#2336 – River This Collie has Special NeedsMust have a Fenced Yard
 

2-year-old smooth sable and white male









Update, January 8, 2008!

Hello again! I just want to update you on the progress I have made. Foster mom thinks I have progressed to the point that I wouldn’t need another dog in my household. That doesn’t mean that my eyesight has been miraculously restored, but as long as I can train you to walk me regularly, work with me, and I have a fenced yard, I would be happy to live in any loving home. There is something to be said for not having to share the attention that might be misguidedly given to another dog, after all! I am a handsome brute, if I do say so myself, and being a puppy, I am still full of puppy exuberance. But I am sure I can train you to be all that you can be as a loving family. In return, I will see to it that you stay fit and trim and shower you with love and affection. I’ll be expecting your call, and when it comes, I’ll have my people talk to your people.

Update, October 3, 2007!

Hi folks! My name is River and I can’t figure out why no one has adopted me yet! I am obviously sleek and handsome with a happy playful personality, so I guess it’s because I don’t see very well. That makes me sad, because even though I can’t see things too clearly, I can get around just great.

I decided that if people knew me a little better, they would all want to adopt me. That’s why I have put together a list of my best qualities and my not so great qualities. You be the judge.

    My Good Points
  • I am a handsome, smooth coated, purebred collie. Smooth coated means that I have short fur instead of those Lassie-like collies. It also means that you won’t have to spend hours and hours brushing me!
  • I’m house trained. When I need to make a call of nature, I ring a bell by the door and my well trained foster mom lets me outside.
  • I am young. Let’s face it, everyone likes young people. Being young means that I have lots of energy and can run and play all day long. If you are a jogger, I’ll bet you get tired before I do.
  • I’m healthy. Just because I can’t see real well, doesn’t mean I’m a sickly, needy dog. I’m as healthy as a horse and when you take me to the dog park, I will run and play with the other dogs until you call me. Then I will stop, listen and follow the sound of your voice. Pretty smart, huh?
  • I’m smart (see above).
  • I’m friendly and affectionate. I like everybody and I get along with everyone except those silly cats who just have NO sense of humor and don’t want to play with me. Sometimes I put my paw on one of them, just to keep him close to me.
  • I’ll love you forever. I’ll bet there aren’t too many people that can make that promise to you.
    My Not So Good Points
  • I can’t see real well. This is particularly true of things that are close to me, so if you are looking for a collie who will read to you, I guess I’m not your guy.
  • Sometimes I chew on things that I’m not supposed to. I would like to say that I do it because I can’t see well enough to tell what I’m chewing on, but the truth is I like to chew on anything that I can get my teeth into (particularly if it’s made of plastic). This means that you have to keep some things out of my reach. Don’t worry though, I know you will get the hang of it. Humans are very trainable.
  • Can’t think of anything else!
As you can see, the pros clearly outweigh the cons. I’ll be expecting your call.

River

New to Rescue!

River is looking for his very own seeing eye person. This adorable, nine month old, collie boy was born severely, visually impaired. His foster mom thinks he can see distant objects fairly well but has trouble seeing things that are close up. Because he was born with this impairment, River is well acclimated to his condition and gets around with the same exuberance and energy of any puppy. He loves to play and chew, play and chew, play and chew.

River is extremely smart and learns quickly. After just a short time at his foster home, he has learned his name and comes when called. He has also learned to ring the bell by the door when he wants to be let outside for play or potty. He doesn’t like to be crated, but when his foster mom has to leave him alone, she simply uses a baby gate to keep him in the kitchen. He is fine with that, but it is important to keep the “chewables” out of his reach.

River loves to play with other dogs, particularly young, energetic puppies like him. He doesn’t fully appreciate his own size and strength and can be quite an annoyance to older, more sedate dogs. River would probably do well with older children as long as they were respectful of his visual limitations, but young children would be at risk of being knocked down or trampled during his gleeful play sessions.

River is a delightful, happy, little puppy who is looking for a forever family who will work with him and give him lots of time and attention. He loves to go for walks and this helps to burn off some of that puppy energy. It would be wonderful if his forever home included another young dog that River could play with. He will also need a fenced yard to prevent him from accidentally wandering off and getting lost. This sweet guy is full of energy and fun and just needs a family who will help him grow and mature into the strong, loving boy that he wants to be.

River is being fostered in DeForest WI.