Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue

Okay, we will admit this was an epic fail. What sounded like a fun idea to raise some money just didn't pan out . . . like in zip . . . zero . . . nada entries. NONE.

The reason we need to raise money on a semi regular basis is that in about 90% of the dogs we rescue, we spend more in expenses than we get in adoption fees; sometimes the difference is MUCH more. We will give an example in a separate post about 2 Shelties we took into our rescue in early February. Stay tuned to hear about Jackson and Windy.

Pic to grab your attention (2025 FSSR alumni Dillon - Sheltie and 2018 FSSR alumni Ringo - Collie).

Are you ready for spring? We are! How about a contest to liven things up?

For a nominal $5 donation to Fresh Start, you might win a prize! We have some donated things that would make lovely prizes. Here is what we are thinking:

We will have 2 first place winners - one will be a Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue 'alumni,' and the other will be any other Sheltie. The same for second place; one will be a Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue 'alumni,' and the other will be a non alumni. Is that clear as mud?

Here are the basic rules -

Email us at info@mysheltie with pictures of your Sheltie(s) dressed up for spring or in a spring setting. Send in $5 for EACH pic entered (payment options below). Contest starts now and ends at 12 noon central time on 3/24/26. We will select a panel of 5 judges to pick the 1st and 2nd place FSSR winner and 1st and 2nd place non FSSR winner. Winners will be contacted via email and posted on our page! Prizes will be mailed to the winners.

Here are the payment options:
* PayPal to [email protected]
* Venmo to
* Mail a check to Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue, c/o Kim Fike, 9255 Forest Wind Drive, Collierville, TN 38017

Let's have fun and show us some cute pics!

Update 3-09-26: ADOPTED!!!

Our sweet Lily is still looking for her forever home. This happy little girl is going to be a wonderful family member with the fortunate home she becomes a part of.

Lily came from a life in a commercial breeding facility. She is extremely happy now living inside as part of the family. She has made this adjustment quite well! She is 4 years old and will be 5 in April. From day one, Lily has never met a dog she doesn’t adore. She is very playful and will need a home with another playful dog. Miss Lily is crate trained, leash trained and loves pack walks with her foster siblings. She is also house trained. Many of the Shelties we get in from a commercial breeding facility are shy. While not shy at all around other dogs, she is a bit tentative with new humans, yet warms up quickly. She came into rescue a little chunky, has lost most of her weight and looks forward to a home that will continue her on a good nutritional path. We are looking for a home with a securely fenced yard and a playful, friendly dog in the home, NO exceptions! She hasn't been around children that we know of, so we are looking for an adult home or one with older (10+ years old) children in it. She is being fostered in the Huntsville, Alabama area, and her potential adopter(s) must be willing to drive there in person. We do not ship our dogs, and we also do not place our dogs too far away from TN, AR, MO, MS, and AL. All inquiries need to be emailed to [email protected].

One of our special 'alumni' gained her wings a few days ago. Some of you may remember in the summer of 2023 a 14 year old tri female named Lola who found herself needing a new home. She found it with some very special people that didn't hesitate to adopt a very senior girl that needed a soft place to spend the rest of her days. Here is what they wrote about her:

Time flies when you are living the dream, and it flew much too fast for our sweet Lola who we adopted from Fresh Start in August of 2023. From running the streets and homeless at 14 to being the queen boss in charge of her back yard, she was our show girl and made her way to the beaches of the Jersey shore as well as learning to be a best boat-mate in Destin. She was the big sister to Gracie (also from Fresh Start) and tried her best to be a good influence for her in all things that earned extra treats. Mostly, she was the queen of the castle and maintained a regal watch over all things human and otherwise! Unfortunately, she crossed that rainbow bridge last Friday so fast we could not believe it. To all that came in contact with her and helped her on her journey to us, we thank you for this wonderful spirit that spent too short of a time with us. Never doubt the powers of a senior rescue to fill your heart and home with so much love!

In this great Christmas pic, we have Lukas (upper left) adopted from Fresh Start Sheltie Rescue in July of 2017. He passed away a few years ago. In the upper right is Jax who was adopted from Fresh Start in October of 2016 who is still going strong at age 14 (and will be 15 in January!). Also shown is Anna (now gone) and Yogi (14 1/2 years old). We love getting these Christmas pics from our adopters!