Pepper loved playing ball. When the tennis ball disappeared in the weeds, I’d ask, “Where’s the ball?” He would hurry several feet away, lower his head to touch his nose to the ball, then look up in playful expectation. “I showed you. Now throw it!” Smart as any human child.
Knowing I could not keep him and would have to find Pepper a suitable home, I contacted veteran animal rescuers and was made aware of the large number of cattle dogs and other herders who are euthanized in shelters every day. Within a short time, I found Pepper a home on vast acres of vineyard where he became the unofficial winery tasting room greeter. The seed for dog rescue had been planted.
Herd It Through The Grapevine is a federal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization staffed exclusively by volunteers, founded in March 2011. We specialize in the rescue of Australian cattle dogs (a.k.a. Queensland heelers), Border Collies, Australian Kelpies, and herding mixes from overcrowded shelters in California.
Those just learning about us often ask, “Why a herding dog rescue?” The canine traits I admire most are built into the DNA of herding breeds, most of all Australian cattle dogs. Often misunderstood, they are the James Deans of the dog world, “rebels without a herd.” Those who know cattle dogs will agree that they are smarter than any honor student, incredibly observant and analytical, driven to stay mentally busy, and packed with energy. They have personality to spare and often have willful minds of their own, nipping at your feet to get you going. Best of all, a cattle dog will become your soul mate and will be at your side whenever possible.
The very qualities that make a brilliant natural herder also often cause these dogs to fail the behavioral evaluations used at most animal shelters. These tests are designed to ensure that unsuspecting families don’t accidentally take home Cujo instead of Lassie. Sometimes a mouthy disposition, stubbornness, or a poor response to being confined to a kennel is sufficient for them to be deemed “‘not adoptable.” Unless rescued from the shelter, these dogs are usually euthanized within a short time.
We are often asked what was wrong with a particular dog that caused him or her to be abandoned or surrendered. The answer is, usually nothing. He or she only had the misfortune of being in the wrong human hands. The adolescent and young adult dogs we find in shelters usually end up there when owners finally admit that they are not equipped to manage a powder keg on legs who has been herding their toddlers, bouncing off the apartment walls, chewing furniture, or creating his/her own “job” for lack of any other outlet for an abundance of mental and physical energy.
Regrettably, not everyone who is attracted to these dogs is a good fit to care for them. It is easy to fall in love with the rugged good looks, sturdy medium size, bright playfulness, and unwavering loyalty of a cattle dog, or the sleek beauty and intelligence of a Border Collie. But for people with inappropriate housing situations and insufficient time or commitment to train or exercise a dog, living with a herding breed can be a match made in Hell. That is the main reason many of these dogs end up on “‘death row” in shelters.
These dogs are rarely suitable for first-time dog owners or apartment living. Cattle dogs are loving “velcro” dogs who prefer to stay close to their chosen humans. Being left alone for six to ten hours a day is very difficult for them and often leads to behavioral problems. Herding breeds need to keep their brains busy, exercise to the tongue-hanging-out point (often several times a day), and be guided by experienced leaders who will devote the time and effort necessary to teach them appropriate behavior.
As a small, entirely foster-based rescue, HITTGV evaluates the health, temperament, and behavior of each dog before matching him/her with an appropriate foster home. We work in conjunction with fosterers to address any health issues and training needs so the dogs are properly prepared for a new life. While waiting for that right forever home, our dogs are generally in foster care for three to six weeks. Some, however, find homes as soon as we post their information online. For a few it has taken several months for the right situation to come along.
We have remained small and resisted suggestions to have a central facility to house our dogs. It keeps our overhead to a minimum and is better for the dogs to live with foster families. The number of dogs we save is limited only by the number of foster homes we have. We can always use volunteers with moxie and dog experience to help us save more of these amazing dogs by becoming rescue coordinators, evaluators, and transporters. Contact us if you want to join the cause!
Marina Harrison is founder and president of Herd It through the Grapevine. She came out of early retirement to create HITTGV at her husband’s urging that she find something to do, “Even if it’s volunteer work.” Her dog Tater is the face of the rescue. Her other canine assistants are red cattle dog, Addie, and white cattle dog mix, Luna. Marina is also the author of Tastes of the Pyrenees (published by Hippocrene Books).
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Main article photo by: Courtesy Herd It Through the Grapevine
