dogs and the people are happy with their matches. Although I am unable to adopt a dog, I have donated money several times to help pay for necessary surgeries or other needs of the dogs. It is an excellent organization that uses their resources wisely and puts the dogs first! I am glad to recommend and support ABCR!

We wanted a rescue dog and found this great rescue group. They are very professional and their main concern are the safety and care of the dogs. They are very thorough in their background checks of potential families to make sure every family and dog is a perfect match. Plus, they are always available if have any questions or concerns. We love this group and highly recommend them to anyone looking to add to their family. Our beautiful Trevor fits perfectly with our family.

I can't say enough great things about ABCR! Every member of this organization that I have worked with is hands-on and passionate about matching great dogs with great people. Whether you're looking to adopt or foster, you won't find a better rescue group filled with people whose true calling is saving the world one Border Collie at a time.

This group are fantastic- they work tirelessly to promote rescue. Dog evaluation is spot on matching dogs to their new owners.

ABCR is a great rescue! We chose ABCR to adopt from and volunteer for because of the passion they show for their pups, and the care they take in making sure every pup gets a great new home.

All Border Collie Rescue is great at what they do. The network of people that work together to save the dogs if amazing.

ABCR cares about the animals, they rescue the dogs, train them if needed, find them medical help if needed, and once the dog is stable and adjusted, they work to find the best match.

I have a 5 month old puppy from ABCR and she is a great addition to my furry family. When I had questions, ABCR people were responsive.

I love ABCR I have volunteered and worked with the organization. Loving people that loves there dogs!

We adopted a puppy from ABCR about six months ago. They took lots of time to get to know us, talk to us, ask questions, answer questions, and make sure they knew what we needed. It took a while to find the right dog for our family (we have cats and small children), and there were a few times they had potential candidates for us that they later decided were not the best fit. The waiting process was hard, especially when a possible match fell through, but it was absolutely worth it. In the end they found us not just what we thought we needed, but exactly what we actually needed. When I was growing up my family adopted a few dogs from the local shelter and we always wound up having serious issues a few weeks or months down the road because you just can't see what you're really getting in that environment. As an adult, I knew I wanted a rescue dog but I didn't trust myself to pick one out from a shelter. ABCR knows their dogs and places them carefully, and their adopters reap the benefits. I've also been thrilled with post-adoption support.

All Border Collie Rescue does an amazing job caring and finding homes for these exceptional dogs. They connected my family and I to our collie (Brady) and we have never been more happy.

We've had two border collies for many years. After losing one to cancer after 12 years, we were devastated. Our other border collie is 16 years old and was depressed also. Reaching out to ABCR was the best thing we could have done. This is a fantastic organization who is very knowledgeable of the breed and very passionate about what they do. They were able to match us up with the perfect fit for our family. We adopted "Leena" and couldn't be happier. She has adapted perfectly, and our 16 year old acts 2 again! I would highly recommend ABCR to anyone serious about adopting. A truly professional team.

We have adopted two beautiful border collies from ABCR. We cannot thank this organization enough for their help in finding the dogs that were the best fit for our family. We also received ongoing support from ABCR when we had questions. They are truly passionate about loving these dogs and finding forever homes for them.

The All Border Collie Rescue is the best! Over a course of a year and a few months I have adopted 3 border collies from this rescue.
The first border collie, Katie Lynn, I adopted was rescued by the All Border Collie Rescue after being injured in a tornado in Oklahoma. This dog was found… deaf, sores and injuries in her mouth and ears, along with a bullet in her abdomen. The All Border Collie Rescue made sure this border collie was in a safe environment and that her injuries were treated.
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We will ever know what her life would be like if Katie Lynn had not been rescued, cared for, and fostered by The All Border Collie Rescue. Katie has proven to me that yes life is tough but life is good – Katie has adjusted to life as if nothing had ever happened to her.

The second border collie I adopted is visually impaired. Sneaker has a progressive eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Sneaker is so happy playing ball with my other border collies. He and Millie Claire run and chase the ball together. Sneaker can see Millie and runs with her to locate the ball. After Millie finds the ball she stops so Sneaker can pick up the ball. If Sneaker does not see Millie, she picks up the ball and drops it in front of him. Either way, both dogs are having fun and Sneaker is so excited to bring the ball back to me for another throw. After a time of paying ball, Sneaker jumps in the water trough to cool off before playing again. Sneakers eye condition may very well progress to no vision at all but he has adjusted to life as if nothing was wrong with his vision.

