Jack on His Way
Margaret, Pam, and Nancy were really on to something in their posts under the previous entry, Jack, Sit.
Lauren has done a lot of reading up on border collies. She learned that their nature is to run free and work to earn their keep. Yes, they love to herd sheep. Border Collies want people to be firm and calm. They have to be more than pets. They don't want baby talk. This began to sink into us.
We also have a dear friend who is very intuitive, and we asked her about Jack's getting out of the fence. She said: "He wants another home. As much as you love Jack, and as much as he loves you and as grateful as he is for your saving him, he needs another home."
Our friend further suggested that we contact Border Collie Rescue of the Midwest. She said that for any other dog, she would have told us to call Melody, the wonderful trainer. She suggested Border Collie Rescue because they know border collies and what border collies need, and the people who apply there also know border collies.
At Melody's Dogstar Animal Sanctuary, everyone who walked in looking for a dog would want Jack. It is not an exaggeration when I tell you that EVERYBODY loves Jack! EVERYBODY wants him!
We even have a good friend, relegated to a cane, living in an apartment, who, after she saw Jack, said: "But why can't you keep him? If you don't keep him, I'll take him." This friend didn't understand Jack's needs as we didn't understand in the beginning.
Believe me, it was not easy for Lauren to email Midwest Border Collie Rescue. http://www.mwbcr.org/nextinline.htm But she did. As soon as she did, she knew she had done the right thing.
From that moment on, Jack stopped getting out of the yard! He stopped trying! We think Jack understood exactly what was going on. He was telling us: "I made my point. Now I can make it easy for you. I'll be patient and stay in the yard. I'll be okay with the long walks you take me on until the right people with the right place come for me."
It has been several weeks now since Jack made his peace with the fenced yard.
And yesterday Lauren received this email:
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:20 PM
Subject: Info on Jack
Looking through the dogs looking for homes, (as always) and saw Jack. I have a small farm with about 50 sheep 2 cows and lots of laying hens and am looking for a partner. Hoped to get a little more insight as to Jack's personality and activity levels. I do have a young Aussie but he is a buddy not a farm partner.
Any additional info would be appreciated. Oh, we live in IA so we are not that far away.
You can reach us @ ---
Thanks
M and N
Don't you know that Jack would just love to be a real working partner!
Will keep you posted as soon as we hear back.
Comments
What a wonderful thing that would be for Jack to live and work on a farm. I have a friend who went through a similar organization to place her hunting dogs (can't think of the breed). She couldn't accommodate their level of activity and they too kept escaping. It worked out well and she would even get occasional e-mails and photos showing how happy they looked!
Good luck with the decision. Love, Sally
Dear Gloria,
That sounds perfect!
much love Nancy
Lauren and Gloria, what a wonderful gift this has all been for both of you and for Jack. You may or may not get to see him again in this lifetime but I am sure that when you cross over to the beyond that Jack will come running up to give you a big kiss and thank you. Bless all three of you and the folks who have stepped up to play their part in this beautiful story.
As an aside, it is my understanding that the souls of all the various life forms on this planet can be blended into the more complex soul that is given to us humans. It seems obvious to me that dogs in particular are in training to move up in this way. I can picture some person born in future time whose character and personality and spiritual service will be greatly influenced by Jack and this opportunity you have given him.
A farm would be perfect! Bless you and Lauren for understanding that a working dog is not happy without a job. If you haven't done so, the next time you're at a fair that has dog trials (especially sheep herding), check it out. It's a sight to see these talented, intelligent and extremely hard-working dogs showing their stuff.