Tabitha Update

Here is an update on Tabitha, the heartworm positive dog that we treated earlier this year from her mom, Sarah.

'We feel so incredibly lucky to have found Tabitha! We like to joke that she is just on loan from heaven.

Getting to know her over that last few months has been a true joy for us. She has an affectionate, goofy disposition and is an incredibly fast learner. She loves zipping around the yard with her toys, playing tug-of-war, and snoozing on the couch with her brother Buddy.

Our favorite part of every day is taking her on a hike behind our house where she gets to run off leash, sniff, dig, and chase the occasional squirrel or jack rabbit. We can’t wait to take her cross country skiing with us this winter!

We are so thankful for the NCBCRA and Tabitha’s foster mom, Jean, for helping make our family complete!'

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Tabitha went through so much and we are thrilled to see her thriving in her new home! ❤️

Shelby - The Shy Girl

From Shelby's foster - Peggy:

'When Shelby first came into foster care it was obvious she would be a difficult case. She was the most fearful dog that I had ever fostered. Shelby was afraid of everything... people, sounds, outside, the whole world in general! She was only 1-1/2 yrs old but so fearful it was easy to think she'd never be adoptable. So her rehab journey began. Shelby worked hard for a year but she still was too fearful meeting strangers, so a local behaviorist, Leeron Liftik who works with local shelter dogs, was called in to help. We worked with the trainer for a few months months but she was still not comfortable meeting strangers or being in public places. Sadly, her future was still uncertain.

I decided to try posting her for adoption with the hope that someone would have a lifestyle that could accommodate her issues. Lo and behold, Laurie & Mat applied and ended up adopting Shelby! Paws crossed! It turned out to be a perfect match. Shelby's life is now filled every day with wonderful outdoor adventures and love. She seems to be a different dog with them. She is not only happy but she is thriving as an only dog who gets all the attention. She found not only a great home but the "right" forever home. You go Shelby! I hope you have many happy trails as you live your best life.'

From Shelby's adopter Laurie:

'Thank you, Peggy, for noticing something in our application that caught your attention. Shelby has been an amazing addition to our family here in Truckee. I admit she was extremely timid upon arrival and didn't know what to make of her new surroundings. As soon as she got out of the car, she ran inside and buried herself in our daughter's arms. My husband and I decided to start introducing Shelby to her new environment and went for a walk around the neighborhood. We found she desired to meet every dog that walked by and only stood next to adults if they were holding a leash. 

Fast-forward four weeks, she has blossomed into a loving companion who is the heart of the neighborhood with a personality that is calm, sweet, and non-threatening. Shelby loves to go on long runs, but her absolute favorite time of day when she comes alive, is on the single-track trails. In the short time we've had together, we hiked all over Truckee and throughout Donner Summit. 

I signed her up for a doggie obedience class where we attend once a week with a group of other dogs in the area. Shelby is reserved and chooses to sit on her mat with her front paws crossed, observing the other dogs during free play. The instructor complimented Shelby's skills, noting how well she could catch, and she enjoyed the multiple treats as she continued to show off. Shelby picks up the skills taught in class quickly, but the sound of everyone using their clicker is not her favorite and I would have to agree. 

Matt and I appreciate how Shelby is crate-trained, doesn't go into the kitchen, beg for or eat people's food, and enjoys to snuggle which is a testament to Peggy's unwavering care and love for the past eighteen months.'

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THANK YOU!! to Peggy for taking such great care of Shelby! It takes dedication and love for dogs like Shelby to have a second chance at life. And to Laura for taking a chance on Shelby. It's truly amazing how the right situation and a lot of love makes all the difference! 

Tazz - AKA Jazz - Adventure Dog

From Tazz's mom Patti:


'We adopted Tazz almost 2 years ago. We were looking for a good companion for our other NCBCRA girl, Kylie who was adopted 7 years ago.

Tazz has exceeded all our expectations! She is full of love and enjoys every part of her life. She is obedient and always wants to please. She loves the outdoors like her humans. She makes everything more of an adventure!'

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We love repeat adopters! It means we must be doing something right when people come back for another family member. 🐶❤️❤️🐶

Poppy - From Puppy to Young Adult

From Poppy AKA Bluebell's foster:


'I knew Bluebell was a special girl from the very beginning. She had a bumpy start as a little puppy being given away in a Walmart parking lot. But due to the kindness of a young teenager, she ended up in rescue where she was able to be placed in a home that would appreciate all her amazing potential. She was the sweetest, most cuddly puppy and it was not easy saying good-bye to this baby girl but knowing that she was going to an amazing home made it all worth while.'

From Bluebell, now Poppy's adopters Joe and Sam:

'Hello! We just wanted to send over an update on Poppy (bluebell). She is doing great! She’s now 33 pounds and is BEST friends with our other dog Bo. She’s doing so well on hikes and with other dogs and is obsessed with toys, bones, and fetch. She hasn’t won over our cat yet but they’re making progress. Her tri coloring has really come out on her back legs especially. Her tail is so long and fluffy now and my gosh so cute. We love her so much!'

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It's a wonderful thing to see her doing do well and so happily bonded with her brother Bo. Great video below of how well her training is coming along!

Cooper's Story

Cooper was picked up as a stray and arrived at the shelter with a fractured right femur. Its possible he was hit by a car, but we don't know for sure. He came into rescue and underwent surgery in April (2025). The surgery required a plate and eight screws to repair his fractured leg. Thanks to his foster's dedication to his rehab, Cooper made wonderful progress in his recovery. He was walked on leash three miles every other day and had three to four, five-minute off leash exercise sessions per day. While he will not be a long-distance hiking or running partner or an agility dog, Cooper is more than capable of enjoying daily leash walks and active playtime with his human pack members. He is also “border collie smart” and is always looking for something to stimulate his young brain. He has a good “sniffer” and focus.

Cooper was adopted by a wonderful family and is doing great with his continued recovery. He is living the good life!

We would also like to say a big THANK YOU to Dr. Justin Uhl at Summit Vet Services for his excellent orthopedic consultation and care. Dr. Uhl has treated many NCBCRA dogs and always provides the very best care.

Helping dogs like Cooper is only possible with dedicated fosters and generous donations. His surgery was over $4,000 and we are so thankful that we were able to give him the care he needed.

Fostering Border Collies

Being a foster saves lives! We cover all medical costs, and provide dog supplies as needed. You can foster as much or as little as it works for you. Our fosters are the backbone of our rescue and we could not save these dogs without them. Click the link below to learn more.