By Denise Massie
The Pharos-Tribune

WALTON, Ind.

From Indiana all the way to California, several Border Collie owners came with their dogs for a day of fun and reuniting.

A group of approximately 50 Border Collies and their 49 different owners celebrated the fourth annual MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue picnic on Aug. 16 in Walton.

The non-profit organization, which was established four years ago, has saved 300 Border Collies since its inception.

Dr. Ralph Diner, a psychologist from California, adopted his dog, Hero, from the organization in October 2005.

Hero is now a certified working dog and travels with Diner wherever he goes. The two offered grief counseling at Virginia Tech following the on-campus shooting spree a few years ago. They even received an award from the mayor of Los Angeles for their work with a hospice there.

They’ve also traveled to nursing homes, and currently the two are training with the Red Cross and FEMA for national disasters. Hero even sits in sessions with the doctor.

“He knows who to lick and who to leave alone when they’re crying,” said Diner.

He said Hero helps people open up more easily and offers a sense of comfort.

“It’s like having a blankie,” he added.

When Diner first had Hero travel with him, he said it was an excuse to have has companion with him all the time. Once he found out the Border Collie could become certified as a service dog, he jumped at the opportunity.

Hero first came to the MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue’s first president, Grace Saalsaa, who owns three Border Collies of her own and has fostered 46 others.

The dog had been left tied to the door of an animal shelter in Huntington. Once his time at the shelter ran out, Saalsaa, who lives in Wisconsin, agreed to foster him until a new home was found.

Hero was sick when Saalsaa took him in and he had to go through training to get along with other dogs and listen to his owner. She posted a picture of Hero on the Internet.

At the same time, Diner had been looking for a new dog after his yellow Labrador had passed away that August, and when he came across the ad, he instantly felt Hero was the dog for him.

Diner said he flew to Indiana for the picnic for two reasons.

“I wanted Hero to thank Grace and I wanted to thank Grace,” he said. “Someone found him useless and tied him to the pound door. Now he’s helped thousands of people.”

Some of the organization members came to hear Diner speak at the humane society in Huntington where Hero was abandoned. He said if they could travel for him, he could return the favor.

Diner said the picnic is a great opportunity for the dogs and their owners to gather.

Current president Donna Venner was pleased with this year’s turnout.

Participants traveled from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky and different parts of Indiana to join in on the picnic.

Border Collies took turns during the day playing with different people and their owners. Some chased Frisbees one after another, while others ran after tennis balls. Several small pools were set up to allow the dogs a place to cool off.

Saalsaa said the purpose for the breed is to work as a sheep herder. Unlike other breeds, which drive the sheep, the Border Collie gathers the sheep together. When the dogs participate together, each one is quiet because they are concentrating on work.

“People think they want this breed,” she explained. “What they don’t realize is that they want to play Frisbee two hours, take a 15 minute nap and play Frisbee again.”

She said the dogs need enough exercise during the day to keep them busy and out of trouble, which is why the picnic offered a good opportunity for a workout and a change of scenery for some, like Diner.

“It’s beautiful,” said Diner. “It’s green. I live in L.A., where it’s desert.”

As for Hero, he just looked up at his owner with a smile and a panting tongue.

Denise Massie can be reached at denise.massie@pharostribune.com

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Cutleine:

Renee Grittner gives her Border Collie, Ellie, a boost. The pair traveled from Louisville, Ky., for the Border Collie picnic on Saturday. P-T photo | Angi Turnpaugh