MACH Robin "Little Robin has just achieved the AKC's highest title for an agility dog. MACH! Master Agility Champion. What a success storry. From the streets of the city to the glory of the agility ring! Robin was adopted about 5 years ago by a wonderful person who has put tons of work into training her. Robin has many titles in Obedience and Rally and is a certified Therapy Dog. (read more about Robin below at her other photo) Robin started doing agility just four years ago and has risen through the ranks and a nice pace. She's Patchwork's first rescue sheltie to have achieved this covetted title. We are soooo proud of her! Here's a bit of what her adoptive mom had to say... " She has come a long way from that skinny, no coat dog to a beautiful loving Sheltie. She loves to learn and learns very quickly. We have been doing agility for about 4 years now. She also has her rally excellent title and is ready to show in Utility for obedience. She is a therapy dog in our local hospital and a canine good citizen." CONGRATULATIONS!!!"

Lewis Gets PUBLISHED "“There is a terrible problem with puppy mills in this country. But there is hope. As people become educated, and there is less demand for commercially-bred puppies, there will be more mills closing down. That will mean the dogs that were kept as breeding stock will be looking for new homes. They are not always the easiest dogs to rehabilitate. They do not respond the way we would expect a “normal” dog to react, but with time, patience, and understanding, they can learn to love and to trust. This is a book about Lewis, a sheltie rescued from a life of breeding in a puppy mill. It is also a guidebook for rescues, foster homes, and new adoptive homes looking for some guidance in the best ways to get started with a puppy mill survivor. Enjoy the touching story of one dog’s journey to find himself! http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/655549"

Lilly "Lilly was found wandering the streets of Philadelphia. A kind hearted citazen picked her up and turned her over to rescue. No one was looking for this great little dog. This active girl was adopted into a wonderful home with other active shelties. She fit right in and started a career in agility. Here she is doing her stuff!"

"Austin and Puffin, with a little assistance from their handlers, ran a beautiful Pairs course at the Keystone USDAA Trial on Saturday, Octover 14.   Austin flew over the jumps in his half of the course, zipped through the tunnel, and soared over the A-frame (well not quite soared, but he tried).  Puffin flowed through the weaves, found the correct tunnel entrance, and had beautiful contacts on the teeter.  They took second place, and just missed first place by less than half a second.  (If Austin would really have soared over the A-frame, they would have had first.)  Who would have believed it of these two dogs when they first came into rescue?  And who would have believed it if they knew who their handlers would be?  Kathy and Marilyn are so proud of Puffin and Austin.  They are proud of themselves, too, that they didn't mess it up for these fine dogs :-)"

Austin "Patchwork Finders Keepers aka Austin is truly a rescue success story. He spent the first four months of his life in a mall pet store. Then off to his first home where he lived for only four months, labeled as too rambunctious. He was turned over to rescue where he remained for the next four months. Finally he found his forever home. The dog that had too much energy has now channeled that energy into his performance career. Austin , now 3 years old, has earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizen), his TDI (Therapy Dog International), three flyball titles FD (Flyball Dog), FDX (Flyball Dog Excellent) and FDCh (Flyball Dog Champion), and three agility titles, NJP (Novice Jumpers Preferred), NA (Novice Agility) and NAJ (Novice Agility Jumpers. And he is just beginning... Austin could be the poster child for rescue. Spending most of his early life in a crate, his potential was missed. Now, able to use his energy in productive activities, Austin has begun to shine! Each dog in rescue has that special something, and need only find the right home to bring it out! Watch for Austin at an agility event near you. UPDATE: Austin, now 4 years old, has earned his OA title and his OAJ title in agility. This rescue boy continues to SOAR as he moves into Excellent A!!"

