A Newsletter from Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois

The Collie Nose

“The Lone Star Eight” Remind Us Of

What the Holiday Spirit is ALL About

Gail Diedrichsen

Collie lovers from around the world gasped with disbelief as they read and watched the news reports

relaying the story of 90 plus collies hoarded on private property in Texas. Many of us sent donations to

help Houston Collie Rescue, knowing a daunting task was at hand. To organize, bathe, feed, medicate

and whelp the puppies soon to come would mean they needed our help. In fact, the number of rescued

collies soon reached 150 once all the pregnant mothers gave birth.

These collies had lost all hope until the afternoon of August 29

, when a team of angels ap-

peared. Each and every one of these starved and dehydrated collies were plucked from their cages of

doom. That first small step from behind captive bars meant their world was about to change forever!

One can only imagine the horrific scene the investigators discovered as they walked into this

unfathomable “collie hell.” The air was thick with the sickening stench that burned the eyes and the

cries for help deafening.

These pathetic, innocent creatures were left suffering in outdoor runs in the blazing Houston

heat. Forced to live with their own excrement, not to mention the fleas, flies, ticks, mites and the

dreaded mosquitoes that feasted on their boney bodies, they suffered day after day. Many were infect-

ed with heartworms, as well as a vast array of parasites and mange. Vickey Willard, (not to be confused

with our Vicki Wilder), President of Houston Collie Rescue claimed, “Justice has been served and it's

about time! These

dogs have been

(Continued on page 13)

GIANT Holiday Edition, November 2014

In This Issue...

Texas Collies 1 Karla’s “Paschon” 5 Kids’ Corner 7

Volunteer Profile: the Olsons 8 Presidential Address 2 Collie Holiday Tips 2

Timmy’s In The Well 10 COLUMN: Grunts & Groans 7 Year in Review 12

Meet our Groomers 3 Picnic Recap 4

Throughout this newsletter, keep an eye out for clickable links to more

information! The text will be in color, and underlined for visibility! And

Click on our logo whenever you want to come back to page 1!

Seasonal Safety Tips

Amy Zurita

It's that time of year again! As you prepare

for the inevitable gatherings that accompa-

ny this time of year, keep your furry family

members' safety in mind:

 Keep decorations such as Christmas

lights and ornaments out of the reach

of your dog.

 Refrain from placing presents in the

reach of your dog, and when opening

presents, be sure to dispose of any

wrapping or ribbons so that your dog

cannot get into it.

 Though it is tempting to share some

holiday cheer with your pets by giving

them scraps, too much food that they

are not used to can cause stomach up-

set, and therefore should be avoided.

 Likewise, do not give any left over

bones to your dog, as the bones can

splinter and cause damage to the diges-

tive tract.

 Avoid placing food near the edges of

tables or counters, where a curious

nose may be tempted to snatch some-

thing.

 Be aware that often dogs bolt. Take

extra precautions at the entry door as

your company comes and goes.

 Make sure your dog is wearing a collar

with its tags up to date. With people

coming and going at get-togethers,

there are more chances for your dog to

escape, and up-to-date tags will help

your dog to make its way back home.

 Keep outdoor temperatures in mind and

do not leave your dog outside for too

long. Though they have their own fur

coats, the pads of their paws are ex-

posed and more susceptible to frost-

bite.

 Be mindful about sidewalk salt as it

can hurt your dog's feet and it is harm-

ful if ingested. Pet-safe salt is available

at pet stores, and if you are walking

your dog somewhere where there may

be regular salt, consider putting

dog-booties on your dog's feet.

Presidential

Address

What a busy year we have had at Collie Rescue of

Greater Illinois, Inc! We started 2014 with a litter of

puppies being born, and in August welcomed the Tom-

ball 8 collies coming into our rescue, and served all the

dogs that found forever homes in between. It has been

a while since our last issue of the Collie Nose Newslet-

ter, and you can expect this one to be action packed!

