05/08/2015  Melville is in foster care now.  He is amazing.  Great with all of our cats and other dogs.  He is well behaved, house trained, does not bark, loves to go outside and play.  He is dedicated to his human.  He sleeps in his bed on the floor by us.  He knows commands.  Hopefully Melville will get a home with a family that wants the most perfect dog.  He loves to please.  He is also great with our grandchildren ranging in age from 6 to 18.....

04/27/2015:  We get a phone call from a shelter in Coco saying one of our PRBJ dog's were left overnight in their yard.  Yes, it was Melville.   Judy and one of our transporter's went to go get him.  Half of his poor body has no hair his owner was not able to take him to the vet.  But with good medical, food and love he will be fine.   He is back with us at our facility and you would never know  he was 10 years old.  He is great with our other dogs and good with our cats.  This poor sweetheart needs his forever home once and for all.  Right now Melville would benefit if he had a foster home untill he gets adopted.  As per his previous owner he is great with kids, other dogs and cats...He loves to give and get love.

If you look up the words "Border Collie" I do believe you will see a photo of Melville!  Isn't he divine?  He is a classic Border Collie, in both his appearance and personality.  At four years old, he hasn't even begun to slow down ~ did I mention he is a Border Collie?  If you want a beautiful, active, intelligent dog, then you need to seriously consider Melville for you home!  Watch the video at the bottom of this page.

Mel is the perfect age for any border collie owner.  Border Collies can be so hyperactive that they drive their owners crazy, however, once they get passed the 3 year mark, they become very enjoyable, like Mel.

A 17-year old volunteer from a kill-shelter became very attached to Mel.  After being at the shelter for several weeks, the volunteer was heartbroken that he was never chosen for adoption.  Mel was originally scheduled to be euthanized July 6th, but because of this young volunteer, the pound granted him an extra week while his guarandian angel made numerous phone calls to find someone to take him.  By the time she contacted me, she was exhausted.  When I said yes, she literally screamed.  The young girl and her father had Mel professionally groomed and personally brought him to me.

Mel is very interested in people.  He prefers to lay at your feet wherever you are.  He loves his crate, he does not bark, and he is totally leash trained... as a matter of fact, you can let go of his leash, and he stays with you.  This boy has got manners, and I'm confident he went through obedience training with flying colors.

I believe that Mel was loved at one point in his life, but as he matured, and was no longer a puppy, his owners may have seen him as less desirable.  Personally, I disagree.  So for those of you who have always wanted a Border Collie, but don't think you can handle their energy level, Mel is the boy for you!

Mel loves to play ball, he brings it back to you and lays the ball at your feet.  I am going to try him on the frizbee shortly, and he loves to go for walks. 

I will be adding to his description as I continue to evaluate him.


According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Border Collie originated in Northumberland on the Scottish/English border. The breed is descended from old British droving breeds with some spaniel added. An outstanding herder, this hardy, agile, untiring sheepdog, is capable of mastering any type of herd. It is said that the Border Collie has an eye that can hypnotize cattle. He crouches down and mesmerizes the animals with its intense stare. One of the most trainable breeds, the Border Collie also serves well as a narcotics and bomb detection dog and is a frequent high performer in obedience, agility, Frisbee(TM) trials, police work, search & rescue, Flyball, performing tricks and competitive obedience. Some Border Collies have been trained very successfully as blind guide dogs. Currently very good results are obtained with them for general assistance to the handicapped in The Netherlands. The Border Collie is a very intelligent and responsive dog. They thrive on praise, are sensitive and very trainable. The Border Collie is highly energetic with great stamina. Provided it gets sufficient activity to keep it occupied and ample exercise, the Border Collie will get along quite happily with other dogs, and children, however the Border Collie may be aggressive with other dogs of the same sex. They should not be trusted with small non-canine pets, however there are plenty of Border Collies that live and get along with family cats. This breed should be very well socialized as a puppy to prevent shyness. To be truly happy, it needs a lot of: ongoing attention, extensive daily exercise, and a job to do. For those who wish to reach high levels in dog sports, the Border Collie is a gift from heaven. Farmers (for whom the dogs perform work for which they were bred) are also happy with them. It is not surprising that at competitive levels in various sports such as: agility skills, obedience, and sheepdog trials, the Border Collie is represented among the leaders in the sport. They are perfectionist with a permanent will to please. This breed lives for serving you day in and day out. They are not ideal pets for people who have no plans to spend a lot of time with them. These dogs are too intelligent to lie around the house all day with nothing to do. Prospective owners who are looking for just a family pet should consider other similar but calmer breeds, like show line Australian Shepherds and Shetland Sheepdogs. If there is insufficient activity then it will find its own work to do, and that may not be what YOU had in mind when we say the word WORK. They can become destructive if they get bored or if they are ignored. They can become neurotic if they are left alone for long periods, leading to many behavior problems. This breed is known as an escape artist. Because of his strong herding instincts, the Border Collie may be snappish with children and strangers. They do best with an experienced owner that has lots of time to spend with the dog. The adolescent Border Collie often goes through a phase where he challenges his master's authority. Some are highly reactive and sound sensitive, making them a poor choice for families with young children. Dominance level is highly variable in Border Collies. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years.