Dixie's Story
by her mom, Joanne Gregory
Dixie playing in the yard at her foster home |
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 Dixie spies a cat! |
 What a face! |
 Dixie (left) and new sister Jenny. |
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 Dixie is a beautiful girl. |
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 Dixie at home with the Gregorys. |
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17 December 2002
Christmas greetings from Dixie, Jennie and the rest of the Gregory family! Dixie has had a very full year and says she wants to share her growing up story with you. As you can see from her photo, she is a most beautiful dog!
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But the road to beauty and fame is long, and she feels that she had to work hard to live down the frequent initial comparisons to an opossum that she overheard as a young pup when her body had not grown to catch up with her nose. She will never forget a young boy at an estate auction during the first week she was home, asking, "is that, like, a dog??" while she napped on her mom's lap. Not one for wallowing in self-pity, she determined to overcome these vile undercurrents and be a credit to her breed. While still in the faux-opossum stage, she visited coeds at Appalachian State Univ. in the spring and honors students at governor's school at Meredith College in the summer. She stayed backstage and mingled with actors and actresses during the HART production of "Cyrano". |
 Gorgeous Dixie is all grown up! |
She learned of Victorian fashion as she stepped out of the shadows for the first time in her role as pet dog in a Victorian fashion show at the historic Shelton House in Waynesville. She watched people in many trips in the shopping cart in Lowes and Wal-mart. She worked on her vocations - kong emptying and ball/frisbee chasing.
Dixie began her formal education in puppy class and basic agility training. It was during these experiences that she realized she no longer heard the dread whispered "possum??" from the humans and seemed to be instantly recognized as a "Border Collie". While missing some of the joys of home-schooling, she enjoyed the challenges and association with other students. She took to the agility like a natural, especially after attending a trial and watching magnificent border collies perform, actually getting to meet a few, but needs some remedial teeter training. She attended the Haywood County Dog Fanciers' Halloween party and won first prizes in tunnel racing and recall. In her spare time, she honed her cat herding skills and continued her chewing experiments, leaving no household article unturned (or untasted). She learned human words and though none would form when she opened her own mouth to speak, she found she was still able to communicate and follow directions. Her family was happy and all was well.
One day she realized that she had become the dog she always dreamed of! Sleek of coat, she heard compliments "What do you feed her? What a beautiful coat!" and no more mention of lesser animals. Her agility teacher was heard to say of her, "I've never met a more friendly border collie", and also was heard to mention the wonderful socializing that was done at the Border Collie Rescue when she was just a sick little baby. Finally, she rode triumphantly in the Dog Fanciers' float in the Waynesville Christmas parade. Proud, determined, she was sure all those humans were lining the streets to celebrate DIXIE as she was introduced to the world. And when she heard that the float had won First Place, she knew her dreams of achievement and glory for herself and ALL Border Collies were coming true!
Enclosed is a donation to help your organization continue its great work. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and that all the dogs find their forever homes!
Happy Holidays!
Tom and Joanne Gregory
Dixie and Jennie
EDITOR'S UPDATE: Unfortunately, Dixie lost her life in June, 2004 in a tragic accident. Our condolences and warm thoughts go out to her family. She was so very much loved.