My third adopted border collie is an absolute jewel. Hollie is a registered border collie that was surrendered to the All Border Collie Rescue because her family work scheduled changed. She was loved and adored by her family but was being boarded for long periods of time. After lots of thought, the family surrendered her to the All Border Collie Rescue. I found out about Hollie and made arrangements to adopt her.

The owners wanted the best for the dog they loved and raised and I wanted this border collie to ever be in a boarding facility ever again. Because Hollie’s family lives within ten minutes from my house I made special arrangements with them. Hollie visits her natural family when they are in town and lives with me the rest of the time. Hollie now has a blended family – two families that love and care for her. What a great ending to a rescue story.

If it were not for the All Border Collie Rescue I would not have these three great dogs.

When we lost a loving four-legged family member five years ago, we decided to look into adopting a border collie. I had always wanted a BC but I had no idea what I was getting into. Luckily we came across ABCR before we made a decision. Through their interview process, we learned a great deal about the breed, their temperament and what their activity requirements would be as members of our family. They also got to know our lifestyle so that we could be matched with just the right dog! Over the years we have been involved with this rescue to varying degrees, from financial contributions, helping with transports and temporary fostering, to attending events and assisting with home visits for applicants. At every level I have been impressed with their dedication to doing whatever is in the best interest of their rescued BCs! They have a very diverse group of volunteers owing to the fact that this group is open to assistance from anyone who comes from the right place in their heart. We have adopted three BC/BC mixes from ABCR over these five years and know that we will always look to them when the time is right for another. Life happens and sometimes we are unable to participate as volunteers as much as we would like, but we always come back to our family at All Border Collie Rescue!

Every pet (including border collies) we have had has been a rescue of some sort. After contacting another Border Collie rescue organization with very limited response and communication, we submitted the application to ABCR. Within a week we heard back and after a few more days, we were visited by a rep (Julia) and what we didn't know at the time would be our new family member. With the other rescue group, we felt we were being overly scrutinized and though we understand the need to place animals with the proper home, ultimately the goal is to get these pets homes and that's just what ABCR did. Our new pup is a perfect fit and though he needs some training, he's already made fast friends with our young son. We look forward to many years of having "Chompie" around to share our lives.

Last year while mourning the loss of my two Boston terriers, I applied to adopt a Border Collie from All Border Collie Rescue. I wanted a dog that would keep me mentally and physically active in retirement. It was suggested that I foster a Border Collie while I got to know the breed. What a wonderful, challenging adventure this has been! All of the volunteers have been so supportive sharing their advice and wisdom. Each of my foster dogs have taught me new things about dogs, Border Collies and training. The greatest reward is to see the foster dog ready to share the love of a carefully chosen new family!

Our first contact with All Border Collie Rescue (ABCR) came in late 2012 after our 13 year old succumbed to cancer. We had submitted an application to ABCR to adopt a deaf Border Collie that was in foster care. Being both retired from the health care profession, we felt we could handle the challenges of living with a dog that could not hear. Shortly after submitting the application we became aware of a Border Collie at the local Humane Society. What we found was a malnourished and scared one year old boy who was strangely quiet. Due to the number of animals in the shelter he was to be euthanized the following week. Not known to us at the time, ABCR was also trying to locate a foster home for this dog. Anyway, we were not going to see this boy put down so we adopted him and took him home. The following week during a vet visit we were advised that we had adopted a very sick dog that might not survive. We were devastated but determined to do what had to be done to see him healthy. The folks at ABCR were so supportive and helpful during his illness with prayers and encouragement. He pulled through and today we have an amazing and loving three year old boy.

This summer, after mourning our 16 year old who passed away after a four year battle with kidney failure, we wanted to give another rescued Border Collie a good home. Of course, we turned to ABCR because of our past history with them, even though they were a 22 hour drive away. We found a two year old female that had a wonderful personality. ABCR helped us through the adoption process and today we have another wonderful Border Collie in the family. I cannot say enough about the folks at All Border Collie Rescue. They really care about the dogs and do everything possible to insure a positive and loving home for them. They are so supportive and helpful during the adoption process as well as after. At All Border Collie Rescue it really is "All About the Dogs".

