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 Sparedale Stories Young Dogs Older
Dogs Special Dogs |
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"Airedale
rescue? I thought only Greyhounds needed to be rescued. Surely a beautiful, purebred
Airedale wouldn’t be neglected, abused, or homeless!" Beauty or pedigree make no
difference. Every breed has dogs that need new homes. Meet here some of the hundreds of
Airedales that have found new, permanent, loving homes in New England as "second hand
dogs."
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Some like 'em young (click image to enlarge)
But be heedful of what you wish
for. After a long puppyhood, then there’s a long adolescence. Expect a handful for an
Airedale’s first couple of years and be sure that all that energy and need for
consistent training and vigilance is what you really want! |
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For example, meet Sam.
Who could have left this charming eight month old puppy tied to a shelter fence in the
night? The envelop pinned to his collar at least contained some information of his
background and vet care, though the owner’s name was carefully torn off. Picked up
immediately by Rescue, this little guy seemed wary. It was obvious that people had been
impatient with him. But a few days in foster care unleashed his indomitable Airedale puppy
spirit. Sam loved people, dogs, cats, and kids, and was adopted by a woman with the energy
and spunk to enjoy this happy rascal. |
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Katy was
eleven months old when she was given to NEAR by an older woman. Unruly would be a mild
adjective for this little imp. The lady said she had never had such a difficult puppy
before, but she was forgetting she herself had been thirteen years younger when she had
last been through raising an Airedale puppy. Katy was just too fast, too strong, and too
active for the woman. Her solution was to keep the dog in a crate, and this of course made
little Katy all the more "wild" when she burst out! Luckily she was adopted by a
couple who have devoted themselves to turning Katy around, but it has taken the energy of
two young people to do it! Now she’s turning into a sweetheart who appreciates clear
and firm limits. Katy had a lot to learn…and Bob
and Lisa taught her! |
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5 Month old Lily
was a terror! She needed a lively family who new how to calm, control and train her. |
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9 week old Webster
needed a new home because he caused severe allergy. Here, he is with his foster Father and
foster brother Bogie. |
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Mason.
At seven months old, Mason had had four homes already. No wonder he was a confused pup. It
seemed as if everyone expected something different of him…never go in the house, use
the papers on the kitchen floor. He wasn’t sure how to behave where. Still, he was
willing to learn and happy to be where ever he was as long as people were with him. Mason
has come a long way since landing in the home that is teaching him to be the delightful
young gent every Airedale has it in him to be! |
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Ellie.
The young woman loved dogs and an Airedale puppy was the first purchase she made when she
got a job and went off on her own. She adored Ellie, but life’s realities sometimes
have to be learned the hard way. Owning a puppy is expensive, and it is hard to find an
apartment that allows bigger dogs. When Ellie was just eleven months old, the woman had to
face the fact that she could no longer manage, so she turned to Airedale Rescue for help.
Ellie now has a house, fenced yard, two parents, a teenage girl, and a big Great Dane
sister. She is lucky for her loving start, and now has a full life of love ahead, as well. |
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Sassy.
It took only a month for the woman to realize it had been a mistake to get a puppy. The
widow had her hands full with two other dogs and several cats, but had always wanted an
Airedale, so she jumped at the chance when an 8 week old puppy was made available to her.
With each passing day, though, the pup became more of a force to be reckoned with, and she
decided it would be best for little Sassy to have a home with the energy needed to raise
her. Sassy was adopted by a professional dog trainer, so we all look forward to watching
her grow up and shine in the obedience ring! |
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Lucy.
A call came two days before Thanksgiving: "Can you take this dog? I have a house full
of people coming for the holidays and she’s just too much." Unable to deal
firmly with puppy energy, the couple had had it with this exuberant 8 month old. But lucky
for Lucy, the owners called Rescue. There was a family eagerly waiting for her and able to
turn her energy into fun instead of trouble. Two teenagers, a Welsh terrier, a big fenced
yard, and Airedale-experienced parents welcomed this whirlwind into their wonderful home.
It will be Happy Holidays for Lucy from now on. |
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Older dogs (click image to enlarge)
They need homes, too. They
come into Rescue when an owner’s life changes, such as through illness or death. They
are usually wonderful characters who appreciate the kindness shown them. Who would adopt
an "old" dog? Older people who realize they cannot handle a rough, young terrier
any more. People who already have a younger dog but have room for another dog in their
family. Anyone who value a calmer dog. Can an old dog make the transition and
"bond" to a new family? Absolutely. Isn’t it easier to train a young dog
than to re-train an old one? A puppy is endless months of training…an old dog may
have a habit or two that needs adjustment, but he is able to learn what is expected of him
more quickly. "Sometimes the oldest and dustiest bottle holds the most sparkling
wine." |
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Jake was found
by New England Airedale Rescue when he was advertised in the classifieds as "free to
a good home." His owner of ten years had died and the rest of the family tried to
care for him but they were all too busy and Jake spent most of his tenth year in a cellar.
