by A 1-year-old Border Collie was left at a shelter, his fur and skin a patchwork of pink from months of neglect and a sunburn. But the affectionate dog is now on his way to a better life.
Kong, as he was named by Border Collie Rescue & Rehab (BCRRT), was pulled for a shelter in Clarmore, Oklahoma and brought back to Texas, where they are based. When they saved him, the rescue noted that Kong, “had a ruff life, dealing with lack of care and love.”
His sunburnt skin and hair loss had to be treated, but he didn’t mind the bathing, grooming and nail trims he got from his rescuers. He immediately displayed his collie’s nature.
Border Collie Rescue & Rehab
“Kong loves to play, toys, toys, toys and he loves to love,” said BCRRT. “He is very affectionate with people, and loves kids. As long as someone is petting or touching him, he’s happy! He can be a little shy at first, but warms up to you quickly. He enjoys walks, and does well with other dogs. He enjoys playing with other dogs.”
Border Collie Rescue & Rehab
Kong went into foster care where he quickly took to being potty trained and crate trained. The rescue group said that “His transformation has been phenomenal so far, and we know his perfect forever home is out there.” And it was! A photo of Kong caught the eye of Curtis Hartsell, a cyber threat intelligence analyst. Having an active lifestyle, he wasn’t sure he was ready for a dog, but he had a hunch about Kong.
Border Collie Rescue & Rehab
“I looked through his profile and just immediately fell in love with his single picture and the description they put on the page,” Hartsell told The Dodo. “His foster mom described his temperament and personality and I described my life to her a bit and she said we sounded perfect for each other.”
It wasn’t long before he filled in an application and after some home checks and visits, the two were matched. Just how perfect are the pair together? The moment Hartsell went to meet Kong and give him his new name – ZIB (after a famous Russian space dog) – the dog immediately leaned in for a hug.
“I got down in front of him and gave him his new name and asked if he wanted to come home with me,” Hartsell recalled. He told him his new name and asked if he would like to go home with him. “He was sitting in front of me, looked into my eyes and then hugged me and bowed his head. It was adorable; I’ll never forget that moment.”
And from the look on ZIB’s face, he won’t forget it either.