With the Holidays approaching we have so much to be

thankful for. To all our volunteers and supporters near

and far, we could not do this work without you. We cel-

ebrate each and every one of you whether you donat-

ed, helped with transported, fostered, worked an

event, shared our stories or adopted a Collie.

The Board of Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois would like

to wish you all Happy Holidays and a prosperous New

Year!

Susie Moncek

President & Foster Home

Coordinator

See more of our year in review on page 13

Look at

the year

we’ve had!

Kym McNabney

An important part of rescuing dogs and ultimately finding these dogs

new homes is making them look presentable for potential adopters. An-

yone who has owned a long coated dog knows grooming can be both

time consuming and challenging. Grooming a dog means more than just

a bath and a pretty haircut. Giving attention to nails, ears, teeth and

anal glands is all part of the grooming process. Keeping pets comforta-

ble, parasite free and healthy is important and scheduled grooming is a

must for all dogs.

Judy Rychter, owner of

Motif Grooming and Doggy Day-

care, in South Elgin, IL is a vital

asset to our organization and has

been helping us for years. We

appreciate her donated time and

frequently depend on her exper-

tise. Anyone who’s had the pleas-

ure of working with Judy, de-

scribes a genuine, humble, and

knowledgeable person who puts

the dogs’ interests first. She un-

derstands the importance of

grooming to obtain both good

health and an attractive appear-

ance, especially for one of our rescued collies.

Susie Moncek, foster home coordinator, says, “We had a dog

that came to us by the name of Princess. Judy and her daughter Aman-

da, literally saved her life by uncovering several pockets of infections

under her skin. Princess had been sick for weeks, and nobody could fig-

ure out what was wrong. While in Judy’s care, she notified me that

Princess needed to seen by a vet right away.”

Sherylee Dodge, one of our foster home volunteers, also praises

Judy. “I’ve been in Motif’s grooming facility many times, not only

for the dogs I’ve fostered, but for my own dogs as well. Judy

has helped me with all kinds of dog-related infor-

mation…from understanding how dogs relate to

each other, to food and feeding, to hotspots. She is

committed to the best case scenario for every res-

cue we bring her, whether it is hours of brushing

and repeated bathing to save a neglected coat, or

a complete shave for the fastest route to healing

and a new beginning.”

When a new rescue is posted on our website, often those view-

ing the dog’s bio haven’t a clue as to what a dog’s prior condition was

like before he or she came to us. Judy is not only willing to take the

time and care to get them looking great, but she also wants them to

feel great. She’s not just a groomer; she’s someone who genuinely

cares about the well being of animals.

Not one to toot her own horn, Judy works quietly behind the

scenes. She brings out the best in our dogs, while sharing a wealth of

information to our fosterers. She deserves our recognition because she

goes over and above for our collies. Their best interest is always her

priority. Never taking the shortcut, it’s obvious she performs her

grooming magic for the love of the breed. Expecting nothing in return

but the satisfaction of knowing she has helped a dog look and

feel so much better makes her a true hero! Thank YOU, Judy.

More Than Just A Pretty Coat

Motif Grooming and

Doggy Daycare

503 W Sundown Rd

South Elgin IL 60177

847.695.5570

www.motifgrooming.com

From Left: Groomers Amanda

Maravilla, Judy Rychter, and Presi-

dent/Foster Home coordinator

Susie Moncek.

Collie Rescue “Whines” are still

available for purchase, to bene-

fit the dogs and satisfy the con-

nosoir in you (or someone you

love) Click HERE.

Commercial Break:

Thank you,

Judy and

Mandy!

2014 Annual Collie

Rescue Picnic

By Kym McNabney

There is nothing quite like attending a Collie Rescue

Picnic for the first time. Entering the park grounds

and seeing collies wherever you look, is quite a

sight…tricolors, blue merles, sables, roughs,

smooths, young dogs, old dogs, and just about every-

thing in-between.

