Adopt

Thank you for your interest in a rescued Border Collie! Please review the application process below before submitting your application. Please remember that every person working with WBCR is a volunteer, doing rescue in his/her “spare” time, so the first part of our adoption process (our reference checks and home visit) can take 2-3 weeks or longer depending on the dogs in our program. If you’re unwilling to wait that long, we hope that you’ll consider adopting a shelter dog in need, where the wait is much shorter.

*** NOTE: Because WBCR is a small organization with few volunteers, we only adopt to families in Wyoming, Colorado, and immediately surrounding states.

Please answer all questions completely; incomplete applications will not be processed. Our initial review of your completed application will help us decide whether we may have a dog for you. We know our application is long and detailed, but this information is very important to help us determine if you might be an ideal home for a certain dog in the program. The more information you give us, the easier it will be to do that. Please remember that our top priority is to serve the dogs, and to find the most suitable home for each of the dogs in our rescue. While we enjoy meeting border collie loving applicants, the interests of the dog come first. We don’t have many dogs in our program, which means a waiting game for many qualified applicants.

Once the reference checks are complete & approved, a WBCR volunteer will contact you to schedule a home visit. This is an informal chance for us to get to know you, your lifestyle, home environment and determine which dog(s) in our program might be a great fit. The HV volunteer will discuss what personality traits you’re looking for as well as general breed traits and what to expect when bringing a Border Collie home. He/she will also do a short walk-through of your home and yard to ensure its safety and to advise on any areas of concern. All household members must be present for the home visit. Please understand that the HV volunteer may not personally know any/many of the dogs in our program so may be unable to answer questions about specific dogs. Once the HV report is received by WBCR, it may take a few days for us to collate & review all of the information and get back in touch with you.

Once an application is processed and approved, now comes the fun part! While it’s easy to fall in love with a picture, it is the dog’s personality & temperament that determine whether it may make a great match for you. During the matching process, a WBCR adoption coordinator will contact you to discuss specific dogs within our rescue. We strongly encourage applicants to write down questions they may have about Border Collies, and discuss these questions with the assigned coordinator. We work hard to match your desires with the traits and personalities of our dogs.

Please understand that we only want what is best for our dogs, so if we don’t think a specific dog is a good fit for you, we’re not passing judgment on you/your family but are drawing on years of experience with Border Collies, and, more importantly, experience with the dogs in our program. “First Come First Served” doesn’t apply here as we match each dog in our program with the most appropriate home for him/her, whether that home comes next week or next year!

Once we’ve talked with you on which dogs might be a suitable fit, it is time to set up a meet/meets! Your adoption coordinator will facilitate arranging a meet with your household members, your current dog(s) and the rescued dog. We have experience introducing new dogs, so will help with the introductions of your dog to the rescued dog if applicable. During the meet, keep in mind that rescued Border Collies may be rather aloof/timid at first meeting. While we have seen many meets where there is an “insta-bond” between the new dog and the adopter(s), many times that kind of bonding takes time. The meet is a great time to get any/all questions answered on the dog’s temperament, likes/dislikes, and what will be helpful in establishing a wonderful relationship with your new dog!

Cosmo

Male

Check out Cosmo, a very handsome speckled boy! He came to us from a rural Utah shelter with his brother Kramer. While we don’t know anything about his past, he’s proving to have a heart of gold and he’s adjusting quickly to the good life. He’s just a young lad but a pretty easy going guy. His favorite things include laying down in creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes after a long hike, running fast through the pasture, playing with allllll the dogs that he meets, laying on the cold floor on a hot day, and snuggling up on the couch. Cosmo has quickly learned that people are kind, toys are fun, and dog beds are for him to lay in.

