Midwest Border Collie Rescue, Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization; volunteers, a board of directors and voting members govern Midwest Border Collie Rescue Inc. Our organization serves the Midwest states including, but not limited to, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. The purpose of Midwest Border Collie Rescue is to rescue unwanted, abused, lost and abandoned border collies; assess their ability to be placed, and place them into proper and permanent homes making the best possible match; to provide care and continuous training information with each border collie we place. It is our policy that adoptable border collies will not be euthanized due to lack of homes. Instead, we will keep the dog in our program as long as is necessary to find a suitable home. Midwest Border Collie Rescue provides educational services and advice to potential and current border collie owners with respect to breed characteristics, proper care, health, training, and behavioral issues.
Online Application - When filling out your application, please provide enough information so that we can assess what characteristics in our dogs may be a good match for you (e.g., temperament, activity level, and types of activities you enjoy). Even though you are interested in a specific dog, there may be others that more closely meet your needs. Remember that we take in dogs frequently and some newer dogs are not yet on our website. The best thing to do is to begin the application process by completing our application (even if you don’t yet see a dog of interest on our site). Please note that the average time to become approved is 2-3 weeks. There is an $20 non-refundable application fee at the time you submit the form. Phone Interview & Reference Checks - Be sure your application includes phone numbers and email addresses so we can reach you easily. After submitting your application, someone will contact you to discuss your application. We will also check your references and your vet records as listed on your application. Home Visit - After we have talked with you and decided that we can help you to find a dog, we will arrange for a home visit. The purpose of this visit is two-fold: to ensure a healthy, safe environment for our dogs, and to ensure that we match you with a dog that fits your lifestyle. Approval to Adopt - Adopters are approved for two years for an energy level, not a specific dog. Meet the Dogs - Here the fun begins: meeting the dogs. Please remember that you may not have been the only family that put in an application for a particular dog. Our dogs will be placed with the best match for that individual dog (not necessarily the first family to apply). All members (human and canine) of your family will meet the dog at the foster home. Please be prepared to travel to meet the dog. The goal is to see how the dog gets along with your family and any other pets. This step may take days or even weeks for you to find the right dog for your home. We will always recommend dogs that we believe will match you and your lifestyle and all the members of your family (human or animal). Adoption - The last step in the process is for you to adopt one of the dogs. Our adoption fee is $400 for puppies up to 6 months old, $350 for dogs 6 months to 8 years and $300 for dogs 8 years and older. The cost for puppies (up to 6 months old) covers two rounds of shots and first rabies shot (restrictions may apply)! Please ask your chosen foster for more information/particulars on our Puppy Policy. We believe that adoption is a lifetime commitment so we have a three-week adjustment period where we stay in touch to see how the dog is fitting in with your home. Please remember that a new home is a big adjustment for your dog, so being patient while providing consistency and basic training will help your dog feel secure. A Happy Life Together - Please don’t forget us once you and your dog are happily adjusted to life together. Some of our past adopters decide they want to volunteer (even become a foster home), or want to support the rescue via tax-deductible donations. We love to hear stories about our dogs, especially the foster families who loved and cared for your dog while on its journey to meet you. Photos of happy border collies enjoying their lives are particularly welcome. And we’re here for you too…for help with training challenges, advice on ongoing care, how to get involved in dog sports and other activities that border collies enjoy.