Client Name: Debbie
Patient Name: Madison and Rosie
Rosie
Brief History of Pet
We got Rosie in 2015 after Madison retired from therapy work. I knew I wanted my next therapy dog. But the main criteria were that Madison had to help us choose the dog. So we reached out to a lot of rescues and Come Bye Border Collie rescue had just gotten a dog in that they said was the sweetest dog they had ever seen. Her original name was Charlie, but when we went to pick her up at the rescue, it was on Rose Road, and Rosie just was the right dog for our family and her sweet nature and spunk, Rosie just fit.
Why VSMR?
Rosie just holds herself so tight and has back triggers that she has also used quite a few of the modalities. But originally we started with Rosie because she had chewed her leg raw from ‘allergies’. Turns out that she needed both eastern and western meds to help that and it turns out that combo essentially cleared her.
How VSMR has helped
VSMR keeps Rosie moving so she can share her love with everyone she meets
Additional Information
Rosie loves doing therapy work but also loves doing FASTCAT.
Non-Profit Organization
Come Bye Border Collie Rescue and ARVSS rescue.
Madison
Brief History of Pet
We got Madison in 2011 after watching a friend’s border collie mix. My husband said, “if you can find a dog like that” and that was the exact window I needed! I searched for weeks and we found Madison on the ARVSS website, and they were out of state. They are a small rescue group out of Sun Prairie, WI. Madison (then called Pamona) had come to them as a stray found by a garbage dump in Minnesota. We drove up to do a meet and greet, and we came home with her. Part of why I wanted a border collie was that I really wanted an agility and running partner. Madison’s hips had other plans!
Why VSMR?
When I first had Madison’s hip surgery, a trainer told me to get the surgery done wherever I could afford and then spend the rest of the money of rehab and not to skimp on that. Since I had no idea what I was doing, I started at Care, but I wanted something closer. Many of my training classmates saw Dr. Rosemary, but she was really far north. One day I was at a dog fest and met Amber at her booth. Turns out Dr. Rosemary was her mentor. And we’ve been with Amber and her tech Katie since the start. Madison has used every modality offered by VMSR = her hips were so bad that the original doctor wanted to do FHO on both hips, but I couldn’t find any studies on dogs with two FHOs. So we did the ‘worst’ hip (it was a tossup) and then found Dr. Amber after seeking rehab at CARE in Chicago Ridge. And we’ve been with VSMR since almost the beginning.
How VSMR has helped
Without VSMR, Madison wouldn’t have made it to 15 and be functional. They have helped her at every stage of her disease. They helped get her trial ready when she needed muscle building. They built a strong relationship with her, and she has allowed them to do things that no one else would be able to do. And they have adapted as she’s aged and don’t force anything and let the dog be the guide.
Additional Information
Madison has taken me on such a journey. She was the first dog we adopted and trained. We did obedience (short lived), therapy work, a little agility, and scent work/nose work. I think my best memories are of us going around the Midwest trialing in nose work. She has been such an amazing dog, she is sassy and spunky and smart as a whip. She hasn’t lost any of that as she’s aged. I am still in awe that she made it to 15, given her hip dysplasia and over time the growing/changing osteoarthritis. She is our heart dog and there were just so many firsts. Madison has only really ever been about scent work. Once she understood the game and realized she didn’t need obedience other than to odor and that meant treats – she was like ‘hold my purse’!!
Non-Profit Organization
Come Bye Border Collie Rescue and ARVSS rescue.
Madison passed away last month before this posting. All of us here at VSMR send our heartfelt condolences to her family. She will be terribly missed by all.