His general health was fine, but he had grown obese and arthritic. Jake’s fine
character won the hearts of his adopters. Within a month, he was visiting nursing homes
and schools where his gentle, quiet personality made him a crowd pleaser. Living with a
young dog definitely pepped up this old timer. |
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Danny found
that it was not fun to be eleven years old and homeless. She had spent her first five
years in a breeder’s kennel, then the elderly woman died, leaving Rescue to find
Danny a new home. She went to live with an older couple, but after six years this home,
too, dissolved due to illness. But even though Danny was no youngster herself, she was in
fine shape. Shy, sweet, quiet, Danny found her permanent home with two other Airedales.
She loves her daily walks followed by a long nap on a comfy couch. Her family feels very
lucky to have this sweetheart to be theirs for her sunset years. |
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Pippin came to
Rescue just after his tenth birthday. His elderly owners had died some months before and a
kind young man took Pip in. But soon the man, too, had to leave Pip for a new life far
away. So gently old Pip came to us hoping for another chance at belonging to someone. He
immediately proved to be a charmer-happy and friendly to all, including cats. And we had
the perfect home just waiting for this lucky guy. Pip is now a full-time companion to a
homebound disabled man. He has all the comforts and all the love and attention any dog
could want. |
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Orphan Annie was
given this name as a pup, no one expecting that it would be her true fate at ten years
old. When her loving owner died, Annie went to live with a daughter, but a year later, the
house was for sale and Annie would have to find somewhere else to live. At eleven years
old, the choices were few. Lucky for her, New England Airedale Rescue had the perfect
home. Agile and alert, no one would guess, though that Annie’s not much younger.
Consummately obedient, no one would guess that she’s really an Airedale, either! |
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Coriander was
left behind in the empty house when his owner died. A kind neighbor came three times a
day, but time was running out. Airedale Rescue relieved her of the care. Corey was a
shaggy, obese ten year old Airedale, clearly sad and confused, but within a week in his
foster home the weight was melting off, he looked exceptionally handsome after a good
grooming, and out bubbled the most wonderful Airedale character and personality. Playful
and charming, this dog won the heart of everyone who met him. He was adopted by a great
couple who said, "We’re old too!" and now he is treated like a king in
their home. No more lonely days for Corey…he gets car rides and walks and petting
till his fur is nearly worn off! |
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Mack had had
three homes by the time he was ten through no fault of his own. A transfer overseas,
incapacitation of an elderly owner, and finally divorce, had him packing his bags about
every three years. Now he is in his final home and he could not fit in better. Here’s
what his owners write:" We are so happy and in love with Mack. And best of all, I
think Mack thinks it is heaven being with us. It has been fabulous for all four of us and
I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun we are having. Mack and Lucy absolutely
adore one another. I never dreamed we’d be so happy with Mack and Lucy. We highly
recommend not one-but at least TWO Airedales! |
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Special Dogs (click image to enlarge)
While most Airedales that come to
us needing a new home are normal healthy, happy dogs, remember that "rescue"
means ALL Airedales…we are not selective beyond dangerous temperament problems. But
sometimes there are very special situations, dogs that need "angel adopters."
Meet here just some examples of dogs that we have found wonderful homes for, and consider
whether you could give such a dog a loving, permanent home to rest his fuzzy beard. |
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Buddy. Left at
the shelter by a family saying they were moving and couldn't’t take the dog, two year
old Buddy was thin, but nicely behaved. A cheerful boy, Buddy did not know he had been
born with a problem in his spine. He looked and acted entirely normal for an active young
Airedale, but care needed to be taken so he would not have an injury that could bruise his
spinal cord causing any swelling which could lead to paralysis and very costly spinal
surgery. Buddy was adopted by a couple willing to take the chance of Buddy’s
uncertain future. All goes well for this irrepressible dog as he skips happily through
each day. |
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Duncan. An
older Airedale was left at the Humane Society’s night drop with a note: "Good
with kids, good in the house and car, fine with other dogs and cats, nice dog. We
can’t keep him." Thin and bewildered, Duncan needed a very special home. An
obvious perineal hernia would require expensive surgery, probably the reason for his being
cast off by the owners. Our "angel adopters" gently took this sad guy’s
leash and saw him through the messy and sore surgery, giving him the physical and mental
rehab he required. Two months later, Duncan was a different dog, truly unrecognizable.
With wagging tail, he bounds around his big yard-all repaired and being a happy, healthy
Airedale again. |
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Tyler and Tess. These
two had always been together, and now, at 9 and 5, they needed a new home. To see them it
was clear that they looked to each other for reassurance, and losing one’s home is a
time when they really needed the comfort of each other. We have two dogs to keep together
from time to time, and their angel adopters soon learn that two is better than
one…when it comes to most Airedales. |
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Brownie. Left
behind in an alley when a family moved away, Brownie desperately needed a home. Clearly he
was not a full Airedale. Shelters call frequently telling us of an Airedale-mix in their
pens. Mixes can make absolutely wonderful dogs, so let us know if you would consider a dog
that’s part Airedale and we may be able to refer you to a shelter where we know one
is waiting. |
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