"Help Yourself"	"Sweet Dreams"

Name of Block: "Help Yourself"
Artist: Linda Cunningham from a drawing by Christie Williams
Media: Appliqué

My rescue boy Keeper, friend to everyone and crazy clown, had decided to make himself even more helpful around the house and eliminate one of my jobs. Mainly the job of feeding him. He has somehow figured out how to open the refrigerator and to helpself to whatever goody may tempt him. And because he considers this talent to be so helpful, he doesn't hesitate a bit when trying it out right in front of me. After a call for help on one of the Airedale internet lists, I found that Keeper was not unique in his helpfulness, as other Airedales also could open the frig. Our solution, a bungie cord around the refrigerator has once again put me in charge, but he checks it often, just in case.....................

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Name of Block: "Sweet Dreams"
Artist: Linda Cunningham
Media: Appliqué

On cold winter nights a 300 pound 18 foot tall Airedale will often share my bed with me. I really don't know where he comes from, as during the day I only see a 90 pound Keeper, but once in bed, the entire bed is lost to this huge dog, so I know he exists. I will start the night stretched out in my bed and will wake in the wee hours to find myself curled in a ball in the upper corner. But for some strange reason, I will not disturb this monster who has sprawled out over my entire bed. What does it matter that I'm the one who is going to put in a 10 hour day at work tomorrow or that I might not be able to find a comfortable position in which to return sleep? My loving monster needs his rest too, after all, he's got 10 hours of napping to do while I'm at work, and we all know how much energy that takes! Oh and if this beast is not sleeping with me, it's usually one of the two other rescue boys I have. Sam can be rather gaseous at times and Augie likes to give you a kiss everytime he wakes up. Never a dull night at the Cunningham household!

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Artist's bio:

I live in southern Michigan. I share my life with 3 year old rescue dale Keeper and two rescue dale mixes, 6 year old Sam and 2 year old Augie. I work as a Family Independence Specialist (welfare caseworker) for the State of Michigan and for the last 20 years that has kept me in dog treat money. I've been a foster mom & transporter for ATRA and am also very active with my local Humane Society. My ATRA volunteering has provided the food for my soul. I am very proud of having been a part of each of the rescue quilts.

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Personal Rescue Story:

In June of 2000 I got a phone call from my local shelter where I am a volunteer. The shelter manager thought she had a airedale mix there and wanted me to take a look, hoping that rescue might be able to do something for him. When I got there I found him in the garage, visiting the dogs the ACO had recently brought in. It seems this mix could let himself out of the pen. Hmmmmm, I thought, real ADT potential. When I went to approach him, he immediately cowered and shook in fear. When I looked into his eyes, my heart broke. The eyes that met mine were the same that greet me every morning, usually as they jump onto the bed from the middle of the room. They were the eyes of my Keeper, my two year old rescue dale from ATRA. These eyes did not dance and sparkle with delight; they showed nothing but fear. Although he was almost totally black, I had no doubt there was dale in him.

This poor young boy had been live trapped by the ACO & was covered in ticks (the shelter staff stopped counting when they pulled 50 from his ears alone, but he never once even growled at them). I told the shelter manager I would see what I could do, and get back with her.

After getting in contact with ATRA they allowed me to put him up on their mix website. They offered all the help they could, but they had no foster homes available for him. I called him Augie after a favorite cartoon character. I told the shelter manager to give me a call before they had to euthanize him, hoping against hope that someone would fall in love. I knew that being over 50 pounds and black was going against him (probably 20 of the 40 dogs in our shelter will meet this description). Add to that being afraid of people, my mind knew that his chances were non existent, even if my heart would not accept it.

About 3 weeks later the phone call came and my heart sank.How could I not give this poor boy a chance? What abuse had he seen from those charged with his well being to make him fear people so? I made the decision to foster him, I already have two dogs at home, so I just hoped everyone would get along (they did). The first night I made the mistake of letting him in the yard so he could sniff around. It took an hour to finally corner him in the garage. The next day I had a friend put up a kennel in the yard so he would not have to be tied up. He could have a little freedom, but I would also be able to catch him to bring him back into the house. He would not come near me, so every night I would put him in the kennel and go and sit in there with him, surrounded by treats and just ignore him and talk or read out loud, hoping he would see that coming close on his own would mean good things. After about 2 weeks he finally took a treat. Very slowly we made progress and ATRA found someone who might be interested in adopting him. When this wonderful lady came to visit, she was great with him. With a heavy heart I let him go, knowing that his future would be safe and secure with her.

About 6 weeks later I get a phone call. She didn't think she could keep him any longer. She lives in a city and it seems that he is able to jump her fence and she is worried he will end up getting hit in the road. So back he comes to the Cunnigham zoo. He is a little better, but still has a long way to go. This time, however, I decide he has found his forever home, with me and my other rescue boys, Keeper and Sam. He has turned into the most loving dog I have ever had. He is still rather skittish around new people.I still don't think he trusts me 100%, but I can't remember the last time I saw him cower. The support of rescue allowed his life to be saved, so please support rescue so other Augies can have a happy ending too.