This Week

Friday

Rocky...

In August of 2015, I got an urgent call; someone found a dog and made a desperate call to the national “Blind Dog Rescue Alliance,” who contacted a Border Collie Rescue in New York who contacted a friend who contacted me with the following message… We need help!

Rocky

A dog has several issues described from the caretaker to the rescues, he was;

Abandoned in a neighborhood

Fell off a retaining wall into a yard and was injured

He was terrified and ended up running into the brick wall.

Front paws look torn open.

May have been beaten.

He is limping

His fur is matted

No shots or Heartworm medication

They are desperate

He is not housebroken, or leash trained.

Please help; we are hoping for rescue, we cannot keep him

but and he is Blind

“He is very sweet” was the last comment from the caretaker who found him, and he was hurt from falling off a retaining wall nearly six feet off the ground. The person who found him also contacted their local Vet for help and to see if anyone recognized him and reached out to everyone, but no one came forward. Once I got the caretaker's contact, I sent an email to inquire about him to see if we could help.

If I have learned anything about finding good homes for dogs, it can be tough at times and nearly impossible to find that right home, even for the perfect dog. “Do I want to get into this,” I thought, and “am I going to have another dog?” I knew from the get-go that this was a hard one, probably impossible, and I did have doubts and concerns, but this guy needed help.

A date was set for him to be transported to a Veterinary in Louisville for his shots/tests and surgery. I drove to Louisville and met the caretaker and Rocky at the Vets office. The family was wonderful and had their children with them who were very fond of Rocky, and I noticed a few tears from the kids during their last goodbye.

He is a beautiful dog, perfectly marked for a border collie, but he was very nervous and scared. “Can I help him?” I said under my breath as I looked at this broken, handicapped, and scared dog. Because he was blind and he needed to go to the surgery prep area, I picked him up, held him close but noticed he leaned his head into my chest for comfort as we walked to the surgery area. After the surgery, I drove back to Indiana thinking about the problems that may arise, the biggest one that came to mind… Where will he live?

That night I added a post to my Facebook page hoping for just one inquiry, someone who could care for him, love him, and give him a chance to live but also help him see through his blind eyes. His outlook was dreary at best. The following day, I went to the computer and punched up my Facebook account, hoping for one inquiry but expected nothing. Our Facebook was on fire; I had nearly thirty-five thousand “likes” and “shares,” something I had never seen. Hundreds of messages were sent, even to my Gmail account, but why? After starting to read them, they were inquiries about Rocky; people wanted him! After answering what I could, I started making a list of people I checked out that seemed like a good match. I was very upfront about his disability because he needed a loving/caring, and knowledgeable home that understood blindness and how to care for him, which might still be hard.

Several months before Rocky came into my life, a family was looking for a second dog to be a companion for their senior dog and had planned to pick up a dog at our farm. On that very day, the wife was involved in an automobile accident, and plans were drastically changed and put on hold. After she recouped for what seemed like a long time, she saw a notice about an available dog on our Facebook page, was this meant to be? I tried to stress the trials and potential problems of having a dog with these special needs. She explained to me that she worked with children and adults that are blind and worked with service dogs. “Why wouldn’t I want a blind dog?” Rocky was cleared to go to his new home that following Saturday.

Nilla And Rocky meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.

Rocky was the joy of their life and traveled in the front seat of their Motor Home and was not now scared to move, and he has developed into a confident dog that is truly happy with his companions.

Rocky, Guinness, and Bear, this was their last trip together.

Several days ago, I received this; “Say a prayer for Rocky; he isn’t doing well. It’s hard that we aren’t home, but I’m glad we are all together, and my Mom is with us. Hoping and praying he will come out of it overnight but suspect he is slipping away.” Later that night, Rocky and Nilla were reunited and are running pain-free over the Rainbow Bridge. Guinness and Bear, their other dogs, are going to miss their brother greatly.

Rocky was a bling dog with countless health and physical issues and overcame all of them with the help of his human parents and Bear, who is another blind dog along with Guinness, all from Clancy’s Dream. He was a great Motor Home companion and always traveled with them to faraway places. This particular trip was Bear's first one with the crew and Rocky’s last one. He was cremated in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and brought home and will be buried on their farm, forever with them.

Rocky took "His" spot in the Motor Home for his final journey back home.

From my point of view, you have to wonder how all the pieces are put together to make so many complicated issues so simple. Look at all the obstacles that were involved with Rocky, but because love, attention, and companionship overpowered the bad, Rocky, Bear, and Guinness have lived and are living a wonderful life. Don’t think we are in control; higher powers are always at play, and the love for each other and our pets can overcome many obstacles if we would just listen; Unbeknownst to me, Clancy's Dream was already in the works; a year before Clancy died... Ken

“With great love comes great heartbreak.” Katie and Brian Crawford

Rest in Peace, Rocky. 3-17-2019

After Rocky had passed, I contacted the caretaker who found him years ago and told her the news.