Read more about Cosmo

Although he’s a little unsure about new people, and tends to be ignore most people he encounters, he will definitely attach to his human family. He follows his foster parents around the house and seems like he could become a velcro boy! He most definitely does NOT ignore dogs 🙂 and would love to greet any that come his way. He really enjoys playing with other dogs and will be happiest in a house with a confident, playful dog. Cosmo is working on ignoring cats but he needs more work in that regard, so a feline-free home would probably be best for him. He has been enjoying lots of outdoor adventures and is an active boy but happy to chill and relax once his needs have been met, so just a moderate energy fella. Cosmo is learning quickly but is starting from the beginning! Cosmo has also learned where to go to the bathroom, is cratetrained, and started with some of the basics in his foster home, but his new family will need to be patient with him as like most BCs, he’s sensitive and worries when there are loud sounds and sudden movements. Given this, and the lack of known kid experience, Cosmo will require an adult-only home. All in all, this sweet, speckly youngster is a prize, and whoever brings him home is going to be one lucky family! Currently fostered in Durango, CO.

Libi

Female

Adorable Libi was rescued from a crowded shelter in Utah after being picked up as a stray and never claimed. She is roughly 5 months old now.

This little character is a bit on the shy side and she will do best when provided slow introductions to new people, but once she’s comfortable she LOVES humans and is quite the charming and affectionate pup. She does well with dogs, again, as long as she is provided slow, well managed introductions. She will definitely be happiest in a hone with an older, confident dog to model off of – and if they love to play, she’ll be all the happier! 🙂 Yep, she really enjoys playing with her doggy friends. Libi is currently fostered in a home with five children ranging in age from 5-16 years old, so she is a candidate for sure for homes with kiddos! She loves to play and is figuring out how to fetch. She is quite the active girl and does wonderful on walks, already going about 2 miles a day.

Libi is incredibly smart and a fast learner, and is already housetrained and cratetrained.

We’ll post more about this little lass as we get to know her!

Being fostered in Cheyenne, WY

Malin

Female

Our stunning, pint-sized lilac girl Malin continues to make leaps and bounds with the help of her village! She’s a little over a year old now, and has been blossoming in confidence with dogs and people. While she needs a little extra time and a special chair for meals (her favorite part of the day!), this process keeps her healthy and FAST! She likes other dogs, especially if they’re young and playful, as long as she gets a respectful introduction, and warms up very quickly to women. She takes more time to feel safe with men. She even seems to be cat-compatible with the same management we’d recommend for any adolescent BC!

Malin is ready for the next step on her adventure and is looking for a consistent long term foster situation OR perfect adopter to take her there! Both medical and behavior support are available to help smooth her way.

Currently fostered in Denver area, CO

Nye

Male

Do you love the sweet, sensitive, quiet and loyal type? Here he is! Nye is a cute classic smoothcoat BC who came to us from an Idaho shelter with his two brothers; all were picked up as strays and Nye was by far the most timid of the bunch. His brothers have both been adopted – and now it’s Nye’s turn! Thanks to his outstanding foster families, Nye has come a looooong way from the petrified youngster he was when he first arrived and is proving to be just the sweetest, most gentle lad. While he starts out shy and reserved, he has an incredible capacity to bond deeply with anyone who gives him a chance.

