ColliesWithoutBorders
It gives us tremendous pride to be recognized for all of the hard work we do here at ColliesWithoutBorders. We are a volunteer organization. Through donations and volunteer support we have been able to become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations go directly to helping collie families in Ukraine. It is our hope that we will be able to help collies and their families worldwide.Through donations and volunteer support we have been able to become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We can't do this alone. An artist friend of ColliesWithoutBorders designed our beautiful logo and we are offering decals for a $10 donation whiles supplies last.
Helping collie families anywhere in the world when their lives are disrupted by catastrophic events.
"Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased.
It is no small gift." --Mary Oliver
Sponsors Needed!
As winter settles in, the air turns crisp, snow begins to blanket the ground, and many of us lean into the season’s familiar comforts—warm drinks, glowing lights, and cozy evenings indoors. For our friends in Ukraine, though, winter brings a very different reality. The dropping temperatures mean greater hardship. Ongoing shelling and drone attacks cut off power, damage homes, and make even the most basic needs—heat, light, and safety—difficult to secure.
At ColliesWithoutBorders (CWB), we do all we can to help families keep their beloved pets fed, safe, and healthy. Your kindness makes this possible. Every donation, every gift, every bit of support truly matters. We are especially thankful for our sponsors—those who commit $50 a month to care for a collie. That sponsorship provides food, veterinary care, and medications, bringing hope and comfort to families who are struggling.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and with them. If you’d like to get involved, please reach out by email or send us a message through our Facebook Group. Learn more.
Thinking about becoming a CWB sponsor? Many of our sponsors say what started as a simple wish to help quickly blossomed into a bond filled with love, hope, and lasting friendship. Their stories remind us that sponsorship is not just about support—it’s about connection, compassion, and being part of something bigger than ourselves.
And if $50 a month feels like too much, please know you’re not alone. Many of our sponsors team up with a friend or family member, joining hearts and hands to make an incredible difference together. Even small steps, taken with love, change lives.
The Christmas Market is Open!
Igor's Shop Hand Carved Creations
Join our group, ColliesWithoutBorders, we'd love to meet you there!
Angels from Iryna & Helena
Meet the Artist
Heidi is the amazing artist behind our beautiful logo! We’re so grateful for her generosity in sharing her time and talent when we were just getting started. We’re excited that she’ll be helping us with more fun designs soon—we can’t wait to show you what she creates!
HL Wirtner (Heidi) is a Pennsylvania artist whose work celebrates the connections between nature, memory, and the animals we love. She grew up on a farm near Erie, Pennsylvania, surrounded by Collies, horses, and the rhythms of rural life, thus developing a lifelong respect for the land and the creatures that share it with us. After earning her BFA in Graphic Design and Art Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Heidi spent 25 years teaching art before devoting herself fully to her art business.
Known as “The Fishing Artist”, Heidi’s paintings are inspired by her deep connection to water, fishing, and the wilds of Pennsylvania. Her vibrant, story-driven works blend memory, wildlife, and heritage into reflections of our bond with nature.
Heidi shares her home with two Collies—a Sable and a Blue Merle—and two cats, all of whom keep her grounded in the joy and companionship that animals bring. Her collaboration with Collies Without Borders is a meaningful way to give back to the animals who have always inspired her life and art.
ABOUT US
ColliesWithoutBorders was founded by Flora Scheck, a collie owner, who was touched by the devastation in Ukraine and, through Facebook friendships, realized how many collies and owners were impacted. Finding themselves unable to buy food for their beloved collies and other family animals was one more horrible by- product of the war. The war in Ukraine gave us a purpose, Collies and their families united, joined paws and hands, and worked out a plan to give and help, proudly taking a stand to make sure no collie will be left behind. Collies became for us a beacon of gentle hope, beauty, and peace, teaching us what courage, tenacity, and faith are in the face of such inhumanity and cruelty. We found a common cause and together we became an overnight force.
Our Journey Through Pictures
“Helena, a very smart girl, has learned the sounds of the siren and knows what to do! She runs to her closet for a vest and asks to put it on, and then she needs to be given calming candies!
Look at her smile, she is brave now, thanks to her collie family!!!”
-Iryna
Dogs were suffering with anxiety from the bombing. If you have ever owned a dog that feared thunder storms and fireworks you will understand. Thunder storms and fireworks end. The bombing is relentless at times. Some of our familie's collies died from heart attacks. When we became aware of this we raised funds to send calming treats and anti-anxiety vests to collies in Ukraine. They are getting to the collies in need!
FROM IDEA TO REALITY: THE EVOLUTION OF COLLIESWITHOUTBORDERS
It gives us tremendous pride to be recognized for all of the hard work we do here at ColliesWithoutBorders. We are a volunteer organization. Through donations, membership and volunteer support we have become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations go directly to help collies and their families in Ukraine. It is our hope that we will be able to help collies and their families worldwide.
North West Pennsylvania artist Heidi Wirtner, a dear friend of ColliesWithoutBorders created the beautiful logo for us. We had it made into a decal suitable for your car or truck window or anywhere else you would like to show your support for ColliesWithoutBorders!