| Checkers, now Scarlett |
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Gender: Female
Age: 4 Years
Foster Home: Carol
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From our Facebook page, June, 2013: "My dog Scarlett passed away peacefully yesterday. I adopted Scarlett at about 5 years old from the Great Lakes Border Collie Rescue. She came to me with a number of physical and behavioral issues. We worked and played hard to make sure she had the wonderful life that she deserved. She became a great dog albeit a bit high maintenance - as Border Collies can be. But she was worth it! After more than 8 years of companionship and love she is now at peace." 
GLBCR offers our condolences on your loss, and thanks you for giving Scarlett such a wonderful home.
Update: Checkers was adopted in April, 2005 and is now known as Scarlett. We received the following update shortly after she arrived in her new home: "I just wanted to thank you again and tell you that everything is
going so well here. I'm definitely going to call the dog Scarlett. I
think it suits her and she seems to like the sound of it. I was rubbing
her belly and for a minute thought about Dottie. She does have spots in
many places. She seems to be really happy. We just went out back and
she peed and ran right back onto the deck. I was typing an email to
Carol and I noticed that Scarlett left the room. I went to the bedroom
to check on her and she was sound asleep on my bed. She looked at me
like, "you're not thinking of moving me elsewhere are you?" But as soon
as I told her to get off, she did. She's gone into the crate a couple
of times on her own. I put a blanket and a small pillow in there and
she was sleeping with her head on the pillow, just like a human. Romeo
sleeps with a pillow for his head too. So far she and Romeo have looked
at each other briefly but no other interaction. Anyway, I just wanted
to let you know that all is well. She seems like she's been here
forever. I have no doubt that she'll adjust just fine."
6/2/2005 Scarlett and her cousin Callie love to play tug on the rope
together. They are best buddies and get so excited every time they get
together. I think Romeo's even getting a little jealous. Yesterday my
mom and both my sisters came over. Scarlett's never met my mom before
and has only seen my sister Karen one other time, the first week of
May. She was so great. She greeted everyone at the door with her big
rope and a wagging tail. No growling, barking, snarling or any type of
aggressive behavior whatsoever. She let them right into the house with
no hesitation and waited, not very patiently, for Callie to get into
the house so they could have a tug of war match. My sister Karen
couldn't believe it was the same dog she met a couple of month ago and
my mom wanted to know why everyone was so worried about her behavior
around strangers. Needless to say, I'm delighted. 
I also want to mention that her hips seem to be getting better since
she's been taking glucosamine/condroitin combo everyday for about 7
weeks now. My massage therapist is going to try and work on her next
week, now that she and Scarlett are such close friends. It's amazing
how different things are from the first week she was here when she
wouldn't let the therapists in the door. Now when they come over she
knows if she's good and patient, they'll play catch with her when
they're done with me. They set up the massage table and Scarlett
immediately lays down directly under the table and doesn't move or make
a sound until I get off the table and tell her it's okay. Then they go
out in back with her and throw the ball about 10 times further than I'm
able to so it's really a special treat for her. That's my update for
now. I could not be happier or more grateful that we found each other.
She's such a great dog and everyday she gets better and friendlier and
more confident. 
1/8/2006 Scarlett is finally recovered from her surgery to the point
that she no longer limps, and in fact, has started to play catch again
just as enthusiastically as before. I have to limit her playtime,
jumping and running distance or she would go all day. She looks so
silly in the area where they shaved her for the surgery. When you look
at her from behind one side has long, flowing hair, while the other has
short, wavy fur. It looks like some sort of innovative, trend-setting,
whacky dog-do. The specialists have told me that she should have the
same surgery done on her other leg fairly soon but we're taking a break
for a while. My vet thinks that since she's not symptomatic and seems
so much better than before the surgery that giving her some more time
to heal and a chance to be a "normal" dog may very well be more
beneficial for her than to start the whole process over again so soon.
Also, I've increased her daily dosage of glucosamine, chondroitin and
MSM and it's been very helpful. She no longer has trouble arising from
any position and her tail, which originally only moved to one side when
she wagged it, now effortlessly moves back and forth. I've added a
homeopathic remedy called Rhus Tox which also seems to be helping. 
During the holidays she and her Sheltie cousin, Callie (see photo),
played together and even performed their special tricks for lots of
different company. It's hard to believe that Scarlett was so fearful of
strangers, to the point of aggression and Callie (also a rescue) was so
timid that she'd cower in a corner, greeted everyone as if they'd known
them forever. They had so much fun teaching each other new talents.
Scarlett taught Callie how to vigorously shake her toys and Callie,
taught Scarlett how to politely share her rope. I was at my sister's
for over a week and felt awful when I had to separate them so Scarlett,
Romeo (my cat) and I could get back home. Both Scarlett and Callie
seemed depressed for the first couple of days after we separated them.
They really had a blast together. Romeo, on the other hand, seemed
delighted to be back in his own surroundings - where he is king of the
world. 
Photos
Videos
Photos
Videos
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