Shep,The best dog and friend I ever had.

Hi my name is Andy,and I want to tell you about a speical little older rescue collie I found back in 2018.

When I started to look for another rescue collie I came accross Last Chance rescue centre in New Romney and while looking through the dogs list,I found old boy Shep!

He came with a warning that he was a very damaged,both phyiscally and mentally dog who had been mistreated and dumped,he was almost blind and had rear hip issues causing him to walk in a slight squat,he was nervous but he was an absolute gentle soul.

So I met him and heard his story,now I just lost another disabled dog "Marley" and thought can I go through that level of care again,but once I met Shep,and heard how he had been so long in the shelter I couldnt leave him,and so,the papers were filled and after few more meets with him he came home.

And so began 6 years of adventures,the first month Shep was a mess,he hid behind sofa,didnt want to be touched and in general was afraid of even going for a walk and then the rescue centre said would Shep like a girlfriend as it may help him,and then Maddie another rescue came home and Shep transformed within a month in confidence,Maddie ended up becoming his mum and she once saved Shep from being attacked by another,in esscence she became his guardian angel,but throughout the first year Shep was still so afraid of everything and spent alot of time in a safe zone in the home whereby he could retreat too,he was afraid of the car which took another 4 months till he associated it to bigger,more fun adventures and thats when things changed for him for the best and so began his transformation....

For the next 6 blessed years I had with Shep watching him overcome his illnessess,sight and leg issues was the best,he had such a love and passion of the outdoors and he motivated me to take up hiking and in short he also helped me through depression,I mean he had so much wrong with him yet he was so happy all the time,and that positive attitude rubbed of on me and along with Maddie we then travelled the Kent and Sussex parks and coastlines,we went into care homes and hospitals doing meet and greets whereby I had the chances to tell others that sick,older rescue dogs can still give so much back and hopefully over years encouraged at least one dog to be rescued.

Now when Shep died peacefully in my arms just before christmas,it broke me plain and simple! Suddenly the best hiking partner and friend was gone,and for 3 weeks I went into depression again,I cut myself away from everything and binged food and put on almost two stone,but even though I still had Maddie for walks,it was tough.

Things needed to change,and then I decided to honor Sheps life by taking his ashes to places I once promised to take him but couldnt due to his illness,and so when I picked up his ashes I drove to beaches in Cornwall not to scatter him but the first of many promises to be fullfilled,I found a beautiful cliff edge,took his photoframe and just sat there thinking "where else did I promise to take him?" Then remembered "the mountains" and so Im about to embark on hiking/climbing 6 mountains in UK over next 5 months to honor Sheps 6 wonderful years with me,Ill carry his ashes and hopefully get a summit picture with his photoframe and tell anyone his story of how he scalled the highest heights and beat his fears,and how he also rescued me, and promote the rescue of older,speical needs dogs and so Id like to raise funds of which 50% will go to Last Chance rescue centre in New Romney where Shep and Maddie both came from and 50% will go to Valgrays border collie rescue centre whereby they helped save Maddie from Romanian Cages and led me to find Rufus.

Shep was an amazing dog,he was kind gentle,he was always happy,he was my best friend and so my tribute to my boy will start at Pen Y Fan mountain in South Wales,and each month another different mountain including Snowdon amoung others and will end when Im on Ben Nevis,Scotland in June which will be the 6th and final mountain for Shep,and I may scatter him there,not sure yet though.

Sheps loss though tragic has lead to another rescue coming into the home,Rufus a red tri collie who will carry on Sheps adventures and legacy once hes trained up

So thanks for taking time to read,if you cant donate then your support following Sheps climbs and Rufus training would be so welcome.

Thank you on Sheps behalf!