| A Very Special Rescue Spencer RN |
| PAL 202165 estimated age 4 yrs CEA affected/colobomas Big thanks to Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue for giving Spencer the chance for me to find and adopt him |
| Spencer is a rescue with quite a story. Spencer has spent nearly as much time in rescue as he has in a home. He first came to Jacksonville Sheltie rescue in Jan 2005. He was said to be about 1 &1/2 years old. His owners turned him into the Jacksonville Humane Society because he was too difficult to manage. He was adopted to a home in August 2005. However a year and a half later Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue recognized him in an online picture at the Camden County Humane Society in GA. His microchip later proved that he was indeed Spencer. He had been turned in as a stray and now had heart worms. Spencer came back to Jacksonville. He was treated for heart worms and was adopted again but returned six months later because the owner was bitten by Spencer when giving him a correction. Spencer went to the local Scottish Games in the Sheltie Rescue exhibit as an available dog and even though he played ball and tug with children no one wanted him. In July 2008 I visited Spencer in his foster home in Jacksonville. I remained in Jacksonville until Aug 2008. During my stay I spent a lot of time with Spencer and I was touched by his story. This was not a bad dog and this wasn't a dog that deserved to be a permanent foster. Spencer needed a home and love. However, being involved with show dogs I knew I didn't need another dog and after all Spencer is a rescue not a dog I can show in conformation events. However, when I returned home in Aug 2008 I just could not stop thinking about Spencer and even though Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue had Spencer on petfinder.com no one was interested in adopting him. In October 2008 on a return visit to Jacksonville I brought Spencer home with me. I wanted to give Spencer more than just a loving home, I wanted to prove that Spencer could do more than just be a good pet. I wanted to earn titles on Spencer in performance events Shortly after I brought Spencer home I had a CERF exam done after I became concerned over some behaviors he had. It turns out that Spencer has advanced CEA and colobomas. These (colobomas) little holes or blind spots in his optic nerves explain a lot of why Spencer may have been hard to train or have bitten people. Spencer has never bitten anyone since I got him and he has played ball with my young niece and nephew. We are careful to never surprise Spencer and to make people aware of his handicap when introducing him to new people. Someone in Spencer's past has corrected him so harshly he will shut down even over the mildest correction. This has caused me to have a few difficulties in training but this and his eye problems have not stopped Spencer from doing agility or obedience. Regardless of how far Spencer goes in performance he has already proved that he and others like him are good dogs who make wonderful companions and can go on to be successful performance dogs. He is also proof of how rescue saves lives. I can't thank Jacksonville Sheltie Rescue enough for saving Spencer's life. Spencer's long journey to his forever home has finally come to an end, he will spend the rest of his days as my house pet and friend. UPDATE Spencer earned his RN title at the 2009ASSA National Speciality in Perry GA Spencer was also in the Parade of Performance Rescues. |
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