PUFFIN, TDI "Look at this! Puffin the wild child has passed her Therapy Dog test! What an accomplishment. This young lady was bought by a couple out in Pittsburgh when she was 4 months old, she ate the kitty litter so the people tied her to a tree for 4 months. Someone intervened and convinced them to turn her over to sheltie rescue. She was adopted out but came back in a couple weeks becasue the Great Dane in the household couldn't get along with her. I put her back on the web site and she didn't get a single application for two months so I kept her for myself! What a fine girl she's turning out to be! She has graduated from obedience classes, she's dabbled in Flyball, she's currently in a foundation class for agility and her latest claim to fame is passing her Therapy dog test! She's a member of Ches-Mont Therapy dogs where she is part of the drill team, wowing the crowds at the nursing homes. What a long way this girl has come."

Agility Dogs "What a treat to see 4 of my "ex-dogs" at an Agility Trial! All competing and all doing well. How exciting! From left to right we have "Keeta", given up by her owners because all she wanted to do was play with the other sheltie in the household. "Robin", sadly given up by a woman married to a drug dealer. "Lilly", found wadering the city streets and "Tibby", dumped by a sleezy breeder in the western part of the state. All are in loving homes where they are appreciated for their talents. Shine on, girls! You make me so proud!"

Robin "Sometimes in life, we judge a book by its cover. With rescue dogs, so often, what we see when they first come to rescue is only a shadow of what they will become. Robin, is one of those dogs. Her forever "mom" writes: Robin and I met at an agility match. As she was being walked around she came up to me. I thought, Wow, she looks like she should be on the humane society donation collection can, as she was so skinny and had no coat. I heard they were looking for a home for her. She spent the day with me in my tent at the agility show. After a few weeks of talking my husband into a small dog, since we already have a Golden Retriever, Robin came to live with us. Since she became a member of our family, my husband and I and the Golden have come to love her! She is a very sweet dog who has overcome her past, and she is the fastest learner I have ever seen. Show her once and she has it. In less than a year she has accomplished so much. She has her CGG (canine good citizen), TDI (therapy dog international), RN(rally novice), NA(novice agilty), NAJ(novice agility jumpers), two legs on her Open Agility and one leg on her Open Jumpers. She is also working in obedience. She will be ready for her CD in the fall and is working on her Open and Utility on top of that. Thank you Patchwork for giving me Robin...."

Keeta "Keeta the Nose was given up by her owners when she was only ten months old because she was too playful and curious. She quickly settled in at her foster home. Actually, she settled in so well that they adopted her as a permanent member of the household. Keeta was a very quick study at agility. She earned four AKC Agility titles (Novice Standard, Novice Jumpers with Weaves, Open Standard and Open Jumpers with Weaves) in only eight months of competing. Her agility success is welcome and appreciated, but Keeta has earned her spot in the family by just being a sweet and loving companion. Agility has not been the only success of this sweet girl. Keeta worked for several months to prepare for her Therapy Dog International and Canine Good Citizen tests. She passed with flying colors. She is an active member of a group that visits nursing homes. Keeta opens up the show by pulling a little cart which is carrying a little Pomeranian."

Teddy "Success comes in many forms.  Tiny Teddy found his success on a journey down a hallway.  Teddy was found in an overnight bin before he got his new beginning through Patchwork Sheltie Rescue.  He has now found his forever home with the Gilmores from New York. Trini and Bob Gilmore share Tiny Teddy's BIG success story: Our Tiny Teddy came to live with us, Trini and Bob Gilmore, in upstate NY after being lovingly fostered by Patchwork Sheltie Rescue for many months.  Teddy was a very frightened little boy who would simply lie in a corner all day and shake.  He was terrified of doorways and of hallways...we don't know why.  It was many months before Teddy would even try to walk from room to room in his new home.  And it was more than 3 years before he finally conquered his fears enough to walk down the hallway from the kitchen to our bedroom.  That was Teddy's bravest walk ever!!!  He is SO proud of his huge accomplishment and so are we!.  Now he walks down this hall like a pro and he does it with an endearing little swagger. WTG, Teddy Man!" :)"