At My Brown County Vacation rentals, we believe in heartfelt stays, cozy spaces, and meaningful connections—to each other, to nature, and sometimes, to a good dog.
The Belle of Brown County
If you’ve visited the 1891 Schoolhouse Inn or stayed at Helmsburg Homestead, you may have spotted Belle. She’s my loyal and loving Border Collie. You’ll often find her patrolling the grounds, completely in her element—because looking after each place is what she was born to do.
Belle came to me through Clancy’s Dream, a Border Collie rescue in Indiana. The organization was founded by Ken and Elaine Shuck in memory of their beloved dog, Clancy. Their mission is to give Border Collies a second chance at life. In Belle’s case, that meant a future full of purpose, peace, and plenty of acres to roam.
Rescued Border Collie Keeps Watch Over My Brown County Vacation
Like most Border Collies, Belle is happiest with a job to do—and she’s taken it upon herself to be the official guardian of My Brown County Vacation.
But she didn’t start out that way.
When I first brought Belle home through Clancy’s Dream, she had never even been inside a house. She didn’t know what a doorbell was. She didn’t know how to play with toys. Everything about domestic life was new and strange to her.
But like most rescues, Belle adapted with quiet determination. One day at a time, she figured it out. She found her favorite sunspot by the window. She learned what it meant to belong—to a home and to a team. And now? She’s a porch pup when it’s calm, a pasture guardian when it’s time to work—and always, all heart.
At the 1891 Schoolhouse Inn, she will quietly check the perimeter, keeping watch over the backyard, the bubbling hot tub, and the tall trees. She knows every inch of the property and takes pride in its stillness and safety.
Over at Helmsburg Homestead, Belle shifts into full homestead mode. She walks the trails, comes into the garden with me, and keeps an eye on my free-ranging flock of hens. Most evenings, just before dusk, Belle makes the rounds to gently guide the chickens back into their coop—no fuss, no feathers ruffled. Just pure instinct and quiet determination. She’s not a barker. She’s a watcher, a protector, and an old soul.
FUN FACT: When I first purchased Helmsburg Homestead, I brought in a small herd of goats to help clear several acres of thick brush. They stayed for about five weeks—and Belle, without any training or instruction, took it upon herself to watch over them. She calmly circled the property, kept a steady eye on the herd, and made sure no one wandered too far. It was like she instinctively knew the land—and the goats—were hers to protect.
A Dream Worth Supporting
I am so grateful to Clancy’s Dream Border Collie Rescue for bringing Belle into my life—and into the heart of My Brown County Vacation. Belle doesn’t just belong here. She grounds these places. Her quiet presence reminds us what it means to feel safe, welcomed, and looked after.
If you love dogs—or have ever considered adopting a Border Collie—I can’t recommend Clancy’s Dream enough. They do life-changing work, and Belle is living proof.
You can learn more or donate at clancysdream.org. And next time you visit us in Brown County, keep an eye out for Belle. She just might be there—gentle and alert, tail wagging!
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Beautiful story! Clancy’s Dream is an extraordinary rescue, and I mean extraordinary in its most literal definition. Every single penny donated goes 100% to the refugees that come into Clancy’s fold. With Clancy’s Dream, it truly is “All About the Dogs.” My border collie, Eisa (pronounced EE-sah), was rescued by Clancy’s Dream which made it possible for her to rescue me. From the start, even as a 14 week old puppy, she began her mission; she brought laughter back to our home that we didn’t realize we were missing. We had 4 devastating losses within a 3 year period. One of those losses was a serious medical event for me that required emergency surgery and 4 week hospital admission following an “adverse event” that happened during a relatively routine surgery. After I’d been discharged, I remained confined to bed for another 3 weeks before I was able to begin physical therapy. After another 3 weeks of physical therapy, I began trying to return to work for 4 hours a day. Nine months after the emergency surgery, I required one more follow up surgery and after that, I started feeling stronger; strong enough to begin pushing myself more physically. A little over a year before this whole ordeal, I’d lost my beloved border collie mix who’d been my rock for 13 years. As I began to get stronger, I felt I was ready to find another companion. I’d never been without a dog’s companionship for this long in my 50 years on this planet and it was a loss I felt every day.
A friend introduced me to Clancy’s Dream, a friend who understands the powerful positive force a dog has on its human. I joined and quietly began following the posts from Kenny Shuck, the volunteers, and the membership. It quickly became evident that this group lives and breathes its mission: It’s all about the dogs. I’ve been a member of other rescues who do wonderful work, but Clancy’s Dream is unique on so many levels. First, every donation – every penny – goes to the dogs, meaning no one takes a penny in compensation for the dedicated work they do. Everything goes to the medical care of the refugee dogs as soon as they are picked up to the time they are adopted (and sometimes beyond adoption).
I reached out to Kenny by email, asking if Clancy’s would consider allowing me to adopt. I live in Maine, a “few” miles away from Indiana. I was amazed when Kenny called me less than an hour later! We talked for about 15-20 minutes; we talked about all the dogs who’d been part of my life since before I could walk, and he told me his journey and how Clancy James changed his life. He explained that Clancy’s hadn’t adopted out a dog to anyone so far away, BUT he said every adoption is on a case by case basis and told me to fill out an adoption form and speak with Melody Reese, the adoption coordinator. Let me tell your audience, Melody has a gift for talking with you, about your expectations, what your lifestyle is like, and she has the innate ability to make that perfect match. And that’s exactly what she did – I’d passed muster!! I wasn’t thinking about adopting a puppy. It wasn’t on my radar at all, but we talked about it and I became open to it very quickly. Once she shared Eisa’s photo to me, I felt that connection. It was that “something” when you just know. The day I told Melody yes was 2 years to the day that I had to let my last soul mate cross the bridge. I didn’t even realize it until later that night.
As I mentioned earlier, Eisa instantly brought laughter back to our home. She’s a mischievous clown and so intelligent. She took on her second mission which was getting me active and with her by my side, I truly began to be rehabilitated, body and soul.
I know this is a rather long comment, but it’s because I feel so passionate about Clancy’s Dream and their mission. Thank you for allowing me to share.
Kate, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story. I felt every word. Eisa sounds like an incredible soul—full of light, laughter, and purpose—and it’s no surprise she found her way to you through Clancy’s Dream. They have such a gift for matching the right heart with the right dog.
Your journey is such a powerful reminder of how deeply a dog can heal us—body and soul. I see it every day with Belle. She came to me through Clancy’s Dream as well, and now she’s woven into every part of our life here in Brown County. Whether she’s keeping watch over our little flock of hens or quietly patrolling the properties, she brings a steady, grounding presence that guests and I both feel deeply.
Clancy’s Dream truly is extraordinary. Ken & Elaine, Melody, and the entire team pour their hearts into every rescue—and every adopter—and the impact they make is lifelong. I’m so grateful we’re part of this community. Thank you again for opening up and letting others see what a difference one dog (and one rescue) can make.
With warmth and gratitude,
Leah & Belle