It’s not just the collies that draw people to the

event each year. It’s the chance to meet others who

foster, see past fostered dogs with their new families

and meet and enjoy the company of those in charge

of such a wonderful organization.

There were 150 attendees this year; many brought

their dog...or two, or three. It could not happen

without the hands and feet of the volunteers that

offer their time, many doing so year after year.

Caroline Lewis does a wonderful job managing the

donations for the raffle table, making up signs and

arranging the basket items in an attractive display.

Nicole Belizaire spends most of her time behind

the tables, collecting the money, handing out tick-

ets, recording the ticket numbers that are pulled for

the winners, and making sure everyone gets their

winnings. The raffle table is one of the highlights of

the event, and provides much-needed funding for

the organization.

Volunteers handled the sales tent. They set

it up attractively and spent the duration of the pic-

nic managing the many sales, keeping the tables well

stocked and helped people decide on the appropri-

ate size.

Jan Melhan was in charge of the food and

did a wonderful job keeping the tables replenished

with a variety

of delicious

foods, plates

and utensils,

in order to

keep the lines

moving along.

Dr. Jeremy

Buishas takes

time out of his

busy schedule

each year to

talk about

important top-

ics, giving

dogs owners

and fosterers a

wealth of in-

formation.

Events

Coordinator

Kim Nelson

says, “The

board would

like to personally thank all that helped this year.

Without the volunteers at each event, Collie Rescue

would not be able to do what we do.” In turn, Collie

Rescue would like to thank Kim Nelson for stepping

in and heading up the event. It’s not an easy task.

Nevertheless, she did an amazing job!

A special thanks goes out to everyone who

not only attended, but also to those who volunteered

their time and helped wherever they were needed.

Thanks as well to those who donated items for the

raffle. We had some fantastic item this year.

Pictured include the muscles behind the pic-

nic. On the truck, left to right--- Edward (Butch)

Kiselka, Jason Hansas, and Greg Belizaire, Jr. In

front are Nicole Belizaire, Kate Chrisman & sister,

Kim Nelson, and Jan Melhan. Standing on the right

are Ken Kiselka, Mike Nelson (back) and Greg Be-

lizaire. This crew spends hours set-

ting up tents and tables, and anything

else that needs to be done before the

picnickers arrive. After a fun, yet long

day, they take everything down, pack

it up and deliver it back to storage

where it will all be waiting for them

next year. These men are all members

of our founder Tina Kiselka’s immedi-

ate and extended family. Because they

perform all the behind-the-scenes

grunt work year after year, they’re the

unsung heroes of the day!

As the saying goes, “It takes a

village.” and each year’s successful

picnic is proof that not only does it

take a village, but the village

shows up.

Some of our contest winners

Karla’s “Paschon”

Gail Diedrichsen

Like many children who watched “Lassie” growing up,

Karla Paschon, enamored with this famous hero, fell

in love with collies. She decided very early on she pre-

ferred this breed, and no other would do. She begged

her parents for a collie, but her dad said, “When you

move out and you’re on your own, you can get your col-

lie.” Eventually, she fulfilled the promise she had

made to herself as a young girl. FINALLY, well into

adulthood, she realized her dream, and Karla got her

collie.

Karla remembers that memorable, happy day.

“Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. held an adoption

event at a local pet store, showing adoptable dogs. I

anxiously walked in and there he was…my very first,

very own collie. He was a great dog and a very pretty

tri-color with a white blaze too. I filled out the paper-

work because I decided that day he had to be mine.”

Karla adds, “I named him ‘K.C.’ for ‘Karla’s Collie.’” She laughs as she recalls her choice for his

cute name and continues laughing when she describes some of his ‘not so cute’ antics. For example,

“K.C. decided it would be fun to get into a bag of flour…what a mess! He also stole a plugged in crock-

pot off my kitchen countertop. He enjoyed my chicken and dressing dinner! He liked my cooking!”

