Welcome to Betsy's Page

"Hello Phyllis, Betsy's new mom and dad, here. What a wonderful week it has been. On Thursday morning I had the privilege of watching Betsy and Bailey in full play mode before I went to work. It was a sight to behold. The two of them taking turns chasing each other in full canine silly time! I had to wait to go to work. When they were done, Bailey came to Alicia and me in the kitchen and had the biggest doggie smile we had ever seen. Later that day Alicia took both girls on a jaunt to bring chili, cheese and onion hot dogs to one of my co-workers and me for lunch. Bailey had been a frequent work companion for me before June's passing, at least three times a month, and the dog lovers at work know Bailey well. They had seen the difference in Bailey after June had to be put down and low and behold, there was truly a change in Bailey when they all saw her on Thursday. As my boss, a fellow dog lover who knew June all her life put it, the "light was back in Bailey's eyes". June never followed Bailey, Bailey always followed June. Now Bailey has a companion who runs to see her in the dog park. We witnessed that tonight. They are both very happy, and so are their humans!

Betsy makes me want to abandon my "scientific" nature and believe that human thoughts are present in dog- that she comprehends what has been done by the rescue and my family on her behalf. I say that because when I come home I get the greatest tail wag (we call it the plume- hey, we're not used to tails!) and so many kisses if it was moisturizer I would never age.

We're working on walking her on a leash. If there is something where she is "border collie typical" it's the reluctance to "heel". Yeah, additionally she's a little jumpy in thunderstorms and wants to get under the bed, but I'll get info on the "Tellington Touch" to see if it helps her out. Frankly I think just being with her for the Fourth of July will help her bond even further with us. She'll get to go to the beach to see the fireworks which, in my 50 years, is the coolest visual display I've ever seen.(It is the beach, after all.) We're a little too far away for the big booms and that's just as well. We certainly enjoy it!

Mark & Alicia Rhoades And Betsy & Bailey!

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