AiredaleTerriers.org Airedale Terrier Information & Referral Resource

We chose our first Airedale back in 1980. I grew up loving animals, especially dogs, and my husband and I chose the Airedale for their looks! That beard and big dark eyes and nose will do it every time! At the time my husband suffered from allergies and the "no shedding" was a plus. I'll never forget Ferguson our first Airedale. We drove in a mini blizzard to check out the pups, which were listed in the paper, and fell in love with all of them. Of course, we only came back with one. Little did we know what we were in for! Fergie became a quick member of our family, which initially consisted of just us two. In 1982, our daughter was born and it is amazing how he welcomed her into the family. Literally sleeping under her crib at times and barking when he heard her start to cry. It was amazing how he "took" to me and knew my emotions, being there at my feet, just when you would need a cold, wet nose to snuggle to you!

He was a genuine bestfriend to us and after a life cut short by cancer, he passed away in 1987. Needless to say we were devastated. We thought about waiting until the spring of the next year, but the house was too empty, so I started to scan the newspaper and 2 weeks later was an ad "free to a good home with papers". I called and after a time on the phone with the owner, it was like finding Fergie again! She was telling me everything about this dog they didn't like. Bottom line was, the kids wanted a puppy and the puppy had grown! With no yard to let him run and play in, no one wanted the responsibility. Well, after a coaxing to my husband, we all went to see him and brought him home that evening. Ollie was everything Fergie was and more!

Since Ollie we have adopted Fred and Maggie through the Airedale Rescue here in Pennsylvania. To us, this is the way to go!

By the way, my husband no longer suffers from allergies, but we will always be an Airedale family.

Marie Chismar
NIIQTee@aol.com
9/18/00

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