HSS is a 501(c)(3) Charity
Organized Nov. 4, 1998

Number of Shelties Rescued by HSS since 1998:
 825 total / 79 in 2008 / 160 in 2005, our record year
due to intakes from Hurricanes Katrina & Rita
 

Ways to Help HSS Fund Raising

Please mail your tax-deductible check or money order to the address in the sidebar. Encourage your friends, families, and co-workers to make us one of their charities. We will send a note and tax receipt for donors' records. 

Have your Randall's Card programmed to our charity number 8533. 

HSS has been approved for Kroger's new share program.  Go to:  www.krogerneighbortoneighbor.com and click on "Find Your Organization."  Type in Houston Sheltie Sanctuary, print out the letter with our barcode and present to the checker, along with your Kroger Plus card.  HSS will then be linked to your Kroger card. 

Additionally, when you shop on line through IGive, a percentage of your purchase is paid directly to Houston Sheltie Sanctuary. Click on the graphic below and look for your favorite merchants; then click through to them from IGive, and you will automatically be helping our Shelties while you enjoy your shopping.

 
 
Houston Sheltie Sanctuary, Inc.
PO Box 840235
Houston, TX 77284-0235
 

Updated
 01/04/09 08:19 PM

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."
~ Roger Caras

Our Shelties
Available for Adoption
Or Going Through Rehabilitation

Page 3

To completely understand how HSS works, be sure
 to carefully read about our rescue Program

 Before you make an adoption decision, please read
 Connie's brief article about special needs Shelties
 and Joan's article about senior Shelties.

[Sheltie Standard from the AKC Page]

The Shetland Sheepdog

Coats

One of the most beautiful, intelligent, active dogs in the canine world, Shelties can have "coats of many colors" and thicknesses, though the AKC Standard is double-coated, dense, and flowing.  The coat needs thorough brushing at least once a week.  Due to their thick double coats, our Shelties must live indoors in Houston's hot, humid climate.  Color Codes:  S/W (sable [tan] and white; usually just called a sable; there are many variations such as mahogany sable and white, shaded sable and white, golden sable and white, etc.; this is the color most people regard as 'like Lassie'; the shaded and mahogany sables are not Tri's); TRI (black, white, and sable; many people confuse this color; the dog is mostly black and white with a bit of tan, usually on the face and forelegs); BI-BLACK (black with white markings; there is no sable in a bi-black); BLUE MERLE (usually called a 'merle': 'blue'/silvering pattern on tri or bi-black genes, some tan; often with blue eyes or one blue and one brown eye); SABLE MERLE (mostly sable with merling effect); DOUBLE MERLE (two merling genes; lots of white with the rest of the colors diluted); BI-BLUE (no tan); WHITE FACTORING (more than 50% white); CHW (COLOR-HEADED WHITE) (body is white-factored; head is 'colored').  See Athro Limited for explanations of genetics and examples; Kyleah's Sheltie Coat Page and  Dogpatch's The Sheltie Photo Album for more variations, information, and beautiful full-color examples. 

Size

As one of our veterinarians once remarked, Shelties can be "gazelles or tanks."  These differences are not necessarily because of breeding but of genetics: the Collie, Sheltie, Border Collie, and Australian Sheepdog all descend from the same working dog in the Shetland Isles; then there were many breeding experiments to produce the breeds we see today.  The AKC Standard for American Shetland Sheepdogs is 13-16" tall at the top of the shoulder. The correct way to judge the height is with a wicket.  The AKC does not specify weight, but most in-size Shelties are 15-30#, though we've seen them as small as 8-12# and as much as 40+#.   Most Shelties fall in the taller range, though some are certainly smaller.  The smaller Shelties, though adorable, are under-sized.  There is no such dog as a 'miniature' , 'mini', or 'pocket' Sheltie.  Any breeder claiming to breed 'miniature' or 'pocket' Shelties would not be recognized by the AKC or ASSA and is undoubtedly contributing to genetic and health problems in this kind of breeding.  Over-size means the Sheltie grew out taller than 16"; and some Shelties do approach the size of a small Collie, but Shelties are not 'miniature Collies.'  The best way to tell the difference is to note that the Sheltie's head is more wedged-shaped, the muzzle is shorter, the stop (point where the muzzle meets the crown of the head) is more pronounced, the body is more compact, the legs shorter.  

