It’s been a very busy year for ARPH and our Illinois rescue volunteers and foster homes. We have averaged almost 2-3 rescues a week coming into our Illinois region. So many Australian Shepherds that were either dumped at shelters, and a shelter is not the place for an Aussie, to families losing their homes and having to contact us to see if we could take the dog that has been a part of the family for years, some as long as 14 years. thankfully we have taken these old timers in and they have found new homes, so life is good as far as all the Aussies we have brought into our rescue.

Lets hope that 2010 will be a little bit slower, and Aussies will have homes and have great times running in the backyard, going for long walks and getting a little daycare time to play and socialize with other dogs, and with other people.

I would like to personally thank all our volunteers for their efforts to transport, evaluate and help our reps with phone calls. I would like to thank the foster homes for taking what can sometimes be rather troubling boys and girls that are just beginning their new lives, and the happiness and the sadness when they get adopted, as they do become part of the family. And to my fellow reps that have taken on duties I like least, and keeping me in check when I speak to soon, or cross tags with the wrong Aussies, and to ARPH for being their with the funds to meet the medical needs of our Aussies, from surgeries from a bad bite, to a scary case of Parvo, to allowing use to take in special need guys that deserve a home as much as our ready to go Aussies.

Merry Christmas and Thanks to everyone, from those that surrender their Aussies to the families that are wanting that Aussie

David