If you no longer want to live a sedentary lifestyle…adopt an Australian Shepherd. If you want a relationship that challenges your intelligence…adopt an Australian Shepherd. If you want love, laughter, companionship and loyalty…then definitely adopt an Australian Shepherd. My husband, Doug, and I adopted three Aussies in 2010. We have Pete (blue merle), Parker (red merle), and Cpt. Jack (lethal white); and all of the previous descriptions truly apply to our crew.

[frame_center src="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Aenion-Ace-13-400x252.jpg" href="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Aenion-Ace-13.jpg"]Cpt. Jack[/frame_center]

The intelligence and protectiveness of this breed constantly amazes me. Pete has taught us that he is a true gentleman with us, but watch out if you are a stranger on his property. Parker will tell us where his bones/toys are if he’s unable to reach them (whether under a bakers rack, on a shelf, or in the crook of a tree); and if we can’t see what Parker is looking for, he will keep “talking” to us until we figure it out. Jack has taught us that even though he is deaf, he knows that if he moves the bells on the back door someone will come and open it. At times (I believe), they have taught us more than we have taught them.

Aussies are also known for being Velcro dogs. We have 3 degrees: 1) completely under foot or lying on top of it, should you get to stand still, 2) I am right here watching you and if you go to another location I’ll be there too; and 3) if you are missing something (dog related) come up to my hideaway and more than likely you will find it. The third one is Pete and he makes us laugh with all the stuff he will hoard/cover up in his blanket.

[frame_center src="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Aenion-Ace-08-400x300.jpg" href="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Aenion-Ace-08.jpg"]Meet The Pack[/frame_center]

The energy and speed of these dogs bewilders those that are not used to the breed. When our house-sitter first met the boys, we were talking in the kitchen when she caught “something” out of the corner of her eye fly by the window and wondered what it was – well it was the 3 amigos just playing in the back yard.

With the help of David Thurman and the Aussie Rescue site, we are blessed with three amazing Aussies that keep us constantly on the move, covered with kisses and immersed in hugs.

Toby was born into a world of noises – trucks zooming by, birds chirping, people talking, and the rustling of leaves under his paws. All of which he could not hear as Toby was born a double merle Aussie and deaf.

[frame_center src="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/NacogdochesM-Toby2--400x361.jpg" href="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/NacogdochesM-Toby2-.jpeg"]Toby[/frame_center]

Toby was found as a stray in Nacogdoches, TX, fending for himself. At just over a year of age, he was found and brought into a local shelter. Unfortunately, this didn’t mean that Toby was safe. Many shelters in the southern states are known as kill shelters, meaning that they hold dogs for a short time period and after that time, the dogs who haven’t been adopted are put to sleep.
Toby, while being a friendly and beautiful dog, was classified as a “special needs” dog due to his deafness, and therefore, undesirable to most adopters and this put him in extreme danger of euthanasia.

Thankfully, due to our network of volunteers, Toby was noticed by New Spirit and a plan quickly developed to move Toby north at once in order to save his life. He made the long voyage to Central Illinois to his new foster home that he would share with three other Aussies.

[frame_center src="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSCF0034-400x300.jpg" href="http://www.aussierescueil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSCF0034.jpg"]Toby[/frame_center]

For this previously homeless dog, the experience of living in a house was all new to him. He no longer had to scavenge for his meals, as they now were served in a shiny bowl. He had to learn to navigate a staircase and learn how to be a house dog. He loved having siblings to play with all day long and started to come out of his shell, day by day.

Toby moved to a new foster home (what a lucky guy – two foster families!) to live with a family who had just recently said goodbye to their dog. Each day Toby would lavish love on his foster family as a way to show how grateful he was for the loving home they provided.

Just a short time later, Toby found a forever home with the Carver family from Carbondale, IL. But Toby had to bring his “A” game as he was competing for this family’s love with a little white Aussie puppy! But having the street smarts he did, Toby knew just who would be the deciding vote in the family. He went right over to the young girl and snuggled up to her. The girl fell for him hard and now Toby, a deaf dog living as a stray down south, is a part of a wonderful family for life.

Toby went from having a very sad story of having to find his own food, always being on the move, and not having a warm, dry place to sleep at night to a story with a truly happy ending.