With a good sense of humor, Karla describes how her newly adopted dog was not exactly behav-

ing like the dignified, exemplary hero she had watched on television. “K.C. was an athletic dog and he

didn’t want to just ‘hang out.’ He needed a job and he sure let me know it! I registered him in an obe-

dience class. He LOVED it! I remember a particular night like it was just yesterday. We had just arrived

home from class and he put his head in my lap. He looked up at me with this certain expression. I

could read it as plainly as the nose on his collie face! K.C. looked SO satisfied...SO happy. If he could

have talked, he would have said, ‘I did something REALLY special today and I am so proud of myself!’ I

knew at that very moment he wanted to work and needed the stimulation. K.C. was a quick learner.

Not only did he love the class, but I REALLY enjoyed it too. I liked the time we spent together and I

found it to be so fun and so rewarding.”

Karla knew Basic Obedience classes were imperative and that came first. Additionally, she ran

K.C. in Agility just for fun, and he did very well. Impressive, this team also earned a Therapy Dog Inter-

national certification. He was a visit-

ing dog in nursing homes and a reading

therapy dog at the library.

K.C. was an unexpected spark

for Karla. This adopted collie inspired

Karla to follow a new life’s path, one

where she could combine her love for

dogs with her talent. She had the de-

sire and passion. Karla enrolled in Ani-

mal Behavior College, devoured books

on the subject, attended other train-

ers’ seminars and completed an ap-

prenticeship with an emphasis on posi-

tive training techniques that do not use

harsh leash corrections…she prefers

positive reinforcement. Karla became

certified in 2002 and finds her career

as an accomplished trainer rewarding.

Karla admits it’s a tough job.

The hours are not ideal. She needs to

(Continued on page 6)

Karla with

her current

collie,

Roman.

Her facility in

Villa Park

be available when dog

owners are available;

this means she’s work-

ing evenings and

weekends to accom-

modate. “Knowing

everyone is on a

tight schedule, I

also offer one day

workshops. It is not

preferred, I like to have

more time, but it’s a

positive step in the

right direction.”

Karla is also re-

quired to promote her

own business. It comes

with the territory. At-

tending outside events,

such as pet expos, is also part of her work sched-

ule. She claims “word of mouth” is so vitally im-

portant for her business’s survival and many of her

clients found her through another client’s referral.

Karla’s “Loki Seminar” was named in honor

of Loki, a dog with fear-aggression issues. The ed-

ucational seminar was designed to give our foster

homes the tools to work with a fearful dog. Hoping

to help the dog become well adjusted, Karla wants

to give every dog a chance to rehabilitate, gain

confidence and become an adoptable collie.

George and Karen Hayes, fellow volunteers,

had Karla on their team for “Meet and Greets.”

He shares, “ I have known her for 6 years. She im-

presses me with her ability to control dogs. She

took our wild puppy and turned her into a well-

behaved girl. She helped my

wife, Karen, and me with our

dogs when I had some health

issues. She came over to help

them get some exercise when I

was recovering. She’s not only

a great trainer, but a good

friend.”

Susie Moncek, President

and Foster Home Coordinator,

says, “I could sing Karla’s prais-

es all day long! She has been so

helpful to CRGI in so many

ways. When we have training

questions, Karla is always there

with an answer or suggestion.

When we have a foster dog with

specific issues, Karla has either

fostered them for us or assisted

the foster home with training

techniques. Karla has facilitat-

ed a seminar for our fostering

volunteers. It covered dog be-

havior and suggestions for basic obedience train-

ing. It was informative and very helpful because it

gave our fostering homes the tools and techniques

needed to get our fostered dogs ready for their

forever homes.

In addition, Karla is working on putting to-

gether a very special seminar for CRGI. This one

will be open to our foster homes, transporters and

volunteers who work our events. We are still in the

planning stages, but if this seminar is even half as

good as our last...I expect it to be fantastic and

our volunteers will learn a lot! Karla has an amaz-

ing way with dogs and she’s a wonderful teacher!

She volunteers her time, 100% free of charge, be-

cause she loves collies and CRGI. AND, we love her

right back!”