Read more about Parker

We know very little about Parker’s life before he got to us but it likely wasn’t a great experience. Considering how afraid he was initially, he adapted amazingly quickly to his foster home where he learned people could be trustworthy and the world could feel safe. He’s still a little reserved meeting new people, but once he knows you, he gives you his whole heart. He bonded quickly with his foster family, both human and canine. He now regularly shows his sweetest smile, grinning with one side of his mouth anytime he is excited. He gets along well with other dogs and currently lives with three! He is very playful with those dogs who are game, and we think he’ll be happiest with a confident, playful dog in his new home to romp with and role model off of. Parker even gets along well with the family cat, realizing quickly who truly rules the roost. Parker spends his day relaxing on the couch while his parents work from home, heading out with his foster siblings a few times daily to play in the back yard or take a walk. Any movement by the door to the garage elicits excitement with the hope of getting to take a ride in the car with mom or dad and one of the other dogs. Parker is a good athlete who loves to run, though he doesn’t currently seem interested in fetch. He’s just a moderate energy fella who will be happy with this level of exercise daily. Parker came to WBCR with what appeared to be limited experience with living with a family. He is taking quickly to basic training, sitting to go in or out of the house, learning to lie down on cue, and even starting on stay. The little guy figures things out very quickly, adapting to the patterns of the house. He is the only dog his fosters have had that figured out the handles on the patio door, quickly learning he could let himself out if his foster parents didn’t remember to lock the door!!! In the few months that he’s been with WBCR, he has also learned that walks in the neighborhood are pretty fun too. Parker has graduated to off leash privileges and is proving to have an excellent recall. He's also showing us that he really enjoys hiking and to play in the water! Parker will make a super outdoor adventure companion and he would love to live with a confident doggy sibling to play with and learn from. All in all, Parker is a true indomitable spirit We know very little about Parker’s life before he got to us but it likely wasn’t a great experience. Considering how afraid he was initially, he adapted amazingly quickly to his foster home where he learned people could be trustworthy and the world could feel safe. He’s still a little reserved meeting new people, but once he knows you, he gives you his whole heart. 🙂 He bonded quickly with his foster family, both human and canine. He now regularly shows his sweetest smile, grinning with one side of his mouth anytime he is excited. He gets along well with other dogs and currently lives with three! He is very playful with those dogs who are game, and we think he’ll be happiest with a confident, playful dog in his new home to romp with and role model off of. Parker even gets along well with the family cat, realizing quickly who truly rules the roost. Parker spends his day relaxing on the couch while his parents work from home, heading out with his foster siblings a few times daily to play in the back yard or take a walk. Any movement by the door to the garage elicits excitement with the hope of getting to take a ride in the car with mom or dad and one of the other dogs. Parker is a good athlete who loves to run, though he doesn’t currently seem interested in fetch. He’s just a moderate energy fella who will be happy with this level of exercise daily. Parker came to WBCR with what appeared to be limited experience with living with a family. He is taking quickly to basic training, sitting to go in or out of the house, learning to lie down on cue, and even starting on stay. The little guy figures things out very quickly, adapting to the patterns of the house. He is the only dog his fosters have had that figured out the handles on the patio door, quickly learning he could let himself out if his foster parents didn’t remember to lock the door!!! 🙂 In the few months that he’s been with WBCR, he has also learned that walks in the neighborhood are pretty fun too. Parker has graduated to off leash privileges and is proving to have an excellent recall. He's also showing us that he really enjoys hiking and to play in the water! Parker will make a super outdoor adventure companion and he would love to live with a confident doggy sibling to play with and learn from. All in all, Parker is a true indomitable spirit and a joy to live with. He will be happiest in a quiet but active household where there’s another dog (or more) in the home. His confidence has grown immensely with his foster family, and we think he’ll continue to blossom with patient humans who have a soft spot for the shy ones, and who love to help them come fully into their own. Whoever brings this boy home will be rewarded with a delightful and devoted pup! Being fostered in Denver, CO

Octane

Female

Meet Octane! This gorgeous, bright, athletic young girl has a level of dedication that is unmatched, and she is going to make some lucky family the ideal best canine friend. Once you are hers she becomes your shadow…she can’t get enough companionship! Octane is goofy and talkative, sweet and loving, and for those of you who love to play fetch, well, she does too! Her specialty is Frisbee. We’ll be posting a more complete bio on Octane asap.

Being fostered in the Denver area.

Sonny

Male

Sonny is ready for a family to call his own!

We rescued this young smooth coat fella from a Utah shelter in quite literally the nick of time. The shelter staff put out a plea for help because they found him such a super dog, and they are right! Sonny has so many of the traits we love about the BC breed: brains, focus, sensitivity, attentiveness, athleticism – with just a dash of quirky-ness for good measure.

His BC intensity shows around a ball of any kind or a flying disk; he is quite a fetchaholic, eagerly returning the ball to you to throw it again, and he’s game to play with anyone! He’s pretty athletic too, and we think he’d excel at dog sports in the right hands.

Adoption Process

Adoptable Dogs

Adoption Pending…

Western Border Collie Rescue