Curly's Story
There once was a dog named Curly
who found himself a ward of the Rock Springs Wyoming Shelter
~~ good people at that Shelter, they knew to contact Airedale Rescue
no, no, no,
There once was a man named Dan
who lived in a small town outside of Anchorage Alaska
He had two Airedales as his only companions for many years
Until they passed away from old age.
The last of his two left him in December of 2001 and Dan had been looking to help a Rescue Airedale.
Alaska Airedale Rescue had done their job so well that there were not any ADTs available for Dan . . .
Dan contacted Connie Turner, Airedale Rescue coordinator for the Northwestern United States, and told her he was looking for an Airedale and he was willing to pay for one's transport.
When Curly showed up in Rock Springs Wyoming, Connie thought of Dan. She called Dan and told him about Curly and told him to get in touch with the shelter in Wyoming and see if they could work with him and get Curly to him in Alaska. Now, Rock Springs Wyoming and Anchorage Alaska are somewhat a ways apart . . .
Rusty LaFrance, Airedale Rescue Las Vegas. contacted the Rock Springs people and told them that we were coming to get Curly for Dan and that we would find a way to get Curly to Alaska from Las Vegas Nevada. Dan was beginning to feel that this was not going to work ~ after all, how do you go south to get north? was his question. Rusty explained that Las Vegas was a major hub and that Alaska Air flew out of here and that she had had good luck with them before (remember Jack of Seattle fame?). Well, Nicole (our wonderful rescue person in Salt Lake City, Utah) got in touch with the people in Rock Springs Wyoming and worked out meeting them half way between Salt Lake City and Rock Springs so that she could pick up Curly and bring him back to her place in SLC. In the mean time, Dan called Michelle Maule of Airedale Terrier Rescue Alaska and asked her if she had any idea how he could get Curly to Alaska from Las Vegas. Dan had practically given up hope despite our reassurances that we would figure it out. Michelle informed Dan that she was going to Las Vegas for a Veterinarian's Convention the very next week and that she could fly back with Curly as a "companion" (making it a much cheaper plane ticket) ~ Dan was beside himself. He was now certain that Curly was MEANT for him ! otherwise, how could he be so lucky. Michelle and Rusty talked and Michelle visited with Dan at his home and they went and bought Curly's airplane ticket. It was a sealed fate ~ Curly was going to Alaska! Rusty then made arrangements to meet Nicole (SLC) half way between Las Vegas and there. They met in Cedar City and Curly came to Las Vegas.
Note: I didn't groom Curly ~ he came to me that way, having been groomed by the
Shelter girls in Wyoming because he was such a long haired matted mess
Curly stayed with Rusty and her family for several days, getting accustomed to his new crate before his flight to Alaska.
Rusty made arrangements with Michelle to meet her at the airport on the day that she was to fly out ~ with Curly and all his paperwork and goodies in tow. Rusty told her to look for the lady with the bright yellow pants
. . . I wasn't sure that I could have Curly in tow or she could have just found the lady with the Airedale ;^)
We met and talked and exchanged all the information I had learned about Curly in our days together, so that she could work with Dan and Curly. Curly was a perfect Ambassador for the breed at the airport. He took all of the commotion and insanity in stride and behaved like a perfect gentleman ~ I mean, this guy could be a Companion Dog with ease. Nothing there rattled him. Both Michelle and Rusty found themselves very proud of Master Curly, the Rescue Airedale from Wyoming !
I left Michelle and Curly to take their flight to Alaska, with the promise that she or Dan would call me the minute that Curly was safe in Alaska.
When Dan called me at 5:00 the next morning ~ he was a very happy man, he had an Airedale companion !
I have since received numerous emails as to how well he is getting along with his Curly !
and from Michelle, I hear:
We're all waiting for Curly to join us when our Airedale Fanciers get together for their first outdoor obedience romp and game session. We're planning to have these all summer and Dan seemed to think we'll all have great fun. I think Curly and Dan are a match made in Heaven!
Copyright 2002 by Rusty LaFrance. Reproduction in whole or in part without
written permission of the author is
prohibited.
