This is Moedock (#0114), an 11 year old red merle male Aussie with beautiful blue eyes who weighs about 45 pounds. He is neutered and current on shots.

Moedock's been in foster care since August and continues to do well; his foster folks say he is perfect! He was with the same family all of his life living on an acreage. His mom went to a nursing home and his dad moved with him to an apartment. Recently, however, Dad died and poor sweet Moedock ended up in the shelter. He didn't like it and was very scared. Thank goodness for Protege!

Moedock is completely housetrained; we have had no accidents. He ignores cats, dogs, and green-cheeked conures. He doesn't like a leash, but doesn't need one as long as he has people around. He does not accost people at the door and doesn't beg from the table or get on furniture unless invited. He continues to accept 3 and 6 year old hugs with love, grace, and patience. Allows anyone to love him up, but is never a pest about it.

Moedock is an excellent supervisor; he will watch you work all day long and will take every step you do. He doesn't bark unless he really needs your attention, and he kennels well with a treat. Moedock loves rides. He treats children and elderly very well: would make a great therapy dog! Mostly, Moedock loves people. He is not needy, just present.

I have noticed that there appears to be some hearing or vision loss. No big deal, but something I guess to be aware of. If he is at a gate and the last he knew I was somewhere in front of him or off to his side, he will go nuts trying to get the gate down if I call him from behind: he doesnt seem to get the direction of the voice. Often, when I call him back when we are out, I have to wave my arms around or something like that for him to see where I am.

For sure wants to be where his people are and does not like doors or barriers between them. If he can at least see me, he's not too bad. He will sleep on the bed if I'm gone, but sleeps on the floor by the bed at night. If I invite him in the morning, he will come up and get a good rub and talk to me and has been known to nap, but is very good about not getting on the furniture unless asked. He will wander more and out of the area if he is left to his own devices so he would need to be supervised whenever outside.

Here are a couple of shortvideos of Moedock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avQQkaHJJ1s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtSIy6btyt0


Here is what Mo would like from his new family: Be home a lot or take me with you. I'll be good ... I swear! Let me be with you wherever you are in the house. Don't expect me to play cause I don't really get it, but if you run and call me, I'll chase and catch you! Let me help you around the house, the garden, the garage, the yard and anywhere else you need a little help. If you're lonely, call me, anytime at all. I'll be here for you, always, waiting for the call. I'll give a penny for your thoughts, a quarter for the call and all of my doggy love!

Mo is looking forward to finding his forever home! If you'd like to meet him, please contact Jayne at mcjayne@yahoo.com. He's being fostered in Anamosa, Iowa.

Jo
Iowa

Meet Murphy (Protege #0115). He is a one year old Shepherd/Aussie/Blue Heeler mix. I know, it sounds like a lot of dog but this little guy is special. He was turned in to the local shelter last year and later adopted out to a family at about 5 months old. He was rather shy and the family did not have the time to continue his socialization so back to the shelter he went.

Now, the GREAT NEWS: we found him and he is in his foster home and doing great. He actually looks like a pint-sized German Shepherd and is cute as a button. He is tri-color and only about 25 pounds. His ears stand up and then droop over just at the tip. I love it. He is up-to-date on vaccinations, is neutered, and is enjoying life with many dogs and kids to keep him company. Murphy loves a good ear scratching and is tolerant of being held and brushed. He has shown no aggression to anyone or anything.

Murphy can run so fast and jump so high. He would make a great agility dog. It would help if his new owners will continue his socialization and if they will plan to make great use of his skills. It would improve his confidence, I'm sure!! Murph will need a fenced in yard to stretch those legs and another young, playful dog to show him the ropes. Kids are super but probably over age 6 since he is a bit jumpy and skittish around loud, strange noises. He will need a patient owner who can allow him to come around slowly, but once he knows he can trust you, he is very devoted. He's only been with us a couple of weeks and he is adjusting nicely. Once he settled in, he has become a bit jumpy, but we are working on this. He crates up and is quiet. He is completely house trained. We have not had any accidents or marking.