We looked for a border collie to complete our family after moving to Texas. We went to multiple events hosted by the ABCR and were impressed with passion and knowledge from both the organizers and volunteers. We found their adoption process both thorough and clear. After a well thought out and guided process we finally got the newest member of our family and we can't imagine life with out him. ABCR has a wonder, special combination of both passionate people and organization to direct that passion effectively. We still talk to the friends we've made there and hope to volunteer and perhaps foster a dog with them in the future.

Six years ago I discovered All Border Collie Rescue and wanted to help foster, only one dog at a time. I found the organization to be composed of great honest and ethical people, caring beyond caring, and my role as a foster mom expanded into fostering more than one dog at a time. My life has been enriched beyond words, and I found that I can truly be of service to the world by helping to save dogs that otherwise would not have a chance at life. This great and wonderful organization has been the beacon to my world of service.

A few years ago when I was searching websites for border collie adoptions, I came across ABCRescue. Their website listed local events, and when I saw one in my area, I went to check it out. The volunteers were very helpful about discussing the breed and their different dogs available for adoption and answering my questions. They even had several available dogs there to see and pet. At that point, I found out that there was a big need for foster volunteers, so I signed up. Later, Amy, one of the volunteers, came to visit me in my home and talk to me about fostering. A few weeks later, she brought "Rex" to my house. I'll never forget seeing him shaking in the crate in the back of her car. He looked so scared. He had just had hip surgery.
Rex was found by a woman and her young son on the side of the road in Louisiana. The woman rescued him, but knew she couldn't take care of him so she contacted ABCR who took him in. They took him to the vet, and the vet found a bullet in him... the poor boy had been shot! Then most likely hit by car breaking his hip. ABCRescue was able to get medical help for Rex and that's when we got him. Well, to make a long story short, it wasn't 24 hours until my husband and I knew we wanted to adopt Rex. He's a dog that loves to be loved. I'm not so sure he got that before he came to us. He even walks up to strangers at the dog park wanting them to pet him. We love Rex and feel he is one of the many success stories of rescued border collies with ABCR.

After losing our 10 year old BC mix to cancer a month before, my husband and I, adopted Alex from ABCR on August 11, 2011 after being in a great foster home with the rescue 6 months. What happened to Alex during the first 3 years of his life, before he was found as a stray by animal control and then rescued by ABCR, is unknown. It has been thought by many people, including dog trainers and animal behaviorists that, due to his extreme fear of people, overall anxiety, lack of socialization, and just how completely shut down he was, that Alex had been the victim of some horrible neglect-type situation, possibly a puppy-mill. His original biography on the ABCR website pulled at our hearts. Here are few excerpts:

“Meet Alex – he’s ‘one in a million.’ Because of that, he’s looking for that ‘one in a million’ forever home! … He must have been terribly mistreated by his former owner because he was afraid to even look a human being in the eye when he first came to foster care … He is extremely obedient and never gives any problem to people, dogs, or cats. But his self-image was shattered somewhere along the way in his 3 years of life … This precious boy needs a home where he will get a lot of patient, caring attention. More than any other we've seen, Alex deserves to know that unkind and cruel people are a part of his distant past. That ‘one in a million’ – you know who you are – won’t you adopt him and give him the forever love that he deserves?!”

We had to meet Alex. We wanted to adopt him. And we hoped that we could help him. After we had made our decision, we had wait about to two weeks to meet him! Alex’s foster mom was getting married that next week and then going on her honeymoon the following week. So we had time to think and rethink about it. And the more we thought about it, the more we wanted him. In the back of my head somewhere I know I was thinking that I could be that “one in a million” and Alex would magically just love me immediately and open up to me and everything would be fine. Intellectually, I knew that an overnight turn-around wasn't reality, but part of me, my heart, still hoped. In reality, I knew that it was possible Alex would always be “broken” and that I had to be OK with that. Emotionally, I just wanted him to love me because I was going to try so hard to help and love him.

When we went to meet Alex at his foster home, we saw exactly what had been described in his bio, and exactly what they had told us on the phone: he was so loved, but also still so scared, broken, and fearful of people and life in general. Before we left, and snapped a few sad pictures of him, his foster mom told me to take the weekend to think it over, and if we still wanted Alex, they would bring him to us the following week. Without hesitation, albeit with a lump in my throat and a slight stutter in my voice, I said I didn't need the weekend to think about it, I knew I wanted Alex right then. And then I casually smiled at my husband for approval.

