Who was Nellie?
“Karen Newhall and her best friend Nellie were inseparable. Nellie is the daughter of Clancy and Dutchess. Most days, wherever Karen went, Nellie was not far behind. Nellie was best described in Karen’s own words that she wrote to Nellie. “You were my absolute best friend and soulmate”.”
Her beloved Nellie led a full, active life with Karen and her sons. Nellie was a loyal and loving family member and a competent farmhand. Nellie was the driving force among the sheep at Shady Creek Herding, helping Karen work her farm, and raise her other farm animals. Nellie and Karen would teach other dogs and owners the skills of sheep herding.
“As a sheepdog, she was the best.”
She was the star attraction and was envied by every dog and every dog owner. She had flair and zeal in her work and took command of ewes, lambs, and rams cutting and dividing them into manageable lots for their transportation and health check-ups nearly on a daily basis. She could run and separate them from signals that Karen would give her, doing precisely what she was told.
Nellie was patient, like her dad Clancy, and everything she did was with enthusiasm, drive, perfection, and love. Nellie became a mentor to many of the fosters and puppies that came to Shady Creek Farm, and she was an award-winning dock diver. She was Karen’s employer, Elanco’s, official mascot and was known worldwide through the organization.
“On one visit to Riley Children’s Hospital, a Nurse came and asked Karen: ”can I steal your dog?” She took Nellie to a private area where only the Doctors and Nurses were allowed to go and laid down on the floor with her. Because of her stressful day in the Oncology ward, the nurses who were feeling overwhelmed took Nellie and she would comfort them. Nellie always made a difference with everyone she touched, helping the lives of others.”
Nellie was an incredible pet therapy dog and was registered through Pet Partners and was one of the first dogs to enter the doors at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. As a Pet Therapy dog, she would visit and give comfort to sick children and staff. Nellie would comfort the children on the Oncology ward, helping them and their parents who were suffering so much. At times, Nellie was with them at the end of life visits. Being a fixture for several years, Nellie was often requested by the children who would spend an extended time at the hospital, and she became best friends with “her” kids, and they patiently waited for her each week.
On one visit to Riley Children’s Hospital, a Nurse came and asked Karen: ”can I steal your dog?” She took Nellie to a private area where only the Doctors and Nurses were allowed to go and laid down on the floor with her. Because of her stressful day in the Oncology ward, the nurses who were feeling overwhelmed took Nellie and she would comfort them. Nellie always made a difference with everyone she touched, helping the lives of others.
What is Nellies Legacy?
Cancer Care Support
In the fall of 2018, cancer entered their lives. In October 2018, Karen lost Nellie to gastric cancer. Karen was devastated, and Nellie’s death left a huge hole in the hearts and lives of all who loved her. Out of heartache, and the deep desire to honor Nellie, Karen and the other board members of Clancy’s Dream decided to incorporate Nellie’s influence into the Clancy’s Dream mission. The Nellie Effect was born. The Nellie Effect deepens Clancy’s Dream team’s desire to help other border collies and the families that love them through grants for treatment of cancer.
If you have a Border Collie that is currently battling cancer and you live in Indiana, you can apply for a grant of up to $1000 to help cover costs of diagnostics, treatment and/or end of life care. Your veterinary care professional will need to fill out the application and submit to us at Clancy’s Dream for consideration. Payment will be made directly to your Veterinarian.
Pet Therapy Registration
The Nellie Effect will also help with the expenses that would like to become therapy dogs too! If you have a Border Collie that is a registered Pet Therapy animal with Pet Partners we will reimburse the registration costs. This is open to registered teams that are either a new or renewing team in the past six months.
Support The Nellie Effect
We teamed up with Bonfire and created a fundraising campaign. Show your Clancy Dream pride by wearing one of our awesome new t-shirts. 100% of all profits go to the dogs!!