"Thank you so much for finding him the best home! Also, thank you for letting me know about him! I was just telling a lady I work with about him last week & have been wanting to reach out to you to see how he’s doing. It’s sad that he died, but so heartwarming to know that he had a great life for the past couple of years!!! I very much appreciate all you’ve done!!!"

We’re here to remember…

I heard those words as I sat in the next to the last row at the memorial and funeral of Michael Sorrell our very first foster with Clancy's Dream. I listened to his friends and family tell stories about his life. Some were sad, and some were funny, but all were glowing and spoke of his successes in parenthood, family, relationships, and jobs, but there was more. Michael was a great man, and his life and achievements showed it. The music was pleasant and soothing to my ear and soul and took me right back to my childhood when I played piano for my father in church to gain my allowance.

Michael during a Transport for Clancy's Dream

I learned a great deal about Michael listening to the family and watching people tell their story. Michael was a great man, make no mistake about that and I was humbled by the things he had done with his life. Michael was a dog lover from way back, and he cared deeply about dogs and taking care of them. One of his special dogs was Silver, whom he loved very much and who knows, maybe that's why Michael was led to us.

Michael was our first official foster with Clancy’s Dream. He had contacted us because he wanted to help us with the dogs. No-one knew him and apparently, he found us and wanted to make a difference, and I never asked how he found us, but it must have been fate as sometimes things work in mysterious ways. Michael was a few years younger than me and it was quite a shock that he was suddenly gone.

Michael at the Vet with a rescue.

Melody Reese, a Board Member with Clancy’s Dream and I attended the funeral for Michael because it was the right thing to do and we cared a great deal for him. While I am not a fan of funerals and will avoid them at all cost, even mine, I wanted to go. As we walked into the Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, the first thing, I saw was a display with a Clancy’s Dream shirt that Michael wore along with photographs of him with the dogs he saved and fostered that he cared for so much.

Toby, Michael's first foster before we got him.

I remember the first time I met Michael when he came down to the farm to pick up Toby. Toby was a dog that had lived on a chain his entire life and knew nothing else existed but his circle of dirt and mud. Toby was groomed and sent to Michael, and the magic started, and Toby’s life transformed. Michael had a gift with dogs, and he would be an essential part of their new life. As much as Michael would have loved to have been a foster failure, he said, “If I keep one, then I can’t help anymore.” Michael put the dogs and Clancy’s Dream before himself and his comforts. Mike always got teary and choked up when each dog left for their forever home, and he worried about each one and would always ask about them and would even visit them. Michael never said no to a foster, or he couldn't help us. He did what it took to take care of the dogs, even transporting them at 7 am across town.

In memory of Michael, Clancy’s Dream has created a special fund to honor him. Michael’s Angel Fund, which was mirrored with the Archangel Michael, who is the patron saint of the sick and suffering which we often see in the dogs we take in. Just this Thursday, we found a Border Collie that tested positive for Heartworms and needs help, and he is living in a shelter and needs us. Michael was a true friend to Clancy’s Dream Border Collie Rescue and all the dogs lucky enough to hop into his truck. His memory will live on.

Toby in Mike's truck headed home.

In a small way, I envy Michael because whether we like it or not, this life ends and a new one starts. In my mind’s eye, I have always envisioned heaven as a place where we can be with our dogs, and as much as I pine over mine, I know he did too and now he can visit Silver and all of his past dogs and run with them through the tall grass where no one ever grows tired. I spoke of my Clancy when he first visited the farm, and he knew my pain. Hopefully, Michael will meet him and my Molly, Abbie and even Nellie, Buck, Balti and Oreo because we will forever be connected, he was part of us.

As Melody and I walked out of the funeral home, we talked about dogs needing to come into our fold, "what will we do now, we need fosters." but I knew something always works out when we have a crises because someone is watching over us, and always will and now Michael will too.

Far Far Away, Molly said “Who is this crossing?” while Abbie, Nellie, and Balti walked up, along with a new guy named Buck and a dog named Silver that they just met. Oreo shouted, “He is a rescuer, just like the one who saved me, I can see his heart, it’s pure!” “I can smell the farm, I smell our old home” the others shouted as they met Michael who just crossed the bridge where Silver met him first. Clancy in his somber but strong voice said, “everything happens for a reason.” knowing someday we will all be together.

Rest in Peace Mike, give them all a hug from all of us, we miss them so. Ken