This month, the volunteer spotlight shines on Mary Reise. Mary and her husband, Jim, are both active in the dog world.  They raise and show Collies and Belgium sheepdogs and are active members  in the Mason Dixon Collie and Belgium Sheepdog Clubs. Dog lovers to the core, they also spend their free time doing rally, agility and herding with their dogs. Mary has been an all around volunteer - fostering rescue collies, providing transports in a pinch, helping with fundraising, performing home visits; she'll do anything she can to help!  We are truly grateful for the time and support she has given to Collie Rescue. Mary makes it possible for us to save so many wonderful collies (I wish we could multiply her by 10!).  We wouldn't be where we are today without her.  Thanks Mary!!

Lassie's life was not always so comfortable and carefree. Nine months ago, Lassie came to us in dire need of medical care, love, and a home. Weighing in at just 40 pounds, Lassie had multiple ailments, including ear and skin infections. We could not spay Lassie because she was so sick and so thin. Then came the biggest scare - Lassie was rushed to the vet for an emergency spay to cure pyometra, a terrible and dangerous uterine infection. Through all of this, Lassie's spirit never wavered; she seemed to take all of these hardships in stride. Lassie contains a sweetness and a wisdom that comes with the patience she has had to learn in her difficult life. Looking into Lassie's soulful eyes, you know that if this girl could talk, she would have an entire world of things to say.

It was Lassie's eyes that first caught the attention of her new family. Chris, Brad, and Colleen saw her beautiful, sweet face, looked into her amazing eyes, and knew that she was meant to be part of their family.  Lassie calmly and gently took to her new family - who also contained Layla and Bit, two rambunctous one-year-old shelties, and Bear, a gruff looking older dog with a heart of gold. Seeing Lassie now, settled into her new home, its like she's always been here.

In her own way, Lassie has carved out a very special place in this home - she's claimed the sunroom, knows just the look to give you when she'd like to go for a walk down the driveway, and is even learning to use the dog door and special ramp that Brad and Colleen built for her one weekend. And her health has greatly improved; Lassie has gained weight, gets plenty of rest, and has grown a beautiful coat where once there was almost no hair. She's always eager to greet you when  you get home, and has come to love and appreciate the good things in a dog's life: a scratch behind the ears, a belly rub, and especially a milk bone! The warm and loving home that Chris, Brad, Colleen, Layla, Bits, and Bear provide is all Lassie could ever ask for and all she'll ever need.