Minnesota Sheltie Rescue

Meet the 2012 MNSR Calendar Dogs! These 12 furry and fabulous dogs epitomize the mission of MNSR and why we work so hard to find the best and last home for Shelties in need. Their stories are echoed in the hundreds of dogs that have come through this organization and found their forever families through the tireless work of our dedicated volunteers and supporters.

To see the beautiful portraits of these dogs, visit our store at http://cafepress.com/mnsrstore You can order a copy of the 2012 MNSR Calendar for the Sheltie-lover in your life. All proceeds go to support Shelties just like them find their very own best and last home.

January: Bella

Bella began her life in South Dakota. Picked up as a stray, she was sprung from impound by another rescue group, but she didn’t do well in her foster home with all the other dogs and eventually found her way to MNSR. Her forever family figured out that she needed a quiet and predictable family and household routine where she could blossom into the princess that she has become...a very verbal princess...who dines every morning on her own doggie food, but also a bite of peanut butter toast and a piece or two of Fiber One cereal. She also loves any type of cooked vegetable. She fills her day with her many royal duties: listening for and alerting her people of the mail truck & Fed-Ex, chasing squirrels out of the backyard, greeting all visitors with wild barking and circles, and "helping" with all projects by never being more than 5 feet away from her people. She loves listening to conversations and watching the TV for anything with 4-legs. Oh, and she really likes cheering on the Packers in her little jersey. She loves wrapped packages under the Christmas tree and guards them for weeks. Her favorite napping spot is in her fancy wicker kennel, although she no longer needs it to hide, it is now the perfect spot from which to survey her kingdom. When she first entered her forever home, there was no sign of the loving, playful, joyful dog that she has become. Her forever family has helped build her confidence and provided this little girl, who came to them shy and cowering, a place to truly grow and develop into the princess she has become.

February: Murray
Murray (formerly known as Gibson) spent the first few years of his life in Duluth and out on the Iron Range. He met his forever family in January 2010, making a move to the big city of Minneapolis. His current hobbies include head-butting his owners, chasing squirrels, and executing complex tricks (he rolls over!) for any neighborhood child who's willing to watch (and maybe offer a treat). Oh, and he patiently waits for his dad to offer him a piece of banana each morning. 

March: Harper
Surrendered by a family that could no longer keep him, Harper joined his forever family just this past July, 2011 and has become quite the velcro dog to his mommie. He loves playing frisbee, going for walks, and playing at the dog park. Somewhat shocking for a Sheltie, Harper is not much of a foodie, but he does love his special bacon treats. His habit of drinking water only in the middle of the night is quite amusing to his forever family. This charming boy is so happy to have found his forever home!

April: Shasta
Shasta was purchased from a breeder and eventually surrendered to MNSR shortly before her second birthday in 2008. She spent about a month with a great foster family where she began to adjust and learning some agility. Shasta has continued an agility regimen with her new little human, and has learned a whole array of tricks. She is a fast learner, loves to perform, play Frisbee, pull the little human on a scooter, and snuggle. We knew she found her permanent home when we read the fine details of her papers and found Shasta and her little human share a birthday! 

May: Daphne
Hi! My name is Daphne. I came to MNSR because someone in my previous family broke out in hives around me. (As you can see from my picture, I’m not really a hypo-allergenic dog!) My forever family adopted me in June 2009 when I was 6 and promptly put me on a diet. I didn’t have any choice in the matter, but I lost 10 lbs. and no longer waddle. I’ve even run two 5Ks and gone hiking several times.  I was a bit shy at first, but quickly settled in to my new home. My favorite thing to do (after eating) is to hang out with my humans whether it be napping at their feet, going for a jog or pouncing on them in the morning as they’re waking up. I think I’ve got it made. Tari and Fingal (the other Shelties) have to do agility tricks to get fed. I just have to look cute.

