KELSIE’S STORY   2018  

Sweet Kelsie was a MSR Forever Foster. This special girl came into rescue in early September. She was an 11 year old spayed female whose elderly humans weren’t able to take care of her any longer.

Kelsie was playful and fun-loving, always looking for a playmate, a pat on the head or a good ear scratch. Because she was so active, her foster family says no one would ever recognize her senior status. She had a good understanding of human language, was very obedient, and loved to be to be close to her favorite humans.

But Kelsie also came in with serious health problems. She had terrible allergies which are symptomized by her constant scratching. She was on medication to help her control the itchiness and to live more comfortably.

She had a large mass on her neck. Early tests showed this to be a probable carcinoma. Further tests revealed an inoperable thyroid tumor. As a result, she had become a Maine Sheltie Rescue Forever Foster.

The costs for Kelsie’s ongoing care was substantial. We hope you will be inspired by her story to help Maine Sheltie Rescue continue in our work to help other Shelties like Kelsie.

2019:  Kelsey was still with MSR.  She wrote a piece for our Newsletter.

To read this happy piece telling about her life in foster care, click HERE!

2020:  Amazingly, with all of Kelsie’s medical issures, she continued to thrive in her Forever Foster Home.  She got the best care.  Her tumor had remained unchanged, and she continued to be her spunky happy self.  MSR continued to pay for her food and medications.  We are grateful to her Forever Foster Home who also fosters other dogs as there is a need.  Kelsey enjoyed these visitors and loved her human family.

2021: At 13 years old, Kelsie was not particularly active, but this is a wonderful story for a Sheltie whose prognosis was not good.

Kelsie had at checkup in September (2020), and except for needing a dental cleaning, she continued to be healthy except her tumor was ENORMOUS.  It’s growth had slowed significantly since her 2019 checkup, and it seems to be growing out rather than in which was good as Kelsie did cough sometimes, especially when she’s eating.  Her foster parents feel the tumor was interfering with her eating some, but gratefully at the time, it was not a big problem. When her foster parents had a few foster-collies from the big Solon and Canton seizures, Kelsie was not interested in them. They had a Solon puppy for a bit, and she did NOT like him at all.  She’s too old and ladylike for that nonsense.

Kelsie enjoyed a good marrow bone now and again,. She still barked at the microwave and other beepy noises but had lost some of her hearing so did not always hear them.

Out in the dog-yard, Kelsie tended to her business and then would get silly, bouncing about a few times and barking a bit before returning to her usual cool and collected self ready to come in out of the cold.  Occasionally she harassed one of the cats until they whack her on the nose, but mostly she spends her days snoozing as befits a woman of a certain age.

Maine Sheltie Rescue covered all of Kelsie’s financial needs, both daily and vetinerary.  She did have that costly dental  work in September. We are grateful for all monies that come in to help our foster dogs and of course grateful for the lovely personal care our foster family provide our dogs.

April 15, 2021

Sadly today, we said goodbye to our forever foster, Kelsie. She was the most amazing Sheltie! She had a strong will and lived way beyond what we could have even imagined. To recap: Kelsie came our way in the fall of 2018. At her vet visit it was discovered that she had a malignant mandible/ jaw bone. The surgery was consider quite risky so we decided for her to be loved and cared for as our forever foster. Our sincere condolences to Kelsie’s foster family.

We, at Maine Sheltie Rescue, hold dear all the Shelties that come into our care.  We are a 501c3 non-profit charity for homeless Shelties and Sheltie-mixes. If you are inspired to make a donation to Maine Sheltie Rescue to help foster dogs like Kelsie, you may do so by following the directions below.

1.  Send a check to:  Maine Sheltie Rescue, 148 Narragansett St, Gorham, ME 04038
– or-
2.  Donate through PayPal: click the button below.