The Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. Rescuing Lives, One Collie at a Time

When I was a kid, my sisters and I would gather around our old black and white TV with great anticipation to watch National Velvet, My Friend Flicka, Mr. Ed, Rin Tin Tin, and my very favorite, Lassie.

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The show opened with that whistled theme song, followed by a boy’s voice calling, “L-a-s-s-i-e… L-a-s-s-i-e…” Then, as that magnificent sable collie turned toward the camera and ran obediently toward her boy’s call, sailing gracefully over a split rail fence along the way, it did something emotionally to me that nothing would ever replicate. I was hooked! Some girls fall in love with horses, but I fell hard for this noble, aristocratic canine. To this day, in fact, my friends tease me by saying I suffer from a rare form of O.C.D., termed “Obsessive Collie Disorder.”

My image of collies, validated by the program’s weekly plot, was one of elevated adulation and hero worship. Through my young, impressionable eyes, collies were larger-than-life superheroes. Lassie saved Jeff, Gramps, Timmy, Mom, Dad, and an occasional perfect stranger. She was also called on to rescue many cute baby animals that found themselves in trouble, and that really touched my heart.

I knew my placement of this dog on the very highest of pedestals was deserved when she was cast in the role of Laddie in the 1945 movie, Son of Lassie, starring Peter Lawford. She had no problem upstaging the Hollywood heartthrob as they bravely fought the Nazis to help win WW2. She was amazing! She was patriotic! She was indomitable!

Just to set the rescue record straight, though, I should point out a common misconception: Lassie never rescued Timmy, or anybody for that matter, from a well… not that she couldn’t have if she’d wanted to. And, another little bit of trivia: “she” was actually a “he.” A male dog, named Pal, played the acclaimed first Lassie. Who could hold that against him? After all, men playing women never stopped Shakespeare, Dustin Hoffman or Eddie Murphy.

Throughout her long career as a female character, though, Lassie consistently exhibited impeccable manners, unshakable loyalty, incredible athletic agility and a saintly sense of right from wrong. This collie could fix anything and exhibited the uncanny ability to negotiate. There wasn’t a problem she could not solve. She was invincible and always perfectly coifed for the camera’s lens. Lassie never had a bad hair day! Who else could share the big screen and shine equally beside the stunningly gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor in Lassie Come Home?

As a child, I was completely enamored of this dog and, oh, how I longed to have a collie of my own! Immediately after watching an episode, I usually begged my parents to make my wish come true. But no matter how many tears I shed, I was never successful. We did end up with two buff cocker spaniels and, don’t get me wrong, I loved Taffy and Dandy. However, as an adult, I have never been without a collie by my side and, today, my husband and I live with three adopted rescue collies. Truth be known, I think they may have rescued us.

It may seem surprising, but given the staggering number of homeless dogs abandoned in shelters, the truth is that even Lassie needs to be rescued more than occasionally. For a grown-up kid like me, the reality that a collie could possibly become an unappreciated cast-off is difficult to believe. Hollywood glamor aside, these collies are like every other dog: vulnerable and dependent on their humans. But not all humans live up to idyllic standards and sadly, many dogs, not just collies, don’t have dependable human heroes.

To right this wrong as Lassie herself would have wanted, many dedicated and caring people have joined forces to create breed specific rescue groups. Fortunately, collies are among the breeds that have organizations of their own, including one very special group of human superheroes right here in the Western Suburbs.

Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. is a hardworking group of volunteers devoted to rescuing and re-homing these wonderful dogs. Co-founded by Tina Kiselka of Lisle, the organization became officially recognized in 1995. Tina and her helpers rescued 20 collies that first year and to date, the organization has re-homed approximately 1,200 dogs. Tina appreciates her family of volunteers and says, “It doesn’t take just one person; it takes a family to make this work.”

Evidently, her dedication must be contagious, because there’s an ever-growing list of volunteers joining her family. Foster families, event planners, phone coordinators, transporters, veterinarians, groomers, wine sale coordinators, newsletter writers, editors, layout artists, web-masters and woodworkers have come together to make it work.

Through the Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc., shelter for rescued dogs is not in a traditional building with cages. Homeless dogs are placed in foster homes and cared for until they are ready for adoption into the right forever home. This system works because collies are sensitive. Also, sometimes the rescued dogs need rehabilitation or medical treatment.

With the opportunity to observe the dogs in a home environment, the foster families get to know the dogs well. They become aware of the dogs’ personalities, temperaments, likes, dislikes and health needs. This familiarity helps make the adoption happy. All collies deserve to have permanent and loving homes, so finding fitting placements is top priority.

That couldn’t be more true for Jake, one dog whose story exemplifies the mission and drive behind Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. Jake was one of 300 dogs seized from a hoarding situation. He was a pathetic looking soul at death’s door, crawling with parasites and starved. But, miraculously, he survived.

Rose Fields, a volunteer foster guardian, soothed his painful skin, gave him good meals and when he had the strength, she also taught him how to play. When it was time for him to find his forever home, Linda and Larry Milkovic saw the beauty within and fell in love with his gentle spirit. Now, Jake is living the good life and weighs in at a healthy 89 pounds. Linda describes him as, “a funny, sweet dog with a big personality.”

Trever is another collie who has a story to tell. Trever was found homeless on the streets of Chicago and picked up by animal control. He was in very bad shape and euthanization had been scheduled for the next morning. By chance, however, a local sheltie rescue group was at the animal control facility when he was brought in and they phoned Vicki Wilder, the intake coordinator and president of Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. She agreed to take Trever in and, after that, everybody who met him fell in love. He was just that kind of a sweetheart of a dog.

Getting rescued and off the streets was just the beginning of Trever’s recovery, though, as he was also diagnosed with MRSA and needed to not only be quarantined, but also bathed everyday. Because he is such a wonderful dog and deserved a chance, Vicki kept him in isolation and volunteers provided all the care he needed until a suitable foster home could be found. Today, he is a happy, healthy, beautiful collie living with his loving adopter Erin Ecker, a Will County forest preserve ranger who absolutely adores him.

What makes Jake and Trever’s stories even more poignant is that Pal, the original Lassie, had himself once been abandoned. His fortunate rescue and resulting placement gave many generations a gift of true joy that otherwise might have been lost. It’s easy to see that Pal’s spirit lives on and true, old-fashioned superheroes still exist — as proven everyday by the volunteers of Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc.

The Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and care to purebred collies who have been abandoned or left at shelters. To learn more or inquire about fostering or adopting a collie in need, visit the website at www.CollieRescue.org .

Photo: Jake was one of 300 dogs rescued from a hoarding situation. Now, thanks to the Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois, Inc., he’s thriving with his new family.