Temperament

Shelties are sweet, gentle, alert, extremely intelligent, loyal, eager to learn and please; they are also very comical: enjoying fun times and jokes, followed by their famous "Sheltie Spins and Smiles," floor pats, leaps, and requests for tummy rubs.  They can also be shy with people they do not know and should never be forced as they will warm up in their own time. If they don't to a particular person, then there may very well be a good reason!  Most Shelties adore children and get along well with other pets; sometimes they delight in herding family members and cats, but it's all in fun, as one sees in the bright eyes and famous grin.  Some descriptions of our breed claim they are not 'guard dogs,' but many Shelties are extremely protective of their families and terrific 'alerters' to anything they don't feel should be in their territory.  This is why they are frequently regarded as 'barkers,' but they were originally bred as herding dogs: hence the barking and protection instinct, which we in our program regard as pluses in their behavior.  Most Shelties can be trained to quiet on command after being praised for alerting the family.

NB: Prospective adoptive homes, please remember that the nature of Shelties is to be shy with people they don't know; most warm up quickly, but adoptive homes should be aware this can take 2-3 weeks, especially with rescued Shelties, many of whom have been through abuse, neglect, trauma, and medical problems.  Owner relinquishments can also be vulnerable to shyness because they are going through enormous changes in their lives; they do not understand why they have lost their homes and often need special understanding.  We always keep our Shelties in foster care for at least two weeks to assess their temperaments and behavior.  Because our Shelties are rescues needing special understanding and care, to protect both our dogs and very young children (the coordinators are parents as well as dog lovers), we do not adopt to homes with children under age five.  After adoption, patience and TLC will bring your Sheltie out, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful companion dog.  Also, a lot of applicants want youngsters and the newest dogs as soon as they come in.  Please remember that all our dogs, including the delightful seniors and special needs Shelties, are wonderful and need loving homes.

If you are unfamiliar with Shelties or would just like to learn more about the breed, see The American Shetland Sheepdog Association, The American Kennel Club, Commonly Asked Questions about Shelties, and Beverly Miller's Sheltie FAQS.

Summer in Texas: Please read about Leaving Dogs Alone in Cars

PET THERAPY

Shelties makes great Therapy dogs! Pet Therapy is a wonderful volunteer program training owners and their dogs to work in hospitals and assisted living environments to bring a little sunshine to the lives of patients and senior residents. This one offers free CGC [Canine Good Citizen]  training classes to prepare them to take the test required for Pet Therapy.  

Faithful Paws Pet Therapy Group [Church's Web Page]
http://www.umtv.org/archives/faithful_paws.htm
Vickey Willard's webpage for the group [Vickey is an HSS volunteer and trainer]
http://www.geocities.com/vwillard61/FaithfulPaws_Pet_Therapy.html

[See the side bar of the main page for more links to boarders, groomers, trainers, etc.]

Prospective adopters  must carefully read about our program,  have the application completed, and the home visit done.  For the reasons we explain in the program description, we do not adopt out of state.

Codes Below: OR (Owner Relinquishment to our program); OTI (Owner Turn In to area shelter); Vetting/Clinicals (dog is in one of our clinics for work-ups); UTD (dog is Up to Date on vaccinations and heartworm preventive); HW+ (dog tested positive for heartworm disease and is going through treatments; should have a re-check 4-6 months after adoption); HW- (dog tested negative for heartworm disease and is on preventative; should have a re-check 4-6 months after adoption); Split Treatment (HW treatment injections are being split over a month in a severe case of the disease--a bit easier on the dog who is 'loaded' with heartworms or otherwise medically compromised); URI (Upper Respiratory Infection); UTI (Urinary Tract Infection); Hooks and Whips (worm infestations); PB (the Sheltie is a purebred; all our Shelties are PB unless otherwise indicated); Sheltie X (the Sheltie is a Mix, which we determine as best we can with our veterinarians); yo (year old; example: 3yo); mo (month old; example: 6mo). 

Shelter Abbreviations: HCAC (Harris County Animal Control--Houston), BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control--Houston), CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection--Houston), SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), MCAC (Montgomery County Animal Center--Conroe), VAP (Volunteers for Animal Protection--Kingwood), TF (Twyla's Friends--Kingwood), TLAC (Town Lake Animal Center--Austin)

Before adoption, all HSS Shelties are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and treated for initial ailments as much as possible within the scope of our rescue program. 

