Friends of Collies and Shelties Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that rescues, rehabs and rehomes unwanted and homeless Collies and Shelties in and around Jacksonville, FL.

When you adopt a Collie or Sheltie, your family will gain not only a beautiful dog, but an intelligent, friendly, loyal and sensitive companion.  One of our primary goals is to match our Collies and Shelties -- who all have individual physical and behavioral needs -- to the home and lifestyle that will best meet those needs.

Our rescued Collies and Shelties come from a variety of sources in NE Florida including: strays found by the public, Collies and Shelties from county shelters, and dogs that are surrendered by families who can no longer keep them for a number of different reasons – often no fault of the dog.  Before adoption all dogs accepted into Friends of Collies and Shelties will be examined by a veterinarian, spayed and neutered, given necessary vaccinations, and any other medical or dental treatments needed.   The Adoption Donation of $300 and other donations go toward the medical expenses for the rescue dogs in our care. 

All the Collies and Shelties in our program live in foster homes where they are treated like family members.  Our foster families give us evaluations of each dog’s personality, physical and behavior traits so that the dogs can be matched with a compatible family.  We want both the dogs and the family to be happy with the matches we make.  After the adoption, we are available to answer any questions you have about the dog’s care and adjustment. 

POEM FROM A RESCUE DOG

Once I was a lonely dog just looking for a home.
I had no place to go, no one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets in rain, in heat, in snow.
I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.

My skin would itch, my feet were sore, and my body ached with pain.
No one stopped to give me a pat or gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet,
and arms so soft that reached down to me and took me off my feet.
“No one again will hurt you,” was whispered in my ear.
“You’ll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear.”

“You will be dry, you will be warm, you’ll have enough to eat.
And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet.”
I was afraid, I must admit, I’ve lived so long in fear.
I can’t remember the last time when I let a human come so near.

As she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,
she told me about this “rescue group” and what it meant to her.

She said, “We are a circle, a line that never ends. 
In the center of it, there is you protected by new friends.
And all around you are the ones that check the pounds,
and those who share their homes with you after you’ve been found.”

“All the other folks are searching near and far,
to find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star.”
She said, “I know there is a family, that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we’ll find them, you just you wait and see.”

“And then they’ll join our circle, they’ll help to make it grow,
so there’ll be room for more like you, who have no place to go.”

I waited very patiently. They days, they came and went.
Today's the day I thought, my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think it wasn’t meant to be,
there were people standing there just gazing down at me.

I knew them in a heartbeat, I could tell they felt it, too. 
They said, "We have been waiting for a special dog like you.”

Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live and all you’ve given me.
But most of all, protect the dogs in the pounds and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person to them to lift them off their feet."

By Arlene Pace-September 18, 1998

When I wrote this poem it was inspired by my foster Sheltie "Patchie" who, by the way, is in a home where he is the light of their eyes. I think now that it is more in the way I see the rescue efforts of all the people that are doing such a great a job all over this country. So I wish to dedicate this poem to all of you in rescue, the doers, the helpers, the donators of money and/or time and tears.