The Revelation Story
The beginning of my love of animals goes back as far as I am able
to recall. I devoured every Albert Payson Terhune book and I saw every Lassie movie and
series spending many hours of fantasy with my "pretend" heroes. There were times
as a child that I recall bringing home any animal I could carry or drag home.Finally as an
adult I purchased my very first Collie, a blue merle we named "Misty" who became
my children's guardian and my challenge! Misty came from the wonderful breeders of
Carlruth Kennel in Winchester, NH and managed by Ruth and Carlton Holton. It was a
very fortunate meeting for me as they provided a wonderful foundation for my being the
breeder I am today. When Misty came into my life it was as a pet with no thought of ever
breeding or showing. We did very well in obedience, she trained me well! As the years went
on Ruth took me under her wing and taught me a great deal about the real world of Collies.
She also taught me of the responsibility of being a breeder even though that would be many
years down the road. Not everyone who entered her kennel left with one of her precious
babies, she was very particular. Today I try to be as particular about where my Collies go
to live and there have been more than a few folks turned away.
I eventually went to work for a husband and wife team of
professional handlers of sporting breeds. It was a tremendous learning experience a gave
me the desire to continue . During the years of parenting as a single parent , we always
had a dog as a pet and I continued working for another all breed handler. Finishing my
first champion, an English Pointer was a thrill I will never forget and neither would my
boss at that time, Al Saba. He was an excellent teacher and a handler who taught me that
our dogs comfort and welfare came first.
At about that period in my life I started breeding Collies under the
prefix of ShannonDell Collies. We had so many people willing to help a newcomer back then,
even someone who was a bit of a rebel. My favorite colors were the blue merles, whites and
sable merles!! They were from the Carlruth lines going back to Ronas Hill, also the
Brandwyne lines. We had lots of fun learning from watching and listening at the benched
shows. It is a real loss for the breeders and newcomers alike that those days are gone,
everyone had the time to share the wealth of knowledge they had accumulated.
After a period of having to be without my Collies I came back to
work on my dream again. Ironically it started out with another blue merle female from
Joanne Gray of Crystal Pines Collies, named
Misty. My heartfelt thank you to Joanne for the
privilege of being owned by this wonderful creature. Misty brought me back
to the show ring and we always had a wonderful time even though she never
got to be a champion. She will always be a Champion here at Revelation
Collies. Misty has gone to Rainbow Bridge on 2-19-99.
She was thirteen and one half years old.
 Revelation Collies was chosen as our kennel name after much
prayer and soul searching. The Lord has blessed us with some of the most wonderful friends
and Collies I could ever have asked for. While not all are Champions of record, they are
all special to us. It took a couple of total changes of direction in our breeding program
to reach where we are at now and many heart wrenching disappointments. Due to some of the
genetic problems the road can be rocky at times. We are sincerely trying to breed not only
a correct physical specimen, but a total sound animal, physically as well as mentally. It
breaks my heart to see some of the traits being furthered in our gallant breed. Collies
are not supposed to be people or dog aggressive nor shy, yet we see both. Many pet buyers
are being turned off to our breed after experiencing the temperament and health problems
and having the breeder refuse to accept any responsibility.
The purchase of a sable male named
Brando
was the beginning of the type of Collie we desired to breed. We purchased
Brando, Overland Elite, a son of Ch. Fury's The Spirit of
Legends from Mike and Marcy Fine. He went on to finish for us and win not only his
championship but the hearts of most who knew him. Brando was indeed everything I wanted in
a Collie, no not perfect but wonderful. He sired ten champions and several pointed
offspring before he died of Cancer, November 27, 1996. Working with bitches from Al and
Shirley Gill of Pride'n Joy Collies, Leslie and Don Jeszewsli of Highcroft, We have
5 Champions for 1996 and have started off 1997 with a couple more. Thanks to John and
Katee Dyer of Caledonia Collies of VT, who finished Ch.
Revelation's Dawn Early Light a lovely Brando daughter we co-own. Dawn went on to produce a striking litter of
ONE, now known as Ch. Caledonia By Candlelight.
So as we continue to try to breed the very best we are able , we also
want to support those who share in our dream. We thank all who have trusted in us and our
Collies both those in the show ring as well as those very special Champions who never
enter the show ring but fulfill their owners hopes and dreams. We will continue to breed
for the beautiful companions the Lord has Blessed us with and promise to stand by them as
they would stand by us, would that we could ever truly deserve these Collies. Thank you to
all who have supported us in our effort.
God Bless You
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