Murphy is great with all other dogs and especially enjoys the terrier mix we are dog sitting this week. They really hit it off. If you are interested in meeting Murphy, contact Jayne at mcjayne@yahoo.com. He is being fostered in Marion, Iowa.

Jo
Iowa

Introducing ... Becky (#0116)! Becky is a 5-1/2 month old Smooth Fox Terrier who love, love, loves life! She is always on the go, and her favorite place to be is right in the middle of whatever is going on. I would describe Becky as highly animated, comical, entertaining, very playful, outgoing and affectionate.

She is all puppy all the time, and believe me, this girl is one very smart cookie! Becky will need to have a family who understand the terrier breeds - she will make a great addition to a family who is committed to spending time training her and setting firm limits for her so that she can mature into the fantastic companion that I believe she has the potential to be!

Becky is doing great with her house training, and has had only one accident (on her first night; we suspect she just didn't know where the front door was yet, as she has not had a single one since). Becky already knows sit and down. She will need to be a part of an active family that is willing to give her an outlet for her terrier energy, and while she has a lot of energy she is very willing to go into her kennel at night where she sleeps quietly until we get up in the morning.

Becky loves other dogs, but her playful energy could possibly be a bit much for an elderly dog, a very small dog, or a very shy dog. Becky is currently fostered in a home with cats, but we are recommending that she go to a home without them. If you are looking for a dog with potential in a variety of dog sports, this is your girl. She has fabulous potential in dog sports, or as a companion in an active household with the time to spend with her.

We would like Becky to go to a home with a securely fenced yard. Becky is spayed and up to date on all vaccinations. She is being fostered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Here is a little video clip of Becky playing at doggy day care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2xqqNHd4IQ&feature=email.

Jo
Iowa

Chico (#113) is a 9 month old purebred border collie with a strong spirit to live and connect with friendly people despite his sad start in life. Chico was chucked outside to a small, filthy kennel run and plastic doghouse, thus his very sun-bleached and course coat which, with good food and indoor life, will no doubt shed out to a pretty deep red color like it is underneath.

He reportedly "had the tar beaten out of him" every time he did something that his owner didn't like, so he's no doubt rarely experienced human kindness. Since he clearly has had no training at all, how could he possibly have known what she wanted?

Once coming into foster care, however, he has shown that he loves to snuggle, is a play-monster, and has figured out that he gets good treats for doing really simple things like sitting and coming when called -- things that are a piece of cake for a smart Border Collie brain.

Chico enjoys other dogs and plays well with them but might be too pesty for an older dog who doesn't like his exuberance. I am still assessing his activity level but expect that he will have a moderately high energy level that is "busy" but not "bouncing off the walls." I am also still assessing his compatibility with cats and children. Chico has a lot to learn but is very quickly blossoming in foster care. With a kind owner willing to be patient and show him what is expected, he will be a terrific dog.

Please email updates as we see his confidence grow and his personality emerge. Chico is neutered, fully vaccinated, heartworm negative and on preventive. He is currently 34 pounds and will likely be about 40 pounds when fully grown. He is fostered in the Quad Cities. If you might be interested in learning more about Chico, please contact Jayne at mcjayne@yahoo.com.

Jo
Iowa

Meet the handsome Tango (#0112), who is a 1 year 9 month old red-tri male Aussie! Tango is a fairly active boy and weighs about 43 pounds. He was found as a stray and turned into the rescue, so we don’t have any background history on him.

He gets along with other dogs and was fine around a dog savvy cat. He loves to play with dogs toys of all sorts. He likes to play with the toys by himself by tossing the toy up in the air and chasing after it but he also really enjoys playing tug with his foster brother. He loves running around outside with his foster brother and along the fence line with the neighbor dogs. He enjoys rolling around in the grass. When he is rolling around on his back in the grass he will growl and bark which is quite funny to see. He enjoys going for walks in the evening with his foster brother and mom.