Tina Kiselka was volunteering at the event

years ago when Karla adopted K.C. and says, “No

doubt, luck was on everybody’s side the day we

introduced Karla to her collie. Not only did we

find a great home for one of our lucky dogs, but

we gained a valuable volunteer too. She was just

a novice back then, adopting her first dog. Now

she’s an accomplished, well-respected trainer who

advocates for all positive training methods. She is

there for us when we need her and we appreciate

her contributions very much.”

Karla admits with her usual charming smile,

“I joined the organization because I was impressed

with the organization, BUT I was also drafted by

the organization’s representative, Tina.”

Karla not only gives her students

useful information and skills, but she shows them a

good time. Her classes are lots of fun, for both

dogs and owners! She’s a great teacher, a much-

appreciated volunteer and a wonderful friend to

C.R.G.I.

Classes are held in her

space behind the grooming

shop. She also does one-on-

one training and is available

for private consults

(Continued from page 5)

Roman

shows

Karla a

thing or

two.

“No doubt, luck

was on every-

body’s side the

day we intro-

duced Karla to her

(first) collie. Not

only did we find a

great home for

one of our lucky

dogs, but we

gained a valuable

volunteer too.”

Tina Kiselka,

Founder

Paws 4 Positve Training

at Eclipse Dog Grooming

110 S Villa Ave.,

Villa Park.

630-272-1209

paws4positivetrain-

ing.com

George’s Grunts and Groans

George Hayes

Recently I have had to be hos-

pitalized and later stay in a rehab

center for a while to recuperate. It

was hard being away from my “girls”,

Roxie and Annie, for so long. I talked

about them to the staff as often as

possible. I had pictures of them up on

the wall, but it’s not the same as

them being there.

One of their favorite things to

do, and mine too, is to take a nap.

We all agree that naps are good. To

curl up on the bed, and give a little

moan or groan as we’re getting com-

fortable became the height of my day.

It wasn’t the same being there with-

out them. I knew they would be there

at home waiting for me. But knowing

and being there are not the same. I

knew when I got home Annie would

bark out the whole story of how hard it was for her to wait for me, and Roxie would hop up and

down with such joy because I came in the door. (Well, Roxie would do that if anyone came in the

door but I like to think she does it because it’s me.) But waiting for the day I could go home was

getting harder and harder.

Then one day, a furry angel appeared to brighten my day. Brody and his human-on-a-leash

walked in to my room and I heard choirs sing. The sun got brighter, the sky was bluer, the ap-

plesauce sweeter. A collie, a wonderful, wonderful collie was here in my rehab room. He popped up

in my bed just where I told him to come when Gail wasn’t looking. We had a great time visiting. He

brought with him the luck of the Irish! (Ok…so Collies are supposed to be from Scotland, but Ireland

is close enough.) The luck mixes all together and knows no boundaries. The next day after Brody’s

visit, they told me I would be going home soon: back to my “girls,” back to taking naps with two fur-

ry friends. Yes, when I got home, Annie barked out the whole story of how hard it was for her to

wait for me, and Roxie did hop up and down with joy because I came in the door and yes, she did it

because it was ME and I was home. Thank you Brody, you made my day and brought me good luck.

Kids’ Corner:

ON FOSTERING

MacKenna M., age 12

My mom fosters for Collie Rescue. We’ve had

twenty-two dogs so far. My mom has been foster-

ing for eight years. That makes twenty-two dogs

in eight years. Each time we get a new dog, it’s a

whole new wonder. All the dogs are so unique.

Each dog has a different personality. Also, the

looks of the dogs are so cool, each with a look of

their own. But the neatest and the saddest thing

is the stories that tell why we have them. Each

time I hear their story, I want to sweep the dog in

my arms and hug them tight.

ABOVE:

MacKenna’s first

collie Jack.

RIGHT:

MacKenna with

current CRGI

Foster,

Mr. Cuddles.