Sometimes we have dogs that cannot be adopted due to major medical issues or advanced age complicated by medical issues. We keep them in permanent foster care as program dogs as long as they need us. See Sheba's wonderful story of a shelter and volunteers who were determined to help her at http://www.houstonsheltiesanctuary.com/Program_Dogs.htm

Most of our rescued Shelties are older. Please read about the joys of adopting these wonderful dogs at http://www.houstonsheltiesanctuary.com/In_Praise_of_the_Older_Dog.htm and think about giving your home and heart to a senior dog who needs you and will give back so much.

We have a lot of males right now: even if you had always thought you wanted a girl, please consider one of these wonderful, affectionate boys as your companion dog. Visit them and talk with their foster homes.

Note about the popular small, young females: In the last few years, we've been taking in ~100 dogs/year.  Of these, about 40 will be female - we tend to get more males.  Of those 40, perhaps 12-15 will be 4 years old or younger - we tend to get older dogs.  Of those 12-15, perhaps 6-7 will be on the small side of standard, or smaller - Shelties are notorious for going oversized.  Of those, perhaps half will be temperamentally suited for a home not actively engaged in agility or a similar performance sport.  3-4 dogs out of 100, and "small young female" is our most often requested category of dog.  Please understand that the more narrow your requirements, the fewer dogs that you may have to choose from.  And there are so many males and older dogs of both sexes and all sizes who need loving homes.

