Ailea's Place - Ailea Don't Fence Me In

You are listening to Cole Porter's song, "Don't Fence Me In." First recorded by the Andrews Sisters in July, 1944, Bing Crosby's release of the song later in '44 became a million-selling single. It is from here the name of my new boy, "Cole" - Ailea Don't Fence Me In - is derived.

Cole doing what he did best - defying the fence!
Above is a photograph of Cole as a 3-month-old
doing the very thing that earned him the name he was given-

My friends, family and fellow sheltie folk, please join me in quiet celebration - Cole's "perfect" home has finally found him!
(see details below)

Cole (CH Kirene's Southern Comfort x Ailea Cowgirl's Prayer, 05/05/03) is pictured above at 8 months of age while playing in his very first snowfall in January, 2004 (which he just LOVED!), Cole is one of those exceptional shelties you just can't take your eyes off once you catch sight of him - he simply commands your attention! He has a clean headpiece, lovely, plush face with tons of muzzle and underjaw. His expression melts your heart, and his topline, outline and angulation are just beautiful. Cole also wears one of the blue-blackest coats I've seen, and just drips with that "Look at ME!" quality we so like to see in our shelties. He is bi-factored, and probably white-factored, CERF normal, vWD (DNA) clear by parentage. I was very excited about this great young man who very early and quickly completely stole my heart away.

When Cole was 10 months old he just dripped with a beautiful "grown up" puppy coat, and we played at getting some portraits made on 3/21/04 (the remainder of the photographs on this page) - and I was just shocked. Not only did this young man stand for his photographs, but he ADORED the grooming he underwent prior to getting his pictures taken. He enjoyed the brushing, trimming, the minimal chalking we did, and even finishing his coat (including applying a towel to "lay down" that puppy-curly body coat! I was SO proud of my boy! And the results, well, they speak for themselves...

Wish to take a moment now to thank Wanda Hathcock, Merrie-Go Photography, Shelties & Beardies, for the wonderful job she did whelping and raising this litter. To bring such a wonderful bundle of joy home after all this time of being puppy-less, I could not have asked for more, or better. THANKS WANDA!

Cole was handed over on July 15, 2005 (my birthday no less!) on a week's "trial" basis to a lovely young couple from the Burlington, NC area. They left Friday evening for a weekend at the coast, and returned home Sunday night to see how Cole would fit into their home and lives on a daily basis, up there in Burlington.

I considered this with not a tiny bit of anxiety. I was petrified Cole would destroy their hopes for him before the end of the day on Friday the 15th. I told them as they left my driveway that if they needed to, they were welcome to give me a call to let me know they were returning him on their way home Sunday night...

When that much-feared call Sunday did not come I brightened. If Cole did not ruin their weekend, perhaps there was hope for him in their lives after all. Did I dare hope?

I could not be more thrilled to learn things with Cole have worked out very well. Nothing is perfect, as we all know too well, but I guess this one has turned into something as close to perfect as it can be, since that longed-for phone call came last evening letting me know that all was right in Cole's world. He has been the perfect gentleman and moved into their lives as only a perfect match can do.

I have cried a tear or two over this all. Cole is such an exceptional sheltie- describing his personality truly defies sufficient word. He is loving and lovable, but not a "lap dog" by any stretch. Rather than rest with his head on your lap Cole is a dog that would rather invite you to play - and play hard! High spirited and spiriting, Cole's is a soul that truly IS "all that" - and then some! - as I am sure his new family will heartily agree. The Doggie Gods DID break the mold on Cole. He is truly a one-of-a-kind special!

So to Cole's new family- Tremendous thanks to you! I know in my heart you will love him as I have, and knowing he has finally found HIS place in God's world restores my faith and belief in the perfection of this Life-

I will always be Cole's Nana Amy, but I will ever and always be indebted to you for welcoming Cole into your own lives and hearts-