If you’re reading this newsletter and enjoy keeping

up-to-date with C.R.G.I. on our website, thank Bob

Olson. He’s our tech guy extraordinaire! Bob has

been a volunteer since 1997. Bob has served on our

board for 17 years and served as Board President for

14 of those. His knowhow is, without a doubt, a

critical component to our everyday successful opera-

tion. According to Tina Kiselka, Founder, “Bob is

our ‘I.T. Guru,’ and he is responsible for bringing us

into the future!”

With appreciation, Susie Moncek, Board Presi-

dent, describes his long list of diverse contributions,

“Bob’s in charge of putting together adopter con-

tracts, keeps our website up to date and posts all

the bios for our adoptable dogs. He keeps all the

medical records, contract information, and the data-

base of all past dogs and adopters. He is also in

charge of making up the supply bags that follow

each foster dog into their foster home. This takes

great care and attention to detail because the bag

includes an engraved CRGI tag, collar, heartworm

prevention, microchip and info, flea prevention and

any other meds the dog may need.”

Susie gives Bob deserved accolades, “He’s a

MAJOR behind-the-scenes guy! He does a ton of work

that nobody notices, and there is no glory in it for

him. There is SO much that goes on in the back-

ground of our organization that many are not aware

of. It’s important and detailed work. Bob is what

you might call our unsung hero. “

One can fully appreciate why Bob is such a

valued volunteer while looking for information on

our website. Whether needing to look for an event,

wanting to view a collie up for adoption, wanting to

shop for collie merchandise, looking to buy some

Collie Nose Wine, wanting to read past newsletters,

looking for photos taken at events, or simply wanting

to make a donation, our website runs smoothly and

efficiently due to Bob’s expertise.

Bob’s not only a “tech-wiz”, but he’s also an

accomplished dog trainer. He and his collie, Fiona,

are a winning team. The fact that these two found

one another is a serendipitous godsend.

Fiona, a rescued dog, had behavior issues.

Fiona needed firm, yet loving guidance. She was

one of those dogs that needed to be given a job or

she would invent an unacceptable one for herself.

Joking, Vicki Wilder, former Intake Coordinator,

says, “You can quote me on this one! ... Fiona was a

REAL pain in the b-e-e-p!” Fiona’s story has a hap-

py ending, but it’s beginning was a little shaky at

best. Vicki explains, “Fiona came from a home that

had DCFS called in to remove the children, and when

they took the kids they also took Fiona. She dis-

played unacceptable behavior in a couple foster

homes and was quickly booted out of each. She had

problems with the other dogs and was just an all

(Continued on page 9)

Volunteer Profile:

Unsung Heroes, Bob and Dee Olson

around jerk. Bob worked his butt off with this dog!

AND now, whenever I see them at a show, I am

AMAZED at the dog she has become. Love and pa-

tience certainly were key in developing her into a

top contender in agility. She’s a wonderful member

of the Olson family now.”

Dee, Bob’s wife, remembers this dog’s early

days well. “Fiona was 7-8 months old when she came

in from a shelter in the Quad Cities area after being

confiscated from her home. We were going to keep

her just overnight before she went to her foster

home. We couldn’t wait for her to leave – she was

obnoxious, bothering

the old dogs. She on-

ly lasted a week at

each of two foster

homes and ended up

back at our house, so

we decided it was

time for some

Collie Boot Camp!

As we got to know

her, it became clear she was a reactive dog. So, I

took her to Narnia’s “Rowdy Rover” classes, de-

signed specifically for reactive dogs. They helped a

huge amount with having her learn to be calmer

around other dogs, but mostly in helping me to un-

derstand how to set her up for success. Fiona is so

much better now than she was when she came in

(she is five years old now) but still requires much

care when out in public, since even after all this

time she can be unpredictable around other dogs.“

Fortunately, Bob found Fiona’s niche. This

onetime ill-behaved bully, is focused on winning ti-

tles and ribbons today. Bob has a lot to be proud of.