	Adoption Pending! Cato Cato is an OR due to family circumstances.  He is 6 years old, 16 inches, 37 pounds (needs to lose ~10 pounds), UTD, neutered, HW and fecal -.    Cato's foster mom writes: Cato is a treasure with all the great Sheltie qualities. He is beautiful with a glorious coat and even temperament. He is house broken, well trained, has 'sit, stay, down, come, roll over and etc' down to a science. He is happy-go-lucky and active and gets along well with everyone in the household. He loves to go anywhere with you, riding in the car or walking in the woods and is always near just in case he is needed.  He would do best in a household with other dogs or kids to play with but seemed quite happy to be the only dog in his previous household. He sleeps in his dog bed at night or lounges on his pillows during the day waiting for the next activity. He has great potential as a therapy dog and would be wonderful visiting nursing homes or schools.   Cato's foster dad writes: Overall he is a wonderful dog  to have around the house.  He does not get on the furniture or rip things up at all.  He will alert to strangers coming to the house but he is not aggressive and he gets along well with other dogs of a wide range of sizes.  He can be noisy in the yard alerting at neighbors etc.  He is reasonably well trained but needs more work with walking and will need consistent refresh training.  He shows no interest in playing fetch with a ball or anything else and is not inclined to run around much.  Generally, he will stay by me and lay on the floor.  He is unlikely to be good with agility or other sports with the exception of perhaps hiking. Please check back for further updates. Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Bert Bert was found as a stray in Pearland.  He is ~7-8 years old, 14 inches, 24 pounds, neutered, HW and fecal negative.  Bert came into the Program with a severe cough and has been diagnosed with chronic airway disease.  This condition could have been caused by chronic, untreated allergies or by living with a smoker.  Our clinic has prescribed some medications which are already easing the cough considerably.  We will monitor this condition over the next few weeks.   An update from Bert's foster mom:   Bert is housetrained and crate trained (but prefers not to be crated!) He will sometimes whine for petting or attention. He likes to be petted, and is content to sit at your feet. He likes his food, and will bark to advise us that it is time to be fed. He is good with the kitty-cats, curious, but doesn't chase them. Bert gets along with our resident Shelties, Jake and Max, as long as they don't get close to his food or toys when playing. He doesn't mind if I put my hand in his food bowl, however. Bert will play tug with toys with me, but is still learning to "drop it" or "bring me the toy". He wants to play with Jake and Max, but is not quite sure how to get them to play. He was probably an only dog, focusing all of his attention on his people.  He loves  men. He is very obedient, knows "sit" and "shake". Bert will bark at us if he wants to go outside or to let you know that he is ready to go back inside! He will come when called and he follows us around in the yard or sits next to us on the patio. He is a very sweet little guy who deserves a loving home.     Please check back for further updates.  Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Ready For Adoption! Misty Misty originally came into the HSS program in 2001 after her family dropped her off at a shelter.  She was adopted a few months later.  Misty was recently returned to our program due to family circumstances.    Misty is 13-1/2 years old (DOB 1/18/95), 13-14 inches, 19 pounds, UTD and spayed.  Though Misty is a senior dog, she still has a lot of life and love to give and is hoping to find her forever home.   Misty's foster mom's update:  Misty is house trained and crate trained.  She is very sweet and loves attention but is also content to just lay around.  She jumps readily into the crate when it's time for bed.  I'm amazed at her energy level, considering her age.  She really scoots!  Misty is happy to see me when I get home and bounces and jumps from side to side, even doing the "play posture".  Her appetite is good.  She really enjoys her walks, moving along quickly with her tail wagging.  Misty needs to be in a home with no other dogs and no cats.  She will chase cats.  Other dogs make her very anxious and nervous.  Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Prancer Prancer was found as a stray in south Houston with a collar so tight it was strangling him.  He is 4-5 years old, 14 inches, 22 pounds, not neutered, HW+.  Prancer will begin HW treatment on 12/29 and be available for adoption ~2/25. An update from Prancer's foster mom: What a doll!  Prancer is an incredibly sweet cutie.  His tiny little face with those beautiful eyes will melt your heart!  He is just perfect and does not exhibit any shyness what so ever.  Prancer loves to snuggle, give kisses, and receive pets, especially tummy rubs.  He gets along well with his doggy roommates and enjoys following the others around the house.  He is very playful but also he is quite content being the ultimate lap dog.  Please check back for further updates.   Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Simon Simon is an OR due to family circumstances.  He is 9 months old (DOB 3/17/08), 14 inches, 23 pounds, UTD, neutered, HW and fecal -.  He will be available for adoption ~1/5.   Simon's foster mom writes: Simon is a delightful, gorgeous young dog. He is full of energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for any activity going on in his vicinity. He particularly adores kids: has spent the last 2 weeks chasing and being chased by my 5 year old Grandson.  On a visit to Petsmart, he was curious and somewhat reserved but did well when strangers wanted to pet him. He has learned to be kenneled and seeks his kennel when he wants to rest.   Like many adolescent dogs who come into rescue, he is lacking in training, and will need a firm hand to guide him.  He is nearly house trained, and his foster home is working on basic obedience and leash training, but he will need a home committed to continuing these exercises.  For this reason, we are looking for a home with training experience, or one willing to IMMEDIATELY enroll him in classes. Because of his youth and energy, he should not be left alone and unconfined in the house. If  he gets bored, he has been known to nibble on things like shoe laces and removable insoles but generally he is not destructive if he has toys and chew things for entertainment. Please check back for further updates.   Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Marty Marty was a stray turned into HCAC.  He is ~1 year old, 12 inches, 10 pounds, HW-, has been treated for whipworms.  He is being treated for noncontagious demodectic mange around his right eye.  He was neutered on 12/22 and will be available for adoption ~1/10.   An update from his foster home:   He is as cute as can be, lively and always wanting to play.  He seems to be very smart and has done well on walks with the leash.  We have not had any accidents in the house.  At their age our resident Shelties, Skippy and Sara, don't like to play as much as this boy does!  We have been crating him at night and that doesn't seem to be an issue. Please check back for further updates.   Prospective adopters must carefully read about our program, have the application completed, and the home visit done.
	Please follow the links below to see our precious Senior and Program Shelties! Most of our rescued Shelties are older - please read about the joys of adopting these wonderful dogs at http://www.houstonsheltiesanctuary.com/In_Praise_of_the_Older_Dog.htm and think about giving your home and heart to a senior dog who needs you and will give back so much. We also have dogs that cannot be adopted due to major medical issues or advanced age complicated by medical issues. We keep them in permanent foster care as program dogs as long as they need us. See our very special Seniors and Program shelties at http://www.houstonsheltiesanctuary.com/Program_Dogs.htm
	Courtesy Cross Post for Houston Collie Rescue! No one capturing your heart on these pages?  Our friends at Houston Collie Rescue often have small Collies available for adoption.  See their available dogs at http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TX197.html.
	More Shelties on Page 1 More Shelties on Page 2 More Shelties on Page 4

HSS Coordinators

Houston Sheltie Sanctuary, Inc.
PO Box 840235
Houston, TX 77284-0235
SHELTIE LINE & FAX: (281)-859-0146
E-Mail: Connie / Linda / Joan

Houston Sheltie Sanctuary is a Member of

 

Adoption Program I Adoption Application I Foster Application I Donations

© 2006 Houston Sheltie Sanctuary, Inc. Rescue Program
Saving Precious Lives since 1998
All rights reserved and protected by Federal Copyright Law.
Website created and maintained by Joan McAninch Samuelson
Updated 01/04/09