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Due to the unique nature of the Border Collie, many end up in shelters after new owners find that this remarkable creature is not your average pet. Although some BCs do exhibit medium-to-low activity levels, most do not and, as working dogs Border Collies need intellectual stimulation in addition to physical exertion. With a deeply bred herding instinct, a BC may not always be the best choice around children who refuse to be herded, and a bored BC may take up destructive behavior in the way of barking, chewing or digging. Some are even escape artists. This is why we carefully evaluate applicants before adopting these dogs. We want to place them into homes for life and this means making a good match between dog and adopter.
BCIN has seen first-hand that Border Collies do not do well in shelters. These highly intelligent and sensitive animals have been bred to do a job over which they have great control and, when caged inside a busy shelter, chaos and noise often cause them to become depressed and withdrawn. Alternately, they may become overly agitated, resulting in personality changes that find them snarling from going kennel crazy. Either of these behaviors make it highly unlikely they will find a suitable home from a shelter and, for this reason, many Border Collies are tagged for euthanasia.
We understand that life’s circumstances may not allow you to continue caring for your Border Collie. As people lose their homes from foreclosures and a poor economy, we are seeing more and more of these wonderful dogs showing up in shelters. In addition to life changes, Border Collies are often turned in to shelters due to a poor match between dog and lifestyle.
Before relinquishing your Border Collie, we strongly urge you, as responsible owners, to explore ways of keeping your Border Collie. For some ideas on how to do this, read Pet Orphans of Southern California's Pet Relinquishment page.
As an alternative to sending your dog to an animal shelter, please contact BC rescue groups for help! We will work with you to determine the best course for your dog. Depending on your situation, we may list your dog on our site as a courtesy listing, if you are able to keep the dog in your home as we search for adopters. We may suggest different training methods, if behavior seems to be the problem and you want to work with your dog.
If, ultimately, you do decide to relinquish your Border Collie, we will ask you to provide detailed information about your BC, including temperament and behaviors, physical needs and other requirements. The more we know about your dog, the better position we will be in to find a loving new home. Be advised, once your dog is relinquished to Border Collies In Need, however, the dog becomes ours to care for and cannot be returned. |
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