Dee proudly claims, “Fiona is doing a great job in

agility and has earned her Master Agility Champion-

ship in AKC. She has qualified for and competed in

the AKC Agility National Championship for the past

two years; this is a big accomplishment for us since

this is a huge show. At the last show in March of

2014, there were around 2,000 dogs competing. It’s

a big deal for a reactive dog to cope with and per-

form well at such an event. She is also having a ball

learning Nosework and doing well with it. She passed

her Odor Recognition Test (ORT) for Birch.”

Fiona and Bob are a great team. However,

we are very lucky that Bob comes with a human

partner as well. Dee, his wife, is an accomplished

dog trainer and has a wealth of knowledge.

Tina recalls, “Back in 1996 we had a ‘special

dog’ named Cody. He was adopted twice, but was

too high energy for most and kept coming back. He

went to the Olsons’ to be fostered.” Dee shares his

story, “By the time we agreed to foster Cody he had

been in the system for four and a half months: a

shelter, temporary boarding at the veterinarian’s

clinic, foster home, adoptive home, another foster

home, another adoptive home, yet another foster

home, then our home. If it all sounds a bit confus-

ing, it was, especially for Cody. Although he started

out as a friendly, well-adjusted year-old dog, by the

time we took him in for fostering, he was beginning

to retreat into himself and show destructive tenden-

cies. As he was apparently out of control, I enrolled

him in a class to improve his adoptability.” Cody

must have been a model student because they ended

up adopting him. Vicki Wilder says, “After Dee and

Bob worked with Cody, he was AMAZING! Cody

earned top agility titles. It’s very impressive, espe-

cially for a rescue who was adopted as an older

dog.”

Wiley was another C.R.G.I. rescue. Dee rem-

inisces, “We started fostering Wiley in 1997. He

came to Collie Rescue from a hoarding situation. He

was with us for nine months before we decided to

adopt him. It was really weird – people would meet

him at adoption events and like him and play with

him, but would then want to adopt a different dog.

A little girl he played with even gave him her Barney

stuffed animal, but didn’t adopt him. While Wiley

ran in agility too and eventually did very well at it,

his true love was Flyball. He absolutely adored the

game, and made a bit of flyball history – he was the

first rough collie to achieve the Flyball Grand Cham-

pion title.

Sookie is also a member of the Olson family’s

pack. She’s not a rescue, but she is a collie and de-

serves mention since she and Dee are such an ac-

complished team. “Sookie is the first puppy we have

had since we bought our first collie, Birdie, in 1991.

Sookie is still a young dog (she’s just turning 3 this

summer) but is doing very well in agility. She fin-

ished her Master Agility Jumper (MXJ) title in AKC in

May. Sookie is also learning Nosework and doing

great with that as well – she is a very serious worker.

She also has her Agility Ex-

cellent (AX) title, Novice

FAST (NF) agility title, Ral-

ly Advanced (RA) title, and

a Canine Good Citizen Cer-

tificate.”

Dee still works their

rescued border collie,

Lilli, at a young 16. One

would swear Lilli has

found the fountain of

youth in her water bowl because she is one amazing

senior canine. Keeping up with the youngsters in her

Nosework class, this old gal is active, interested, in

good shape and engaged in life. Remarka-

ble, because Lilli was a rescue found on

the side of the road dragging her two front

legs when she was a very young puppy.

Dee shares her experience and knowledge

with her students, often demonstrating with her own

dogs. It’s apparent she has an extensive understand-

(Continued from page 8)

(Continued on page 10)

Olsons’

Fiona

Olsons’

Sookie

Volunteer Profile

ing of canine behavior. Dee also gives her students great tips on how to keep their dog healthy. It’s all

about what’s best for the dog, and she wants to see ALL dogs reach a ripe old age and still be goin’ strong

like her Lilli. She understands it’s a balance between keeping the dog active both physically and mentally.

Dee is a great example for her students.