Thankfully, he agreed and we drove home to prepare for our new life with our new dog. A dog who would not want to look at us, would not want to cuddle with us, would not want us to pet him, and would not even think of eating his meals or treats if we were in eyesight. What were we getting ourselves into? Who wanted a dog you couldn't even pet? We did, apparently.

It was so hard at first. Alex was so scared I just wanted to put my arms around him, hug him tight, and tell him it would be OK. That everything would be OK if he just trusted us. Of course doing anything like that went directly against all the advice we had received about giving him his space to avoid severe anxiety/panic attacks which he was on medication for. I think I made it about 3 days before I couldn't stand it anymore and sat down next to his bed, petted him, hugged him, and did, indeed, tell him that I loved him and that I hoped someday he would learn to trust me and maybe even love me too. I cried. He started his anxious panting and shaking and I backed off and didn't try that again for awhile.

I had fleeting second thoughts the first couple weeks. Thankfully they were just that, and the thoughts were never entertained for more than a few minutes, and never taken seriously. But they were there: Maybe we’d made a mistake. Maybe I couldn't help him. Maybe no one could help him. Maybe he was just too broken and the progress he’d made in foster care was as good as his life would get, and I’d have to be OK with a dog who (dramatic pause), hated me. OK, I knew he probably didn't hate me. But he was terrified of me, of both of us. And that was a very troubling thought. I couldn't reason with Alex and make him understand that we only wanted to help him.

That was three and a half years ago. That Alex doesn't live with us anymore. The Alex we share our home with today has minor anxiety issues and he's off his medication for it because, thankfully, he doesn't need it. :) The Alex we live with today lives to go to the dog park every day and fetch tennis balls till he can’t run anymore, now dropping them at our feet, instead of 20 yards away. He walks up to random people at the park and lets them pet him. He loves to hike 3-5 miles on weekend days, off leash, at our local nature preserve and herd us down the path. The Alex who was once terrified of humans can now spend several hours in a small backyard crammed with 20 people and 3 other dogs and have fun running around and playing during a potluck BBQ. Alex is now the center of our family. He loves to go places in the car. He eats his meals a couple yards away from me while I’m banging around in the kitchen making dinner with the TV blaring. The Alex I know follows our kitten around the house and wags his tail at her when she shows him attention. The Alex I know actually wags his tail at ME when he sees me or when I use the happy voice instead of hiding his face in terror. The Alex I know looks me in the eye by choice instead of hiding his entire head in a corner. The Alex I know today actively seeks me out, and would rather be laying next to me in my human bed or snuggled up against me on the sofa, than alone in his dog bed on the other side of the house (which was his self-appointed safe-space for months – he wouldn't leave it on his own, ever). He eats treats out of my hand and out of the hands of people he doesn't know very well. The old Alex is gone. The Alex I know today likes it when I pet him, doesn't mind when I hug him and shows me every day that he loves me too. He gives me kisses, paws at me for attention, and is even learning how to play with other dogs. Alex is my miracle. He has come a long way and still makes progress and surprises us with new things he is learning and doing on a weekly basis. Alex has taught me so many things, not the least of which is patience. I love him and wouldn't trade him for the world. Thanks, ABCR for our “one in a million” Border Collie.

As 2 of or our dogs were becoming seniors, my husband and I felt our younger dog needed a playmate and we looked on the All Border Collie Rescue website and were impressed by all the dogs and bios that were written about the dogs.
We sent an email and immediately received a response telling us about the dog and then proceeded to complete our application, followed by a phone screening and a home visit. One of the volunteers worked diligently with us to find the dog that would meet our needs. I attended an adoption event and asked if I could help out. The rest is history, I wouldn't have it any other way.
ABCR is a team, everyone works together to save lives. I was told when we first adopted that ABCR rescue never walks away after someone adopts, they will always be there for you. How impressing is that
Tina Lee

My first contact with All Border Collie Rescue was in 2012, when my Border Collie, Luke, went missing. I liked their Facebook page and reached out to them hoping someone might have found him and notified the rescue. While that was not the case, they were very sympathetic and followed up with me to ensure he had been found. A month or so later, I saw a FB post asking for fosters. I fostered a puppy for about 6 weeks before falling in love and adopting her. We have been fostering continuously for them ever since, and work events as volunteers.

The leaders of the group are passionate, knowledgeable people who truly want the best homes possible for all the homeless dogs out there. While the group's focus is on Border Collies and BC mixes, they often partner with other rescues and refer people to them. I'm very proud to be associated with this wonderful group of people.