June: Nicki
Nicki found her forever family after being shuffled around a bit in the first part of her life. She was shy and timid, but loved to snuggle. She did not know how to play and was very cautious to go outside on walks. She was also very aggressive over “her food and her treats”...over the past 9 months with her forever family Nicki has blossomed into an amazing friend. She now leaps when her leash is taken out and eagerly follows her Sheltie sister Madison to every good sniffing spot along the route. Over the past month Nicki has started to figure out that toys can be fun and she is now accepting of eating with her new sister as well. (She knows there is plenty of food for everyone!) Nicki still gets upset when her people leave and is waiting at the door when they return, eager to snuggle. If Nicki feels she is not receiving an ample amount of affection, she will place her paw on her people’s leg until she gets the snuggles she’s after. (And she knows there are plenty of snuggles to go around too!)

July: Lizzie
Hailing from parts unknown, Lizzie came to MNSR from another rescue group. Lizzie is now the apple of her mom and dad’s eye. She is the queen of her castle and surveys the entire neighborhood from her throne at the front window. Perhaps one of her most highly trained skills is her ability to keep any and all squirrels from entering her beautifully fenced yard. This champion herding patrol dog also knows how to keep other Shelties in the fence - when a visiting neighbor dog managed to squeeze under the bottom of the fence, Lizzie (or should I say “Lassie?”), alerted her dad of the escapee and a missing dog crisis was successfully averted! This girl is all about playtime...oh, and snuggle time...and snack time too!

August: Bella
Tiny little Bella is a joy to behold! This petite little package could be mistaken for a bear cub! She first came to MNSR through another rescue group. Bella has found her forever home with a wonderful family who was missing having a pair of Shelties. Her new sister Dellie is so happy to have new sibling to go one walks with and romp around the yard. Little Bella is just as happy to have both the perfect package of canine and human companionship - there’s always someone around to snuggle with!

September: Willie
Willie actually chose his forever family all on his own. He came to MNSR after suffering the trauma of being out in the countryside on his own for who knows how long, he was too terrified to allow humans to approach him. After seeing him around their home for weeks, some good samaritans managed to trap him with the use of a live trap. Starving and scared, he came to MNSR to learn that there was a family just for him. After coming out for some other MNSR business, Willie’s soon-to-be new dad, peaked in on the terrified new arrival. As he picked him up, he melted into his new dad’s arms and looked up into his eyes - those of us in the room knew that it was all over except the paperwork to make it official. In his forever home Willie has learned that his people love him, that there is plenty to eat, and that there are plenty of toys to play with and plenty of room on the couch for snuggling. He now spends his days chasing and romping with his Sheltie siblings Bella, Pinga, and Gopher.

October: Buddy Bear
The first half of Buddy Bear’s life is a mystery...he showed up at a farm in Wisconsin and the older couple there was unable to keep him, but tried to find a home for him through the local paper, which is how he found his way to MNSR. His mom vividly remembers that first meeting: “I remember I fell in love with him the day I met him.  He has an endearing look to him.  He whirls his tail when he gets excited and also prances on his front paws.  He is so adorable.  He loves to eat fresh raspberries and cherry tomatoes from my garden.  He is an awesome traveling companion and I can take him anywhere.  He has traveled to Canada, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.  He enjoys the outdoors and goes camping with us.  His favorite activity is to chase squirrels and be outdoors.  He always wants to be with his owners or go and visit my neighbor, Sharon, his second Mom who takes care of him.  She gives him his favorite treats - dog biscuits or goes to the tomato garden she has planted, just for Buddy.”

November: Nala
Charming little puppy Nala is all grown up! Coming into rescue from a backyard breeder situation, this little girl is happy to have landed in a forever home that can handle her high-drive. This high-energy girl keeps her new mom on her toes. She’s always ready to play ball, chase some squirrels, or brush up on some of her many tricks.

December: Mason
Surrendered to a shelter in ND with several of his relations, probably from a backyard breeder or puppy mill situation, Mason made his way to MNSR. When his forever family first met him in 2006, they knew he was a high-energy dog and that he needed a fitting name...they started at tornado, hurricane, tsunami...all storms - and then his dad hit on the perfect name - Mason Storm, a movie character. And Mason is certainly a character! He lives to play - and eat - but won’t play fetch. His favorite part of the day is breakfast (and dinner) and when he’s finished with his meal you can often find him napping either on top of or under the bed!