When one of C.R.G.I.’s dogs has a behavior issue, Dee and Bob have stepped up and taken the dog

under their wing. They know that if a dog’s behavior problems are addressed and remediated, they are

more likely to get adopted and remain in that home. Recently they worked with our “notorious Carlos.”

He was infamous for failing to remain happily in his many adoptive homes. Carlos needed the time, disci-

pline and attention that Dee and Bob were willing to give him. They saved his life! With guided direction,

Carlos became the “good boy” we knew he could be. Today Carlos is loved and thriving in his new home

thanks to Bob and Dee.

Bob’s contribution with technology takes place quietly behind the scenes, but deserves a very loud

applause because it’s SO vital to our organization. The Olsons are valued members of C.R.G.I. They bring

us a multitude of talents they generously share. They have the patience of a saint and huge caring hearts.

Their many volunteer hours have helped turn troubled dogs around, resulting in saved lives and happy

adoptions. We are incredibly fortunate to have this dynamic and indispensable couple on our team.

(Continued from page 9)

Bob Olson and Fiona

pose at far right with

the CRGI contingency

at Wheaton’s All-Night

Flea Market this sum-

mer. Other collies

from left are Laddie

May, Cody, Belle, Amy,

and Brody. Bob and his

fellow volunteers Na-

dia Bardack and Dawn

Gluzek are smiling for

their celebrity souve-

nir photo. Does their

guest of honor

(center) look familiar?

Timmy’s NOT In the Well

Many of us watched Lassie on TV as kids. Some of us still do! It’s

always a toss up as to whether fans like Jeff or Timmy best. When

upstaged by a gorgeous collie, it’s tough to be a favorite. It didn’t

matter who played the boy, we liked the dog best!

Jon Provost, who played the character of Timmy Martin,

(the angelic blond boy who replaced Jeff when he got too old to

play the part), has written a book, called “Timmy’s In the Well.”

Although Lassie saved Timmy from harm’s way often, Timmy

never needed to be rescued from a well. We all wonder how that

“well business” ever got started. In fact, if you’re a collie owner

and have never had a stranger walk up to your dog and jokingly say,

(Continued on page 11)

...It’s Jon Provost! Read on—

Gail Diedrichsen

and Brody put

their best Lassie

forward in their

pose with Jon.

Volunteer Profile

“What’s that, girl? Timmy’s down the

well? Better go rescue him!” you are in

the minority. Regardless of the nonfactual

event alluded to in Provost’s book’s title,

it’s no doubt a hit with collie fanciers.

When Jon asked C.R.G.I. Inc. to

join him as he conducted a book signing

we were elated! It proved to be an inter-

esting evening with a traditional carnival-

like atmosphere of DuPage County’s All

Night Flea Market. Jon shared stories and

sold memorabilia as he met his many fans

who lined up to meet the cute little boy

now in his sixties.

Even though none of our collies

were called upon to pull anybody out of a

well that night, they all passed their

screen tests to become perfect “Lassie

understudies!”

We all had a great time and came

away with a signed copy of Jon’s book,

which was raffled off at the Collie Picnic

to raise funds for our work. Ironically,

sometimes even Lassies need to be res-

cued!

(Continued from page 10)

Mark THIS

Calendar

Thanks so much to the folks who sent us photos for this year's cal-

endar. It's a hit and they've been selling like hotcakes. It's not too

late; get yours before 2015 arrives! We owe our talented Diane Cymer-

man a great deal of gratitude for the time she takes overseeing this

project. Diane does a great job. We enjoy turning those pages from

month to month and seeing all those beautiful collies we've all helped

rescue.

Amy gives Jon

her best Lassie

head-tilt, posing

with mom Belle

and Mr. Provost

at the event.

Participating in

the various Chicago Pet

Shows and Expos is a chance

for us to meet the public with

our Collie Ambassadors. Gener-

ous businesses sponsor our

booths. Thanks to LeafFilter Gut-

ter Protection and West Subur-

ban Dog Magazine for making

this year's events possible!