Tango is housebroken but he has had a couple of accidents in the house, because his foster mom wasn’t paying attention to his signal that he needed to go outside. He is crated during the day when his foster mom is working and at night. He will bark a little bit when he is first crated but then will quiet down. If he hears you he will bark as he wants to be where all of the fun is. Tango knows sit and down and is very eager to please. He is neutered, up to date on all vaccinations and is on heartworm and flea preventative. Tango is being fostered in North Liberty. If you are interested in Tango, contact Jayne at mcjayne@yahoo.com.

Jo
Iowa

Rudy is a 2-1/2 year old purebred black-tri Border Collie that was surrendered to rescue because the young family of five that had him found his energy level to be too much for their lifestyle. He has had no formal training that we know of, but does know sit, down and come. He also appears to be housetrained and sits well for grooming.

Rudy weighs 37 lbs and stands about 19" tall. At his foster home he has two brothers that he shows respect too and plays with. While out on walks it is obvious Rudy has led a sheltered life, he shows curiosity when exposed to new things and is very willing to learn.

Rudy is looking for an active family with a fenced yard who will show him the finer things in life. He would benefit from an obedience class (as all dogs do). Rudy has had a rough start to life and is ready to move on! Rudy is neutered and current on vaccines. If you're interested in Rudy, please email Melissa, Border Collie rescue of Minnesota, at cdx@hotmail.com. He is being fostered in Des Moines.

Jo
Iowa

Meet Slim Jim (#0109)! He’s an affectionate 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 year-old sable blue merle Aussie. As of this writing, Slim Jim weighs about 41 pounds. It seems that Slim had a pretty rough life leading up to his arrival in rescue. He came in as a stray and he was emaciated at about 15 lbs underweight, hence his name! He came in with severe flea dermititis (flea allergy) that had been untreated for a long time. The result is that he'd scratched off most of his fur where he could reach and had a secondary infection because of that. He will need to be on Frontline year round, but we expect him to recover just fine and he's already gained 5 lbs!

We don't know his history, but Slim Jim came housebroken, crate trained, and can make some amazing frisbee catches! Now that he is in foster care, Slim Jim just thrives on a kind person paying attention to him. No one is a stranger to him, he is ecstatic to love and be loved by all!

He loves the frisbee and the ball, and doesn't appreciate other dogs trying to steal it from him. He is working on sharing skills, and showing progress. He so craves human attention, we think he sees the frisbee as a way to get that. He also will growl at other dogs who try to steal his food (go figure) but he lets humans take it away and mess with it all they want. Slim Jim is respectful of his foster home's cats. He would love to be the center of your world as an only dog, but we believe he could also do well in a home with other dogs, and will learn to understand that there is enough love, attention and food to go around; he'll just need some watchful management initially during feeding times/play times (he is currently sharing a home with my four dogs and progressing well).

Slim is neutered and up to date on all vaccinations. Slim is not so easy on the eyes today, but with proper feeding, love and attention in his new forever home, someday he will be Handsome Gentleman Jim, instead of Slim Jim! Check back for updated pictures as he gains weight and grows in his coat!

If you might be interested in learning more about Slim Jim, contact Jayne at mcjayne@yahoo.com. Jim is being fostered in Cedar Rapids.

Jo
Iowa

This is Kaia, pronounced Ki-ya (long I). She is a sweet 40 pound 6 month old Blue Heeler mix, born 1/3/09. She gets along very well with other dogs, kids, men and women, she just wants to play or have her belly rubbed. She is very smart, when you tell her to do something such as "go to Bed" "Get down" (Off the furniture) she does it right a way. She has been taught to sit, shake and lay down, she also has been taught not to jump up on anyone and she is housebroken.

Kaia likes to dig in the yard and "bury" her rawhides. She will chew up mail and shoes if you leave them lying around, but other than that I can't say anything else negative about her. We believe these are partly because she's still a puppy, but her new owners will need to work on these. She is up todate with all of her shots including the kennel cough vaccine, and has been spayed. Contact Linda Johnson at nattyette@hotmail.com.

Jo
Iowa