Blink's Story
by his parents, Tom & Michelle Nesselt
Blink on the couch with something good to eat! |
On February 12, 2001 my Border Collie, Cody, died at the age of eight, due to biting a poisonous frog. It was a very tragic time in our lives; it was like losing a child. It was hard not having him around, even though we had two other dogs. I didn't want to rush into getting a puppy right away, as I knew we needed to grieve over his loss. I prayed every night that Cody would in some way send us another Border Collie when the time was right. In my dreams I kept seeing a Border Collie with a lot of white on his face. |
In March I started making a few phone calls trying to find someone who had Border Collie puppies for sale. We had no luck with anyone in the Florida, being as they are not as popular down here. One day in April we were looking through a dog book and saw they had some rescue sites listed in the back of the book. I said to my husband, "I wonder if there is a Border Collie Rescue?" and began looking on the computer immediately. We came to the East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue web site and began looking at the adoptables. As soon as I saw Blink's picture, I knew that he was the one. I fell in love with him.
I called his foster parents, Elaine and Bob, right away. I had to leave a message and anxiously await a returned phone call. Well, I got a call late that evening, and he sounded like the perfect dog for us . However there was one problem: someone had called before me that lived locally and was going to visit him the next day. My heart was broke, now I knew I would have to wait one more day before I would hear if we would be considered for adopting him. Well, as it turns out, Elaine called me the next day and told me the good news. We were so excited and now we would have to begin making travel plans from Florida to Tennessee. We had to wait about three weeks since Elaine was treating him for heartworm and also having him neutered. We kept in touch almost everyday via e-mail.
We left May 17 and began our 16- hour drive to pick up Blink. We arrived the next day and Elaine and Bob were out on a walk with all the dogs. The anticipation was building. I kept looking out the window and finally I saw them coming; we were so excited and couldn't wait to meet Blink. He was so shy and only wanted to come up to us on his terms. He was very attached to Elaine and Bob. We spent the whole weekend at their house and Blink was warming up to us little each day. |
Picking up Blink at Elaine & Bob's in Memphis, TN on May 18, 2001 |
We not only got Blink that day, we also became very close with Elaine and Bob. They are the most wonderful people you could ever meet. Now I know why she is a foster mom; she opens up her house and her heart to not only us but Blink. When she found Blink he was a stray that lived on the streets and the pound had called Elaine to pick him up. She wasn't really looking to take in another rescue right away, but she couldn't walk away knowing they were going to put him to sleep. I am so grateful to her for doing what she did.
Blink has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives. It was very heart breaking when it came time to leave Tennessee. Blink jumped right in the truck, but when the door was closed he was looking out the window like he was confused. We drove out of the drive and he stood up in the back window. I cried the whole way out of Memphis. When we got into Florida (after seven hours in the truck, still along way from home) Blink jumped into my lap and stayed there with me a few hours.
When we arrived home he went running through the yard and around the pool, instantly herding the Jack Russell. We also have horses, pigs, and cats, and there's nothing Blink won't herd. He loves being at the barn and when he's in the house he's next to you always wanting to loved on. I taught him tricks, he knows sit, shake, down, roll over, play dead. He is just the coolest dog; so smart, willing, and loving. He also travels with me a lot to rodeos and barrel races. He loves watching the barrel racing. He wishes he could be out there running with the horses.
 Blink herding the pigs |
Anyway, I just want to thank Elaine and Bob for giving Blink another chance at life, East Tennessee Border Collie Rescue for putting his picture on the internet, and Cody for sending us a very special dog.
Sincerely,
Tom and Michelle Nesselt (Blink's parents)